VX-4 Evaluators traces back to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron, which was tasked with evaluating advanced aircraft and weapon systems for the U.S. Navy.
The iconic “Black Bunny” originated in 1969, when VX-4 painted an F-4 Phantom jet black for night testing operations. The squadron then adorned the jet’s tail with a white Playboy-style rabbit, earning it the nickname “Black Bunny”. Interestingly, Playboy initially took issue with this unauthorised use of their logo, but instead of taking legal action, they sent official stencils to VX-4 to ensure the design’s accuracy.
Black Aces VF-41, gained worldwide recognition in the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, when two VF-41 F-14s shot down two Libyan Su-22s, marking the first air-to-air kills for U.S. Navy aircraft since the Vietnam War. In 2001, VF-41 embarked on their final Tomcat cruise before transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Today, The Black Aces is attached to Carrier Air Wing 9. Their motto, “First to Fight, First to Strike,” reflects their long legacy of combat and operational excellence.
One of the U.S. Navy’s most distinguished fighter squadrons. Established in 1935, the squadron adopted the iconic Felix the Cat insignia, a mischievous cat holding a bomb, which remains its mascot to this day. Throughout its long history, VFA-31 has flown a wide range of aircraft, including the F6F Hellcat, F-14 Tomcat, and more recently, the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The squadron played
a significant role in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, being the only U.S. Navy squadron to achieve confirmed aerial victories in all three wars. The most famous Tomcatter was Edward “Butch” O’Hare. He became the Navy’s first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in the conflict for his extraordinary actions in 1942.
O’Hare single-handedly attacked a formation of bombers, repeatedly diving at them and shooting down five aircraft, significantly reducing the threat to his carrier. His bravery and skill saved the Lexington from severe damage and
earned him a Medal of Honor and having O’Hare International Airport in Chicago named in his honour. Fun fact Butch's father was a lawyer who worked closely
with Al Capone before turning against him and helping convict Capone of tax evasion.
Famous for its skull-and-crossbones insignia, was founded in 1943 as VF-17 flying F4U Corsairs with significant victories in the Pacific. After the war, the name passed to the VF-84, which flew F-14 Tomcats and became iconic by the motion picture “The Final Countdown”. Today, the legacy continues with VFA-103, flying F/A-18 Super Hornets, symbolizing a long tradition of skill and bravery in U.S. naval aviation.
