VX-4 Evaluators risale all'Air Test and
Evaluation Squadron, che era incaricato di valutare
aerei avanzati e sistemi d'arma per la Marina degli Stati Uniti.
L'iconico "Black Bunny" è nato nel 1969, quando VX-4
dipinse un jet F-4 Phantom di nero per le operazioni di collaudo notturne.
Lo squadrone decorò quindi la coda del jet con un coniglio bianco
in stile Playboy, guadagnandosi il soprannome di "Black Bunny". È interessante notare che inizialmente Playboy si oppose a questo uso non autorizzato del suo logo, ma invece di intraprendere un'azione legale, inviò degli stencil ufficiali a VX-4 per garantire l'accuratezza del design.
Black Aces VF-41, ottenne un riconoscimento mondiale nell'incidente del Golfo della Sirte del 1981, quando due VF-41 F-14 abbatterono due Su-22 libici, segnando i primi abbattimenti aria-aria per gli aerei della Marina degli Stati Uniti dalla guerra del Vietnam. Nel 2001, VF-41 intraprese la sua ultima crociera Tomcat prima di passare all'F/A-18F Super Hornet. Oggi, The Black Aces è assegnato al Carrier Air Wing 9. Il loro motto, "First to Fight, First to Strike", riflette la loro lunga tradizione di combattimento ed eccellenza operativa.
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.
