VFA-131
| Strike Fighter Squadron 131 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-131 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 2 October 1983 - present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role |
Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | Carrier Air Wing 3 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Oceana |
| Nickname(s) | "Wildcats" |
| Motto(s) | "Airlant's First and Finest" |
| Colors | Red, white, blue |
| Engagements |
Gulf War Operation Deny Flight Operation Southern Watch Operation Decisive Endeavor Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F/A-18 Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131), also known as the "Wildcats", is a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. Their radio call sign alternates between "Cat" and "Cougar" and their aircraft tail code is AG.
The mission of VFA-131 is combat readiness as a part of U.S. Atlantic Fleet Carrier Strike Forces, utilizing the F/A-18 aircraft to project power ashore and at sea, to defend the fleet against air and sea threats and to carry out all other missions which may be assigned by cognizant authority.
The squadron’s insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 26 January 1984.
VFA-131 was established at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, on 2 October 1983, and trained in the F/A-18 Hornet under VFA-125. The squadron received their first F/A-18A in May 1984. In January 1985, the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, becoming the Atlantic Fleet’s first F/A-18 squadron.
As a part of Carrier Air Wing 13 (CVW-13), the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in October 1985 aboard USS Coral Sea.
In March 1986 during Freedom of Navigation exercises in the Gulf of Sidra, the squadron’s aircraft flew Combat Air Patrols during which a Libyan SA-5 Gammon missile was fired against an American aircraft operating in international waters. On 14–15 April 1986, squadron aircraft participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, along with other units of CVW-13 and A-7s from CVW-1, providing air-to-surface Shrike and HARM strikes against Libyan surface-to-air missile sites at Benghazi. This was the first use of the F/A-18 in combat.
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