VFA-14 Tophatters
| Strike Fighter Squadron 14 | |
|---|---|
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VFA-14 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1919 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter / Attack |
| Role |
Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | CVW-9 |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Lemoore |
| Nickname(s) | Tophatters |
| Motto(s) | "The Oldest and Boldest" |
| Engagements |
World War II Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Decorations |
2012 RADM C. Wade McLuskey Award 2010 Battle "E" 1980 Battle "E" |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
CDR Emme |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F4B SB2U Vindicator SBD Dauntless F4U Corsair F3D Skynight F3H Demon F-4 Phantom F-14 Tomcat F/A-18E Super Hornet |
The Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters" are a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and are the Navy's oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Their callsign is Camelot, and their tail code is NG.
Since its inception the squadron has flown 23 different type aircraft, had its designation changed fourteen times, operated from 20 different aircraft carriers (and several battleships) and had 81 commanding officers (the 82nd is now in command).
Over the years the squadron has been assigned many different missions, including patrol and observation in its early years, and scouting, attack, fighter, bombing and forward air control missions when it became associated with carrier-based operations. The squadron adopted the classic Top Hat as its squadron patch and called themselves the "High Hats".
The squadron began carrier operations on board the Navy's first aircraft carrier USS Langley in 1926. The squadron, then designated Fighter Plane Squadron One, set the record for carrier landings in a single day. Flying the TS-1, they logged 127 traps by the end of flight operations.
In 1929 the squadron was assigned to USS Saratoga, where it began as a fighter squadron and transitioned to a bomber squadron. Throughout the 1930s, it flew the Boeing FB-5, Boeing F2B, Boeing F4B, Curtiss F11C Goshawk, Curtiss SBC Helldiver and the SB2U-1 Vindicator. In 1939, while flying the Vindicator, the squadron was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet and USS Ranger.
While on Ranger, the squadron provided air support for the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. During the four days of 8 November – November 11, the pilots destroyed 16 enemy aircraft. Flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, the squadron participated in Operation Leader, the only American naval air strike against German forces in Norway.
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