VFA-25
| Strike Fighter Squadron 25 | |
|---|---|
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VFA-25 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1 January 1943 - present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role |
Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | CVW-7 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname(s) | "Fist of the Fleet" |
| Colors | Green with black and yellow |
| Engagements |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack |
SB2C Helldiver TBF Avenger SB2C Helldiver A-1 Skyraider A-7 Corsair II |
| Fighter |
F/A-18 Hornet F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron flies the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet and is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seven, tail code AG. Its callsign is Fist.
The squadron’s first insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on 28 September 1944 and was indicative of its mission as a torpedo squadron, consisting of a four leaf clover, horseshoe and flying torpedo.
A black fist clenching a red lightning bolt on a field of yellow became the squadron’s second insignia and has been in use, with some modifications, since CNO approval on 9 June 1949. The fist on the Insignia is actually Zeus' fist from Greek Mythology.
On 24 July 1959, CNO approved a modification to the insignia which added a scroll with the designation VA-25.
On 24 January 1974 CNO approved another modification to the insignia, adding three black stars. When the squadron was designated VFA-25 it continued to use the fist and lightning bolt insignia but dropped the three stars. 4 stars were again added (date unknown) representing wars in which VFA-25 has flown aircraft into combat: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and most recently, Iraq.
Two US Navy squadrons have held the designation VA-25. The first VA-25 would eventually become VA-65 and is not related to the subject of this article. The second VA-25 has a direct lineage to the current VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet".
The squadron was originally commissioned as Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) on 1 January 1943 at NAS Norfolk flying the Grumman TBF Avenger. On 10 September 1943 the squadron embarked on USS Bunker Hill, en route from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal and San Diego. On 11 November 1943 the squadron flew its first combat sorties, striking targets in Rabaul. The squadron flew numerous combat missions through February 1944, striking targets in Kavieng, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Truk and Tinian.
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