#1768 VFA-31, F/A-18E Super Hornet print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1768 - 166837 '300', F/A-18E Super Hornet, VFA-31, USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN-78.
As the second oldest fighter squadron operating in the U.S. Navy today, Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE has a long and distinguished history. Its beginnings can be traced to the commissioning of the VF-1B Shooting Stars in July of 1935, flying the Boeing F4B-4. Two years later, the Shooting Stars changed squadron designations to VF-6 and switched aircraft to the F3F-2. Between 1937 and 1943 the squadron flew the F3F-2 and two variants of the Grumman F4F Wildcat, ending with the F4F-4. In July 1943, VF-6 swapped designations with VF-3, The Felix Cat Squadron, and began flying the F6F Hellcat. Both squadrons claimed the Felix mascot and call sign after the switch, which caused a heated controversy for the next three years. Finally, in 1946, VF-3 became VF-3A, flying the F8F-1 Bearcat, while VF-6 was decommissioned. Following Chief of Naval Operations approval, the adoption of Felix the Cat name and call sign by VF-3A became official. In August of 1948, VF-3A was redesignated the VF-31 Tomcatters. For the next four years, the Tomcatters flew the F9F-2 Panther, the squadron’s first jet aircraft, and then transitioned to the F2H Banshee. In 1957, the squadron switched to the F3H Demon, flying it through 1962, then for two more years flew the F-3B before finally transitioning to the F-4B Phantom. After a few years with this model, the squadron switched to the F-4J, and flew this until 1981. Then in 1982, the Tomcatters began flying the F-14A Tomcat. VF-31 flew the F-14A for ten years before switching to the F-14D Super Tomcat in 1992. In 2006 the Tomcatters underwent the latest transition to become VFA-31 flying the FA-18E, the Navy’s newest and most versatile variant of the Super Hornet. The squadron was aboard USS Enterprise during the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as the Battles of Wake Island, Marcus Island, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and the Eastern Solomons. The squadron has seen aerial combat over the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa and China. Overall, the Tomcatters’ total combat experience includes fierce battles in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, as well as regional conflicts all over the world and the support of recent global operations. In 1972, flying the F-4J Phantom, Tomcatter aircrew shot down a MIG-21 over North Vietnam and distinguished VF-31 as the only Navy fighter squadron to achieve aerial victories in three wars. In late 1996 VF-31 returned from its second Western Pacific deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), flying missions in the Arabian Gulf and over southern Iraq in support of Operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike. Following cruise, the Tomcatters relocated to NAS Oceana, Virginia, after being home-based in southern California for five years. The squadron remained part of Carrier Air Wing 14, based on the West Coast, and returned in early 2001 from deployment aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CNV-72). The squadron deployed again in July of 2002, operating over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and again over the skies of Iraq supporting Southern Watch. In their return home VF-31 and the entire battle group was turned around on the 1st of January to ready the stage for the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Flying from the first night of combat over Baghdad to the last day of the short war, VF-31 was individually responsible for delivering more than 230,000 tons of ordnance with a 94.7% target acquisition and destruction rate to targets generally located in Baghdad and the southern vicinities in direct support of coalition forces. The “Tomcatters” as part of Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN returned home flying Tomcats from the Pacific Coast for the last time on October 31, 2004 following a five-month deployment to the Western Pacific. Fighter Squadron THREE ONE embarked with Carrier Air Wing EIGHT on the USS Theodore Roosevelt for the squadron’s last “Tomcat” deployment in September 2005. Upon returning, the squadron began the transition to the new Super Hornet in October of 2006 with the squadron completing safe for flight in March 2007 and carrier qualification the following May. After the transition, the squadron was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE (VFA-31). Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE deployed again with Carrier Air Wing EIGHT on the USS Theodore Roosevelt for the first Super Hornet cruise in September 2008. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the Tomcatters dominated the skies above Afghanistan flying over 6,000 hours and 2,000 sorties in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Through superior weapons, sophisticated technology and unparalleled skill, Fighting 31 achieved 100% target destruction expending 31 Precision Guided Munitions. Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE was called upon to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) for its maiden deployment. The Tomcatters flew over 2,000 sorties and employed over 13,000 pounds of precision guided munitions. The tactical prowess and combat effectiveness of Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE was proven once again with another target destruction rate of 100%. Most recently Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE deployed aboard CVN-78, USS GERALD R. FORD, for 9 months operating with multiple NATO countries in the northern waters of the Norwegian Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean providing regional stability following the attacks by Hamas into Israel. Today, with a deep sense of pride in their accomplishments and the rich history that Felix represents, the Tomcatters of Strike Fighter Squadron THREE ONE stand ready to meet the challenges placed upon them. Felix Rules!