F-14D Tomcat (VF-2) and F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-2) – May 2003
Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2) also known as the “Bounty Hunters” is a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is “Bullet”. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions that deploy aboard the Carl Vinson.
History
Four distinct squadrons have been designated VF-2. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.
VF-2 (1927-42)
Fighting Squadron 2 or VF-2 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as VF-2 on 1st January 1927, it was redesignated VF-2B on 1st July 1927, redesignated as VF-2S on 1st July 1932, redesignated as VF-2B in April 1933, redesignated as VF-2 on 1st July 1937, it was disestablished on 1st July 1942. It was the second US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-2.
VF-2B Boeing F3Bs at NAS North Island c.1929
Operational history
World War II
At the time of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, VF-2 was flying the F2A Buffalo, but soon transitioned to the F4F Wildcat.
VF-2 F2A Buffalo in 1941
The squadron’s first combat occurred during the Battle of the Coral Sea, the world’s first engagement between aircraft carriers. On 7th May 1942, VF-2 escorted strike aircraft against the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō. VF-2 claimed 6 confirmed aerial kills and 3 probable kills. The next day, Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku exchanged air strikes with the US force, and VF-2 lost 5 aircraft while claiming 11 kills. USS Lexington succumbed to torpedo damage and was sunk, without an aircraft carrier, VF-2 was disestablished on 1st July 1942.
VF-2 (1943-5)
Fighter Squadron 2 or VF-2 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Established on 1st June 1943, it was disestablished on 9 November 1945. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-2.
Fighter Squadron 2 or VF-2 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Established on 1st June 1943, it was disestablished on 9th November 1945. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-2.
World War II
VF-2 was established on 1st June 1943, at Naval Air Station Atlantic City. VF-2, known now as the “Rippers,” became the first World War II fighting squadron to bear the same designation as a previous unit in the war. Several pilots came from VF-6 and VF-10. The squadron initially deployed 8 FM-1 Wildcats but soon received the Grumman F6F Hellcat.
VF-2 trained on the east-coast until October 1943 when the squadron headed west to San Francisco and then Hawaii. In Hawaii, VF-2 participated in a Marine landing exercise and so impressed the influential “Butch” O’Hare that he requested that VF-2 replace VF-6 in his Air Group aboard USS Enterprise.
VF-2 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat crash-lands aboard USS Enterprise, 10th November 1943
From November 1943 to January 1944, VF-2 saw action during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. VF-2 participated in O’Hare-designed “bat teams” of 1 Grumman TBF Avenger and 2 Hellcats for night interceptions.
In March 1944, VF-2 deployed aboard USS Hornet. From the Hornet, VF-2 participated in strikes against the Marianas on the afternoon of 11th June 1944. Over 200 F6Fs were launched from American carriers 200 miles (320 km) from their targets of Guam and Rota. VF-2 claimed 23 victories during the attack over the Guam airfield, while squadron aircraft closer to Hornet destroyed 3 Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” medium bombers. A second strike on Guam claimed another 10 Japanese aircraft. VF-2 scored 37 victories and only lost 1 plane. The next day, VF-2 attacked the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima, only pilots which had not previously scored aerial kills were sent on this mission, claiming 17 kills.
Between 19th and 20th June 1944, VF-2 was credited with 47 victories with only 1 airplane damaged beyond repair. On the afternoon of 20th June, Japanese carriers were located approximately 200 miles (320 km) to the west. A strike was ordered with bombs and torpedoes. After the strike, only 6 VF-2 aircraft returned to Hornet, the remaining having landed on other carriers. 5 aircraft were lost at sea. 5 days later, VF-2 claimed 67 kills in 1 day during a sweep of Iwo Jima, losing only 1 F6F Hellcat (an additional one was damaged beyond repair).
During the 1943-44 period, VF-2 had conducted 184 strikes and 2050 sorties, destroying 50,000 tons of ships and 216 airborne airplanes and 245 airplanes on the ground. Losses totaled 3 airplanes in aerial combat and 4 to anti-aircraft fire.
The lead article in the 23rd October 1944 edition of Life magazine highlighted VF-2 in a seven-page spread, featuring pictures of 27 of the unit’s Aces including Roy “Butch” Voris, later to become Blue Angel 1 in the original Blue Angels flight demonstration team, Arthur Van Haren, Jr. and Connie Hargreaves and Wilbur “Spider” Webb who each became an Ace in a Day.
1970s
VF-2, known as the “Bounty Hunters,” was established on 14th October 1972 flying the F-14A Tomcat. VF-2 completed aircrew training and received its first Tomcats in July 1973, attaining full strength of 12 F-14As in the spring of 1974.
VF-2 F-14As aboard USS Enterprise during their first deployment, 1975
VF-2’s initial deployment was in 1974 with her sister squadron VF-1 aboard USS Enterprise. The squadron flew over Saigon in support of Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of US personnel in April, 1975.
1980s
VF-2 was assigned to USS Ranger for the September 1980 deployment, 4 months of which were spent in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf during the Iran hostage crisis.
The squadron was the first Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) unit for both CVW-14 and later CVW-2.
VF-2 deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk in 1984 and returned for multiple Ranger deployments throughout the 1980s.
VF-2 F-14A equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles, 1988
On 2nd June 1984, VF-2 became the first squadron to launch an F-14 from an aircraft carrier while towing an air-to-air gunnery target. In 1987, the squadron logged Ranger’s 260,000th landing.
1990s
The unit participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying over 500 combat mission from USS Ranger operating in the Persian Gulf. VF-2 performed escort, reconnaissance and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions. After the 1992-1993 cruise, USS Ranger was decommissioned (along with VF-2’s sister squadron VF-1), and VF-2 was switched to the USS Constellation. At the same time, VF-2 transitioned to the F-14D Tomcat. Several months after the 1995 cruise, VF-2 was awarded the battle “E” and relocated from NAS Miramar to NAS Oceana due to a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision to make Miramar a Marine Corps Air Station.
In April 1996, VF-2’s F-14Ds were modified to carry the LANTIRN infrared targeting pod, giving them precision strike capabilities.
F-14D Tomcat from VF-2 passing the bow of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation after having been launched from one of the waist catapults
During their 1999 cruise, VF-2 supported Operation Southern Watch and on September 9th, attacked Surface-to-Air Missile sites and anti-aircraft guns around Basra. The same day, a VF-2 Tomcat engaged 2 Iraqi Air Force MiG-23’s that were heading south into the No-Fly Zone from Al-Taqaddum Air Base, west of Baghdad with AIM-54 Phoenixes. The missiles did not score as the MiGs turned north once they detected the missile launch.
2000s
In mid 2001, VF-2 deployed aboard USS Constellation in support of Operation Southern Watch.
During the 2002-2003 deployment, the final cruise with the Tomcat, VF-2 participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom flying a wide range of missions including reconnaissance, close air support, CAP and strike missions. On February 28th, 2003, during Operation Southern Watch, a VF-2 aircraft delivered the 1st Tomcat JDAM in combat. During this deployment, VF-2 flew 483 sorties and dropped 294 Laser-guided bomb’s/JDAMs/MK-82 bombs.
An F-14D Tomcat attached to the Bounty Hunters of Fighter Squadron Two (VF-2) comes in for a landing onboard Constellation (CV-64) after just completing Aerial Combat Maneuvers (ACM) training. VF-2 was returning from a deployment with the Constellation Battle Group in which it supported Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain .
On 1st July 2003, VF-2 was redesignated VFA-2, and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet receiving its first aircraft on 6 October 2003.
VFA-2 deployed to the Western Pacific aboard USS Abraham Lincoln with CVW-2 in October, 2004. They returned in March 2005 after supporting Operation Unified Assistance which provided humanitarian support to Southeast Asia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
In 2006, VFA-2 and CVW-2 embarked on a WESTPAC deployment.
On 13th March 2008, VFA-2 embarked with CVW-2 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln on a 7-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, returning home on 8 October.
VFA-2 F/A-18Fs aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, in 2005
2010s
Between 24th and 31st March 2006, during Foal Eagle 2006 exercises, strike squadrons VFA-2, VFA-34, VFA-137, and VFA-151 teamed with U.S. Air Force aircraft from the 18th Wing based at Kadena Air Base to provide combat air patrols and coordinated bombing runs via the exercise’s Combined Air Operations Center.
On 11th September 2010, VFA-2 deployed with CVW-2 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln to the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.
The squadron has transitioned to newer Block II F/A-18F Super Hornet equipped with the AESA radar.
2020s
The squadrons current Commanding Officer, CDR Timmester, will be the last navy squadron commander to have flown in the F-14 Tomcat.
F-14D Tomcat (VF-2) and F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-2) – May 2003
VFA-2 Strike Fighter Squadron 2 “Bounty Hunters”
Check out the latest Hobbymaster VFA-2 Strike Fighter Squadron 2 “Bounty Hunters” models which are now available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
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Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice.
Hobbymaster New Model Announcements.
Check out the latest Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale models which are now available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Hobbymaster Updated Photo Gallery.
Check out the latest Hobbymaster updated photo gallery. Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice
Herpa New Model Announcements.
Check out the latest Herpa 1/72nd scale models which are now available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Calibre Wings Updated Photo Gallery.
Check out the latest Hobbymaster updated photo gallery. Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice
That’s all for this week.
Thank you for reading this week’s Newsletter.
Richard.
Fying Tigers
