About this Unit
Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151), known as the "Vigilantes," was originally established as VF-23 in 1948 and redesignated as VF-151 in 1953. The squadron has a distinguished combat history, participating in major conflicts such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror. Over the decades, VFA-151 has transitioned through various aircraft, from the F9F Panther to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, reflecting its evolution into a modern strike fighter unit. Today, VFA-151 is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, and remains an integral part of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wing force.
Historical Facts
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Squadron Nickname - "Vigilantes": Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) is famously known as the "Vigilantes," a name they have used since 1953.
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Established in 1948: The unit was originally established as VF-23 on August 6, 1948, before being redesignated as VF-151 in 1953 and later as VFA-151 in 1986.
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Korean War Service: VFA-151 saw combat during the Korean War, flying F4U Corsairs and later F9F Panthers, conducting ground attack and interdiction missions.
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Vietnam War Operations: The squadron participated in the Vietnam War, flying the F-4 Phantom II, and was involved in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
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First to Deploy with F-14A Tomcat: In 1973, the squadron transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, becoming one of the first Navy squadrons to operate this iconic fighter.
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Operation Desert Storm: VFA-151 took part in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 aboard USS Midway (CV-41), flying F/A-18C Hornets and delivering precision-guided munitions.
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Multiple Aircraft Transitions: Over its history, the squadron has flown a wide variety of aircraft, including the F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, F2H Banshee, F3H Demon, F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, and F/A-18 Hornet.
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Longest Continual Deployment: The squadron was embarked aboard USS Midway for the carrier’s famous homeport change to Yokosuka, Japan, in 1973, beginning a 17-year forward deployment.
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Global War on Terrorism: VFA-151 participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying combat sorties from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea.
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Current Status: Today, VFA-151 is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, and operates the F/A-18E Super Hornet as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9).
