In "Air Forces Monthly" Cdr Burgess wrote in his article about Navy
Reserve, that, as a result of ongoing force transformations and
reorganizations, VFC-12 is going to provide pilots to fleet squadrons
when a need arises (crisis response, surge deployments etc.), and there
are RUMOURS it might be ven redesignated to VFA.

Quite similarly, Naval Institute "Proceedings" wrote about an
air-to-ground training of VFC-12 (a bit unusual for an adversary
squadron), that took place in April 2004. Nobody knows what is gonna
happen, and when it happens we will see.

But that is an opportunity to ask - what is the real difference between
F/A-18C-operating VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) and F/A-18A/B-flying
VFC (Fighter Squadron Composite)? Those names itself for me don't tell
the difference... The aircraft is basically the same... And there were
several adversary squadrons in the past that wore simple VF or VFA
designations... VFA-201 and VFA-204 also sometimes perform as
adversary, but they are still VFAs...

Kind regards,

Jacek Zemlo


P.S. By the way, creating a new VFA-12 (IF happens) would be an
interesting case for NavAir historians - whose traditions the new
squadron should carry on - VFC-12's, or VA-12's which existed in the
past? Would that end up with something like VF-103 Sluggers/VF-84 Jolly
Rogers designation/tradition merge?

wrote:

>But that is an opportunity to ask - what is the real difference between
>F/A-18C-operating VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) and F/A-18A/B-flying
>VFC (Fighter Squadron Composite)? Those names itself for me don't tell
>the difference... The aircraft is basically the same... And there were
>several adversary squadrons in the past that wore simple VF or VFA
>designations... VFA-201 and VFA-204 also sometimes perform as
>adversary, but they are still VFAs...


VFA-201 and VFA-204's primary mission is strike, even if they do
provide the odd adversary mission from time to time.

VFC-12's primary mission is as a Composite squadron, which
involves providing adversaries as a part of that mission.

As to your redesignation question, The USN/NavAir would look at
the lineages involved, and decide which one would be the "best"
choice to pass on to a redesignated VFC-12. IOW, speculate away,
the Navy will do what it pleases if/when the issue is at hand..
--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]

On 1/29/05 1:23 PM, in article ,
"Ogden Johnson III" > wrote:

> wrote:
>
>> But that is an opportunity to ask - what is the real difference between
>> F/A-18C-operating VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) and F/A-18A/B-flying
>> VFC (Fighter Squadron Composite)? Those names itself for me don't tell
>> the difference... The aircraft is basically the same... And there were
>> several adversary squadrons in the past that wore simple VF or VFA
>> designations... VFA-201 and VFA-204 also sometimes perform as
>> adversary, but they are still VFAs...
>

The mission is markedly different between VFC and VFA. Adversary only
versus "blue air."

Even though the jets are "basically" the same from an airframe standpoint,
VFC-12 has been flying F/A-18A's. The ECP-560 mod'ed A+'s provide F/A-18C
weapons system functionality.

>
> VFA-201 and VFA-204's primary mission is strike, even if they do
> provide the odd adversary mission from time to time.
>

Well said. Both are "blue air" combat ready Hornet squadrons. Adversary is
the "non-mobilized" contributory operational support function.

> VFC-12's primary mission is as a Composite squadron, which
> involves providing adversaries as a part of that mission.
>

VFC-12 is transitioning to the VFA mission with the arrival of their
F/A-18A+'s.

> As to your redesignation question, The USN/NavAir would look at
> the lineages involved, and decide which one would be the "best"
> choice to pass on to a redesignated VFC-12. IOW, speculate away,
> the Navy will do what it pleases if/when the issue is at hand..

VFA-12 will most likely remain the "Omars."

--Woody

Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal wrote:
> [...]
> VFC-12 is transitioning to the VFA mission with the arrival of their
> F/A-18A+'s.

Seemingly, they would become an extra deployable squadron for the
Atlantic Fleet...

Are they going to be the eighth of UDP squadrons?: three Navy and four
Marine squadrons, as planned, (+ VMFA-212 permanent) are not enough to
support two 6-month rotations at Iwakuni.

Or, may they be used to fill the apppearing gap in CVW-1 or CVW-8?:
CVW-1's VFA-82 was switched to CVW-2 and probably will not return (to
be dectivated after this deployment), CVW-8 will be missing something
in place of VFA-15 (if switched to CVW-1, as intended) or VFA-22 (so
far still in PACFLT).

Best regards,

Jacek Zemlo

I've been wondering why some of their jets now have a grey paint scheme
instead of the blue, grey or brown camo schemes they've used in the
past. Maybe this is why? There are some photos of their grey jets on
this page:
http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?topic=1009.440

in2focus wrote:
> I've been wondering why some of their jets now have a grey paint
scheme
> instead of the blue, grey or brown camo schemes they've used in the
> past. Maybe this is why? There are some photos of their grey jets on
> this page:
> http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?topic=1009.440


Thanks! A great site and great photos indeed! Some VFA-106 Super Bugs,
VFA-83 loving their new logo, and even a VFA-11 F/A-18F, though tail
markings not fully visible - with a strange "AG-241" modex (a photo of
"AG-402" from VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs is also available on
www.jetphotos.net )

A correction:

"AG-237" and "AG-241" with "SupperRipper" markings fully visible:
http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1009.0;id=8188
http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1009.0;id=8182

plus a VFA-211 Checkmates F/A-18F:
http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1009.0;id=8183

VFC-12 has recieved several aircraft from VFA-203 (Blue Dolphins), which
was disestablished last year. Most likely those were grey and haven't
been repainted in camouflage colours upon entering service with VFC-12.
Expect them to be repainted in camouflage when they undergo a major
overhaul.

Regards,
Ralph Savelsberg


in2focus wrote:

> I've been wondering why some of their jets now have a grey paint scheme
> instead of the blue, grey or brown camo schemes they've used in the
> past. Maybe this is why? There are some photos of their grey jets on
> this page:
> http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?topic=1009.440
>