Attack Squadron 105 (ATKRON 105) VA-105 ‘Gunslingers’
STATUS:		established as VA-105 on March 4, 1968 VA-105 redesignated VFA-105 on December 17, 1990
AIRCRAFT:		Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (1968-73) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1973-90)
DEPLOYMENTS:		December 1968 - September 1969 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) June 1970 - November 1970 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) June 1971 - October 1971 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) April 1972 - February 1973 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) September 1974 - March 1975 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) January 1976 - July 1976 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) July 1977 - December 1977 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) October 1978 - April 1979 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) March 1980 - August 1980 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) October 1981 - December 1981 with CVW-3 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) January 1982 - July 1982 with CVW-3 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) March 1983 - October 1983 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) June 1986 - November 1986 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) August 1987 - October 1987 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) April 1988 - October 1988 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) November 1989 - April 1990 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) during aerial refueling - 1989 A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - August 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1983 A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 A-7E Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) over Mount Etna, Italy - 1980 A-7A Corsair II (VA-105 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - 1972 (National Naval Aviation Museum)
history
The second Attack Squadron 105 (VA-105) was established on 1 November 1967 at NAS Cecil Field, flying the new A-7A Corsair II. On 4 March 1968 the squadron completed A-7A training under VA-174 and became an operational Atlantic Fleet unit. The "Gunslingers" embarked on their first deployment to Southeast Asia aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), participating in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin from January to October 1969. Following the shootdown of a Navy EC-121 by the North Koreans in April, Kitty Hawk was part of a continuing American presence being maintained off the coast of Korea. In Sep and October 1970 following the hijacking of several airliners by Palestinians, the outbreak of serious fighting in Jordan and the invasion of Jordan by Syria, USS Saratoga (CVA-60), with VA-105 embarked, operated in the eastern Mediterranean, prepared to support an evacuation of Americans from Jordan and to show support for the Jordanian government. In June-December 1972, the squadron participated in Linebacker I and Linebacker II operations, heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies into South Vietnam. In May 1973, the squadron upgraded to the A-7E. As of December 1979 the "Gunslingers" had two Western Pacific and six Mediterranean deployments to their credit. In June 1982 following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel, VA-105 operated from USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) to support an evacuation of Americans. From July-December 1984, the squadron deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, assigned to MAG-12, 1st MAW. This was the first time a Navy squadron participated in the United States Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and the first Navy squadron since World War II to come under the command of a Marine Corps officer. While deployed with the Marines the squadron’s major mission was close air support. During the '80s, the Gunslingers completed eight overseas deployments, including six to the Med, and a 1983 around-the-world deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). VA-105 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) on 17 December 1990, as the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18C. The "Gunslingers" reported to CVW-3 aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) on 1 September 1991.
patches
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