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US Navy - Attack Squadron 303 (ATKRON 303)
VA-303 'Golden Hawks'
 
va-303 golden hawks insignia crest patch badge attack squadron us navy 02x va-303 golden hawks attack squadron atkron navy a-7b corsair ii reserve cvwr-30 nas alameda 02x
06/20
STATUS:   established as VA-303 on July 1, 1970
 VA-303 redesignated VFA-303 on January 1, 1984
 AIRCRAFT:   Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (July 1970 - April 1971)
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (April 1971 - August 1977)
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II (August 1977 - January 1984)
 DEPLOYMENTS:   no combat deployments
VA-303 was a Reserve Squadron at NAS Alameda, California and part of CVWR-30
 
images

va-303 golden hawks attack squadron atkron navy a-7b corsair ii reserve cvwr-30 nas alameda 03
A-7B Corsair II (VA-303) at NAS Alameda, California - September 1980

va-303 golden hawks attack squadron atkron navy a-7a corsair ii reserve cvwr-30 nas alameda 02
A-7A Corsair II (VA-303) at NAS Alameda, California - November 1974

va-303 golden hawks attack squadron atkron navy a-7a corsair ii reserve cvwr-30 nas alameda 04
A-7A Corsair II (VA-303) was refueled by a KA-3B Skywarrior (VAQ-308) - 1970's

va-303 golden hawks attack squadron atkron navy a-7a corsair ii reserve cvwr-30 nas alameda 05
A-7A Corsair II (VA-303) - undated
 
 
History:

1 Jul 1970:
VA-303, a reserve squadron, established as part of a reorganization of the reserves intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force.

Apr 1971:
VA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the A-7A Corsair II. Nov 1975: The squadron deployed aboard Ranger (CV 61) for the annual active duty training and as part of CVWR-30’s tactical air mobilization test and the operational readiness exercise/inspection to ensure the squadron was seaworthy and combat ready.

19 Oct 1985:
VFA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet.


Squadron Insignia and Nickname:
The squadron’s insignia was approved by CNO on 23 February 1972.
Colors for the hawk insignia are: a blue background outlined by two gold circles with white diamonds between the gold circles; white and red bridge; gold hawk with black markings and a red lightning bolt eminating from its beak; the Corsair II design is white; blue scrolls outlined in gold with gold lettering.
A modification to the above insignia was approved by CNO on 24 April 1984.
The bridge design was replaced by brown mountains with white markings; the Corsair II design was replaced by a white hornet and the Attack Squadron 303 designation was changed to Strike Fighter Squadron 303.
All the other colors remained the same as the previous insignia.

Nickname: Golden Hawks, 1972-1994
 
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