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US Navy - Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (STRKFITRON 106)

VFA-106 'Gladiators'

 
vfa-106 gladiators insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron frs
vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron us navy replacement f/a-18 super hornet nas oceana
 
STATUS:   established as VBF-17 on January 11, 1945
VBF-17 redesignated VF-6B in 1946
VF-6B redesignated VF-62 in 1948
VF-62 redesignated VA-106 in March 1955
VA-106 decommissioned on November 7, 1969
 
reestablished as VFA-106 on April 27, 1984
  

Homebase: NAS Oceana, Virginia
ACTIVE UNIT
 AIRCRAFT:   McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
 DEPLOYMENTS:  

none - this is the US Navy / Marine Corps East Coast replacement squadron for

F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets

 

images


vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 02
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 12
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 05
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 06
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 07
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2017 10
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2017 08
F/A-18C Hornets (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2017 09
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2017

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2016 13
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - November 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2016 14
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - November 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2016 15
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - August 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2016 16
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - June 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2016 17 fleet replacement frs
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - June 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2016 18
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - May 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2016 20
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - May 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2016 19
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - May 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2016 21 nas oceana virginia
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - April 2016

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2015 22
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - August 2015

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2015 23
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - August 2015

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2015 24
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) at NAS Key West, Florida - March 2015

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2015 25
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2015

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2015 26
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2015

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2014 27
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - November 2014

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2014 28
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - October 2014

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2014 29
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - April 2014

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2013 30 cockpit
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) was transferred to the Blue Angels at NAS Pensacola, Florida - July 2013

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2013 32
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - April 2013

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2013 34
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - April 2013

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2013 31
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - April 2013

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2013 33
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - April 2013

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2012 crash virginia beach
Firefighting foam covers the scene of a crash of an F/A-18D Hornet assigned to VFA-106, April 6, 2012. Initial reports indicate that at approximately 12:05 p.m., the jet crashed just after takeoff at an apartment complex in Virginia Beach. Both air crew safely ejected from the aircraft and are being treated at a local hospital.




vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2011 37 fleet replacement
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2011 38
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - August 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2011 39
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2011 41
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2011 43
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2011 42
F/A-18C Hornet, 313 and F/A-18E Super Hornet, 121 (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2011 40
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2011

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2010 44
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - December 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2010 45
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - September 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2010 46
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - September 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2010 47 general electric f414-ge-400 engine
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) - General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engine maintenance aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - August 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2010 48 general electric f414-ge-400 engine
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) - General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engine maintenance aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - August 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2010 49
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) - aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2010 50
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2010 51
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2010

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2009 52
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - November 2009

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2009 53
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - June 2009

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2008 54
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - June 2008

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2007 55
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2007

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2007 56
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2007

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2007 57
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2007

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2006 58
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - October 2006

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2006 59
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - October 2006

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2006 60
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - August 2006

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2006 61
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - May 2006

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2006 62
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - May 2006

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2006 63
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2005 64
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - September 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2005 65
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2005 03
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2005 04
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2005 66
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2005 67
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18c hornet 2005 70
F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2005 68
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18f super hornet 2005 71
F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - March 2005

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18e super hornet 2004 72
F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-106) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2004

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2003 73
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - November 2003

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2003 74
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - August 2003

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2003 75
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - August 2003

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 2000 11
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - October 2000

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 1994 93
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 1994

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 1994 90
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 1994

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 1994 94
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 1994

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1993 86
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) - October 1993

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1993 92
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) - September 1993

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 1993 79
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) - March 1993

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18d hornet 1993 78
F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-106) - February 1993

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1993 81
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) - February 1993

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1993 80
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) - February 1993


F/A-18C Hornet, 303 (VFA-106) - February 1988

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 85
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - October 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 83
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 84
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1987 82
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet 1987 88
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-106) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 69
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) - April 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 76
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) - April 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18b hornet 1987 77
F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-106) - March 1987

vfa-106 gladiators strike fighter squadron f/a-18a+ b hornet 1987 89
F/A-18A and B Hornets (VFA-106) - January 1987
 
 
Strike-Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO SIX began as Bomber-Fighter Squadron 17 (VBF-17) at Agana Air Field, Guam on January 11, 1945. One month later, flying F6F-5 Hellcats, VBF-17 embarked onboard USS HORNET (CV 12) to participate in combat operations against the Japanese. Operations included strikes against Tokyo, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa as well as the first major air strikes against the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.

In late 1946 the squadron moved to NAS Norfolk, VA, was redesignated as Fighter Squadron Six Baker (VF-6B) and began flying the F4U-4 Corsair. Redesignated again in July 1948 as Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62), the squadron transitioned to F8F Bearcat aircraft. In August 1950 the squadron received F2H Banshee aircraft and moved to NAS Cecil Field, FL. VF-62 officially became the “Gladiators” on April 16, 1952. Combat action in the Korean Conflict came in 1953 from the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CVA-39) when the Gladiators were tasked with striking key bridges on the Korean mainland.

The squadron was redesignated as Attack Squadron 106 (VA-106) in March 1955 and received F9F-8B Cougar aircraft later that year. In June 1958 the transition was made to Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawks.

During the ensuing peaceful years the Gladiators participated in various Atlantic Fleet exercises and numerous Mediterranean cruises onboard USS ESSEX (CVA 9), USS SHANGRI-LA (CVA 38) and USS SARATOGA (CVA 60). These years of training concluded on July 17, 1967 as the Gladiators launched into combat over Vietnam from the deck of the USS FORRESTAL (CVA 59). VA-106 returned home in September 1967 for a brief turnaround prior to deploying onboard USS INTREPID (CVA 62) in June 1968. The Gladiators remained on station flying combat missions into Vietnam for over 6 months before returning home in February 1969. The squadron was subsequently decommissioned on November 7, 1969.


Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106) was commissioned at NAS Cecil Field on April 27, 1984, flying the Navy's newest tactical aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet. In the summer of 1999 VFA-106 moved from NAS Cecil Field to NAS Oceana, VA. As the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron, the Gladiators’ mission is to train F/A-18 Replacement Aircrew to support fleet commitments. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly-winged Navy and Marine Corps Aircrew begins the 9 month training course in which they will learn the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to a fleet Hornet squadron.

There are approximately 1200 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, as well as foreign instructors and students (from countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany) assigned to VFA-106. VFA-106 typically has 90+ F/A-18s of various models assigned. There is a permanent VFA-106 Detachment in Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, where the squadron often deploys for fighter training. The squadron often detaches 12 aircraft to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada and Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, as well as various aircraft carriers for carrier qualifications (CQ).
 
 
 

patches & more


vfa-106 gladiators patch insignia crest 02  vfa-106 gladiators patch insignia crest 03 strike fighter squadron fleet replacement us navy
  
 
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