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US Navy - Strike Fighter Squadron 203 (STRKFITRON 203)
VFA-203 'Blue Dolphins'
 
vfa-203 blue dolphins insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy reserve 02x vfa-203 blue dolphins strike fighter squadron us navy reserve f/a-18a hornet nas atlanta georgia cvwr-20 03x
 10/19
STATUS:   established as VA-203 on July 1, 1970
VA-203 redesignated VFA-203 on October 1, 1989
 VFA-203 disestablished on June 30, 2004
 AIRCRAFT:   McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (1989-2004)
 DEPLOYMENTS:   VFA-201 was a Reserve Squadron at NAS Atlanta, Georgia and part of CVWR-20
> no combat deployments
 
images

vfa-203 blue dolphins strike fighter squadron us navy reserve cvwr-20 uss harry s. truman cvn-75 03
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-203) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - May 2002

vfa-203 blue dolphins strike fighter squadron us navy reserve cvwr-20 andrews afb nas atlanta 02
F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-203) at Andrews AFB, Maryland - March 1990
 
 
VFA-203, nicknamed the Blue Dolphins, was a Strike Fighter Squadron of the US Naval Reserve. It was established as Attack Squadron 203 (VA-203) flying the A-4 Skyhawk at NAS Jacksonville, Florida on 1 July 1970, as a reserve force squadron (RESFORON) under a new concept in the reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve Force. The reorganization was intended to make the reserves more compatible with active duty units and to increase their combat readiness. It was deactivated on 30 June 2004.


VA-203 was part of Reserve Carrier Air Wing TWENTY (CVWR-20) at NAS Cecil Field, with local Reserve-specific administrative support provided by Naval Air Reserve Jacksonville (NAVAIRES JAX) as the Local Area Coordinator for Air (LACAIR) for RESFORONs at NAS Jacksonville, NAS Cecil Field and NS Mayport.

In May 1972, the VA-203 deployed to NAS Oceana to participate in exercise Exotic Dancer V, designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization. On 1 December 1977, the squadron moved from NAS Jacksonville to NAS Cecil Field, Florida.

In February 1980, the squadron participated in a combined NATO forces exercise 'Safe Passage' conducted at NAS Bermuda.

Transitioning to the A-7E Corsair II in 1983, VA-203's primary mission was to provide contributory support to the fleet, and to be ready to deploy to an aircraft carrier during a crisis as an activated reserve light attack squadron.

Following its transition to the F/A-18 Hornet, it was to be ready to deploy as an activated reserve strike-fighter squadron. A further mission was to act as adversaries to active duty Fleet fighter and strike fighter squadrons being trained for deployment.

In 1993, the squadron began training its pilots in the fleet adversary role. It moved to NAS Atlanta, Georgia, in October 1996 in advance of the 1999 BRAC closure of NAS Cecil Field.


Homeport assignments:
NAS Jacksonville, Florida - July 1, 1970
NAS Cecil Field, Florida - December 1, 1977
NAS Atlanta, Georgia - October 1996

Aircraft assignment:
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (July 1971)
Ling Temco Vought A-7A Corsair II (April 1974)
Ling Temco Vought A-7B Corsair II (August 1977)
Ling Temco Vought A-7E Corsair II (September 1983)
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (November 1989)

source: wikipedia + NHHC
 
 
 
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vfa-203 blue dolphins insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy reserve 03p  vfa-203 blue dolphins insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy reserve 04p
  
 
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