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US Navy - Strike Fighter Squadron 303 (STRKFITRON 303)
VFA-303 'Golden Hawks'
 
vfa-303 golden hawks insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy 04x vfa-303 golden hawks strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet reserve cvwr-30 nas lemoore california 02x
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STATUS:   established as VA-303 on July 1, 1970
VA-303 redesignated VFA-303 on January 1, 1984
VFA-303 disestablished on December 31, 1984
 AIRCRAFT:   McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (1984-94)
 DEPLOYMENTS:   no combat deployments
VFA-303 was a Reserve Squadron at NAS Lemoore, California and part of CVWR-30
 
images

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - August 1992

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F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303 + VFA-305) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - August 1992

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F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303) at NAS Lemoore, California - September 1991

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) at NAS Lemoore, California - September 1991

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F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303) at NAS Lemoore, California - September 1991

vfa-303 golden hawks strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet reserve 15 aim-7 sparrow sam missile 15
an AIM-7 Sparrow missile was loaded onto an F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - September 1991

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - September 1991

vfa-303 golden hawks strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet reserve aim-9 sidewinder sam missile
AIM-9 Sidewinder SAM missiles were loaded on an F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - September 1991

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - September 1991

vfa-303 golden hawks strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet reserve aim-7 sparrow sam missile 14
an AIM-7 Sparrow missile was loaded onto an F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - September 1991

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F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303) - October 1989

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F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303) - October 1989

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - October 1989

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) - October 1989

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F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-303) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - August 1989

vfa-303 golden hawks strike fighter squadron f/a-18a hornet reserve 10 cvwr-30 nas fallon nevada
F/A-18A Hornets (VFA-303) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - July 1989
 
 
History:

VFA-303, nicknamed the Golden Hawks, was a Strike Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. It was established as Attack Squadron VA-303 on 1 July 1970 at NAS Alameda, California as part of a reorganization of the reserves intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. On 1 January 1984, it was redesignated VFA-303 and relocated to NAS Lemoore.

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

On 19 October 1985, VFA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. On 25 September 20 Nov 1990, a detachment of the squadron’s F/A-18 Hornets and personnel, along with VFA-305, joined CVW-11 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for her transit from Norfolk to Alameda, via Cape Horn.

In November 1990, a detachment of squadron aircraft and personnel deployed to NAWS China Lake in direct support of Operation Desert Shield. Provided critical real world electronic warfare test and evaluation missions requiring aircraft fully functional with electronic warfare, AGM-88 HARM missile and electronic countermeasure suites.

In early 1993 the squadron added the roles of Adversary and Fleet Support to its primary mission.

VFA-303 was disestablished on 31 December 1994.


source: wikipedia
 
patches + more

vfa-303 golden hawks insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy 02p  vfa-303 golden hawks insignia crest patch badge strike fighter squadron us navy 03p
 
 
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