VFA-203 Blue Dolphins deactivate.Strike Fighter A strike fighter is a fighter aircraft which is also capable of attacking surface targets, including ships. It differs from an attack aircraft in that the aircraft remains a capable fighter. Squadron (VFA VFAvolatile fatty acids. ) 203, a reserve force unit assigned to Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20, was deactivated on 30 June 2004 after more than 34 years of service. Commander Joel B. Levin was the last CO of the Blue Dolphins. The Blue Dolphins were activated as Attack Squadron (VA) 203 at NAS (1) See network access server. (2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular Jacksonville, Fla., on 1 July 1970 as part of the comprehensive reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve to increase its combat readiness in the wake of the 1968 Pueblo Crisis reserve call-ups. The squadron initially was equipped with the A-4L Skyhawk attack aircraft in July 1971, switching to the A-7A Corsair corsair: see Barbary States; piracy. II in April 1974, followed by the A-7B in August 1977. VA-203 moved to nearby NAS Cecil Field, Fla., in December 1977, and upgraded to the A-7E in September 1983. When the Blue Dolphins upgraded to the F/A-18A Hornet hornet: see wasp. strike fighter, the squadron was redesignated VFA-203 on 1 October 1989. After Cecil Field was planned for closure, VFA-203 moved to NAS Atlanta, Ga., in October 1996. The Blue Dolphins participated in numerous training exercises and deployments but were never mobilized for active duty. In the early 1990s, the squadron assumed adversary threat simulation and air combat maneuvering training among its roles. VFA-203 began operating the F/A-18A+ version of the Hornet in 2002, but was soon selected for deactivation de·ac·ti·vate tr.v. de·ac·ti·vat·ed, de·ac·ti·vat·ing, de·ac·ti·vates 1. To render inactive or ineffective. 2. To inhibit, block, or disrupt the action of (an enzyme or other biological agent). 3. as part of the Navy-Marine Corps Tactical Air Integration Plan. Some of its aircraft were transferred to Fighter Composite Squadron 12 at NAS Oceana, Va., where they will be used to train reserve Hornet pilots in squadron augmentation units. EDITED BY WENDY LELAND Contributed by LCdr. Rick Burgess, USN (Ret.) |
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