Most of the hundreds of United States Navy aircraft squadrons created since World War I no longer exist, having been "disestablished". Another 40 or so have been "deactivated", currently existing only "on paper" in an inactive status. The U.S. Navy does not say aircraft squadrons are "commissioned" or "decommissioned". Until 1998, squadrons were "established", "disestablished", and sometimes "re-designated"; since 1998, squadrons are "established", "deactivated", and sometimes "reactivated". Under the system that pertained until 1998, squadron designations were often reused. A squadron's history and lineage began when it was established and ended when it was disestablished. When a squadron was disestablished or re-designated, its former designation became available for reuse by a new or re-designating squadron, just as the name of a decommissioned ship (e.g., USS Enterprise) might be given to a new vessel. The new or re-designated squadron could carry on the traditions, nickname, or the insignia of the previous squadron, but it could not lay claim to the history or lineage of that previous squadron. Re-designation might assign a squadron a new number under the same basic designation (e.g., VF-151 to VF-192), or change the entire designation (e.g., HS-3 to HSC-9). A squadron could be re-designated several times, retaining its lineage throughout. This system changed in March 1998 with Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 5030.4E. U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are no longer disestablished but "deactivated." A deactivated squadron remains in existence, though only "on paper", awaiting possible future "re-activation". Neither its designation nor any previous designations are available for use by a new squadron. A re-activated squadron would trace its lineage back to the squadron's original establishment date, including its inactive period. The current update of OPNAVINST 3050.4 contains a list of all currently active and deactivated U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons.

Designations used from 1921 to 1947

This section contains squadrons whose designations were discontinued by 1947. Most of the squadrons listed in this section were disestablished by the end of World War II. Others remained active under different designations for decades. A few still exist today.

Composite (VC) squadrons

A total of about 90 Composite Squadron (VC) squadrons existed between 1 March 1943, when Escort Scouting Squadrons (VGS) based aboard escort carriers (CVE) were redesignated as VC units, and the end of 1945, when they had all been disestablished. VC squadrons flew combinations of fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers.

VCS: Cruiser Scouting Squadron, and VO: Spotting or Observation squadrons

The VO designation, one of the U.S. Navy's earliest, first appeared in 1922 to designate "Spotting Squadrons" that spotted targets for naval gunfire from battleships and cruisers. In 1923, the designation was changed to "Observation Plane Squadron" or "Observation Squadron". The designation was discontinued in 1945, but resurrected from 1947 to 1949 and again during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968.

VH: Rescue Squadrons

VJ: Utility or General Utility squadrons

Utility squadrons were designated VJ from 1925 to 1946, when the designation changed to VU. (The VJ designation was later used from 1952 to 1956 to designate weather squadrons and photographic squadrons.)

VS: Scouting squadrons and VS designations no longer in use

VS was used to designate scouting squadrons from 1922 to 1946, although all 26 or so VS squadrons had by the end of 1943 been given other designations (VF, VT, VC or VCS cruiser scouting squadron). All except VS-41/VFA-14 were disestablished by the end of 1949. (From 1950 to 2009, VS was used for Antisubmarine or Sea Control squadrons.) The Lexington Air Group, Yorktown Air Group, Wasp Air Group and Hornet Air Group were disestablished in 1942 after the loss of USS Lexington (Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942), USS Yorktown (Battle of Midway, June 1942), USS Wasp and USS Hornet (Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942). Enterprise Air Group was disestablished in September 1942 while USS Enterprise was undergoing repairs of major damage suffered in August 1942 and Saratoga Air Group and Ranger Air Group were redesignated CVG-3 and CVG-4 in August and September of 1943 respectively. Between 1 Mar 1943 to 15 Nov 1946 the squadron designation system was changed: numbering squadrons with the hull number of the ship to which it was assigned was stopped and newly established squadron were numbered serially within each class.

VT: Torpedo squadrons and VT designations no longer in use

The VT designation is one of the earliest used by the U.S. Navy. A "Torpedo Plane Squadron" existed as early as 1920 but the use of abbreviated squadron designations (such as "VT") did not come into accepted use until 1922. From 1922 to 1930 it designated "Torpedo & Bombing Plane Squadrons" or "Torpedo and Bombing Squadrons". In 1930 it designated "Torpedo Squadrons" until 1946 when all remaining VT squadrons were redesignated Attack (VA) squadrons and the VT designation disappeared. Between 1927 and 1937 a suffix letter was added after the designation number to identify to which fleet or Naval District the squadron belonged: B for Battle Fleet, S for Scouting Fleet, A for Asiatic Fleet or D followed by a Naval District number for those squadrons assigned to Naval Districts. On 15 November 1946 the squadron designation system underwent a major change; the 17 still existing VT and 14 still existing Bombing (VB) squadrons were redesignated Attack (VA) squadrons and the VT and VB designations were eliminated. The VTN designation was used from 1944 to 1946 to designate "Night Torpedo Squadrons" On 1 May 1960 the VT designation was resurrected as the designation for training squadrons Approximately 90 to 100 squadrons carried the VT designation between 1921 and 1946.

Designations used from 1948 to 1979

After World War II, naval aviation saw great reductions in numbers, while new technologies fostered new types of aircraft squadrons leading to new designations for roles such as nuclear attack, airborne early warning, and "all-weather" (radar-equipped) squadrons. Others were developed specifically for roles necessitated by the Vietnam War. Designations that are still in use today are not included in this section.

VA(AW): All Weather Attack squadrons

The VA(AW) designation was created in 1956 when VC squadrons were re-designated using role descriptive designators. VC-33 and VC-35 had by then become attack squadrons with radar and electronic countermeasures equipped aircraft. All weather attack squadrons provided detachments of radar and electronic countermeasure equipped attack aircraft to Carrier Air Groups for night and all weather operations.

VAH: Heavy Attack squadrons and VAH designations no longer in use

The VAH designation was established in 1955 when the Composite (VC) squadrons flying "Heavy Attack" aircraft (nuclear bombers) were redesignated Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons. The designation was retired in 1971 with the disestablishment of the last VAH squadron. With the end of the Navy's nuclear bomber role, VAH squadrons based on the east coast were redesignated RVAH squadrons and were equipped with the North American RA-5C Vigilante reconnaissance aircraft. VAH squadrons based on the west coast retained the VAH designation but their A-3B Skywarriors were converted to KA-3B aerial tankers. By the late 1960s, electronic jamming equipment had been added to some KA-3B tankers and those "EKA-3B" aircraft led to the creation of VAQ squadrons.

RVAH: Reconnaissance Attack squadrons

The RVAH designation was created in 1964 when the Navy's nuclear bomber role was ended and the Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons which were then equipped with the A-5A Vigilante nuclear bombers were converted to Reconnaissance squadrons and their A-5A nuclear bombers were converted to RA-5C reconnaissance aircraft. Those VAH squadrons which were then still equipped with the A-3B remained designated Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons. The designation was retired in 1979 with the disestablishment of the last RA-5C squadron.

VAL: Light attack squadrons

The Light Attack (VAL) designation was created in 1969 and designated only one squadron (VAL-4) which was established to support riverine and special operations during the Vietnam War. The designation was retired with the disestablishment of the squadron. A Helicopter Light Attack (HAL) designation had been created in 1967 to designate a single light attack helicopter squadron (HAL-3). HAL-3 and VAL-4 conducted operations in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam.

VC: Composite squadrons

This second use of the VC designation began in 1948 to designate squadrons which were composed of detachments of aircraft that deployed aboard aircraft carriers with the carrier air group (later carrier air wing) conducting specialized missions. Missions included: All-Weather/Night Fighter; Heavy Attack (Nuclear Bombers); Airborne Early Warning; Anti-Submarine Warfare; and Photographic Reconnaissance. Single digit numbers designated the Composite All Weather Fighter and the Heavy Attack squadrons, teens designated Composite Airborne Early Warning Squadrons, numbers in the 20s and 30s designated Composite Anti-Submarine Squadrons, and the numbers in the 60s designated Composite Photographic Squadrons. By 1956 these squadrons had all been redesignated as VF(AW), VAH, VAW, VS, VA(AW) or VFP depending on the specific mission, and the VC designation once again ceased to exist. There have been multiple unrelated squadrons using the same VC designations through the years. For example, the last two VC squadrons were VC-6 and VC-8 which were deactivated in 2008 and 2003 respectively. Both of those squadrons were the third squadron to use each of those designations, and neither squadron had any relation to earlier squadrons designated VC-6 or VC-8. The first VC-6 and VC-8 were WWII Escort Carrier composite squadrons, the second VC-6 was a heavy attack squadron which was redesignated VAH-6 then RVAH-6 and the second VC-8 was also a heavy attack squadron which was redesignated VAH-11 then RVAH-11. The table below does not list disestablished squadrons; it lists squadron designations which are no longer in use. Some of the squadron designations in the table belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished but some belonged to squadrons which have been deactivated and still exist in an inactive status. Note: The parenthetical (1st), (2nd), (3rd) etc... appended to designations in the tables below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once.

VAP: Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons

In 1952, two reconnaissance squadrons were established and designated Photographic Squadrons (VJ), a designator shared at the time by Weather Squadrons and Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons. In 1956, the Photographic Squadrons were redesignated Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons (VAP). In 1959, one VAP squadron was redesignated a Photographic Composite Squadron (VCP), but reverted in 1961 to the VAP designation.

VCP: Composite Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons

In 1959, one VAP and one VFP squadron were redesignated Photographic Composite Squadrons (VCP), but reverted in 1961 to their previous designations.

VF(AW): All Weather Fighter squadrons

In 1956, VC squadrons were redesignated VF squadrons of various types, including AF(AW) for All Weather Fighter squadrons whose fighters had radar for night and all-weather use. VC-3, a night fighter squadron, became a jet transition unit and then was redesignated VF(AW)-3. In 1958, that squadron was disestablished and the VF(AW)-3 designator was given to a different unit: a continental defense interceptor squadron. VF(AW)-4 provided night fighter detachments to Carrier Air Groups.

VJ: Weather or Weather Reconnaissance squadrons and Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons

From 1952 to 1956, VJ designated Photographic Squadrons; from 1952 to 1953, it also designated Weather or Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons. In 1952, two new squadrons were designated Photographic Squadrons VJ-61 and VJ-62; four years later, they were redesignated Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons (VAP) 61 and 62.

VO: Observation squadrons

This last use of VO designated observation squadrons from 1967 to 1968 and has not been used since.

VU: Utility squadrons

The VU designation was used from 1946 to 1965. Before the creation of the VU designation, utility squadrons were designated VJ. In 1965, all VU squadrons were redesignated Fleet Composite (VC) squadrons (third use of the VC designation).

VW: Airborne Early Warning squadrons and Weather Reconnaissance squadrons

From its creation in 1952 until 1971 the VW designation designated "Air Early Warning Squadron", "Airborne Early Warning Squadron", or "Fleet Early Warning Squadron". By 1961 the VW squadrons which were still in existence were transitioned to destructive weather early warning or weather reconnaissance as a primary mission while retaining airborne early warning as a secondary role. In 1955 and 1956 six new VW squadrons were established to operate as early warning squadrons in the Atlantic and Pacific Barriers which were seaward extensions of the nation's Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. These "barrier" VW squadrons did not operate as weather reconnaissance squadrons and they were all disestablished by 1965. In 1967 one of the two remaining VW squadrons was renamed a "Weather Reconnaissance Squadron" (while retaining the VW designation) while the other retained the "Airborne Early Warning" name even though its primary role was also weather reconnaissance. In 1971 that squadron was disestablished and thereafter until the single remaining VW squadron was disestablished in 1975 the VW designation designated solely "Weather Reconnaissance Squadron". In 1975 the VW designation cease being used.

Designations used from 1980 to 2009

Between 1980 and 2010, the rise of the multi-mission fighter-attack aircraft ended the VF and VA designations. As well, the end of the Cold War eliminated the need for squadron types, such as VS, geared solely to countering the Soviet Union.

VA: Attack squadrons and VA designations no longer in use

Several changes to designations were made on 15 November 1946. First, the Bombing (VB) and Torpedo (VT) designations were retired; all such squadrons were redesignated Attack squadrons (VA). Second, the Carrier Air Group designation (CVG) was modified to identify the type of aircraft carrier to which the group was assigned. Henceforth, CVAGs were assigned to Essex-class carriers (sometimes called "Attack" carriers) and CVBGs were assigned to the large Midway-class carriers (sometimes called "Battle" carriers). Two designations from World War II survived: CVLGs (light carrier air group) were assigned to "light" Independence- or Saipan-class carriers, and CVEGs (escort carrier air group) to remaining small WWII escort carriers. Third, and similarly, aircraft squadron designations were appended with an "A", "B", "L", or "E" to denote the type of Carrier Air Group the squadron was assigned. CVAGs and CVBGs were designated with odd numbers; each was assigned two VA squadrons; the first carried the Air Group's number; the second, the Air Group number plus one (CVAG-1: VA-1A, VA-2A; CVBG-1: VA-1B, VA-2B; CVAG-7: VA-7A, VA-8A; CVAG-11; VA-11A, VA-12A etc...) The rules governing the squadron designation system changed twice between 1946 and 1996, when the last Attack squadron switched to the F/A-18 Hornet and was redesignated a Strike Fighter (VFA) squadron. The list below is not a list of disestablished squadrons; it is a list of squadron designations that are no longer in use. Many squadrons carried multiple designations over the years; some were both VA and VF at various times. Sometimes a single squadron was redesignated several times; sometimes a given designation was assigned to several distinct squadrons. Most of the squadron designations in the list belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished, but also included are former designations of some VFA squadrons which are still active.

VAK: Tactical Aerial Refueling squadrons

In 1979, two Naval Reserve VAQ squadrons that performed tanking as their primary mission received the new VAK designation, which was phased out when the squadrons were disestablished in 1989.

VC: Fleet Composite squadrons and VC designations no longer in use

This third and last use of the VC designation was instituted in 1965 as a new designator for VU squadrons: utility units that usually operated more than one type of aircraft for a variety of missions such as aerial target support, missile range support, and fighter training as adversary aircraft. Some VC designations have been used by multiple unrelated squadrons through the years. The table below lists squadron designations that are no longer in use. Some belonged to disestablished squadrons, while others have been deactivated but still exist in an inactive status.

VF: Fighter squadrons and VF designations no longer in use

VFP: Light Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons

In 1949, two new Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons were established as Composite Squadrons VC-61 and VC-62 (see the Disestablished and Deactivated Composite (VC) (second use of the designation) section). In 1956, VC-61 and VC-62 were redesignated Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VFP). In 1959, one VFP squadron was redesignated Photographic Composite Squadron (VCP); it reverted in 1961 to its previous VFP designation.

VS: Air Anti-Submarine and Sea Control squadrons

VS, which had been formally removed from the squadron designation system in 1946, was resurrected in 1950, when VC squadrons that operated Anti-Submarine Aircraft were redesignated Air Anti-Submarine Squadrons (VS). In September 1993, the name of the VS designation was changed from "Air Anti-Submarine Squadron" to "Sea Control Squadron" to reflect the squadrons' S-3B Vikings' ability to fight surface ships as well as submarines. The designation is no longer in active use but is still attached to 11 deactivated VS squadrons.

VXE and VXN: Antarctic Development (VXE) and Oceanographic Development (VXN) squadrons

The VXE and VXN designations were created in 1969 for two specialized VX squadrons that were supporting Antarctic and oceanographic research. The VXN designation was discontinued in 1993 with the disestablishment of VXN-8. No active squadron has carried the VXE designation since 1999, though it continues to designate the inactive VXE-6.

Designations still in use

VAQ: Tactical Electronics Warfare squadrons and Electronic Attack squadrons

By the late 1950s, Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) squadrons, which used radar to detect airborne threats, had also begun developing electronic countermeasures equipment and procedures. Two squadrons (VAW-13 and VAW-33) were equipped for this purpose and provided specialized aircraft detachments to deploying carrier air groups. In 1968, those two squadrons were renamed "Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron" to more accurately describe their role and differentiate them from the other VAW squadrons; just a few months later, they received the new VAQ designation. Also receiving the new designation were some VAH squadrons whose KA-3 tankers had been fitted with electronic countermeasures equipment. (See the VAH section.) On 30 March 1998, the name of the designation was changed to "Electronic Attack Squadron" and all VAQ squadrons then in existence were renamed from "Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron-" to "Electronic Attack Squadron-".

VAW: Carrier Airborne Early Warning squadrons

The VAW designation was first used in July 1948 with the establishment of VAW-1 and VAW-2 to designate "Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron". It was in use for only a month as in August 1948 VAW-1 and VAW-2 were redesignated "Composite Squadron" VC-11 and VC-12. In 1948 the VAW designation was resurrected when VC-11 and VC-12 were redesignated VAW-11 and VAW-12. In 1967, VAW-11 and VAW-12 which were large land based squadrons that provided detachments of Airborne Early Warning aircraft to deploying carrier air wings were redesignated as wings and each of their detachments were established as separate squadrons. Established from VAW-11 were RVAW-110 (a FRS), VAW-111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 and established from VAW-12 were RVAW-120 (a FRS), VAW-121, 122, 123, 124. For a short time in 1968 the VAW designation designated "Tactical Electronics Warfare squadron" as well as "Airborne Early Warning squadron" when VAW-13 and VAW-33 which had been operating as electronic countermeasures squadrons were retitled as such until they were redesignated with the new VAQ designation later that year (see the VAQ section). In 2019 the name of the designation was changed to "Airborne Command and Control Squadron" and all VAW squadrons then in existence were renamed from "Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron-" to "Airborne Command and Control Squadron-". Note: The parenthetical (First use), (Second use) and (1st), (2nd) appended to some designations in the table below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once.

VFA: Fighter Attack and Strike Fighter squadrons

The VFA designation was created in 1980 when the VA squadrons flying the LTV A-7E Corsair II attack aircraft began transitioning to the new McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet fighter attack aircraft. The designation combined the "F" fighter and "A" attack designations from the VF and VA designations to create the new "Fighter Attack (VFA) Squadron" designation. In 1983 the VFA designation was renamed from "Fighter Attack Squadron" to "Strike Fighter Squadron" and all then existing VFA squadrons were renamed from "Fighter Attack Squadron-____" to "Strike Fighter Squadron-_____".

VP: Patrol squadrons and VP Designations no longer in use. Also VA(HM), VPB, VB

VP and VPU: Patrol squadrons

VQ: Fleet Air Reconnaissance squadrons

In 1961 the VQ designation which from 1955 had designated "Electronic Countermeasures Squadron" through 1960 was changed to "Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron" as the squadrons rather than simply jamming communications and electronic signals had by then been equipped to collect them for intelligence purposes.

VR and VRC: Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons

The VR designation was first used in 1948 to designate Transport or Air Transport or Fleet Logistics Air squadrons. In 1958 the name of the designation was changed to Fleet Tactical Support squadron and in 1976 it was again changed to Fleet Logistics Support squadrons as it remains today. In 1960 the VRC designation was created to designate squadrons which operated logistics aircraft capable of landing on and taking off from aircraft carriers - Carrier Onboard Delivery. The designation name was the same as the VR designation of the time or Fleet Tactical Support squadron. In 1976 the designation was changed to Fleet Logistics Support squadron along with the change in name of the VR designation.

VT: Training squadrons

The VT designation was variously used from 1920 to designate squadrons armed with torpedoes until 1946 when all remaining VT squadrons were redesignated Attack (VA) squadrons. On 1 May 1960 the VT designation was resurrected and existing flying training units were designated "Training Squadrons (VT)". From 1947 to 1960 training units were not designated as squadrons, they were "units" or "groups" called Basic Training Groups (BTG), Advanced Training Units (ATU), Jet Transition Training Units (JTTU) or Multi Engine Training Groups (METG).

VX: Experimental and Development squadrons

The VX designation first appeared in 1927 to designate "Experimental Squadron" and was used until 1943. It was used again beginning in 1946 when four "Experimental and Development" squadrons were established to develop and evaluate new equipment and methods. From 1946 to 1968 the designation was variously "Experimental and Development" squadron, "Operational Development" squadron, "Air Operational Development" squadron and "Air Development" squadron. In 1969 the designation changed to "Air Test and Evaluation" squadron and it remains as such today.

Helicopter squadrons

See: List of inactive United States Navy helicopter squadrons.

Blimp Patrol Squadrons (ZP)

References and notes

Notes References Bibliography