View source for VFA-2

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Strike Fighter Squadron Two
| image                         = VFA-2 Emblem.svg
| image_size                    = 
| caption                       = 
| dates                         = 1 October 1972 - present
| country                       = {{USA}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{navy|USA}}
| type                          = Fighter/Attack
| role                          = [[Close air support]]<br/>[[Air interdiction]]<br/>[[Aerial reconnaissance]]
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = {{nowrap|[[File:CVW-2 Emblem.svg|30px|]][[Carrier Air Wing Two]]}}
| garrison                      = {{nowrap|[[File:NAS Lemoore Emblem.svg|30px|]][[NAS Lemoore]]}}
| equipment                     = 
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander             = CDR Nicholas "Chet" Zerler
| notable_commanders            = 
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = Bullet
| identification_symbol_label   = Call sign
<!-- Culture and history -->
| nickname                      = "Bounty Hunters"
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = Red, white, blue, yellow
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = [[Operation Frequent Wind]]<br>[[Iranian Hostage Crisis]]<br>[[Operation Earnest Will]]<br>[[Gulf War]]<br>[[Unified Task Force|Operation Restore Hope]]<br>[[Operation Southern Watch]]<br>[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<br>[[Iraq War]]<br>[[Operation Unified Assistance]]<br />[[Operation Prosperity Guardian]]<br/>[[Operation Poseidon Archer]]
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = [[Battle Efficiency Award|Battle Efficiency "E"]]
| battle_honours                = 
| aircraft_fighter              = [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]]<br>[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
}}

'''Strike Fighter Squadron 2''' (VFA-2) also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a [[United States Navy]] [[F/A-18F Super Hornet]] strike fighter squadron based at [[Naval Air Station Lemoore]], California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet". They are attached to [[Carrier Air Wing 2]] (CVW-2), a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions that deploy aboard the {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|2}}.

==History==
Four distinct squadrons have been designated VF-2. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation.<ref>{{cite vf lineage|access-date=6 October 2016}}</ref> Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.

===1970s===
[[File:F-14A VF-2 USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) 1975.jpg|thumb|left|VF-2 [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14As]] aboard {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} during their first deployment, 1975]]
VF-2, known as the "Bounty Hunters," was established on 14 October 1972 flying the [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcat]]. VF-2 completed aircrew training and received its first Tomcats in July 1973, attaining full strength of 12 F-14As in the spring of 1974.

VF-2's initial deployment was in 1974 with her sister squadron [[VF-1]] aboard {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}. The squadron flew over [[Saigon]] in support of [[Operation Frequent Wind]], the evacuation of US personnel in April, 1975.
Deployed on USS Enterprise Westpac 1978 Ports of call: Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Subic Bay Philippines, Singapore, Perth Australia, Hong Kong

===1980s===
[[File:DN-SC-89-09794 F-14A VF-2 1xAIM-54 3xAIM-7 3xAIM-9.jpg|thumb|VF-2 F-14A equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles, 1988]]
VF-2 was assigned to {{USS|Ranger|CVA-61|6}} for the September 1980 deployment, 4 months of which were spent in the [[Indian Ocean]] and [[Persian Gulf]] during the [[Iran hostage crisis]].

The squadron was the first Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System ([[TARPS]]) unit for both [[CVW-14]] and later [[CVW-2]].

VF-2 deployed aboard {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|6}} in 1984 In March 1984, ''Kitty Hawk'' participated in "[[Team Spirit]]" exercises in the [[Sea of Japan]]. The Soviet {{sclass2|Victor|submarine|0}} nuclear attack [[submarine]] {{ship|Soviet submarine|K-314||2}} shadowed the task group. On 21 March, at the conclusion of the Sea of Japan part of the exercise, ''K-314'' surfaced directly in front of ''Kitty Hawk'', and at 22:05 hrs, too dark and far too close for ''Kitty Hawk'' to see and avoid the resulting collision, the vessels came in contact, resulting in minor damage to the carrier, and significant damage to the Soviet submarine. ''Kitty Hawk'' reported to the U.S. Naval Base at [[Subic Bay]] in the [[Philippines]] for repairs. A piece of one of ''K-314''{{'}}s propellers was embedded in ''Kitty Hawk''{{'}}s bow, as were some chunks of the Soviet [[Anechoic tiles|anechoic coating]], from scraping along the side of the sub. On 2 June 1984, VF-2 became the first squadron to launch an F-14 from an aircraft carrier while towing an air-to-air gunnery target. In 1987, the squadron logged ''Ranger''’s 260,000th landing. The carrier returned to San Diego on 1 August 1984 and VF-2 returned for multiple ''Ranger'' deployments throughout the 1980s.

Following that cruise, VF-2 and CVW-2 returned to USS ''Ranger'' for her remaining five deployments. In 1987, CVW-2 was largely composed of Grumman aircraft. The "Grumman Air Wing" deployed to the Western Pacific/Indian Ocean in July 1987, flying many "Earnest Will" escort missions into the [[Persian Gulf]]. On 19 October 1987, ''Ranger'' took part in [[Operation Nimble Archer]], an attack on two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf by US Navy forces.

===1990s===

[[File:F-14D VF-2 takeoff fom USS Constellation (CV-64).jpg|thumb|F-14D Tomcat from VF-2  passing the bow of the aircraft carrier ''USS Constellation'' after having been launched from one of the waist catapults]]
The unit participated in [[Operation Desert Storm]], flying over 500 combat mission from USS ''Ranger'' operating in the Persian Gulf. VF-2 performed escort, reconnaissance and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions. In 1992, after taking in [[Operation Southern Watch]], CVW-2 sailed to [[Somalia]] becoming the first Air Wing to take part in [[Unified Task Force|Operation Restore Hope]], providing air cover, photo and visual reconnaissance, airborne air traffic control, logistics support, and on-call close air support for [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] amphibious forces alongside its sister squadron VF-1. After the 1992-1993 cruise, USS ''Ranger'' was decommissioned (along with VF-2’s sister squadron [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]]), and VF-2 was switched to the {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}. At the same time, VF-2 transitioned to the F-14D Tomcat. Several months after the 1995 cruise, VF-2 was awarded the battle "E" and relocated from [[NAS Miramar]] to [[NAS Oceana]] due to a [[Base Realignment and Closure]] (BRAC) decision to make Miramar a Marine Corps Air Station.

In April 1996, VF-2's F-14Ds were modified to carry the [[LANTIRN]] infrared targeting pod, giving them precision strike capabilities.

During their 1999 cruise, VF-2 supported [[Operation Southern Watch]] and on 9 September, attacked [[Surface-to-Air Missile]] sites and anti-aircraft guns around [[Basra]]. The same day, a VF-2 Tomcat engaged 2 [[Iraqi Air Force]] [[MiG-23]]’s that were heading south into the [[No-Fly Zone]] from [[Al-Taqaddum Air Base]], west of [[Baghdad]] with [[AIM-54 Phoenix]]es. The missiles did not score as the MiGs turned north once they detected the missile launch.

===2000s===
[[File:US Navy 030518-N-0295M-008 An F-14D Tomcat comes in for a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) after completing Aerial Combat Maneuvers (ACM) training.jpg|thumb|right|VF-2 F-14D landing aboard {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}, in 2003]]

[[File:US Navy 050714-N-0000I-004 F-A-18F Super Hornets prepare to launch from the flight deck aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).jpg|thumb|right|VFA-2 F/A-18Fs aboard {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}}, in 2005]]
In mid 2001, VF-2 deployed aboard {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}} in support of [[Operation Southern Watch]].

During the 2002-2003 deployment, the final cruise with the Tomcat, VF-2 participated in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] flying a wide range of missions including reconnaissance, close air support, CAP and strike missions. On 28 February 2003, during Operation Southern Watch, a VF-2 aircraft delivered the 1st Tomcat [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAM]] in combat. During this deployment, VF-2 flew 483 sorties and dropped 294 [[Laser-guided bomb]]'s/JDAMs/MK-82 bombs.

On 1 July 2003, VF-2 was redesignated VFA-2, and began transition to the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]] receiving its first aircraft on 6 October 2003.

VFA-2 deployed to the Western Pacific aboard {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} with CVW-2 in October, 2004. They returned in March 2005 after supporting [[Operation Unified Assistance]] which provided humanitarian support to [[Southeast Asia]] after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]].

In 2006, VFA-2 and CVW-2 embarked on a WESTPAC deployment.

On 13 March 2008, VFA-2 embarked with CVW-2 aboard USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' on a 7-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, returning home on 8 October.

===2010s===
Between 24 and 31 March 2006, during [[Foal Eagle]] 2006 exercises, strike squadrons VFA-2, [[VFA-34]], [[VFA-137]], and [[VFA-151]] teamed with U.S. Air Force aircraft from the [[18th Wing]] based at [[Kadena Air Base]] to provide combat air patrols and coordinated bombing runs via the exercise's Combined Air Operations Center.<ref>{{cite press release |first=M. Jeremie |last=Yoder |title=Lincoln Wraps Up Successful Exercise, Heads for Port | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=23032 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025202930/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=23032 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 25 October 2012 |publisher=Navy.mil |date=27 March 2006 |access-date=26 March 2013 }}</ref>

On 11 September 2010, VFA-2 deployed with CVW-2 aboard USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' to the [[Arabian Sea]] and [[Persian Gulf]].<ref>{{cite press release|first=Greg D. |last=Raelson |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=55955 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805070754/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=55955 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Conducts Training During Transit West |publisher=Navy.mil |date=13 September 2010 |access-date=26 March 2013 }}</ref>

The squadron has transitioned to newer Block II F/A-18F Super Hornet equipped with the [[Active electronically scanned array|AESA]] radar.

=== 2020s ===
The squadrons current Commanding Officer, CDR Timmester, will be the last navy squadron commander to have flown in the F-14 Tomcat. VFA-2 is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 on the USS Carl Vinson.

In mid November 2024, VFA-2 and their F/A-18Fs departed the US as part of CVW-2 on a scheduled deployment aboard the {{USS|Carl Vinson|}}

Following multiple exercises with Pacific Rim militaries, VFA-2 and CVW-2 were ordered to operate in the Red Sea in defense of international shipping lanes and Israel against Houthi/Iran proxy military unit attacks from Yemen. 

VFA-2 and CVW-2 arrived in the CENTCOM AOR in early April 2025 with extensive combat operations against the Houthis/Iranians commencing upon arrival to the region.

==See also==
*[[Naval aviation]]
*[[Military aviation]]
*[[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
*[[List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
*[[VF-2 (1927–1942)]]
*[[VF-2 (1943–1945)]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (United States Navy)}}
* {{cite web|title = Official Website: Strike Fighter Squadron 2 | url= http://www.vfa2.navy.mil/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120725072509/http://www.vfa2.navy.mil/ | url-status= dead | archive-date= 25 July 2012 |access-date=26 March 2013 }}
* {{cite web|title=Global Security.org: Strike Fighter Squadron 2 |url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vf-2.htm  |access-date=26 March 2013 }}
* {{cite journal|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/2000s/2004/ma/bountyhunters.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041106172513/http://history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/2000s/2004/ma/bountyhunters.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 6 November 2004 |title=From Tomcats to Super Hornets: VF-2 Becomes VFA-2 |journal=Naval Aviation News |date=March–April 2003 |access-date=26 March 2013 }}

{{US Navy navbox}}
{{United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfa-2}}
[[Category:Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in California]]