Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) was originally established on June 1st, 1967, originally designated “Attack Squadron 97 (VA-97)”. The re-designation to VFA-97 occurred in 1991 when the squadron switch from the A-7 Corsair II to the F/A-18. VA-97’s flew its first combat mission in 1968 in Vietnam as part of the Carrier Air Wing 14 on the USS Constellation. In 1967, the squadron was awarded the Wade McClusky Award, the CNO Aviation Safety Award, and the Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award, also known as the “Triple Crown” of Naval aviation awards.
Throughout the years, VFA-97 was assigned to various Air Wings, and Carrier, including the USS Enterprise, USS Coral Sea, and the USS Kitty Hawk. In 1995, VFA-97 was assigned to CVW-11, and in 1997, assigned to the USS Carl Vinson, which brings us to the historical inception of VCVW-11 in DCS.
VCVW-11 Squadron VFA-97 is the premier attack squadron of VCVW-11. Formed in spring-summer of 2018, VFA-97 is the only squadron in USLANTCOM whose real-life counterpart operated in the original namesake airwing (CVW-11). VFA-97’s original mission role in the airwing was suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and while the division of mission roles between squadrons has all but dissolved in USLANTCOM, we still take the role of SEAD very seriously, and pride ourselves on our expertise therein. In BlackFlag 2019, VFA-97 was awarded the Wade McClusky as the Top Naval Attack Squadron in the Air Wing.
Virtual USLANTCOM is a community of like-minded simulation enthusiasts that are in no way connected or affiliated with the real-life military or government entities that we have assimilated for entertainment purposes only. It is out of our sheer admiration for the men, women, and equipment that keep our values safe, that we seek to honor them by wearing the colors they bear — in the spirit of both gratitude, and humility.
