The squadron which is the subject of this article was established as Composite Squadron VC-31 on 28 September 1948 at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) on 20 April 1950[1] and moved to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger, these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S-2 Tracker in 1954, and finally by the Lockheed S-3 Viking. In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and eventually to NAS Jacksonville.[2] On 1 October 1993 the VS designation was changed from "Air Anti-Submarine Squadron" to "Sea Control Squadron and VS-31 (along with all existing VS squadrons at the time) was renamed Sea Control Squadron VS-31.[3] It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville effective 31 March 2008, with a deactivation ceremony which took place on 27 March.[4]
The squadron performed carrier operations aboard various aircraft carriers. In 1956 it provided ASW support during the Suez Crisis from Antietam(CV-36). In 1958, from Wasp(CV-18), it served during the Lebanon Crisis, and also during the 1961 Berlin Crisis and the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis. In May 1963 it was stationed for the recovery of Mercury 9, and then for the recovery of Gemini 4 in June 1965. In 1990 the squadron participated in "Operation Desert Shield", arriving in the Red Sea within a few days of the invasion of Kuwait. In August 1992, the Topcats and the rest of CVW-7 switched aircraft carriers to the USS George Washington (CVN-73), the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. VS-31 deployed for Washington’s maiden cruise and then again for the carrier’s first Mediterranean Sea deployment in May 1994 where she took part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion and Operation Deny Flight. In 1998, the squadron was deployed aboard the John C. Stennis(CVN-74) on its maiden voyage, during which it spent 131 days in the Persian Gulf supporting "Operation Southern Watch".[2] The squadron returned from its final deployment aboard the John C. Stennis in August 2007, after supporting Operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom".[4]
References
^ ab"Enclosure (2): Current Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage List".
^ abcPike, John (2011). "VS-31 Sea Control Squadron 31". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
^Takafumi, Hiroe (2011). "Sea Control Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VS-31)". gonavy.jp. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
^ abJackson, T. (2011). "The Navy Bids Farewell to VS-31". navy.mil. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
External links
vpnavy.com : VS-31
amarcexperience.com : VS-31 history
January 31, 2023
control, squadron, topcats, united, states, navy, anti, submarine, warfare, squadron, control, squadron, insigniaactive28, september, 1948, march, 2008, country, united, statesbranchunited, states, navyroleanti, submarine, warfareformer, homeportnas, jacksonvi. Sea Control Squadron 31 VS 31 Topcats was a United States Navy anti submarine warfare squadron Sea Control Squadron 31VS 31 InsigniaActive28 September 1948 31 March 2008 1 Country United StatesBranchUnited States NavyRoleAnti submarine warfareFormer homeportNAS JacksonvilleNickname s Topcats Aircraft flownDouglas SBD DauntlessCurtiss SB2C HelldiverGrumman TBF AvengerGrumman AF GuardianGrumman S 2 TrackerLockheed S 3 VikingEngagementsSuez CrisisLebanon CrisisBerlin CrisisOperation Desert ShieldOperation Southern WatchOperation Iraqi FreedomOperation Enduring FreedomDecorationsMeritorious Unit Commendation 5 Joint Meritorious Unit AwardCNO Aviation Safety Award 8 During WWII there was a scouting squadron which carried the designation VS 31 It was established as Scouting Squadron 31 in 1942 based at Naval Air Station Squantum Massachusetts It flew the dive bombers Douglas SBD 5 Dauntless then the Curtiss SB2C 4E Helldiver in the North Atlantic until disestablished at the end of the war in 1945 2 The squadron which is the subject of this article was established as Composite Squadron VC 31 on 28 September 1948 at NAS Atlantic City New Jersey was re designated Air Anti Submarine Squadron 31 VS 31 on 20 April 1950 1 and moved to NAS Quonset Point Rhode Island Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S 2 Tracker in 1954 and finally by the Lockheed S 3 Viking In 1973 VS 31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field Florida and eventually to NAS Jacksonville 2 On 1 October 1993 the VS designation was changed from Air Anti Submarine Squadron to Sea Control Squadron and VS 31 along with all existing VS squadrons at the time was renamed Sea Control Squadron VS 31 3 It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville effective 31 March 2008 with a deactivation ceremony which took place on 27 March 4 Operational history Edit An S 3A of VS 31 assigned to CVW 7 aboard USS Dwight D Eisenhower CVN 69 in 1987 The squadron performed carrier operations aboard various aircraft carriers In 1956 it provided ASW support during the Suez Crisis from Antietam CV 36 In 1958 from Wasp CV 18 it served during the Lebanon Crisis and also during the 1961 Berlin Crisis and the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis In May 1963 it was stationed for the recovery of Mercury 9 and then for the recovery of Gemini 4 in June 1965 In 1990 the squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield arriving in the Red Sea within a few days of the invasion of Kuwait In August 1992 the Topcats and the rest of CVW 7 switched aircraft carriers to the USS George Washington CVN 73 the Navy s newest aircraft carrier VS 31 deployed for Washington s maiden cruise and then again for the carrier s first Mediterranean Sea deployment in May 1994 where she took part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the D Day invasion and Operation Deny Flight In 1998 the squadron was deployed aboard the John C Stennis CVN 74 on its maiden voyage during which it spent 131 days in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch 2 The squadron returned from its final deployment aboard the John C Stennis in August 2007 after supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom 4 References Edit a b Enclosure 2 Current Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage List a b c Pike John 2011 VS 31 Sea Control Squadron 31 GlobalSecurity org Retrieved 26 November 2011 Takafumi Hiroe 2011 Sea Control Squadron THIRTY ONE VS 31 gonavy jp Retrieved 26 November 2011 a b Jackson T 2011 The Navy Bids Farewell to VS 31 navy mil Retrieved 26 November 2011 External links Editvpnavy com VS 31 amarcexperience com VS 31 history Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VS 31 amp oldid 1103974851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
