Pistols, shotguns, rifles, canons, rockets, bombs, torpedoes, mines and missiles. All to protect, defend and project the United States of America as directed by the elected civilian government. This change has confounded people that would like to find direct linkage between fighting units of 1911 and the present. These people would like to trace squadron DNA but squadrons lack DNA, the squadron units are only an organizational standard. Fundamentally naval aviation units are established, redesignated, and disestablished.
Naval squadrons come and go like cats in a dairy barn.
Each squadron established has a purpose and as the purpose changes so must the squadron. Most times it is easier and more economical to form a new squadron with a new purpose than update a squadron trained for another purpose. The constant in this is the Naval Aviator and the supporting operational, administrative and maintenance staff that are trained and retrained for the evolving mission. Guided by the above the Skyhawk Webmaster has linked many squadrons in the heritages presented on the Skyhawk Association Website. More Traveled the Naval Historical Center has a differing view.