VFA - 82 VFA - 82 , Strike Fighter Squadron 82 , known as the " Marauders " was a U . S . Navy strike fighter squadron formerly based at MCAS Beaufort , South Carolina , established in 1967 and deactivated in 2005 . History . Call sign : StreetCar VFA - 82 ' s history dates back to 1 May 1967 , when Attack Squadron 82 ( VA - 82 ) was established as a light attack squadron flying the Vought A - 7A " Corsair II " . The " Marauders " made their first deployment aboard USS " America " during her maiden cruise to North Vietnam in April 1968 . They returned to Southeast Asia in September 1969 aboard the USS " Coral Sea " . The Marauders transitioned to the A - 7E in August 1970 , but in late spring of 1972 , VA - 82 was forced to transition to the A - 7C due to unexpected problems with the A - 7E ' s TF - 41 engines . The Marauders then deployed from Jun 1972 to Mar 1973 aboard USS America ( CV - 66 ) for a ten - month combat cruise . On that deployment , VA - 82 played a role in the attack that destroyed the Thanh Hoa Bridge , a vital link in the North Vietnamese Army supply lines and a target that seemed indestructible during the Vietnam War . Four A - 7Cs from VA - 82 successfully delivered 16 , 000 lbs of high explosives with two planes carrying two 2 , 000 lb ( 910 kg ) Walleyes , while two other carried two , 2 , 000 lb Mk 84 GP bombs . In a simultaneously attack , the centre piling on the bridge w was hit and broke the span in a half . After this , the Thanh Hoa bridge was considered permanently destroyed and removed from the target list . The squadron made several deployments to the Mediterranean during the 1970s , and while doing so received many of the Navy ’ s most prestigious awards including the ADM McClusky award ( Top Naval Attack Squadron ) and Battle " E " in 1976 . In 1975 the " Marauders " deployed aboard the USS " Nimitz " on her maiden cruise . The squadron completed its last cruise with the A - 7E Corsair II in June 1987 . On July 13 , 1987 , VA - 82 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 82 ( VFA - 82 ) . With the delivery of the first aircraft in November 1987 , VFA - 82 became the first F / A - 18C squadron . In 1990 , VFA - 82 escorted the USS " Constellation " around the horn of South America on its way to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania for modernization . December 1990 found VFA - 82 once again aboard the USS " America , " participating in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . The " Marauders " flew 597 combat sorties , 1308 . 9 combat hours and delivered over 1 . 2 million pounds of ordnance over Iraq . In December 1991 , the " Marauders " returned to the USS " America " for a six - month deployment during which VFA - 82 participated in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq , Operation Deny Flight and Operation Sharp Guard in Bosnia and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia . From August 1995 to February 1996 , the " Marauders " joined the USS " America " for her last cruise . From October 1997 through April 1998 , the squadron deployed on board the USS " George Washington " to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch . During 1998 the " Marauders " operated from the decks of three different U . S . aircraft carriers and visited seven different countries . In August 1999 , the " Marauders " bid farewell to NAS Cecil Field and relocated to NAS Jacksonville for the two months prior to deployment . In September 1999 , the " Marauders " deployed on board the USS " John F . Kennedy " in support of Operation Southern Watch . Upon completion of the six - month deployment on board " Big John , " the " Marauders " relocated to their new home , MCAS Beaufort , South Carolina in March 2000 . Following the September 11 , 2001 attacks , the " Marauders " deployed on September 18 , steaming for the Arabian Sea and Afghanistan . During four months of combat operations , VFA - 82 delivered over 440 , 000 pounds of ordnance and totaled over 3000 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . The " Marauders " returned to Beaufort on March 28 , 2002 . The squadron had logged an unprecedented 159 days continuously deployed , the majority of which were combat operations . During the latter half of 2002 , the squadron trained against F - 16 Falcon s in Burlington , Vermont , and at one point were detached to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station , Puerto Rico ; NAS Fallon ; and NAS Key West . During the NAS Key West detachment , " Marauders " pilots had the opportunity to fly against German MiG - 29 s . VFA - 82 was disestablished effective 30 Sept 2005 in accordance with a directive issued on July 5 , 2005 .