VFA - 192 Strike Fighter Squadron 192 ( VFA - 192 ) , also known as the " World Famous Golden Dragons " , are a United States Navy F / A - 18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore . They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 , their tailcode is " NG " , and their radio callsign is " Dragon " . Squadron Insignia and Nickname . The squadron ’ s first insignia was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations on 11 October 1945 and consisted of a reddish brown kangaroo with crimson boxing gloves on a white cloud . The squadron was known as the " Fightin ' Kangaroos " . Following the squadron ’ s redesignation to VF - 15A , the squadron changed its name to the " Black Knights " and a new insignia was approved on 24 November 1947 . It was a black helmet with gold markings and a gold shield . When the squadron was redesignated VF - 151 , the helmet / shield insignia was modified and the Latin inscription " In Omnia Paratus " was added , meaning " ever ready " . A new squadron insignia was approved on 8 August 1950 , consisting of a silver dragon and grey / black aircraft carrier . This design was modified with a yellow dragon , white nuclear symbol and white cloud with a red rising center when the squadron became VA - 192 on 21 June 1956 . The squadron took on the nickname " Golden Dragons " at this time . History . 1940s . Strike Fighter Squadron 192 was originally established as Fighter Squadron 153 ( VF - 153 ) on March 26 , 1945 at NAS Atlantic City flying the F6F - 3 Hellcat . The squadron received F6F - 5s in April , and relocated to NAAS Oceana in June . The squadron moved to NAS Alameda in August 1946 , and was redesignated to Fighter Squadron 15A on 15 November 1946 . The squadron ’ s first deployment was aboard from March – October 1947 . Immediately following their return , the squadron transitioned to the F8F - 1 Bearcat in November 1947 . The squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron 151 ( VF - 151 ) on 15 July 1948 . In February 1949 , half of the squadron ’ s personnel and aircraft deployed aboard USS Boxer ( CV - 21 ) for a Pacific Fleet Minor Cold Weather Exercise near Kodiak , Alaska . They upgraded to the F8F - 2 model of the Bearcat in July 1949 . 1950s . In January 1950 , the squadron sailed from Alameda aboard . It was redesignated Fighter Squadron 192 on February 15 , and returned from the Western Pacific in June . Immediately upon return , VF - 192 transitioned to the F4U - 4 Corsair . The squadron deployed aboard from November 1950 to June 1951 in support of the Korean War . On 5 December 1950 , the squadron flew its first combat missions , providing close air support for U . S . Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea . On 1 May 1951 , the squadron participated in a special strike against the Hwachon Dam with VF - 193 and VA - 195 . The purpose of the mission was to destroy the flood gates and raise the level of the river to form a natural barrier against the enemy ’ s advance . VF - 192 F4U - 4s were tasked with flak and small arms suppression . After deployment , the squadron the squadron moved to NAS Moffett Field and began to transition to the jet - powered F9F - 2 Panther , receiving several of these aircraft in July 1951 . However , all of these aircraft were transferred to VF - 191 in October 1951 , and VF - 192 continued to fly the F4U - 4 . The squadron deployed for Korea aboard " Princeton " again from March – November 1952 . On 23 – 24 June , the squadron , along with units from two other carrier air groups , conducted coordinated air strikes against North Korean hydroelectric plants . In one of the major joint Navy , Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war , VF - 192 ' s Corsairs struck the Suiho hydroelectric plant on the Yalu River , and the Kyosen and the Fusen hydroelectric plants . In July , VF - 192 participated in another joint strike , hitting industrial targets in North Korea ’ s capital city of Pyongyang . Early in 1953 , the Black Knights entered the jet age by receiving the F9F - 2 and F9F - 5 Panther fresh off the assembly line . The squadron deployed aboard in September 1953 , and during that cruise to the Orient , the pilots participated in the filming of " The Bridges at Toko - Ri " . It was the debut of this film that earned the squadron the name “ World Famous Golden Dragons . ” On January 19 , 1956 , the squadron upgraded to the swept - wing F9F - 6 Cougar and their mission changed to include the aircraft ' s ground weapons delivery capability . On March 15 , 1956 , the official designation of the squadron was changed from Fighter Squadron to Attack Squadron 192 ( VA - 192 ) . The squadron received its first F9F - 8s in June 1956 . VA - 192 , now known as the " Golden Dragons " , transitioned to the FJ - 4B Fury in December 1957 , and following an exchange of aircraft , maintainers and support equipment with VA - 216 , transitioned again to the A4D - 2 Skyhawk in July 1959 . 1960s . In December 1962 , the squadron moved from Moffet Field to NAS Lemoore , California , and on November 21 , 1964 , after completing almost ten months in the Western Pacific , the Dragons returned from their fourth consecutive cruise aboard . After a four - month turnaround , they deployed aboard the “ Bonnie Dick ” in April 1965 for a ten - month cruise in support of the Vietnam War . A new and more powerful A - 4E “ Skyhawk , ” with the ability to carry a greater bomb load , was received in June 1966 . The squadron deployed again to Yankee Station in October 1966 aboard USS Ticonderoga ( CV - 14 ) . During this deployment , Golden Dragon LCDR Michael J . Estocin greatly distinguished himself in the air arena , posthumous ly earning the Medal of Honor for his gallantry and courage while flying two separate missile suppression missions to Haiphong . On the second mission , Commander Estocin ' s A - 4 was shot down and he was listed as MIA ; on 10 November 1977 his MIA status was changed to presumed KIA . In his memory , the Navy ’ s award for the best F / A - 18 Hornet squadron is called the Michael J . Estocin Award . In July 1967 , the " Golden Dragons " became the first operational fleet squadron to receive the new A - 4F Skyhawk , and in December of that year the " Dragons " again deployed aboard " Ticonderoga " . In March 1968 , VA - 192 , along with other squadrons in CVW - 19 , conducted flight operations from " Tico " in the Sea of Japan as part of Operation Formation Star - a continuing show of American forces in the area following the capture of USS Pueblo ( AGER - 2 ) by North Korea . In April 1969 , the Golden Dragons made their last deployment with the A - 4F aboard USS Oriskany ( CV - 34 ) . It was during this cruise that the squadron was recognized for an amazing safety record during extensive combat operations . Specifically , this safety record spanned over 55 accident - free months , 30 , 477 flight hours and 11 , 580 carrier landings . No other carrier jet squadron had ever achieved such a safety record up to that time . After this , the World Famous Golden Dragons Commanding Officer realized the squadron had earned the Super Smokin ' Hot moniker leading to the S . S . H . W . F . G . D . name . 1970s . VA - 192 took delivery of their first A - 7E Corsair II in February 1970 . On 6 November 1970 , the squadron deployed aboard . During this cruise , VA - 192 ’ s “ Laotian Highway Patrol ” set an all - time record for ordnance dropped on a single cruise , over 15 million pounds , while flying more than 6 , 600 flight hours and amassing 2 , 901 arrested landings . The " Dragons " delivered this record amount of ordnance on enemy supply routes both day and night , in all kinds of weather , without losing a single man or aircraft . After returning to NAS Lemoore in July 1971 , the " Dragons " immediately began preparing for another combat cruise to Southeast Asia . On 17 February 1972 , the squadron departed on their sixth Vietnam combat cruise , flying their first combat sorties on 5 March 1972 . In May 1972 , squadron aircraft participated in the mining of North Vietnamese harbours and Linebacker I operations , concentrated air strikes against targets in North Vietnam . The Golden Dragons flew over 3 , 600 combat strikes while participating in seven combat line periods over a record 192 days . From late 1973 to 1978 , the squadron made several WestPac deployments aboard the USS " Kitty Hawk " . In November 1973 , VA - 192 deployed with CVW - 11 and " Kitty Hawk " as part of the first CV concept air wing deployment on the west coast . This concept employed all aspects of carrier aviation warfare into one air wing deployed on a single deck . On 3 March 1979 the squadron embarked aboard at Norfolk , Virginia , for their first Mediterranean cruise . 1980s . The squadron deployed for a second Mediterranean cruise aboard " America " on from April to November 1981 , spending 202 of 220 days at sea . In November 1982 , the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing 9 and became a part of the team . In Jul – August 1983 , " Ranger " , with VA - 912 embarked , was ordered to operate off the coast of Nicaragua in response to an unstable situation in Central America . From October 1983 to January 1984 : Ranger , with VA - 192 embarked , was extended on station in the Arabian Sea due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf . By early 1985 , the Golden Dragons began to prepare for transition to the F / A - 18 Hornet . About half of the A - 7E ’ s and personnel who maintained them had been transferred from the squadron when the Dragons were ordered to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan under the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program . In less than three months , the squadron was fully manned and equipped with 12 A - 7E ’ s , and on June 3 , 1985 launched for a three day transpacific flight to Iwakuni . Upon arrival , the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 12 under the 1st Marine Air Wing . The squadron returned to Lemoore for Christmas , and on January 10 , 1986 the Golden Dragons were re - designated Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Two ( VFA - 192 ) . While in FA - 18 Hornet transition training under VFA - 125 . On February 14 , 1986 , exactly 16 years after the first Dragon Corsair II was accepted , VA - 192 transferred its last A - 7E . The squadron received their first FA - 18A on 5 May 1986 . This new beginning also included notification that the squadron would be changing homeport to join CVW - 5 and out of Yokosuka , Japan . This change became official on 1 July 1986 , and in November the " Golden Dragons " executed their second transpacific movement in eighteen months in new F / A - 18 Hornets to NAF Atsugi , Japan . 1987 began with VFA - 192 ’ s first deployment embarked in " Midway " as a member of the restructured CVW - 5 . The next twelve months included 261 days of embarked operations in the South China Sea , Indian Ocean , and Arabian Sea . During November and December , the Dragons participated in Operation Earnest Will , providing air cover for the escort of reflagged Kuwait oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf . 1990s . On October 2 , 1990 , the squadron set sail aboard " Midway " for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield . When Operation Desert Storm began on the night of January 17 , 1991 , the Golden Dragons attacked Iraqi missile batteries . Over the next 43 days , the Golden Dragons flew 576 combat sorties , dropping over 730 , 000 pounds of ordnance . In March , VFA - 192 and the " Midway " Battle Group departed the Persian Gulf , returning home to Yokosuka following seven months of deployment . On August 21 , 1991 , VFA - 192 and CVW - 5 embarked for the last time aboard " Midway " prior to her retirement and replacement as the forward deployed carrier by . During the turnover at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , the squadron also traded their F / A - 18A aircraft for newer F / A - 18Cs . On April 15 , 1992 , the Golden Dragons deployed for the first time aboard " Independence " , participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea in Sydney , Australia . The Dragons were also a part of the battle group that spearheaded Operation Southern Watch ( OSW ) , establishing the Iraqi no - fly zone south of the 32nd parallel north . In Fall 1993 , Summer 1995 , and again in Winter 1998 , the Golden Dragons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW . On July 7 , 1998 , the Golden Dragons and CVW - 5 embarked for the last time aboard " Independence " . In Hawaii , the squadron moved to , and upgraded aircraft to Lot 17 F / A - 18Cs . The Golden Dragons deployed again on March 2 , 1999 for the South Pacific and to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW . 2000s . After the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 , the squadron began preparations for an emergency deployment and began training at Iwo Jima while " Kitty Hawk " sortied from Yokosuka . Within a week the Dragons were again carrier qualified and ready to sail . Instead , CVW - 5 was divided to fill urgent requirements elsewhere in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . CVW - 5 Detachment A , comprised FA - 18Cs from VFA - 192 and VFA - 195 , S - 3 ’ s from VS - 21 and HH - 60 ’ s from HS - 14 , sailed aboard " Kitty Hawk " to the Indian Ocean with a large Special Operations contingent embarked . The Spec Ops force moved from " Kitty Hawk " into Afghanistan while the aircraft provided close air support ( CAS ) until November 2001 . Detachment B , comprised FA - 18Cs from VFA - 27 and manned with pilots from all three CVW - 5 Hornet squadrons , deployed to the U . S . Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia to provide air defense of the Maritime Pre - positioned Fleet and USAF bomber force deployed there . In January 2003 , VFA - 192 deployed aboard " Kitty Hawk " to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . The squadron flew 339 combat missions and dropped 224 , 000 pounds of ordnance including 283 JDAM and LGB bombs . After 100 consecutive days at sea , the Dragons returned to Japan in May On December 15 , 2009 , VFA - 192 departed NAF Atsugi and CVW - 5 as part of a homeport change to NAS Lemoore and CVW - 9 . Likewise , VFA - 115 arrived in NAF Atsugi on December 13 , 2009 to be the replacement squadron for the Dragons . Upon arrival at NAS Lemoore , VFA - 192 Joined CVW - 9 . Awards . From 1966 to 1969 , the Golden Dragons received four consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Safety Awards . They are six time recipients of the Commander , Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award , most recently for 2009 . They have twice been awarded the Michael J . Estocin award for being the top Strike Fighter Squadron in the Navy . In 1979 , the Golden Dragons were awarded the Bruce Carrier Award for excellence in aviation maintenance . The Golden Dragons earned the Commander , Naval Air Force Pacific Safety - S award consecutively for 1999 and 2000 , 2005 and 2006 , and in 2011 .