VFA - 86 Strike Fighter Squadron 86 ( VFA - 86 ) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore , California . Known as the " Sidewinders " , they fall under the command of Carrier Air Wing Two . Their call sign is " Winder " , tail code is " NE " , and they fly the F / A - 18E Super Hornet . Mission . VFA - 86 supports Carrier Air Wing TWO ’ s mission of providing credible and decisive combat air power anywhere and anytime in support of national tasking . Train , Maintain , Support , and Execute in order to Fight and Win our Nation ’ s Wars . History . 1950s . Reserve Fighter Squadron 921 ( VF - 921 ) was called to active duty from NAS St . Louis on 1 February 1951 for the Korean War flying the F4U Corsair . On 4 February 1953 , the squadron was redesignated VF - 84 , while deployed to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay , Cuba aboard USS Antietam . In June 1953 , the squadron briefly flew the F8F - 2 Bearcat in preparation for transition to the F9F - 5 Panther in November 1953 . The squadron ' s current Sidewinder name and insignia were adopted in April 1954 . On 1 July 1955 the squadron began flying the F7U - 3M Cutlass , was redesignated VA - 86 , and conducted extensive evaluation of the AIM - 7 Sparrow missile . From May 1957 until 1967 , the squadron flew the Douglas A4D Skyhawk , later redesignated the A - 4B Skyhawk . 1960s . In April 1961 VA - 86 operated from USS Independence ( CVA - 62 ) near Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , during the Bay of Pigs Invasion . In November 1962 , the squadron embarked in USS Lexington ( CV - 16 ) during the Cuban Missile Crisis operating off the coast of Jacksonville , Florida . In April – May 1963 , VA - 86 provided A - 4C detachments aboard USS Randolph ( CVS - 15 ) , USS Essex ( CVS - 9 ) and USS Wasp ( CVS - 18 ) . The aircraft were equipped with AIM - 9 Sidewinder missiles to provide the carriers with anti - air warfare capability . On 1 July 1965 , the squadron conducted its first combat missions , flying from " Independence " against targets in South Vietnam . On 1 June 1967 , VA - 86 became the Navy ' s first operational fleet squadron to fly the Vought A - 7 Corsair II , and in September 1969 , VA - 86 transitioned to the E model of the A - 7 . The squadron conducted its second South East Asia combat deployment aboard USS Coral Sea ( CVA - 43 ) from September 1969 to July 1970 . 1970s . In late spring of 1972 , VA - 86 was forced to transition to the A - 7C due to unexpected problems with the A - 7E ' s TF - 41 engines . The " Sidewinders " then deployed from June 1972 to March 1973 aboard USS America ( CV - 66 ) for a ten - month combat cruise , its third to Southeast Asia , participating in several intense and lengthy bombing campaigns , including Operation Linebacker and Linebacker II in late - 1972 . The squadron remained on station until the Paris Peace Accord was signed in late January 1973 . This was the squadron ’ s fourth combat deployment to Southeast Asia , more than any other East Coast attack squadron and resulted in the receipt of the Meritorious Unit Commendation . The squadron transitioned to the A - 7E in 1974 and was aboard USS America CV - 66 for 7 months duty . In 1975 Sidewinders went aboard USS Nimitz ( CVN - 68 ) for the ship ' s maiden voyage and made further deployments during the late 1970s and 1980s . 1980s . Joined by Naval intel officer Samuel Johnston Gordy In January 1980 , after the seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran , Iran VA - 86 departed Naples , Italy embarked in " Nimitz " , en route to the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope , beginning of 144 consecutive days at sea . In 1981 while aboard " Nimitz " , the squadron participated in a Freedom of Navigation Exercise in the Gulf of Sidra incident . During this tense period , VA - 86 flew Aerial refuelling and reconnaissance missions over potentially hostile Libyan ships . The " Sidewinders " were awarded the 1982 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle " E " , as the best East Coast A - 7 squadron . In Jun - July 1985 while aboard " Nimitz " , VA - 86 operated off the coast of Lebanon due to the hijacking of TWA flight 847 by Arab radicals , and later that year the Sidewinders were awarded the Admiral Wade McClusky Award , signifying the best attack squadron in the Navy . January – February 1987 while embarked in " Nimitz " , VA - 86 operated off the coast of Lebanon after three U . S . citizens were taken hostage from the American University in Beirut . On July 15 , 1987 , VA - 86 was officially redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 86 ( VFA - 86 ) , and began flying the FA - 18 Hornet . They were the first East Coast squadron to receive the C model ( Lot 10 ) of the FA - 18 . In 1988 during an eight month deployment aboard " America " , VFA - 86 provided air cover for the evacuation of the U . S . Embassy in Beirut , Lebanon . 1990s . In 1991 , the squadron flew combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm from " America " operating in both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf . In 1992 , the " Sidewinders " accomplished the first East Coast FA - 18 Standoff Land Attack Missile shoot to a target on San Nicolas Island , California . In 1993 the " Sidewinders " deployed aboard " America " in support of Operation Deny Flight . In October , " America " was ordered to the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia in support of United Nations relief efforts . After conducting NATO Operation Deliberate Force missions over Bosnia - Herzegovina from the Adriatic Sea , they returned to Cecil Field in February 1994 . The " Sidewinders " received the CNO ' s Safety " S " Award for 1995 . On 3 October 1997 , the " Sidewinders " deployed to the Mediterranean Sea / Persian Gulf aboard USS George Washington ( CVN - 73 ) . The " Sidewinders " remained on station in the Gulf through mid - March 1998 during the crisis involving Iraq ' s non - compliance with UN sanctions , flying Operation Southern Watch contingency missions . VFA - 86 was awarded the 1997 Battle E recognizing it as the best East Coast FA - 18 Hornet squadron . On September 22 , 1998 the " Sidewinders " deployed to the Mediterranean Sea / Arabian aboard USS John F . Kennedy ( CV - 67 ) , participating Freedom of Navigation Operations off the coast of Libya . Following the decommissioning of NAS Cecil Field , Florida in 1999 due to BRAC action , VFA - 86 was one of two Navy strike fighter squadrons that relocated to MCAS Beaufort , South Carolina in lieu of NAS Oceana , Virginia . The other Navy squadron at MCAS Beaufort , VFA - 82 , was deactivated in 2005 . 2000s . On 19 September 2001 , the " Sidewinders " deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt ( CVN - 71 ) , in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ( OEF ) over Afghanistan against Taliban and Al Qaeda military targets . When they departed the area on 2 March 2002 , the squadron had flown over 3500 hours and expended over 213 tons of ordnance . During this period , the " Sidewinders " were at sea for 160 continuous days . From August 2003 to July 2004 , VFA - 86 deployed in USS Enterprise ( CVN - 65 ) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) and OEF . From May to November 2006 , the Sidewinders were deployed on " Enterprise " in support of OIF and OEF , visiting ports in Croatia , Crete , Dubai , Hong Kong , South Korea , Malaysia , & Portugal . In July 2007 , VFA - 86 deployed again aboard " Enterprise " in support of OIF and OEF , returning MCAS Beaufort in December 2007 . " Sidewinders " earned the 2007 Commander Naval Air Forces U . S . Atlantic Fleet Safety " S . " July 2009 , VFA - 86 deployed aboard " Nimitz " in support of OIF and OEF . 2010s . In 2011 Relocated from MCAS Beaufort , South Carolina to Naval Air Station Lemoore , California . After their arrival , they transitioned to the F / A - 18E Super Hornet .