VFA - 15 The VFA - 15 , Strike Fighter Squadron 15 is a U . S . Navy strike fighter squadron based at NAS Oceana . Their call sign is " Pride " , tail code is " AJ " , and they fly the F - 18 Hornet . Their nickname is " Valions " and their mottos are " Pugna Ama Arma Ferre " and " None Finer . " Mission . Fighter Squadron FIFTEEN will prepare to forward deploy and , when directed , lethally project power from the sea in America ' s defense . Our people are our most valuable resource , so we are committed to ensuring the safe return of our squadron . History . Two distinct squadrons have been called the Valions of VA - 15 / VFA - 15 . Officially , the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation . Often , the new squadron will assume the nickname , insignia , and traditions of the earlier squadrons . 1940s – The first VA - 15 . The first " Valion " squadron was established just one month after the attack on Pearl Harbor as Torpedo Squadron FOUR ( VT - 4 ) on January 10 , 1942 aboard the USS " Ranger " in Grassy Bay , Bermuda . The squadron initially flew the TBD Devastator and was assigned to protect the sea lanes between Bermuda and Newfoundland from their homeport of Naval Air Station Quonset Point , Rhode Island . In August 1942 , VT - 4 transitioned from the Devastator to the TBF / TBM Avenger . The " Valions " were aboard the " Ranger " when it escorted the RMS " Queen Mary " , with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard , to the Quebec Conference in August 1943 . From August to November 1943 , VT - 4 , while deployed aboard " Ranger , " operated as part of the British Home Fleet . On October 4 , 1943 , the squadron participated in Operation Leader and struck at shipping targets around Kunna Head , Norway . The squadron ’ s TBF - 1 Avengers , along with its escort of F4F Wildcats , destroyed a German freighter and a small coaster and damaged a troop transport . In October 1943 , VT - 4 , flying from " Ranger , " operated with the British Second Battle Squadron and patrolled the waters of the Norwegian Sea . In July 1944 , VT - 4 transferred from Atlantic to Pacific Fleet . On September 21 , 1944 during a pre - dawn sortie , three of the squadron ’ s aircraft collided with each other , resulting in the loss of nine personnel , including the squadron ’ s commanding officer . From November 4 – 17 , 1944 , VT - 4 was temporarily embarked on for operations in support of landings at Leyte . The squadron participated in combat strikes at Ormoc Bay , Cavite and Clark Field . In December 1944 , the squadron participated in combat operations in support of landings on Mindoro . In January 1945 while operating from , the squadron struck targets on Formosa , Luzon , Hainan and the Ryukyu Island chain as well as in French Indochina ( Vietnam ) . Operations in Vietnam were around Saigon and Camranh Bay . These operations were in support of the continued assault against the Japanese in the Philippines . On February 16 , 1945 the squadron conducted its first strikes against the home islands of Japan , hitting Mawatari airfield on Honshu . From February 19 – 22 , 1945 , the squadron provided support for the Battle of Iwo Jima . On March 1 , 1945 , the airfield , facilities and shipping on Okinawa were hit by squadron aircraft . On March 4 , 1945 , VT - 4 disembarked from " Essex " at Ulithi completing the squadron ’ s last combat cruise during World War II . VT - 4 returned to NAS Alameda in April 1945 . In Spring 1946 , VT - 4 participated in s shakedown cruise in the Caribbean Sea following the ship ’ s commissioning in December 1945 . In the closing months of World War II , VT - 4 moved to San Diego and was redesignated VA - 2A on November 15 , 1946 . On August 2 , 1948 , the squadron ’ s designation was changed to Attack Squadron 15 ( VA - 15 ) . Then in March 1949 , VA - 15 moved to NAS Cecil Field , Florida and transitioned to the AD Skyraider . 1950s . On May 22 , 1950 , VA - 15 , was designated as training squadron , with the primary mission of training fleet pilots in attack aircraft . VA - 15 ’ s training syllabus emphasized glide bombing , dive - bombing , rocket firing , day - and - night tactics and carrier qualifications in the AD Skyraider . On September 19 , 1951 , the CNO approved the current insignia , which was a modification of an earlier one depicting a lion riding a torpedo . The lion was retained to represent the strong attack capabilities of the squadron and the torpedo was replaced by a missile . In February 1955 while deployed aboard , the squadron supported the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist civilians and military personnel from the Dachen Archipelago which were being bombarded by the People ’ s Republic of China . In November – December 1956 as a result of the Suez Crisis , VA - 15 deployed aboard and operated in the vicinity of the Azores . On September 12 , 1958 , VA - 15 was assigned the additional mission of Aerial refuelling . 1960s – The second VA - 15 . Although scheduled to transition to the A - 6 Intruder , VA - 15 transitioned to the A - 4 Skyhawk in 1965 . Having completed the transition , VA - 15 deployed April 4 – November 21 , 1966 aboard the USS " Intrepid " to Southeast Asia . On May 15 , 1966 , the squadron flew its first combat mission since March . VA - 15 again returned to Southeast Asia in 1967 on the USS " Intrepid " and deployed to the Mediterranean in 1968 – 69 on after she was restored from the disastrous fire . On June 1 , 1969 the first VA - 15 was disestablished , and the men and equipment were merged with Attack Squadron 67 ( VA - 67 ) , which had been established on August 1 , 1968 . On the following day ( June 2 , 1969 ) , the combined squadron was redesignated VA - 15 and adopted the insignia and traditions of the " Valions " . In August 1968 , the squadron began training under VA - 174 in the A - 7 Corsair II . 1970s . In October – November 1973 while embarked in , the squadron operated in the vicinity of Crete in response to the Arab - Israeli war . In June – July 1975 following the assassination of the American Ambassador to Lebanon , VA - 15 embarked on operated in the vicinity of Lebanon in support of the evacuation of non - combatants . 1980s . In November 1980 , the " Valions " , embarked on USS " Independence " were on station when the American hostages were released from Iran . In May 1981 " Independence " transited the Suez Canal and maintained station in the eastern Mediterranean due to the crisis between Israel and Syria following Israeli raids against Syrian surface - to - air missile sites in Lebanon . In October – November 1983 , VA - 15 aircraft flew combat close air support and reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Urgent Fury , the landing of U . S . Marines and Army rangers on Grenada . On December 4 , 1983 in response to hostile fire against U . S . reconnaissance aircraft from Syrian positions in Lebanon , VA - 15 aircraft participated in coordinated strikes against Syrian radar , communications and artillery positions overlooking the Multi - National Peacekeeping Forces . One of the squadron ’ s A - 7E Corsair IIs , flown by the Air Wing Commander , Command Edward Andrews , was lost when it was hit by a Syrian surface - to - air missile . Commander Andrews ejected , was rescued and returned to " Independence . " From December 1985 to June 1986 the squadron was assigned to MAG - 12 , 1st Marine Air Wing for a six - month deployment to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . This deployment was designed to test the enhanced interoperability between Marine and Navy squadrons , with emphasis on close air support for Marine ground operations and the sharing of other techniques used by both communities . In June 1986 , the " Valions " began transition training in the F / A - 18 Hornet , and on October 1 , 1986 , VA - 15 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 15 ( VFA - 15 ) . The " Valions " accepted their first F / A - 18 Hornet in January 1987 . 1990s . On December 28 , 1990 , the " Valions " departed for a six - month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield . The " Valions " flew daily strikes into Iraq and occupied Kuwait until the suspension of hostilities on February 28 . During 1992 , the " Valions " transitioned to the F / A - 18C ( night attack ) Hornet . In March 1999 , the " Valions " departed for an historic deployment which would involve two theaters of operation . After crossing the Atlantic in record time aboard the USS " Theodore Roosevelt " , " Valion " aircraft were launched in support of Operation Allied Force . For the next thirteen weeks , VFA - 15 flew over 1 , 100 combat sorties over Kosovo to bring an end to Serbian ethnic cleansing . The battle group then steamed to the Persian Gulf and supported Operation Southern Watch . Upon their return , the Valions made a homeport change to NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach , Virginia . 2000s . During the " Valions " ' 2001 deployment , the squadron took station in the Persian Gulf , patrolling the skies of the southern Iraqi no - fly zone . Soon after returning through the Strait of Hormuz in early fall 2001 to begin the voyage home , the September 11 , 2001 attacks unfolded . For the next four weeks the " Valions " took station in the North Indian Ocean and prepared for combat , with flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom , including combat air patrols over Pakistan . Missions into Afghanistan began on October 7 , and over the next several weeks the " Valions " flew four – to eight - hour missions deep into Afghanistan . In 2002 , the " Valions " deployed on " Theodore Roosevelt " to the Mediterranean . In combat operations against Iraqi military facilities , air defense sites and terrorist camps from March 19 to April 15 , 2003 , the squadron delivered over 245 , 000 pounds of ordnance . September , 2005 the Valions deployed to the Persian Gulf , returning on March 11 , 2006 . September 8 , 2008 the Valions deployed again to the Persian Gulf in support of " OEF " . They returned April 18 , 2009 . 2010s . On May 11 , 2011 , the squadrons of CVW - 8 embarked on USS George H . W . Bush ( CVN - 77 ) ' s maiden deployment , scheduled to conduct operations in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations . Upon return from deployment , the Valions were awarded the Commander , Naval Air Forces Atlantic Battle " E " Award as the dominant Strike Fighter Squadron on the East Coast .