VFA - 204 Strike Fighter Squadron 204 ( VFA - 204 ) , also known as the " River Rattlers " , is a U . S . Navy Reserve strike fighter squadron flying the F / A - 18A + . The squadron is based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans and is part of the United States Navy Reserve ' s Tactical Support Wing . Their radio callsign is " River " and their tail code is " AF " . Squadron insignia and nickname . The squadron ’ s insignia and nickname " River Rattlers " were approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 31 August 1970 . History . Strike Fighter Squadron 204 was originally commissioned as Attack Squadron 204 flying A - 4C Skyhawks at NAS Memphis , Tennessee on July 1 , 1970 . Shortly after transitioning to the A - 4E Skyhawk in 1971 , the squadron deployed for two weeks with Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 embarked on the , a Naval Reserve first . 1970s . The squadron was established as Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR ( VA - 204 ) on 1 July 1970 at NAS Memphis , flying the A - 4C and A - 4L Skyhawk as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force . The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Wing ( Reserve ) TWENTY ( CVWR - 20 ) . VFA - 204 began its long list of tactical accomplishments by winning back to back CVWR - 20 Bombing Derbies in 1971 and 1972 . In May 1972 , the squadron participated in exercise Exotic Dancer V , designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization . VA - 204 received the CNO annual Safety Award for 1973 . The award represented over 5 , 000 hours of accident free flying for the year . In 1975 , the River Rattlers won the F . Trubee Davison Award as the " Best Tailhook Squadron in the Naval Reserve " The squadron was directed to cease flight operations in December 1977 and transfer all A - 4 aircraft in custody . In complying with that directive , VA - 204 closed the final chapter in the United States Navy ' s single seat Skyhawk attack aviation era . In March 1978 , the squadron moved from NAS Memphis to NAS New Orleans and began receiving A - 7B aircraft . With transition and relocation complete , VA - 204 began establishing enviable records of operational readiness and safety . In 1979 the squadron deployed to MCAS Yuma , Arizona , NAS Fallon , Nevada , and embarked on . 1980s . The pace increased in 1980 with numerous deployments ranging from Exercise Safe Passage , a combined NATO forces exercise conducted near NAS Bermuda in the Western Atlantic , to deachments at NAS Fallon . VA - 204 again was selected as the winner of the CNO Safety Award for 1980 . The squadron earned the CNO Safety Award again in 1982 and 1983 , and was nominated for the Noel Davis ( Battle " E " ) in 1983 . The tradition of excellence continued in 1984 by winning the CVWR - 20 Golden Wrench Award and the Battle " E " . With transition from the A - 7B to the A - 7E completed in 1986 , the next four years saw the River Rattlers establish a high level of tactics and excellence in the Corsair II . During this period , the squadron completed seven weapons detachments , three carrier qualification evolutions , air wing active duty to NAS Fallon and embarkation the and . 1990s . VA - 204 transitioned to the FA - 18A Hornet in April 1991 and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR ( VFA - 204 ) on 1 May 1991 . In 1992 , the squadron conducted numerous detachments to NAS Cecil Field , Florida ; NAS Fallon , Nevada ; and NAS Key West , Florida . In June the same year , the River Rattlers led an air wing mine warfare exercise . In November the squadron qualified 16 pilots aboard . The squadron officially completed its transition to the F / A - 18 Hornet in March 1993 , and the next month began initial adversary training at NAS Oceana , VA . In October the squadron became the first Reserve Strike Fighter Squadron to provide adversary support to the active duty fleet during a one week detachment to NAS Key West . In 1993 , VFA - 204 received its sixth CNO Safety Award , completing 13 years and 50 , 000 Class - A mishap free flight hours . In December 1994 , the squadron conducted carrier qualification aboard the and ended the year by winning its second Battle " E " . In addition , the squadron received their second F . Trubee Davison Award as ' Best Tailhook Squadron in the Naval Reserve ' . The Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the squadron in 1995 for its successful transition from the A - 7E to the F / A - 18 . In a February detachment to NAS Fallon , VFA - 204 expended a record 302 tons of ordnance , smashing the squadron ' s old record of 128 tons delivered at Fallon in 1993 . During the summer of 1996 , the squadron embarked in then what was the Navy ' s newest carrier , . This highly successful detachment included the first ever night cyclic operations for the River Rattlers and another live fire missile exercise in the Virginia operations area . 2000s . With the disestanblishment of CVWR - 20 , VFA - 204 continues to provide Fleet services as part of the Tactical Support Wing .