VFA - 105 Strike Fighter Squadron 105 ( VFA - 105 ) also known as the " Gunslingers " is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana , Virginia . The " Gunslingers " are an operational fleet squadron and fly the F / A - 18E Super Hornet . The radio callsign is " Canyon " and the tail code is AC . Squadron Insignia and Nickname . The first VA - 105 ' s insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 2 March 1953 , and consisted of a yellow winged red cannon and black bomb imposed on a yellow background . The squadron was known as the " Mad Dogs " . The second VA - 105 ' s insignia was approved by the CNO on 20 September 1968 , and has remained essentially unchanged . The squadron gained the nickname " 105th Light Attack and Twilight Pursuit Squadron " during the Vietnam War . " Twilight Pursuit " was a tongue - in - cheek reference to the fact that squadron aircraft carried the air - air AIM - 9 Sidewinder missile . The nickname became somewhat more formally accepted in the months leading up to the 1974 - 75 Mediterranean Cruise . Appearing on squadron patches , belt buckles , ( stickers and lighters ) proudly worn by officers and enlisted men alike , the moniker was heavily promoted by the squadron ' s A7E Corsair pilots . Most notable among that group were squadron CO CDR R . F . " Moon " Moreau , XO CDR J . E . Carpenter and pilots : LCDR Brodsky ; LT J . Plant ; LT J . Lubrano ; LT W . " Farkle " Farquar ; and LTJG B . B . Johnson . The current squadron often refers to itself as the " 105th Strike Fighter and Twilight Pursuit Squadron " . History . Two distinct squadrons have been designated VA - 105 . The first was decommissioned , and the second was later redesignated as VFA - 105 , the main subject of this article . 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 . 1950s . The first VA - 105 was commissioned on 1 May 1952 at NAS Cecil Field flying the AD - 1 Skyraider . The squadron changed home - base between NAS Jacksonville and Cecil several times during the 1950s . In July – August 1958 , the squadron flew close air support missions from during the landing of U . S . Marines in Beirut , Lebanon . Aircraft from VA - 105 were the first to be on station during the landings , and squadron aircraft flew road and border reconnaissance sorties . Several aircraft were damaged by ground fire on their reconnaissance missions , however all aircraft returned safely to " Essex " . In September 1958 when the Chinese communists began shelling the Quemoy Island group , " Essex " was ordered to transit the Suez Canal and report to the U . S . Seventh Fleet for duty in the Taiwan Straits . In November 1958 , the squadron ' s mission was changed to training personnel in the AD - 6 Skyraider . The squadron was decommissioned on 1 February 1959 . 1960s . The second Attack Squadron 105 ( VA - 105 ) was established on 1 November 1967 at NAS Cecil Field , flying the new A - 7A Corsair II . On 4 March 1968 the squadron completed A - 7A training under VA - 174 and became an operational Atlantic Fleet unit . The " Gunslingers " embarked on their first deployment to Southeast Asia aboard , participating in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin from January to October 1969 . Following the shootdown of a Navy EC - 121 by the North Koreans in April , " Kitty Hawk " was part of a continuing American presence being maintained off the coast of Korea . 1970s . In Sep and October 1970 following the hijacking of several airliners by Palestinians , the outbreak of serious fighting in Jordan and the invasion of Jordan by Syria , , with VA - 105 embarked , operated in the eastern Mediterranean , prepared to support an evacuation of Americans from Jordan and to show support for the Jordanian government . In June – December 1972 , the squadron participated in Linebacker I and Linebacker II operations , heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies into South Vietnam . In May 1973 , the squadron upgraded to the A - 7E . As of December 1979 the " Gunslingers " had two Western Pacific and six Mediterranean deployments to their credit . 1980s . In June 1982 following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel , VA - 105 operated from to support an evacuation of Americans . From July – December 1984 , the squadron deployed to MCAS Iwakuni , assigned to MAG - 12 , 1st MAW . This was the first time a Navy squadron participated in the United States Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program ( UDP ) and the first Navy squadron since World War II to come under the command of a Marine Corps officer . While deployed with the Marines the squadron ’ s major mission was close air support . During the ' 80s , the " Gunslingers " completed eight overseas deployments , including six to the Med , and a 1983 around - the - world deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson ( CVN - 70 ) . 1990s . VA - 105 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 105 ( VFA - 105 ) on 17 December 1990 , as the squadron transitioned to the F / A - 18C . The " Gunslingers " reported to CVW - 3 aboard the on 1 September 1991 . VFA - 105 made their first Hornet cruise in October 1992 . They returned from the Mediterranean in April 1993 , and began workups for a deployment aboard the in October 1994 . The squadron then started workups for a deployment aboard the in October 1996 . VFA - 105 and the rest of CVW - 3 deployed in 1998 in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox onboard . 2000s . On November 28 , 2000 VFA - 105 embarked on the maiden deployment of to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch ( OSW ) . The Gunslingers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard " Truman " in 2003 , operating from the Mediterranean Sea . VFA - 105 became the first East Coast squadron to transition to the FA - 18E Super Hornet in July 2006 . In March 2007 , VFA - 105 became the first operational Navy strike fighter squadron to be commanded by a female when CDR Sara Joyner took command .