Squadron history

The VF-32 Swordsmen originated on February 1, 1945 as VBF-3, after VF-3 was split into two squadrons. VBF-3 joined Carrier Air Group THREE onboard USS YORKTOWN (CV 10) operating in the Pacific theater. Flying F6F-5 “Hellcats”, VBF-3 pilots became the first Navy carrier-based pilots to attack the homeland of the Japanese Empire. During the heavy action on that day, the squadron shot down 24 Japanese aircraft for which the Swordsmen received the Presidential Unit Citation. In 1946, VBF-3 transitioned to F8F-1 “Bearcats” and redesignated as VF-4A. In August 1948, the squadron became VF-32, with the transition to the F4U-4.

At the outbreak of the Korean conflict, pilots from VF-32 were flying F4U-4 “Corsairs” onboard USS LEYTE (CV 32). From October 1950 to January 1951, VF-32 participated in strikes against Korean targets including Wonsan Harbor, Puckchong, Chonjin, and the Chosin Reservoir. A significant event for the Swordsmen occurred on the 4th of December, 1950 during a strike against the Chosin Reservoir. ENS Jesse L. Brown, the first black Navy fighter pilot, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced down in North Korean territory. A squadron mate, LTJG Thomas Hudner looked down and saw his friend trapped in his aircraft, reaching up to Hudner for help as the plane caught fire. LTJG Hudner crash landed his aircraft alongside ENS Brown in an attempt to rescue him, but his efforts were in vain. The President awarded LTJG Hudner the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic effort and ENS Brown the Distinguished Flying Cross. After operations in Korea, the squadron returned to the East Coast where they became the first operational unit to fly the Grumman F9F-6 “Cougar”, the Navy’s first swept wing jet fighter. VF-32 made subsequent deployments onboard USS TARAWA (CV 40) in 1953 and the USS TICONDEROGA (CV 14) in 1955.

In 1956, VF-32 became the first Navy squadron to transition to the new F8U-1 “Crusader”. While deployed onboard USS SARATOGA (CVA 60) as a unit of Carrier Air Group THREE, VF-32 participated in the Lebanese conflict of 1958. During the Cuban missile crisis in late 1962, VF-32 flew 96 sorties in support of photoreconnaissance flights and intelligence gathering missions. The Squadron changed home port from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia after returning from cruise in 1965. VF-32 detached from Carrier Air Group THREE, ending a relationship that had lasted continuously since the squadron’s inception.

VF-32 deployed on the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (CVA 42) in June 1966 as a component of Carrier Air Group ONE and sailed for Southeast Asia. The squadron flew 940 combat sorties in five months, building a highly successful combat record and losing no aircraft or aircrew. In May 1968, VF-32 deployed on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) for her maiden voyage. In 1971, the squadron received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in support of SIXTH FLEET operations during the Middle East Crisis. In 1974, VF-32 introduced the F-14A “Tomcat” to the East coast, embarking on their first Atlantic Fleet deployment in June 1975. On that cruise, the Navy awarded VF-32 the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award as the Navy’s top fighter squadron. In October 1977, VF-32 became the first fleet squadron to fly against the Air Force F-15, setting the stage for regularly scheduled dissimilar air combat training between the Air Force and the Navy. The Gypsies of VF-32 again deployed for the Mediterranean on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) in June 1978. VF-32 conducted the first fleet test and evaluation of the new and highly successful Television Camera System. The Swordsmen also deployed with AIM-9L missiles for the first fleet captive-carry evaluation. A mid-cruise missile exercise, “BUZZARDEX”, was an unqualified success with firings of AIM-54A PHOENIX and AIM-7F SPARROW missiles at five Mach 2.5 targets.

In October 1979, VF-32 completed an unprecedented 10 years of accident-free flying. In those 10 years, the squadron flew over 33,000 hours with 17,000 of those in the F-14A “Tomcat”. In 1980, the Swordsmen received with the Admiral Clifton Award. The Swordsmen enjoyed an accident-free Mediterranean cruise onboard JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) in 1980 and 1981.

In 1982, the squadron completed another accident-free Mediterranean deployment onboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62), achieving the 1982 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E” and CNO Safety “S”. VF-32 flew combat air patrol missions and provided TARPS imagery for air strikes on Syrian positions in Lebanon and in support of American forces in Grenada. The deployment concluded with participation in NATO exercise “TEAMWORK 84” in the Norwegian Sea. After a quick turnaround, the Swordsmen made a third deployment onboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) from October 1984 through February 1985 to the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The Swordsmen rejoined CVW-3 in February 1985, deploying onboard JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) in August of 1986 for another Mediterranean cruise. VF-32 participated in a variety of NATO and combined exercises, and celebrated a second decade of safety. On January 4, 1989, a section of “Gypsy” Tomcats, while conducting routine operations north of Libya, were vectored on two approaching Libyan Fighters. After attempts at a peaceful intercept, and with hostile intent evident, the section of Swordsmen fired AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles downing two Libyan MIG-23 Floggers. The combat proven Swordsmen returned to Oceana in February of 1989.

In August of 1990, the Swordsmen deployed to the Red Sea in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Combat operations over Iraq from 16 January to 28 February 1991 marked the sixth decade of Swordsmen participation in armed conflict.

Throughout Operation DESERT STORM, VF-32 aircrew logged 1,445 combat flight hours on 403 missions, including 38 combat TARPS missions. Returning from the Red Sea in 1991, the Swordsmen won the 1991 AIRLANT Grand Slam missile firing competition with an unprecedented 17 of 17 scored kills.

VFA-32 and the JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) again deployed in October 1992. The Gypsies conducted several air-to-ground operations while on cruise, marking the beginning of the Tomcat STRIKE/FIGHTER mission. The Swordsmen returned home to NAS Oceana in April 1993 highlighting the year with presentations of the Golden Wrench, Battle “E”, and Clifton Awards.

From May 1994 to November 1998, the Swordsmen participated in a number of combat operations to include: Operation RESTORE DEMOCRACY in Haiti, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in Iraq and in Bosnia/Herzegovina in support of Operation DENY FLIGHT. The Gypsies brought digital imagery to the TARPS mission, receiving the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their cutting edge work with Digital TARPS.

From December 16 to 19, 1998, Carrier Air Wing THREE participated in combat operation against Iraqi targets in Operation DESERT FOX. The Gypsies expended over 111,000 pounds of precision guided munitions while participating in 16 strike missions and 38 sorties. The Tomcat achieved many firsts; the first GBU-24’s to be dropped by the Navy in combat, the first multiple (“consecutive miracles”) GBU-24 drop by any platform in combat, the first combat use of the LANTIRN targeting pod, the first autonomous F-14 delivery of a GBU-10/16/24, and the first use of Night Vision Devices (NVD) in combat. The combat proven Swordsmen completed this historic deployment and returned to NAS Oceana in May 1999.

The Swordsmen deployed again in November 2000, for the maiden voyage of USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75). This time they spent four months in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH as the only deployed Tomcat squadron in the world. Swordsmen Maintenance also won the coveted CVW-3 Golden Wrench award for have a completion rate of over 99.7% in two back to back line periods. VF-32 returned home to Oceana on 23 May 2001.

In December of 2002, the Swordsmen deployed once again on board USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, NORTHERN WATCH, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Participating in liberation efforts, the Swordsmen released over 402,000 pounds of ordnance on targets in Northern Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Once again, VF-32 set a Tomcat benchmark being the first fighter squadron to release multiple JDAM. Having contributed significantly to the liberation of Iraq, the battle hardened Swordsmen returned to Oceana in May of 2003.

During their 2004-2005 deployment,VF-32 spent four months in the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. On their last Tomcat cruise, they flew over 413 combat missions and dropped 21 tons of ordnance ensuring the first successful Democratic election in Iraq. The Swordsmen returned to home port on April 18, 2005 transitioning to the FA-18F Super Hornet and re-designated VFA-32.

Aircraft history:

Vought F4U-4 Corsair

Development of the Corsair began in 1938, when the US Navy issued a request for a new single-seat carrier-based fighter. The prototype of the Corsair was first flown on 29 May 1940, but due to design revisions, the first production F4U-1 Corsair was not delivered until 31 July 1942. Further landing gear and cockpit modifications resulted in a new variant, the F4U-1A, which was the first version approved for carrier duty. The Corsair quickly became the most capable carrier-based fighter/bomber of the war. Production ceased in 1952. Over two dozen Corsairs are believed to be still airworthy, most in the United States.

Grumman F9F-6 Cougar

The Cougar first entered squadron service in November 1952, but was too late to fly combat sorties in Korea. Immediately following the Korean War, large numbers of Cougars entered service with carrier-based Navy fighter squadrons. By the mid-1950s, the Cougar was the most prevalent carrier-based fighter in service. The Cougar was popular with its crew, who admired it for its pleasant handling properties and its strong airframe. However, the Cougar was destined to have a short front-line operational life because of the rapid development of more advanced supersonic carrier-based fighters. In the late 1950s, the Cougar was replaced in the fighter and reconnaissance roles by the Tiger and the Crusader, and Douglas A4D Skyhawks replaced the Cougar in the light attack role. The last F9F-8 and F9F-8B Cougars were phased out in the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets in 1958 and 1959, respectively. The Blue Angels flight demonstration team flew F9F-8s from 1954 to 1957, when they converted to the F11F-1 Tiger.

Vought F8U-1 Crusader

First manufactured in March 1955, The F-8 Crusader was the last carrier-based American fighter with guns as the primary weapon. The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance aircraft that played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means. Naval Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987. Coming from a previous generation, the Crusader was the best American fighter for dog fighting with Vietnamese MiGs. The Crusader would be credited with the best kill ratio of any American aircraft in the war, 19:3. A unique feature of the Crusader was its variable-incidence wing, capable of being raised at the front. Additionally, the entire leading edge was slatted, and the ailerons drooped with the flaps. This allowed for better low-speed performance and visibility, by permitting both a nose-low fuselage and a high angle of attack, during carrier landings. Nevertheless, the Crusader’s low speed yaw behavior was always dangerous, in spite of the vertical fin increase, installation of skegs and strong dihedral built into its horizontal tail, among other modifications of the original project. Several modified F-8s were used by NASA in the early 1970s, proving the viability of both digital fly-by-wire and supercritical wings.

McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II

By any criterion one of the five or six most important warplanes ever produced and the only Western warplane to be built in numbers exceeding 5,000 since World War II, the Phantom II is still in service. Named Phantom II in July 1959, the F4H was thus the first U.S. all-missile fighter with a radar fire-control system that removed the need for surface radar assistance. Performance was thus optimized for climb rate, speed and range, and estimates of flight characteristics suggested Mach 2+ performance. The design used a wing based on flat inner panels supporting dog toothed outer panels set at a dihedral angle of 12 degrees that could fold upward for reduced carrier borne width. Directional stability at high angles of attack was provided by slab tailplane halves set at an anhedral angle of 23 degrees. Engine aspiration was prevented by variable-geometry inlets designed with moving ramps for optimum pressure recovery through the full operating envelope. Prototype construction was authorized in December 1956, and the first XF4H-1 was completed in April 1958 fitted with two J79-GE-3A turbojets each rated at 9,300 lbs dry and 14,800 lbs with afterburner.

Grumman F-14A/F-14B Tomcat

Overall, The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was without equal among the other fighter aircraft. Six long-range AIM-54A Phoenix missiles could be guided against six separate threat aircraft at long range by the F-14’s AWG-9 weapons control system. For medium-range combat, Sparrow missiles were carried; Sidewinders and a 20mm are available for dogfighting. In the latter role, the Tomcat’s variable-sweep wings gave the F-14 a combat maneuvering capability that could not have been achieved with a “standard” fixed planform wing. From its first flight on 21 December 1970, the F-14A went through years of development, evaluation, squadron training and carrier deployments to become the carrier air wings’ most potent fighter. In addition to its outstanding fighter capabilities, the Tomcat was configured as a potent, adverse weather, medium-range strike aircraft with the ability to launch Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), coupled with an INS/GPS integration and off-the-shelf electronic countermeasure improvements. The Tomcat provided a multi-mission strike/escort capability until its retirement in 2006.

another VF-32 history (from wikipedia):

1940s:

VFA-32 was established as Bombing Fighting Three (VBF-3) on February 1, 1945, flying the F6F Hellcat, when it was split off from VF-3, the famed Felix squadron. Fritz Wolf, a former member of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) or Flying Tigers, was assigned as the first VBF-3 commanding officer. At the time, U.S. Navy carriers were closing on the Japanese home islands and were facing aggressive Kamikaze attacks. VBF-3 was assigned to Carrier Air Group THREE on board USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the Pacific theater. On 16 February 1945, VBF-3 pilots became the Navy’s first carrier-based pilots to strike the Japanese islands. During the heavy action on that day, the squadron shot down 24 Japanese aircraft, earning the Presidential Unit Citation. On 15 November 1946, VBF-3 was redesignated VF-4A and switched to the F8F-1 Bearcat. On August 7, 1948, VBF-3 became VF-32 and switched to the F4U Corsair.

1950s:

In 1950, the Swordsmen were deployed to the Korean War with F4U Corsairs aboard USS Leyte (CV-32). From October 1950 to January 1951, VFA-32 hit Korean targets including Wonsan Harbor, Puckchong, Chonjin, and Chosin Reservoir. On December 4, 1950, the aircraft of Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first Black American Naval Aviator, was hit by flak while supporting embattled Marines at Chosin. He crash-landed his Corsair behind enemy lines on a snow-covered mountain slope. His wingman, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., could see that Brown survived the forced landing, but appeared to be trapped in the cockpit with smoke coming from the engine compartment. In an attempt to save his squadron mate, Hudner crash-landed his plane alongside Browns’. Hudner found Brown semi-conscious, but was unable to extricate him from the crumpled fuselage. Brown died in Hudner’s arms, and although the attempted rescue failed, Hudner received the Medal of Honor and Brown received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the Korean war ended in November 1952 the squadron returned to the East Coast and became the first squadron to operate the swept-wing F9F-6 Cougar. VFA-32 made subsequent deployments aboard USS Tarawa (CV-40) in 1953 and the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) in 1955. In 1956, VF-32 became the first squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader, thus becoming the first supersonic squadron in the Navy.

While deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) as a unit of Carrier Air Group THREE, VFA-32 participated in the 1958 Lebanon crisis.

1960s:

During the Cuban missile crisis in late 1962, VF-32 flew 96 sorties to support photoreconnaissance flights and intelligence-gathering missions. After returning from cruise in 1965, the squadron changed homeport from NAS Cecil Field, Florida to NAS Oceana, Virginia, and switched to the F-4B Phantom II. VF-32 detached from Carrier Air Group THREE, ending a relationship that had lasted since the squadron’s establishment.

In June 1966, VF-32 embarked aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) as a component of Carrier Air Group ONE and sailed for Yankee Station in Southeast Asia. The squadron flew 940 combat sorties during three line periods in five months, building a highly successful Vietnam War combat record, losing no aircraft or aircrew. In May 1968, VF-32 deployed aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) for her maiden voyage.

1970s:

In 1971, the squadron received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in support of SIXTH FLEET operations during the Middle East Crisis.

In 1974, VF-32 switched to the F-14 Tomcat at NAS Miramar before moving to NAS Oceana as one of the first fleet Tomcat squadrons based there. VF-32 made the first Atlantic Fleet F-14 deployment in June 1975. On that cruise, VF-32 was awarded the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award as the Navy’s top fighter squadron. In October 1977, VF-32 became the first fleet squadron to fly against the Air Force F-15 Eagle, setting the stage for regularly scheduled dissimilar air combat training between the Air Force and Navy. VF-32 again embarked for the Mediterranean aboard Kennedy in June 1978. During this deployment, VF-32 conducted the first fleet test and evaluation of the new Television Camera System. The Swordsmen also deployed with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles for the first fleet captive-carry evaluation. A mid-cruise missile exercise, “BUZZARDEX”, was an unqualified success with firings of AIM-54 Phoenix and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles at five targets moving at Mach 2.5. In October 1979, VF-32 completed 10 years of accident-free flying. In those 10 years, the squadron flew over 33,000 hours, including 17,000 in the F-14A.

1980s:

In 1980, the Swordsmen were again presented with the Admiral Clifton Award. In 1980 and 1981, the squadron achieved an accident-free Mediterranean deployment aboard Kennedy, followed in 1982 by another accident-free Med cruise aboard USS Independence (CV-62) and the 1982 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E” and CNO Safety “S” awards. In 1982, three VF-32 Tomcats were modified to carry the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System TARPS pod.

In 1983-84, the Swordsmen completed the Navy’s first combat deployment since the Vietnam era with CVW-6 aboard Independence. Fighter Squadron 32 flew combat air patrol missions and provided TARPS imagery for the 4 December 1983 CVW-6/CVW-3 air strikes on Syrian positions in Lebanon. VF-32 TARPS also flew missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada providing pre- and post-battle damage assessment using photography from the TARPS pod. Fighter Squadron 32 TARPS aircraft flew 39 successful reconnaissance mission during the Urgent Fury operation, often flying as many as six missions per day, a record unequaled by any other F-14A/TARPS configured squadron. This was the first combat operation using all branches of the military since Vietnam. The deployment concluded with participation in NATO exercise “TEAMWORK 84” in the Norwegian Sea. The Swordsmen made a third deployment aboard Independence from October 1984 through February 1985 to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

The Swordsmen rejoined CVW-3 in February 1985, and embarked aboard Kennedy in August 1986 for another Mediterranean deployment. This cruise saw the Swordsmen Class “A” safety record extended another year, but also included the first night F-14 barricade landing. VF-32 participated in a variety of NATO and combined exercises, and extended their major mishap-free safety record to nine years during a 1988-89 Mediterranean deployment, again aboard Kennedy.

On January 4, 1989, while flying from Kennedy during a routine patrol over the Gulf of Sidra, two VF-32 F-14s intercepted two Libyan MiG-23 Floggers, which had originated from the Al Bumbai airfield in Tobruk. After attempting a peaceful intercept, the F-14s used their Television Camera System (TCS) to verify that the MiGs were armed. Hostile intent was declared and the Swordsmen were cleared to engage. The lead fired an AIM-7 Sparrow, which failed to track. His wingman also fired a Sparrow, which tracked and destroyed one of the MiGs, its pilot ejecting. The first F-14 then closed to AIM-9 Sidewinder range and downed the remaining MiG-23, whose pilot also ejected. The Swordsmen and Kennedy returned to Virginia in February 1989.

1990s:

When Kuwait was invaded by Iraqi forces in August 1990, VF-32 joined Carrier Air Wing 3, was put on emergency recall from Nellis AFB and returned to NAS Oceana to prepare to sortie with Kennedy. Kennedy immediately proceeded to the Red Sea to participate in Operation Desert Shield alongside USS Saratoga (CV-60). During Desert Shield, the ship made several Suez Canal transits and operated in the Eastern Med. When Desert Shield turned into Operation Desert Storm in January 1991, VF-32 Tomcats were in the first strike wave flying Combat Air Patrol mainly in central and western Iraq. VF-32 TARPS aircrews flew daily missions throughout Iraq including supersonic runs over highly defended Al Qa’im. Throughout Operation DESERT STORM, VF-32 aircrew logged 1,445 combat flight hours on 403 missions, including 38 combat TARPS missions. After an eight-month deployment, the Swordsmen returned to NAS Oceana on 28 March 1991. Later that year, the Swordsmen won the 1991 AIRLANT Grand Slam missile firing competition with an unprecedented 17 of 17 scored kills. Fighting 32 and the Kennedy again deployed in October 1992. The Swordsmen conducted a great deal of air-to-ground operations in the Adriatic Sea while on cruise in support of Operation Provide Promise, marking the beginning of the Tomcat strike/fighter mission and provided significant carrier air patrol support for C-130 food drop missions in the former Yugoslavia. The Swordsmen returned home to NAS Oceana in April 1993 and throughout the summer conducted joint ACM exercises with the Air Force and was coined the first “Toms to Bomb” squadron to fully certify the use of bombs on the F14 platform. The year was highlighted with presentations of the Battle “E” and Clifton Awards to VF-32.

In May 1994, VF-32 and CVW-3 embarked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). This four-week deployment marked the first extensive at-sea period where women worked alongside men on a fleet aircraft carrier. In September, a small detachment provided crucial TARPS photography and air support for Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti. In November 1994, VF-32 deployed aboard Eisenhower for another tour in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. The Gypsies flew missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Deny Flight. 1995 marked fifty years of service from the men and women of VF-32. In November 1996, VF-32 and CVW-3 deployed on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) for another tour in support of Operation Deny Flight and OSW over Bosnia and Iraq. The cruise proved to be yet another milestone as the Gypsies brought digital imagery to the TARPS mission. The new cameras could take up to two hundred digital images and was able to store them on board or transmit them to appropriately equipped ground or sea based receivers up to 300 kilometers away, resulting in a near-real-time reconnaissance capability. The squadron received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its cutting edge work with Digital TARPS. In August 1997, the Swordsmen of VF-32 began transitioning from the F-14A to F-14B. In February 1998, the Swordsmen received the F-14B Upgrade.

In November 1998, VF-32 and CVW-3 deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea to support OSW and Operation Deliberate Force. With Iraq’s failure to cooperate with United Nations inspections of known weapon sites, Operation Desert Fox was launched on December 16, 1998. F-14Bs from VF-32 took part in a 33-aircraft strike package on December 16. The first night of the four-day operation was conducted by the US Navy only. Over four days, VF-32 expended 111,054 lb (50,373 kg) of ordnance during 16 strike missions and 38 sorties. During Desert Fox many Tomcat firsts were achieved, including the first GBU-24s dropped in combat by the US Navy, the first multiple GBU-24 drop by any platform in combat, the first combat use of the LANTIRN, the first autonomous F-14 delivery of a GBU-10/16/24, and the first F-14 use of Night Vision Devices in combat. The Swordsmen returned home in May 1999.

2000s:

VF-32 deployed once again in November 2000 for the maiden voyage of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). They spent four months in support of Operation Southern Watch and returned home on May 23, 2001. In December 2002 VF-32 deployed once again on Truman in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Northern Watch.

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003, VF-32 was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard Truman. VF-32 flew strike missions and missions in support of US Special Forces on the ground. VF-32 was involved in the worst friendly fire incident of the war when on April 6, 2003 a squadron F-14 crew was cleared to attack an Iraqi tank near Dibakan, 30 miles (48 km) south east of Mosul. Instead, they mistakenly dropped a single laser-guided bomb on a vehicle convoy consisting of US Special Forces and Kurdish resistance fighters, killing 18 Kurdish fighters, 4 US soldiers and a BBC translator. An additional 80 people were wounded. An investigation following the war found that the pilot had been cleared to drop without the benefit of target coordinates provided by the Forward Air Controller, who was “operating under great stress” at the time. Overall, VF-32 flew 275 sorties and expended 247 laser-guided bombs and 118 JDAM. January 2004 marked another historic first when VF-32 became the first operational squadron to attempt the launch of six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles from one aircraft. A launch such as this had not been attempted since 1972. Five of the six active radar missiles were successfully launched. VF-32 returned to Oceana in May 2003.

In 2004 VF-32 deployed again in support of OIF, becoming the first Naval squadron to redeploy in support of OIF. The Swordsmen delivered multiple precision guided munitions on insurgent hideouts using the LANTIRN pod in the urban Close Air Support environment. This would be the squadron’s final deployment with the F-14.

In October 2005, VF-32 transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and in November 2005 the squadron was designated Strike Fighter Squadron Thirty Two (VFA-32).