The VFA-32 Swordsmen originated on February 1, 1945, as Bombing Fighting (VBF) 3, after Fighter Squadron (VF) 3 was split into two squadrons. VBF-3 joined Carrier Air Group 3 aboard 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 heavy action, 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 “Corsair.”
At the outbreak of the Korean conflict, pilots from VF-32 embarked aboard 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. 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 aboard USS Tarawa (CV 40) and USS Ticonderoga (CV 14).
In 1956, VF-32 became the first Navy squadron to transition to the new F8U-1 “Crusader.” While deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60), VF-32 participated in the 1958 Lebanese conflict and flew photoreconnaissance flights and intelligence gathering missions during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. The squadron changed homeport from Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field, Florida, to NAS Oceana, Virginia, in 1965.
VF-32 deployed on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) in June 1966 as a component of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) and sailed for Southeast Asia. The squadron flew 940 combat sorties in five months, building a highly successful combat record. 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 6th Fleet operations during the Middle East crisis. In 1974, VF-32 introduced the F-14A "Tomcat" to the East coast, deploying in June 1975. On that cruise, VF-32 was awarded the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award as the Navy's top fighter squadron. The Gypsies of VF-32 deployed for the Mediterranean on Kennedy in June 1978. In October 1979, VF-32 completed an unprecedented 10 years of accident-free flying in which the squadron flew over 33,000 hours with 17,000 of those in the F-14A "Tomcat." In 1980, the Swordsmen again received the Admiral Clifton Award and cruised aboard Kennedy.
In 1982, the squadron completed another Mediterranean deployment aboard USS Independence (CV 62), achieving the 1982 Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) Battle "E" and Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S.” VF-32 flew combat air patrol missions and provided tactical airborne reconnaissance pod system (TARPS) imagery for air strikes on Syrian positions in Lebanon and in support of American forces in Grenada. The deployment concluded with participation in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise in the Norwegian Sea. The Swordsmen made a third deployment aboard Independence from October 1984 through February 1985 to the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The Swordsmen rejoined CVW-3 in February 1985, deploying again on Kennedy in August 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 employed AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles, downing two Libyan MIG-23 Floggers. The combat-proven Swordsmen returned to NAS Oceana in February 1989.
In August 1990, the Swordsmen deployed to the Red Sea in support of Operation Desert Shield, with combat operations over Iraq from January 16 to February 28, 1991, marking 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. The Swordsmen won the 1991 AIRLANT Grand Slam missile firing competition with 17 of 17 kills.
VFA-32 and Kennedy again deployed in October 1992, conducting several air-to-ground operations while on cruise. 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 several combat operations, including Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, Operation Southern Watch (OSW) in Iraq, and Operation Deny Flight in Bosnia/Herzegovina. The Gypsies brought digital imagery to the TARPS mission, receiving the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their cutting-edge work with Digital TARPS.
In December 1998, CVW-3 participated in combat operations against Iraqi targets in Operation Desert Fox, expending over 111,000 pounds of precision-guided munitions. The Tomcat achieved many firsts: the first GBU-24s employed by the Navy in combat, the first multiple “consecutive miracles” GBU-24 employment in combat, the first combat use of the LANTIRN targeting pod, and the first F-14 delivery of a GBU-10/16/24, returning to NAS Oceana in May 1999.
The Swordsmen deployed again in November 2000 for the maiden voyage of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of OSW. Swordsmen maintenance won the coveted CVW-3 Golden Wrench, returning home to NAS Oceana in May 2001.
In December 2002, the Swordsmen deployed once again aboard TRUMAN to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Northern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Participating in liberation efforts, the Swordsmen released over 402,000 pounds of ordnance on targets in Northern Iraq during OIF. VF-32 set a Tomcat benchmark as the first fighter squadron to release multiple Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The Swordsmen returned to NAS Oceana in May 2003.
On their final Tomcat cruise in 2004, VF-32 flew over 413 combat missions and dropped 21 tons of ordnance in support of OIF. The Swordsmen returned to homeport in April 2005, transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32. Between November 2007 and December 2010, VFA-32 embarked aboard TRUMAN for two deployments in support of OIF, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation New Dawn, and Coalition Maritime Security Operations, providing continuous close air support and tactical reconnaissance for Coalition ground forces throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. VFA-32 achieved the Safety "S" for the work-up cycle and deployment in 2009-2010 and earned the Secretary of the Navy Safety Excellence Award in 2010 and 2012.
In 2013, VFA-32 once again deployed aboard TRUMAN in support of OEF, flying 2,349 sorties encompassing 6,390 flight hours and dropping 4,500 pounds of ordnance in support of U.S. and Coalition ground forces in Afghanistan.
VFA-32 deployed on June 1, 2016, aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (“IKE”) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Upon entering the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), VFA-32 was tasked to strike at the heart of the Islamic State in the Levant. In total, VFA-32 flew over 150 combat sorties in support of Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and led CVW-3 in delivering 284,016 pounds of precision-guided munitions on enemy targets. On December 30, 2016, the IKE returned to Norfolk, Virginia.
In January 2020, the squadron deployed with the IKE to the 5th and 6th Fleet AORs in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The 2020 cruise would be a record-breaking deployment with the Swordsmen spending 206 consecutive days at sea without a port call and returning home in August 2020. The squadron deployed again in February 2021 with IKE to support Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Final Countdown.
In October 2023, the squadron began a nine-month combat deployment with the IKE, deployed for most of the time to the Red Sea in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Prosperity Guardian. The squadron flew over 3,000 combat hours and completed almost 1,500 combat missions, employed 20 air-to-air missiles against Houthi one-way attack drones, led two large-force strikes into the Houthi-controlled territories of Yemen, and employed nearly 120 precision-guided air-to-surface munitions. The Gypsies returned home from deployment in July 2024.
The Fighting Swordsmen have carried the fight to the enemy for eight consecutive decades. Committed to excellence, we are proud to go wherever duty calls.