Squadron Names
Navy aircraft squadrons can be properly referred to by three different names. The names can give an indication of the squadron’s mission and type of aircraft.
- The ‘’’Formal name’’’ (e.g., Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT SIX) indicates the mission.
- A subset of the formal name is a Navy acronym format in capital letters, e.g., STKFITRON EIGHT SIX
- The ‘’’Informal name’’’ (e.g., VFA-86) also indicates the type and mission, as each of the letters has a meaning. In this case, "V" stands for fixed wing, "F" stands for fighter, and "A" stands for attack.
- Nickname – e.g., "Sidewinders”.
Read more about this topic: List Of United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons
Famous quotes containing the words squadron and/or names:
“Well gentlemen, this is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Tonight your target is Tokyo. And you’re gonna play ‘em the Star Spangled Banner with two-ton bombs. All you’ve got to do is to remember what you’ve learned and follow your squadron leaders. They’ll get you in, and they’ll get you out. Any questions? All right that’s all. Good luck to you. Give ‘em hell.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)
“I do not see why, since America and her autumn woods have been discovered, our leaves should not compete with the precious stones in giving names to colors; and, indeed, I believe that in course of time the names of some of our trees and shrubs, as well as flowers, will get into our popular chromatic nomenclature.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)