# List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

[United States Navy](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-navy) aircraft squadrons are the organized flying units of naval aviation, identified by alphanumeric designations in which a leading letter indicates the aircraft type (V for fixed-wing, H for rotary-wing) and following letters indicate the mission, such as VF for fighter, VP for patrol, and HSM for helicopter maritime strike.<sup>[1](https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1997/june/original-alphabet-soup)</sup> The Navy's official reference work on these units is the multi-volume *Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons*, and the lineage of current and recently active squadrons is maintained by the [Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.edgepedia.org/naval-history-and-heritage-command).<sup>[2](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1.html)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Designation logic | First letter V = fixed-wing (heavier-than-air), H = rotary-wing (added 1948), Z = lighter-than-air (airships); following letters give the mission, as in VF (fighter), VP (patrol), VQ (fleet air reconnaissance), and HSM (helicopter maritime strike)<sup>[1](https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1997/june/original-alphabet-soup)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://usna.edu/Training/_files/PROBOOK_AY25_Final_No_Comments_19JUL24.pdf)</sup> |
| Last major system change | 1 September 1948; the Navy has made later modifications case by case but has issued no major directive changing the Squadron Designation System since 1948<sup>[4](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/chapter1.pdf)</sup> |
| Air wing rename | All Carrier Air Groups (CVG) were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on 20 December 1963<sup>[5](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/va-34-38.pdf)</sup> |
| Typical carrier air wing | Four VFA strike fighter squadrons, one VAQ electronic attack squadron, one VAW airborne command and control squadron, one VRC/VRM logistics detachment, one HSC and one HSM helicopter squadron<sup>[3](https://usna.edu/Training/_files/PROBOOK_AY25_Final_No_Comments_19JUL24.pdf)</sup> |
| Lineage rule | Only the terms establishment, deactivation, and redesignation apply to squadrons; a newly established squadron reusing an old designation carries on traditions but cannot claim the earlier unit's history<sup>[6](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/insignias/pdfs/squadron_lineage.pdf)</sup> |
| Insignia approval | Current operational squadron insignia are officially approved under OPNAVINST 5030.4G and listed by community<sup>[7](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/insignias/navy-squadron-insignia.html)</sup> |
| Type commander | Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) is the type commander whose mission is to man, train, and equip deployable naval aviation forces<sup>[8](https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Home/Leaders/Commanding-Offcer/Leaders/Executive-Director/About-Us/About-Us/)</sup> |

## How the designation system works

The system dates to the early 1920s. The first letter identified the squadron's aircraft type: V for a heavier-than-air (fixed-wing) squadron and Z for a lighter-than-air (airship) squadron. Not until 1948 was H added to identify a rotary-wing (helicopter) squadron; the Navy's first rotary-wing squadron, HU-1, was established on 1 April 1948.<sup>[1](https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1997/june/original-alphabet-soup)</sup> The second and subsequent letters describe the mission: W for warning, P for patrol, A for attack, F for fighter, R for logistics, and Q for electronic or reconnaissance, producing designations such as VAW (airborne early warning), VFA (fighter/attack), VAQ (electronic attack), VQ (fleet air reconnaissance), and VR, VRC, and VRM for fleet logistics support.<sup>[3](https://usna.edu/Training/_files/PROBOOK_AY25_Final_No_Comments_19JUL24.pdf)</sup>

The last major overall change came on 1 September 1948. VF and VA carrier squadrons were assigned two- or three-digit numbers whose first digit matched the parent air group number, suffix letters were dropped, patrol squadrons reverted to the simple VP designation instead of four separate variants (VP-HL, VP-ML, VP-MS, and VP-AM), special transport designations such as VRF and VRU became VR, and some VC squadrons became VAW to reflect an air warning mission.<sup>[4](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/chapter1.pdf)</sup> Later modifications were made case by case. The VAH designation, established in the mid-1950s, identified heavy attack squadrons whose primary mission was delivering nuclear weapons from carriers; VA(AW) identified all-weather attack squadrons; and VAL, created during the Vietnam conflict for light attack, was used by a single squadron supporting river patrol forces and SEAL operations in [South Vietnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-vietnam). The most recent modification to the VA line is VFA, strike fighter.<sup>[4](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/chapter1.pdf)</sup>

## Lineage and reuse of designations

**Designations are reused.** The lineage and history of naval aviation squadrons has been a source of confusion since 1911, arising from inconsistent selection of alphanumeric designations, constant reuse of the same letter and number combinations, and repeated establishments, redesignations, and deactivations. A unit's history begins when it is established and ends when it is deactivated; if active status breaks, there is no connection between units bearing the same designation. The most recent squadron designated Fighter Squadron One (VF-1) was established 1 October 1972 and disestablished 1 October 1993, and was the seventh squadron to hold that designation, distinct from the first VF-1 of 1922.<sup>[6](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/insignias/pdfs/squadron_lineage.pdf)</sup> Only ships are commissioned; squadrons have establishment and deactivation ceremonies.<sup>[6](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/insignias/pdfs/squadron_lineage.pdf)</sup> Insignia cannot be used to trace lineage either, because the same insignia may have been approved for more than one squadron in different eras.<sup>[6](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/insignias/pdfs/squadron_lineage.pdf)</sup>

## Squadrons in carrier air wings

A carrier air wing is a task-organized mix of squadron types, a structure that lets a carrier optimize its embarked wing for a given mission.<sup>[9](https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/annual_reports/1980_DoD_AR.pdf?ver=2014-06-24-150830-927)</sup> In the early years of World War II, a U.S. carrier air group typically consisted of one fighter squadron (VF) of 18 F4F Wildcats, one torpedo squadron (VT) of 12 to 18 TBD Devastators, and two SBD Dauntless dive-bomber squadrons, one designated bombing (VB) and the other scouting (VS), for a total of 60 to 70 aircraft.<sup>[10](https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-005/h-005-2.html)</sup>

The modern air wing template comprises four VFA squadrons flying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or F-35C, one VAQ squadron with the [EA-18G Growler](https://www.edgepedia.org/boeing-ea-18g-growler), one VAW squadron with the E-2C/D Hawkeye, one VRC/VRM detachment flying the C-2 Greyhound or CMV-22B Osprey, and HSC and HSM helicopter squadrons.<sup>[3](https://usna.edu/Training/_files/PROBOOK_AY25_Final_No_Comments_19JUL24.pdf)</sup> A current example is Carrier Air Wing 2, which consists of three F/A-18E/F squadrons (VFA-2, VFA-113, and VFA-192), one EA-18G squadron (VAQ-136), one F-35C squadron (VFA-147), one E-2D squadron (VAW-113), one CMV-22B squadron (VRM-30), and two MH-60 helicopter squadrons (HSC-4 and HSM-78), nine squadrons in total.<sup>[11](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2625530/carrier-air-wing-two-broadsword-completes-air-wing-fallon/)</sup> Carrier Air Wing 5, originally established as CVG-5 in 1943, is permanently forward deployed with its carrier in Japan.<sup>[12](https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAF-Atsugi/About/History/)</sup>

## Communities and notable squadrons

**Strike fighter.** Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic mans, trains, and equips VFA squadrons for carrier-based combat missions, maintaining administrative control of 15 operational VFA squadrons plus a fleet replacement squadron and a strike fighter weapons school.<sup>[13](https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?Article=2237108&ModuleId=685&PortalId=1)</sup>

**Electronic attack.** [Naval Air Station Whidbey Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/naval-air-station-whidbey-island)'s Ault Field is home to the Navy's entire tactical electronic attack community, including all Growler squadrons: nine carrier squadrons, three expeditionary squadrons, one expeditionary reserve squadron, and the fleet replacement squadron, along with an electronic attack weapons school.<sup>[14](https://www.nepa.navy.mil/Growler/Proposed-Action/)</sup>

**Maritime patrol and reconnaissance.** VP squadrons fly the P-8A Poseidon; VP-40 completed the fleet's final active-duty transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A in May 2020, training under VP-30, the patrol and reconnaissance fleet replacement squadron at NAS Jacksonville.<sup>[15](https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?Article=2284031&ModuleId=763&PortalId=1)</sup> The unmanned counterpart, VUP-19 "Big Red," operates the MQ-4C Triton for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, currently flying 10 aircraft from NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport.<sup>[16](https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/4026866/vup-19-changes-commanders-welcomes-new-commanding-officer/)</sup>

**Airborne command post.** Two operational VQ squadrons, VQ-3 "Ironmen" and VQ-4 "Shadows," deploy the [E-6B Mercury](https://www.edgepedia.org/boeing-e-6-mercury) airborne command post from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, supported by the TACAMO Weapons School and the VQ-7 fleet replacement squadron.<sup>[17](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2162873/e-6b-mercury-airborne-command-post/)</sup>

**Helicopters.** HSC squadrons operate from carriers and HSM squadrons from carriers and surface combatants; new units continue to be established, such as HSM-50, created 1 October 2021 at Naval Station Mayport to provide MH-60R detachments for littoral combat ships and independent deployers.<sup>[18](https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/2795431/us-navy-establishes-new-helicopter-squadron/)</sup>

**Adversary, test, and demonstration.** The Navy Reserve's Tactical Support Wing includes four professional airborne adversary squadrons, among them VFC-12 at NAS Oceana, which train fleet and fleet replacement squadrons against simulated airborne threats.<sup>[19](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2284240/reserve-squadrons-unmatched-capability-critical-for-strike-group-lethality/)</sup> Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 at NAS Patuxent River conducts developmental flight test for Navy and Marine Corps rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft.<sup>[20](https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Navys-rotary-test-squadron-changes-command/Mon-02242025-1608)</sup> The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the [Blue Angels](https://www.edgepedia.org/blue-angels), has performed since 1946 and trains each January through March at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California.<sup>[21](https://blueangels.navy.mil/)</sup>

## References

1. [The Original Alphabet Soup, Naval History Magazine (June 1997), U.S. Naval Institute](https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1997/june/original-alphabet-soup)
2. [Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons: Volume 1, Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1.html)
3. [Squadron Type Decoder, USNA Professional Book AY25](https://usna.edu/Training/_files/PROBOOK_AY25_Final_No_Comments_19JUL24.pdf)
4. [Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 1: The Evolution of Aircraft Class and Squadron Designation Systems](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/chapter1.pdf)
5. [Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1 (VA-34 to VA-38 histories, CVG to CVW note)](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1/pdfs/va-34-38.pdf)
6. [Current Squadron Lineage, Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/insignias/pdfs/squadron_lineage.pdf)
7. [Navy Squadron Insignia, Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/insignias/navy-squadron-insignia.html)
8. [About Us, Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet](https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Home/Leaders/Commanding-Offcer/Leaders/Executive-Director/About-Us/About-Us/)
9. [Department of Defense Annual Report FY1980, Department of the Navy Force Structure](https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/annual_reports/1980_DoD_AR.pdf?ver=2014-06-24-150830-927)
10. [H-005-2 Carrier vs. Carrier, Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-005/h-005-2.html)
11. [Carrier Air Wing TWO Completes Air Wing Fallon, U.S. Navy News](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2625530/carrier-air-wing-two-broadsword-completes-air-wing-fallon/)
12. [NAF Atsugi History, Commander, Navy Region Japan](https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAF-Atsugi/About/History/)
13. [Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Changes Hands, U.S. Navy News](https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?Article=2237108&ModuleId=685&PortalId=1)
14. [U.S. Navy NEPA Project Website, Growler Proposed Action](https://www.nepa.navy.mil/Growler/Proposed-Action/)
15. [VP-40 Completes Fleet's Final Active Duty P-8A Transition, U.S. Navy News](https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?Article=2284031&ModuleId=763&PortalId=1)
16. [VUP-19 Changes Commanders, U.S. Fleet Forces Command](https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/4026866/vup-19-changes-commanders-welcomes-new-commanding-officer/)
17. [E-6B Mercury Airborne Command Post, U.S. Navy Fact Files](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2162873/e-6b-mercury-airborne-command-post/)
18. [U.S. Navy Establishes New Helicopter Squadron, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic](https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/2795431/us-navy-establishes-new-helicopter-squadron/)
19. [Reserve Squadron's Unmatched Capability Critical for Strike Group Lethality, U.S. Navy News](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2284240/reserve-squadrons-unmatched-capability-critical-for-strike-group-lethality/)
20. [Navy's rotary test squadron changes command, NAVAIR](https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Navys-rotary-test-squadron-changes-command/Mon-02242025-1608)
21. [U.S. Navy Blue Angels official site](https://blueangels.navy.mil/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Transport and spaceflight › Aviation › Military aviation › Naval aviation › Naval air units and formations › United States Navy aviation units*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*

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