Strike Fighter Squadron
ONE NINE TWO

The "World Famous Golden Dragons" look back on an illustrious history spanning more than fifty years. The squadron was established on 26 March 1945, standing up with the F6F Hellcat. Since then, the Dragons have flown an impressive lineup: the F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, F9F-5 Panther, F9F-6 Cougar, FJ-4B Fury, A-4D Skyhawk, and the A-7E Corsair II. Today, the Dragons patrol the skies with the Navy's newest and most capable aircraft ever, the F/A-18 Hornet.

While flying the F9F-5 Panther from the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) in 1953, the Golden Dragons participated in the filming of the 1953 classic, "The Bridges of Toko Ri," as well as the film "Men of the Fighting Lady." The squadron added "World Famous" to its moniker as a result of its appearance in these films.

In 1959, the Dragons started flying the highly successful A-4 Skyhawk. The Dragons flew the "Mighty Midget Atomic Bomber" from the decks of the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34), the USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31) and the USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14) during the Vietnam Conflict. LCDR Michael J. Estocin, a Golden Dragon, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his gallantry and courage on the 20th and 26th of April 1967 while flying his A4E on a missile suppression mission. In his memory, the Navy's award for the best F/A-18 squadron is called the Michael J. Estocin Award. The A-7 Corsair II replaced the Dragon's A-4s in 1970 and flying these aircraft, the squadron conducted combat missions over Southeast Asia during two deployments aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63). During the first of these deployments the Dragons dropped a total of 14 million pounds of ordnance without losing a single man or aircraft. A record unmatched by an squadron during this period.

After their success in Vietnam, the Dragons made two Mediterranean cruises aboard USS AMERICA (CV 66). Later, the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing Nine and sailed aboard USS RANGER (CV 61). In 1985 the Dragons deployed "Marine style" with Marine Air Group Twelve. The squadron flew its 12 A-7E Corsair II's across the Pacific in June 1985, and began operating from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. During this unique deployment, then VA-192 provided air support for Marine ground units operating throughout the Western Pacific region.

The Golden Dragons returned to their homes in Lemoore, California, in December that year. The following month, the squadron was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA 192), and received its first of 12 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets in May. In November 1986 the Dragons again flew to Japan, this time to establish themselves as permanent members of Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5), the Navy's only forward deployed air wing.

On October 2, 1990, the Dragons set sail for the troubled waters of the Arabian Gulf. The United States had set in motion a firm response to Iraqi aggression against its neighbor, and CVW-5, embarked in USS MIDWAY (CV 41), was chosen to support that stand. When hostilities broke in January 1991 the Dragons were at the tip of America's sword, raining HARM anti-radiation missiles onto Iraqi missile batteries on the first night of Operation Desert Storm. Over the next 43 days the Golden Dragons played a crucial role in the conflict by delivering, with pinpoint accuracy, 730,200 pounds of ordnance onto its assigned targets. The Dragons did not lose an aircraft or pilot during the conflict.

The squadron traded its battle tested F/A-18A's for newer F/A-18C's in September, 1991, as CVW-5 completed an historic swap from the USS MIDWAY (CV 41) to the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The Dragons deployed again to the Arabian Gulf in 1992 as part of the effort to spearhead Operation Southern Watch , establishing the no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel over Iraq. The Dragons would deploy two more times to the Gulf, 1993 and 1995, aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) while participating in numerous multinational exercises. The squadron would continue to participate in these exercises throughout 1996 while maintaining readiness in case duty called. It did in March 1996 as the USS INDEPENDENCE Battle Group was ordered off the coast of Taiwan as tensions rose between Taiwan and China while the Taiwan people participated in their first fully free and democratic elections.

Throughout their existence the "World Famous Golden Dragons" have been awarded numerous times for their superlative performance. The squadron earned the Presidential Unit Citation for action in the South Pacific during World War II. During the years 1966-1969 the Golden Dragons received four consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Safety Awards, a record unmatched by any other Navy Attack Squadron of the period. They are four time recipients of the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award as well as two time recipients of the Michael J. Estocin Award. And for excellence in aviation maintenance, the Golden Dragons were awarded the Bruce Carrier Award in 1979.

The Dragons are currently busy with their deployment schedule for 1997 where the squadron is participating in many multinational exercises and is prepared to serve where duty calls, at the "Tip of the Sword," forward deployed aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62).

For further requests concerning the "World Famous Golden Dragons" of VFA-192, feel free to contact VFA-192's Public Affairs Officer at:

Public Affairs Officer
VFA-192
FPO AP 96601-6236

Or send E-mail to: f2scargi@emh1.cvw5.navy.mil

Commanding Officer: CDR Carlos E. Ayuso
Executive Officer:CDR Steve Dunkle