After two days of bilateral carrier air operations in the Philippine Sea, exercise VALIANT BLITZ concluded recently.

As a busy September at sea period comes to a close, The Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron TWENTY SEVEN, (VFA 27) celebrate thirty years of excellence.

Established in September 1967, as Attack Squadron 27, The Maces began flying the A-7 Corsair in December of that same year. During the Vietnam conflict in Southeast Asia, The Maces made cruises aboard the USS Constellation (CV 64) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65) where they amassed over 7,400 combat sorties.

In November 1979, VA-27 deployed aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43), marking their eight Western Pacific deployment. In 1984, VA-27 joined Carrier Airwing FIFITEEN, and deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

As January 1991 rolled around, the Maces were officially designated Strike Fighter Squadron 27, and transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. In November 1992, the new Hornet squadron deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) to the Arabian Gulf in support of the multinational peace keeping force in Iraq.

The Royal Maces have continued to remain at the tip of the spear, conducting operations supporting the United Nations relief efforts in Somalia and in the Korean theater during critical UN negotiations with North Korea in June 1994.

Since then, the Maces have transitioned to the newer F/A-18C and have changed their homeport to NAF Atsugi joining USS Independence (CV 62) and Carrier Airwing FIVE as their newest squadron.

The maces are currently commanded by Cmdr. Vincent Shorts of Oakland, Calif.