The Diamondbacks were established in 1955 as VF-102, beginning their history at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, flying the F2H-4 Banshee. The squadron soon transitioned to the F4D-1 Skyray and later became one of the Navy's early operators of the F-4 Phantom II. During the Phantom era, the Diamondbacks participated in operations surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis and flew combat missions during the Vietnam War.
In 1981, VF-102 transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat, beginning more than two decades with the aircraft. The Diamondbacks flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm, logging more than 1,400 combat hours, and later supported operations in Bosnia, Somalia, and the Persian Gulf. Following the September 11 attacks, VF-102 participated in the opening phases of Operation Enduring Freedom, employing the Tomcat in both strike and forward air controller roles.
In 2002, VF-102 was redesignated VFA-102 and transitioned to the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The Diamondbacks subsequently became the first forward-deployed Super Hornet squadron and have continued operating the F/A-18F in the Indo-Pacific region. Today, VFA-102 carries forward more than seven decades of Diamondback history and Naval Aviation service.
