The Argonauts were established as Attack Squadron 147 (VA-147) on February 1, 1967, at NAS Lemoore, California. VA-147 became the Navy's first A-7E Corsair II squadron and was the first to take the A-7E into combat in Southeast Asia. The Argonauts completed five combat deployments during the Vietnam War, beginning a long tradition of carrier-based combat operations.
In 1989, VA-147 was redesignated VFA-147 and transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet. The Argonauts became the first squadron to receive the Lot XII Night Attack Hornet and later flew combat missions supporting operations including Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, the squadron began transitioning to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, completing the transition in 2008.
VFA-147 later made Naval Aviation history again by becoming the Navy's first operational F-35C Lightning II squadron. Today, the Argonauts fly the carrier-based F-35C, bringing fifth-generation stealth, sensors, and strike capabilities to a squadron whose history began with another groundbreaking Navy aircraft more than five decades ago.
