The Tomcatters trace their lineage to July 1, 1935, when the squadron was established as VF-1B. It was subsequently redesignated VF-6, VF-3, VF-3A, and finally VF-31 in 1948. The squadron's long history includes service during World War II, when its predecessors participated in major Pacific battles including Midway, Guadalcanal, and the Eastern Solomons.
Over the decades, the Tomcatters flew a succession of legendary Navy fighters and built a distinguished combat record. Flying the F-4J Phantom II during the Vietnam War, VF-31 scored a MiG-21 victory in 1972, making it the only Navy fighter squadron credited with aerial victories in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The squadron later transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat and flew combat operations supporting Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
VF-31 made history again when it participated in the Navy's final F-14 deployment in 2005. After returning home, the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet and was redesignated VFA-31. Today, the Tomcatters continue to fly the single-seat F/A-18E, carrying forward a Naval Aviation lineage spanning more than nine decades.
