River Rattlers redesignated as a Fleet Composite Squadron
On 20 April 2022, the US Navy received their first former USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon to be used with Fleet Composite Squadron (VFC) 13 Fighting Saints ('AF-xx') at Naval Air Station Fallon (NV).
The unit's Northrop F-5N Tiger IIs are being turned over to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 204 River Rattlers ('AF-4xx') at Naval Air Station / Joint Reserve Base New Orleans (LA).
The first image of an F-5N assigned to the River Rattlers emerged recently and it revealed the unit’s new VFC-204 identity as the unit prepares to end Hornet operations this summer and be officially re-designated from a Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) to a Fleet Composite Sqaudron (VFC) in October.
On 7 May 2021, Scramble Magazine reported on the acquisition of former USAF and Air National Guard F-16s to support adversary missions for the US Navy active fleet. The legacy Hornets used with the US Navy Reserve Tactical Support Wing (TSW), VFA-204 at NAS JRB New Orleans and VFC-12 Fighting Omars ('AF-xx') at NAS Oceana (VA), need to be replaced as soon as possible.
VFC-12 will transition to the FA-18E/F Super Hornet Block I. However, as there are not enough Block I Super Hornets available, Vice Admiral John Mustin, chief of the Navy Reserve, proposed to acquire surplus USAF and Air National Guard F-16s.
According to official US Navy budget documents released in 2021, twenty single-seat F-16C Block 32 and six two-seat F-16D Block 25 Fighting Falcons are being transferred to the Navy. VFC-13 at Fallon will lose all of its F-5s this year, which will primarily be used to re-equip VFC-204, and it will instead receive twelve F-16C Block 32 fighters. Fallon’s Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) will in turn receive eight F-16C Block 32s and six F-16D Block 25s to replace its remaining legacy Hornets.
Photo by Tyler Jablonski (via jetphotos.com) en Fred Woestmaat (Scramble Archive)