George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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A : COMMAND MASTER CHIEF The SUNLINERS of Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE CMDCM(AW SW) Ro»»ert Bostic (VFA-81) were originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VF-81) on 1 July 1955. Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE was an ail weather fighter intercept squadron flying the Grumman F9F-8 “Cougar”. Originally named the CRUSADERS”, the squadron made two initial Mediterranean cruises. Following those deployments, the mission and designation of the squadron changed during a transition to the A4D-2 “SKYHAWK” in March 1959. After becoming Attack Squadron EIGHT ONE (VA-81), they made multiple deployments with Second and Sixth Fleet aboard USS SHANGRI - LA (CVA 38) and USS FORRESTAL (CV 59). During this time, the orange Supersonic Nothing” adorned the vertical stabilizer of three types of A-4’s. In 1963 the squadron adopted the name SUNLINERS, and the motto Anytime, Anyplace”. In February 1970, the SUNLINERS won the coveted Navy Battle E” for East Coast A-4 squadrons and were selected to be the first East Coast squadron to receive the Navy’s newest attack aircraft, the A-7E CORSAIR II. The SUNLINERS took their new aircraft aboard USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) with Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17) in January 1971 on their twelfth Mediterranean deployment. By the end of the 1974 competitive cycle, the orange tailed ZAPPERS” had demonstrated sustained excellence by winning three Light Attack Wing ONE bombing derbies and a second Navy Battle E”. A total of thirteen cruises were made to the Mediterranean with the A-7E. During the last Corsair cruise, the SUNLINERS won the CVW-17 Top Tail Hook Award and the Air Wing Bombing Derby. The highlight of 1987 was the squadron receiving its third Battle E” as the top East Coast A-7 squadron. Following the cruise, the SUNLINERS transitioned from the venerable A-7E to the Navy’s newest Fighter Attack aircraft, the F A-18C “Hornet”. The squadron was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VFA-81) on 4 February 1988.