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An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Royal Maces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 fly-off. George Washington and its embarked air wing, CVW 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paolo Bayas (Released) 141121-N-TE278-334
A relatively new squadron, the Maces were only stood up in 1967. Originally flying the A-7 Corsair II as VA-27, the Maces conducted over 4,000 combat sorties dropping it like its hot on the North Vietnamese while flying from Constellation and Enterprise on Yankee Station in the 1960s and 70s. Transitioning to the F/A-18A/C in 1991, they picked up the Strike Fighter monicker and used that early Hornet well over Iraq in OIF. They have been flying the much bigger E-model “Rhinos” since 2004.
