VS-31
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| Sea Control Squadron 31 | |
|---|---|
_insignia_2002.png) VS-31 Insignia | |
| Active | 28 September 1948 – 31 March 2008[1] |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Role | Anti-submarine warfare |
| Former homeport | NAS Jacksonville |
| Nickname(s) | "Topcats" |
| Aircraft flown | Douglas SBD Dauntless Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Grumman TBF Avenger Grumman AF Guardian Grumman S-2 Tracker Lockheed S-3 Viking |
| Engagements | Suez Crisis Lebanon Crisis Berlin Crisis Operation Desert Shield Operation Southern Watch Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Decorations | Meritorious Unit Commendation (5) Joint Meritorious Unit Award CNO Aviation Safety Award (8) |
Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) Topcats was a United States Navy anti-submarine warfare squadron.
During WWII there was a scouting squadron which carried the designation VS-31. It was established as Scouting Squadron 31 in 1942, based at Naval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts. It flew the dive bombers Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, then the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver in the North Atlantic until disestablished at the end of the war in 1945.[2]
The squadron which is the subject of this article was established as Composite Squadron VC-31 on 28 September 1948 at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) on 20 April 1950[1] and moved to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger, these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S-2 Tracker in 1954, and finally by the Lockheed S-3 Viking. In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and eventually to NAS Jacksonville.[2] On 1 October 1993 the VS designation was changed from "Air Anti-Submarine Squadron" to "Sea Control Squadron and VS-31 (along with all existing VS squadrons at the time) was renamed Sea Control Squadron VS-31.[3] It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville effective 31 March 2008, with a deactivation ceremony which took place on 27 March.[4]
