VFA-103 was established in May 1952 and began the transition from F-4S Phantoms to the F-14A Tomcat to the F/A-18F SuperHornet in 2005. The ‘Sluggers’ were with the USS Saratoga in CVW-17 for the majority of her time, before switching to the USS Enterprise. VF-103 adopted the “Skull and Crossbones” of VF-84 to continue their tradition. VF-103 had one of their TARPS-birds shot down by an optical SA-2 derivative in Desert Storm with the pilot being rescued and the RIO becoming a POW. This is the black-bordered version of the “spinoff” patch created by the Hornet crews (Rhinos) in imitation of the old Tomcat patches where Felix was leaning on the skull. This patch does come with velcro attached.
