The Wildcats were established in October 1983 as a new Hornet squadron and belonged to CVW-7 aboard the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69). They participated in exercises against Libya in 1986 from the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). In 1991, they converted from ‘A’ Models to ‘C’ Models, resumed with the “Ike”, and participated in Desert Shield, but not Desert Storm. This is the desert version.