Named in honor of the 35th President, this carrier's keel was laid on 22 October 1964 and was launched on 27 May 1967. The was commissioned on 7 September 1968 and is currently home-ported at NAS Mayport, FL. Upon return from a 1997 Mediterranean/Arabic Gulf cruise with CVW-8, CVW-1 transferred to "Big John" and is currently on deployment.

This is the "Eagle Swoop" that is famous for the CVW-17 insignia. Not only is it colorful, but it represents the abilities of the airwing to be able to "swoop" in and attack an enemy with surprise. Just ran out, but have more inbound.

This is the cruise patch from CVW-17. It is in the shape of a toliet seat. It says 'CVW-17 OIF' across the top. It show the AOR and says TO HELL AND BACK and THE BIG JOHN inside the toliet bowl. On the bottom it says 'Summer & Fall '04. It shows the participating squadrons on the toliet seat. Funny patch.

This is the CVW-17 Cruise patch depicting when they went "Around the Horn" (south of Africa). It lists VAW-121, VFA-131, VFA-103, VS-22, VRC-40, HS-15 and VAQ-132 units attached (my old airwing from the 1996 cruise). Play on words from the "ESPN DEPORTES" that we all see on Sportscenter. It also says "i FOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA!" along the bottom. Hard to get patch, expensive to make (sorry).

Receiving their first A-6E Intruders in April 1970, the squadron had already been using this patch design since 1966. They were transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet in late 1996 after return from their Med cruise aboard the USS Washington in CVW-17. They are now based at NAS Oceana, VA. Notice the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), with "paddles", on face of skull.

Receiving their first A-6E Intruders in April 1970, the squadron had already been using this patch design since 1966. They were transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet in late 1996 after return from their Med cruise aboard the USS Washington in CVW-17. They are now based at NAS Oceana, VA. Notice the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), with "paddles", on face of skull. The design was changed to a more uniform shape that most Hornet squadrons are now adhering to.

Receiving their first A-6E Intruders in April 1970, the squadron had already been using this patch design since 1966. They were transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet in late 1996 after return from their Med cruise aboard the USS Washington in CVW-17. They are now based at NAS Oceana, VA. Notice the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), with "paddles", on face of skull. The design was changed to a more uniform shape that most Hornet squadrons are now adhering to. This is the "subdued" gray version worn on the desert flight suits.

The "Blue Blasters" received their first A-6E Intruders in April 1970. They were transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet in late 1996 after return from their Med cruise aboard the USS Washington in CVW-17.

The "Blue Blasters" received their first A-6E Intruders in April 1970. They were transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet in late 1996 after return from their Med cruise aboard the USS Washington in CVW-17. This is the "subdued" gray version of the aircraft bullet they wear on their desert flight suits.

This is the "Friday" patch for the VFA-34 Blue Blasters worn only by the aircrew. It shows their 'mascot' (a joker) wielding an instrument of destruction.

These are the color nametags for the pilots for VFA-103.

These are the color nametags for the WSOs for VFA-103.

This is the blank version of the color nametags for the flyers of VFA-103.

These are the desert nametags for the pilots for VFA-103.

These are the desert nametags for the WSOs for VFA-103.

VF-103 was established in May 1952 and began the transition from F-4S Phantoms to the F-14A Tomcat in January 1983. 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. They have now transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and this is their round "black" version of their transition patch that states "Transition Time, Baby".

VF-103 was established in May 1952 and began the transition from F-4S Phantoms to the F-14A Tomcat in January 1983. 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. They have now switched to the F/A-18 Hornet and this is the current version of their squadron patch.

VF-103 was established in May 1952 and began the transition from F-4S Phantoms to the F-14A Tomcat in January 1983. 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. They have now switched to the F/A-18 Hornet and this is the current version of their desert squadron patch.

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 their current "backpatch".

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 current version of their new "oval" patch.

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 current version of their new "diamond" patch.