# VS-31
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VS-31
> Source revision: 1285978301
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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Sea Control Squadron 31
| image= Sea Control Squadron 31 (US Navy) insignia 2002.png
|caption= VS-31 Insignia
|dates= 28 September 1948 – 31 March 2008[{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/insignias/navy-aviation-insignia-instruction/enclosure-2-current-navy-aviation-squadron-lineage-list.html|title = Enclosure (2): Current Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage List}}]
|country= {{flag|United States}}
|allegiance=
|branch= [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy)
|type=
|role= [Anti-submarine warfare](/source/Anti-submarine_warfare)
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison= [NAS Jacksonville](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Jacksonville)
|garrison_label= Former homeport
|nickname= "Topcats"
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment= [Douglas SBD Dauntless](/source/Douglas_SBD_Dauntless)
[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver](/source/Curtiss_SB2C_Helldiver)
[Grumman TBF Avenger](/source/Grumman_TBF_Avenger)
[Grumman AF Guardian](/source/Grumman_AF_Guardian)
[Grumman S-2 Tracker](/source/Grumman_S-2_Tracker)
[Lockheed S-3 Viking](/source/Lockheed_S-3_Viking)
|equipment_label=Aircraft flown
|battles=[Suez Crisis](/source/Suez_Crisis)
[Lebanon Crisis](/source/1958_Lebanon_crisis)
[Berlin Crisis](/source/Berlin_Crisis_of_1961)
[Operation Desert Shield](/source/Gulf_War)
[Operation Southern Watch](/source/Operation_Southern_Watch)
[Operation Iraqi Freedom](/source/Iraq_War)
[Operation Enduring Freedom](/source/Operation_Enduring_Freedom)
|anniversaries=
|decorations=[Meritorious Unit Commendation](/source/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation) (5)
[Joint Meritorious Unit Award](/source/Joint_Meritorious_Unit_Award)
[CNO Aviation Safety Award](/source/CNO_Aviation_Safety_Award) (8)
|battle_honours=
|battle_honours_label=
|disbanded=
|flying_hours=
|website=
}}
'''Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) ''Topcats''''' was a [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) [anti-submarine warfare](/source/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](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Squantum), Massachusetts. It flew the [dive bomber](/source/dive_bomber)s [Douglas SBD-5 ''Dauntless''](/source/Douglas_SBD_Dauntless), then the [Curtiss SB2C-4E ''Helldiver''](/source/Curtiss_SB2C_Helldiver) in the North Atlantic until disestablished at the end of the war in 1945.[{{cite web |url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vs-31.htm |title=VS-31 Sea Control Squadron 31 |first=John |last=Pike |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |year=2011 |access-date=26 November 2011}}]
The squadron which is the subject of this article was established as Composite Squadron VC-31 on 28 September 1948 at [NAS Atlantic City](/source/Atlantic_City_International_Airport), New Jersey, was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) on 20 April 1950[{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/insignias/navy-aviation-insignia-instruction/enclosure-2-current-navy-aviation-squadron-lineage-list.html|title = Enclosure (2): Current Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage List}}] and moved to [NAS Quonset Point](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Quonset_Point), Rhode Island. Originally flying the [Grumman TBF ''Avenger''](/source/Grumman_TBF_Avenger), these were later replaced by the [Grumman AF ''Guardian''](/source/Grumman_AF_Guardian) and the [Grumman S-2 ''Tracker''](/source/Grumman_S-2_Tracker) in 1954, and finally by the [Lockheed S-3 ''Viking''](/source/Lockheed_S-3_Viking). In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to [NAS Cecil Field](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Cecil_Field), Florida, and eventually to [NAS Jacksonville](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Jacksonville).[{{cite web |url= http://gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VS31.html |title=Sea Control Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VS-31) |first=Hiroe |last=Takafumi |work=gonavy.jp |year=2011 |access-date=26 November 2011}}] It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville effective 31 March 2008, with a deactivation ceremony which took place on 27 March.[{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=36133 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080408232610/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=36133 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 8 April 2008 |title=The Navy Bids Farewell to VS-31 |first=T. |last=Jackson |publisher=United States Navy |year=2011 |access-date=26 November 2011}}]
==Operational history==
[[Image:S-3A VS-31 1987.JPEG|thumb|left|An S-3A of VS-31 assigned to [CVW-7](/source/Carrier_Air_Wing_Seven) aboard {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower|CVN-69}} in 1987.]]
The squadron performed carrier operations aboard various [aircraft carrier](/source/aircraft_carrier)s. In 1956 it provided ASW support during the Suez Crisis from {{USS|Antietam|CV-36|3}}. In 1958, from {{USS|Wasp|CV-18|3}}, it served during the Lebanon Crisis, and also during the 1961 Berlin Crisis and the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis. In May 1963 it was stationed for the recovery of [Mercury 9](/source/Mercury-Atlas_9), and then for the recovery of [Gemini 4](/source/Gemini_4) in June 1965. In 1990 the squadron participated in "Operation Desert Shield", arriving in the [Red Sea](/source/Red_Sea) within a few days of the [invasion of Kuwait](/source/invasion_of_Kuwait). In August 1992, the Topcats and the rest of CVW-7 switched aircraft carriers to the USS George Washington (CVN-73), the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. VS-31 deployed for Washington's maiden cruise and then again for the carrier's first Mediterranean Sea deployment in May 1994 where she took part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion and Operation Deny Flight. In 1998, the squadron was deployed aboard the {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|3}} on its maiden voyage, during which it spent 131 days in the [Persian Gulf](/source/Persian_Gulf) supporting "Operation Southern Watch".