the last F-14 flight occurring on October 4, 2006, as BuNo.164603 flew from NAS Oceana to Republic Airport. After spending a year at the American Airpower Museum, the aircraft is now on static display outside of the former Grumman Aerospace Corporation headquarters in Bethpage, NY. VF-31 transitioned to F/A-18E Super Hornet and was redesignated VFA-31 in late 2006. VFA-31, along with CVW-8 and Theodore Roosevelt, participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 Operation Brimstone off the coast of North Carolina between July 21 and July 31, 2008. The British carrier , the amphibious assault ship with associated units and the Brazilian Navy frigate Greenhalgh and the French submarine also participated in the event. On 8 September 2008, VFA-31 and the rest of CVW-8 deployed on board USS Theodore Roosevelt on a regularly scheduled deployment. On October 4, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Group arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, the first visit by an American aircraft carrier since 1967 and three days later the carrier left Cape Town. CVW-8 and CVN-71 supported Operation Enduring Freedom and flew more than 3,100 sorties and dropped more than 59,500 pounds of ordnance while providing close air support for ISAF-forces in Afghanistan. 2010s On May 11, 2011, the squadrons of CVW-8 embarked on 's maiden deployment, to conduct operations in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. returning to NAS Oceana in December, 2011, days before the return of USS George H.W. Bush. VFA-31 flew extensive ground attack missions in Operation Inherent Resolve against IS targets in Syria, and peacefully intercepted MiG 29s. Awards During its long history, the squadron has received the Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle Effectiveness Award for the best fighter squadron in the Atlantic Fleet, the Admiral Joseph C. Clifton Award for the top fighter squadron in the Navy, the Wade McClusky Award as most outstanding attack squadron in the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" award, and the Arleigh Burke Award, which is awarded "to the ship or squadron with the most improved battle efficiency". In 1974, VF-31 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for excellence in combat during deployment to Vietnam in 1972–1973. See also Naval aviation Modern US Navy carrier air operations List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons References External links VF-31 in WW II (1943-1945) Official VF-31 Web Site VF-31 History