In the wake of the September 11 attacks , the squadron participated in Operation Enduring Freedom flying missions against the Al Qaida infrastructure and Taliban forces in Afghanistan as well as protecting assets in Diego Garcia . When '' Kitty Hawk '' deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom , VFA-27 was soon heavily involved in combat . As part of Carrier Air Wing 5 , VFA-27 attacked command , control and communications sites , surface-to-surface missile batteries and an air traffic control radar near Basrah . At the Al Faw peninsula long range artillery guns and 155 mm howitzers near Az Zubayr were targeted . The squadron flew hundreds of close air support and strike sorties against Iraqi forces . VFA-27 completed their transition to the F/A -18 E Super Hornet in October 2004 at NAS Lemoore
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
VFA-27