. ▁▁ 1 7 – 1 9 ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 5 : ▁V A - 7 2 , ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁units ▁of ▁CV W - 1 , ▁were ▁the ▁first ▁to ▁conduct ▁flight ▁operations ▁from ▁a ▁car rier ▁operating ▁inside ▁a ▁f j ord . ▁ ▁operated ▁in ▁V est f j orden , ▁Norway , ▁during ▁this ▁evolution . ▁▁ 2 2 – 2 7 ▁March ▁ 1 9 8 6 : ▁During ▁Fre edom ▁of ▁Navigation ▁Ex er cis es ▁in ▁the ▁G ulf ▁of ▁Sid ra ▁and ▁the ▁resulting ▁combat ▁action ▁with ▁Lib yan ▁forces , ▁V A - 7 2 ▁fle w ▁pat rol s ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁task ▁force ▁from ▁attack ▁by ▁surface ▁ships ▁or ▁sub mar ines ▁and ▁also ▁provided ▁aer ial ▁ref uel ing ▁miss ions ▁for ▁f igh ters ▁flying ▁combat ▁air ▁pat rol s . ▁▁ 1 4 ▁April ▁ 1 9 8 6 : ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁initi ated ▁Operation ▁E ld or ado ▁C any on , ▁air ▁strik es ▁against ▁targets ▁in ▁Lib ya . ▁V A - 7 2 ▁provided ▁air - to - sur face ▁miss ile ▁support ▁for ▁possible ▁employ ment ▁against ▁surface - to - air ▁miss ile ▁rad ar ▁sites . ▁ ▁September – Oct ober ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁and ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 0 – J anu ary ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁The ▁squad ron ▁participated ▁in ▁Operation ▁Des ert ▁Sh ield , ▁the ▁bu il dup