▁of ▁American ▁and ▁Al lied ▁forces ▁to ▁counter ▁a ▁threatened ▁invasion ▁of ▁Sa udi ▁Arab ia ▁by ▁Ira q ▁and ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁an ▁economic ▁block ade ▁of ▁Ira q ▁to ▁force ▁its ▁withdraw al ▁from ▁K uw ait . ▁▁ 1 7 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁Operation ▁Des ert ▁Storm , ▁combat ▁operations ▁to ▁remove ▁Ira qi ▁forces ▁from ▁K uw ait , ▁was ▁launched . ▁The ▁squad ron ’ s ▁A - 7 Es ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁combat ▁strike ▁against ▁Ira qi ▁targets ▁in ▁Bag hd ad . ▁▁ 2 9 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁Squadron ▁aircraft ▁fle w ▁their ▁first ▁combat ▁mission ▁in ▁the ▁K uw ait ▁the ater , ▁striking ▁Ira qi ▁troops , ▁t anks ▁and ▁art illery ▁positions . ▁▁ 2 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁Squadron ▁aircraft ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁last ▁naval ▁air ▁combat ▁strike ▁of ▁the ▁war , ▁hitting ▁retre ating ▁Ira qi ▁troops ▁east ▁of ▁Naj af , ▁Ira q . ▁During ▁the ▁ 4 3 ▁days ▁of ▁war ▁the ▁squad ron ▁fle w ▁ 3 6 2 ▁sort ies ▁without ▁the ▁loss ▁of ▁a ▁pilot ▁or ▁aircraft . ▁▁ 8 ▁June ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁The ▁last ▁two ▁squad ron ▁aircraft ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁Des ert ▁Storm ▁Vict ory ▁Par ade ▁fly over ▁in ▁Washington , ▁D . C . ▁ ▁Home ▁port ▁assign ments ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁these ▁home ▁ports , ▁effective ▁on ▁the ▁dates ▁shown :