Pair of fighter jets socks: Iconic Squadrons F18E Black Aces

Sock Size

One of the iconic squadrons

Fighting 31 Tomcatters, VFA-31, is one of the U.S. Navy’s most distinguished fighter squadrons. Established in 1935, the squadron adopted the iconic Felix the Cat insignia, a mischievous cat holding a bomb, which remains its mascot to this day.

Throughout its long history, VFA-31 has flown a wide range of aircraft, including the F6F Hellcat, F-14 Tomcat, and more recently, the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The squadron played a significant role in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, being the only U.S. Navy squadron to achieve confirmed aerial victories in all three wars.

The most famous Tomcatter was Edward “Butch” O’Hare. He became the Navy’s first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in the conflict for his extraordinary actions in 1942.

O’Hare single-handedly attacked a formation of bombers, repeatedly diving at them and shooting down five aircraft, significantly reducing the threat to his carrier. His bravery and skill saved the Lexington from severe damage and earned him a Medal of Honor and having O’Hare International Airport in Chicago named in his honour.

Fun fact Butch's father was a lawyer who worked closely with Al Capone before turning against him and helping convict Capone of tax evasion.

Black Aces VF-41, gained worldwide recognition in the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, when two VF-41 F-14s shot down two Libyan Su-22s, marking the first air-to-air kills for U.S. Navy aircraft since the Vietnam War. In 2001, VF-41 embarked on their final Tomcat cruise before transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Today, The Black Aces is attached to Carrier Air Wing 9. Their motto, “First to Fight, First to Strike,” reflects their long legacy of combat and operational excellence.