White skull and crossbones on a VFA-103 Super Hornet’s black-and-yellow tail, with sailors beneath the aircraft and “HERE’S TO THE BONES” lettering.

photo by Megan Wollam, via DVIDS · Cropped.

Insignia, Patch or Coin

Jolly Rogers Skull and Crossbones Insignia

The Jolly Rogers skull-and-crossbones emblem carries a Navy fighter tradition from wartime Corsairs to today’s Super Hornets.

About the Artifact

Squadron tradition ties the emblem to Ensign Jack Ernie and a preserved skull and two femurs attributed to him. The emblem itself dates to VF-17’s Corsairs in January 1943, before that remembrance story. It later passed to VF-84 and VF-103 and remains the identity of VFA-103.

"Skipper, I can’t get out!"

"Remember me with the Jolly Rogers!"

Remembrance tradition

Ensign Jack Ernie

Carried today by

VFA-103 Jolly Rogers

“Fear the Bones”

callsign “Victory.”