VF-84 | 1960–1995

This Navy fighter squadron carried the Jolly Rogers tradition from carrier combat to the black-tailed F-14 Tomcat.

In This Chapter

Its crews defended carriers, escorted strike aircraft and photographed targets to show what a mission had accomplished. Squadron tradition also carried a promise of remembrance: bones attributed to a fallen World War II pilot accompanied the Jolly Rogers, honoring his reported final wish.

Earlier name

Vagabonds

The bones honor

Ensign Jack Ernie

On the big screen

The Final Countdown, 1980

Tradition passed on

VF-103 adopted it in 1995