CVG-19 then made two deployments to the Western Pacific aboard USS Oriskany, with Donald Eleazer Carr Jr as the commanding officer in 1953–1954 campaign.

During these cruises deployed to the Vietnam War, VF-142 downed two MiG-21s, one MiG-17 and one AN-2 Colt This was a result of finding a problem correcting pilots, RIOs and line service personnel making adjustments to the radar display that were incorrect which resulted in incorrect closing velocity information being sent to the missiles, this was discovered by an IMA (intermediate maintenance activity) technician and later verified by a Raytheon tech representative.

As part of the 7th Fleet, Eisenhower and CVW-7 participated in contingency operations in support of US policy during the Iran Hostage Crisis.

After this cruise the squadron conducted a 4 month training cycle which included detachments to Nellis AFB and NAS Fallon, Nevada.

From mid July until the end of the deployment in December 1983, VF-142 spent all but five days at sea in support of US Marines and multinational peace-keeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon.

In march the squadron set a new standard of excellence by achieving a 6.2:1 kill ratio during the Fleet Fighter Air Combat Maneuvering Readiness Program (FFARP) and captured the CVW-7 ACM shootdown Trophy for the second year in a row.

They returned to NAS Oceana on 7 May 1985, the Ghostriders had a little time home with the loved ones before leaving again on 18 July for the Central American operating area.

The squadron spent five weeks in the Caribbean where they participated in joint service operations with the Venezuelan Air Force.

VF-142 flew overland and over-water missions in several highly successful NATO exercises with Spain, France and Tunisia.

Following a brief stand down period, VF-142 commenced preparation for the Fleet Fighter Air Combat Maneuvering Readiness Program.

Following a brief port visit to Norfolk, the aircraft carrier and her airwing departed to take part in the highly successful exercise Solid Shield 89, along with thousands of personnel from the Marines, Navy, Air Force and Army.

Ghostriders aircrew engaged many NATO aircraft in exercise Dragon Hammer 90, and the new F-14Bs proved to be superior performers.

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Airwing 7 were the first to arrive and took up station in the Red Sea in support of Operation Desert Shield.

With a conflict in the Persian Gulf brewing, the Ghostriders took a short break after returning, but quickly got back on an accelerated turnaround schedule in case the need arose for more carriers in the Middle East.

On the way home, Dwight D. Eisenhower was tasked to be the focal point of Teamwork 92, a large multi-national exercise in the North Atlantic.

After a brief break that followed their six-month deployment, the Ghostriders returned to full speed preparing for their transition to USS George Washington.

The newest carrier in the fleet at the time welcomed CVW-7 in the early fall of 1992 and quickly got underway with a six-week shakedown cruise.

With the new emphasis on using Tomcat in an air-to-ground role, the Ghostriders developed an entirely new syllabus for FFARP which incorporated the F-14B as self-escorted strike-fighters.

The squadron then spent several weeks in the Spring flying as adversaries for the US Air Force Weapons School in Nevada.

While in this detachment at Nellis AFB, the aircrew continued to train as strikers by dropping live Mk-80 series bombs and the first Rockeye delivery of a fleet F-14.