VF-64 operating F4U-4s was assigned to Carrier Air Group 2 (CVG-2) aboard USS Philippine Sea, off the Korean coast from 28 March to 9 June 1951.

VF-21 returned to sea in March 1965 and were bound for the Vietnam War and VF-21's first aerial victories would be the first confirmed kills achieved by a U.S. Navy fighter squadron during that conflict.

CVW-14 assigned control over VF-21 and the squadron returned to sea in 1981, spending seven months in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

The 1983 tour was also noteworthy in that it marked the last occasion on which US Navy Phantoms were to deploy from a US base, VF-21 joining with sister squadron VF-154 in a final "fly-in" to Miramar in mid-September.

VF-21 now transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, the process was managed by VF-124 and it was not until later half of 1984 that VF-21 was declared fully operational, the first cruise was with CVW-14 aboard USS Constellation in early 1985.

VF-21 maintained Combat Air Patrol "CAP" missions during Operation Desert Shield, the buildup of coalition forces to liberate Kuwait.

VF-21 returned aboard the USS Independence to establish Operation Southern Watch immediately after Desert Storm.

BuNo 161606 as NF-201, an F-14A assigned to VF-21, crashed during ACM training on 29 April 1993 off Oshima, 174 km SE of Atusgi, the crew being rescued by an SH-60B from HSL-51 and an SH-3H Sea King from HS-12 aboard the Independence.