[1] The original VA-97 squadron insignia was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations on 6 March 1968 and they have been called the Warhawks since establishment.

[2][3] On 4 February 1971, the squadron embarked on USS Enterprise at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA), for her transit around South America to her new home port of Alameda, California.

In December of that year following the outbreak of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, USS Enterprise was ordered to leave Yankee Station for the Indian Ocean.

In April 1975, the squadron participated in Operation Frequent Wind and provided air support for the evacuation of American and Vietnamese personnel during the Fall of Saigon.

[2] In April 1980 while embarked on Coral Sea, VA-97 was part of the task force involved in supporting Operation Eagle Claw, the Iranian hostage rescue attempt.

The squadron's eleventh deployment departed NAS Alameda in October 1984 on USS Carl Vinson, then the U.S. Navy's newest carrier.

[2] The 12th deployment began in August 1986 operating from USS Carl Vinson above the Aleutian Islands Chain in the Bering Sea, both on the way to WESTPAC and on the return trip.

[2] The 13th deployment began in June 1988 and included support of Operation Earnest Will convoys in the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz.

[2] Throughout the 1990s, the squadron supported United Nations coalition forces by participating in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq.

That summer, the squadron flew to NAS Norfolk and embarked USS Kitty Hawk for her transit around Cape Horn.

The squadron flew combat missions supporting Operation Desert Fox and OSW, returning to NAS Lemoore in May 1999.

[2]After returning to Lemoore, their efforts were recognized with the 2001 Battle "E", the 2001 Captain Michael J. Estocin Award and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S”, resulting in the so-called "triple-crown" achievement for the Warhawks.

[2] In 2003, the squadron, attached to CVW-11, embarked on USS Nimitz and flew hundreds of combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[2] In 2004, VFA-97 was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 as the first Navy squadron to take part in the UDP deploying to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.