Design Details — VFA-31

Presented on a deep navy base, the design references the maritime heritage of U.S. Naval Aviation. The colour provides a composed and disciplined foundation for the graphics.

The front features a centred U.S. Navy–style star-and-bars insignia, rendered in a clean, balanced scale. The marking is presented as a primary identifier, echoing aircraft fuselage placement and establishing a calm visual anchor for the garment.

Across the back, the designation “FIGHTING 31” appears in a restrained, technical typeface. The typography recalls squadron identifiers applied to aircraft and maintenance documentation—direct, functional, and unembellished.

The left sleeve carries the squadron’s iconic Felix the Cat insignia, depicted in its traditional bomb-carrying pose within a yellow roundel. The emblem is applied with measured proportion, preserving its historic character without overpowering the overall composition.

A discreet internal neck label featuring the Flight Insignia logo completes the garment. As with all Flight Insignia pieces, the design is guided by historical accuracy, disciplined layout and tonal balance—resulting in a composed interpretation of VFA-31 and the visual identity that has defined the squadron across generations of carrier aviation..

History — VFA-31 “Tomcatters”

Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31), known as the “Tomcatters,” traces its lineage to 1935, making it one of the oldest continuously active fighter squadrons in U.S. Naval Aviation. Over nine decades, the unit has transitioned through multiple aircraft generations while maintaining an unbroken operational presence.

The squadron’s lineage traces back to the mid-1930s, when it was first established as a carrier-based fighter unit. During the 1940s, it adopted the Felix the Cat insignia. The emblem—Felix carrying a lit bomb—would become one of the most recognisable squadron markings in U.S. Navy history, symbolising confidence, continuity, and combat readiness.

During the Second World War, the squadron flew the F6F Hellcat in the Pacific theatre, participating in major carrier operations. In the decades that followed, it transitioned through successive jet aircraft, including the F9F Panther, F-4 Phantom II, and eventually the F-14 Tomcat.

VFA-31 became particularly associated with the F-14. In 2006, the squadron flew the final operational Tomcat sortie in U.S. Navy service, marking the end of an era in carrier aviation. Shortly thereafter, the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet and was redesignated VFA-31, continuing its role as a front-line strike fighter squadron.

Today, VFA-31 remains an operational component of U.S. Navy carrier air wings, carrying forward a lineage that spans propeller-driven fighters, Cold War interceptors, and modern multi-role strike aircraft.

“Fighting 31”

While officially known as the “Tomcatters,” the designation “Fighting 31” reflects a traditional naval fighter squadron naming convention rooted in the “VF” era—when squadrons were formally titled “Fighting Squadron [Number].” The phrase connects directly to the squadron’s early carrier fighter heritage and reinforces its long-standing identity within Naval Aviation.

This interpretation draws from that legacy: direct, functional, and historically anchored—free from embellishment.