Hornet squadron returns from missions in Iraq, Afghanistan

Unit/crew size About 250 sailors

Leader Cmdr. Scott Knapp

Location of deployment Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman

Deployed date March 16

Returned date Oct. 8

Highlights The Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron 34 returned to Oceana Naval Air Station on Wednesday after a nearly seven-month deployment with the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.

 The squadron and its 10 F/A-18C Hornets joined Carrier Air Wing 2 in California aboard the Abraham Lincoln in March. During their mission they supported troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, completing nearly 1,600 sorties. Of those, 469 were combat sorties that delivered 9,500 pounds of ordnance.

Twenty-three sailors re-enlisted during the deployment and collected almost $107,000 in bonuses. Seven babies were born while the squadron was gone.