USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Embroidered
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25-49: $6.00 each
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Officially Licensed US Navy VA-86 Sidewinders Patch — Attack Squadron 86 Sidewinders Embroidered Patch
The Sidewinders — VA-86, striking with the speed and venom of the desert rattlesnake, delivering ordnance from the carrier deck with the A-4 Skyhawk.
Attack Squadron 86 (VA-86), the "Sidewinders," was a U.S. Navy carrier-based attack squadron that operated the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk during the Cold War era. Named after the sidewinder rattlesnake — a fast, lethal desert predator that strikes without warning — VA-86 embodied the qualities of speed, precision, and lethality that defined Navy attack aviation.
The Sidewinders operated the A-4 Skyhawk from the flight decks of Atlantic Fleet aircraft carriers, training and deploying to the Mediterranean Sea and other theaters as part of the Navy's global power projection mission. The A-4 was the ideal platform for the light attack mission, offering a combination of small size, high performance, and heavy weapons-carrying capability that made it one of the most cost-effective combat aircraft ever built. VA-86's pilots mastered the full spectrum of attack tactics, from low-level ingress and pop-up bombing to dive delivery and nuclear weapons delivery profiles.
VA-86 was part of the Atlantic Fleet's robust attack aviation community that stood ready throughout the Cold War to respond to Soviet aggression in Europe, crises in the Middle East, and contingencies anywhere within reach of the carrier fleet. The Sidewinders' legacy represents the professionalism and readiness of the thousands of Navy attack pilots who served during the era of carrier-based conventional strike warfare.
Perfect For: VA-86 Sidewinders veterans, A-4 Skyhawk community members, Atlantic Fleet naval aviators, Cold War-era carrier attack aviation enthusiasts, and Navy heritage squadron patch collectors.
VA-86 Sidewinders — fast, silent, and deadly — striking from the carrier deck with the precision of a desert predator.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
