History 

History 

Air Antisubmarine Squadron 28 was established on 1. June 1960 at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The new squadron, known as the "Hukkers", was formed from a segment split off from VS-31 and equipped with Grumman-built S2F-1/1S Tracker carrier-based twin-engine antisubmarine aircraft.

Assigned to CVSG-52 on board the USS Wasp CVS-18, VS-28 deployed off Guatemala during a political crisis in late 1960. The Hukkers also participated in the quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.

In 1963, VS-28 upgraded to the S-2E version of the Grumman Tracker. During the 1960s, the Hukkers participated in recovery operations for five space capsules. In 1971, VS-28 deployed to the Mediterranean with Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) on board the USS Saratoga CV-60 as the first VS squadron to test the CV concept, in which strike and antisubmarine aircraft were combined within one air wing, a practice that endures today.

VS-28 was transferred to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, in 1975 for transition to the Lockheed-built twin-jet S-3A Viking. Now known as the Gamblers, VS-28 made eight deployments over the next 15 years to he Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean on board the USS America CV-66, Independence CV-62, and Forrestal CV-59. In 1983, the Gamblers flew missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada.

VS-28 upgraded to the S-3B version of the Viking in 1990, but made its final deployment in 1991, on board the Forrestal CV-59 in support of Operation Provide Comfort over northern Iraq. On 1. October 1992, VS-28 was disestablished at Cecil Field as part of the post-Cold War drawdown.