VAW-117 'Historical' Squadron Patch (Des)

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 (VAW-117) is an airborne early warning (AEW) squadron for the US Navy. Nicknamed "The Wallbangers" (formerly "The Nighthawks"), they were established in July 1974 and participated in the Persian Gulf operations in mid-1991 during which timeframe, this was the desert version of their squadron patch depicting a brown bird flying during a full moon. There must be some significance to the number of stars, but I don't know. This patch does not come with velcro attached.