The squadron was originally established as Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron 916 (VF-916) at NAS Squantum in Massachusetts in April 1950. VF-916 was called to active duty at NAS Jacksonville on 11 February 1951 and moved to NAS Oceana, Virginia in September 1951. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) and was equipped with the F4U-4 Corsair. CVG-8 was deployed aboard to the Mediterranean Sea from November 1951 to June 1952. Afterwards VF-916 transitioned to the F9F-5 Panther. They also flew the F8F Bearcat for a short time in 1952. On 4 February 1953, the squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron Eighty Three (VF-83). In the same year VF-83 made a deployment aboard to the Mediterranean Sea. In August 1954, VF-83 transitioned to the F7U-3M Cutlass equipped with the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile, and on 1 July 1955 was re-designated as attack squadron VA-83. VA-83 made another deployment to the Mediterranean Sea aboard in 1956, this being the first overseas deployment of a naval missile squadron.