Attack Squadron Histories (VA) - Naval History and Heritage ...

222 DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume I 

VA-154 

Lineage 

Established as Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

FIFTY THREE (VB-153) on 26 March 1945. 

Redesignated Attack Squadron FIFTEEN A (VA-15A) 

on 15 November 1946. 

Redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

FIFTY FOUR (VA-154) on 15 July 1948. 

Disestablished on 1 December 1949. The first 

squadron to be designated VA-154. 

Squadron Insignia and Nickname 

The first squadron insignia, a Walt Disney design, 

was approved by CNO on 10 August 1945. Colors for 

A modification to the squadron’s first insignia was approved for use 

in 1946. 

highlights and black outlines and the nose of the 

rockets were yellow with green highlights and black 

outlines; the streaks were yellow with black markings. 

Chronology of Significant Events 

Oct 1945: The squadron participated in a 1200 

plane fly over of New York City in honor of Navy Day. 

Home Port Assignments 

The squadron’s first insignia was a Walt Disney design. 

the flying cannon were: a maroon background outlined 

in yellow; black cannon with blue and white 

highlights; silver wings and neck with white highlights 

and black markings; the bomb head was black with 

blue highlights and a yellow and orange eye and 

white teeth; the rocket legs were yellow, the body of 

the rockets were orange with white highlights and the 

nose of the rocket was yellow with white higlights, 

outlined in black; and the streaks were silver with 

black markings. 

A modification to the insignia was approved by 

CNO on 10 April 1946. Colors for this insignia were: a 

shield with a white background outlined in black and 

red; the cannon and bomb were black with green 

highlights; the eye and teeth were yellow; the neck 

and wings were red with yellow highlights and black 

markings; the legs and rocket were red with yellow 

Location 

Assignment Date 

NAAS Manteo 26 Mar 1945 

NAS Wildwood 07 Apr 1945 

NAAS Oceana 31 May 1945 

NAS Norfolk Jul 1946 

NAS Alameda 07 Aug 1946 

Commanding Officers 

Date Assumed Command 

LT J. W. Aulson 26 Mar 1945 

LT Leonard Robinson 16 Apr 1945 

LCDR Francis D. McGaffigan 26 Nov 1945 

LCDR Robert J. Celustka 06 Sep 1946 

LCDR Philip W. Cobb 15 Nov 1946 

LCDR John B. Howland 10 Jan 1948 

LCDR Charles N. Conatser 19 Nov 1948 

Aircraft Assignments 

Type of Aircraft 

Date Type First Received 

SB2C-4E Apr 1945 

SB2C-5 Jun 1945 

AD-2 08 Jul 1948

DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATION SQUADRONS—Volume I 223 

Major Overseas Deployments 

Date of Date of Air Type of Area of 

Departure Return Wing Carrier Aircraft Operation 

31 Mar 1947 08 Oct 1947 CVAG-15 CV 36 SB2C-5 WestPac 

Air Wing Assignments 

Air Wing Tail Code Assignment Date 

CVG-153/CVAG-15/CVG-15* B/A† 26 Mar 1945 

* CVG-153 was redesignated CVAG-15 on 15 November 1946. CVAG-15 was redesignated CVG-15 on 1 September 1948. 

† The tail code B was assigned to CVAG-15 on 12 December 1946 and changed to A on 4 August 1948. 

Squadron personnel in November 1949 with an AD-2 in the background; CO was Lieutenant Commander Charles N. Conatser.



Lineage 

Established as Torpedo Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

FIFTY THREE (VT-153) on 26 March 1945. 

Redesignated Attack Squadron SIXTEEN A (VA-16A) 

on 15 November 1946. 


FIFTY FIVE (VA-155) on 15 July 1948. 

Disestablished on 30 November 1949. The first 

squadron to be assigned the VA-155 designation. 


The squadron’s first insignia was approved by CNO 

on 11 February 1946. Colors for the gremlin riding a 

torpedo were: a 

light green 

background 

encircled by 

yellow stars 

outlined in 

black; the gremlin’s 

hat was red 

with black top 

and yellow center; 

his face was 

shaded green, 

red and orange 

The gremlin was the squadron’s first insignia. 

with pale blue 

eyes and black 

pupils, he had tan ears and a red tongue, pale blue 

wings and light orange arms; lavender jacket with yellow 

stripes and red buttons, black belt with a red and 

black buckle, green trousers with light purple stockings 

and brown shoes with purple pompons; yellow 

torpedo with brown highlights, a blue nose and red 

snout, a green eyeball and black pupil, the teeth and 

lips were red, 

the tail was yellow 

and white 

with a black 

propeller; the 

reins were 

black and yellow 

and the lettering 

was 

black, outlined 

in yellow. 

Following the 

squadron’s 

redesignation, a 

This insignia was approved for the squadron 

following its redesignation to VA-16A. new insignia 

The skull and cobra was the third 

insignia used by the squadron. 

was approved by CNO 

on 12 June 1947. Colors 

for the caricature of the 

two TBFs was: a yellow 

sky and light green 

ocean background; blue 

TBFs with yellow lettering; 

red was used for 

the rockets, lightning 

bolts, and the mouth 

and eyes of the TBFs, 

the radome was light 

green; the cloud and 

hands of the TBFs were white; all other details were 

black, such as the prop hubs, music notes and ship 

silhouettes. 

The squadron’s next insignia was approved by CNO 

on 18 February 1949. Colors for the skull and cobra 

design were: a red background, white skull, and yellow 

cobra. 

Nickname: unknown. 


Mar–Oct 1947: During the squadron’s deployment 

to the western Pacific, three of its aircraft were 

equipped as ASW planes, giving the squadron an ASW 

mission as well as attack. 


Location 


NAAF Lewiston 26 Mar 1945 

NAAS Oceana 01 Jun 1945 

NAS Norfolk 02 Jul 1946 




LT Harlan C. McFadden, Jr. (acting) 26 Mar 1945 

LCDR Frederick G. Lewis 06 Apr 1945 

LCDR Richard D. King (acting) 26 Jun 1946 

LCDR Gaylord T. Forrest 03 Jul 1946 

LCDR Gerald R. Stablein 10 Jan 1948 

LCDR Don L. Ely Jan 1949 

Aircraft Assignment 



TBM-3E 30 Mar 1945 

TBM-3Q Apr 1946 

TBM-3W Apr 1947 

AD-2 19 Jul 1948





31 Mar 1947 08 Oct 1947 CVAG-15 CV 36 TBM-3E/3Q/3W WestPac 



CVG-153/CVAG-15/CVG-15* B/A† 26 Mar 1945 

* CVG-153 was redesignated CVAG-15 on 15 November 1946. CVAG-15 was redesignated CVG-15 on 1 September 1948. 

† The tail code B was assigned to CVAG-15 on 12 December 1946 and changed to A on 4 August 1948. 

Squadron personnel with TBM-3E in the background, circa 1945. CO was Lieutenant Commander Frederick G. Lewis.


SECOND VA-155 

Lineage 

Established as Reserve Attack Squadron SEVENTY 

ONE E (VA-71E) in 1946. 

Redesignated Reserve Attack Squadron FIFTY 

EIGHT A (VA-58A) on 1 October 1948. 

Redesignated Reserve Composite Squadron SEVEN 

HUNDRED TWENTY TWO (VC-722) on 1 November 

1949. 

Redesignated Reserve Attack Squadron SEVEN HUN- 

DRED TWENTY EIGHT (VA-728) on 1 April 1950. 

Called to active duty as Attack Squadron SEVEN 

HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT (VA-728) on 1 February 

1951. 


FIFTY FIVE (VA-155) on 4 February 1953. 

Disestablished on 30 September 1977. The second 



The squadron’s first insignia was approved by CNO 

on 23 September 1952. A photograph of the approved 

An artist’s rendition of the 

squadron’s first insignia 

design. 

The squadron’s second insignia 

adopted the skull and cobra 

design used by the first VA-155. 

design was not available. Colors and description of the 

insignia were: a silver-gray disk with a red border; a 

yellow-winged white and red lightening flash in front 

of a black cloud. 

A new insignia was adopted by the squadron in 

1953 following its redesignation. There is no official 

approval date for this insignia. The insignia adopted 

was the skull and snake design used by the first VA- 

155. On 8 July 1959, CNO approved a modification to 

the skull and snake insignia that included the addition 

of two diagonal stripes. Colors for this insignia were: a 

red background outlined in green; a white banner, 

outlined in green with black lettering; the skull was 

white with black markings; the snake’s upper body 

was a salmon color with black lines, its head was 

green with white eyes and black pupils, the coiled 

A modification was 

made to the skull and 

cobra design in 1959, 

adding diagonal 

stripes. 

part of the snake was greenish black; and the two 

diagonal lines were green. 

Sometime in the 1960s the squadron used an unofficial 

insignia with the head of a fox as its design. 

Nickname: Silver Fox, early 1960s–1977. 


Oct 1951: The squadron engaged in combat operations, 

flying its first sorties over Korea. 

Feb 1955: Squadron aircraft flew sorties in support 

of the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the 

Tachen Islands. 

21 Aug–11 Sep 1958: The squadron flew sorties in 

the Taiwan Straits after the Chinese Communists bombarded 

Quemoy Island. 

Jan 1961: Coral Sea (CVA 43), with VA-155 

embarked, operated in the South China Sea after 

Pathet Lao forces captured strategic positions in Laos. 

7 and 11 Feb 1965: The squadron participated in 

Flaming Dart I and II, reprisal strikes against targets in 

North Vietnam following a Viet Cong attack on the 

American advisors compound at Pleiku and the 

American billet in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. 

Mar 1965: The squadron began participation in 

Rolling Thunder operations, the bombing of military 

targets in North Vietnam. 

May 1966: VA-155 was the first A-4 squadron 

deploying to Vietnam using a new camouflage paint 

scheme nicknamed the “Flying Mulberrybushes.” The 

new paint scheme and colors were expected to reduce 

battle damage by making the aircraft more difficult to 

detect visually. 

1 Jul 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, 

Commander C. H. Peters, was killed in action while 

leading an attack on petroleum facilities at Duong 

Nham, North Vietnam. 

20 Oct 1967: Squadron aircraft sighted six North 

Vietnamese PT boats near Thanh Hoa and engaged 

the boats. Four of the PT boats were sunk, one was 

damaged and the sixth escaped, seeking refuge in the 

mouth of the river near Thanh Hoa. 

25 Nov 1967: Commander W. H. Searfus, the 

squadron’s commanding officer, was lost at sea follow-


ing a flight deck accident in which his aircraft was lost 

over the side of the carrier. 

Mar 1968: Coral Sea (CVA 43), with VA-155 

embarked, operated on station off the coast of Korea 

following the capture of Pueblo (AGER 2) in January 

by North Korea. 

Apr 1969: Following the shoot down of a Navy EC- 

121 aircraft by the North Koreans on 15 April, Ranger 

(CVA 61), with VA-155 embarked, left Yankee Station 

and proceeded to the Sea of Japan for operations off 

the coast of Korea. 

21 Nov 1970: The squadron flew missions in support 

of an attempt to rescue American prisoners-ofwar 

at the Son Tay prisoner compound, 20 miles west 

of Hanoi. 

Feb 1973: Following the cease fire with North 

Vietnam, the squadron flew combat missions in Laos 

until a cease fire was signed with that country on 22 

February 1973. 

Nov 1973: Oriskany (CVA 34), with VA-155 

embarked, departed from operations in the South 

China Sea to relieve Hancock (CVA 19) on station in 

the Arabian Sea due to the unsettled conditions following 

the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East. 



LCDR Soule T. Bitting 29 Aug 1946 

LCDR B. K. Harrison (acting) May 1952 

LCDR Raymond S. Osterhoudt 08 Aug 1952 

LCDR Frank R. West Oct 1953 

LCDR Jack B. Jones 21 Mar 1955 

CDR Henry E. Clark 10 Dec 1956 

CDR Deforest Q. Joralmon 29 Oct 1958 

CDR Robert E. McElwee Feb 1960 

CDR Ira K. Kruger 04 Aug 1961 

CDR Patrick F. Cunningham 31 Jul 1962 

CDR T. B. Russell, Jr. 27 Jun 1963 

CDR J. H. Harris 17 Jul 1964 

CDR J. B. Morin 1965 

CDR Charles H. Peters 1966 

CDR E. W. Ingley 11 Jul 1966 

CDR William H. Searfus Jun 1967 

CDR David J. Sperling Dec 1967 

CDR Robert F. Reynolds, Jr. 07 Dec 1968 

CDR Edwin C. Adamson, Jr. 24 Oct 1969 

CDR James H. Mauldin 28 Aug 1970 

CDR Markley R. Seibert 1971 

CDR Dean E. Cramer 02 Jun 1972 

CDR Robert L. Leuschner, Jr. 07 Jun 1973 

CDR Larry E. Kaufman 17 Jul 1974 

CDR Robert D. Miller 24 Oct 1975 

CDR Robert C. Kaup 05 Jan 1977 


A squadron AD-4 launches from Antietam (CV 36) during their 

1951-1952 combat cruise to Korea. 

Location 



NAS Glenview 1946 

NAS Alameda 1951 

NALF Santa Rosa May 1952* 

NAS Moffett Field 25 Aug 1952 

NAS Lemoore 21 Aug 1961 

* Temporary assignment for training and reforming following its 

return from a combat tour in Korea. 



SB2C/TBM/AM * 

AD-1 1951 

AD-2 1951 

AD-4 1951 

AD-4L 1951 

AD-4Q 1951 

AD-4NA 26 Jul 1952 

AD-6 Nov 1953 

AD-7 Nov 1956 

A4D-2/A-4B† 08 Oct 1958 

A-4E Dec 1963 

A-4F 10 Apr 1968 

A-7B 29 Sep 1969 

* During the squadron’s Reserve duty between 1946 and its activation 

in February 1951, it most likely flew SB2Cs, TBMs and/or AMs. 

† The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B in 1962.


Two squadron A-4E Skyhawks return to Coral Sea (CVA 43) following a mission over Vietnam, 1965. 




08 Sep 1951 02 May 1952 CVG-15 CV 36 AD-4/L/Q & AD-2 Korea 

24 Jan 1953 21 Sep 1953 CVG-15 CVA 37 AD-4NA Korea/WestPac 

01 Jul 1954 28 Feb 1955 CVG-15 CVA 10 AD-6 WestPac 

23 Apr 1956 15 Oct 1956 CVG-15 CVA 18 AD-6 WestPac 

15 Feb 1958 02 Oct 1958 CVG-15 CVA 19 AD-7 WestPac 

01 Aug 1959 18 Jan 1960 CVG-15 CVA 19 A4D-2 WestPac 

19 Sep 1960 27 May 1961 CVG-15 CVA 43 A4D-2 WestPac 

12 Dec 1961 17 Jul 1962 CVG-15 CVA 43 A4D-2 WestPac 

03 Apr 1963 25 Nov 1963 CVG-15 CVA 43 A-4B WestPac 

07 Dec 1964 01 Nov 1965 CVW-15 CVA 43 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

12 May 1966 03 Dec 1966 CVW-15 CVA 64 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

26 Jul 1967 06 Apr 1968 CVW-15 CVA 43 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

26 Oct 1968 17 May 1969 CVW-2 CVA 61 A-4F WestPac/Vietnam 

14 May 1970 10 Dec 1970 CVW-19 CVA 34 A-7B WestPac/Vietnam 

14 May 1971 18 Dec 1971 CVW-19 CVA 34 A-7B WestPac/Vietnam 

05 Jun 1972 30 Mar 1973 CVW-19 CVA 34 A-7B WestPac/Vietnam 

18 Oct 1973 05 Jun 1974 CVW-19 CVA 34 A-7B WestPac/IO 

16 Sep 1975 03 Mar 1976 CVW-19 CV 34 A-7B WestPac 

04 Oct 1976 21 Apr 1977 CVW-19 CV 42 A-7B Med


A formation of squadron 

A-4F Skyhawks, circa 

1968. 



CVG-15/CVW-15† H/NL* 01 Apr 1951 

CVW-16 AH Apr 1968 

CVW-2 NE 12 Sep 1968 

CVW-12‡ 24 Jun 1969 

CVW-19 NM 22 Nov 1969 

* The tail code was changed from H to NL in 1957. The effective 

date for this change was most likely the beginning of FY 58 (1 July 

1957). 

† CVG-15 was redesignated CVW-15 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) 

were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on 20 December 1963. 

‡ When the squadron was assigned to CVW-12, it operated under 

the control of VA-122 while undergoing training for the transition to 

the A-7 Corsair II. 

Unit Awards Received 

Unit Award 

Inclusive Dates Covering Unit Award 

KSM 04 Oct 1951 15 Apr 1952 

27 Feb 1953 16 May 1953 

29 May 1953 07 Sep 1953 

AFEM 26 Aug 1958 07 Sep 1958 

14 Sep 1959 17 Sep 1959 

25 Apr 1961 28 Apr 1961 

30 Apr 1961 01 May 1961 

04 May 1961 09 May 1961 

12 Jan 1962 19 Jan 1962 

24 Jan 1962 27 Jan 1962 

02 Feb 1965 05 Mar 1965 

16 Mar 1965 17 Apr 1965 

02 May 1965 28 May 1965 

23 Jun 1965 03 Jul 1965 

23 Jan 1968 22 Mar 1968 

20 Mar 1969 22 Mar 1969 

20 Apr 1969 27 Apr 1969 

NUC 13 Mar 1953 15 May 1953 

11 Jun 1953 27 Jul 1953 

Unit Awards Received—Continued 

Unit Award 


07 Feb 1965 18 Oct 1965 

29 May 1966 24 Nov 1966 

13 Aug 1967 19 Feb 1968 

29 Nov 1968 10 May 1969 

MUC 01 Jun 1970 09 Dec 1970 

28 Jun 1972 06 Mar 1973 

RVNGC 12 Oct 1965 

21 Jun 1966 22 Jun 1966 

23 Nov 1967 

02 Dec 1967 

04 Dec 1967 

20 Dec 1967 22 Dec 1967 

20 Jan 1968 

23 Jan 1968 27 Jan 1968 

29 Jan 1968 19 Feb 1968 

07 Jan 1969 30 Jan 1969 

15 Feb 1969 16 Mar 1969 

04 Apr 1969 14 Apr 1969 

VNSM 04 Jul 1965 24 Jul 1965 

11 Aug 1965 11 Sep 1965 

21 Sep 1965 15 Oct 1965 

14 Jun 1966 13 Jul 1966 

27 Jul 1966 31 Aug 1966 

08 Sep 1966 01 Oct 1966 

19 Oct 1966 09 Nov 1966 

26 Aug 1967 01 Oct 1967 

12 Oct 1967 28 Oct 1967 

04 Nov 1967 05 Nov 1967 

11 Nov 1967 08 Dec 1967 

16 Dec 1967 07 Jan 1968 

15 Jan 1968 21 Feb 1968 

07 Jan 1969 30 Jan 1969 

15 Feb 1969 16 Mar 1969 

04 Apr 1969 17 Apr 1969 

13 Jun 1970 29 Jun 1970 

12 Jul 1970 22 Jul 1970




Unit Award 


02 Aug 1970 26 Aug 1970 

17 Sep 1970 13 Oct 1970 

06 Nov 1970 23 Nov 1970 

15 Jun 1971 10 Jul 1971 

24 Jul 1971 07 Aug 1971 

03 Sep 1971 27 Sep 1971 

29 Oct 1971 21 Nov 1971 

Unit Award 


26 Jun 1972 23 Jul 1972 

16 Aug 1972 01 Sep 1972 

11 Sep 1972 28 Sep 1972 

08 Oct 1972 31 Oct 1972 

24 Nov 1972 18 Dec 1972 

27 Dec 1972 31 Jan 1973 

10 Feb 1973 06 Mar 1973 

A formation of squadron A-7B Corsair IIs in late 1969.


THIRD VA-155 

Lineage 

Established as Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

FIFTY FIVE (VA-155) on 1 September 1987. 

Disestablished on 30 April 1993. The third squadron 

to be assigned the VA-155 designation. 


The squadron’s insignia was approved by CNO on 

24 July 1987. Colors for the Silver Fox insignia are as 


15 August–8 October 1988: Independence (CV 62), 

with VA-155 embarked, conducted a change of home 

port transit from Norfolk to San Diego via Cape Horn. 

During the transit numerous air power demonstrations 

were conducted for dignitaries from various South 

American countries. 

17 Jan 1991: The squadron conducted its first combat 

operations. VA-155’s commanding officer, 

Commander Sweigart, led Air Wing Two’s aircraft in its 

first strike against Iraq. 

18 Jan 1991: The squadron suffered its first and only 

loss during the war with Iraq when one of its A-6E 

Intruders was shot down while on a mining sortie by 

the Um Qasr Naval Base in Iraq. 

28 Feb 1991: Ranger’s last combat strike of the Gulf 

War was launched and led by a VA-155 aircraft. During 

the 43 day Gulf War the squadron flew 1,388.4 hours, 

a total of 635 sorties, and delivered 2,289,940 pounds 

of ordnance on Iraqi military targets. 

Sep–Dec 1992: Squadron aircraft flew sorties in support 

of Operation Southern Watch, flights over southern 

Iraq south of the 32nd parallel to ensure Iraq was 

adhering to United Nations sanctions. 

Dec 1992: The squadron participated in Operation 

Restore Hope, flying sorties in support of the humanitarian 

relief effort in Somalia. 


Location 


NAS Whidbey Island 01 Sep 1987 


The fox insignia used by the squadron. 

follows: the circular design is outlined in silver with the 

upper background black and lower background blue 

with light blue highlights; yellow star, lightning bolt, 

moon, and wolf’s pupils; silver wolf with black markings 

and outlined in white; and a silver scroll, outlined 

in black with black lettering. 

Nickname: Silver Foxes, 1987–1993. 


CDR Jack J. Samar 01 Sep 1987 

CDR Kenneth R. Zimmerman 12 Jan 1989 

CDR Frank Sweigart 29 Jun 1990 

CDR Larry J. Munns 12 Sep 1991 




KA-6D 16 Nov 1987 

A-6E Dec 1987 




08 Dec 1990 09 Jun 1991 CVW-2 CV 61 A-6E WestPac/IO/ 

Persian Gulf 

01 Aug 1992 31 Jan 1993 CVW-2 CV 61 A-6E WestPac/IO/ 

Persian Gulf




CVW-10 NM 01 Dec 1987 

CVW-17 AA 01 May 1988 

CVW-2 NE 01 Oct 1989 


Unit Award 


MUC 04 Sep 1987 03 Sep 1988 

NUC 17 Jan 1991 07 Feb 1991 

SASM 13 Jan 1991 19 Apr 1991 

KLM 17 Jan 1991 07 Feb 1991 

NAVE 01 Jan 1992 31 Dec 1992 

A squadron A-6E Intruder loaded with weapons, 1990.



Lineage 


SIXTY THREE (VA-163) on 1 September 1960. 

Placed on inactive status on 1 April 1969 but maintained 

on the Naval Aeronautical Organization’s list of 

designated squadrons. While inactive, no aircraft and 

only 1 administrative person was assigned to the 

squadron. VA-163 was removed from the Naval 

Aeronautical Organization list on 1 July 1971. The 

squadron probably was placed in an inactive status 

due to manpower and aircraft availability while awaiting 

transition to the A-6 Intruder. 

Disestablished on 1 July 1971. The first squadron to 

be assigned the VA-163 designation. 



31 January 1961. Colors for the insignia were: a light 

blue background with a 

white border outlined in 

black; the shield had a 

yellow border outlined 

in black; the background 

in the upper left 

quarter of the shield 

was dark blue with a 

yellow crescent moon 

and white star; the 

upper right quarter had 

The squadron’s one and only 

insignia. 

a light blue background 

with a yellow moon and 

white cloud, outlined in 

black; the lower left 

quarter had a light blue background and the waves 

were a medium blue with white caps, outlined in 

black; the lower right quarter had a light blue background 

with snow capped dark blue mountains; the 

center of the shield had a square yellow box with 

black electron rings; the scroll was light blue outlined 

in black and had white lettering. 

Nickname: Saints, 1960–1971. 



embarked, operated in the South China Sea during a 

crisis in South Vietnam and the coup that overthrew 

President Diem. 

Jun 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, 

Commander Jenkins, led the first major POL 

(petroleum, oil, lubricants) strike of the war against 

the Dam Dinh, North Vietnam storage facility. 

7 Nov 1965: Lieutenant Commander Charles G. 

Wack was awarded the Silver Star for his action in 

leading a sortie against SAM sites south of Nam Dinh, 

North Vietnam. He pressed his attack even though his 

aircraft was badly damaged by antiaircraft fire and successfully 

completed his mission before being forced to 

eject from the aircraft when it caught fire. 

13 Nov 1965: Commander H. T. Jenkins, the 

squadron’s commanding officer, was shot down while 

conducting an armed reconnaissance mission a few 

miles north of the DMZ and was captured. He 

remained a POW until his release in February 1973. 

23 Jul 1966: During a successful POL mission over 

Vinh, North Vietnam, Commander W. F. Foster’s aircraft 

was hit by antiaircraft fire and he suffered the 

loss of his right arm. Using only his left hand, he piloted 

his crippled aircraft out to sea and ejected over the 

Gulf of Tonkin, where he was rescued. He was awarded 

the Silver Star for his actions. 

26 Oct 1966: A major fire broke out in Oriskany on 

Yankee Station. The squadron lost four officers in the 

fire. Several squadron personnel received awards for 

their heroic actions during the fire. 

21 Aug 1967: Commander B. W. Compton, Jr., the 

squadron’s commanding officer, was awarded the 

Navy Cross for his actions as a strike leader of a major 

coordinated air attack against the Hanoi Thermal 

Power Plant. 


Location 


NAS Cecil Field 01 Sep 1960 

NAS Lemoore 26 Sep 1961 



CDR Jack M. Manherz 01 Sep 1960 

CDR D. V. Marshall, Jr. 01 Sep 1961 

CDR M. D. Short 14 Oct 1962 

CDR Jarl J. Diffendorfer 05 Feb 1964 

CDR Harry T. Jenkins, Jr. 30 Dec 1964 

CDR Wynn F. Foster 13 Nov 1965 

CDR Ronald H. Caldwell 30 Jul 1966 

CDR Bryan W. Compton, Jr. 10 Jul 1967 

CDR Elbert D. Lighter 10 Jul 1968 




A4D-2/A-4B* 03 Oct 1960 

A-4E Mar 1964 

* The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B in 1962.





07 Jun 1962 17 Dec 1962 CVG-16 CVA 34 A4D-2 WestPac 

01 Aug 1963 10 Mar 1964 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4B WestPac 

05 Apr 1965 16 Dec 1965 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

26 May 1966 16 Nov 1966 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

16 Jun 1967 31 Jan 1968 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

18 Jul 1968 03 Mar 1969 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 



CVG-16/CVW-16* AH 01 Sep 1960 

CVW-21 NP 01 Mar 1968 

* CVG-16 was redesignated CVW-16 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) 



Unit Award 


AFEM 05 Sep 1963 13 Sep 1963 

03 Nov 1963 08 Nov 1963 

07 May 1965 02 Jun 1965 

10 Jun 1965 03 Jul 1965 

17 Sep 1965 18 Sep 1965 

02 Dec 1968 04 Dec 1968 

NUC 10 May 1965 06 Dec 1965 

12 Jun 1966 01 Nov 1966 

14 Jul 1967 12 Jan 1968 

01 Aug 1968 22 Feb 1969 


30 Oct 1965 

01 Nov 1965 

03 Nov 1965 

07 Nov 1965 

11 Nov 1965 12 Nov 1965 

06 Jul 1966 07 Jul 1966 

26 Sep 1968 

29 Sep 1968 

09 Oct 1968 11 Oct 1968 


Unit Award 


13 Oct 1968 

02 Nov 1968 

07 Nov 1968 08 Nov 1968 

10 Nov 1968 11 Nov 1968 

13 Nov 1968 19 Nov 1968 

21 Nov 1968 26 Nov 1968 

21 Dec 1968 24 Dec 1968 

26 Dec 1968 28 Dec 1968 

30 Dec 1968 

01 Jan 1969 03 Jan 1969 

07 Jan 1969 14 Jan 1969 

31 Jan 1969 08 Feb 1969 

VNSM 04 Jul 1965 18 Jul 1965 

09 Aug 1965 11 Sep 1965 

30 Sep 1965 19 Oct 1965 

28 Oct 1965 27 Nov 1965 

29 Jun 1966 29 Jul 1966 

06 Aug 1966 08 Sep 1966 

23 Sep 1966 26 Oct 1966 

13 Jul 1967 08 Aug 1967 

17 Aug 1967 30 Sep 1967 

04 Oct 1967 03 Nov 1967 

19 Nov 1967 17 Dec 1967 

30 Dec 1967 13 Jan 1968 

21 Aug 1968 04 Sep 1968 

13 Sep 1968 15 Oct 1968 

23 Oct 1968 28 Nov 1968 

20 Dec 1968 15 Jan 1969 

29 Jan 1969 10 Feb 1969 

A formation of squadron A-4 Skyhawks.



Lineage 


SIXTY FOUR (VA-164) on 1 September 1960. 

Disestablished on 12 December 1975. The first 




24 May 1961. Colors for the Ghostrider insignia were: 

a black background outlined in black and white; the 

ghost rider was gold with black markings; the winged 

horse, diamond and 

scrolls were silver with 

black markings or lettering; 

the smoke/cloud 

was white with black 

markings; the flames 

were red, yellow, 

orange, blue, and green; 

and the aerodynamic 

(triangular) design was 

orange. 

Nickname: Ghostriders, 

The squadron’s ghost rider insignia. 

1961–1975. 






5 May 1965: The squadron flew its first combat sortie. 

From May through July 1965, it flew close air support 

missions in South Vietnam. 

7 Nov 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, 

Commander J. D. Shaw, was awarded the Silver Star 

for successfully leading a strike against a SAM site in 

North Vietnam. 

26 Oct 1966: A major fire broke out in Oriskany on 

Yankee Station. The squadron lost four officers in the 

fire. Several squadron personnel received awards for 

their heroic actions during the fire. 

Oct 1967: Commander D. F. Mow, the squadron’s 

commanding officer, was awarded the Silver Star for 

his actions during a combat mission over North 

Vietnam. 

Mar 1970: The squadron completed the last line 

period of its fifth combat deployment to Vietnam. This 

was the squadron’s first combat deployment without 

losing a pilot. 

Apr 1972: The squadron participated in Operation 

Freedom Train, tactical air sorties against military and 

logistic targets in the southern part of North Vietnam. 

It also provided close air support for forces in South 

Vietnam following a massive invasion by North 

Vietnam. 

May 1972: Squadron aircraft participated in the early 

phase of operation Linebacker I, heavy air strikes 

against targets in North Vietnam. 

Aug 1972: TA-4s acquired by VA-164 from the 

Marine Corps at MCAS Iwakuni were used for the first 

time operationally in a combat role off a carrier. 

Jun 1973: Missions were flown in support of 

Operation End Sweep, the clearing of mines in the territorial 

waters of North Vietnam. 

Oct 1974: With the outbreak of war between Israel 

and Egypt and Syria the Hancock (CVA 19), with VA- 

164 embarked, was directed to leave Yankee Station 

and operate in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

Location 



NAS Cecil Field 01 Sep 1960 

NAS Lemoore 26 Sep 1961 



CDR Harlan D. Williams 01 Sep 1960 

CDR Lloyd W. Moffit 05 Sep 1961 

CDR C. A. Banks, Jr. Oct 1962 

CDR R. M. Netherland 21 Sep 1963 

CDR J. W. Roberts 28 Aug 1964 

CDR John D. Shaw 24 Jul 1965 

CDR Paul H. Engel 26 Jun 1966 

CDR Douglas F. Mow 31 May 1967 

CDR William F. Span 04 Jul 1968 

CDR Roy V. Hagberg 18 Jul 1969 

CDR George L. Boaz 24 Jul 1970 

CDR Ramsay (N) Lawson 08 Jul 1971 

CDR Stanley R. Arthur 01 Jul 1972 

CDR Fred J. Gosebrink 15 Jun 1973 

CDR Frederick P. Meyers 30 May 1974 




A4D-2/A-4B* 07 Oct 1960 

A-4E 13 Mar 1964 

A-4F 06 Apr 1969 

TA-4F 08 Aug 1972 

* The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B in 1962.





07 Jun 1962 17 Dec 1962 CVG-16 CVA 34 A4D-2 WestPac 

01 Aug 1963 10 Mar 1964 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4B WestPac 

05 Apr 1965 16 Dec 1965 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

26 May 1966 16 Nov 1966 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

16 Jun 1967 31 Jan 1968 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

18 Jul 1968 03 Mar 1969 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4E WestPac/Vietnam 

02 Aug 1969 15 Apr 1970 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4F WestPac/Vietnam 

22 Oct 1970 03 Jun 1971 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4F WestPac/Vietnam 

07 Jan 1972 03 Oct 1972 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4F & TA-4F WestPac/Vietnam 

08 May 1973 08 Jan 1974 CVW-21 CVA 19 A-4F & TA-4F WestPac/IO 

18 Mar 1975 20 Oct 1975 CVW-21 CV 19 A-4F & TA-4F WestPac 

Two squadron A-4F Skyhawks in flight, 1973.




CVG-16/CVW-16* AH 01 Sep 1960 

CVW-21 NP 01 Mar 1968 



Unit Award 



NUC 10 May 1965 06 Dec 1965 

12 Jun 1966 01 Nov 1966 

14 Jul 1967 12 Jan 1968 

01 Aug 1968 22 Feb 1969 

08 Feb 1972 14 Sep 1972 

NAVE 01 Jul 1971 31 Dec 1972 

AFEM 05 Sep 1963 13 Sep 1963 

03 Nov 1963 08 Nov 1963 

07 May 1965 02 Jun 1965 

10 Jun 1965 03 Jul 1965 

17 Sep 1965 18 Sep 1965 

02 Dec 1968 04 Dec 1968 

30 Oct 1969 

03 Jan 1970 08 Jan 1970 

22 Feb 1970 25 Feb 1970 

MUC 21 Aug 1969 31 Mar 1970 

20 Nov 1970 07 May 1971 


30 Oct 1965 

01 Nov 1965 

03 Nov 1965 

07 Nov 1965 

11 Nov 1965 12 Nov 1965 

06 Jul 1966 07 Jul 1966 

26 Sep 1968 

29 Sep 1968 

09 Oct 1968 11 Oct 1968 

13 Oct 1968 

02 Nov 1968 

07 Nov 1968 08 Nov 1968 

10 Nov 1968 11 Nov 1968 

13 Nov 1968 19 Nov 1968 


Unit Award 


21 Nov 1968 26 Nov 1968 

21 Dec 1968 24 Dec 1968 

26 Dec 1968 28 Dec 1968 

30 Dec 1968 

01 Jan 1969 03 Jan 1969 

07 Jan 1969 14 Jan 1969 

31 Jan 1969 08 Feb 1969 

01 Aug 1969 01 Sep 1969 

30 Mar 1972 15 Jul 1972 

VNSM 04 Jul 1965 18 Jul 1965 

09 Aug 1965 11 Sep 1965 

30 Sep 1965 19 Oct 1965 

28 Oct 1965 27 Nov 1965 

29 Jun 1966 29 Jul 1966 

06 Aug 1966 08 Sep 1966 

23 Sep 1966 26 Oct 1966 

13 Jul 1967 08 Aug 1967 

17 Aug 1967 30 Sep 1967 

04 Oct 1967 03 Nov 1967 

19 Nov 1967 17 Dec 1967 

30 Dec 1967 13 Jan 1968 

21 Aug 1968 04 Sep 1968 

13 Sep 1968 15 Oct 1968 

23 Oct 1968 28 Nov 1968 

20 Dec 1968 15 Jan 1969 

29 Jan 1969 10 Feb 1969 

31 Aug 1969 24 Sep 1969 

03 Oct 1969 27 Oct 1969 

24 Nov 1969 17 Dec 1969 

18 Jan 1970 11 Feb 1970 

09 Mar 1970 26 Mar 1970 

19 Nov 1970 08 Dec 1970 

29 Dec 1970 15 Jan 1971 

23 Jan 1971 20 Feb 1971 

09 Mar 1971 10 Apr 1971 

17 Apr 1971 04 May 1971 

07 Feb 1972 09 Mar 1972 

25 Mar 1972 02 May 1972 

11 May 1972 01 Jun 1972 

12 Jun 1972 14 Jul 1972 

24 Jul 1972 17 Aug 1972 

27 Aug 1972 14 Sep 1972



Lineage 


SIXTY FIVE (VA-165) on 1 September 1960. 

The first squadron to be assigned the VA-165 

designation. 

The squadron’s first insignia. 

Squadron Insignia and 

Nickname 

The squadron’s first 

insignia was approved 

by CNO on 24 May 

1961. Colors for this 

insignia were: a silver 

background with a 

white scroll outlined in 

black, lettering on the 

scroll was green; brown 

map outlined in black; 

black and white tailhook 

with a red triangular 

device at one end; red electron rings circled the 

tailhook and the boomerang or wedge shaped device 

was green, outlined in black. 

Sometime in the early 1960s, following the 

squadrons transfer to the west coast, a new insignia 

was adopted. There is 

no record of an 

approval date for this 

insignia. Colors for the 

insignia are: a silver 

background with green 

scrolls and outlined in 

black; gold lettering and 

compass star with black 

markings on the star; 

green boomerang outlined 

in black; and a 

The squadron’s second insignia 

had a more stylized design adopted 

sometime in the early 1960s. 

white knight chessman 

with black markings. 

Nickname: Boomers, 

mid 1960s to present. 






Feb 1965: The squadron began participation in combat 

operations over Laos. 

4 Apr 1966: VA-165 deployed to Vietnam as a component 

of CVW-10 embarked in Intrepid (CVS 11). 

This was the first all attack air wing and the first to 

deploy. Two squadrons flew the A-1 Skyraider and the 

other two squadrons flew the A-4 Skyhawk. 

26 Jan 1968: The Ranger (CVA 62), with VA-165 

embarked, while operating on Yankee Station, was 

ordered to the Sea of Japan following the capture of 

Pueblo (AGER 2) on 23 January by the North Koreans. 

Ranger and VA-165 operated in the area until relieved 

on 5 March 1968. 

Apr 1969: Following the shoot down of a Navy EC- 

121 aircraft by the North Koreans on 15 April, Ranger 

(CVA 61), with VA-165 embarked, left Yankee Station 

and proceeded to the Sea of Japan for operations off 

the coast of Korea. 

26 May 1970: The squadron’s commanding officer, 

Commander F. M. Backman, flew the newest update 

version of the A-6 Intruder, the A-6C, into combat for 

the first time. 

Apr 1972: The squadron participated in Operation 

Freedom Train, tactical air sorties against military and 

logistic targets in the southern part of North Vietnam. 

It also provided support for forces in South Vietnam 

following a massive invasion by North Vietnam on 1 

April 1972. 

May 1972: The squadron participated in the early 

phase of Operation Linebacker I, heavy air strikes 

against targets in North Vietnam above 20 degrees 

north latitude. 

Nov 1974: VA-165, part of the CVW-9 team 

embarked on Constellation (CV 64), operated in the 

Persian Gulf. This was the first time in 26 years that an 

American carrier had entered and operated in the 

Persian Gulf. 

Mar 1979: Constellation (CV 64), with VA-165 

embarked, was ordered to make a high speed transit 

to the Indian Ocean from the Philippines in response 

to the conflict between North and South Yemen. 

Oct 1981: The squadron was the first operational A- 

6 unit to deploy with a Harpoon missile capability. 

Jul–Aug 1983: Ranger, with VA-165 embarked, was 

ordered to operate off the coast of Nicaragua in 

response to an unstable situation in Central America 

and the possible invasion of Honduras by Nicaragua. 

Oct 1983–Jan 1984: Ranger, with VA-165 embarked, 

was extended on station in the Arabian Sea due to the 

Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian 

Gulf. 

Sep 1988: Nimitz (CVN 68), with VA-165 embarked, 

operated in the Sea of Japan in support of the Summer 

Olympic Games in Seoul, Republic of Korea. 

Nov 1988: Squadron aircraft participated in Earnest 

Will Operations, the escorting of reflagged Kuwaiti 

tankers through the Persian Gulf.


A squadron AD-5 Skyraider at NAS Glenview, Illinois (Courtesy Fred Dickey Collection). 


Location 


NAS Jacksonville 01 Sep 1960 

NAS Moffett Field 07 Sep 1961 

NAS Alameda 10 Mar 1964 

NAS Whidbey Island 01 Jan 1967 



CDR Carl H. Yeagle 01 Sep 1960 

CDR John E. Ford 25 Aug 1961 

CDR R. Houck 1962 

CDR L. L. Andrews, Jr. 02 Sep 1963 

CDR R. E. Chamblerlain, Jr. 10 Apr 1964 

CDR A. K. Knoizen 1965 

CDR Harry D. Parode 1966 

CDR William S. Jett III 22 Dec 1966 

CDR Leland S. Kollmorgen 11 Jun 1968 

CDR Fred M. Backman 27 Jun 1969 

CDR Richard A. Zick 09 Jun 1970 

CDR Thomas W. Conboy 17 Jun 1971 

CDR James M. Seely 13 Jul 1972 

CDR George C. Crater 21 Jun 1973 

CDR Gary C. Caron 14 Jun 1974 

CDR Samuel A. Belcher III 29 Aug 1975 



CDR Robert M. Proshek 05 Nov 1976 

CDR H. G. Sprouse Feb 1978 

CDR Ian K. Graham 22 Apr 1979 

CDR Michael C. Scully 25 Jul 1980 

CDR Paul S. Bloch 02 Oct 1981 

CDR Gary C. Wasson 14 Jan 1983 

CDR Robert T. Knowles 15 Jun 1984 

CDR John C. Scrapper 31 Jan 1986 

CDR Donald C. Brown 01 Aug 1987 

CDR William H. Shurtleff IV 10 Dec 1988 

CDR John W. Indorf, Jr. 23 May 1990 




AD-6/A-1H* 04 Oct 1960 

A-1J Jun 1963 

A-6A May 1967 

A-6B Nov 1969 

A-6C 27 Feb 1970 

KA-6D 28 Mar 1971 

A-6E 20 Jan 1975 

* The AD-6 designation was changed to A-1H in 1962. 




07 Jun 1962 17 Dec 1962 CVG-16 CVA 34 AD-6 WestPac 

01 Aug 1963 10 Mar 1964 CVW-16 CVA 34 A-1H/J WestPac





07 Dec 1964 01 Nov 1965 CVW-15 CVA 43 A-1H/J WestPac/Vietnam 

04 Apr 1966 21 Nov 1966 CVW-10 CVS 11 A-1H WestPac/Vietnam 

04 Nov 1967 25 May 1968 CVW-2 CVA 61 A-6A WestPac/Vietnam 

26 Oct 1968 17 May 1969 CVW-2 CVA 61 A-6A WestPac/Vietnam 

10 Apr 1970 21 Dec 1970 CVW-9 CVA 66 A-6A/B/C WestPac/Vietnam 

01 Oct 1971 30 Jun 1972 CVW-9 CVA 64 A-6A & KA-6D WestPac/Vietnam 

05 Jan 1973 11 Oct 1973 CVW-9 CVA 64 A-6A & KA-6D WestPac/Vietnam 

21 Jun 1974 22 Dec 1974 CVW-9 CVA 64 A-6A & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

12 Apr 1977 21 Nov 1977 CVW-9 CV 64 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac 

26 Sep 1978 17 May 1979 CVW-9 CV 64 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

26 Feb 1980 15 Oct 1980 CVW-9 CV 64 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

20 Oct 1981 23 May 1982 CVW-9 CV 64 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

15 Jul 1983 29 Feb 1984 CVW-9 CV 61 A-6E & KA-6D CentralAmerica/ 

WestPac/IO 

24 Jul 1985 21 Dec 1985 CVW-9 CV 63 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

03 Jan 1987 29 Jun 1987 CVW-9 CV 63 A-6E & KA-6D World Cruise 

02 Sep 1988 27 Feb 1989 CVW-9 CVN 68 A-6E & KA-6D WestPac/IO 

15 Jun 1989 09 Jul 1989 CVW-9 CVN 68 A-6E & KA-6D NorPac 

12 Feb 1990 07 Apr 1990 CVW-9* CV 64 A-6E & KA-6D * 

* VA-165 was part of a composite CVW-9 that was embarked in Constellation (CV 64) for her home port change and transit from the east coast 

to the west coast via Cape Horn. 

A squadron KA-6D Intruder 

refuels an F-14 Tomcat from 

VF-211. 



CVG-16/CVW-16* AH 01 Sep 1960 

CVW-15 NL 22 Jun 1964 

CVW-10 AK 14 Mar 1966 

COMFAIRALAMEDA/ Nov 1966 

CVW-15† 

COMFAIRWHIDBEY 01 Jan 1967 

CVW-2 NE 16 Jun 1967 

CVW-9 NG 02 Jul 1969 



† When VA-165 returned from its deployment to WestPac on 21 

November 1966 it was assigned to CVW-15. However, CVW-15 was 

still on a WestPac cruise and did not return until 3 December 1966. 

Unit Award 



NAVE 01 Jul 1968 31 Dec 1969 

01 Jan 1970 30 Jun 1971 

01 Jul 1974 31 Dec 1975 

01 Jan 1976 30 Jun 1977 

01 Jan 1985 30 Jun 1986 

01 Jul 1986 31 Dec 1987 

MUC 03 Dec 1967 09 May 1968 

26 May 1970 08 Nov 1970 

12 Mar 1979 19 Apr 1979 

15 Jun 1984 27 Feb 1986 

Jan 1987 May 1987 

AFEM 05 Sep 1963 13 Sep 1963



Unit Award 


03 Nov 1963 08 Nov 1963 

02 Feb 1965 05 Mar 1965 

16 Mar 1965 11 Apr 1965 

02 May 1965 28 May 1965 

23 Jun 1965 03 Jul 1965 

23 Jan 1968 22 Mar 1968 

20 Mar 1969 22 Mar 1969 

20 Apr 1969 27 Apr 1969 

24 Sep 1970 26 Sep 1970 

02 Nov 1988 05 Dec 1988 

NEM 12 Mar 1979 19 Apr 1979 

26 Apr 1980 04 Aug 1980 

12 Aug 1980 19 Aug 1980 

NUC 07 Feb 1965 18 Oct 1965 

29 Nov 1968 10 May 1969 

PUC 22 Oct 1971 13 Jun 1972 


30 Mar 1972 01 Jun 1972 

VNSM 04 Jul 1965 24 Jul 1965 

11 Aug 1965 11 Sep 1965 

21 Sep 1965 15 Oct 1965 

15 May 1966 15 Jun 1966 

08 Jul 1966 10 Aug 1966 

01 Sep 1966 23 Sep 1966 

Unit Award 



02 Oct 1966 18 Oct 1966 

03 Dec 1967 29 Dec 1967 

06 Jan 1968 28 Jan 1968 

18 Mar 1968 12 Apr 1968 

21 Apr 1968 09 May 1968 

07 Jan 1969 30 Jan 1969 

15 Feb 1969 16 Mar 1969 

04 Apr 1969 17 Apr 1969 

17 May 1970 

19 May 1970 

24 May 1970 16 Jun 1970 

28 Jun 1970 13 Jul 1970 

20 Jul 1970 04 Aug 1970 

24 Aug 1970 18 Sep 1970 

13 Oct 1970 08 Nov 1970 

02 Nov 1971 22 Nov 1971 

29 Nov 1971 31 Dec 1971 

09 Jan 1972 03 Feb 1972 

09 Feb 1972 02 Mar 1972 

13 Mar 1972 23 Mar 1972 

07 Apr 1972 18 May 1972 

24 May 1972 25 May 1972 

31 May 1972 13 Jun 1972 

A squadron A-6E Intruder in flight, 1978.



Lineage 

Established as Bomber Fighter Squadron EIGHTY 

TWO (VBF-82) on 20 August 1945. 

Redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTEEN A (VF- 

18A) on 15 November 1946. 

Redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

SEVENTY TWO (VF-172) on 11 August 1948. 


SEVENTY TWO (VA-172) on 1 November 1955. 

Disestablished on 15 January 1971. The first 


The squadron adopted the blue 

bolts design as its second insignia. 

Squadron Insignia and 

Nickname 

The squadron’s first 


by CNO on 12 June 

1946. Colors for insignia 

were: a gold background 

outlined in grey with 

blue triangles; the knight 

and queen chess pieces 

were red with white 

The design using the chess pieces highlights and the pawn 

was the squadron’s first insignia. 

and king were grey with 

white highlights. 

The chess piece insignia was used by the squadron 

until 19 October 1950 when CNO approved a new 

insignia. Colors for the 

new insignia were: a 

blue border outlined a 

red and white shield; 

gold naval aviator wings 

with black markings; 

blue lightning bolt; and 

the lettering Blue Bolts 

was black. 

Nickname: Checkmates, 

1946–1950. 

Blue Blots, 1950– 

1971. 

with F9Fs from VF-51, provided escort for 30 U.S. Air 

Force B-29 bombers raiding the marshalling yards at 

Rashin, North Korea. 

Nov–Dec 1956: Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42), with 

VA-172 embarked, was ordered to deploy and operate 

off the coast of Spain as a result of the Suez Canal crisis. 

Sep–Oct 1957: A detachment of squadron’s F2H-2 

aircraft were embarked in Tarawa (CVS 40) to provide 

fighter support for the ASW carrier during a NATO 

exercise in the North Atlantic. 

Nov 1961: VA-172, embarked in Roosevelt, operated 

off the coast of the Dominican Republic to support the 

newly established democratic government. 

May 1963: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, 

deployed to the Caribbean and operated off the coast 

of Haiti in response to a rebel attempt to overthrow 

the Haitian government. 

Jul–Sep 1963: A detachment from the squadron was 

deployed aboard Randolph (CVS 15) to provide fighter 

coverage for the ASW Task Group during operations 

in the Caribbean Sea. 

8–29 Aug 1964: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, 

was ordered to operate in the vicinity of Cyrpus after 

fighting escalated between Turkish and Greek forces 

on the island. 

Aug 1966: The squadron commenced combat operations 

in Vietnam. These were its first combat sorties 

since the Korean War in 1952. 

2 Dec 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, 

Commander Bruce A. Nystrom, was lost in a night 

reconnaissance mission over the Red River delta area 

in North Vietnam. 


28 Jan 1949: Squadron aircraft, while secured to the 

flight deck and engines running, were used to assist in 

berthing Midway (CVB 41) in Augusta, Sicily. This procedure 

is known as operation Pinwheel. 

23 Aug 1951: The squadron participated in its first 

combat sortie. This also marked the first use of the 

F2H-2 in combat. 

25 Aug 1951: The squadron’s F2H-2 aircraft, along 

A squadron F4U-4 Corsair traps aboard Coral Sea (CVB 43), 1948 

(Courtesy Robert Lawson Collection).


Location 




NAS Quonset Point 15 Jan 1946 

NAAS Cecil Field 04 Mar 1949 

NAS Jacksonville 24 Mar 1950 

NAS Cecil Field 22 Feb 1958 



LT Benjamin T. Pugh (acting) 20 Aug 1945 

LCDR Jacob W. Onstott 10 Sep 1945 

LCDR Pierre N. Charbonnet, Jr. 28 May 1946 

LCDR V. P. de Poix 12 Feb 1948 

LCDR C. A. Blouin 19 Apr 1950 

LCDR Marvin E. Barnett 15 Mar 1951 

LCDR James B. Cain 17 Jun 1952 

LT R. P. McCloskey (acting) 04 Aug 1954 

CDR Glenn G. Estes, Jr. 26 Aug 1954 

CDR Robert M. McConnell, Jr. 31 Oct 1955 

LCDR F. A. Fox (acting) 25 Apr 1957 

CDR Robert J. Robison 10 Jun 1957 

LCDR H. O. Cutler 25 Jul 1958 

CDR Arthur Barker, Jr. 21 Sep 1959 

CDR John D. Kidd 19 Dec 1960 



CDR William S. Stewart 19 Dec 1961 

CDR M. Blaylock 19 Dec 1962 

CDR E. D. Herbert 09 Dec 1963 

CDR K. A. Burrows 08 Dec 1964 

CDR Bruce A. Nystrom 23 Dec 1965 

CDR Robert D. Harris, Jr. 03 Dec 1966 

CDR Thomas A. Francis 24 Nov 1967 

CDR John D. Yamnicky 27 Nov 1968 

CDR Conrad B. Olson 31 Oct 1969 




F6F Aug 1945 

F4U 06 Sep 1945 

F8F 1946 

FH-1 Mar 1949 

F2H-1 May 1949 

F2H-2 21 Jun 1950 

F2H-4 13 Jan 1956 

F2H-2B Sep 1956 

A4D-1 16 Dec 1957 

A4D-2 May 1958 

A4D-2N/A-4C* 06 Sep 1961 

* The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C in 1962. 




22 Oct 1946 21 Dec 1946 CVG-82* CV 15 F4U-4 Med 

02 Feb 1947 19 Mar 1947 CVAG-17 CV 15 F4U-4 EasternLant/Carib 

07 Jun 1948 06 Aug 1948 CVG-17 CVB 43 F4U-4 Med/Carib 

04 Jan 1949 05 Mar 1949 CVG-17 CVB 41 F4U-4 Med 

09 Sep 1950 01 Feb 1951 CVG-17 CVB 43 F2H-2 Med 

21 Jul 1951 25 Mar 1952 CVG-5 CV 9† F2H-2 WestPac/Korea 

26 Aug 1952 19 Dec 1952 CVG-17 CVA 42 F2H-2 NorLant/Med 

16 Sep 1953 01 May 1954 CVG-17 CVA 18 F2H-2 World Cruise 

05 Apr 1955 29 Sep 1955 CVG-17 CVA 43 F2H-2 Med 

13 Feb 1959 01 Sep 1959 CVG-1 CVA 42 A4D-2 Med 

28 Jan 1960 24 Aug 1960 CVG-1 CVA 42 A4D-2 Med 

15 Feb 1961 28 Aug 1961 CVG-1 CVA 42 A4D-2 Med 

19 Nov 1961 30 Nov 1961 CVG-1 CVA 42 A4D-2N Carib 

14 Sep 1962 22 Apr 1963 CVG-1 CVA 42 A-4C Med 

28 Apr 1964 22 Dec 1964 CVW-1 CVA 42‡ A-4C Med 

28 Jun 1965 17 Dec 1965 CVW-1 CVA 42 A-4C Med 

21 Jun 1966 21 Feb 1967 CVW-1 CVA 42 A-4C SoLant/IO/West 

Pac/Vietnam 

24 Aug 1967 19 May 1968 CVW-1 CVA 42 A-4C Med


Major Overseas Deployments—Continued 



07 Jan 1969 29 Jul 1969 CVW-8 CVA 38 A-4C Med 

05 Mar 1970 17 Dec 1970 CVW-8 CVS 38 A-4C SoLant/IO/West 

Pac/Vietnam 

* CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17 during the deployment. 

† The squadron departed NAS San Diego on 16 July 1951 embarked in Antietam (CV 36) and arrived in Hawaii on 20 July. On 21 July it 

embarked in Essex (CV 9) and departed for a combat cruise to Korea on 9 August. 

‡ In October 1964 Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) returned to the States for an emergency dry docking to repair a propeller. The squadron was 

based ashore at NAS Cecil Field during that time frame. Following the repair, the carrier and squadron returned to the Mediterranean. 

A squadron F2H-2 Banshee in flight during its combat deployment to Korea aboard Essex (CV 9), 1951. 



CVG-82/CVAG-17/ R† 20 Aug 1945 

CVG-17* 

CVG-5 S 21 Jul 1951 

CVG-17 R 25 Mar 1952 

COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE 1957‡ 

CVG-1/CVW-1§ AB 15 Mar 1958 

CVW-8 AJ 25 Aug 1968 

* CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17 on 15 November 1946. CVAG- 

17 was redesignated CVG-17 on 1 September 1948. 

† The tail code R was assigned to CVAG-17 on 12 December 1946. 

‡ The squadron was transferred from CVG-17 and operational control 

was assigned to COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE some time in early 

1957. 

§ CVG-1 was redesignated CVW-1 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) 

were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on 20 December 1963.



Unit Award 


NUC 21 Aug 1951 05 Mar 1952 

KSM 13 Aug 1951 05 Mar 1952 

NEM 20 Nov 1961 29 Nov 1961 

MUC 11 Apr 1970 06 Nov 1970 


VNSM 30 Jul 1966 

09 Aug 1966 12 Sep 1966 

01 Oct 1966 03 Oct 1966 

19 Oct 1966 14 Nov 1966 

Unit Award 



24 Nov 1966 28 Dec 1966 

20 Jan 1967 21 Jan 1967 

10 Apr 1970 02 May 1970 

12 May 1970 29 May 1970 

13 Jun 1970 04 Jul 1970 

28 Jul 1970 19 Aug 1970 

30 Aug 1970 30 Sep 1970 

20 Oct 1970 07 Nov 1970 

A flight of squadron A-4C Skyhawks with tail hooks down preparing for a landing on Shangri-La (CVS 38) during her deployment in 1970.



Lineage 

Established as Bombing Squadron EIGHTY TWO 

(VB-82) on 1 April 1944. 

Redesignated Attack Squadron SEVENTEEN A (VA- 



SEVENTY FOUR (VA-174) on 11 August 1948. 

Disestablished on 25 January 1950. The first 



The squadron’s battering ram 

insignia. 

The squadron’s insignia 

was approved by 

CNO on 21 January 

1946. Colors for the 

insignia were: a dark 

blue background with a 

yellow border; the star 

had alternating shades 

of yellow and light mustard; 

the goat and bomb 

were shaded light gray 

to dark gray. 

Nickname: Battering 

Rams, 1946–1950. 


15 Dec 1944: The squadron embarked in 

Bennington (CV 20), along with other units of CVG- 

82, and departed for Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 7 

January 1945, following a stop over at NAS San Diego. 

16 Feb 1945: VB-82 participated in the first carrierbased 

air strikes on Tokyo, flying sorties against installations 

at Mitsune and Mikatagahara Airfields on 

Hachijo Jima, Nanpo Shoto. 

20–22 Feb 1945: Squadron aircraft provided air support 

for the landings on Iwo Jima. 

19 Mar 1945: Japanese naval vessels in the Inland 

Sea were attacked by VB-82 aircraft and other aircraft 

assigned to Task Group 58.1. 

7 Apr 1945: Squadron aircraft participated in Task 

Force 58’s attacks on the Japanese super battleship 

Yamato and her escorts in the East China Sea. The 

attacks resulted in the sinking of the Yamato, one 

cruiser and four destroyers. 

Mar–May 1945: The squadron participated in preinvasion 

strikes on Okinawa and provided air support 

during the invasion of the island. 

17 Jun–9 Jul 1945: The squadron was embarked in 

White Plains (CVE 66) for transit back to the States. 


Location 


NAS Wildwood 01 Apr 1944* 

NAAS Oceana 15 Jun 1944* 

NAS Norfolk, East Field 17 Sep 1944* 

NAS Quonset Point 13 Nov 1944* 

NAS Kahului 08 Jan 1945* 

NAS Alameda 09 Jul 1945 

NAS Quonset Point 01 Feb 1946 

NAAS Cecil Field 01 Feb 1949 

* Temporary shore assignment while the squadron conducted training 

in preparation for combat deployment. 



LCDR Samuel R. Brown, Jr. 01 Apr 1944 

LCDR Hugh Wood, Jr. (acting) 31 Dec 1944 

LCDR Hugh Wood, Jr. 11 Jan 1945 

LT J. A. Derby (acting) 11 Jul 1945 

LT Harry R. McRae, Jr. (acting) 04 Sep 1945 

LCDR Hugh Wood, Jr. 13 Oct 1945 

LCDR Robert E. Farkas 02 Apr 1948 

LCDR William R. Pittman 10 Jun 1949 

LCDR Harold E. Vita 14 Dec 1949 




SB2C-1C 01 Apr 1944 

SB2C-3 22 May 1944 

SB2C-4E 17 Nov 1944 

SBW-4E Feb 1946 

SB2C-5 01 Jul 1946 

SBW-5 Jul 1946 

AM-1 01 Mar 1948 

AD-3 Apr 1949 




29 Jan 1945 17 Jun 1945 CVG-82 CV 20 SB2C-4E Pacific 

22 Oct 1946 21 Dec 1946 CVG-82* CV 15 SB2C-5 Med 

* CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17 during the deployment.




CVG-82/CVAG-17/ R† 01 Apr 1944 

CVG-17* 

* CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17 on 15 November 1946. CVAG- 

17 was redesignated CVG-17 on 1 September 1948. 

† The tail code R was assigned to CVAG-17 on 12 December 1946. 

Unit Award 



NAVE 01 Jul 1947 30 Jun 1948 

Campaign Medal 

(Asiatic Pacific) 15 Feb 1945 04 Mar 1945 

17 Mar 1945 11 Jun 1945 

A squadron SB2C-4E Helldiver launches from Bennington (CV 20), 1945 (Courtesy Robert Lawson Collection).


SECOND VA-174 

Lineage 

Established as Bombing Squadron EIGHTY ONE 

(VB-81) on 1 March 1944. 

Redesignated Attack Squadron THIRTEEN A (VA- 



THIRTY FOUR (VA-134) on 2 August 1948. 

Redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED 

SEVENTY FOUR (VF-174) on 15 February 1950. 


SEVENTY FOUR (VA-174) on 1 July 1966. 

Disestablished on 30 June 1988. The second 


This Walt Disney design was the 

squadron’s first insignia. 

Squadron Insignia 

and Nickname 

The squadron’s 

Walt Disney designed 


by CNO on 

23 May 1944. Colors 

for the bat insignia 

were: a lemon yellow 

background; the 

underside of the bat’s 

wings were reddish 

brown and the upper 

side orange; the bat’s face, neck, feet and lower part of 

the razor were orange; the upper part of the razor was 

light blue with white markings; the bat’s eye was 

white, pupil black and horns white outlined in black; 

white machine gun with 

black markings and red 

flame from the gun; 

black bombs with white 

markings and the lettering 

“Hell Razors” was 

red. The red color was 

not authorized for use 

during World War II. 

The insignia re-mained 

in use throughout out 

the squadron’s numerous 

redesignations. 

Nickname: Hell 

Razors, 1944–1988. 

The squadron added the scroll at the 

bottom of the original insignia following 

its redesignation to VA-174. 

for transportation to Guam. 

14 Nov 1944: CVG-81 aircraft engaged in their first 

combat sorties, flying missions against Luzon from 

Wasp (CV 18). 

27 Dec 1944: The squadron was detached from 

CVG-81, embarked in Wasp (CV 18), and flew to 

Guam. This was done to accommodate an increase in 

the fighter strength aboard the carrier. 

Mar 1945: VB-81 rejoined CVG-81 aboard Copahee 

for the transit back to the States. 

Aug 1948–Apr 1949: Even though the squadron’s 

designation was attack (VA) its mission during this 

period, with the assigned F4U-4 Corsairs, was high 

altitude intercept. 

Oct 1948–Feb 1949: VA-134, assigned to CVG-1, 

embarked in Tarawa (CV 40), was part of an all-fighter 

aircraft air group deployed on a world cruise. 

Jan 1949: The squadron operated in the Persian Gulf 

while embarked in Tarawa. 

Feb 1955: While deployed aboard Midway (CVA 

43), the squadron supported the evacuation of 

Chinese Nationalist civilians and military personnel 

from the Tachen Islands which were being bombarded 

by the People’s Republic of China. 

28 Apr 1958: The squadron’s mission was changed 

to the training of pilots and enlisted men for F8U 

Crusader fleet squadrons on the east coast. 

10–17 May 1958: Four squadron Crusaders participated 

in Operation Pipeline, the transAtlantic flight of 

carrier jet aircraft for the resupply of deployed 

squadrons in the Sixth Fleet. 

14 Oct 1966: VA-174 was the first Navy squadron to 

receive the A-7A Corsair II aircraft. 

Jan 1967: VA-86 was the first squadron to undergo 

training with VA-174 in the A-7A. 

9 Dec 1976: Lieutenant Junior Grade Rosemary 

Conatser, while undergoing pilot training with VA-174, 

became the first woman to fly the A-7 Corsair II. 


23–31 Aug 1944: The squadron, along with other 

units of CVG-81, embarked in Hancock (CV 19) for 

transportation to Hawaii. 

28 Oct–7 Nov 1944: Embarked in Copahee (CVE 12) 

A squadron SB2C-3 Helldiver coming in for a landing, 1945 

(Courtesy Robert Lawson Collection).



Location 


NAS Wildwood 01 Mar 1944* 

NAAF Otis Field 08 May 1944* 

NAS San Diego 10 Aug 1944* 

NAS Puunene 01 Sep 1944* 

NAS Guam 27 Dec 1944 

NAS San Diego 31 Mar 1945 

NAS Pasco 13 May 1945 

NAS Wildwood 05 Aug 1945 

NAS Quonset Point 19 Sep 1945 

NAS San Diego Jul 1946 

NAS Sand Point 28 Jun 1947 

NAS San Diego 02 Sep 1947 

NAS Jacksonville 11 Apr 1949 

NAS Cecil Field Apr 1954 

* Temporary shore assignment while the squadron conducted training 

in preparation for combat deployment. 



CDR Jerry L. Terrell 16 May 1975 

CDR John S. McCain III 01 Jul 1976 

CDR John F. Calhoun 28 Jul 1977 

CDR John D. Rasmussen 26 Oct 1978 

CDR Robert J. Naughton 17 Jan 1980 

CDR Robert S. Smith 12 Mar 1981 

CAPT D. B. Hunt Jul 1982 

CAPT Robert L. Kiem 31 Aug 1983 

CDR Michael B. Nordeen 06 Sep 1984 

CDR Charles A. Cook 06 Sep 1985 

CDR E. Evan Shipe III 29 Apr 1986 

CDR Dean M. Hendrickson 16 Apr 1987 

* Commander H. P. Lanham was detached as Commanding Officer 

of VB-81 and assigned as Commanding Officer of VF-81. There is no 

record of who assumed the position as acting commanding officer 

of VB-81 while it was shore based at Guam. 



LCDR Harvey P. Lanham 01 Mar 1944 

Feb 1945* 

LT Hugh Burns (acting) 13 May 1945 

LT Hugh Burns 04 Jun 1945 

LTJG W. D. Page (acting) 09 Sep 1945 

LCDR William E. Rouse 21 Sep 1945 

LT Loren E. Nelson (acting) 07 Nov 1946 

LCDR Gene C. Anderson 13 Jan 1947 

LT Martin G. O’Neill (acting) 06 Jun 1948 

LCDR S. C. Walls 06 Jul 1948 

CDR John C. Kelly 20 Jun 1949 

LCDR Ralph E. Elliott, Jr. 25 May 1950 

LCDR Paul B. Garrison 14 Aug 1951 

LCDR John H. Iarrobino 20 Jun 1952 

CDR George H. Sult Mar 1953 

CDR J. C. Schroeder Sep 1955 

LCDR John F. Davis Aug 1957 

CDR W. S. Miller 09 Jan 1959 

CDR R. T. Hoppe 01 Jul 1960 

CDR Carl C. Dace 09 Jun 1961 

CDR Edward Iglesias Feb 1962 

CDR Homer A. Winter Jul 1963 

CDR Wiley A. Scott 28 Aug 1964 

CDR G. L. Gray, Jr. 11 Aug 1965 

CDR Donald S. Ross 12 Aug 1966 

CDR William F. Sallada 16 Jun 1967 

CDR Edwin M. Crow 09 Aug 1968 

CDR J. E. Russ 03 Jul 1969 

CDR Roger C. Bos 04 Sep 1970 

CDR John J. Lahr 06 Aug 1971 

CDR Rolland K. Shea 07 Jul 1972 

CDR Michael G. Basford 01 Jun 1973 

CDR Donald B. Gilbert 27 Jun 1974 

A squadron F4U-4 Corsair launching from the deck of Tarawa (CV 

40) during her world cruise in 1948-1949. 




SB2C-3 Mar 1944 

SB2C-1C Mar 1944 

SB2C-4E May 1945 

SB2C-5 Dec 1945 

SBW-5 Jan 1946 

F4U-4 04 Mar 1948 

F4U-5 Jun 1950 

F9F-6 Jan 1953 

FJ-3 Sep 1955 

F9F-8 Mar 1956 

F8U-1/F-8A* 30 Oct 1957 

TV-2 17 Sep 1958 

F9F-8T 08 Jul 1959 

F8U-1P/RF-8A* Oct 1959 

F8U-2/F-8C* Oct 1959 

F8U-1E/F-8B* Jul 1959





F8U-2N/F-8D* Nov 1960 

F8U-2NE/F-8E* Apr 1962 

A-7A 14 Oct 1966 

A-7B 09 Jul 1968 

A-7E 18 Dec 1969 

T-39D 1975 

TA-7C 09 Jun 1978 

* The F8U Crusader designations were changed in 1962 to F-8. 

A flight of squadron F9F-8 Cougars during their deployment aboard 

Bennington (CVA 20) in 1956–1957. 




10 Nov 1944 27 Dec 1944 CVG-81 CV 18 SB2C-3 Pacific 

03 Jul 1946 15 Apr 1947 CVG-81* CV 37 SB2C-5/SBW-5 WestPac 

01 Oct 1948 21 Feb 1949 CVG-1 CV 40 F4U-4 World Cruise 

09 Sep 1950 01 Feb 1951 CVG-17 CVB 43 F4U-5 Med 

03 Sep 1952 18 Dec 1952 CVG-17 CVA 42 F4U-4 NorLant/Med 

27 Dec 1954 14 Jul 1955 CVG-1 CVA 41 F9F-6 World Cruise 

15 Oct 1956 22 May 1957 ATG-181 CVA 20 F9F-8 WestPac 

* During the deployment CVG-81 was redesignated CVAG-13. 



CVG-81/CVAG-13/ P† 01 Mar 1944 

CVG-13* 

CVG-1 T 22 Sep 1948 

CVG-13 P 25 Feb 1949 

COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE 30 Nov 1949 

CVG-17 R 14 Feb 1950 

CVG-1 T Apr 1954 

ATG-181 I Oct 1956 

COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE May 1957‡ 

CVG-1 AB 01 Nov 1957 

RCVG-4/RCVW-4§ AD 16 Mar 1958 

COMLATWING-1 AD** 01 Jun 1970 

* CVG-81 was redesignated CVAG-13 on 15 November 1946 and 

then redesignated CVG-13 on 1 September 1948. 

† The tail code P was assigned to CVAG-13 on 12 December 1946. 

‡ The squadron left ATG-181 upon its return from the WestPac 

deployment in May 1957. VF-174 probably remained under 

Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville until its assignment to CVG-1. 

However, no records are available to confirm this supposition. 

§ RCVG-4 was redesignated RCVW-4 when Carrier Air Groups 

(CVG/RCVG) were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW/RCVW) on 

20 December 1963. 

** RCVW-4 was disestablished on 1 June 1970. However, the 

squadrons that had been assigned to RCVW-4, such as VA-174, continued 

to use RCVW-4’s AD tail code. 

A squadron F-8E 

Crusader at MCAAS 

Yuma, 1963 

(Courtesy William 

Swisher Collection).



Unit Award 


Campaign Medal 

(Asiatic Pacific) 12 Dec 1944 27 Dec 1944 

NUC 14 Nov 1944 19 Nov 1944 

14 Dec 1944 16 Dec 1944 

01 Jul 1950 30 Jun 1951 


Unit Award 


01 Jul 1953 30 Jun 1954 

MUC 10 Jun 1976 26 Apr 1977 

05 Feb 1979 03 Sep 1980 

01 Jan 1984 01 Apr 1985 

01 Apr 1985 31 Dec 1986 

A squadron A-7 Corsair II loaded with weapons.

Attack Squadron Histories (VA) - Naval History and Heritage ...

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