Second VA-54 (U.S. Navy)
Attack Squadron 54 | |
---|---|
Active | 26 March 1945-1 April 1958 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Navy |
Role | Attack |
Part of | Inactive |
Nickname(s) |
Copperheads Hell's Angels |
Engagements | Korean War |
The Second VA-54 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was the second Navy squadron to be designated VA-54.[1]
The squadron was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-153 on 26 March 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-61A (VF-16A) on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-152 on 15 July 1948, and VF-54 on 15 February 1950. It was finally redesignated VA-54 on 15 June 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1958.[1]
The squadron's insignia changed several times over its lifetime, ending up as a devil's head with naval aviation wings. Its nickname was the Copperheads until 1951, and Hell's Angels thereafter.[1]
Significant events
- 29 Jun 1950: VF-54 was deployed aboard USS Valley Forge (CV-45) in the Western Pacific when hostilities erupted in Korea on 25 June. The carrier was ordered north from the Philippines and the squadron’s aircraft conducted a sweep along the western coast of Taiwan due to the concern that the North Korean invasion of South Korea might be a prelude to an invasion of that island by the Chinese Communists.
- 3 Jul 1950: The squadron participated in its first combat strikes since its establishment in 1945. These strikes were the first made by carrier aircraft in the Korean War. VF-54’s Corsairs struck targets in Pyongyang, North Korea.
- 15 Sep 1950: VF-54 provided air support for the Battle of Inchon.
- 26 Jul 1954: VF-54’s AD-4 Skyraiders were on a search and rescue mission looking for survivors, rafts or debris from the 1954 Cathay Pacific Douglas DC-4 shootdown, when they were attacked by two Chinese LA-7 fighter aircraft. Two of the squadron’s Skyraiders, along with an F4U, shot down the two LA-7s 13 miles southeast of Hainan Island.
- Sep 1957: USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), with VA-54 embarked, operated in the vicinity of Taiwan in response to a buildup of Chinese Communist forces on the mainland opposite Taiwan.
- Dec 1957: The squadron began the transition from propeller aircraft to jets.[1]
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]
- NAS Wildwood – 26 Mar 1945
- NAAS Oceana – 01 Jun 1945
- NAS Norfolk – 02 Jul 1946
- NAS Alameda – 11 Aug 1946
- NAS Sand Point – 4 May 1948
- NAS Alameda – 28 Jun 1948
- NAS San Diego – 01 Dec 1949
- NAS Miramar – 19 May 1952
Aircraft Assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:[1]
- F4U-1 Corsair – 26 Mar 1945
- F4U-4 Corsair – 04 Jun 1945
- F6F-5 Hellcat – 10 Sep 1945
- F8F-1 Bearcat – 21 Oct 1947
- F8F-2 Bearcat – May 1949
- AD-4 Skyraider – 01 Dec 1949
- F4U-4B Corsair – 14 Dec 1949
- AD-1/4 Skyraider – Mar 1951
- AD-6 Skyraider – Dec 1954
- AD-5 Skyraider – Dec 1954
- AD-7 Skyraider – Jan 1957
- F9F-8B Cougar – Dec 1957
See also
- Attack aircraft
- History of the United States Navy
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.
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