VA-135 (U.S. Navy)

USS Princeton (CV-37) in 1948 at anchor in Tsingtao, China. Her airgroup included only F8F-1 Bearcat fighters (VF-131, VF-132) and TBM-3E/-3Q Avenger bombers (VA-15, VA-135).

VA-135 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed Uninvited. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-81 on 1 March 1944, redesignated VA-14A on 15 November 1946, and finally designated VA-135 on 2 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 30 November 1949. A second squadron bore the VA-135 designation in 1961-1962; the squadrons were not related.^[1]

Significant events

• 14 Nov 1944: The squadron’s first combat strike was conducted against Manila Harbor.

• 9–20 Jan 1945: The squadron was part of a task force that entered the South China Sea and conducted combat operations against Cam Rahn Bay; Hong Kong and Takao Harbor, Formosa.

• 16 Feb 1945: The squadron struck the home islands of Japan, flying a seven-plane attack against Hamamatuo Airfield on Honshu.

• 21 Feb 1945: The squadron participated in its first ground support mission, flying sorties over Iwo Jima.

• 1 Mar 1945: The squadron flew its last combat strike of the war. During the four months of combat operations from USS Wasp (CV-18) it did not lose any personnel due to enemy action (two personnel were lost due to operational accidents).

• 15–29 Jun 1946: The squadron embarked in USS Princeton (CV-37) and transited from Norfolk to San Diego via the Panama Canal.^[1]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• NAS Quonset Point – 01 Mar 1944
• NAAF Martha's Vineyard – 01 Mar 1944*
• NAAF Boca Chica – 20 Apr 1944*
• NAAF Otis Field – 10 May 1944*
• NAS San Diego – 10 Aug 1944*
• NAS Puunene – 01 Sep 1944*
• NAS Pasco – 13 May 1945*
• NAAF Sanford – 31 Jul 1945*
• NAS Quonset Point – 15 Sep 1945
• NAS San Diego – Jun 1946
• NAS Jacksonville – 01 Apr 1949

* Temporary shore assignment while the squadron conducted training in preparation for combat deployment.

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:^[1]

• TBF-1C Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBM-1 Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBF-1 Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBF-1C Avenger – Nov 1944
• TBM-1D Avenger – Nov 1944
• TBM-3 Avenger – May 1945
• TBM-3E Avenger – May 1945
• TBM-3Q Avenger – 1946
• AD-4 Skyraider – Sep 1949

See also

• Second VA-135 (U.S. Navy)
• Attack aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

1. Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 8: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-125 to VA-153 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 203–204. Retrieved 2014-02-18.

External links