VA-44 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 44

VA-44 insignia
Active June 1, 1945 – June 8, 1950
September 1, 1950-May 1, 1950
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Type Attack squadron
Fleet replacement squadron
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) Hornets
Engagements Korean War
Aircraft flown
Attack SB2C Helldiver
A-1 Skyraider
AM Mauler
A-4 Skyhawk
Fighter F4U Corsair
F2H Banshee
F9F Panther
F9F Cougar
Trainer T-33 Shooting Star
T-28 Trojan

Attack Squadron 44 (VA-44 or ATKRON 44) was an attack squadron of the United States Navy that was an active fleet unit for its first fifteen years and transitioned to a Fleet Replacement Squadron until it was deactivated.

History

A VF-44 F4U-4 Corsair taking off from USS Boxer to attack North Korean targets in 1953

The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron VB-75 on 1 June 1945 and redesignated Attack Squadron VA-3B on 15 November 1946. It was finally redesignated VA-44 on 1 September 1948. It was disestablished on 8 June 1950. A second squadron that ultimately acquired the VA-44 name was established as Fighter Squadron VF-44 on 1 September 1950, and redesignated VA-44 on 1 January 1956.[1]

Nicknamed the "Hornets," the squadron saw its only combat action during the last few months of the Korean War. The squadron was deactivated as the Navy began to draw down its fighter force at the end of the Vietnam War and no longer needed as many trained naval aviators. They were officially decommissioned on May 1, 1970 and remain in an inactive status.

See also

References

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Attack Squadron 44 (United States Navy).
  1. ↑ Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 3: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-42 to VA-52 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2014-02-09.

va-44 last bird was the A-4 skyhawk, out of Cicel Field ,Fl.

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