VA-54 (U.S. Navy)

SBC-3 Helldiver from VS-3 (later VA-54) in flight near San Diego, California, in 1939. (Click the photo to enlarge it)

VA-54 was an early and long-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, operating under many designations during its 20-year life. It was established as Scouting Squadron VS-2B on 3 July 1928, and redesignated as VS-3 on 1 July 1937, and as Bombing Squadron VB-4 on 1 March 1943. It was redesignated as VB-5 on 15 July of that same year, and as Attack Squadron VA-5A on 15 November 1946. Finally, it was redesignated as VA-54 on 15 November 1946. VA-54 was disestablished on 1 December 1949. The squadron's insignia varied over its lifetime, depicting in turn a bird dog, a devil, and finally a bomb and five playing cards. Its nickname is unknown.^[1]

A second, unrelated, squadron was assigned the VA-54 designation in 1956.^[1]

Notable personnel

The squadron's acting commanding officer when it was established in 1928, and again for three months in 1929, was LT Forrest Sherman, who became the nation's youngest Chief of Naval Operations in 1949.^[1]

Significant events

• Jan–Feb 1929: Fleet Problem IX was the first time the Navy’s two large carriers, USS Saratoga (CV-3) (with VS-2B embarked) and USS Lexington (CV-2), participated in a major fleet exercise.

• Mar–Apr 1930: In March, Fleet Problem X was conducted in the Caribbean Sea, followed by Fleet Problem XI in April.

• May 1930: VS-2B’s aircraft joined with the planes from nine other squadrons, which included Saratoga, Lexington and USS Langley (CV-1) Air Groups, for a three-day tour of east coast cities from Norfolk, Virginia to Boston. The flight was commanded by Captain Kenneth Whiting and consisted of 36 torpedo and bombing planes, 57 fighting planes, 24 scouting planes, 3 amphibian utility planes, 3 Ford tri-motored transports and 2 staff planes. It was the largest air parade that had ever been assembled on the East Coast.

• 5 Nov 1931: The squadron’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Oscar W. Erickson, was killed in an airplane crash at sea.

• 1931–1934: The squadron participated in Fleet Problems XII through XIX.

• 31 May 1934: A Naval Review for President Franklin D. Roosevelt was held in New York Harbor.

• 1935–1938: The squadron participated in Fleet Problems XVI through XV.

• Apr–May 1940: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XXI. This was the last major fleet problem conducted before the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s involvement in World War II.

• Aug 1942: VS-3 and the other squadrons in Saratoga's Air Group provided air support for the battle of Guadalcanal.

• 24–25 Aug 1942: VS-3 participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and, along with other squadrons in the Saratoga Air Group, attacked and sunk the Japanese carrier Ryujo. En route back to Saratoga after their attack on the Ryujo, Lieutenant Commander Kirn, and ten of his SBDs attacked a Japanese flight of four Vals (Aichi D3A, Japanese Navy Type 99 Carrier Bombers), downing three and damaging the fourth.

• Sep–Nov 1942: VS-3 operated from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides until its return to CONUS in December.

• 6–24 Jul 1943: VB-5 departed Norfolk embarked in USS Yorktown (CV-10) en route to the Hawaiian Islands via the Panama Canal.

• 31 Aug 1943: VB-5, embarked in Yorktown, participated in a raid on Marcus Island.

• 5–6 Oct 1943: The squadron participated in a raid on Wake Island.

• Nov–Dec 1943: VB-5 participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign in support of the landings on Makin and Tarawa, as well as strikes against the Marshalls.

• Jan–Feb 1944: The squadron flew strikes against the Marshall Islands and provided air support for the invasion of the Marshalls.

• 16–17 Feb 1944: VB-5, along with other squadrons in Air Group 5, flew strikes against the Japanese stronghold of Truk.

• 22 Feb 1944: CVG-5’s aircraft, including VB-5, raided the Marianas striking targets on Saipan.

• 30 Mar–1 Apr 1944: VB-5’s SBDs struck ships and facilities at Palau in the Caroline Islands.

• 21–23 Apr 1944: Strikes were flown by VB-5 against targets on Wade Island and Hollandia in New Guinea. These operations were in support of the landings at Hollandia by General Douglas MacArthur’s forces.

• 29–30 Apr 1944: VB-5 conducted another strike operation against Truk.

• 14 May 1944: Following a ten-month combat tour, which began in August 1943, Air Group 5 was relieved aboard Yorktown by Air Group 1 and the Air Group, including VB-5, returned to CONUS.

• 07 Feb 1945: CVG-5, with VB-5, embarked in USS Franklin (CV-13) and departed NAS Alameda for Hawaii, arriving there on 13 February. This was the beginning of the squadron’s third major combat tour in the Pacific.

• 19 Mar 1945: Following the launch of CVG-5 aircraft, including SB2Cs from VB-5, for an attack against the city of Kobe, Japan, the Franklin was hit by two enemy bombs from a Japanese aircraft. Fires were ignited on the second and third decks from the first bomb and the second triggered munitions on the carrier. All CVG-5’s aircraft still on the carrier were destroyed. The damage was one of the most extensive experienced by an Essex class carrier during World War II. A total of 724 were killed and 265 wounded. However, the crew’s heroic efforts saved the ship. CVG-5 personnel were transferred to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). CVG-5 aircraft in the air landed on other carriers, primarily USS Bennington (CV-20). Personnel in the water were picked up by destroyers.

• May 1949: VA-54 was the last fleet squadron to operate the SB2C aircraft. The squadron completed its Operational Readiness Inspection on 19 May and the last operational flight of the SB2C.^[1]

Home port assignments

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

• NAS San Diego – 03 Jul 1928
• Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides – Sep 1942*
• NAS San Diego – Dec 1942
• MCAS El Centro – Jan 1943
• NAS San Diego – Mar 1943
• NAS Norfolk – Apr 1943
• NAS Pearl Harbor – Jul 1943*
• NAS Barbers Point – Sep 1943*
• NAS Puunene – Oct 1943*
• NAS Hilo – Dec 1943*
• NAS Kaneohe Bay – Dec 1943*
• NAS Alameda – 25 Jun 1944
• NAAS Fallon – 25 Jul 1944
• NAAS Vernalis – 29 Oct 1944
• NAAS Santa Rosa – 10 Nov 1944
• Hawaii Feb – 1945*
• NAS Klamath Falls – 8 May 1945
• NAS Pasco – 28 Sep 1945
• NAAS Brown Field – 03 Dec 1945
• NAS Barbers Point – 25 Mar 1946
• NAS San Diego – 20 May 1946
• NAS Seattle – 13 Jan 1947
• NAS San Diego – 20 Mar 1947

 • Temporary shore assignment during World War II.

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft in the months shown:^[1]

• Vought UO – Jul 1928
• Vought FU-1 – 27 Aug 1928
• O2U-1 Corsair – Dec 1928
• O2U-2 Corsair – Dec 1928
• O3U-2 Corsair – Dec 1931
• SU-1 Corsair – May 1932
• SU-3 Corsair – Nov 1932
• SU-2 Corsair – Dec 1932
• SBU-1 Corsair – Jan 1936
• SBC-3 Helldiver – Aug 1937
• SBC-4 Helldiver – Mar 1941
• SBD-3 Dauntless – Aug 1941
• SBD-4 Dauntless – Jan 1943
• SB2C Helldiver – Apr 1943
• SBD-5 Dauntless – Jun 1943
• SB2C-3 Helldiver – 25 Jun 1944
• SBW-3 Helldiver – 25 Jun 1944
• SB2C-4 Helldiver – Sep 1944
• SB2C-4E Helldiver – Dec 1944
• SB2C-5 Helldiver – Mar 1946
• F4U-4 Corsair – 19 Apr 1948
• AD-1 Skyraider – May 1949
• AD-4 Skyraider – Oct 1949

See also

• Second VA-54 (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 4: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-54 to VA-56 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2014-02-10.