VA-56 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 56

VA-56 squadron patch
Active 4 June 1956-31 August 1986
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Role Attack aircraft
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) Boomerangs
Champions
Engagements Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Attack F9F Panther
F9F Cougar
FJ-4 Fury
A-4 Skyhawk
A-7 Corsair II
Flight of four A-4E Skyhawks from the VA-56 Champions, mid-1960s

VA-56 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 4 June 1956, and disestablished thirty years later, on 31 August 1986. The squadron's nickname was the Boomerangs from 1957 to 1958, and the Champions thereafter.[1]

Operational history

Home port assignments

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

* Under the Overseas Home Port Program, VA-56 and CVW-5 were permanently based aboard Midway and home ported with her at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan. The home port was officially changed on 30 June 1973. However, Midway did not arrive in Japan until 5 October. Elements of VA-56, when not operating from Midway, were based ashore at NAF Atsugi or Misawa, Japan.

Aircraft assignment

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

See also

References

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 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 2014-02-11.
  2. "U.S. Accounted-For from the Vietnam War" (PDF). Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
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