VA-106 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 106
Attack Squadron 106
	VA-106 squadron insignia
Active	2 January 1945-7 November 1969
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Attack
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Gladiators
Engagements	World War II ; Korean War ; Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Attack	F6F-5 Hellcat ; F4U/4 Corsair ; F8F-2/1B Bearcat ; F2H-2 Banshee ; F9F-8B Cougar ; A4D-2/B/C/E Skyhawk

Last updated February 22, 2023

VA-106 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron Seventeen (VBF-17) on 2 January 1945, it was redesignated Fighter Squadron Six B (VF-6B) on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-62 on 28 July 1948, redesignated Attack Squadron 106 (VA-106) on 1 July 1955, it was disestablished on 7 November 1969. It was the second US Navy squadron to be designated VA-106.^[1]

Operational history

World War II

16–17 February 1945: The squadron participated in strikes against targets in and around the Tokyo area.
20–22 February 1945: Squadron aircraft participated in strikes against Iwo Jima and provided air support for the landings on the island.
18–19 March 1945: Major strikes were conducted by squadron aircraft against Kanoya, the largest airfield on Kyushu and against the Japanese Fleet anchored at Kure Naval Base.
March–May 1945: The squadron conducted strikes in support of the Okinawa campaign
7 Apr 1945: The unit participated in the combined task force strikes against the super battleship Yamato and its accompanying escorts, resulting in the sinking of Yamato, two cruisers and three destroyers.
May 1945: The squadron participated in strikes against Kyushu and Shikoku, hitting aircraft plants and airfields. On 14 May the squadron's commanding officer, LTCDR H. W. Nicholson, was killed in action during a strike against Kyushu.

1950s

26 April to 4 December 1953, VF-62 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 4 (CVG-4) aboard USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) for a deployment to Korea and the Western Pacific.
August–November 1956: During the Suez Crisis, USS Coral Sea was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean as tensions increased and France and the United Kingdom began preparations for military action against Egypt. Coral Sea was on station during the American evacuation of Western nationals from Egypt and Israel.
July 1959: During the NATO exercise Riptide, held off the east coast of the United States, the squadron conducted cross-deck operations with the British carrier HMS Victorious.

1960s

15–28 November 1960: The squadron operated from USS Shangri-La as part of the patrol force off the coast of Guatemala and Nicaragua to prevent infiltration by communists from Cuba.
2–19 June 1961: Following the assassination of dictator General Rafael Trujillo, the squadron operated from USS Shangri-La off the coast of the Dominican Republic.
22 October–28 November 1962: During the Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron was temporary assigned (TAD) to the U.S. Air Force's Nineteenth Air Force, in an alert status aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16) as the USS Shangri-La was in the New York Navy Yard.^[2]
May 1963: The squadron operated from USS Shangri-La in the Caribbean during the period of unrest in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Vietnam War

6 June-15 September 1967, the squadron was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) embarked on USS Forrestal for a Vietnam deployment
29 Jul 1967: In the USS Forrestal fire the squadron suffered 10 killed and 62 injured.^[1]^: 169–70
4 June 1968 – 8 February 1969, the squadron was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Ten (CVW-10) embarked on USS Intrepid for a Vietnam deployment.

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]^: 170

NAS Agana -2 January 1945
NAS Alameda - 8 July 1945
NAAS Fallon - September 1945
NAS Brunswick - February 1946
NAS Norfolk - 1946
NAS Oceana - 25 September 1948
NAS Norfolk - 22 November 1948
NAS Oceana - 20 January 1949
NAS Cecil Field - 18 September 1950
NAS Jacksonville - 13 October 1952
NAS Cecil Field - December 1954

Aircraft assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:^[1]^: 171

F6F-5 Hellcat - January 1945
F4U Corsair - September 1945
F4U-4 - February 1946
F8F-2 - 30 June 1948
F8F-1B - February 1950
F2H-2 Banshee - 3 August 1950
F9F-8B Cougar - October 1955
A4D-2 Skyhawk - 4 June 1958
A-4C - 18 December 1962
A-4E - November 1966
A-4B February 1969
A-4C March 1969

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References

1 2 3 4 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 1 The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 169. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
↑ "Navy Gladiator Reunion Group - USS Shangri-La".

External links

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[DANAS-1] 1 2 3 4 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 1 The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 169. Retrieved 17 January 2016.

[2] "Navy Gladiator Reunion Group - USS Shangri-La".

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