| Attack Squadron 16 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 June 1955 - 1 March 1958 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Attack |
| Motto(s) | Per Aspera Ad Metam |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | AD-6 Skyraider |
VA-16 was a short-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, established at NAS Oceana on 1 June 1955. Its motto was Per Aspera Ad Metam (Through Adversities to the Target). The squadron was disestablished on 1 March 1958.
The squadron flew AD-6 Skyraiders, and its mission was all-weather attack, including special (nuclear) weapons delivery. In April 1957, while deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS Lake Champlain, it operated off the coast of Lebanon during the Jordanian crisis. On 18 December 1957, VA-16 conducted the first air-to-air refueling by an operational AD Skyraider squadron using the buddy store. The refueling took place over NAS Oceana and the squadron’s AD-6 refueled an F9F-8. On 9 January 1958, the squadron conducted the first carrier-based AD Skyraider in-flight refueling while operating from USS Ranger. [1]
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Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115) is known as the "Eagles", callsign "Talon", a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Their tail code is NF. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-11 on 10 October 1942, redesignated VA-12A on 15 November 1946, VA-115 on 15 July 1948, then finally VFA-115.
Attack Squadron 65 (VA-65), nicknamed The World Famous Fighting Tigers, was an attack squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-74 in 1945, redesignated as VA-2B in 1946, as VA-25 on 1 September 1948, and finally redesignated VA-65 on 1 July 1959. It was disestablished in 1993. Known as "The World Famous Fighting Tigers", VA-65 was one of the last medium attack squadrons to fly the A-6 Intruder and the A-1 Skyraider. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-65, the first VA-65 was redesignated from VA-6B on 27 July 1948 and would be redesignated as VA-25 on 1 July 1959.
Strike Fighter Squadron 34 (VFA-34), also known as the "Blue Blasters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 1 and are attached to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Their tail code is AB and their radio call sign is "Joker".
Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83), also known as the "Rampagers", are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 3, their tailcode is AC and their radio callsign is Ram.
Attack Squadron 42 (VA-42) was a United States Navy attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The squadron was established as Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42) on 1 September 1950, redesignated as VA-42 on 1 November 1953 and disestablished on 30 September 1994.
VA-105 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 1 May 1952 and disestablished on 1 February 1959. Its nickname is unknown.
Attack Squadron 54 (VA-54) was an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-153 on 26 March 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-61A (VF-16A) on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-152 on 15 July 1948, and VF-54 on 15 February 1950. It was finally redesignated VA-54 on 15 June 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1958. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-54, the first VA-54 was disestablished on 1 December 1949.
Attack Squadron 85 or VA-85 was a long-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was called to active duty as U.S. Navy Reserve squadron VA-859 on 1 February 1951 and redesignated VA-85 on 4 February 1953. It was disestablished on 30 September 1994, over 40 years later. The squadron's nickname from 1958-1994 was the Black Falcons. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-85, the first VA-85 was disestablished on 29 November 1949.
The second VA-95 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, and was the second of three unrelated squadrons to bear that designation. It was established on 26 March 1952, and disestablished on 1 April 1970. The squadron's nickname was the Skyknights from 1957-1963, and the Green Lizards thereafter.
VA-96 was a short-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 30 June 1956, and disestablished less than two years later, on 10 April 1958. Its nickname is unknown.
VA-104 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Fighter Squadron VF-104 on 1 May 1952, and redesignated VA-104 in December 1953. The squadron was disestablished on 31 March 1959. Its nickname was Hell's Archers.
Attack Squadron 145 (VA-145) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy, nicknamed the Rustlers from 1951-1954, and the Swordsmen thereafter. The squadron was established as Reserve squadron VA-702 on 1 December 1949, and called to active duty on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VA-145 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 1 October 1993.
VA-152 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Fighting Aces from 1953-1956, the Friendly Squadron or Friendlies from 1957-1968, and the Mavericks thereafter.
VA-175, nicknamed the Devil's Diplomats, was an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-82 on 1 April 1944, redesignated as VA-18A on 15 November 1946, and as VA-175 on 11 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 15 March 1958.
Attack Squadron 196 (VA-196) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was established as Fighter Squadron 153 (VF-153) on 15 July 1948, redesignated as VF-194 on 15 February 1950, and finally redesignated VA-196 on 4 May 1955. Its nicknames were the Thundercats from 1948 to the 1950s, and The Main Battery from the 1950s thereafter. Beginning in 1979 the squadron used the nickname Milestones interchangeably with Main Battery. The squadron was disestablished on 21 March 1997, after more than 48 years of service.
VA-215, nicknamed the Barn Owls, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established 22 June 1955, and disestablished on 31 August 1967.
VA-216, nicknamed the Black Diamonds, was an Attack Squadron of the US Navy. It was established on 30 March 1955, and disestablished 15 years later on 1 August 1970.
VA-174 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Squadron VB-82 on 1 April 1944, redesignated as VA-17A on 15 November 1946, and finally as VA-174 on 11 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 25 January 1950. Its nickname throughout its life was the Battering Rams. A second, unrelated, squadron was assigned the VA-174 designation in 1966.
Attack Squadron 15 (VA-15), nicknamed the Valions, was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was established as Torpedo Squadron 4 (VT-4) on 10 January 1942, redesignated VA-2A on 15 November 1946, and finally redesignated VA-15 on 2 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 1 June 1969, after 27 years of service.
VA-44, nicknamed the Hornets, was an Attack Squadron of the US Navy. The squadron was established as Fighter Squadron VF-44 on 1 September 1950, and redesignated VA-44 on 1 January 1956. It was disestablished on 1 May 1970. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-44, the first VA-44 was disestablished on 8 June 1950.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons .
| Electronic Attack (VAQ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) | |||||
| Strike Fighter (VFA) | |||||
| Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) | |||||
| Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) | |||||
| Fleet Logistics Support (VR) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) | |||||
| Patrol |
| ||||
| Unmanned (VUP) | |||||
| Training (VT) | |||||
| Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) | |||||
| Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) | |||||
| Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) | |||||
| Helicopter Training (HT) | |||||
