VA-21A (U.S. Navy)

Last updated
Attack Squadron 21A
Active28 August 1944 - 5 August 1947
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
TypeAttack
Aircraft flown
Attack SB2C Helldiver
SBD Dauntless
FM-2 Wildcat
An SB2-C3 Helldiver similar to those flown by VA-21A SB2C-3 VB-7 off Formosa c1944.jpeg
An SB2-C3 Helldiver similar to those flown by VA-21A

VA-21A was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy during World War II. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-98 on 28 August 1944 and redesignated as VA-21A on 15 November 1946. The squadron was disestablished on 5 August 1947.

Contents

The squadron's mission was to provide a pool of trained dive-bomber pilots and aircrewmen for assignment as replacements to squadrons operating in the Pacific. The training practiced in the squadron included carrier landing qualifications, gunnery, bombing and night flying. [1]

Aircraft assignment

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft in the months shown: [1]

See also

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Second VA-65 (U.S. Navy)

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.

Second VA-35 (U.S. Navy)

Second VA-35, nicknamed the Black Panthers, was a long-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was the second squadron to be assigned the VA-35 designation.

VA-45 (U.S. Navy)

VA-45, nicknamed the Fish-Hawks, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was the first squadron to carry the VA-45 designation. The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-75 on 1 June 1945, redesignated VA-4B on 15 November 1946, and as VA-45 on 1 September 1948. It was disestablished on 8 June 1950.

VA-54 (U.S. Navy)

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. It was the first squadron to be designated VA-54, a second VA-54 was redesignated from VF-54 on 15 June 1956 and disestablished on 1 April 1958.

VA-75, nicknamed the Carrier Clowns, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-18 on 20 July 1943. The squadron was redesignated as VA-8A on 15 November 1946, and finally as VA-75 on 27 July 1948. It was disestablished on 30 November 1949. A second squadron also bore the VA-75 designation.

VA-94 (U.S. Navy)

VA-94 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-99 on 1 July 1943, redesignated as VB-20 on 15 October 1943, and as VA-9A on 15 November 1946. It was finally redesignated as VA-94 on 12 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 30 November 1949. Its nickname was Bombing Twenty's Tough Kitty from 1943 to 1946.

VA-112 (U.S. Navy)

VA-112 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11 on 9 April 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-12A on 15 November 1946, then as VF-112 on 15 July 1948. It was finally redesignated as VA-112 on 15 February 1959. The squadron was disestablished on 10 October 1969. Its nickname from 1961 to 1969 was the Broncos.

VA-114 (U.S. Navy)

VA-114 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-11 on 10 October 1942, redesignated VA-11A on 15 November 1946, and finally as VA-114 on 15 July 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 1 December 1949. The squadron was known as the Pegasus.

VA-135 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed Uninvited. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-81 on 1 March 1944, redesignated VA-14A on 15 November 1946, and finally designated VA-135 on 2 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 30 November 1949. A second squadron bore the VA-135 designation in 1961-1962; the squadrons were not related.

VA-154 (U.S. Navy)

VA-154 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-153 on 26 March 1945, redesignated as VA-15A on 15 November 1946, and finally designated as VA-154 on 15 July 1948. In October 1945, the squadron participated in a 1,200-plane flyover of New York City in honor of Navy Day. The squadron was disestablished on 1 December 1949.

Second VA-155 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 155 or VA-155 was an 'Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Reserve Attack Squadron VA-71E in 1946, redesignated as VA-58A on 1 October 1948, and redesignated Reserve Composite Squadron VC-722 on 1 November 1949. The squadron was redesignated as VA-728 on 1 April 1950, and called to active duty on 1 February 1951. It was ultimately redesignated VA-155 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 30 September 1977. Its nickname was Silver Fox from the early 1960s onward. It was the second squadron to be named VA-155, the first VA-155 was disestablished on 30 November 1949, while a third VA-155 was established on 1 September 1987 and disestablished on 30 April 1993.

VA-172 (U.S. Navy)

VA-172 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-82 on 20 August 1945, redesignated as Fighter Squadron VF-18A on 15 November 1946, as VF-172 on 11 August 1948, and as VA-172 on 1 November 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 15 January 1971. Its nickname was the Checkmates from 1946-1950, and the Blue Bolts thereafter.

VA-194 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-19 on 15 August 1943. It was redesignated as VA-19A on 15 November 1946, and as VA-194 on 24 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 1 December 1949. Its nickname is unknown.

VA-174 (U.S. Navy)

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.

VA-15 (U.S. Navy)

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.

VMA-241

Marine Attack Squadron 241 (VMA-241) was an A-4 Skyhawk attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Also known as the “Sons of Satan”, it was part of the Marine Forces Reserve and based at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California, from 1946 through the 1960s. Originally commissioned during World War II, the squadron sustained enormous losses during the Battle of Midway and also saw extensive combat while providing close air support during the Philippines Campaign (1944–45).

References

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

  1. 1 2 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). "VA-21A" (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Naval Historical Center . 1. Washington, DC: Department of the Navy. p. 31.