VA-42 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 42
Attack Squadron 42
	VA-42 Insignia
Active	1 September 1950 – 30 September 1994
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Attack
Role	Close air support ; Air interdiction ; Fleet Replacement Squadron
Garrison/HQ	NAS Oceana
Nickname(s)	Green Pawns; Thunderbolts

Last updated November 19, 2021

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.^[1]

History

"Green Pawn" nickname

The insignia for VA-42, the "Green Pawn", was originally approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for Bombing and Fighting Squadron 75 (VBF-75) on 28 October 1946. When VBF-75 was redesignated Fighting Squadron 4B (VF-4B) on November 15, 1946, the insignia was carried over for use by VF-4B. On 1 September 1948 VF-4B was redesignated Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42). This squadron continued to use the Green Pawn insignia until it was disestablished on 8 June 1950. When a new Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42) was established on 1 September 1950 they adopted the Green Pawn insignia that had been used by the former VF-42. In 1953 the insignia was carried over to VA-42 following its redesignation from VF-42.

The Green Pawn insignia is a simple, uncluttered and highly recognizable design. The symbol of the pawn was chosen because it has the most potential power of any piece on the chess board. The pawn is canted at a 45 degree angle inside a shield design. It is also said that the aircrews said they were called the Green Pawns for two reasons: it was the Fleet Replacement Squadron (responsible for training new aircrew and aircraft maintainers; thereby, they were green, or new); and their squadron was a pawn which could be pushed around by the fleet and the senior commands. Colors are as follows: green pawn; background of the shield is white outlined in green; and the scroll is white outlined in green with green lettering.^[1]^: 65

"Thunderbolts" nickname

In 1992 the name and insignia was changed to "Thunderbolts" from the then recently disestablished A-6 fleet squadron, VA-176. On the insignia was a dark blue background, a maced fist and lightning bolt held by the fist. The stars in the background, still were shown in the count of 1, 7, and 6 [these were separated by the parts of the insignia].

Chronology of significant events

20 October – 15 November 1951: During training operations in the Caribbean, the squadron operated aboard three different carriers. They departed from Norfolk, Virginia aboard USS Midway and then transferred to USS Wright while the ships were off the coast of Puerto Rico. A couple of days later the squadron was transferred to USS Cabot while operating at sea.
January–April 1956: The squadron operated aboard the Navy's first super carrier, USS Forrestal, during her shakedown cruise.
October 1956 The Squadron Flew from Oceana, VA to San Diego, CA to join the USS Bennington CVA-20 to test how fast a CAG could be re-positioned from the East Coast to the West Coast. The squadron was deployed aboard the Bennington for nine months. Visiting Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and crossing the Equator at the International date line. Thus making the Crew and Air Group Golden Shellbacks. The ship returned to Hawaii then to San Diego, May 1957. The Squadron returned to Oceana Naval Air Station.
24 October 1958: The primary mission of VA-42 was changed to the training of fleet replacement pilots in the AD Skyraider. The training involved all-weather flight training, low-level navigation flights, simulated special (i.e., nuclear) weapons training flights, conventional weapons training flights, and day and night carrier qualifications.
19 February 1959: VA-42 graduated its first AD Skyraider replacement pilot.
9 March 1959: With the acquisition of the T-28B aircraft, VA-42's instrument instructors used this plane to conduct all-weather flight training for the light attack community.
10 November 1962: VA-42 pilots flew three A-1H Skyraiders from NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, to Naval Station Rota, Spain, via Lajes Field, Azores. The squadron claims this was the first trans-Atlantic flight conducted by A-1H Skyraiders.
1 February 1963: VA-42 became the first fleet squadron to receive the A-6A Intruder. The squadron also initiated the Fleet Introduction Program for the all-weather A-6A. VA-42's new mission was the training of A-6A Bombardier/Navigators, also known as B/N's, as well as its pilots. It was also responsible for conducting the A-6A Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Program which trained maintenance personnel.
12 June 1963: VA-42 received the first A-6A (bureau number 149939) with a complete weapon system, thereby permitting the initiation of weapon system indoctrination flight training program for VA-42's instructor pilots and bombardier/navigators.
3 September 1963: Formal flight training in the A-6A fleet replacement program began with the convening of Class 1-63. This training was for VA-75 pilots and bombardier/navigators.
8 September 1963: The squadron's last A-1H Skyraider (bureau number 135324) was transferred. This brought to a close the training of A-1 replacement pilots by VA 42. VA-42 still maintained one A-1E and two T-28Bs for use in propeller instrument training.
14 October 1963: The squadron conducted the first fleet night arrested landings and catapult launchings with the A-6A aboard the USS Forrestal.
12 March 1964: The squadron's last T-28B was transferred, and the instrument training program for fleet A-1 pilots came to an end. Two days later, their last Skyraider, an A-1E, was transferred.

13 March 1964: VA-75 became the first fully trained fleet A-6A squadron ready for deployment following successful completion of VA-42's fleet introduction program on the A-6A.
15 December 1964: VMA-242 became the first Marine Corps squadron to complete transition training in the A-6A and qualify for fleet deployment with the Intruder.
28 January 1968: With the acquisition of the TC-4C aircraft, VA-42 was able to provide more training on airborne radar operation for A-6A bombardier/navigators. The new aircraft was equipped with a complete A-6A cockpit console and weapon system, multiple bombardier/navigator stations, plus ECM equipment, and other radar operational capabilities.
November 1968: VA-42's A-6A pilot training syllabus was modified to include lessons learned from the Intruder's employment in combat. The new tactics phase included air combat maneuvering and AIM-9 Sidewinder missile shoots, while conventional weapons training was made more realistic.
12 November 1969: With the acquisition of the updated Intruder, the A-6B, in June 1969, the squadron developed a new training syllabus for the A-6B Standard ARM aircraft and a detachment from VA-165 became the first to complete this course of instruction on November 12, 1969.
21 November 1969: The squadron assumed the duties of providing A-6 orientation training for Air Intelligence Officers reporting to fleet A-6 squadrons. Lieutenant(jg) Erickson became the first Air Intelligence Officer to complete the training on November 21, 1969.
1 October 1971: When COMMATWING ONE was established on 1 October, VA-42 was reassigned from COMFAIRNORFOLK to this command, and VA-42's Commanding Officer, CDR Andrassy, was also assigned as Commander of Medium Attack Wing One, making him dual-hatted.
5 January 1973: VA-42's Commanding Officer, CDR Zick, was relieved of his duties as COMMATWING ONE by CAPT Turk ending the dual-hatted role of the squadron's commanding officer.
1980: Lieutenant (jg) Beth Hubert was trained as an A-6 Intruder pilot by VA-42 and became the first woman naval aviator to qualify as an A-6 pilot.
January 1982: VA-42 implemented a training program for the Harpoon missile system.
June 1982: A VA-42 pilot became the first female naval aviator to make an arrested landing in an A-6 during carrier qualifications on USS Lexington.
19 October 1992: Name and insignia officially changed to "Thunderbolts" and old insignia of VA-176.^[1]^: 65–6
30 September 1994: officially disestablished.

Assignments

Home ports

Location Assignment Date

NAAS Oceana: 1 September 1950
NAS Jacksonville: 19 September 1950
NAAS Cecil Field: 9 June 1951
NAAS Oceana (later NAS*) 27 August 1951 NAAS Oceana redesignated NAS Oceana on 1 April 1952.

TC-4C aircraft used by VA-42 at Davis-Monthan in 2018.

Aircraft

Type of Aircraft Date Type First Received

F4U: 4 September 1950
AD: 4 September 1953
AD-4L: October 1953
AD: 6 November 1953
AD-4N: December 1953

TC-4C aircraft used by VA-42 at Davis-Monthan in 2018
T-28B: 9 March 1959
A-6A: 1 February 1963
TC-4C: 28 January 1968
A-6B: June 1969
A-6C: 1971
A-6E: 2 December 1971
KA-6D: 1976

Major overseas deployments

Depart Return Airwing Aircraft Area of Ops

6 March 1951 – 8 June 1951 AirDet CVL 48 F4U-4 Med
1 December 1952 – 19 May 1953 CVG-6 CVA 41 F4U-4 Med
30 November 1954 – 18 June 1955 ATG-181 CVA 15 AD-6 Med
12 October 1956 – 22 May 1957 ATG-181 CVA 20 AD-6 WestPac
9 June 1958 – 8 August 1958 ATG-181 CVA 11 AD-6 NorLant

Air Wing assignments

Air Wing Tail Code Date

CVG-6 C 1 September 1950
ATG-181* I 24 July 1956
CVG-8 AJ 14 August 1958
RCVG-4† AD 24 October 1958
COMFAIRNORFOLK‡ AD 1 May 1970
COMMATWING ONE AD 1 October 1971
VA-42 had operated as part of ATG-181 prior to July 1956.

However, ATG-181 was not assigned a tail code letter until 24 July 1956. Prior to July 1956 VA-42 still carried the tail code for CVG-6 even though it deployed as part of ATG-181. † RCVG-4 redesignated RCVW-4 on 20 December 1963. ‡ On 1 June 1970, RCVW-4 was disestablished. The AD tail code that had been allocated to RCVW-4 and its assigned squadrons continued to be used by the squadrons that had been in RCVW-4. VA-42 continued to use the AD tail code for its aircraft.

Unit awards

MUC Meritorious Unit Commendation

Inclusive Dates Covering Award

January 1979 – December 1981
1 October 1986 – 30 September 1988

Related Research Articles

Attack Squadron 176 (VA-176), known as the "Thunderbolts", was a United States Navy carrier-based medium attack squadron that saw combat service in the Vietnam War and later in 1983 in both Grenada and Lebanon.

Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211), nicknamed the "Fighting Checkmates", is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1945. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Oceana and is equipped with the F/A-18E Super Hornet.

VF-84, Fighter Squadron 84 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as VA-86 on 1 July 1955, it was immediately redesignated as VF-84, it was disestablished on 1 October 1995. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-84. The squadron was nicknamed the Jolly Rogers and was based at NAS Oceana. It took the number but not the lineage of VF-84 the "Wolf Gang" and the insignia of VF-61 the Jolly Rogers.

Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), nicknamed the Jolly Rogers is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1952. VFA-103 flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia (US). The squadron's radio callsign is Victory and it is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seven.

A carrier air wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Organized, equipped and trained to conduct modern US Navy carrier air operations while embarked aboard aircraft carriers, the various squadrons in an air wing have different but complementary missions, and provide most of the striking power and electronic warfare capabilities of a carrier battle group (CVBG). While the CVBG term is still used by other nations, the CVBG in US parlance is now known as a carrier strike group (CSG).

Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, United States. The squadron was established in 1950 and is nicknamed "Red Rippers". VFA-11 is equipped with the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing One.

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 81 (VFA-81), also known as the "Sunliners", 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 One, their radio callsign is Inferno, and their tail code is AB. Their mission is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations from the sea. The squadron was originally designated VA-66 on 1 July 1955, was redesignated VF-81 the same day, redesignated VA-81 on 1 July 1959, and finally redesignated VFA-81 on 4 February 1988.

Attack Squadron 174 (VA-174) also known as the "Hellrazors" was a United States Navy attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, and were attached to Light Attack Wing One. It was commissioned from 1944 to 1988.

VA-52 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as U.S. Navy Reserve Fighter Squadron VF-884 on 1 November 1949, and called to active duty on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VF-144 on 4 February 1953, and VA-52 on 23 February 1959. The squadron was nicknamed the Bitter Birds from about 1951–1953, and the Knightriders from about 1960 onward. Its insignia evolved through several versions and variations from 1951 to the 1980s. VA-52 was decommissioned on 31 March 1995.

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.

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-34, nicknamed the Blue Blasters, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Fighter Squadron VF-20 on 15 October 1943, redesignated as VF-9A on 15 November 1946, as VF-91 on 12 August 1948, and as VF-34 on 15 February 1950. It was finally redesignated VA-34 on 1 July 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 1 June 1969. It was the second squadron to bear the VA-34 designation, the first one having been renamed VA-35 in 1950.

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.

VF-43 was a Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was originally established as Fighter Squadron 74A (VF-74A) on 1 May 1945, it was redesignated Fighter Squadron 74 (VF-74) on 1 August 1945, redesignated VF-1B on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-21 on 1 September 1948, redesignated as Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43)Challengers on 1 July 1959 and Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) on 1 June 1973. It was disestablished on 1 July 1994.

References

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

1 2 3 Grossnick, Roy A. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-42 to VA-52. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 64–9. Retrieved 6 October 2016.

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[DANAS1-2-1] 1 2 3 Grossnick, Roy A. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-42 to VA-52. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 64–9. Retrieved 6 October 2016.

[1]