VA-46 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 46
Attack Squadron 46
	VA-46 insignia
Active	24 May 1955 – 30 June 1991
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	All Weather Attack
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Clansmen
Motto(s)	"Vincere Vel Mori"; "To conquer or to die"
Engagements	Vietnam War Operation Rolling Thunder ; 1967 USS Forrestal fire ; ; Operation El Dorado Canyon ; Operation Desert Storm ;
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-4 Skyhawk ; A-7 Corsair II
Fighter	F9F Panther ; F9F Cougar

Last updated August 05, 2024

Attack Squadron 46 (VA-46 or ATKRON 46) was an attack squadron of the United States Navy that was active during the Cold War. VA-46 was deactivated as part of the post-Cold War drawdown of forces on 30 June 1991.

History

VA-46 was nicknamed the "Clansmen" and they were based out of Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. The squadron's Scottish identity was chosen by its first commander, Clifford A. McDougal and incorporated the McDougal clan tartan in its insignia. The squadron flew during the Vietnam War and was on board the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in 1967 when a fatal fire broke out on the flight deck killing 134 sailors. In 1986, they took part in strikes against Libya known as Operation El Dorado Canyon, and their last combat action was seen during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.^{[ citation needed ]}

Early years

Attack Squadron 46 was formed at Naval Air Station Cecil Field on 24 May 1955 flying F9F-5 Grumman Panther.^[1] They departed the United States for their first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea on 14 July 1956, aboard USS Randolph with F9F-8 Grumman Cougar.^[1] This was the first overseas deployment of the AIM-9 Sidewinder. In October and November 1956 the squadron, along with other units of ATG-202, provided air support for the evacuation of foreign nationals from Alexandria, Egypt during the Suez Crisis. VA-46 received A4D-2 Douglas Skyhawk in March 1958.^[1] In August 1965, VA-46 was on board USS Shangri-La and operated off the coast of Cyprus in response to a crisis in that country between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Vietnam War

On 25 July 1967, the Clansmen took part in their first combat operations during the Vietnam War flying from USS Forrestal on Yankee Station. A few days later on 29 July, while aircraft were being prepared for the second launch of the day against targets in North Vietnam, a fire broke out on the flight deck of Forrestal. Flames engulfed the fantail and spread below decks, touching off bombs and ammunition. Heroic efforts by VA-46 personnel, along with other members of Carrier Air Wing 17 and ship's company, brought the fires under control. Damage to the carrier and aircraft was severe, and the casualty count included 134 dead and 62 injured. The squadron lost seven A-4E Skyhawks during the fire.^[2] At the epicenter of the firewas squadron member^[3] and then Lieutenant Commander John McCain. He escaped from his burning jet and was trying to help another pilot escape when a bomb exploded;^[4] he was struck in the legs and chest by fragments.^[5]

Transition and the 1970s

From 4 May through 15 November 1968, VA-46 transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II.^[2] On 17 September 1970, while en route to the Caribbean for training exercises on board USS John F. Kennedy, they received emergency orders to deploy immediately to the Mediterranean due to the hijacking of four airliners by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They remained on station off the coast of Israel until November. During October 1973, with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War between Israel, Egypt and Syria, John F. Kennedy and her air wing, while operating in the North Atlantic after just completing a Mediterranean deployment, were ordered back to the Mediterranean. During the latter part of October through mid-November, VA-46 conducted flight operations while the carrier was on station south of Crete. On 22 November 1975 during night operations, John F. Kennedy collided with USS Belknap, causing major damage to the cruiser. Eight VA-46 personnel received awards for their heroism and devotion to duty as a result of their actions following the collision.^[2]

1980s, Gulf War and decommissioning

From 17 to 19 September 1985, VA-46 – along with other units of Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) – were the first to conduct flight operations from a carrier operating inside a fjord. USS America operated in Vestfjord, Norway during this evolution.^[2] The next year on 14 April 1986, as a response to terrorist actions, the squadron took part in strikes against targets in Libya. During that action, VA-46 provided air-to-surface Shrike and Harm missile strikes against Libyan radar missile sites.^[2] Beginning on 17 January 1991, the squadron took part in Operation Desert Storm, the combat operations to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The squadron's A-7E Corsair IIs participated in the first combat strike against Iraqi targets in Baghdad, and VA-46 and VA-72 made the last combat sorties of the A-7 Corsair II during Desert Storm flying from the Red Sea.^[6] Upon their return from the Persian Gulf they were decommissioned on 30 June 1991. VA-46 was the last United States Navy squadron to fly the A-7 Corsair II.^[7]

Surviving aircraft

A-7E Corsairs with VA-46 markings are on static display at Heritage Park on Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant, SC, Heritage In Flight Museum, Lincoln, IL, Jacksonville University - NROTC, Jacksonville Florida, Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson Arizona and at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.^[7]
An A4D-2 Skyhawk (BuNo 142741) with VA-46 markings is on display at the National Vietnam War Museum in Orlando, Florida.^[8]^[9]
Pima Air and Space Museum has on display a Corsair that wears the markings of VA-46 (Navy Attack Squadron 46) USS John F. Kennedy circa 1991. The markings below the cockpit of Serial Number 160713 indicate the actual number of bombs dropped by this aircraft rather than the number of missions flown.

Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-36 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-36, nicknamed the Roadrunners, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Fighter Squadron VF-102 on 1 May 1952, redesignated VA-36 on 1 July 1955, and disestablished on 1 August 1970. It was the first squadron to be designated VA-36, the second VA-36 was established on 6 March 1987 and disestablished on 1 April 1994.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second VA-66 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-66 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy; it was the second squadron to be so named. The squadron was called to duty and established as Reserve Fighter Squadron VF-671 on 1 February 1951. It was redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-81 on 4 February 1953, and finally as VA-66 on 1 July 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 1 October 1986, but one detachment continued in existence until 31 March 1987. The squadron's nickname was the Waldomen from the 1950s to the early 1960s, and the Waldos from that point forward. Its insignia, a rooster toting a machine gun, was a well-known design in naval aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-72 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron 18 (VBF-18) on 25 January 1945. The squadron was redesignated as Fighter Squadron 8A (VF-8A) on 15 November 1946, as VF-72 on 28 July 1948, and finally as VA-72 on 3 January 1956. It was disestablished on 30 June 1991.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-93 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-93 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Fighter Squadron VF-93 on 26 March 1952, and redesignated as VA-93 on 15 September 1956. It was disestablished 30 years later on 31 August 1986. The squadron's nickname was the Blue Blazers from 1954 to 1976 and the Ravens thereafter.

VA-153 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. During a 1949 reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve, a Fighter Squadron at NAS New York was redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-831. It was called to active duty on 1 February 1951. The squadron was redesignated as VF-153 on 4 February 1953, and finally as VA-153 on 15 December 1956. It was disestablished on 30 September 1977. The squadron's nickname was the Blue Tail Flies from 1953 onward.

VA-164, nicknamed the Ghostriders, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 1 September 1960 and disestablished on 12 December 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-172 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-34 (1943–1969)</span> Military unit

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VA-125 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, and was the second squadron to bear the VA-125 designation. It was established as VA-26 on 30 June 1956, and redesignated VA-125 on 11 April 1958. The squadron was disestablished on 1 October 1977. Its nickname was Skylanchers from 1956-1958, and Rough Raiders thereafter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second VA-44 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit (US Navy Attack Squadron)

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.

Attack Squadron 12 (VA-12), also known as the "Flying Ubangis" or "Clinchers", was an attack squadron of the United States Navy active during the Cold War. From their home port at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Florida, the squadron made more than thirty major overseas deployments aboard aircraft carriers, primarily flying A-4 Skyhawk and later the A-7E Corsair II, including two combat tours in the Vietnam War.

References

1 2 3 "VA-46 Clansmen". a4skyhawk.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2005.
1 2 3 4 5 "The VA-46 Clansmen". The Skyhawk Association. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
↑ "VA-46 photograph album". The Skyhawk Association. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
↑ Weinraub, Bernard. "Start of Tragedy: Pilot Hears a Blast As He Checks Plane", The New York Times (1967-07-31). Retrieved 2008-03-28.
↑ Timberg, American Odyssey, 72–74.
↑ "Theaters of Operation". Electronic Aviation. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
1 2 "Heritage Park - Naval Air Station Jacksonville's Aircraft Static Display Park". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
↑ "US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos - Third Series (140053 to 145061)". Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
↑ "Douglas A4-B Skyhawk Aircraft". National Vietnam War Museum. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

Bibliography

Timberg, Robert (1999). John McCain: An American Odyssey . New York: Touchstone Books. ISBN 0-684-86794-X. Online access to Chapter 1 is available.

External links

Photo of an A7-B Corsair II on display at RAF Mildenhall during an airshow in 1977

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[a4skyhawk.org-1] 1 2 3 "VA-46 Clansmen". a4skyhawk.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2005.

[SkyhawkVA46-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "The VA-46 Clansmen". The Skyhawk Association. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

[SkyhawkPhoto-3] "VA-46 photograph album". The Skyhawk Association. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

[nyt073167-4] Weinraub, Bernard. "Start of Tragedy: Pilot Hears a Blast As He Checks Plane", The New York Times (1967-07-31). Retrieved 2008-03-28.

[timberg-73-5] Timberg, American Odyssey, 72–74.

[EA-6] "Theaters of Operation". Electronic Aviation. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

[EA1-7] 1 2 "Heritage Park - Naval Air Station Jacksonville's Aircraft Static Display Park". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

[jbaugher-8] "US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos - Third Series (140053 to 145061)". Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

[NWMVOCF-9] "Douglas A4-B Skyhawk Aircraft". National Vietnam War Museum. Retrieved 7 June 2008.

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