VA-873 (U.S. Navy)

Last updated
Attack Squadron 873
Active1964-1968
CountryUnited States
Branch US Navy Reserve Crest 2017.svg United States Navy Reserve
TypeAttack squadron
Home port Naval Air Station Alameda
ColorsWhite  
Blue  
Commanders
CommanderGlen W. Stinnett, Jr.
Aircraft flown
Attack
A-4B Skyhawk similar to those flown by VA-873. A-4 skyhawk display.jpg
A-4B Skyhawk similar to those flown by VA-873.

VA-873 was an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. Its insignia was approved by CNO on 16 March 1964. Colors for the insignia were: a white and blue background outlined in black; the blue background section had five white stars and the white section had a gold outline of San Francisco Golden Gate with two blue rows of waves beneath the bridge; separating the two sections was a stylized aircraft in black with a red flame coming from the tail; the scroll was white outlined in black with black lettering.

Contents

Other details of its early years are sketchy, as few records exist for reserve squadrons prior to 1970, the year during which they began submitting history reports.

On 27 January 1968, The President directed the activation of VA-873 following the capture of USS Pueblo by a North Korean patrol boat four days earlier. The squadron was deactivated and returned to reserve status on 12 October 1968. [1]

Aircraft assignment

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

See also

Related Research Articles

The Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons (DANAS) is a multivolume work published by Naval Historical Center of the U.S. Department of the Navy's Naval History & Heritage Command. It covers naval aviation in much the same way as the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) covers commissioned vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second VA-65 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-81</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-42 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-210 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

Attack Squadron 210 (VA-210) was an aviation unit of the United States Naval Reserve active between 1970 and 1971. VA-210 aircraft wore CVWR-20's tail code "AF", the squadron's nickname was Black Hawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-203</span> Military unit

VFA-203, nicknamed the Blue Dolphins, was a Strike Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Naval Reserve. It was established as Attack Squadron 203 (VA-203) flying the A-4 Skyhawk at NAS Jacksonville, Florida on 1 July 1970, as a reserve force squadron (RESFORON) under a new concept in the reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve Force. The reorganization was intended to make the reserves more compatible with active duty units and to increase their combat readiness. The squadron later relocated to NAS Cecil Field, Florida and transitioned to A-7 Corsair II followed by the F/A-18 Hornet. Following the 1999 BRAC-directed closure of NAS Cecil Field, the squadron relocated to NAS Atlanta, Georgia. VFA-203 was deactivated on 30 June 2004 prior to the BRAC-directed closure of NAS Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-152 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-153 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-205 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-205, nicknamed the Green Falcons, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Naval Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia. It was established on 1 July 1970 and disestablished on 31 December 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-209 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-209 was a short-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Naval Reserve. It was established on 1 July 1970 as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. It was based at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, and flew A-4L Skyhawk aircraft. The squadron was disestablished after one year's service, on 15 August 1971, being replaced by the addition of two fighter squadrons to Reserve Air Wing 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-212 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212), nicknamed the Rampant Raiders, was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was established as Fighter Squadron 212 (VF-212) on 20 June 1955, and redesignated as VA-212 on 1 April 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 12 December 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-213 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-213 was a short-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 15 September 1948 at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington, and disestablished eight months later, in May 1949. Its insignia and nickname are unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-214 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-214 was a short-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 15 September 1948 at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington, and disestablished eight months later, on 16 May 1949. Its insignia and nickname are unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-216 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-304 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-304, nicknamed the Firebirds, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at NAS Alameda, California. It was established on 1 July 1970, and disestablished almost 25 years later, on 31 December 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-776 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-776 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Details of its early years are sketchy, as few records exist for reserve squadrons prior to 1970, the year during which they began submitting history reports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-831 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-831 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Details of its early years are sketchy, as few records exist for reserve squadrons prior to 1970, the year during which they began submitting history reports.

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

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.

References

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

  1. 1 2 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 11: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-210 to VA-873. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 272–293. Retrieved 16 June 2016.