382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:34 AM Page i (Black plate) Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume I The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons Roy A. Grossnick Naval Historical Center Department of the Navy Washington, D.C., 1995 P. i no folio 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:34 AM Page ii (Black plate) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Grossnick, Roy A. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons / by Roy A. Grossnick. p. cm. Contents: v. 1. The history of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP, and VFA squadrons ISBN 0–945274–29–7 (v. 1) 1. United States. Navy—Aviation—History. 2. Airplanes, Military—United States—History. I. Naval Historical Center (U.S.) II. Title. III. Title: American naval aviation squadrons. VG93.G76 1995 359.9’434’0973—dc20 94–35647 p. ii no folio 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:34 AM Page iii (Black plate) Secretary of the Navy’s Advisory Committee on Naval History William D. Wilkinson, Chairman CAPT Edward L. Beach, USN (Retired) David R. Bender John C. Dann RADM Russell W. Gorman, USNR (Retired) Richard L. Joutras VADM William P. Lawrence, USN (Retired) Vera D. Mann Ambassador J. William Middendorf II VADM Gerald E. Miller, USN (Retired) Clark G. Reynolds Betty M. Unterberger iii P. iv blank 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:34 AM Page iv (Black plate) 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page v (Black plate) About the Author R OY A. GROSSNICK is currently a historian and head of the Naval Aviation History Office, a branch of the Naval Historical Center. He gradu- ated from Wisconsin State University, Stevens Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in history in 1970. In 1972, Mr. Grossnick complet- ed a Master of Arts in history at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He served in the Navy on active duty for ten years. Following his sepa- ration from military service, Mr. Grossnick worked at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. In 1980, he assumed the histori- Mr. Grossnick resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, an position in the Naval Aviation History Office. with his wife, Mary, and daughter Maki. He has written numerous articles for Naval Aviation News magazine and was the author of the monograph Kite Balloons to Airships . . . the Navy’s Lighter-than-Air Experience, Volume 4 in a commemorative collection published in 1986 to mark the 75th anniversary of naval aviation. Mr. Grossnick resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife, Mary, and daughter Maki. v p. vi Blank 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page vi (Black plate) 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page vii (Black plate) Contents Foreword / ix Preface / xi Acknowledgments / xiii Chapter 1 The Evolution of Aircraft Class and Squadron Designation Systems / 1 Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories (VA) / 17 VA-1E to VA-873 Chapter 3 Heavy Attack Squadron Histories (VAH) / 295 VAH-8 to VAH-123 Chapter 4 Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron Histories (VAK) / 303 VAK-208 to VAK-308 Chapter 5 Light Attack Squadron History (VAL) / 307 VAL-4 Chapter 6 Heavy Photographic Squadron Histories (VAP) / 309 VAP-61 to VAP-62 Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories (VFA) / 317 VFA-15 to VFA-305 vii 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page viii (Black plate) Title Page 1 Appendix Aircraft Data—Technical Information and Drawings 443 2 Appendix Aircraft Carrier Listing for CV, CVB, CVA, CVAN, 517 CVN, CVL, and CVE Designations 3 Appendix Carrier Deployments by Year 521 4 U.S. Navy Squadron Designations and Abbreviations 537 Appendix 5 Appendix How to Trace Squadron Lineage 541 6 Appendix Lineage Listing for VA, VA(AW), VAH, VA(HM), VAK, 543 VAL, VAP, and VFA Designated Squadrons 7 Appendix Types of Aircraft Listed in Squadron Histories 551 Glossary of Abbreviations and Terms 553 Bibliography 557 Index of Squadron Histories and Aircraft Data 561 viii 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page ix (Black plate) Foreword G REAT CREDIT IS DUE TO ROY GROSSNICK and cles for Naval Aviation News and responding to an his expert staff in the Naval Historical Center’s increasingly heavy load of official and unofficial Aviation History Branch for initiating a new publica- requests for information on all aspects of aviation his- tion series entitled the Dictionary of American Naval tory. Aviation Squadrons. The first volume of that series, History is a useful subject for the Navy for several which we are now publishing, includes approximately reasons. Insofar as it represents the sum total of the 140 histories and other data covering every squadron Navy’s experience, it is an essential subject for study in the attack (VA) and strike fighter (VFA) communities by naval professionals. History also is a means of giv- from the time the first of these commands (VA-35) was ing an account to the American people of the activities established in 1934. This publication may be com- of their Navy. Finally, since history allows naval per- pared to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting sonnel to learn about the origins, achievements, and Ships, a nine-volume compilation of individual ship traditions of their commands and of the Navy as a histories published by the Naval Historical Center whole, it is a powerful means to promote naval between 1959 and 1991. Now, at long last, a basic ref- morale. The Navy’s historians publish the first volume erence work is under preparation that provides similar with all of these purposes in mind. We hope this vol- data for aviation commands. ume with be of interest and use to the active-duty Subsequent volumes in this series will cover other Navy and to many other individuals interested in this components of naval aviation. At the present time, the nation’s rich naval heritage. Aviation History Branch is preparing a follow-on vol- ume containing histories of all patrol squadrons of the U.S. Navy. This task is in addition to the many other Dean C. Allard duties that office handles, including the writing of arti- Director of Naval History ix p x Blank 382-018--Prelim Pgs. 4/6/95 10:35 AM Page x (Black plate)