DEPLOYMENTS:
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January
1957 - July 1957 with CVG-14 aboard USS Hornet
(CVA 12)
June
1958 - August 1958 with CVG-14 aboard USS Ranger
(CVA 61)
January
1959 - July 1959 with CVG-14 aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61)
May
1960 - December 1960 with CVG-14 aboard USS
Oriskany (CVA 34)
November
1961 - May 1962 with CVG-14 aboard USS
Lexington (CVA 16)
February
1963 - September 1963 with CVG-14 aboard USS
Constellation (CVA 64)
May
1964 - February 1965 with CVW-14 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)
December
1965 - August 1966 with CVW-14 aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61)
April
1967 - December 1967 with CVW-14 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)
January
1969 - July 1969 with CVW-9 aboard USS
Enterprise (CVAN 65)
January
1070 - March 1970 with CVW-9 aboard USS America
(CVA 66)
April
1970 - December 1970 with CVW-9 aboard USS America (CVA 66)
October
1971 - July 1972 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)
January
1973 - October 1973 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)
June
1974 - December 1974 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)
April
1977 - November 1977 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CV 64)
September
1978 - May 1979 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CV 64)
February
1980 - October 1980 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CV 64)
October
1981 - May 1982 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CV 64)
January
1984 - August 1984 with CVW-2 aboard USS
Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
July
185 - December 1985 with CVW-9 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
January
1987 - June 1987 with CVW-9 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
June
1988 - August 1988 with CVW-9 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
September
1988 - March 1989 with CVW-9 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1987
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1987
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1987
A-7E Corsair II’s of VA-146 and VA-147,
assigned to CVW-9 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1985
A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1985
A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-146 / CVW-9)
embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) escorting a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-D -
circa 1984
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Constellation (CV 64) - 1982
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1974 (National Naval Aviation Museum)
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1972 (NNAM)
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1971
A-7E Corsair II (VA-146 / CVW-9) embarked
on USS America (CVA 66) - 1970
Aircraft burning aboard the U.S. Navy
nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN 65), 14 January 1969.
The fire started when a Zuni rocket
accidentally exploded under the wing of an F-4J Phantom II off Hawaii (USA).
The following explosions blew holes in
the flight deck and killed 28 people, wounding 343, 15 aircraft were
destroyed.
Among the latter were the depicted LTV
A-7B Corsair II from attack squadron VA-146 Blue Diamonds (left)
and an F-4J from fighter squadron VF-96
Fighting Falcons (right).
undated
A-4C Skyhawk (VA-146 / CVW-14) embarked
on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1964-65
A-4C Skyhawk (VA-146 / CVW-14) embarked on
USS Constellation (CVA 64) flying in formation with F-8 Crusaders - 1964-65
A-4C Skyhawk (VA-146 / CVW-14) embarked
on USS Constellation (CVA 64) flying over USS Kearsarge (CVS 33) - 1964
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) over NAS
North Island, California - 1961 (NNAM)
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) making an
emergency landing aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34) - 1960 (NNAM)
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) embarked on
USS Oriskany (CVA 34) - circa 1960
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) embarked on
USS Oriskany (CVA 34) - circa 1960
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) embarked on
USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1959
FJ-4B Fury (VA-146 / CVG-14) during
carrier qualifications aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20) - 1958 (NNAM)
F9F-8 Cougar (VA-146 / CVG-14) embarked
on USS Hornet (CVA 12) - 1957 (NNAM)
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The air was filled with great expectations
early in the morning of 1 February 1956 as CDR E.V. Davidson prepared to
assume command of Attack Squadron 146, the Navy's newest jet attack squadron.
In ceremonies held at NAS Miramar, VA 146 was commissioned at 0900 as a unit
of Air Group 14. The squadron's original nickname was the Blacktails, which
was derived from its assigned color as the sixth squadron of the air group.
Since there were no replacement squadrons at this time, VA 146 started with
only a handful of aircraft and began an "in-house" training
schedule for the F9F-8 Cougar in the squadron spaces. The squadron's first
West Pac deployment began 21 January 1957 as CVG 14, embarked in USS HORNET
(CVA 12) and departed from San Diego. Upon the squadron's return in July, the
"Blacktails" began transitioning into the new FJ-4B Fury. In May
1958, they flew to Norfolk, Virginia, loaded aboard USS Ranger (CV-61) and
made a "Round the Horn" trip to San Diego.
In 1959, the squadron under CDR W.W. Alldredge adopted the Blue Diamonds
nickname. In 1960, the Blue Diamonds deployed on West Pac aboard the USS
Oriskany (CVA-34) and again in 1961 aboard the USS Lexington (CVQ-16). On 12
May 1962, the squadron moved to their current home in California's San
Joaquin Valley - Lemoore Naval Air Station. At that time they transitioned
from F4JBs to A4D-2n (A4C) Skyhawk.
VA-146 made its fifth and sixth West Pac cruises aboard the USS Constellation
(CV-64). On 5 May 1964. Unknown when they departed, this sixth cruise would
mark the beginning of the Blue Diamonds' lengthy combat experience in
Southeast Asia. The squadron pilots were called on to aid U.S. destroyers in
the Gulf of Tonkin when they came under attack by North Vietnamese patrol
boats. The following two days found the Blue Diamonds launching the initial
retaliatory raids into North Vietnam. The Diamond's next six deployments
would center around combat operations in Vietnam. The seventh cruise aboard
the USS Ranger (CV-61) and the eighth aboard USS Constellation (CV-64). Returning
from the 1967 Connie cruise, 10 Blue Diamond aviators returned with more than
200 combat missions each.
In December 1968, VA 146 was completely re-equipped with the Navy's newest
attack aircraft, the Vought A-7B Corsair II. In January 1969, upon completion
of the rigorous training cycle, VA-146 embarked aboard USS Enterprise
(CVAN-65) for their ninth West Pac. A near disastrous fire broke out on the
ship, destroying several VA-146 aircraft. This caused a two and a half month
delay in the cruise while awaiting replacement aircraft and ship repairs.
Arriving on Yankee Station in April, the squadron conducted operations until
June, returning to Lemoore in July.
In August 1969, VA-146 began the complex task of transitioning to the all-new
A-7E, a vastly improved version of the A-7B. The Blue Diamonds embarked on
USS America (CVA-66) in January 1970 making them the first fleet squadron to
deploy with new aircraft. After six weeks of shipboard operations, the
squadron deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, sailing around Africa for Yankee
Station. The Blue Diamonds completed eight months of highly successful combat
operations, returning to Norfolk via Cape Horn, completing an around the
world cruise.
In October 1971, VA-146 returned to CONSTELLATION for their eleventh West Pac
cruise and their sixth combat deployment. It was on this cruise that the Blue
Diamonds again found themselves at a turning point in history, launching the
first retaliatory strikes into North Vietnam since the bombing halt of 1968.
Returning to NAS Lemoore in July 1972, the Blue Diamonds commenced a six
month shore-based training cycle in preparation for their twelfth West Pac
deployment and seventh in combat. Despite the short time available for
training new pilots and maintenance personnel, the Blue Diamonds deployed on
January 5, 1973 fully combat ready with Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked again
on USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). This cruise would bring to an end the Navy's
participation in the Vietnam War. For the deployment, USS CONSTELLATION (CV
64) AND CVW 9 were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the last
Vietnam combat cruise. Two Blue Diamond Aviators lost their lives during
combat over Vietnam, including the tenth commanding officer, CDR Herbert B.
Loheed. CDR Loheed was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his actions. In 1994, CDR Loheed's remains were positively identified,
and he was declared KIA.
VA-146 returned to NAS Lemoore in October 1973 after a ten month absence and
their first peacetime operations in eight years. Following a rigorous eight
month training cycle, the Blue Diamonds returned to the CONSTELLATION for
their thirteenth West Pac cruise. This cruise was again to see history made
when the Blue Diamonds were the first attack squadron to launch escort
aircraft from a carrier in the Persian Gulf. In this time frame, the Blue
Diamonds were an integral part in the joint CENTO exercise MIDLINK '74 in the
Indian Ocean operation area.
VA-146 returned to Lemoore in December of 1974 and launched into an ambitious
training cycle. In 1975, the Blue Diamonds won their fifth and sixth
consecutive Silver Bombs at Fallon and Yuma Weapons Deployments. From June
1976 through March 1977 the Diamonds made five work-up periods on the USS
CONSTELLATION (CV-64). On April 12, 1977, VA-146 deployed on its fourteenth
West Pac deployment in a 20 year period. During June 1977, the Blue Diamonds
were based ashore out of NAS Cubi Point with CVW-9 as the "Swing
Wing" while USS Constellation conducted Anti-Submarine Warfare. The
Diamonds returned home in November 1977.
VA-146 would spend only 11 months ashore before returning to sea again on
September 26 1978 aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64). The Blue Diamonds
enjoyed port calls in Korea, Japan, and Cubi Point where they conducted
COPETHUNDER exercises with the Air Force. On March 7, 1979, just as the
Diamonds were preparing for the journey home, violence in the country of
Yemen prompted President Jimmy Carter to order the USS Constellation to set
sail for the Indian Ocean. A total of 47 days were spent operating in the
waters of the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Their presence in the area
caused a halt to the violence and the middle of April found the ship heading
south toward Diego Garcia and the equator. After a short stop in the
Philippines, the Diamonds returned to Lemoore with a 23-plane flyby on 17 May
1979, marking the end of their fifteenth West Pac deployment.
The return to Lemoore found the Diamonds with 12 new A-7E's with the new
state of the art FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Receiver). VA-146 was tasked
with evaluation of the new system and development of new tactics for it use.
On February 26, 1980 the Blue Diamonds deployed again on the USS
Constellation (CV-64). CVW 9 visited Hawaii and the Philippines on the way to
the Indian Ocean. For the next 110 days, VA-146 operated near the coast of
Iran in support of U.S. interests in the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the
Afghanistan Invasion. This sea period (110 days) set a new record as the
longest continuous at-sea period for any West Coast carrier since World War
II.
On 25 April 1980, VA-146 was named the safest A-7 squadron in combined
Navy-Air Force history by surpassing all previous records for accident-free
flight operations at 36,175 hours. Continuing their record setting
performance the Blue Diamonds completed fiscal year 1980 with 7555.4 flight
hours establishing yet another record. The return to Lemoore included port
visits to Singapore and Korea. The Blue Diamonds also participated in some
multi-national exercises including Rim Pac '80 and Merlion '80.
VA-146 deployed in October 1981 on their sixteenth West Pac cruise. In July
1983 the HARM was introduced to the fleet. January 1984, the Diamonds began
their seventeenth West Pac and first with the Harm aboard the USS Kitty Hawk
(CV-63).
A 14-year association with Carrier Air Wing 9 was broken in 1983 when VA-146
was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Two. Upon their return from a West Pac in
August 1984, the Diamonds were reassigned to CVW-9. CVW-9 and USS Kitty Hawk
(CV-63) made two more deployments, which culminated in the 1987 World Cruise,
which brought the carrier back to the East Coast for entry into the Service
Life Extension Program (SLEP). In September 1988, the Blue Diamonds and CVW-9
embarked in USS Nimitz (CVN-68) for their twentieth Western Pacific
deployment. The highlight of this cruise was operations in the Sea of Japan
during the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.
In the spring of 1989, VA-146 was re-designated VFA-146 and transitioned to
the multi-role F/A 18C Night Strike Fighter. The Blue Diamonds were the first
fleet squadron to receive this new version of the Hornet.
source: VFA-146 website
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