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US Navy - Attack Squadron 204
(ATKRON 204) VA-204 'River Rattlers' |
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 A-7B Corsair II (VA-204 / CVWR-20) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 1985  A-7B Corsair II (VA-204 / CVWR-20) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - June 1982  US Navy Reserve A-7B Corsair II in the hangar bay of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in 1982. The aircraft are assigned to Attack Squadrons VA-203, VA-204 and VA-205 of Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20).  A-4L Skyhawks (VA-204) in formation - circa 1973-74  A-4L Skyhawk (VA-204) landing aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) - August 1971  A-4L Skyhawks (VA-204 / CVWR-20) aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - early 1970's |
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VA-204 was commissioned on July 1, 1970
flying A-4C Skyhawks at NAS Memphis, Tennessee. VA-204 began
its long list of tactical accomplishments by winning back to back
CVWR-20 Bombing Derbies in 1971 and 1972. VA-204 received the CNO
annual Safety Award for 1973. The award represented more than 5,000
hours of accident free flying for the year. In 1975 the River
Rattlers won the F. Trubee Davison Award as the "Best Tailhook
Squadron in the Naval Reserve." In March 1978, the squadron moved from NAS Memphis to NAS New Orleans and began transitioning to the A-7B aircraft. With transition and relocation complete, VA-204 began establishing enviable records of operational readiness and safety and in 1980 won the CNO Safety Award. The squadron earned the CNO Safety Award again in 1982 and 1983, and was nominated for the Noel Davis (Battle "E") in 1983. The tradition of excellence continued in 1984 by winning the CVWR-20 Golden Wrench Award and the Battle "E". In 1986, VA-204 transitioned to the A-7E Corsair II and in 1990 earned its fifth CNO Safety Award. The next four years saw the River Rattlers establish a high level of tactics and excellence in the Corsair II. During this period, the squadron completed seven weapons detachments, three carrier qualification evolutions, air wing active duty to NAS Fallon and embarkation on USS Fporrestal (CV 59) and USS Dwight D. Wisenhower (CVN 69). The last year of A-7E operations in CVWR-20, 1990, was one of the squadron's best years ever. Though severely hampered by numerous aircraft transfer and acceptance inspections, VA-204 flew 113% of its original flight hour program and conducted seven deployments away from NAS New Orleans. On Jan. 28, 1991, VA-204 celebrated ten years of FOD free operations. For their operational achievements and safety programs, the River Rattlers earned the CVWR-20 nomination for the Battle "E" and received the CNO Safety Award for 1990. Attack Squadron 204 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 204 on April 1, 1991 and accepted its first F/A-18, thus ending twelve years of flying A-7 Corsair. The squadron officially completed its transition to the F/A-18 Hornet in March 1993, and the next month began initial adversary training at NAS Oceana, Virginia. source: US Navy - - - - - another history: Attack Squadron 204 (VA-204) was established at NAS Memphis, Tennessee on 1 July 1970, flying the A-4C Skyhawk as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 (CVWR-20). Shortly after transitioning to the A-4E Skyhawk in 1971, the squadron deployed for two weeks with CVWR-20 embarked on the USS John F. Kennedy, a Naval Reserve first. VA-204 won back to back CVWR-20 Bombing Derbies in 1971 and 1972. In May 1972, the squadron participated in exercise Exotic Dancer V, designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization. VA-204 received the CNO annual Safety Award for 1973, in recognition of over 5,000 hours of accident free flying for the year. In 1975, the squadron won the F. Trubee Davison Award as the "Best Tailhook Squadron in the Naval Reserve". The squadron was directed to cease flight operations in December 1977 and transfer all A-4 aircraft in custody. In complying with that directive, VA-204 closed the final chapter in the United States Navy's single seat Skyhawk attack aviation era. In March 1978, the squadron moved from NAS Memphis to NAS New Orleans and began receiving A-7B Corsair II aircraft. In 1979 the squadron deployed to MCAS Yuma, Arizona, NAS Fallon, Nevada, and embarked on USS Independence. In 1980 the squadron completed numerous deployments ranging from Exercise Safe Passage, a combined NATO forces exercise conducted near NAS Bermuda in the Western Atlantic, to detachments at NAS Fallon. VA-204 again was selected as the winner of the CNO Safety Award for 1980. The squadron earned the CNO Safety Award again in 1982 and 1983, and was nominated for the Noel Davis (Battle "E") in 1983. In 1984 the squadron won the CVWR-20 Golden Wrench Award and the Battle "E". With transition from the A-7B to the A-7E completed in 1986, the squadron completed seven weapons detachments, three carrier qualification evolutions, air wing active duty to NAS Fallon and embarkation the USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. VA-204 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in April 1991 and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron Two Hundred Four (VFA-204) on 1 May 1991. source: wikipedia |
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