Attack Squadron 44 (ATKRON 44)

VA-44 ‘Hornets’

 

va-44 hornets insignia crest patch badge attack squadron atkron us navy

va-44 hornets attack squadron atkron a-4 skyhawk us navy fleet replacement training

 

STATUS:

established as Fighter Squadron 44 (VF-44) on September 1, 1950

VF-44 redesignated Attack Squadron 44 (VA-44) on January 1, 1956

VA-44 disestablished on May 1, 1970

AIRCRAFT:

Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (April 1956)

Grumman F9F-8T (TF-9J) Cougar (January 1958)

Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A)Skyhawk (February 1958)

Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk (September 1958)

Douglas AD-5 (A-1E) Skyraider (January 1959)

Douglas AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (January 1959)

Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk (February 1960)

Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (October 1964)

Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk (August 1966)

Douglas A-4F Skyhawk (November 1969)

Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (December 1969)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

August 1956 - October 1956 with CVG-4 aboard USS Saratoga (CVS 60)

July 1957 - October 1957 aboard USS Wasp (CVS 18)

    

> since June 1958 the primary mission of VA-44 was the training of fleet replacement pilots <

 

images

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron ta-4f skyhawk atkron cvwr-4

TA-4F Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

attack squadron va-44 hornets ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-44 hornets a-4c skyhawk atkron

A-4C Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-44 hornets a-4c skyhawk

A-4C Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron a-4b skyhawk

A-4B Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron a4d skyhawk

A-4 Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-44 hornets a4d-2 skyhawk atkron fleet replacement training

A-4 Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron a4d skyhawk cvwr-4 atkron

A-4 Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-44 hornets a4d skyhawk

A-4 Skyhawks of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-44 hornets attack squadron a4d skyhawk atkron fleet replacement training cvwr-4

A-4 Skyhawk of VA-44 - undated (NNAM)

 

 

history

Chronology of Significant Events:


Sep-Oct 1957: During the squadron’s deployment aboard Wasp (CVS 18), its mission was temporarily changed from attack to a fighter role in order to provide air protection for the VS squadrons operating from the carrier.


1 Jun 1958: The squadron’s mission changed from a light attack squadron to a fleet replacement training squadron. The new mission involved flight training for pilots and maintenance training for enlisted personnel. Under this concept, pilots and enlisted personnel ordered to East Coast fleet A4D squadrons completed the course of instruction provided by VA-44 before reporting to their assigned fleet squadrons.


6 Jun 1958: Fleet All Weather Training Unit Detachment ALFA, an instrument training detachment, was disestablished and its personnel and aircraft were transferred to VA-44.


8 Aug 1958: The squadron graduated its first replacement pilot under the new training program for attack pilots.


Jan 1959: The squadron’s first AD Skyraiders arrived and preparations began for the additional mission of replacement training for this aircraft, plus the A4D Skyhawk.


15 Nov 1961: The squadron graduated the 1,000th enlisted maintenance trainee on the A4D Skyhawk.


15 Feb 1963: The propeller training section of the squadron was removed from VA-44 and established as a separate squadron and designated VA-45. VA-44 continued in its training mission concentrating on A-4 Skyhawk training. It became a strictly jet squadron flying A-4Bs, A-4Cs and TF-9Js.

Home Port Assignments:
Location (Assignment Date)
NAS Jacksonville (Sep 1950)
NAAS Cecil Field (Sep 1950)
NAS Jacksonville (Oct 1952)
NAS Cecil Field (Feb 1963)

 

patches

 

va-44 hornets patch crest insignia badge attack squadron us navy   attack squadron va-44 hornets crest insignia badge patch atkron

 

va-44 hornets insignia crest badge patch attack squadron   va-44 hornets patch insignia crest attack squadron us navy

 

 

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