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Attack Squadron 52 (ATKRON 52)
VA-52 ‘Knightriders’
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STATUS:
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established
as Fighter Squadron 884 (VF-884), a reserve unit, on November 1, 1949 VF-884
redesignated Fighter Squadron 144 (VF-144)
on February 4, 1953 VA-52
disestablished in March 1995 |
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AIRCRAFT:
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Douglas AD-6/7 (A-1H/J)
Skyraider (1959-67) Grumman A-6A
Intruder (1967-70) Grumman A-6E
Intruder (1974-95) |
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DEPLOYMENTS:
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March 1960 -
October 1960 with CVG-5
aboard USS
Ticonderoga (CVA 14) May 1961 - January
1962 with CVG-5 aboard USS
Ticonderoga (CVA 14) July 1962 -
September 1962 with CVG-5 aboard USS
Lexington (CVA 16) January 1963 -
July 1963 with CVG-5 aboard USS
Ticonderoga (CVA 14) April 1964 -
December 1964 with CVW-5
aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) September 1965 -
May 1966 with CVW-5 aboard USS
Ticonderoga (CVA 14) October 1966 - May
1967 with CVW-19
aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) September 1968 -
April 1969 with CVW-15
aboard USS Coral
Sea (CVA 43) November 1970 -
July 1971 with CVW-11
aboard USS
Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) February 1972 -
November 1972 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CVA 63) November 1973 -
July 1974 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CVA 63) May 1975 -
December 1975 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) October 1977 - May
1978 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) May 1979 -
February 1980 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) April 1981 -
November 1981 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) March 1983 -
October 1983 with CVW-15 aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) May 1984 - July
1984 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) October 1984 - May
1985 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) May 1986 - July
1986 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) August 1986 -
February 1987 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) June 1988 -
December 1988 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) September 1989 -
November 1989 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) February 1990 -
July 1990 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) April 1991 -
December 1991 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) November 1992 -
May 1993 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) June 1994 -
December 1994 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) |
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images
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A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1994
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 at NAS
North Island, California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 at NAS
North Island, California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 at NAS
North Island, California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 was
carried away for repairs with a CH-53E helicopter at NAS North Island,
California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 was
carried away for repairs with a CH-53E helicopter at NAS North Island,
California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 was
carried away for repairs with a CH-53E helicopter at NAS North Island,
California - 1990
a damaged A-6E Intruder of VA-52 was
carried away for repairs with a CH-53E helicopter at NAS North Island,
California - 1990
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1989 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation
Museum)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked on
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1988 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1988 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked on
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986
A-6E Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) refuels an
EA-6B Prowler - 1986
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) after an emergency barricade landing - 1986
(NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1985
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1985
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1984
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) refueling a F-14 Tomcat of VF-51 - 1984
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) during a
change of command ceremony - 1984
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1984 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked on
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1980’s
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - early 1980’s
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1980’s
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1980 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1980 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1980 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked on
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1980 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked on
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979
A-6E Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - circa 1978 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1978 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1978 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1977 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1977 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during inflight refueling - 1976
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) refueling two S-3 Viking of VS-33 - 1976
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked on
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1976 (NNAM)
A-6E Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1976 (NNAM)
A-6 & KA-6D Intruders (VA-52 /
CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1975 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1975 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1974 (NNAM)
A-6 Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) with a KA-3B Skywarrior of VAH-10 - 1974 (NNAM)
A-6 Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1974 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1973/74
A-6B Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1972 (NNAM)
A-6B Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1972 (NNAM)
A-6A Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - circa 1970 (NNAM)
A-6A Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) flying
over USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - circa 1970 (NNAM)
A-6A Intruders (VA-52 / CVW-11) embarked
on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1970 (NNAM)
A-6A Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1969 (NNAM)
A-6A Intruder (VA-52 / CVW-15) embarked
on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1969 (NNAM)
KA-6D Intruder of VA-52 - undated (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
A-1H Skyraider (VA-52 / CVW-19) embarked on
USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1966/67 (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5)
embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960’s (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5)
embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960’s (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5)
embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960’s (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5)
embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960’s (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5) embarked
on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960’s (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5)
embarked on USS Lexington (CVA 16) - 1962 (NNAM)
AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (VA-52 / CVG-5) -
1960’s (NNAM) |
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history
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Chronology of
significant events:
Mar 1951: In the
later part of March, VF-884 aircraft conducted their first combat operations,
flying close air support missions on Korea’s eastern coast. 24 May 1951:
VF-884’s first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander G. F. Carmichael died
after parachuting from his F4U which had been hit by enemy ground fire. 4 Oct 1952:
Lieutenant E. F. Johnson was attacked and shot down by enemy MIG aircraft.
This was the first VF-884 and CVG-101 aircraft shot down by enemy aircraft. 8 Nov 1952:
Lieutenant Commander Bowen, VF-884’s third Commanding Officer, was listed as
missing in action when his aircraft crashed near Pyongyang, North Korea. 4 Feb 1953: VF-884
was redesignated VF-144 during its second combat tour in Korea. In this
change, the reserve squadron number was replaced by an active squadron
number. 21 Feb 1953:
VF-144 completed the last line period of its second combat tour in Korea. Its
primary missions had been close air support of ground troops, interdiction of
enemy main supply routes, and the destruction of military supplies, vehicles
and troops. 18 Aug 1958: The
squadron returned to NAS Miramar following Ranger’s (CVA 61) first major
deployment. The cruise took the squadron from Virginia to California, via
Cape Horn, transferring Ranger from the Atlantic to the Pacific Fleet. 23 Feb 1959: The
squadron’s mission was changed to attack and it was redesignated VA-52. 13 Jul–1 Aug 1964:
VA-52 aircraft participated in Yankee Team operations in South Vietnam and
Laos, involving aerial reconnaissance to detect Communist military presence
and operations. Other missions included weather reconnaissance and SAR. 2–4 Aug 1964:
During a Desoto Patrol mission (intelligence collection missions begun in
1962), Maddox (DD 731) was attacked by three motor torpedo boats on 2 August
off the coast of North Vietnam. Following this incident the squadron flew 44
sorties in support of the destroyers on the Desoto Patrol. 4 Aug 1964: During
the night, two destroyers on Desoto Patrol, Turner Joy (DD 951) and Maddox
(DD 731), believing themselves under attack by North Vietnamese motor torpedo
boats, called for air support. Several A-1H Skyraiders from the squadron,
along with several F-8s, were launched from Ticonderoga (CVA 14). Commander
George H. Edmondson and Lieutenant Jere A. Barton reported gun flashes and
bursts of light at their altitude which they felt came from enemy
antiaircraft fire. 5 Aug 1964: Four
Skyraiders from VA-52, piloted by Commander L. T. McAdams, Lieutenant
Commander L. E. Brumbach and Lieutenant (jg)s R. E. Moore and P. A. Carter,
participated in “Pierce Arrow,” retaliatory strikes against the North
Vietnamese. Along with other aircraft from CVG-5, they struck the Vinh oil
storage facilities and destroyed about ninety percent of the complex. The
four aircraft returned with no battle damage. 6–29 Oct 1964: The
squadron conducted rescue combat air patrols missions in support of “Yankee
Team” operations. 7 Feb 1966:
Lieutenant (jg) Harvey M. Browne was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity during rescue missions in the Republic of Vietnam. 13 Apr 1966: Commander
John C. Mape was killed in action, becoming the third VA-52 commanding
officer to be lost in combat action. 21 Apr 1966: The
squadron completed its second combat tour of duty in Vietnam, having
participated in Rolling Thunder operations designed to interdict the enemy’s
lines of communication into Laos and South Vietnam. 9 Mar 1967:
Commander John F. Wanamaker received the Silver Star for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity during operations against North Vietnam. 27 Apr 1967: This
was the last day of line operations for VA-52 and the completion of her third
combat tour to Vietnam. During this deployment squadron operations included
rescue combat air patrol missions, coastal reconnaissance, Steel Tiger
missions and Sea Dragon operations. Steel Tiger involved concentrated strikes
in southern Laos. Sea Dragon operations involved spotting for naval gunfire
against waterborne cargo and coastal radar and gun battery sites. 7 Sep 1968: VA-52
deployed aboard Coral Sea (CVA 43). This was the first A-6 Intruder
deployment aboard a Midway Class carrier. 8 Dec 1970–23 Jun
1971: During this period VA-52’s main emphasis was on operations in Laos
against the enemy’s lines of communication and their transportation networks. 23 Nov 1971:
Commander Lennart R. Salo became the first Naval Flight Officer to command an
A-6 Intruder squadron. 3 Apr 1972: VA-52
commenced line operations from Yankee Station a few days earlier than
scheduled as a result of the North Vietnamese invasion across the DMZ in
South Vietnam on 30 March. During this line period heavy air raids were
conducted against North Vietnam. These were the first major heavy air raids
into North Vietnam since October 1968 and became known as operation Freedom
Train. 16 Apr 1972: VA-52
conducted strikes in the Haiphong, Vinh, and Thanh Hoa as part of operation
“Freedom Porch.” 9 May 1972:
Operation Pocket Money, the mining of Haiphong harbor, was launched. VA-52’s
Intruders took part in a diversionary attack at Phu Qui railroad yard while
aircraft from Coral Sea conducted the actual mining. 10 May 1972:
Linebacker I operations began and involved concentrated air strikes against
targets in North Vietnam above the 20th parallel. During these operations
VA-52’s aircraft flew armed reconnaissance, Alpha strikes (large coordinated
attacks), mine seeding operations, tanker operations, and standard arm
sorties (use of antiradiation missiles to destroy missile radar sites). 1–27 Jun 1972:
VA-52 flew special single aircraft night missions designated Sneaky Pete as
part of Linebacker I operations. 23 Nov 1973: VA-52
deployed with CVW-11 aboard Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as part of the first CV
concept air wing on the west coast. VA-52’s Intruders were equipped with new
ASW electronic equipment, the Multi-Channel Jezebel Relay pods. 24–28 Jul 1979:
VA-52 and other elements of CVW-15, participated in search and assistance
operations to aid Vietnamese boat people. A total of 114 people were rescued
through the efforts of the air wing and Kitty Hawk. These operations continued
during August. 27 Oct 1979: South
Korea’s President Park Chung Hee was assassinated and Kitty Hawk immediately
departed the Philippine Sea for the southwest coast of Korea, where they
remained until 4 November. 29 Dec 1979:
During operations off Kitty Hawk, the squadron’s commanding officer,
Commander Walter D. Williams, was lost at sea in a KA-6D. 3 Dec 1979–23 Jan
1980: After the assault on the American Embassy in Tehran and the taking of
hostages on 4 November 1979, Kitty Hawk entered the Indian Ocean and operated
in the Arabian Sea throughout this period. 19 May 1981: While
transiting the South China Sea VA-52 aircraft spotted a small boat with 47
Vietnamese refugees on board and reported their location for rescue
operations.
14–31 Aug 1986:
VA-52 participated in the first carrier operations in the Bering Sea since
World War II. Most of the squadron’s 400 hours and 200 sorties were made
under adverse weather conditons. 20–31 Jan 1987:
VA-52 conducted its second period of operations in the Northern Pacific and
Bering Sea. At one point the most effective means of clearing snow and ice
from Carl Vinson’s flight deck was the jet exhaust from the squadron’s
aircraft. 23 Sep 1987:
During night operations off Carl Vinson the squadron’s Commanding Officer,
Commander Lloyd D. Sledge, was lost at sea. Aug 1988: The
squadron flew sorties in support of Earnest Will operations, the escorting of
reflagged Kuwait tankers in the Persian Gulf. > more history
wanted ...
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patches |
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