Attack Squadron 56 (ATKRON 56) VA-56 ‘Champions’
STATUS:		established as Attack Squadron 56 (VA-56) on June 4, 1956 VA-56 disestablished on August 31, 1986 Nicknames: Boomerangs (1956-58) / Champions (1958-86)
AIRCRAFT:		Grumman F9F-3 Panther (1956) Grumman F9F-8B Cougar (1956) Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (1956-58) North American FJ-4B Fury (1958) Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk (1958-59) Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk (1959-62) Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (1962-66) Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (1966-67) Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (1967-69) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II (1969-73) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (1973-77) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1977-86)
DEPLOYMENTS:		July 1957 - December 1957 with CVG-5 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) 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 Constellation (CVA 64) 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) November 1966 - July 1967 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) January 1968 - July 1968 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) October 1969 - June 1970 with CVW-2 aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61) April 1971 - November 1971 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) April 1972 - March 1973 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) June 1973 - May 1986: permanently forward deployed to Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan as part of Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5), assigned to USS Midway (CV 41): September 1973 - October 1973 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) October 1973 - December 1973 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) January 1974 - March 1974 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) October 1974 - December 1974 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) January 1975 - February 1975 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) March 1975 - May 1975 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) October 1975 - December 1975 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) March 1976 - April 1976 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) May 1976 - June 1976 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) July 1976 - August 1976 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) November 1976 - December 1976 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) January 1977 - March 1977 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) April 1977 - May 1977 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) August 1977 - September 1977 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) September 1977 - December 1977 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) April 1978 - May 1978 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) November 1978 - December 1978 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) January 1979 - February 1979 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) April 1979 - June 1979 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) August 1979 - September 1979 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) September 1979 - February 1980 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) July 1980 - November 1980 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) February 1981 - June 1981 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) June 1981 - July 1981 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) September 1981 - October 1981 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) April 1982 - June 1982 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) September 1982 - December 1982 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) February 1983 - May 1983 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) June 1983 - August 1983 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) October 1983 - December 1983 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) December 1983 - May 1984 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) October 1984 - December 1984 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) February 1985 - March 1985 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) June 1985 - October 1985 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) November 1985 - December 1985 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41) January 1986 - March 1986 with CVW-5 aboard USS Midway (CV 41)
images
A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) on the ground at MASDC / Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona - undated (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) with Mount Fuji in the background - 1986 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) crash landing on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1984 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1984 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1984 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1983 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1982 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1982 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1982 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1982 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1982 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1981 A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1979 A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - late 1970’s (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - late 1970’s (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - late 1970’s (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1977 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1977 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1977 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1976 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CV 41) - 1976 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1970’s (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - circa 1971 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - circa 1969/70 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - circa 1969/70 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - off Vietnam 1970 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - off Vietnam 1970 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - off Vietnam 1970 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II’s (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II’s (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II’s (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7B Corsair II’s (VA-56 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Ranger (CVA 61) - 1969 (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1966-67 (NNAM) TA-4F Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-9) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawks (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - mid 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - mid 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawks (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - mid 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-5) landing on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - mid 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawks (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1964/65 (NNAM) A-4B Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) refueling an F-8E Crusader - 1960’s (NNAM) A4D-2 Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-5) - 1960’s (NNAM) A4D-2 Skyhawk (VA-56 / CVW-5) - early 1960’s (NNAM)
history
Chronology of significant events: 25–31 Oct 1961: VA-56 participated in Operation Crosstie with HMS Victorious (R-38), conducting flight operations from the deck of Victorious to evaluate the compatibility of USN/RN aircraft, armament, and handling facilities. 16 Jul–15 Sep 1962: The squadron was embarked in Constellation (CVA 64) during her transit from the East Coast, via Cape Horn, to her new home port on the West Coast. Jul 1964: VA-56’s A-4E Skyhawks participated in special Yankee Team operations, providing aerial refueling support and experimenting with the tactic of employing A-4Es as armed escorts for the RF-8 and RA-3 reconnaissance aircraft flying missions over Laos and South Vietnam to detect Communist military presence and operations. 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 sorties in support of the destroyers on Desoto Patrol. 5 Aug 1964: VA-56’s Skyhawks participated in Pierce Arrow, retaliatory strikes against the North Vietnamese. Along with other aircraft from CVW-5, they were part of the first sortie that struck the antiaircraft gun emplacements at the Vinh oil storage facility. Ninety percent of the complex was destroyed by the sorties flown against this facility. The squadron also participated in strikes against the Ben Thuy naval base, resulting in the sinking and destruction of several torpedo boats. 10–29 Oct, 1–5 and 22–28 Nov 1964: The squadron continued to participate in special Yankee Team operations off the coast of Vietnam. 7 Feb 1966: Lieutenant Commander Render Crayton was awarded the Silver Star (in absentia) for his actions while engaged in a combat mission over North Vietnam. 10 Jun 1967: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Sherman, failed to return from a strike in North Vietnam and is now listed as missing in action, presumed dead. Jan–Feb 1968: While embarked in Enterprise (CVAN 65) and en route to Yankee Station, the carrier was ordered to the Sea of Japan for operations following the seizure of Pueblo (AGER 2) by the North Koreans on 23 January. 19 Jun 1968: Lieutenant Commander Crater received the Silver Star for his actions in coordinating the successful night rescue of a downed F-4 crewman in North Vietnam. This action was part of the rescue operations in which Lieutenant Lassen, a helicopter pilot and not a member of VA-56, received the Medal of Honor for his exploits. 1 Nov 1968: The squadron’s last A-4E Skyhawk was transfered and training began for the transition to the A-7 Corsair II. May 1972: On 12 May Midway (CVA 41), with VA-56 embarked, shifted its operations from the area of An Loc, South Vietnam to targets in North Vietnam. It participated in the mining and interdiction of Haiphong Harbor and North Vietnam’s extensive coastal waterway system. This was an extension of operation Pocket Money which was initiated on 9 May by squadrons from Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) and Coral Sea (CVA 43). It also participated in operation Linebacker I, the concentration of heavy strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies into the country and reduce its ability to prosecute the war. Linebacker I operations lasted until 22 October. 29–30 Apr 1975: Midway, including elements of VA-56, participated in operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American citizens from Saigon, South Vietnam. Aug 1976: VA-56, embarked in Midway, operated in Korean waters following the killing of two American officers in the DMZ by the North Koreans. Apr–May 1979: Midway, with VA-56 embarked, deployed to the Gulf of Aden to relieve Constellation (CV 64) and maintain a U.S. carrier presence following the out break of fighting between North and South Yemen and the fall of the Shah of Iran. Oct 1979: As a response to anti-American demonstrations in Iran, Midway and its air wing, including VA-56, were ordered to deploy to the Indian Ocean for the second time in 1979. Nov 1979–Feb 1980: Following the Iranian seizure of the American Embassy in Teheran and the taking of American hostages on 4 November, Midway proceeded to the Gulf of Oman and remained on station until relieved in early February 1980. May–Jun 1980: Midway, with VA-56 embarked, operated off the coast of Korea due to the civil unrest in South Korea and the massacre of several hundred people in the town of Kwangju. May 1986: The squadron was reassigned to NAS Lemoore as a result of the change in CVW-5’s composition from A-7 and F-4 aircraft to FA-18A. It began the transfer of its personnel and aircraft in preparation for the disestablishment of the squadron on 31 August. Squadron’s nickname: Boomerangs: 1957-circa 1958 / Champions: circa 1958–1986. Homeport assignments: NAS Miramar (Jun 1956) NAS Lemoore (Jun 1961) NS Yokosuka* (Jun 1973) NAS Lemoore May 1986 (* Under the Overseas Home Port Program, VA-56 and CVW-5 were permanently based aboard USS Midway (CV 41) and home ported with the carrier at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan. The home port was officially changed on 30 June 1973. However, Midway did not arrive in Japan until 5 October. Elements of VA-56, when not operating from Midway, were based ashore at NAF Atsugi or Misawa, Japan.)
patches
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