Attack Squadron 23 (ATKRON 23) VA-23 ‘Black Knights’
STATUS:		established as Reserve Fighter Squadron 653 (VF-653) in December 1949 VF-653 called to active duty on February 1, 1951 VF-653 redesignated Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151) on February 4, 1953 VF-151 redesignated Attack Squadron 151 (VA-151) on February 7, 1956 VA-151 redesignated Attack Squadron 23 (VA-23) on February 23, 1959 VA -23 disestablished on April 1, 1970
AIRCRAFT:		North American FJ-4B Fury (1959-60) Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk (1960-63) Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (1963-67) Douglas A-4F Skyhawk (1967-70)
DEPLOYMENTS:		August 1959 - March 1960 with CVG-2 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) February 1961 - September 1961 with CVG-2 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) April 1962 - October 1962 with CVG-2 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) November 1963 - May 1964 with CVG-2 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) March 1865 - November 1965 with CVW-2 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) July 1966 - February 1967 with CVW-2 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) November 1967 - August 1968 with CVW-19 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) November 1968 with CVW-19 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) February 1969 - November 1969 with CVW-19 aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34)
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A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Oriskany (CVA 34) late 1960’s (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Oriskany (CVA 34) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Oriskany (CVA 34) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4F Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) - late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-19) - late 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1966/67 (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1966/67 (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1966/67 (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1966/67 (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawks (VA-23 / CVW-2) flying over USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) over Vietnam - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4E Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVW-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) over Vietnam - 1960’s (NNAM) A4D-2 Skyhawk (VA-23 / CVG-2) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1960’s (NNAM)
history
Chronology of Significant Events: 11 Dec 1951: The squadron conducted its first combat strikes. Feb 1955: The squadron, deployed aboard Wasp (CVA 18), provided air suport during the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands following the bombardment of the islands by the People’s Republic of China. Apr 1965: While operating from Midway, on Yankee Station, VA-23 conducted its first combat operations since the Korean War. 25 Apr 1965: The squadron became the first to use the Shrike missile in combat. The Shrike is an antiradiation missile for use against radar sites. 15–20 Mar 1968: VA-23, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from Ticonderoga (CVA 14) in the Sea of Japan. These operations were part of a continuing show of American forces in the area, named Operation Formation Star, following the capture of Pueblo (AGER 2) by North Korea on 23 January 1968. Apr 1968: VA-23 flew combat strikes around Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, in support of the besieged Marine base. 20 Mar 1970: A disestablishment ceremony was held by the squadron under the direction of its last commanding officer, Commander Theodore L. Lloyd, Jr. Commander Lloyd accepted the colors of the squadron and brought to a close over 19 years of active service. The squadron was officially disestablished on 1 April 1970.
patches
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