Attack Squadron 36 (ATKRON 36) VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’
STATUS:		First VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: established as Fighter Squadron 102 (VF-102) on May 1, 1952 VF-102 redesignated Attack Squadron 36 (VA-36) on July 1, 1955 VA-36 disestablished on August 1, 1970 Second VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: (new)established as Attack Squadron 36 (VA-36) on March 6, 1987 VA-36 disestablished on April 1, 1994
AIRCRAFT:		First VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: Grumman F9F-5 Panther (1952-56) Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (1956-58) Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk (1958-61) Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk (1961-62) (A4D-2N redesignated A-4C in 1962) Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (1962-70) Second VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: Grumman A-6E Intruder (1987-94)
DEPLOYMENTS:		First VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: September 1955 - April 1956 with ATG-201 aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20) August 1959 - February 1960 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) August 1960 - February 1961 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) November 1961 - May 1962 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) March 1963 - October 1963 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) November 1964 - July 1965 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) October 1965 - June 1966 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) January 1967 - September 1967 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CVA 66) June 1968 - February 1969 with CVW-10 aboard USS Intrepid (CVS 11) December 1969 - July 1970 with CVW-17 aboard USS Forrestal (CVA 59) Second VA-36 ‘Roadrunners’: August 1988 - October 1988 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) December 1988 - June 1989 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) December 1990 - June 1991 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) March 1993 - September 1993 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
images
second VA-36 Roadrunners (1987 - 1994) A-6E Intruders (VA-36 / CVW-8) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Suez Canal - 1993 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) landing aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1993 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) landing aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Operation Provide Comfort - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Operation Provide Comfort - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Operation Provide Comfort - 1991 A-6E Intruders (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 A-6E Intruder, 542 (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Operation Provide Comfort - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Operation Provide Comfort - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with a F-14 Tomcat of VF-14 - 1990 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - circa 1990 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) landing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during her shakedown cruise - 1990 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1988 A-6E Intruder (VA-36 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1987 (NNAM) first VA-36 Roadrunners (1955 - 1970) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-36 / CVW-10) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - 1969 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-36 / CVW-10) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - 1969 (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-36 / CVW-10) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - Vietnam 1969 (NNAM) pilots of VA-36 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - 1968/69 A-4C Skyhawks (VA-36 / CVW-6) embarked on USS America (CVA 66) - 1967 (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawks (VA-36 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1965-66 (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-36 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - 1960’s (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawks (VA-36 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - 1960’s (NNAM) A4D-2 Skyhawk (VA-36 / CVG-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - 1959-60 (NNAM) A-4C Skyhawk (VA-36) - undated (NNAM)
history
First VA-36: Chronology of significant events: Nov 1953–Sep 1954: During the squadron’s world cruise aboard Tarawa (CVA 40), it visited 14 different ports in 10 foreign countries and transited the Suez and Panama Canals. Jul–Aug 1961: While deployed on a training cruise aboard Saratoga in the Caribbean, the squadron was on an alert status due to the Bay of Pigs invasion. 2 Dec 1965: The squadron conducted its first combat operations, flying from Enterprise (CVAN 65) on Dixie Station in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam. This marked the first time a nuclear powered ship had engaged in combat. Dec 1965–Jun 1966: During this period of combat operations squadron personnel were awarded over 170 Air Medals. May–Jun 1967: VA-36, embarked on America, was on station in the eastern Mediterranean during the Middle East War between Israel and Egypt and Syria. Units of America’s air wing were launched to provide air cover for Liberty (AGTR 5) when it came under attack by Israeli forces. Second VA-36: Chronology of significant events: 30 Dec 1988: VA-36 deployed aboard Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for the carrier’s maiden cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. 20 Jan–28 Feb 1991: The squadron participated in Operation Desert Storm, combat operations against Iraq. Apr–Jun 1991: The squadron participated in Operation Provide Comfort, a multi-national operation providing relief and aid for Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq. Mar–Sep 1993: The squadron, along with other units of CVW-8, deployed aboard Roosevelt (CVN 71) in a new approach to joint operations to test the Navy’s ability to project a wide range of power and mobility from the sea. The composition on the carrier during the deployment included the regular air wing, minus an F-14 and S-3 squadron, and a Special Marine Air- Ground Task Force consisting of a Marine Corps fixedwing and helo squadron and a company of Marines. The mix of units provided the carrier with the ability to project air and ground striking power ashore from a single deck. Jun 1993: The squadron, along with other units embarked on Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), operated in the Red Sea in support of a strike on the Iraqi Intelligence Service headquarters building in Baghdad in response to Iraq’s attempt on the life of former President Bush while on a visit to Kuwait in April. During this time, the squadron also participated in Operation Southern Watch missions, enforcing the U.N. no-fly zone within southern Iraq.
patches
first VA-36 Roadrunners first VA-36 Roadrunners (3 patches courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) second VA-36 Roadrunners
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