The VA-152 Fighting Aces / Mavericks


VF-152 Vultures - 1951
Courtesy Bob Stanek
VF-152 Fighting Aces - 1952
Courtesy Bob Stanek


VA-152 Fighting Aces - 1968
Courtesy John W. Hayes
VA-152 Mavericks - 1970
Courtesy Ernie Shuldhiess


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Squadron SDO:
The Squadron Duty Officer is the squadron contact point, who communicates
with former squadron members about squadron information, sea stories,
squadron pictures, scuttlebutt, and gathers information about squadron buddies.
Please contact the Squadron SDO as listed on this link.



The Table Of Content:
Patch:
  • VA-152/VF-152's first insignia, the "Hooded Falcon" was in use before 1951.
    Anyone out there have this patch?
    The crest had a white and black background and was outlined in gold. The falcon was brown with white and light brown shadings; yellow feet and beak; the hood was crimson red with a gold edge and a white plume. The gauntlet was silver edged in blue with gray shadings.
  • A second patch, the "Vulture Carrying a Bomb" appeared before 1952. The "Vulture Carrying a Bomb" patch is illustrated above.
  • VA-152's third crest is the "Flying Ace of Spades."
    This patch appeared sometime before 1951 and was used until January 29, 1971, when VA-152 was disestablished.
    This patch was based upon Korean War Squadron experience. The Squadron's mission was close air support - by the end of the Korean deployment every squadron aircraft had be hit by enemy fire. Three VF-152 pilots lost their lives in the Korean combat. The lives of these three pilots is venerated in the patch design in the form of three drops of blood emanating from the spade that has been pierced by the arrow.
    Two Versions of "Flying Ace of Spades" patch is illustrated above.
  • An unofficial fourth patch, the "Maverick Cow" appeared in 1970. The "Maverick Cow" patch is illustrated above.
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Handle:
  • Falons -- World War II
  • Vultures -- post World War II
  • Fighting Aces -- 1952 to 1971
  • The Friendly Squadron (Friendlies) -- 1957 to 1968
  • The 152 Light Bombardment Brigade -- 1968 to 1971
  • Twilight Pursuit Squadron -- 1968 to 1971
  • Mavericks -- 1970
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Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
Heritage:
  • Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO was established in 1943.
  • Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO was disestablished October 1945.
  • Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO was re-established in 1946.
  • Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO was disestablished October 1949.
  • Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VF-713) was established sometime in the late 1940s.
  • February 1, 1951, Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN was called to active duty.
  • February 4, 1953, was redesignated as VF-152 - Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO.
  • August 1, 1958, was redesignated as VA-152 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO.
  • February 9, 1968, VSF-3 Chessmen were disestablished and assets transferred to the VA-152 Mavericks.
  • January 29, 1971, VA-152 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO was disestablished.
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Commanders:
  • Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • February 1, 1951 - - - - - - - LCDR Robert L. Doering was Commanding Officer of Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN prior to activation.
  • May 2, 1952- - - - - - - - - - LCDR B. M. Richards
  • July 4, 1952 - - - - - - - - - LT W. M. Doss (acting)
  • August 5, 1952 - - - - - - - - LCDR Robert Stanek
  • September 1953 - - - - - - - - CDR Frank G. Edwards
  • Late 1954 or early 1955- - - - LCDR F. X. Bushner (acting)
  • April 1955 - - - - - - - - - - LCDR Robert G. Nester
  • September 27, 1956 - - - - - - CDR Robert M. Soule
  • July 23, 1958- - - - - - - - - CDR Royce A. Singleton
  • February 16, 1959- - - - - - - LCDR V. E. Sanderson
  • February 8, 1960 - - - - - - - LCDR R. M. Sullivan (acting)
  • March 4, 1960- - - - - - - - - CDR John A. Davenport
  • June 21, 1961- - - - - - - - - CDR John R. Bicknell
  • April 17, 1962 - - - - - - - - CDR Isaac N. Pell, Jr.
  • April 1, 1963- - - - - - - - - CDR R. B. Bergner
  • March 19, 1965 - - - - - - - - CDR Albert E. Knutson
  • March 16, 1967 - - - - - - - - CDR Gordon H. Smith
  • February 14, 1968- - - - - - - CDR Philip E. Johnson
  • January 17, 1969 - - - - - - - CDR Elmer E. Sheeley, Jr.
  • January 28, 1970 - - - - - - - CDR Gerard M. Sturm
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Home Ports:
  • Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • Prior to 1951 assigned to Naval Air Station Denver.
  • April 11, 1951 - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda
  • June 5, 1952 - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Moffett Field
  • November 1963- - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda
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Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • April 11, 1951 - - - - - - H- - - - - - CVG-15
  • October 14, 1957 - - - - - ND - - - - - ATG-4
  • February 1959- - - - - - - NL - - - - - CVG-15 / CVW-15*
  • October 1, 1964- - - - - - AH - - - - - CVW-16
  • February 1968- - - - - - - AA - - - - - CVW-17
  • April 1969- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA
  • December 1969- - - - - - - AJ - - - - - CVW-8
  • *CVG-I5 was redesignated CVW-16 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG were redesignated Carrie Air Wings (CVW) on December 20, 1963.
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 1943 - 1945- - - - - - CVG-15 - Essex CV 9 - - - - - F6F- - - Pacific
  • 1946 - 1949- - - - - - CVG-15 - Boxer CV 21- - - - - F8F- - - Pacific
  • 1946 - 1949- - - - - - CVG-15 - Valley Forge CV 45 - F8F- - - Pacific
  • 09-08-51 to 05-02-52 - CVG-15 - Antietam CV 36 - - - F4U-4- - Korea
  • 01-24-53 to 09-21-53 - CVG-15 - Princeton CVA 37 - - F4U-4- - Korea/WestPac
  • 07-01-54 to 02-28-55 - CVG-15 - Yorktown CVA 10- - - F2H-3- - WestPac
  • 04-23-56 to 10-15-56 - CVG-15 - Wasp CVA 18- - - - - F2H-3- - WestPac
  • 01-06-58 to 06-30-58 - ATG-04 - Hornet CVA 12- - - - F2H-3- - WestPac
  • 08-21-58 to 01-12-59 - ATG-04 - Bennington CVA 20- - F2H-3 - -WestPac
  • 08-01-59 to 01-18-60 - CVG-15 - Hancock CVA 19 - - - AD-6 - - WestPac
  • 09-19-60 to 05-27-61 - CVG-15 - Coral Sea CVA 43 - - AD-6 - - WestPac
  • 12-12-61 to 07-17-62 - CVG-15 - Coral Sea CVA 43 - - AD-6 - - WestPac
  • 04-03-63 to 11-25-63 - CVG-15 - Coral Sea CVA 43 - - A-1H/J - WestPac
  • 04-22-64 to 08-01-64 - * - - - - * - - - - - - - - - A-1H/J - South Vietnam
  • 04-05-65 to 12-16-65 - CVW-16 - Oriskany CVA 34- - - A-1H/J - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 05-26-66 to 11-16-66 - CVW-16 - Oriskany CVA 34- - - A-1H - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 06-16-67 to 01-31-68 - CVW-16 - Oriskany CVA 34- - - A-1H/J - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 07-22-68 to 04-29-69 - CVW-17 - Forrestal CVA 59 - - A-4B - - Mediterranean
  • 03-05-70 to 12-17-70 - CVW-08 - Shangri-La CVS 38- - A-4E - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • *The squadron, along with 20 of its A-1s, was sent to Bien Hoa Air Force Base, South Vietnam, to train South Vietnamese pilots to fly the A-1. A detachment, VA-152 Det Zulu, was left at Naval Air Station Alameda. While operating in South Vietnam the squadron came under the control of Chief, Air Force Advisory Group, Saigon. On August 1, 1964 the squadron (VA-152) based at Bien Hoa was redesignated VA-152 Det Zulu and the detachment at Naval Air Station Alameda was designated VA-152. VA-152 Det Zulu continued to train South Vietnamese pilots until December 1, 1964
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Photograph Albums:
Squadron Photograph Album
Squadron Off-Duty Album
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Events:
  • 1943:
    Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO established at Naval Air Station Denver.

  • 1943 - 1945:
    VF-152 was part of Cdr. David McCampball's "Fabulous Fifteen," in the Pacific war against Japan. VF-152 participated in the famous "Marianas Turkey Shoot" where Navy pilots shot down 402 Japanese aircraft. VF-152 flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat was part of Navy strikes against Wake Island, Marcus Islands, Philippines Islands, Palau Island, Ryukyus Islands, Formosa, and the Bonin Islands.

  • October 15, 1951 to May 2, 1952:
    VF-713 was activated as VF-152 flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair. The "Vultures" participated in Korean combat operations based aboard the United States Ship Antietam CV-36.

  • January 24, 1953 to September 21, 1953:
    The Squadron took the name of "The Fighting Aces" and deployed with their Goodyear F4U-4 Corsairs to the Korean War, this time aboard the United States Ship Princton CVA-37.

  • February 1955:
    Squadron aircraft flew night surveillance operations from the "Fighting Lady the United States Ship Yorktown CVA-10 supporting the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands.

  • March 1958:
    Due to revolts and unsettled conditions in Indonesia and the concern for the safety of Americans in the country, United States Ship Hornet CVA 12 with the VF-152 Friendlies embarked, departed Hong Kong to operate in the South China Sea.

  • September through October 1958:
    Due to the crisis between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists surrounding the Quemoy Islands, and the bombardment of these islands by the Chinese Communists, CVA 20, the United States Ship Bennington, with VF-152 embarked, operated in the area of Taiwan.

  • January 1961:
    Due to the crisis in Laos and the capture of strategic positions in the country by the Pathet Lao force, United States Ship Coral Sea CVA 43, with VA-152 embarked, was directed to operate in the South China Sea.

  • July 11 & 12, 1962:
    The Friendlies participated in the first carrier flight operations in the Bering Sea since the end of World War II.

  • April 22 through December 1, 1964:
    VA-152 with 20 of A-1H and A-1J Skyraiders, was sent to Bien Hoa Air Force Base, South Vietnam, to train South Vietnamese pilots to fly the Skyraider. A detachment, VA-152 Det Zulu, was left at Naval Air Station Alameda. While operating in South Vietnam the Squadron came under the control of Chief, Air Force Advisory Group, Saigon. On August 1, 1964 the squadron (VA-152) based at Bien Hoa was redesignated VA-152 Det Zulu and the detachment at Naval Air Station Alameda was designated VA-152. VA-152 Det Zulu continued to train South Vietnamese pilots until December 1, 1964.
    Comments by Dave Fox.

  • April 5 to December 16, 1965:
    the Friendlies with A-1H and A-1J Skyraiders embarked with CVW-16 on United States Ship Oriskany CVA 34 to the South China Sea near Vietnam.

    Patch from Dave Fox
  • November 6 & 7, 1965:
    Commander Gordon H. Smith was awarded the Silver Star for his participation as Flight Leader in directing and assisting in the first night rescue of a downed aviator in enemy territory on 6 November. This was followed by an attempt to rescue another aviator the following day in the same area.

  • November 7, 1965:
    Lieutenant Gordon C. Wileen was awarded the Silver Star for his participation in an attempted air rescue of a downed aviator deep in enemy territory.

  • November 13, 1965:
    Commander Albert E. Knutson was awarded the Silver Star for his attempt to locate and rescue a downed pilot in enemy territory. During the rescue attempt his aircraft sustained 26 hits.

  • May 26 to November 16, 1966:
    VA152 with A-1H Skyraiders embarked with CVW-16 on United States Ship Oriskany CVA 34 to the South China Sea near Vietnam.

  • October 26, 1966:
    While on Yankee Station and preparing to launch her first strike of the day United States Ship Oriskany CVA 34 suffered a disastrous fire on the starboard side of the forward hangar bay. The squadron lost two personnel in the fire and the damage to the carrier was so extensive that it returned to the States for repairs.

  • June 16, 1967 to January 31, 1968:
    The Friendlies with A-1H and A-1J Skyraiders embarked with CVW-16 on United States Ship Oriskany CVA 34 to the South China Sea near Vietnam.

  • February 1968:
    The VA-152 Friendlies were assigned a mixed bag of Douglas A-4B Skyhawk and Douglas A-4C Skyhawk aircraft.

  • May 1969:
    VA-152 replaced the A-4B and A-4C Skyhawks with Douglas A-4E Skyhawks.

  • January 29, 1971:
    Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO (VA-152) disestablished.

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Awards:
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • Presidential Unit Citation
    • 1943
  • Korean Service Medal
    • 10-04-51 to 04-15-52
    • 02-27-53 to 05-16-53
    • 05-29-53 to 09-07-53
  • Navy Unit Commendation
    • 03-13-53 to 05-15-53
    • 06-11-53 to 07-27-53
    • 05-10-65 to 12-06-65
    • 06-12-66 to 11-01-66
    • 07-14-67 to 12-12-68
  • AFEM
    • 11-24-58 to 12-03-58
    • 09-14-59 to 09-17-59
    • 04-25-61 to 04-28-61
    • 04-30-61 to 05-01-61
    • 05-04-61 to 05-09-61
    • 01-12-62 to 01-19-62
    • 01-24-62 to 01-27-62
    • 04-22-64 to 07-31-64
    • 05-07-65 to 06-02-65
    • 06-10-65 to 07-03-65
    • 09-17-65 to 09-18-65
  • AFEM (VA 152 Det Z)
    • 07-31-64 to 09-01-64
  • MUC
    • 04-11-70 to 11-06-70
  • VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
    • 07-04-65 to 07-18-65
    • 08-09-65 to 09-11-65
    • 10-28-65 to 11-27-65
    • 07-06-66
    • 08-07-66 to 09-08-66
    • 09-24-66 to 10-26-66
    • 04-10-70 to 05-02-70
    • 05-12-70 to 05-29-70
    • 06-13-70 to 07-04-70
    • 07-28-70 to 08-19-70
    • 08-30-70 to 09-30-70
    • 10-20-70 to 11-07-70
  • RVNGC

    Sources of information:
    • Jack Cain
    • Harry S. Gann
    • Warren A. Harms
    • Masaaki Hayakawa
    • John W. Hayes
    • Takafumie Hiroe
    • Ernie Shuldhiess
    • Bob Stanek
    • Dave Fox
    • Gary Verver



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