The VA-172 Blue Bolts


VBF-82, VF-18A &
VF-172 Checkmates - 1946
VF-172 & VA-172 Blue Bolts - 1950 to 1971
Courtesy Tailhook Association


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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 here.

The Table Of Content:
Patch:
  • The chess piece patch was used from June 12, 1946 until October 19, 1950. This patch is displayed at the top of this page.
  • The Blue Bolt design was the second patch and it was used from October 19, 1950 until the squadron was disestablished on January 15, 1971. This patch is displayed at the top of this page.
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Handle:
Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
Heritage:
  • August 20, 1945, Bomber Fighter Squadron EIGHTY TWO (VBF-82) established.
  • November 15, 1946, VBF-82 was redesignated as VF-18A - Fighter Squadron EIGHTEEN A.
  • August 11, 1948, VF-18A was redesignated as VF-172 - Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO.
  • November 1, 1955, VF-172 was redesignated as VA-172 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO.
  • January 15, 1971, VA-172 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO disestablished.
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Commanders:
  • August 20, 1945 - - - - LT Benjamin T. Pugh (acting)
  • September 10, 1945- - - LCDR Jacob W. Onstott
  • May 28, 1946- - - - - - LCDR Pierre N. Charbonnet, Jr.
  • February 12, 1948 - - - LCDR V. P. de Poix
  • April 19, 1950- - - - - LCDR C. A. Blouin
  • March 15, 1951- - - - - LCDR Marvin E. Barnett
  • June 17, 1952 - - - - - LCDR James B. Cain
  • August 4, 1954- - - - - LT R. P. McCloskey (acting)
  • August 26, 1954 - - - - CDR Glenn G. Estes, Jr.
  • October 31, 1955- - - - CDR Robert M. McConnell, Jr.
  • April 25, 1957- - - - - LCDR F. A. Fox (acting)
  • June 10, 1957 - - - - - CDR Robert J. Robison
  • July 25, 1958 - - - - - LCDR Henry O. Cutler
  • September 21, 1959- - - CDR Arthur Barker, Jr.
  • December 19, 1960 - - - CDR John D. Kidd
  • December 19, 1961 - - - CDR William S. Stewart
  • December 19, 1962 - - - CDR M. Blaylock
  • December 9, 1963- - - - CDR E. D. Herbert
  • December 8, 1964- - - - CDR K. A. Burrows
  • December 23, 1965 - - - CDR Bruce A. Nystrom
  • December 3, 1966- - - - CDR Robert D. Harris, Jr.
  • November 24, 1967 - - - CDR Thomas A. Francis
  • November 27, 1968 - - - CDR John D. Yamnicky
  • October 31, 1969- - - - CDR Conrad B. Olson
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Home Ports:
  • Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • August 20, 1945 - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda
  • January 15, 1946- - - - Naval Air Station Quonset Point
  • March 4, 1949 - - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cecil Field
  • March 24, 1950- - - - - Naval Air Station Jacksonville
  • February 22, 1958 - - - Naval Air Station Cecil Field
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Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • August 20, 1945 - - R*- - - - - - - CVG-82 / CVAG-17**
  • July 21, 1951 - - - S - - - - - - - CVG-6
  • March 25, 1952- - - R - - - - - - - CVG-17
  • 1957*** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE
  • March 15, 1958- - - AB- - - - - - - CVG-1 / CVW-1****
  • August 25, 1968 - - AJ- - - - - - - CVW-8
  • *December 12, 1946, the tail code R was assigned to CVAG-17.
  • **November 15, 1946, CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17; And CVAG-17 was redesignated CVG-17, September 1, 1948.
  • ***In early 1957, the squadron was transferred from CVG-17 and operational control was assigned to COMFAlRJACKSONVILLE.
  • ****December 20, 1963 CVG-1 was redesignated CVW-1 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW).
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 10-22-46 to 12-21-46 - CVG-82*- CV 15- - - F4U-4- - Mediterranean
  • 02-02-47 to 03-19-47 - CVAG-17- CV 15- - - F4U-4- - Caribbean
  • 06-07-48 to 08-06-48 - CVG-17 - CVB 43 - - F4U-4- - Mediterranean/Caribbean
  • 01-04-49 to 03-05-49 - CVG-17 - CVB 41 - - F4U-4- - Mediterranean
  • 09-09-50 to 02-01-51 - CVG-17 - CVB 43 - - F2H-2- - Mediterranean
  • 07-21-51 to 03-25-52 - CVG-5- - CV 9** - - F2H-2- - WestPac/Korea
  • 08-26-52 to 12-19-52 - CVG-17 - CVA 42 - - F2H-2- - NorLant/Mediterranean
  • 09-16-53 to 05-01-54 - CVG-17 - CYA 18 - - F2H-2- - World Cruise
  • 03-05-55 to 09-29-55 - CVG-17 - CVA 43 - - F2H-2- - Mediterranean
  • 02-13-59 to 09-01-59 - CVG-1- - CVA 42 - - A4D-2- - Mediterranean
  • 01-28-60 to 08-24-60 - CVG-1- - CVA 42 - - A4D-2- - Mediterranean
  • 02-15-61 to 08-28-61 - CVG-1- - CVA 42 - - A4D-2- - Mediterranean
  • 11-19-61 to 11-30-61 - CVG-1- - CVA 42 - - A4D-2N - Caribbean
  • 09-14-62 to 04-22-63 - CVG-1- - CVA 42 - - A-4C - - Mediterranean
  • 04-28-64 to 12-22-64 - CVW-1- - CVA 42***- A-4C - - Mediterranean
  • 06-28-65 to 12-17-65 - CVW-1- - CVA 42 - - A-4C - - Mediterranean
  • 06-21-66 to 02-21-67 - CVW-1- - CVA 42 - - A-4C - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 08-24-67 to 05-19-68 - CVW-1- - CVA 42 - - A-4C - - Mediterranean
  • 01-07-69 to 07-29-69 - CVW-8- - CVA 38 - - A-4C - - Mediterranean
  • 03-05-70 to 12-17-70 - CVW-8- - CVS 38 - - A-4C - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • *CVG-82 was redesignated CVAG-17.
  • **The squadron departed Naval Air Station San Diego on July 16, 1951 embarked on United States Ship Antietam (CV 36) and arrived in Hawaii on 20 July. On July 21, VA-172 embarked on United States Ship Essex (CV 9) on a combat cruise to Korea.
  • ***In October 1964, United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) returned to the United States for emergency propeller repair. During repair the squadron was based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. The FDR and Blue Bolts returned to the Mediterranean following the repair.
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Photograph Albums:
Squadron Photograph Album
Squadron Off-Duty Album (empty)
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Events:
  • August 20, 1945:
    Bomber Fighter Squadron EIGHTY TWO (VBF-82) established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. VBF-82 was assigned the Grumman F6F Hellcat.

  • September 6, 1945:
    VBF-82 was assigned the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I.

  • January 15, 1946:
    VFB-82 was stationed at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

  • October 22, 1946 through December 19, 1947:
    VFB-82 flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I embarked on United States Ship Randolph CV-15, for its first cruise. This tour was to the Mediterranean theater.

  • November 15, 1946:
    VBF-82 was redesignated as VF-18A - Fighter Squadron EIGHTEEN A.

  • 1946:
    VF-18A was assigned the Grumman F8F Bearcat.

  • February 2, 1947 through March 19, 1947:
    VF-18A flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I embarked on United States Ship Randolph CV-15, for its second cruise. This tour was to the Caribbean.

  • June 7, 1948 through August 6, 1948:
    VF-18A flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I embarked on United States Ship Coral Sea CVB-43, for its third cruise. This tour was to the Mediterranean and Caribbean theaters.

  • August 11, 1948:
    VF-18A was redesignated as VF-172 - Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO.

  • January 4, 1949 through March 5, 1949:
    VF-172 flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I embarked on United States Ship Midway CVB-41, for its fourth cruise. This tour was to the Mediterranean theater.

  • March 4, 1949:
    VF-172 was stationed at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. VF-172 was assigned the McDonnell FH-1 Phantom I.

  • March 24, 1950:
    VF-172 was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

  • September 9, 1950 through February 1, 1951:
    VF-172 flying the McDonnell F2H-1 Banshee embarked on United States Ship Coral Sea CVB-43, for its fifth cruise. This tour was to the Mediterranean theater.

  • July 16, 1951 through March 25, 1952:
    The squadron departed Naval Air Station San Diego on July 16, 1951 embarked on United States Ship Antietam CV-36. Antietam arrived in Hawaii on July 20. On July 21, VA-172 flying the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee, embarked on United States Ship Essex CV-9, for its sixth cruise and its first combat cruise to WestPac/Korea.
  • August 23, 1951:
    VF-172 conducted its first Korean War combat sorties in the F2H-2 McDonnell Banshee.

  • August 25, 1951:
    The squadron's F2H-2 aircraft, along with F9F Panthers from VF-51, provided escort for thirty U.S. Air Force B-29 bombers raiding the marshaling yards at Rashin, North Korea.

  • August 26, 1952 through December 19, 1952:
    VF-172 flying the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its seventh cruise. This was a tour to the NorLant/Mediterranean theater.

  • September 16, 1953 through May 1, 1954:
    VF-172 flying the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee embarked on United States Ship Wasp CVA-18, for its eighth cruise. This was a World Cruise.

  • March 5, 1955 through September 29, 1955:
    VF-172 flying the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee embarked on United States Ship Coral Sea CVA-43, for its ninth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • November 1, 1955:
    VF-172 was redesignated as VA-172 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO.

  • November & December 1956:
    United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, with VA-172 embarked, deployed off the coast of Spain during the Suez Canal crisis, for its tenth cruise.

  • December 16, 1957:
    VA-172 was assigned the Douglas A4D-l (A-4A) Skyhawk.

  • February 22, 1958:
    VA-172 was stationed at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

  • May 1958:
    VA-172 was assigned the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.

  • February 13, 1959 through September 1, 1959:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its eleventh cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • January 28, 1960 through August 24, 1960:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its twelfth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • February 15, 1961 through August 28, 1961:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its thirteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • September 6, 1961:
    VA-172 was assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk.

  • November 19, 1961 through November 30, 1961:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its fourteenth cruise supporting the newly established Dominican Republic democratic government. This was a tour to the Caribbean.

  • February & March 1962:
    The Blue Bolts flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, deployed aboard United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65, on a shake-down cruise in the Caribbean.

  • September 14, 1962 through April 22, 1963:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its fifteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • May 1963:
    VA-172, on United States Ship Roosevelt CVA-42, supported the Haitian government in response to a rebel attack on the government.

  • April 14, 1964 through December 22, 1964:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its sixteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • August 1964:
    VA-172, on Roosevelt, patrolled near the island of Cyprus after fighting erupted between Turkish and forces on the island.

  • June 28, 1965 through December 17, 1965:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its sixteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • June 21, 1966 through February 21, 1967:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its seventeenth cruise. This was the first combat tour to the WestPac/Vietnam theater.

  • August 1966:
    VA-172, on United States Ship Roosevelt CVA-42 and flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, commenced combat operations in Vietnam.

  • December 2, 1966:
    Commander Bruce A. Nystrom, VA-172's Commanding Officer, was lost in a night reconnaissance mission over the Red River Delta in North Vietnam.

  • December 18, 1966:
    LtCdr. Ed W.Oehlbeck was wounded over North vietnam while flying A-4C BuNo.148608. He bingoed to Da Nang and safely landed his aircraft. The a/c was returned to the ship on 12/19/1966 by Dale Content, Ohehlbeck's wingman.

  • August 24, 1967 through May 19, 1968:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, for its eighteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • January 7, 1969 through August 29, 1969:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Shangri-La CVA 38, for its nineteenth cruise. This was a tour to the Mediterranean theater.

  • March 5, 1970 through December 17, 1970:
    VA-172 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, embarked on United States Ship Shangri-La CVA 38, for its twentieth cruise. This was the first combat tour to the WestPac/Vietnam theater.

  • January 15, 1971:
    Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO was disestablished.

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Awards:
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • Navy Unit Commendation
    • 08-21-51 to 03-05-52
  • Korean Service Medal
    • 08-13-51 to 03-05-52
  • Navy Expeditionary Medal
  • 11-20-61 to 11-29-61
  • MIJC
    • 04-11-70 to 11-06-70
  • Republic of Vietnam GC
    • 21 Oct 1966
  • Vietnam Service Medal
    • 07-30-66
    • 07-09-66 to 09-12-66
    • 10-01-66 to 10-03-66
    • 10-19-66 to 11-14-66
    • 11-24-66 to 12-28-66
    • 01-20-67 to 01-21-67
    • 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

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    Sources of information:
    • Harry S. Gann
    • Masaaki Hayakawa
    • Bob Hinckley
    • Takafumie Hiroe
    • Captain David Jaynes, USNR (Ret.)
    • The Tailhook Association

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