VA-216 Black Diamonds

30 MAR 1955 - - - Naval Air Station Moffett Field SEP 1961: - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore 01 AUG 1968 - - - Naval Air Station Alameda Back to Table of Contents

Air Wings

30 MAR 1955: - - - Z*/ND** - - - - - ATG-4 01 JUL 1959: - - - NP - - - - - - - CVG-21 01 SEP 1966: - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA 01 FEB 1967: - - - AC - - - - - - - CVW-3 09 DEC 1967: - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA 1968: - - - - - - - **** - - - - - - CVW-15 1969: - - - - - - - AA - - - - - - - CVW-17 * The tail code Z for Air Task Group 4 (ATG-4) was assigned on July 24, 1956. ** The tail code was changed from Z to ND in July 1957. *** ATG-4 was disestablished on January 19, 1959. VA-216 was assigned to CVG-21 on July 1, 1959 but was not an active part of the Air Group until its return from deployment in December 1959. **** VA-216 probably joined CVW-15 upon the air wing's return from its deployment in April 1968.

Back to Table of Contents

Deployments

19 MAR 56 to 13 SEP 56: ATG-4- - CVA 10 - AD-4B/NA - WestPac 06 JAN 58 to 02 JUL 58: ATG-4- - CVA 12 - AD-7 - WestPac 21 AUG 58 to 12 JAN 59: ATG-4- - CVA 20 - AD-6 - WestPac 29 OCT 60 to 06 JUN 61: CVG-21 - CVA 16 - FJ-4B- WestPac 02 FEB 62 to 24 AUG 62: CVG-21 - CVA 19 - FJ-4B- WestPac 07 JUN 63 to 16 DEC 63: CVG-21 - CVA 19 - A-4C - WestPac 21 OCT 64 to 29 MAY 65: CVW-21 - CVA 19 - A-4C - WestPac/Vietnam 10 NOV 65 to 01 AUG 66: CVW-21 - CVA 19 - A-4C - WestPac/Vietnam 01 MAY 67 to 06 DEC 67: CVW-3- - CVA 60 - A-4B - Med 07 SEP 68 to 18 APR 69: CVW-15 - CVA 43 - A-4C - WestPac/Vietnam 02 DEC 69 to 08 JUL 70: CVW-17 - CVA 59 - A-4E - Med

Back to Table of Contents

Aircraft

APR 1955 - - - Douglas AD-4 Skyraider. APR 1955 - - - Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider. MAY 1955 - - - Douglas AD-5 Skyraider. JUL 1955 - - - Douglas AD-4B Skyraider. OCT 1956 - - - Douglas AD-7 Skyraider. JUL 1958 - - - Douglas AD-6 Skyraider. 10 FEB 1959: - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 01 JUL 1959: - North American FJ-4B Fury. 18 JUL 1963: - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 31 AUG 1966: - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 13 JUN 1969: - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 7 MAY 1969 - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk. * November 30, 1962 The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C The A4D-5 designation was changed to A-4E

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit

Back to Table of Contents

Commanding Officers

30 MAR 1955: - CDR Frank W. Ault SEP 1956 - - - CDR Hope Strong, Jr. 13 FEB 1959: - CDR W. E. Payne, Jr. 01 JUL 1959: - CDR L. F. Baumgaertel 09 OCT 1959: - CDR M. E. Stewart 05 JUL 1961: - CDR T. M. Smyer 02 DEC 1961: - CDR R. W. Galt (acting) 06 JAN 1962: - CDR G. W. Bailey 31 DEC 1962: - CDR J. R. Anderson 10 NOV 1963: - CDR J. W. Miller 07 NOV 1964: - CDR R. E. Schwoeffermann OCT 1965 - - - CDR Carl Birdwell, Jr. 21 OCT 1966: - CDR Robert S. Moore 10 OCT 1967: - CDR James J. Tyson 17 DEC 1968: - CDR James B. Busey IV 19 SEP 1969: - CDR Roger A. Massey, Jr.

Back to Table of Contents

Events

30 MAR 1955:
Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VA-216) established at Naval Air Station Moffett Field. The Black Diamonds were assigned the Douglas AD-4 Skyraider.

19 MAR to 13 SEP 1956:
VA-216 flying the Douglas AD-4 Skyraider deployed with ATG-4 aboard United States Ship Yorktown CVA 10 to cruise the western Pacific seas.

MAY 1955:
The Black Diamonds were assigned the Douglas AD-5 Skyraider.

06 JAN to 02 JUL 1958:
VA-216 flying the Douglas AD-7 Skyraider deployed with ATG-4 aboard United States Ship Hornet CVA 12 to cruise the western Pacific seas.

21 AUG 1958 to 12 JAN 1959:
VA-216 flying the Douglas AD-6 Skyraider deployed with ATG-4 aboard United States Ship Bennington CVA 20 to cruise the western Pacific seas.

SEP 1958:
VA-216, embarked in Bennington, operated in the Formosa Straits during the Chinese Communist shelling of Quemoy and Matsu.

16 FEB 1959:
The Black Diamonds were assigned the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.

01 JUL 1959:
The Commander of the Naval Air Force in the Pacific reorganized VA-216 and VA-192 by swapping aircraft and personnel. Normally this would be accomplished by redesignating the two squadrons but in a weird display of administration, VA-192 commanding officer, Commander Baumgaertel, became commanding officer of VA-216 and all other personnel assigned to VA-192 were reassigned to VA-216. Likewise the commanding officer of VA-216 and all other VA-216 personnel were reassigned to VA-192; the two squadron's aircraft were likewise swapped thus the squadron was assigned the North American FJ-4B Fury..

29 OCT 1960 to 06 JUN 1961:
VA-216 flying the North American FJ-4B Fury deployed with CVG-21 aboard United States Ship Lexington CVA 16 to cruise the western Pacific.

02 FEB to 24 AUG 1962:
VA-216 flying the North American FJ-4B Fury deployed with CVG-21 aboard United States Ship Hancock CVA 19 to cruise the western Pacific.

APR 1962:
VA-216 flying from Hancock, operated off the coast of South Vietnam during the arrival of the first USMC advisor unit in the Republic of Vietnam.

04 SEP 1962:
The Black Diamonds were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk.

07 JUN to 16 DEC 1963:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk deployed with CVG-21 aboard United States Ship Hancock CVA 19 to cruise the western Pacific.

NOV 1963:
Embarked in United States Ship Hancock CVA 19, the Black Diamonds flew the A-4C Skyhawk as they did throughout the war. The Hancock operated off the coast of South Vietnam following the coup that overthrew President Diem.

21 OCT 1964 to 29 MAY 1965:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed with CVW-21 aboard United States Ship Hancock CVA 19 to combat in WestPac/Vietnam.

29 DEC 1964 to MAY 1965:
VA-216 participated in Yankee Team operations, armed reconnaissance flights over Laos, and Barrel Roll operations, armed reconnaissance and strike missions in eastern Laos covering the infiltration routes used by the Communists.

30 DEC 1964:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149625 was lost in an accident --- the pilot perished.

07 FEB 1965:
VA-216 participated in Flaming Dart I operations, striking the Dong Hoi Barracks. These reprisal attacks against targets in North Vietnam were in response to the shelling of an American advisors compound at Pleiku by the Viet Cong.

11 FEB 1965:
The Black Diamonds participated in Flaming Dart II operations, reprisal attacks against the barracks at Chanh Hoa, North Vietnam.

MAR to MAY 1965:
VA-216 engaged in the Rolling Thunder campaign, strikes against designated military targets in North Vietnam.

03 MAR 1965:
LT Thomas F. Mineau was killed while landing Skyhawk BuNo 149612 aboard the USS Hancock CVA-19. During what appeared to be a normal approach to the ship, radio and radar contact was lost with the aircraft when it was 12 miles from the ship.

03 APR 1965:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148557 was shot down over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander R. A. Vohden, ejected, was captured by the North Vietnamese, and made Prisioner of War.

10 NOV 1965 to 01 AUG 1966:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed with CVW-21 aboard United States Ship Hancock CVA 19 to combat in WestPac/Vietnam.

MAR 1966:
VA-216 participated in Operation Jackstay, providing close air support for the amphibious operations that cleared the Rung Sat zone, the river channels, southeast of Saigon.

01 MAY 1966:
Lieutenant C.O. Tolbert was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during a combat mission over North Vietnam involving the Xom Dom Dien supply area and the sighting of a SAM missile battery which was destroyed in a later mission.

21 MAY 1966:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148474 NP 690 was shot down over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander O.F. Baldwin, ejected and was rescued.

17 JUN 1966:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149528 NP 693 was shot down over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lieutenant Paul E. Galanti, ejected, was captured by the North Vietnamese, and made Prisioner of War.

04 JUL 1966:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149616 NP 688 was shot down over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander O.F. Baldwin, ejected and was rescued.

07 JUL 1966:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148456 NP 685 was shot down over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander W. J. Isenhour, ejected and was rescued.

07 JUL 1966:
The Black Diamonds's commanding officer, Commander C. Birdwell, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in a strike against the Haiphong POL storage area.

08 JUL 1966:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149494 was lost in an accident --- the pilot survived.

02 MAY to 06 DEC 1967:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed with CVW-3 aboard United States Ship Saratoga CVA 60 to cruise the Mediterranean.

07 SEP 1968 to 18 APR 1969:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed with CVW-15 aboard United States Ship Coral Sea CVA 43 to combat in WestPac/Vietnam.

21 NOV 1968:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148608 was lost in an accident --- the pilot was killed.

03 JAN 1969:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147764 NL 610 was shot down over Laos. The pilot, Lieutenant Junior Grade R. M. Aaron, ejected and was rescued.

14 FEB 1969:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149529 NL 607 was shot down over Laos. The pilot, Lieutenant Junior Grade L. J. Stevens, was declaired "Missing in Action."
AND
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148547 NL 601 was shot down over Laos. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander J. F. Meeham, ejected and was rescued.

02 DEC 1969 to 08 AUG 1970:
VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk deployed with CVW-17 aboard United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59 to cruise the Mediterranean.

01 AUG 1970:
Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VA-216) disestablished.

Back to Table of Contents

Awards

Navy Expeditionary Medal
- July 1, 1957 to June 30, 1958

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- December 15, 1960 to December 24, 1960
- January 1, 1961 to January 8, 1961
- March 10, 1962 to March 14, 1962
- April 14, 1962 to April 16, 1962
- May 16, 1962 to May 18, 1962
- November 4, 1963 to November 10, 1963
- December 7, 1964 to May 4, 1965

Navy Unit Commendation
- December 6, 1965 to July 25, 1966
- October 10, 1968 to March 31, 1969

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry
- December 26, 1965
- December 28, 1965 to December 31, 1965
- January 2, 1966 to January 4, 1966
- January 9, 1966
- January 15, 1966 to January 19, 1966
- February 25, 1966 to February 26, 1966
- February 28, 1966 to March 5, 1966
- April 1, 1966 to April 2, 1966
- May 25, 1966
- June 24, 1966
- June 27, 1966 to June 29, 1966
- October 15, 1968
- October 17, 1968 to October 18, 1968
- October 21, 1968
- October 25, 1968 to October 27, 1968
- November 14, 1968 to November 16, 1968
- November 23, 1968
- November 25, 1968
- December 1, 1968 to December 2, 1968
- December 4, 1968 to December 5, 1968
- December 30, 1968
- January 1, 1969 to January 3, 1969
- January 5 1969
- January 7, 1969 to January 10, 1969
- January 14, 1969 to January 19, 1969
- January 22, 1969
- January 24, 1969
- January 26, 1969
- February 9, 1969 to February 20, 1969
- February 22, 1969 to March 3, 1969
- March 19, 1969 to March 31, 1969

Vietnam Service Medal
- December 17, 1965 to January 23, 1966
- February 11, 1966 to March 6, 1966
- March 21, 1966 to April 10, 1966
- April 27, 1966 to July 9, 1966
- December 29, 1968 to January 30, 1969
- February 8, 1969 to March 3, 1969
- March 19, 1969 to March 30, 1969
- Back to Table of Contents
Sources
- Paul Galanti
- Harry S. Gann
- Warren A. Harms
- Takafumi Hiroe
- Clay Jansson
- Tailhook Association
Return To The Navy Squadrons Page