The
VA-56 Champions
The Squadron Duty Officer
(SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help
old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit
information. The
SDO List.
The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related
information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all
eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.
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The Champions - 1956
Patch drawn by Bud Southworth
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Patch
- June 1956:
Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56) inaugurated a superbly designed patch
that remained viable throughout the squadron's 30-year history and it's
numerous assigned aircraft. A yellow boomerang with a dark blue speed
arrow and black electron rings represent the squadron jet attack
capabilities using modern electronic equipment. This patch is displayed
above.
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Handle
Heritage
- June 4, 1956, Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56),
established at Naval Air Station Miramar, California.
- August 31, 1986, Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56),
disestablished at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
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Home Ports
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
- Jun 1956 - - - - - - Naval Air Station
Miramar
- Jun 1961 - - - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore
- Jun 1973 - - - - - - Naval Station Yokosuka/Midway CV
41)*
- May 1986 - - - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore
- * Under the Overseas Home Port Program,
VA-56 and CVW-5 were permanently based aboard United States Ship Midway
CV-41 and home ported with the carrier at Naval Station Yokosuka,
Japan. The homeport was officially changed on June 30, 1973. However,
Midway did not arrive in Japan until 5 October. Elements of VA-56, when
not operating from Midway, were based ashore at Naval Air Facility
Atsugi or Misawa, Japan.
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Air Wings
Date - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - Air Wing
- Jun 4, 1956 - - - S/NF†- - - - CVG-5/CVW-5*
- Jul 1, 1966 - - - NG - - - - - CVW-9
- Oct 1968- - - - - B- - - - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA
- Jun 9, 1969 - - - NE - - - - - CVW-2
- Jun 1, 1970 - - - NF - - - - - CVW-5
- * Carrier Air Groups were redesignated
Carrier Air Wings on December 20, 1963, hence, CVG-5 became CVW-5.
- † CVG-5's tail code was changed from S to NF,
probably in July 1957.
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Deployments
Departure & Return - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft
- - Area of Operations:
- 07/12/57 - 12/09/57 - CVG-5 - CVA 31 -
F9F-8 - WestPac
- 03/06/60 - 10/10/60 - CVG-5 - CVA 14 - A4D-2 -
WestPac
- 05/10/61 - 01/15/62 - CVG-5 - CVA14 - A4D-2 --
WestPac
- 01/03/63 - 07/15/63 - CVG-5 - CVA 14 - A-4B --
WestPac
- 04/14/64 - 12/15/64 - CVW-5 - CVA 14 - A-4E --
WestPac/Vietnam
- 09/28/65 - 05/13/66 - CVW-5 - CVA 14 - A-4E --
WestPac/Vietnam
- 11/19/66 - 07/06/67 - CVW-9 - CVAN 65 - A-4C -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 01/03/68 - 07/18/68 - CVW-9 - CVAN 65 - A-4E -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 10/14/69 - 06/01/70 - CVW-2 - CVA 61 - A-7B -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 04/16/71 - 11/06/71 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7B -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 04/10/72 - 03/03/73 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7B -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 09/11/73 - 10/05/73 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac*
- 11/26/73 - 12/22/73 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 01/29/74 - 03/06/74 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 10/18/74 - 12/20/74 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 01/13/75 - 03/18/75 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 03/31/75 - 05/29/75 - CVW-5 - CVA 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 10/04/75 - 12/19/75 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac/IO
- 03/13/76 - 04/26/76 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 05/19/76 - 06/22/76 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 07/09/76 - 08/04/76 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 11/01/76 - 12/17/76 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 01/11/77 - 03/01/77 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7A -
WestPac
- 03/19/77 - 09/02/77 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac†
- 09/27/77 - 12/21/77 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac/IO
- 04/11/78 - 05/23/78 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 11/09/78 - 12/23/78 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 01/11/79 - 02/20/79 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 04/07/79 - 06/18/79 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E - IO
- 08/20/79 - 09/14/79 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 09/30/78 - 02/20/80 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E - IO
- 07/14/80 - 11/26/80 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac/IO
- 02/23/81 - 06/05/81 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac/IO
- 06/26/81 - 07/16/81 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 09/03/81 - 10/06/81 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 04/26/82 - 06/18/82 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 09/14/82 - 12/11/82 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
NorPac/WestPac
- 06/02/83 - 08/13/83 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 10/25/83 - 12/11/83 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 12/28/83 - 05/23/84 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E - IO
- 10/15/84 - 12/12/84 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 02/01/85 - 10/14/85 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
IO/WestPac
- 11/15/85 - 12/12/85 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac
- 01/17/86 - 03/30/86 - CVW-5 - CV 41 - A-7E -
WestPac**
- * The squadron and United States Ship
Midway CVA 41 arrived at their new homeport, Naval Station Yokosuka,
Japan. Since the squadron was permanently forward deployed all future
deployments for the squadron will cover only those operations outside
the home waters of Japan.
- † The squadron was shore based at Naval Air Station
Cubi Point during the latter part of April to August 1977 undergoing
transitional training in the A-7E.
- **The squadron returned to CONUS in May 1986,
ending
its overseas basing assignment.
-
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Aircraft
Date Type First Received - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
Commanding Officers
Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
- Jun 1956 - - - - - CDR Richard O.
Devine
- Dec 1957 - - - - - CDR C. G. Mitchell
- Dec 1958 - - - - - LCDR R. L. Walker
- Dec 1959 - - - - - CDR R. McBride
- Jan 1961 - - - - - CDR W. H. Hoover
- Jan 1962 - - - - - CDR James A. Homyak
- Mar 1963 - - - - - CDR Donald L. Campbell
- Feb 1964 - - - - - CDR Wesley L. McDonald
- Mar 1965 - - - - - CDR William G. Nealon
- Feb 1966 - - - - - CDR Carl Ray Smith, Jr.
- Mar 1967 - - - - - CDR Peter W. Sherman
- Jun 1967 - - - - - CDR Ernest R. Seymour
- Jul 1968 - - - - - CDR John L. Nicholson, Jr.
- Dec 1969 - - - - - CDR Joseph E. Potosnak
- Oct 1970 - - - - - CDR John W. Weed
- Aug 1971 - - - - - CDR Neil L. Harvey
- Aug 1972 - - - - - CDR Walter Lewis Chatham
- Aug 1973 - - - - - CDR Charles G. Andres
- Jul 1974 - - - - - CDR Ronald N. Artim
- Sep 1975 - - - - - CDR Gary L. Starbird
- Dec 1976 - - - - - CDR Robert E. Smith
- Mar 1978 - - - - - CDR Roger P. Flower
- Jun 1979 - - - - - CDR Leon C. Bryant
- Aug 1980 - - - - - CDR Charles S. Mitchell IV
- Dec 1981 - - - - - CDR Edwin E. Shipe III
- Mar 1983 - - - - - CDR Garold S. McDaniel
- Jul 1984 - - - - - CDR Paul R. Statskey
- Jan 1986 - - - - - CDR J. R. Hutchison
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Contents
Events
- June 4, 1956:
Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56), established at Naval Air Station
Miramar, California.
- November 1959:
"Top Gun" all-Navy -MarCorps Weapons meet at Yuma, conducted by FAGU
(Fleet Air Gunnery Unit) stationed at El Centro.
- June, 1960 VA-56 becomes "Light Attack Bombing
Champions" of the Navy. Information provided by Jerry Shelley via Scott
Turchin.
- For a 1960 CVA-14 cruise, off-loaded most all
other
attack A/C and on-loaded 78 Marine Corp A4D's. This rememberance from
Jerry Shelley via Scott Turchin.
Anyone else have information about this evolution?
- October 25 through 31, 1961:
VA-56 Champions participated in Operation Crosstie with HMS Victorious
(R-38), conducting flight operations from the deck of Victorious to
evaluate the compatibility of USN/RN aircraft, armament, and handling
facilities.
- July 16 through September 15, 1962:
The Champions were embarked in United States Ship Constellation CVA 64
during her transit from the East Coast, via Cape Horn, to her new home
port on the West Coast.
- Jan. 07, 1963 through July 15, 1963:
Ticonderoga 07 Jan 1963 to 15 July 1963 with A-4C's modex 40x's.
- April 14, 1964 through December 15, 1964:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-4E Skyhawks (modex40x) embarked with
Carrier Air Wing 5 on United States Ship Ticonderoga CVA 14 to WestPac
and the Champs first Vietnam combat cruise.
- July 1964:
VA-56 Champion A-4E Skyhawks participated in special Yankee Team
operations, providing aerial refueling support and experimenting with
the tactic of employing A-4Es as armed escorts for the RF-8 and RA-3
reconnaissance aircraft flying missions over Laos and South Vietnam to
detect Communist military presence and operations.
- August 2 through 4, 1964:
During a Desoto Patrol mission (intelligence collection missions begun
in 1962) United States Ship Maddox DD 731 was attacked by three motor
torpedo boats on 2 August off the coast of North Vietnam. Following
this incident, the Champs flew sorties in support of the destroyers on
Desoto Patrol.
- August 5, 1964:
Champion Skyhawks participated in Pierce Arrow, retaliatory strikes
against the North Vietnamese. Along with other aircraft from CVW-5,
they were part of the first sortie that struck the antiaircraft gun
emplacements at the Vinh oil storage facility. Ninety percent of the
complex was destroyed by the sorties flown against this facility. The
Champs also participated in strikes against the Ben Thuy naval base,
resulting in the sinking and destruction of several torpedo boats.
- October 10 through 29; November 1 through 5 and
22
through 28, 1964:
The Champs continued to participate in special Yankee Team operations
off the coast of Vietnam.
- September 28, 1965 through May 13, 1966:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-4E Skyhawks (modex 46x) embarked with
Carrier Air Wing 5 on United States Ship Ticonderoga CVA 14 to WestPac
and the Champs second Vietnam combat cruise.
- December 5, 1965:
"While the USS TICONDEROGA is en route from operations off Vietnam to
Yokosuka, Japan, an A-4E aircraft of VA-56 loaded with one B43 nuclear
weapon goes overboard. The aircraft was being rolled from the number 2
hangar bay to the number 2 elevator when it rolled off the elevator
with the pilot LTJG D. M.
Webster and the bomb and sank in 2700 fathoms of water. A
search fails to find the pilot. The Department of Defense states this
accident took place "more than 500 miles from land" when it reveals the
accident in 1981. However, Navy documents show the accident occurred
about 80 miles east of the Japanese Ryuku Island chain and 250 miles
south of Kyushu Island, Japan, and about 200 miles east of Okinawa."
Quoted from U.S.S. Ticonderoga Site
Skyhawk BuNo.151022 was the aircraft involved in this incident.
- February 7, 1966:
Lieutenant Commander Render Crayton was awarded the Silver Star (in
absentia) for his actions while engaged in a combat mission over North
Vietnam.
- 17 April 1966:
LCDR V.Q. Hough was flying BuNo.151058 when he was struck by AAA. The
LCDR ejected from the aircraft and was recovered.
- November 19, 1966 through August 6, 1967:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-4C Skyhawks embarked with Carrier Air Wing
9 on United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65 to WestPac and the Champs
third Vietnam combat cruise.
- June 10, 1967:
The squadron's commanding officer, Commander Peter Sherman, failed to
return from a strike in North Vietnam and was listed as missing in
action, presumed dead.
An update from "Viet Nam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson:
10 June 1967
A-4C 145145 VA-56, USN, USS Enterprise
CDR Peter Woodbury Sherman (KIA)
The series of raids on the Van Dien SAM support depot continued. CDR
Sherman was the CO of VA-56 and was leading an Iron Hand flight in
support of a raid on the depot. As CDR Sherman and his wingman reached
a point about 10 miles southwest of Hanoi they had to take evasive
action to avoid numerous SAMs that had been fired at them. During the
maneuvering the wingman lost sight of his leader. No ejection was seen
or SAR beeper heard but it was assumed that CDR Sherman's aircraft had
been the victim of an SA-2 missile and that he had been killed. The
remains of CDR Sherman were eventually handed over by the Vietnamese on
19 January 1991. Pete Sherman had only taken over command of the
squadron on 17 March 1967.
- January 3, 1968 through August 18, 1968:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-4E Skyhawks embarked with Carrier Air Wing
9 on United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65 to WestPac and the Champs
fourth Vietnam combat cruise.
- January and February 1968:
While embarked in United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65 and en route to
Yankee Station, the Enterprise was ordered to the Sea of Japan for
operations following the seizure of Pueblo (AGER 2) by the North
Koreans on 23 January.
- June 19, 1968:
Lieutenant Commander Crater received the Silver Star for his actions in
coordinating the successful night rescue of a downed F-4 Phantom
crewman in North Vietnam. This action was part of the rescue operations
in which helicopter pilot Lieutenant Lassen received the Medal of Honor
for his exploits.
- November 1, 1968:
The squadron's last A-4E Skyhawk was transferred and training began for
the transition to the A-7 Corsair II.
- October 14, 1969 through June 1, 1970:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-7B Corsair II embarked with Carrier Air
Wing 2 on United States Ship Ranger CVA 61 to WestPac and the Champs
fifth Vietnam combat cruise.
- April 16, 1971 through November 6, 1971:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-7B Corsair II embarked with Carrier Air
Wing 5 on United States Ship Midway CVA 41 to WestPac and the Champs
sixth Vietnam combat cruise.
- April 10, 1972 through March 3, 1973:
The VA-56 Champions flying A-7B Corsair II embarked with Carrier Air
Wing 5 on United States Ship Midway CVA 41 to WestPac and the Champs
seventh Vietnam combat cruise.
- May 12, 1972:
United States Ship Midway CVA 41, with the Champs embarked, shifted its
operations from the area of An Loc, South Vietnam to targets in North
Vietnam. It participated in the mining and interdiction of Haiphong
Harbor and North Vietnam's extensive coastal waterway system. This was
an extension of operation Pocket Money which was initiated on 9 May by
squadrons from United States Ship Kitty Hawk CVA 63 and United States
Ship Coral Sea CVA 43. It also participated in operation Linebacker I,
the concentration of heavy strikes against targets in North Vietnam to
interdict the flow of supplies into the country and reduce its ability
to prosecute the war. Linebacker I operations lasted until 22 October.
- April 29 and 30, 1975:
United States Ship Midway, including the Champions, participated in
operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American citizens from
Saigon, South Vietnam.
- August 1976:
VA-56, embarked in United States Ship Midway, operated in Korean waters
following the killing of two American officers in the DMZ by the North
Koreans.
- April and May 1979:
United States Ship Midway, with VA-56 embarked, deployed to the Gulf of
Aden to relieve United States Ship Constellation CV 64 and maintain a
U.S. carrier presence following the out break of fighting between North
and South Yemen and the fall of the Shah of Iran.
- October 1979:
As a response to anti-American demonstrations in Iran, United States
Ship Midway and its air wing, including VA-56, were ordered to deploy
to the Indian Ocean for the second time in 1979.
- November 1979 through February 1980:
Following the Iranian seizure of the American Embassy in Teheran and
the taking of American hostages on 4 November, United States Ship
Midway proceeded to the Gulf of Oman and remained on station until
relieved in early February 1980.
- May and June 1980:
United States Ship Midway, with VA-56 embarked, operated off the coast
of Korea due to the civil unrest in South Korea and the massacre of
several hundred people in the town of Kwangju.
- May 1986:
The Champions were reassigned to Naval Air Station Lemoore as a result
of the change in CVW-5's composition from A-7 and F-4 aircraft to
FA-18A. It began the transfer of its personnel and aircraft in
preparation for the disestablishment of the squadron on 31 August.
- August 31, 1986:
Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56) disestablished at Naval Air Station
Lemoore, California.
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Contents
Awards
- NAVE
- 01 Jul 1959 to 30 Jun 1960
- 01 Jul 1977 to 31 Dec 1978
- AFEM
- 26 Sep 1961 to 30 Sep 1961
- 27 Sep 1961 to 01 Oct 1961
- 10 Oct 1961 to 14 Oct 1961
- 16 Oct 1961 17 Oct 1961
- 02 Aug 1964 to 05 Aug 1964
- 11 Aug 1964 to 22 Sep 1964
- 07 Oct 1964 to 29 Oct 1964
- 02 Nov 1964 to 06 Nov 1964
- 21 Nov 1964 to 28 Nov 1964
- 10 Jan 1970 to 13 Jan 1970
- 12 Apr 1970 to 13 Apr 1970
- 29 Apr 1975 to 30 Apr 1975
- HSM
- 29 Apr 1975 to 30 Apr 1975
- MUC
- 27 Oct 1969 to 12 May 1970
- 07 May 1971 to 28 Oct 1971
- 01 Jan 1978 to 20 May 1979
- 13 Nov 1979 to 08 Feb 1980
- 27 Jul 1982 to 01 May 1984
- NEM
- 15 Apr 1979 to 06 Jun 1979
- 21 Nov 1979 to 07 Feb 1980
- 19 Aug 1980 to 13 Nov 1980
- 12 Mar 1981 to 19 May 1981
- NUC
- 02 Aug 1964 to 05 Aug 1964
- 18 Dec 1966 to 20 Jan 1967
- 14 Jan 1968 to 26 Jun 1968
- 29 Apr 1975 to 30 Apr 1975
- 01 Jan 1978 to 30 Jun 1979
- PUC
- 30 Apr 1972 to 09 Feb 1973
- RVNGC
- 30 Mar 1972 to 15 Jul 1972
- VNSM
- 05 Nov 1965 to 01 Dec 1965
- 22 Dec 1965 to 14 Jan 1966
- 22 Jan 1966 to 16 Feb 1966
- 06 Mar 1966 to 31 Mar 1966
- 10 Apr 1966 to 21 Apr 1966
- 17 Dec 1966 to 17 Jan 1967
- 31 Jan 1967 to 03 Mar 1967
- 20 Mar 1967 to 18 Apr 1967
- 28 Apr 1967 to 26 May 1967
- 04 Jun 1967 to 21 Jun 1967
- 21 Feb 1968 to 17 Mar 1968
- 26 Mar 1968 to 24 Apr 1968
- 11 Jun 1972 to 07 Jul 1972
- 16 Jul 1972 to 13 Aug 1972
- 23 Aug 1972 to 10 Sep 1972
- 23 Oct 1972 to 23 Nov 1972
- 03 Dec 1972 to 22 Dec 1972
- 31 Dec 1972
- 04 Jan 1973 to 24 Jan 1973
- 30 Apr 1968 to 21 May 1968
- 30 May 1968 to 27 Jun 1968
- 07 Jan 1969 to 30 Jan 1969
- 15 Feb 1969 to 16 Mar 1969
- 04 Apr 1969 to 17 Apr 1969
- 16 Nov 1969 to 07 Dec 1969
- 17 Dec 1969 to 12 Jan 1970
- 29 Jan 1970 to 18 Feb 1970
- 27 Feb 1970 to 30 Mar 1970
- 16 Apr 1970 to 14 May 1970
- 17 May 1971 to 09 Jun 1971
- 29 Jun 1971 to 20 Jul 1971
- 31 Jul 1971 to 17 Aug 1971
- 26 Sep 1971 to 11 Oct 1971
- 01 May 1972 to 01 Jun 1972
- 11 Jun 1972 to 07 Jul 1972
- 16 Jul 1972 to 13 Aug 1972
- 23 Aug 1972 to 10 Sep 1972
- 23 Oct 1972 to 23 Nov 1972
- 03 Dec 1972 to 22 Dec 1972
- 31 Dec 1972
- 04 Jan 1973 to 24 Jan 1973
- 03 Feb 1973 to 09 Feb 1973
- Back to Table
of
Contents
Sources:
- Harry Gann
- Masaaki Hayakawa
- Takafumi Hiroe
- Roland Schmidt
- Randy Bob Wilson
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