The VA-64 Black Lancers



Knight's Helmet - 1961
Patch drawn by Bud Southworth


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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.
Table of Content: Squadron Patch:
  • On December 26, 1961, VA-64 adopted the Knight's Helmet patch. Shown above.

Handle:
  • Black Lancers, 1961 through 1969.

Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
VA-64 Heritage:
  • Jan 1943, VB-17 established.
  • 15 Nov 1946 VB-17 redesignated VA-5B.
  • 27 Jul 1948 VA-5B redesignated VA-64.
  • 08 Apr 1949 VA-64 redisignated VC-24.
  • 20 Apr 1950 VC-24 redisignated VS-24.
  • 01 Jun 1956 VS-24 disestablished.
  • 02 Jul 1961, Attack Squadron SIXTY-FOUR (VA-64) established.
  • 07 Nov 1969, Attack Squadron SIXTY-FOUR (VA-64) disestablished.

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Commanders:
Assumed Command - - - - - - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • Jul 1961 - - - - - - - - LCDR Paul A. Anderson
  • May 1962 - - - - - - - - CDR R. A. Uhwat
  • Jun 1963 - - - - - - - - CDR F. E. Babineau
  • Jun 1964 - - - - - - - - CDR David E. Scherrer
  • Jun 1965 - - - - - - - - CDR Max D. Barr
  • Jun 1966 - - - - - - - - CDR James E. Kneale
  • Jun 1967 - - - - - - - - CDR Keith C. Spayde, Jr.
  • May 1968 - - - - - - - - CDR Jerald W. Bucklin
  • 1969 - - - - - - - - - - CDR Stuart T. Meredith
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Home Ports:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - Air Wing
  • Jul 01, 1961 - - AF - - - - CVG-6
  • Feb 08, 1962 - - AB - - - - CVG-1
  • Jul 31, 1962- - - - - - - - COMFAIRNORFOLK
  • Oct 01, 1962 - - AG - - - - CVG-7
  • Nov 18, 1962 - - AF/AE* - - CVG-6/CVW-6*
  • Oct 16, 1967 - - AG - - - - CVW-7
  • * CVG-6 was redesignated CVW-6 when all Carrier Air Group (CVG) designations were changed to Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on December 20, 1963.
  • CVG-6's tail code was changed from AF to AE late in 1962.
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - - Air Wing - - Carrier - Aircraft - Area of Operation:
  • 02/06/63 to 09/04/63 - CVG-6 - CVAN 65 - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 02/08/64 to 10/03/64 - CVW-6 - CVAN 65 - A-4C - Mediterranean/World Cruise
  • 11/30/65 to 07/10/66 - CVW-6 - CVA 66- - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 01/10/67 to 09/20/67 - CVW-6 - CVA 66- - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 04/30/68 to 01/27/69 - CVW-7 - CVA 62- - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 09/03/69 to 10/09/69 - CVW-7 - CVA 62- - A-4C - NorLant
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Photograph Albums
VA-64 BLACK LANCER Photograph Album
VA-64 BLACK LANCER Off-Duty Album (empty)
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Events:
  • July 1, 1961:
    Attack Squadron SIXTY-FOUR (VA-64) established at Naval Air Station Oceana.

  • July 18 1961:
    The Black Lancers were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk -- later known as the A-4C Skyhawk.

  • December 28, 1961:
    The Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk (A-4B) was assigned to VA-64 Detachment 48.

  • February 17, to June 17, 1962:
    VA-64 Detachment 48, formed to provide an air defense capability for Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Groups, deployed aboard United States Ship Wasp CVS 18 for a North Atlantic cruise. The detachment officer-in-charge was Lieutenant Commander E. D. Herbert.

  • April 1962:
    VA-64 Detachment 48 designation was changed to VA-64 Detachment 18B.

  • October to November 18, 1962:
    The Black Lancers embarked in United States Ship Independence CVA 62 operating in the Caribbean Sea in support of the Cuban quarantine.

  • November 18 to December 5, 1962:
    VA-64 switched places with VA-34 and embarked in United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65. The complements of both squadrons were lifted between carriers by helicopters and continued operation in the Caribbean as part of the Cuban quarantine.

  • March 1964:
    VA-64 conducted operations in the vicinity of Cyprus during a conflict between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

  • July 31, to October 3, 1964:
    The Black Lancers participated in Operation Sea Orbit, the first circumnavigation of the world by a nuclear task force. The sixty-five day voyage was accomplished without logistic replenishment. The squadron participated in numerous air power demonstrations during the voyage.

  • February 15, 1965:
    VA-64 was transferred to Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

  • June 8, 1967:
    Black Lancer aircraft were part of an Air Wing 6 strike group that was launched to defend United States Ship Liberty AGTR 5 when she came under attack by the Israelis. When word was received that 75-minute attack had been a mistake on the part of the Israelis the aircraft were recalled.

  • Nov 1968:
    The squadron provided an A-4C, two pilots and seven enlisted personnel to augment the VSF-1 detachment aboard Wasp. The detachment provided the ship with a daytime air defense capability.

  • November 7, 1969:
    Attack Squadron SIXTY-FOUR (VA-64) disestablished.
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Awards:
Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates: Sources of VA-64 information:
  • Harry S. Gann
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