VA-172 (U.S. Navy) explained
VA-172 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-82 on 20 August 1945, redesignated as Fighter Squadron VF-18A on 15 November 1946, as VF-172 on 11 August 1948, and as VA-172 on 1 November 1955. The squadron was disestablished on 15 January 1971. Its nickname was the Checkmates from 1946-1950, and the Blue Bolts thereafter.[1]
Operational history
- 28 Jan 1949: Squadron aircraft, while secured to the flight deck and engines running, were used to assist in berthing in Augusta, Sicily. This procedure is known as Operation Pinwheel.
- 23 Aug 1951: The squadron participated in its first combat sortie over Korea. This also marked the first use of the F2H-2 in combat.
- 25 Aug 1951: The squadron’s F2H-2 aircraft, along with F9Fs from VF-51, provided escort for 30 U.S. Air Force B-29 bombers raiding the marshalling yards at Rashin, North Korea.
- Nov–Dec 1956:, with VA-172 embarked, was ordered to deploy and operate off the coast of Spain as a result of the Suez Crisis.
- Sep–Oct 1957: A detachment of squadron’s F2H-2 aircraft were embarked on to provide fighter support for the antisubmarine warfare (ASW) carrier during a NATO exercise in the North Atlantic.
- Nov 1961: VA-172, embarked on Roosevelt, operated off the coast of the Dominican Republic to support the newly established democratic government.
- May 1963: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, deployed to the Caribbean and operated off the coast of Haiti in response to a rebel attempt to overthrow the Haitian government.
- Jul–Sep 1963: A detachment from the squadron was deployed aboard to provide fighter coverage for the ASW Task Group during operations in the Caribbean Sea.
- 8–29 Aug 1964: Roosevelt, with VA-172 embarked, was ordered to operate in the vicinity of Cyprus after fighting escalated between Turkish and Greek forces on the island.
- Aug 1966: The squadron commenced combat operations in Vietnam. These were its first combat sorties since the Korean War in 1952.
- 2 Dec 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Bruce A. Nystrom, was lost in a night reconnaissance mission over the Red River delta area in North Vietnam.
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
Aircraft assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Grossnick . Roy A. . Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 9: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-154 to VA-174 . Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy . 1995 . Washington, D.C. . 222–251 . 2016-06-16.
