Third VA-155 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 155
VA-155 squadron patch
Active 1 September 1987 - 30 April 1993
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Role Attack aircraft
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) Silver Fox
Aircraft flown
Attack A-6E/KA-6D Intruder
An A-6E Intruder similar to those flown by VA-155.

Attack Squadron 155 or VA-155 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 1 September 1987 and disestablished on 30 April 1993. It was the third squadron to be named VA-155, the first VA-155 was disestablished on 30 November 1949 and second VA-155 was originally established in 1946, redesignated as VA-155 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 30 September 1977. Its nickname, shared with the second VA-155 was the Silver Foxes.[1]

Operational history

  • 15 August–8 October 1988: USS Independence, with VA-155 embarked, conducted a change of home port transit from Norfolk to San Diego via Cape Horn. During the transit numerous airpower demonstrations were conducted for dignitaries from various South American countries.
  • 17 January 1991: The squadron conducted its first combat operations. VA-155’s commanding officer, Commander Sweigart, led Air Wing Two’s aircraft in its first strike against Iraq.[2]
  • 18 January 1991: The squadron suffered its first and only loss during the war with Iraq when one of its A-6E Intruders was shot down while on a mining sortie by the Um Qasr Naval Base in Iraq.
  • 28 February 1991: USS Ranger’s last combat strike of the Gulf War was launched and led by a VA-155 aircraft. During the 43-day Gulf War the squadron flew 1,388.4 hours, a total of 635 sorties, and delivered 2,289,940 pounds of ordnance on Iraqi military targets.
  • September–December 1992: Squadron aircraft flew sorties in support of Operation Southern Watch, flights over southern Iraq south of the 32nd parallel to ensure Iraq was adhering to United Nations sanctions.
  • December 1992: The squadron participated in Operation Restore Hope, flying sorties in support of the humanitarian relief effort in Somalia.[1]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to NAS Whidbey Island for all its time in service.[1]

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:[1]

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

  1. 1 2 3 4 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Expression error: Missing operand for -. "Third VA-155" Check |chapter-url= value (help) (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Naval Historical Center. 1. Washington, DC: Department of the Navy. p. 231.
  2. ↑ "Captain Frank Sweigart" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 2014-06-07.

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