VA-304 (U.S. Navy)

VA-304, nicknamed the Firebirds, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at NAS Alameda, California. It was established on 1 July 1970, and disestablished almost 25 years later, on 31 December 1994.[1]

Attack Squadron 304
VA-304 KA-6D Intruder at Naval Air Facility Andrews, 1990
Active1 July 1970 - 31 December 1994
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Navy Reserve
RoleAttack aircraft
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Firebirds
Aircraft flown
AttackA-4 Skyhawk
A-7 Corsair II
A-6E/KA-6D Intruder

Operational history
  • 1 July 1970: VA-304, a reserve squadron, established as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. Elements of reserve unit, VA-20G3, were used to form the newly established VA-304.
  • May 1987: VA-304 operated from the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Alberta, while participating in exercise Rendezvous 87-Bold Warrior. The exercise was a mock full-scale battle between elements of the Canadian Armed Forces with VA-304 acting as an aggressor force.
  • August 1988: VA-304 was the first reserve squadron to receive and operate the A-6E Intruder.[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. Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 11: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-210 to VA-873. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 272–293. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

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