Second VA-54 (U.S. Navy)



Attack Squadron 54 (VA-54) was an attack squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Bomber Fighter Squadron VBF-153 on 26 March 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-61A (VF-16A) on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-152 on 15 July 1948, and VF-54 on 15 February 1950. It was finally redesignated VA-54 on 15 June 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1958. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-54, the first VA-54 was disestablished on 1 December 1949.

The squadron's insignia changed several times over its lifetime, ending up as a devil's head with naval aviation wings. Its nickname was the Copperheads until 1951, and Hell's Angels thereafter.

Operational history

 * 29 June 1950: VF-54 was deployed aboard USS Valley Forge (CV-45) in the Western Pacific when the Korean War broke out on 25 June. The carrier was ordered north from the Philippines and the squadron’s aircraft conducted a sweep along the western coast of Taiwan due to the concern that the North Korean invasion of South Korea might be a prelude to an invasion of that island by the Chinese Communists.
 * 3 July 1950: The squadron participated in its first combat strikes since its establishment in 1945. These strikes were the first made by carrier aircraft in the Korean War. VF-54’s F4Us struck targets in Pyongyang, North Korea.
 * 15 September 1950: VF-54 provided air support for the Battle of Inchon.
 * 26 July 1954: VF-54’s AD-4 Skyraiders were on a search and rescue mission looking for survivors, rafts or debris from the 1954 Cathay Pacific Douglas DC-4 shootdown, when they were attacked by two Chinese LA-7 fighter aircraft. Two of the squadron’s AD-4s, along with an F4U, shot down the two LA-7s 13 miles southeast of Hainan Island.
 * September 1957: USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), with VA-54 embarked, operated in the vicinity of Taiwan in response to a buildup of Chinese Communist forces on the mainland opposite Taiwan.
 * Dec 1957: The squadron began the transition from propeller aircraft to jets.

Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAS Wildwood – 26 Mar 1945
 * NAAS Oceana – 01 Jun 1945
 * NAS Norfolk – 02 Jul 1946
 * NAS Alameda – 11 Aug 1946
 * NAS Sand Point – 4 May 1948
 * NAS Alameda – 28 Jun 1948
 * NAS San Diego – 01 Dec 1949
 * NAS Miramar – 19 May 1952

Aircraft assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
 * F4U-1 Corsair – 26 Mar 1945
 * F4U-4 Corsair – 04 Jun 1945
 * F6F-5 Hellcat – 10 Sep 1945
 * F8F-1 Bearcat – 21 Oct 1947
 * F8F-2 Bearcat – May 1949
 * AD-4 Skyraider – 01 Dec 1949
 * F4U-4B Corsair – 14 Dec 1949
 * AD-1/4 Skyraider – Mar 1951
 * AD-6 Skyraider – Dec 1954
 * AD-5 Skyraider – Dec 1954
 * AD-7 Skyraider – Jan 1957
 * F9F-8B Cougar – Dec 1957