The VA-153 Blue Tail Flies
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Griffin - 1951
From Harry S. Gann

Patch
  • May 17, 1951 - the Griffin patch displayed above was created. The patch suffered only minor changes in several designation changes.

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Handle
Heritage
  • In September 1949, Naval Air Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTEEN (VF-718) was redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY ONE (VF-831) at Naval Air Station New York.
  • February 1, 1951, Reserve Fighter Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY ONE (VF-831) was called to active duty.
  • February 4, 1953, VF-831 was redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE (VF-153).
  • December 15, 1956, VF-153 was redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE (VA-153).
  • September 30, 1977, Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE was disestablished.

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • 1950 - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station New York, Floyd Bennett Field *
  • April 1, 1951- - - - Naval Air Station Alameda
  • May 5, 1952- - - - - Naval Air Station Moffett Field
  • August 21 1961 - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore
  • * Assigned to Naval Air Station New York - Floyd Bennett Field prior to the squadron's recall to active duty on February 1 1951.

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • April 1951 - - - - - - - H/NL* - - - CVG-15/CVW-15†
  • 1969 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRLEMOORE
  • November 22, 1969 - - - - NM - - - - CVW-19
  • * The tail code was changed from H to NL July 1, 1957.
  • † December 20 1963 CVG-15 was redesignated CVW-15 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW).

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 09-08-51 to 05-02-52 - CVG-15 - CV 36- - F9F-2 - - Korea
  • 01-24-53 to 09-21-53 - CVG-15 - CVA 37 - F9F-5 - - Korea/WestPac
  • 07-01-54 to 02-28-55 - CVG-15 - CVA 10 - F9F-6 - - WestPac
  • 04-23-56 to 10-15-56 - CVG-15 - CVA 18 - F9F-8/8B- WestPac
  • 02-15-58 to 10-02-58 - CVG-15 - CVA 19 - A4D-1 - - WestPac
  • 07-01-59 to 01-18-60 - CVG-15 - CVA 19 - A4D-2 - - WestPac
  • 09-19-60 to 05-27-61 - CVG-15 - CVA 43 - A4D-2 - - WestPac
  • 05-12-61 to 07-17-62 - CVG-15 - CVA 43 - A4D-2N- - WestPac
  • 04-03-63 to 11-25-63 - CVG-15 - CVA 43 - A-4C- - - WestPac
  • 12-07-64 to 11-01-65 - CVW-15 - CVA 43 - A-4C- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 05-12-66 to 12-03-66 - CVW-15 - CVA 64 - A-4C- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 07-26-67 to 04-06-68 - CVW-15 - CVA 43 - A-4E- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 09-07-68 to 04-18-69 - CVW-15 - CVA 43 - A-4F- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 05-14-70 to 12-10-70 - CVW-19 - CVA 34 - A-7A- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 05-14-71 to 12-18-71 - CVW-19 - CVA 34 - A-7A- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 06-05-72 to 03-30-73 - CVW-19 - CVA 34 - A-7A- - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 10-18-73 to 06-05-74 - CVW-19 - CVA 34 - A-7B- - - WestPac/IO
  • 09-16-75 to 03-03-76 - CVW-19 - CV 34- - A-7B- - - WestPac
  • 10-04-76 to 04-21-77 - CVW-19 - CV 42- - A-7B- - - Mediterranean

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
    Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • 1950 - - - - - - - - - - LCDR A. J. Denman *
  • May 5, 1952- - - - - - - LCDR G. E. Miller
  • September 1953 - - - - - LCDR Loys M. Satterfield
  • March 1955 - - - - - - - CDR W. L. Abbott
  • 1956 - - - - - - - - - - CDR Alexander D. C. Byers
  • February 27, 1957- - - - LCDR Hildry L. Nelson
  • October 17, 1958 - - - - CDR John F. Bauman
  • February 8, 1960 - - - - CDR Vernon R. Fierce, Jr.
  • June 21, 1961- - - - - - CDR W. C. May
  • July 30, 1962- - - - - - CDR Zeb V. Knott
  • July 10, 1963- - - - - - CDR William C. Raposa
  • May 26, 1964 - - - - - - CDR Peter Mongilardi, Jr.
  • August 13, 1965- - - - - CDR Harry E. Thomas (acting APR 1965)
  • September 15, 1965 - - - CDR K. V. McArthur
  • July 25, 1966- - - - - - CDR D. E. Leue
  • 1967 - - - - - - - - - - CDR T. E. Woolcock
  • May 8, 1968- - - - - - - CDR R. J. Dapogny
  • May 23, 1969 - - - - - - CDR Olaf M. Carlson, Jr.
  • August 20, 1970- - - - - CDR Peter G. Frederick
  • June 11, 1971- - - - - - CDR William J. M. O'Connor
  • June 1, 1972 - - - - - - CDR Paul D. Stephenson
  • July 27,1973 - - - - - - CDR Denis R. Weichman
  • September 20, 1974 - - - LCDR Keith S. Jones
  • September 12, 1975 - - - LCDR Robert F. Hofford
  • December 15, 1976- - - - CDR Lawrence H. Price
  • * LCDR Denman was commanding officer of the reserve squadron prior to its activation on February 1, 1951.

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Events
  • September 1949:
    Naval Air Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTEEN (VF-718) was redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY ONE (VF-831) at Naval Air Station New York Floyd Bennett Field. VF-718 and VF-831 both flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat.

  • February 1, 1951:
    VF-831 Blue Tail Flies were called to active duty at Naval Air Station New York Floyd Bennett Field.

  • April 1, 1951:
    VF-831 moved its homeport to Naval Air Station Alameda, California where the squadron transitioned into the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.

  • September 8, 1951 to May 2, 1952:
    VF-831 Blue Tail; Flies flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther under CVG-15 embarked on United States Ship Antietam CV 36 for combat over Korea. Grumman F9F-2 Panther BuNo. 125083 NL 300 is pictured on Antietam.
    USN Photograph

  • May 5, 1952:
    Upon return to CONUS VF-831 moved its homeport to Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California.

  • January 24, 1953 to September 21, 1953:
    VF-831 flying the Grumman F9F-5 Panther under CVG-15 embarked on United States Ship Princeton CV 37 for a second combat cruise to Korea.

  • February 4, 1953:
    VF-831 was redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE (VF-153 Blue Tail Flies) while deployed in Korean waters.

  • August 1, 1954 to February 28, 1955:
    VF-153 Blue Tail Flies flying the Grumman F9F-6 Cougar under CVG-15 embarked on United States Ship Yorktown CVA 10 for a cruise to WestPac.

  • February 1955:
    Blue Tail Fly aircraft flew sorties from Yorktown in support of the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands.

  • December 15, 1956:
    VF-153 was redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE (VA-153). The Blue Tail Flies were assigned the Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk. The Squadron completed A-4A Skyhawk transition February 12, 1957.

  • August 23 to September 9, 1958:
    The Blue Tail Flies flew sorties in the Taiwan Straits after the Chinese Communists bombarded Quemoy Island.

  • October 27, 1958:
    VA-153 was assigned the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.

  • January 1961:
    United States Ship Coral Sea (CVA 43), with VA-153 embarked, operated in the South China Sea after Pathet Lao forces captured strategic positions in Laos.

  • June 20, 1961:
    VA-153 was assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk.

  • August 21, 1961:
    VA-153 moved to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

  • 06 DEC 1961: While opeating of the south coast of Honshu Island Japan A4D-2 BuNo 142918 of VA-153, piloted by LT Thomas Joseph Cress USN, crashed on deck and went into the water. Major damage to three (3) a/c parked forward port side flight deck. Sources indicate that two other airwing personnel were killed in the incident.

  • December 7, 1964 to November 1, 1965:
    VA-153 flying the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk deployed under CVW-15 on United States Ship Coral Sea (CVA 43) for the Blue Tail Fly's first combat tour to Vietnam.

  • February 2, 1965:
    VA-153 began participating in operations in Laos. These operations involved Yankee Team, Barrel Roll and Steel Tiger missions.

  • February 7 and 11, 1965:
    The Blue Tail Flies participated in Flaming Dart I and II, reprisal strikes against targets in North Vietnam following a Viet Cong attack on the American advisors compound at Pleiku and the American billet in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam.

  • February 11, 1965:
    Lieutenant W. T. Majors United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149572 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Majors successfully ejected and was recovered.

  • March 1965:
    VA-153 participated in Rolling Thunder operations, the bombing of military targets in North Vietnam.

  • April 7, 1965:
    Lieutenant W. M. Roark United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148317 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Roark was Killed in Action.

  • April 9, 1965:
    Lieutenant Commander C. H. McNeil United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148481 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Commander McNeil successfully ejected and was recovered.

  • June 25, 1965:
    Commander P. Mongilardi United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149574 NL 306 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Commander Mongilardi was Killed in Action.

  • July 15, 1965:
    Lieutenant A. J. Bennett United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149576 NL 308 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Bennett successfully ejected and was recovered.

  • August 13, 1965:
    VA-153 commanding officer, Commander H. E. Thomas United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148475 NL 312 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Commander Thomas was Killed In Action.

  • May 12, 1966 to December 3, 1966:
    VA-153 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed under CVW-15 on United States Ship Constellation (CVA 64) for the Blue Tail Fly's second combat tour to Vietnam.

  • July 6, 1966:
    Lieutenant Commander G. H. Wilkins United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147732 NL 304 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Commander Wilkins was Killed in Action.

  • September 12, 1966:
    Lieutenant Commander W. F. Coakley United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147763 NL 314 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Commander Coakley was Killed in Action.

  • October 20, 1966:
    Lieutenant Junior Grade H. S. Edwards United States Navy was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148592 NL 311 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Edwards was Killed in Action.

  • August 26, 1967 to April 6, 1968:
    VA-153 flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk deployed under CVW-15 on United States Ship Coral Sea (CVA 43) for the Blue Tail Fly's third combat tour to Vietnam.

  • August 29, 1967:
    Lieutenant M. J. Allard United States Navy was shot down in A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151025 NL 313 by North Vietnamese triple A fire. Lieutenant Allard was Killed in Action.

  • January 25, 1968:
    Commander T. E. Woodcock United States Navy was shot down in A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 150057 NL 312 by North Vietnamese SAM. Commander Woodcock successfully ejected and was recovered.

  • March 1968:
    United States Ship Coral Sea (CVA 43), with VA-153 embarked, operated on station off the coast of Korea following the capture of United States Ship Pueblo (AGER 2) in January by North Korea.

  • September 7, 1968 to April 18, 1969:
    VA-153 flying the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk deployed under CVW-15 on United States Ship Coral Sea (CVA 43) for the Blue Tail Fly's fourth combat tour to Vietnam. The squadron had no aircraft or pilot losses this cruise.
    USN Photograph.

  • May 14, 1970 to December 10, 1970:
    VA-153 flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II deployed under CVW-19 on United States Ship Oriskany (CVA 34) for the Blue Tail Fly's fifth combat tour to Vietnam.

  • May 28, 1970:
    Commander D. D. Aldern United States Navy was shot down in A-7A Corsair II BuNo. 153176 NL 303 over Laos by triple A fire. Commander Allard, CAG for the embarked Air Group, is missing in action and presumed Killed in Action.

  • November 21, 1970:
    The squadron flew missions in support of an attempt to rescue American prisoners-of-war at the Son Tay prisoner compound, 20 miles west of Hanoi.

  • May 14, 1971 to December 18, 1971:
    VA-153 flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II deployed under CVW-19 on United States Ship Oriskany (CVA 34) for the Blue Tail Fly's sixth combat tour to Vietnam. There were no combat losses this cruise.

  • November 1, 1971:
    Commander Tom Frank, VA-153 XO, got an Oriskany cold catapult shot in A-7A Corsair II BuNo. 153189 and was killed in the resulting impact with the sea.

  • June 5, 1972 to March 30, 1973:
    VA-153 flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II deployed under CVW-19 on United States Ship Oriskany (CVA 34) for the Blue Tail Fly's seventh combat tour to Vietnam. VA-153 appears to not have lost any aircraft or pilots during this cruise.

  • February 11 to 22, 1973:
    Following the cease-fire with North Vietnam the squadron flew combat missions in Laos until a cease-fire was signed with that country on February 22, 1973.

  • February 1973:
    Commander D. R. Weichman United States Navy, the squadron's executive officer, completed his 625th combat mission of the Vietnam Conflict - a record for the most fixed-wing combat missions during the Vietnam War.

  • November 1973:
    United States Ship Oriskany (CVA 34), with VA-153 embarked, departed from operations in the South China Sea to relieve United States Ship Hancock (CVA 19) on station in the Arabian Sea due to the unsettled conditions following the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East.

  • September 30, 1977:
    Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THREE was disestablished at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

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Awards
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • KSM
    • 04 Oct 1951 to 15 Apr 1952
    • 27 Feb 1953 to 16 May 1953
    • 29 May 1953 to 07 Sep 1953
  • NAVE
    • 01 Jan 1973 to 30 Jun 1974
    • 01 Jul 1974 to 01 Apr 1976
    • 02 Apr 1976 to 30 Jun 1977
  • AFEM
    • 26 Aug 1958 to 07 Sep 1958
    • 14 Sep 1959 to 17 Sep 1959 220
    • 25 Apr 1961 to 28 Apr 1961
    • 30 Apr 1961 to 01 May 1961
    • 04 May 1961 to 09 May 1961
    • 12 Jan 1962 to 19 Jan 1962
    • 24 Jan 1962 to 27 Jan 1962
    • 02 Feb 1965 to 05 Mar 1965
    • 16 Mar 1965 to 17 Apr 1965
    • 02 May 1965 to 28 May 1965
    • 23 Jun 1965 to 03 Jul 1965
    • 23 Jan 1968 to 22 Mar 1968
  • NUC
    • 13 Mar 1953 to 15 May 1953
    • 11 Jun 1953 to 27 Jul 1953
    • 07 Feb 1965 to 18 Oct 1965
    • 29 May 1966 to 24 Nov 1966
    • 13 Aug 1967 to 19 Feb 1968
    • 10 Oct 1968 to 31 Mar 1969
  • MUC
    • 01 Jun 1970 to 09 Dec 1970
    • 28 Jun 1972 to 06 Mar 1973
  • RVNGC
    • 12 Oct 1965
    • 21 Jun 1966 to 22 Jun 1966
    • 23 Nov 1967
    • 02 Dec 1967
    • 04 Dec 1967
    • 20 Dec 1967 to 22 Dec 1967
    • 20 Jan 1968
    • 23 Jan 1968 to 27 Jan 1968
    • 29 Jan 1968 to 19 Feb 1968
    • 15 Oct 1968
    • 17 Oct 1968 to 18 Oct 1968
    • 21 Oct 1968
    • 25 Oct 1968 to 27 Oct 1968
    • 14 Nov 1968 to 16 Nov 1968
    • 23 Nov 1968
    • 25 Nov 1968
    • 01 Dec 1968 to 02 Dec 1968
    • 04 Dec 1968 to 05 Dec 1968
    • 30 Dec 1968
    • 01 Jan 1969 to 03 Jan 1969
    • 05 Jan 1969
    • 07 Jan 1969 to 10 Jan 1969
    • 14 Jan 1969 to 19 Jan 1969
    • 22 Jan 1969
    • 24 Jan 1969
    • 26 Jan 1969
    • 09 Feb 1969 to 20 Feb 1969
    • 22 Feb 1969 to 03 Mar 1969
    • 19 Mar 1969 to 31 Mar 1969
  • VNSM
    • 04 Jul 1965 to 24 Jul 1965
    • 11 Aug 1965 to 11 Sep 1965
    • 21 Sep 1965 to 15 Oct 1965
    • 14 Jun 1966 to 13 Jul 1966
    • 27 Jul 1966 to 31 Aug 1966
    • 08 Sep 1966 to 01 Oct 1966
    • 19 Oct 1966 to 09 Nov 1966
    • 26 Aug 1967 to 01 Oct 1967
    • 12 Oct 1967 to 28 Oct 1967
    • 04 Nov 1967 to 05 Nov 1967
    • 11 Nov 1967 to 08 Dec 1967
    • 16 Dec 1967 to 07 Jan 1968
    • 15 Jan 1968 to 21 Feb 1968
    • 29 Dec 1968 to 30 Jan 1969
    • 08 Feb 1969 to 03 Mar 1969
    • 19 Mar 1969 to 30 Mar 1969
    • 13 Jun 1970 to 29 Jun 1970
    • 12 Jul 1970 to 22 Jul 1970
    • 02 Aug 1970 to 26 Aug 1970
    • 17 Sep 1970 to 13 Oct 1970
    • 06 Nov 1970 to 23 Nov 1970
    • 15 Jun 1971 to 10 Jul 1971
    • 24 Jul 1971 to 07 Aug 1971
    • 03 Sep 1971 to 27 Sep 1971
    • 29 Oct 1971 to 21 Nov 1971
    • 26 Jun 1972 to 23 Jul 1972
    • 16 Aug 1972 to 01 Sep 1972
    • 11 Sep 1972 to 28 Sep 1972
    • 08 Oct 1972 to 31 Oct 1972
    • 24 Nov 1972 to 18 Dec 1972
    • 27 Dec 1972 to 31 Jan 1973
    • 10 Feb 1973 to 06 Mar 1973

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    Sources:
    • Takafumi Hiroe
    • Harry S. Gann
    • Garvy Verver

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