VA-23 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 23

VA-23 squadron patch
Active December 1949-1 April 1970
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Role Attack aircraft
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) Black Knights
Engagements Korean War
Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Attack F4U Corsair
F9F Panther
F7U Cutlass
FJ-4 Fury
A-4 Skyhawk
VA-23 A-4E is launched from USS Coral Sea for a mission in Vietnam. It is armed with AGM-45 Shrike missiles and LAU-3 rockets

VA-23, nicknamed the Black Knights, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, established as Reserve Fighter Squadron VF-653 in December 1949 at NAS Akron, Ohio. The squadron relocated to NAS Alameda on 16 April 1951. It was redesignated VF-151 on 4 February 1953, and as VA-151 on 7 February 1956. It was finally designated as VA-23 on 23 February 1959, and moved to NAS Lemoore on 30 September 1961. The squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1970.[1]

Operational history

The squadron conducted its first combat strikes on 11 December 1951 during the Korean War.

In February 1955, it provided air support during the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands during the First Taiwan Straits Crisis.

In April 1965, operating from USS Midway on Yankee Station, VA-23 conducted its first combat operations since the Korean War; it became the first squadron to use the Shrike missile in combat.

In March 1968, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from USS Ticonderoga in the Sea of Japan. These operations were part of a continuing show of American forces in the area, named Operation Formation Star, following the capture of USS Pueblo by North Korea on 23 January 1968.

In April 1968, VA-23 flew combat strikes around Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, in support of the besieged Marine base there.[2]

Aircraft assignment

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft in the months shown:[2]

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 The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 544. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). "VA-23" (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Naval Historical Center. 1. Washington, DC: Department of the Navy. p. 33.
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