Attack Squadron 35 (ATKRON 35) VA-35 ‘Black Panthers’
STATUS:		established as Bombing Squadron 3B (VB-3B) on July 1, 1934 VB-3B redesignated Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4) on July 1, 1937 VB-4 redesignated Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3) on July 1, 1939 VB-3 redesignated Attack Squadron 3A (VA-3A) on November 15, 1946 VA-3A redesignated Attack Squadron 34 (VA-34) on August 7, 1948 VA-34 redesignated Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35) on February 15, 1950 VA-35 disestablished on January 31, 1995
AIRCRAFT:		Douglas AD-1 Skyraider (1950) Douglas AD-3 Skyraider (1950) Douglas AD-4 Skyraider (1950-51) Douglas AD-4L Skyraider (1951-53) Douglas AD-4B Skyraider (1953) Douglas AD-4N Skyraider (1953) Douglas AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider (1953-65) Grumman A-6A Intruder (1965-68) Grumman A-6B Intruder (1968-71) Grumman A-6C Intruder (1971-73) Grumman A-6E Intruder (1973-95) Grumman KA-6D Intruder (1970-95)
DEPLOYMENTS:		May 1950 - August 1950 with CVG-3 aboard USS Leyte (CV 32) September 1950 - February 1951 with CVG-3 aboard USS Leyte (CV 32) July 1951 - December 1951 with CVG-3 aboard USS Leyte (CV 32) August 1952 - February 1953 with CVG-3 aboard USS Leyte (CV 32) November 1953 - September 1954 with CVG-3 aboard USS Tarawa (CVA 40) November 1955 - August 1956 with CVG-3 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) February 1958 - October 1958 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) August 1959 - February 1960 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) August 1960 - February 1961 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) November 1961 - May 1962 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) March 1963 - October 1963 with CVG-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) November 1964 - July 1965 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) November 1966 - July 1967 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) January 1968 - July 1968 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) September 1969 - July 1970 with CVW-15 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) July 1971 - December 1971 with CVW-8 aboard USS America (CVA 66) June 1972 - March 1973 with CVW-8 aboard USS America (CVA 66) January 1974 - October 1974 with CVW-8 aboard USS America (CVA 66) July 1975 - September 1975 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) July 1976 - February 1977 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) December 1977 - July 1978 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) September 1979 - May 1980 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) August 1980 - October 1980 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) August 1981 - February 1982 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) April 1982 - June 1982 with CVW-8 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) November 1982 - May 1983 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) March 1985 - October 1985 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) August 1986 - October 1986 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) December 1986 - July 1987 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) August 1988 - October 1988 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) December 1988 - June 1989 with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) August 1990 - March 1991 with CVW-17 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) May 1992 - November 1992 with CVW-17 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) January 1994 - June 1994 with CVW-17 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60)
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A-6E Intruder of VA-35 in short term storage at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1994 A-6E Intruder of VA-35 in short term storage at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1994 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) - 1993 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) - 1993 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1993 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1992 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1992 A-6E and KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1992 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E & KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E & KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E & KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E & KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E & KA-6D Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) homecoming after Desert Storm at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - damaged in battle during Desert Storm - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - damaged in battle during Desert Storm - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - damaged in battle during Desert Storm - 1991 A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1991 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1990-91 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1990 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1990 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1990 A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1990 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1989 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1989 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1989 (NNAM) KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1989 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) flying over USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1989 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) refuels F/A-18’s from VFA-15 - late 1980’s A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - 1988 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1987 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1986 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1986 KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) - 1986 (NNAM) KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1986 A-6E Intruder (VA-35) - 1986 A-6E Intruder (VA-35) during maintenance - 1986 A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) - 1984 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) - 1983 (NNAM) KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) - 1983 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1982 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) an A-6E Intruder refuels a KA-6D (VA-35 / CVW-8) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) landing aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) landing aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) and A-7 Corsair II’s flying over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1981 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - ca. 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) refuels a F-14A Tomcat (VF-41) - ca. 1980 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - ca. 1978 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1978 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1977 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) A-6E Intruders (VA-35 / CVW-8) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) KA-6D Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1975 (NNAM) A-6E Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-8) assigned to USS America (CVA 66) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1975 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-15) landing aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1969 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-15) assigned to USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - 1969 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-15) assigned to USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) at NAS Oakland, California - circa 1969-70 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) at NAS Alameda - 1967-68 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - Gulf of Tonkin - 1968 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - Gulf of Tonkin - 1968 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) refuels an aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin - 1968 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) at NAS Alameda - 1967 (NNAM) A-6A Intruder (VA-35 / CVW-9) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) circa 1967 (NNAM) AD-6 Skyraider (VA-35 / CVG-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) refuels a F-8 Crusader - circa 1963 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) AD-6 Skyraiders (VA-35 / CVG-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - circa 1963 (NNAM)
history
Chronology of significant events: 11 Oct 1950: While deployed to the Korean Theater aboard Leyte (CV 32), the squadron launched its first combat mission since February 1945, striking North Korean targets. 12 Dec 1950: The squadron’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Bagwell, crash-landed in North Korea and was taken prisoner. Jul–Aug 1958: VA-35, along with other squadrons from CVG-3, provided support for U.S. Marines landing in Lebanon. Oct–Nov 1962: VA-35 deployed to McCalla Field, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Cuban MissileCrisis. During December, the squadron was embarked in Saratoga (CVA 60). 4 Feb 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Richard G. Layser, was killed in an accident. 15 Aug 1965: VA-35 transferred from CVW-3 in preparation for its transition to the A-6A Intruder. This brought to a close an illustrious career with CVW-3 that began in 1939. 26 Feb 1967: The squadron participated in the first combat aerial mining operations since World War II, when its A-6A Intruders dropped mines in the Song Ca and Song Giang Rivers of North Vietnam. 1 Oct 1967: During a weapons training deployment to NAS Yuma, Arizona, VA-35 became the first A-6A squadron to fire the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Jan–Feb 1968: While embarked in Enterprise (CVAN 65) and en route to Yankee Station, the carrier was ordered to the Sea of Japan for operations following the seizure of the Pueblo (AGER 2) by the North Koreans. 12 Mar 1968: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Kollmann, was lost in an operational accident. 17 Sep 1972: While on a mission over North Vietnam the squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Donnelly, was lost and is still listed as missing in action. 3 Jan 1980: VA-35 departed Naples, Italy, embarked in Nimitz (CVN 68), en route to the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope after the U.S. Embassy staff was taken hostage in Tehran, Iran. This was the beginning of 144 consecutive days at sea for the squadron. 26 May 1981: While on a training exercise aboard Nimitz off the coast of Charleston, S.C., an EA-6B from VMAQ-2 crashed into parked aircraft while attempting to land. VA-35 personnel provided firefighting support and assistance to the injured. There were no injuries to VA-35 personnel. Over 130 members of the squadron received awards for fighting fires and assisting the injured. Jun 1985: Nimitz and VA-35 were ordered to operate off the coast of Lebanon due to the hijacking of TWA flight 847 by Arab radicals. The carrier and squadron remained on station until the release of the hostages in the latter part of June. Feb 1987: VA-35, embarked in Nimitz, operated off the coast of Lebanon after three U.S. citizens were taken hostage from the American University in Beirut. Jul 1988: VA-35 participated in a firepower demonstration for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his guest, the Marshal of the Soviet Union. Sep 1988: While deployed to the North Atlantic aboard Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the squadron conducted flight operations from the carrier while in the Vestfjord of Norway. Aug–Dec 1990: The squadron flew missions in support of Operation Desert Shield, the build-up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait.
patches
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