Attack Squadron 66 (ATKRON 66)

VA-66 ‘Waldos’

 

va-66 waldos crest insignia patch badge waldomen attack squadron us navy

va-66 waldos waldos attack squadron us navy skyhawk corsair

 

STATUS:

established as VF-671 (a reserve unit)

VF-671 activated on February 1, 1951

VF-671 redesignated VF-81 on February 4, 1953

VF-81 redesignated VA-66 on July 1, 1955

VA-66 disestablished on October 1, 1986

    

Nickname: Waldomen (1955-60) / Waldos (1960-86)

AIRCRAFT:

Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (1956-58)

Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk (1958)

Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk (1958-61)

Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk (1961-70)

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1970-86)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

November 1955 - August 1956 with CVG-3 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

September 1957 - October 1957 with CVG-6 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11)

February 1959 - August 1959 with CVG-6 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11)

August 1960 - February 1961 with CVG-6 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11)

August 1961 - March 1962 with CVG-6 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11)

August 1962 - October 1962 with CVG-6 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

October 1962 - December 1962 with CVG-6 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

February 1963 - September 1963 with CVG-6 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

February 1964 - October 1964 with CVW-6 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

May 1965 - July 1965 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CVA 66)

November 1965 - July 1966 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CVA 66)

January 1967 - September 1967 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CVA 66)

June 1968 - February 1969 with CVW-10 aboard USS Intrepid (CVS 11)

December 1969 - July 1970 with CVW-17 aboard USS Forrestal (CVA 59)

September 1971 - March 1972 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62)

June 1973 - January 1974 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62)

July 1974 - January 1975 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62)

October 1975 - May 1976 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CV 62)

March 1977 - October 1977 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CV 62)

January 1979 - July 1979 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

April 1980 - December 1980 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

August 1981 - October 1981 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

January 1982 - July 1982 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

April 1983 - December 1983 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

October 1984 - May 1985 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

August 1986 - March 1987 with CVW-3 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) (VA-66/Det.)

 

images

 

va-66 waldos a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-7 uss dwight d. eisenhower cvn 69 agm-65 shrike missile

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) fires an AGM-65 Shrike missile - 1985

 

va-66 waldos attack squadron a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-7 uss dwight d. eisenhower cvn 69

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

a-7e corsair va-66 waldos attack squadron

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

va-66 waldomen waldos a-7e corsair

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

va-66 waldos attack squadron us navy a-7e corsair

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

va-66 waldomen waldos a-7e corsair cvw-7

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

va-66 waldos a-7e corsair barrier landing uss dwight d. eisenhower cvn 69

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) making a barrier landing aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

a-7e corsair va-66 waldos

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1983

 

va-66 waldos attack squadron us navy a-7e corsair

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1982

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

va-66 waldos a-7e corsair crash landing nas cecil field florida 1981

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

a-7e corsair II crash landing nas cecil field va-66 waldos

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

va-66 waldos a-7e corsair crash landing nas cecil field florida 1981

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) after a crash landing at NAS Cecil Field, Florida - 1981

 

a-7e corsair II va-66 waldos cvw-7

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1980

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1980’s

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1980

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1980’s

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1980’s

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1978

 

va-66 waldomen waldos a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-7 uss dwight d. eisenhower cvn 69

excerpt from above

 

va-66 waldos attack squadron a-7e corsair

A-7E Corsair II (VA-66 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1978

 

 

va-66 waldomen attack squadron a-4c skyhawk carrier air wing cvw-10 uss intrepid cvs 11

A-4C Skyhawk (VA-66 / CVW-10) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - 1968-69 (NNAM)

 

va-66 waldos attack squadron a4d-2n skyhawk cvg-6 uss intrepid cva 11

A4D-2N Skyhawks (VA-66 / CVG-6) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - circa 1961

 

attack squadron va-66 waldomen a4d-2n skyhawk cvg-6 uss intrepid cva-11

A4D-2N Skyhawk (VA-66 / CVG-6) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - 1959

 

 

history

27 May 1959: During the squadron’s deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the commanding officer, Commander McNeil, was killed in an aircraft accident during a practice Carrier Controlled Approach.

14 Aug 1962: The squadron participated in cross deck operations aboard the British carrier HMS Hermes (R12).

Oct–Dec 1962: While embarked in USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), the squadron participated in the Cuban blockade.

31 Jul–3 Oct 1964: Enterprise, with VA-66 embarked, participated in Operation Sea Orbit, the first circumnavigation of the world by a nuclear task force. The sixty-five day voyage was accomplished without replenishment. The squadron participated in numerous airpower demonstrations during the voyage.

8 Jun 1967: VA-66’s aircraft were part of an Air Wing 6 strike group that was launched to defend USS Liberty (AGTR-5) when she came under attack by the Israelis during the 1967 Six-Day War. When word was received that the attack had been a mistake on the part of the Israelis, the aircraft were recalled.

Jun 1970: VA-66, embarked in USS Forrestal (CVA-59), operated in the Eastern Mediterranean after Americans were taken hostage by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Amman, Jordan.

Oct–Nov 1973: Embarked on USS Independence (CV-62), the squadron operated south of Crete during the Yom Kippur War.

Aug 1974: USS Independence (CV-62) relieved USS America (CV-66) off Cyprus following the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état. During the crisis the American Ambassador was killed and anti-American demonstrations took place which led to the evacuation of U.S. citizens to American vessels.

15 Apr 1980: USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of the continuing response to the Iran hostage crisis.

22 Dec 1980: The squadron returned from its deployment to the Indian Ocean after spending a total of 246 days at sea. With only one port visit, the longest at sea period was for 153 days.

Jun 1982: After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon on 6 June, VA-66 operated in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the latter part of June the American carrier forces in the Mediterranean included Eisenhower (CVN-65), Independence (CV-62), Forrestal (CV-59), and John F. Kennedy (CV-67).

24 Jun 1982: VA-66 provided air support during the evacuation of Americans from Beirut, Lebanon, prior to the siege of Beirut by the Israelis.

25 Oct 1983: Due to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, Eisenhower (CVN-65) terminated its visit to Naples and departed for the eastern Mediterranean. The squadron operated in the vicinity of Lebanon until the latter part of November.

7 Mar 1985: Eisenhower (CVN-65) cut short a visit to Palma, Spain, and made a high speed transit to the Eastern Mediterranean due to the increased tension in Lebanon.

1 Oct 1986: The Waldos of VA-66 were officially disestablished but continued to operate as a detachment. The detachment continued to operate because its primary mission during the deployment was to provide HARM missile support for the air wing and carrier.

30 Jan 1987: Kennedy (CV-67) cancelled its port visit to Malaga, Spain, and made a high speed transit to the eastern Mediterranean due to the increased tension over the Lebanon hostage crisis.

31 Mar 1987: VA-66 Detachment was disestablished.

 

patches

 

va-66 waldos waldomen patch insignia crest badge us navy   attack squadron va-66 waldos waldomen patch badge insignia crest us navy

 

 

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