Attack Squadron 72 (ATKRON 72) VA-72 ‘Blue Hawks’
STATUS:		established as VBF-18 on January 25, 1945 VBF-18 redesignated VF-8A on November 15, 1946 VF-8A redesignated VF-72 on July 28, 1948 VF-72 redesignated VA-72 on January 3, 1956 VA-72 disestablished on June 30, 1991 Nickname: Hawks (1956-62) / Blue Hawks (1962-91)
AIRCRAFT:		Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk (1956-58) Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk (1958-61) Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk (1961-64) Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (1964-67) Douglas A-4B Skyhawk (1967-70) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II (1970-77) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1977-91)
DEPLOYMENTS:		September 1957 - October 1957 with CVG-7 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) March 1958 - May 1958 with CVG-8 aboard USS Forrestal (CVA 59) September 1958 - March 1959 with CVG-7 aboard USS Randolph (CVA 15) April 1959 - June 1959 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) August 1960 - March 1961 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) August 1961 - December 1961 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) April 1962 - August 1962 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) October 1962 - November 1962 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) August 1963 - March 1964 with CVG-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) September 1964 - November 1964 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) May 1965 - December 1965 with CVW-7 aboard USS Independence (CVA 62) June 1966 - February 1967 with CVW-1 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) August 1967 - May 1968 with CVW-1 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) January 1969 - July 1969 with CVW-8 aboard USS Shangri-La (CVA 38) September 1970 - March 1971 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) November 1971 - May 1972 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) April 1973 - December 1973 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) June 1975 - January 1976 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) September 1976 - November 1976 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) January 1977 - August 1977 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) June 1978 - February 1979 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) August 1980 - March 1981 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) May 1982 - June 1983 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) April 1984 - November 1984 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 1985 - October 1985 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) March 1986 - September 1986 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) February 1988 - August 1988 with CVW-7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) August 1990 - March 1991 with CVW-3 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - note the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - note the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with an AGM-62 Walleye bomb loaded - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) with an AGM-62 Walleye bomb loaded - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) after a barricade emergency landing aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) after a barricade emergency landing aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) after a barricade emergency landing aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) making a barricade emergency landing aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1991 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 (National Naval Aviation Museum) A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72) during exercise RED FLAG - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during aerial refueling - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1990 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) flying over USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) flying over USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) flying over USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1988 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-7) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - April 1986 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - April 1986 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - April 1984 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 excerpt from above A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during her shakedown cruise - 1977 A-7E Corsair II (VA-72 / CVW-1) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during her shakedown cruise - 1977 A4D-1 Skyhawk (VA-72 / CVG-7) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - 1957 (NNAM)
history
Sep-Dec 1946: Participated in USS Leyte (CV-32) shakedown cruise in the Caribbean Sea and a goodwill cruise to South America for the inauguration of Chile’s President Gabriel González Videla. 19 Aug 1948: Squadron commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander B. F. Haker, lost at sea while attempting a carrier approach. 25 Jan 1949: Cross deck operations with the British carrier HMS Triumph (R16) in the Mediterranean. Apr 1961: The squadron operated from USS Independence (CVA-62) in an area south of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the unsuccessful invasion of Cuba by American supported Cuban exiles. 22 Oct-22 Nov 1962: Participated in the Cuban Quarantine while embarked in Independence. 10-16 May 1963: A detachment of three aircraft deployed in USS Wasp (CVS-18) to provide courier service during a Project Mercury space flight of the Faith 7 capsule. 17 Oct 1965: The squadron’s executive officer, Commander H. B. Southworth, led the first successful strike against a surface-to-air SA-2 missile installation in North Vietnam. The strike was composed of four VA-72 A-4Es and one A-6A from VA-75. 18 Sep 1970: While operating in the Caribbean aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), the squadron was ordered to deploy with the carrier to the Mediterranean due to the fighting between forces of Jordan and Palestine and the intervention of Syria on behalf of the Palestinians. Oct 1973: With the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, Kennedy and her air wing, while operating in the North Atlantic after just completing a Mediterranean deployment, were ordered back to the Mediterranean. VA-72 conducted flight operations while the carrier was on station south of Crete, from the latter part of October through mid November. 17-19 Sep 1985: VA-72, along with other units of CVW-1, were the first to conduct flight operations from a carrier operating inside a fjord. USS America (CV-66) operated in Vestfjord, Norway, during this evolution. 22-27 Mar 1986: During Freedom of Navigation Exercises in the Gulf of Sidra and the resulting combat action with Libyan forces, VA-72 flew patrols to protect the task force from attack by surface ships or submarines and also provided aerial refueling missions for fighters flying combat air patrols. 14 Apr 1986: The United States initiated Operation Eldorado Canyon, air strikes against targets in Libya. VA-72 provided air-to-surface missile support for possible employment against surface-to-air missile radar sites. Sep-Oct 1990 and Dec 1990–Jan 1991: The squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield, the build up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait. 17 Jan 1991: Operation Desert Storm, combat operations to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait, was launched. The squadron’s A-7E Corsair IIs participated in the first combat strike against Iraqi targets in Baghdad. 29 Jan 1991: Squadron aircraft flew their first combat mission in the Kuwait theater, striking Iraqi troops, tanks and artillery positions. 27 Feb 1991: Squadron aircraft participated in the last naval air combat strike of the war, hitting retreating Iraqi troops east of Najaf, Iraq. During the 43 days of war the squadron flew 362 sorties without the loss of a pilot or aircraft. 8 Jun 1991: The last two squadron aircraft participated in the Desert Storm Victory Parade flyover in Washington, D.C. Homeports: NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 1956 - February 1966 NAS Cecil Field, Florida - February 1966 - June 1991
patches
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