Attack Squadron 45 (ATKRON 45)

VA-45 ‘Blackbirds’

 

va-45 blackbirds insignia crest patch badge attack squadron atkron us navy

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron atkron fleet replacement training us navy ta-4 skyhawk

 

STATUS:

First VA-45 ‘Black Knights’:
1948-1950 - disestablished on June 8, 1950
    
Second VA-45 ‘Blackbirds’:
established as Attack Squadron 45 (VA-45) on September 1, 1950
VA-45 disestablished on March 1, 1958
    
Third VA-45 ‘Blackbirds’:
established as Attack Squadron (VA-45) on February 15, 1963
VA-45 redesignated Fighter Squadron (VF-45) on February 7, 1985

AIRCRAFT:

Second VA-45:

Douglas AD-2 Skyraider (Sep 1950)

Douglas AD-4 Skyraider (Feb 1952)

Douglas AD-6 Skyraider (Jun 1954)

    
Third VA-45:
Grumman TF-9J Cougar (April 1964)
Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk (March 1967)
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (1972)
Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (May 1971)

Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk (1974)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

Second VA-45:

May 1951 - October 1951 with CVG-4 aboard USS Oriskany (CV 34)

April 1952 - October 1952 with CVG-4 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVB 43)

April 1953 - December 1953 with CVG-4 aboard USS Lake Champlain (CVA 39)

May 1955 - November 1955 with CVG-4 aboard USS Intrepid(CVA 11)

August 1956 - October 1956 with CVG-4 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60)

July 1957 - February 1958 with CVG-4 aboard USS Randolph (CVA 15)

    

Third VA-45:

no regular deployments on carriers;

only Squadron-detachments aboard USS Intrepid (CVS 11) in 1971-73;

> the primary mission of the third VA-45 was the training of fleet replacement pilots <

 

images

 

Third VA-45 ‘Blackbirds’ 1963-85

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawks assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawks assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk atkron fleet replacement training

TA-4J Skyhawks assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds ta-4j was refueled by a ka-6d intruder of va-85

KA-6D Intruder of VA-85 refuels a TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk atkron

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk attack squadron

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

ta-4j skyhawk attack squadron va-45 blackbirds

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron atkron ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4j skyhawk atkron

TA-4J Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4f skyhawk day glo painting

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron atkron ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron a-4e skyhawk

A-4E Skyhawk assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron a-4e skyhawk uss intrepid cv 11

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CV 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds a-4e skyhawk uss intrepid cv 11

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CV 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds a-4e skyhawk detachment uss intrepid cv 11

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CV 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds a-4e skyhawk uss intrepid cvs 11

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds a-4e skyhawk detachment uss intrepid cvs 11 atkron

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds a-4e skyhawk uss intrepid cvs 11

A-4E Skyhawk (VA-45 / Detachment I) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVS 11) - undated (NNAM)

 

 

 

Second VA-45 ‘Blackbirds’ 1950-58

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ad-5 a-1e skyraider

AD-5 (A-1E) Skyraider assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ad-5 a-1e skyraider

AD-5 (A-1E) Skyraider assigned to VA-45 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ad-6 skyraider uss saratoga cva 60

AD-6 Skyraider assigned to VA-45 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - undated (NNAM)

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron ad-6 skyraider cvg-4 uss intrepid cva 11

AD-6 Skyraider (VA-45 / CVG-4) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - 1955 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-45 blackbirds ad-6 skyraider cvg-4 uss intrepid cva 11 atkron us navy

AD-6 Skyraider (VA-45 / CVG-4) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - 1955 (NNAM)

 

 

history

Home Port Assignments - Second VA-45:
Location (Assignment Date)
NAS Jacksonville (Sep 1950)
NAAS Cecil Field (Sep 1950)
NAS Jacksonville (Oct 1952)

Home Port Assignments - Third VA-45:

Location (Assignment Date)

NAS Jacksonville (1963)

NAS Key West (May 1980)

 

patches

 

va-45 blackbirds attack squadron crest patch insignia badge

 

 

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