Attack Squadron 44
VA-44 squadron insignia
Active1 September 1950 – 1 May 1970
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
RoleAttack aircraft
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Hornets
EngagementsKorean War
Aircraft flown
AttackF4U-4/5 Corsair
F2H-2 Banshee
F9F-8/8T Cougar
A4D-1/A-4B/C/E/F/L Skyhawk
TV-2 Shooting Star
T28-B Trojan
A-1E/H Skyraider

VA-44, nicknamed the Hornets, was an Attack Squadron of the US Navy. The squadron was established as Fighter Squadron VF-44 on 1 September 1950, and redesignated VA-44 on 1 January 1956. It was disestablished on 1 May 1970. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-44, the first VA-44 was disestablished on 8 June 1950.[1]

Operational history

VF-44 F4U-4 prepares to launch from USS Boxer in 1953
VF-44 F2H-2 prepares to launch from USS Intrepid in 1955
VA-44 F9F-8 prepares to launch from USS Saratoga in 1956
Three VA-44 A-4Bs in flight during the 1960s.
  • VF-44 equipped with F4U-4s was assigned to Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) aboard the USS Boxer for a deployment to Korea and the Western Pacific from 30 March to 28 November 1953. On 13 June 1953 the squadron conducted its first combat operations against targets in Korea.
  • September–October 1957: During the squadron's deployment aboard USS Wasp, its mission was temporarily changed from attack to a fighter role in order to provide air protection for the VS squadrons operating from the carrier.
  • 1 June 1958: The squadron's mission changed from a light attack squadron to a fleet replacement training squadron. The new mission involved flight training for pilots and maintenance training for enlisted personnel. Under this concept, pilots and enlisted personnel ordered to East Coast fleet A4D squadrons completed the course of instruction provided by VA-44 before reporting to their assigned fleet squadrons.
  • 6 June 1958: Fleet All Weather Training Unit Detachment ALFA, an instrument training detachment, was disestablished and its personnel and aircraft were transferred to VA-44.
  • 8 August 1958: The squadron graduated its first replacement pilot under the new training program for attack pilots.
  • January 1959: The squadron's first AD Skyraiders arrived and preparations began for the additional mission of replacement training for this aircraft, plus the A4D Skyhawk.
  • 15 November 1961: The squadron graduated the 1,000th enlisted maintenance trainee on the A4D Skyhawk.
  • 15 February 1963: The propeller training section of the squadron was removed from VA-44 and established as a separate squadron and designated VA-45. VA-44 continued in its training mission concentrating on A-4 Skyhawk training. It became a strictly jet squadron flying A-4Bs, A-4Cs and TF-9Js.[1]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]

Aircraft assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:[1]

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

  1. 1 2 3 4 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). "Second VA-44" (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. p. 72.
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