VA-176 (U.S. Navy)
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Attack Squadron 176 (VA-176), known as the "Thunderbolts", was a United States Navy carrier-based medium attack squadron that saw combat service in the Vietnam War and later in 1983 in both Grenada and Lebanon.
History
VA-176 was established on 4 June 1955 and equipped with the Douglas AD-6 Skyraider and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. A year later the first deployment followed on board the aircraft carrier Template:USS to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Air Task Group 2 (ATG-2). In 1958, the squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17), but was not deployed as CVG-17 was disbanded. The next cruise in 1959/60 was aboard the Template:USS as part of CVG-10. In November and December 1960 VA-176 was assigned to Carrier Anti-submarine Air Group 52 (CVSG-52) aboard the Template:USS. After this short deployment VA-176 returned to CVW-10 and made three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea with the Template:USS between 1961 and 1965.
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CVW-10 was shifted in 1966 to the Template:USS, which was used as an attack carrier for three deployments to Vietnam. During the 1966 deployment two members of the squadron became known by successfully engaging a Vietnam People's Air Force MiG-17, an unusual instance of propeller-driven aircraft defeating a jet-powered adversary.
In 1967 VA-176 was back in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the Template:USS as part of CVW-3.
This was the last cruise with the Douglas A-1H Skyraider, as the squadron converted to the Grumman A-6A Intruder all-weather attack plane. From its first deployment with the Intruder in 1970 to the last in 1991, VA-176 was assigned to CVW-6. From 1970 to 1975, CVW-6 was assigned to the Template:USS. The next three years were spent aboard the Template:USS. In 1979 the wing moved to the Template:USS, followed by the Template:USS from 1986 to 1991. Flying the Intruder, VA-176 made eighteen deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, three of which also led to the Indian Ocean. The squadron earned three consecutive Battle "E" awards, for the years 1988-1991. The squadron was decommissioned from active service on 30 October 1992.
Aircraft
- Douglas AD-6 Skyraider (after 1962 A-1H) — 1955–1967
- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
- Grumman A-6A Intruder — 1969–1975
- Grumman KA-6D Intruder — 1972–1992
- Grumman A-6C Intruder — 1973–1975
- Grumman A-6E Intruder — 1975–1992
See also
- History of the United States Navy
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons