VA-112 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11 on 9 April 1945, redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-12A on 15 November 1946, then as VF-112 on 15 July 1948. It was finally redesignated as VA-112 on 15 February 1959. The squadron was disestablished on 10 October 1969. Its nickname from 1961 to 1969 was the Broncos.
25 Mar 1948: USS Valley Forge operated in the Persian Gulf with Saudi Arabian Prince Ibn Saud embarked to view air operations. However, the air display was cancelled because of a sand storm and hazy conditions.
29 Apr 1948: Valley Forge moored port side to Dokkeskjaerkaien Dock, Bergen, Norway. The mooring was conducted without the aid of tugs, using the engine power of the squadron’s eight F8Fs spotted on the forward deck and eight other aircraft on the aft deck. The mooring operation was called Operation Pinwheel.
5 Aug 1950: The squadron participated in its first combat operations, flying sorties against targets in the Mokpo-Kwangju area of South Korea.
12–19 Sep 1950: The squadron participated in the pre-assault strikes against targets in and around Inchon, Korea, in preparation for the Inchon landing on 15 September. These strikes included road, rail, and airfield sweeps and Combat Air Patrol. During and after the invasion the squadron continued to fly daily air sweeps, striking at targets of opportunity and the enemy’s lines of communications.
10 Nov 1950: The squadron’s first encounter with MiG-15s occurred during a sortie over Sinuiju, North Korea. One MiG-15 was damaged during the engagement.
23–24 June 1952: The squadron participated in coordinated strikes against North Korean hydroelectric power plants, the first heavy attack conducted against these installations. Nine different hydroelectric power plants were struck by forces from Carrier Air Groups 2, 7, 11, 19, and the 5th Air Force.
6–13 Feb 1955: The squadron was on station and available for air support during the evacuation of over 26,000 personnel from the Tachen Islands during the First Taiwan Straits Crisis.
24 Apr 1967: Squadron aircraft participated in a multi-carrier coordinated strike against North Vietnam’s Kép Air Base, northeast of Hanoi. This was the first time a strike had been conducted against a North Vietnam MiG airfield.
10 May 1967: Commander M. L. Minnis, Sr., was awarded the Silver Star for action during a strike into North Vietnam against the thermal power plant at Haiphong.
Apr 1969: Following the shoot down of a Navy EC-121 aircraft by the North Koreans, USS Ticonderoga, with VA-112 aboard, along with two other attack carriers, was ordered to the Sea of Japan
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
NAS Alameda – 09 Apr 1945
NAAS Fallon – 30 Apr 1945
NAAS Santa Rosa – 31 Jul 1945
NAS Kahului – 21 Feb 1946
NAS San Diego – 25 Nov 1946
NAAS Miramar/NAS Miramar – 07 Apr 1951
NAS Lemoore – 11 Sep 1961
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
F6F-3/5 Hellcat – Apr 1945
F8F-1 Bearcat – 11 Dec 1946
F8F-2 Bearcat – 03 Jan 1949
F9F-2 Panther – 11 Jan 1950
F9F-2B Panther* – Jul 1950
F9F-3 Panther – 31 May 1951
F9F-2B Panther – 12 Jul 1951
F9F-5 Panther – Oct 1952
F9F-6 Cougar – Feb 1954
F9F-8 Cougar – Jul 1955
F9F-8B Cougar – Apr 1956
F3H-2M Demon – 05 Apr 1957
A4D-1/2 Skyhawk – Apr 1959
A4D-2N/A4C Skyhawk – 26 Mar 1961
* The squadron’s F9F-2s were modified at NAS Barbers Point and equipped with rocket launchers and bomb racks and designated F9F-2Bs.
