Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

VA 304 (U.S. Navy)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
United States

Part of
  
Inactive

Role
  
Attack aircraft

Nickname(s)
  
Firebirds

VA-304 (U.S. Navy)

Active
  
1 July 1970 - 31 December 1994

Branch
  
United States Navy Reserve

VA-304, nicknamed the Firebirds, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at NAS Alameda, California. It was established on 1 July 1970, and disestablished almost 25 years later, on 31 December 1994.

Contents

Operational history

  • 1 July 1970: VA-304, a reserve squadron, established as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. Elements of reserve unit, VA-20G3, were used to form the newly established VA-304.
  • May 1987: VA-304 operated from the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Alberta, while participating in exercise Rendezvous 87-Bold Warrior. The exercise was a mock full-scale battle between elements of the Canadian Armed Forces with VA-304 acting as an aggressor force.
  • August 1988: VA-304 was the first reserve squadron to receive and operate the A-6E Intruder.

    • Aircraft Assignment

    The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:

  • A-4C Skyhawk – Jul 1970
  • A-7A Corsair II – 06 Aug 1971
  • A-7B Corsair II – Sep 1977
  • A-7E Corsair II – Sep 1986
  • KA-6D Intruder – 22 Jul 1988
  • A-6E Intruder – 05 Aug 1988

    • References

    VA-304 (U.S. Navy) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics