The VA-112 Broncos
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Custode Pacis Armis - 1948
Custode Pacis Armis - after 1959
Drawn by Bud Southworth

Patch
  • August 28, 1945, the squadron's first patch was the two-headed eagle and dragon. The patch has a yellow background; black dragon; sky blue eagle with white heads and red tongues; other markings and outlines were black.

  • November 9, 1945, a new squadron patch was created displaying a two-headed eagle & globe showing North and South America. Clouds surrounded the globe. There appears to be no color description of this patch.

  • July 12, 1948, VF-112 Fighting Twelve selected a new Custode Pacis Armis (Armed Keeper of the Peace) patch. The patch is displayed above.

  • February 15, 1959, the Broncos continued to use the Custode Paris Armis patch following redesignation to VA-112. The patch is displayed above.

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Handle
Heritage
  • April 9, 1945, Bomber-Fighter Squadron ELEVEN (VBF-11) established.
  • November 15, 1946, VBF-11 was redesignated Fighter Squadron TWELVE A (VF-12A).

  • July 15, 1948, VF-12A was redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VF-112).

  • February 15, 1959, VF-112 was redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-112).

  • October 10, 1969, Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE disestablished.

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • April 9, 1945 - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda
  • April 30, 1945- - - - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Fallon
  • July 31, 1945 - - - - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Santa Rosa
  • February 21, 1946 - - - - - Naval Air Station Kahului, Hawaii
  • November 25, 1946 - - - - - Naval Air Station San Diego
  • April 7, 1951 - - - - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar/NAS Miramar*
  • September 11, 1961- - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore
  • * Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar was redesignated Naval Air Station Miramar on March 1, 1952.

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • April 9, 1945 - - - - - V†/NH‡ - - - - - CVG-11/CVAG-11
  • March 3, 1958- - - - - - - - - - - - - - CVG-11* COMFAIRSANDIEGO
  • June 28, 1958 - - - - - - NA - - - - - - ATG-1
  • March 13, 1959- - - - - - NF - - - - - - CVG-5
  • November 1959 - - - - - - NH - - - - - - CVG-11/CVW-11§
  • July 8, 1965- - - - - - - AJ - - - - - - CVW-8
  • April 8, 1966- - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA
  • 1966**- - - - - - - - - - NH - - - - - - CVW-11
  • October 1, 1968 - - - - - AH - - - - - - CVW-16
  • * CVG-11 was redesignated CVAG-11 on November 15, 1946. It was redesignated CVG-11 on September 1, 1948.
  • † The tail code V was assigned to CVG-11 on December 12, 1946.
  • ‡ The tail code was changed from V to NH in 1957. The effective date for this change was July 1, 1957.
  • § CVG-11 was redesignated CVW-11 when Carrier Air Group (CVG) designations were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on December 20, 1963.
  • ** VA-112 was reassigned to CVW-11 sometime between June and November 1966. There are no records available for VA-112 and CVW-11 for this period.

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 10-09-47 to 06-11-48 - CVAG-11- CV 45* - F8F-1- - World Cruise
  • 07-05-50 to 04-07-51 - CVG-11 - CV 47† - F9F-2B - WestPac/Korea
  • 12-31-51 to 08-08-52 - CVG-11 - CV 47- - F9F-2B - WestPac/Korea
  • 07-01-53 to 01-18-54 - CVG-11 - CVA 33 - F9F-5- - WestPac
  • 10-07-54 to 05-12-55 - CVG-11 - CVA 33 - F9F-6- - WestPac
  • 07-16-56 to 01-26-57 - CVG-11 - CVA 9- - F9F-8B - WestPac
  • 10-04-58 to 02-16-59 - ATG-1- - CVA 14 - F3H-2M - WestPac
  • 07-16-60 to 03-18-61 - CVG-11 - CVA 19 - A4D-2- - WestPac
  • 09-13-62 to 04-02-63 - CVG-11 - CVA 63 - A-4C - - WestPac
  • 10-17-63 to 07-20-64 - CVW-11 - CVA 63 - A-4C - - WestPac
  • 08-24-65 to 04-07-66 - CVW-8- - CVA 59 - A-4C - - Med
  • 11-05-66 to 06-19-67 - CVW-11 - CVA 63 - A-4C - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 11-18-67 to 06-28-68 - CVW-11 - CVA 63 - A-4C - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 02-01-69 to 09-18-69 - CVW-16 - CVA 14 - A-4C - - WestPac/Vietnam
  • * Before the cruise started in January 1948 the squadron operated primarily from Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii with occasional exercises aboard United States Ship Valley Forge CV 45.
  • † March 30, 1951 the squadron transferred, while docked at Yokosuka, Japan, from United States Ship Philippine Sea CV 47, to United States Ship Valley Forge CV 45, to return to the United States embarked in Valley Forge. Philippine Sea continued its duty in Korea with another air group.

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
    Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • April 1945 - - - - - - - LT Richard E. James (acting)
  • April 1945 - - - - - - - LCDR Ralph W. Cousins
  • June 1945- - - - - - - - LCDR George E. Savage
  • October 1945 - - - - - - LCDR Norman W. Ackley
  • January 1947 - - - - - - LCDR Melvin C. Hoffman
  • July 1948- - - - - - - - CDR Joseph T. Lawler
  • May 1950 - - - - - - - - CDR R. Weymouth
  • August 1950- - - - - - - LCDR J. L. Butts, Jr.
  • June 1951- - - - - - - - LCDR J. V. Rowney
  • August 1952- - - - - - - LCDR James Ferris
  • October 1952 - - - - - - LCDR R. W. Jackson (acting)
  • October 1952 - - - - - - LCDR C. E. Lair
  • March 1954 - - - - - - - CDR George S. Morrison
  • October 1955 - - - - - - CDR Marcel N. Piller
  • April 1957 - - - - - - - LCDR M. M. Casey, Jr.
  • March 1959 - - - - - - - LCDR J. J. Konzen (acting)
  • March 1959 - - - - - - - CDR Clyde J. Lee
  • February 1960- - - - - - CDR Hugh N. Batten
  • March 1961 - - - - - - - CDR James T. Parady
  • April 1962 - - - - - - - CDR J. F. Kirklighter
  • April 1963 - - - - - - - CDR F. L. Leib
  • May 1964 - - - - - - - - CDR P. E. Russell
  • June 1965- - - - - - - - CDR J. A. Chalbeck
  • July 1966- - - - - - - - CDR J. H. Alvis
  • December 1966- - - - - - CDR Marion L. Minnis
  • November 1967- - - - - - CDR Charles H. Brown
  • September 1968 - - - - - CDR Tommy L. Gatewood

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Events
  • April 9, 1945:
    Bomber-Fighter Squadron ELEVEN (VBF-11) established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. The Broncos were assigned the F6F-3/5 Grumman Hellcat.

  • April 30, 1945:
    VBF-11 homeport was changed to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Fallon, Nevada.

  • July 31, 1945:
    VBF-11 homeport was changed to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Santa Rosa, California.

  • February 21, 1946:
    VBF-11 homeport was changed to Naval Air Station Kahului, Hawaii.

  • November 15, 1946:
    VBF-11 was redesignated Fighter Squadron TWELVE A (VF-12A).

  • November 25, 1946:
    VF-12A homeport was changed to Naval Air Station San Diego, California.

  • December 11, 1946:
    VF-12A was assigned the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat.

  • March 25, 1948:
    United States Ship Valley Forge CV 45, 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 sandstorm and hazy conditions.

  • April 29, 1948:
    United States Ship Valley Forge CV 45, 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." The "Pinwheel" type operation can be viewed in the movie Bridges of Toko-Ri.

  • July 15, 1948:
    VF-12A was redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VF-112).

  • January 3, 1949:
    The Broncos were assigned the F8F-2 Grumman Bearcat.

  • January 11, 1950:
    The Broncos were assigned the F9F-2 Grumman Panther.

  • July 1, 1950:
    The Broncos were assigned the F9F-2B Grumman Panther.

  • July 5, 1950 to March 29, 1951:
    VF-112 flying the F9F-2B Panther from United States Ship Philippine Sea CV 47, first combat tour to WestPac/Korea.

  • August 5, 1950:
    VF-112 flew its first Korean campaign combat mission, striking land and sea targets southeast of Kunsan, and Mokpo harbor area of South Korea.

  • September 12 through 19, 1950:
    The squadron Panthers participated in the pre-assault strikes against targets in and around Inchon, Korea, in preparation for the landings there on September 15, 1950. 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.

  • November 10, 1950:
    The Bronco's first encounter with MiG-15s occurred during a sortie over Sinuiju, Korea. One MiG-15 was damaged during the engagement.

  • March 30, 1951 to April 7, 1951:
    VF-112 cross-decked from United States Ship Philippine Sea CV 47, to United States Ship Valley Forge CV 45; to continue combat in the WestPac/Korea theater and later returned to the States embarked in Valley Forge.

  • April 7, 1951:
    VF-112 was home based at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar, California.

  • December 31, 1951 to August 8, 1952:
    The Broncos flying the F9F-2B Panther from United States Ship Philippine Sea CV 47, conducted a second combat tour to WestPac/Korea.

  • June 23 and 24, 1952:
    VF-112 Panthers 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. This was the first time that enemy power plants had been so heavily targeted. It also marked the first time that four carriers were on line off the coast of Korea since the fall of 1950.

  • July 1, 1953 to January 18, 1954:
    The Broncos flying the F9F-5 Grumman Panther from United States Ship Kearsarge CVA 33, a tour to WestPac/Korea.

  • February 1954:
    VF-112 was assigned the swept wing F9F-6 Grumman Cougar.

  • October 7, 1954 to May 12, 1955:
    The Broncos flying the F9F-6 Cougar from United States Ship Kearsarge CVA 33, a tour to WestPac/Korea.

  • February 6 through 13, 1955:
    The squadron was on station and available for air support during the evacuation of over 26,000 personnel from the Tachen Islands which had come under bombardment by the People's Republic of China in January 1955.

  • April 5, 1957:
    VF-112 was assigned the F3H-2M McDonnell Demon.

  • February 15, 1959:
    VF-112 was redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-112).

  • April 1959:
    VF-112 was assigned the Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk.

  • September 11, 1961:
    VF-112's homeport was changed to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Lemoore, California.

  • September 13, 1962 to April 2, 1963:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Kitty Hawk CVA 63, a WestPac tour.

  • October 17, 1963 to July 20, 1964:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Kitty Hawk CVA 63, a WestPac tour.

  • August 24, 1965 to April 7, 1966:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59, a Med tour.

  • November 5, 1966 to June 19, 1967:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Kitty Hawk CVA 63, a WestPac/Vietnam combat tour.

  • April 24, 1967:
    Squadron aircraft based on United States Ship Essex CVA 9, participated in a multi-carrier coordinated strike against North Vietnam's MiG base, Kep Airfield, northeast of Hanoi. This was the first time a strike had been conducted against a North Vietnam MiG airfield.

  • May 10, 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.

  • November 18, 1967 to June 28, 1968:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Kitty Hawk CVA 63, a WestPac/Vietnam combat tour.

  • February 1, 1969 to September 18, 1969:
    The Broncos flying the A-4C Skyhawk from United States Ship Ticonderoga CVA 14, a WestPac/Vietnam combat tour.

  • April 1969:
    Following the shoot down of a Navy EC-121 aircraft by the North Koreans, United States Ship Ticonderoga CVA 14, along with two other attack carriers, was ordered to the Sea of Japan.

  • October 10, 1969:
    Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE disestablished.

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Awards
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • KPUC
    • 01 August 1950 to 16 March 1951
    • 20 January 1952 to 12 July 1952
  • NUC
    • 04 August 1950 to 16 March 1951
  • AFEM
    • 20 April 1969 to 27 April 1969
    • 29 June 1969
    • 07 July 1969 to 13 July 1969
    • 24 July 1969
    • 04 August 1969
    • 16 August 1969 to 24 August 1969
    • 30 August 1969
    • 03 September 1969
    • 13 September 1969 to 14 September 1969
  • MUC
    • 18 February 1969 to 07 September 1969
  • PUC
    • 23 December 1967 to 01 June 1968
  • VNSM
    • 03 December 1966 to 03 January 1967
    • 02 March 1967 to 28 March 1967
    • 12 April 1967 to 28 April 1967
    • 08 May 1967 to 23 May 1967
    • 04 March 1968 to 27 March 1968
    • 12 April 1968 to 01 May 1968
    • 13 May 1968 to 01 June 1968
    • 03 March 1969 to 20 March 1969
    • 29 March 1969 to 16 April 1969
    • 09 May 1969 to 04 June 1969
    • 25 June 1969 to 01 August 1969

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    Sources:
    • Harry S. Gann
    • R. W. Dick) Twilde, Capt. USNR TAR (Ret).

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