VA-12
Flying Umbangis
The Squadron Duty Officer
(SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help
old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit
information. The
SDO List.
The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related
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eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.
VBF-4 & VF-2A Bombing And Fighting - 1945
Drawn by Bud Southworth |
VF-12 Kiss of Death - 1949
Drawn by Bud Southworth |
VA-12 Kiss of Death - 1955
Drawn by Bud Southworth |
Patch
- The VBF-4's first patch, "Bombing And Fighting" was
approved 19 DEC 1945. This patch is displayed above.
- VF-2A used the "Bombing And Fighting" patch from 1946
to 1948.
- VF-12 designed a new "Kiss of Death" patch which was
approved September 29, 1949. The lower banner read - Fighter Squadron
Twelve.
- When VF-12 was redesignated as VA-12, in 1955, the
squadron continued using the "Kiss of Death" patch but changed the
banner wording to "Attack Squadron Twelve." This patch was used until
VA-12 was disestablished in 1986. This patch is displayed above.
- When VA-12 flew the A-4E in Vietnam from United
States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42 on 21 JUN 1966 to 21 FEB 1967
the troops used the patch displayed above.
- Back to Table of Contents
Handle
Heritage
- 12 MAY 1945: Bomber-Fighter Squadron FOUR
(VBF-4)
established.
- 15 NOV 1946: VBF-4 redesignated Fighter Squadron TWO
A (VF-2A).
- 02 AUG 1948: VF-2A redesignated Fighter Squadron
TWELVE (VF-12).
- 01 AUG 1955: VF-12 redesignated Attack Squadron
TWELVE (VA-12).
- -1 OCT 1986: Attack Squadron TWELVE disestablished.
- Back to Table of Contents
Home Ports
- 12 MAY 1945: NAS Alameda
- 21 MAY 1945: NAAS Watsonville
- 02 JUL 1945: NAS Wildwood
- 09 SEP 1945: NAAS Groton
- 18 JAN 1946: NAS Norfolk
- 15 JUL 1946: NAS San Diego (North Island)
- 21 FEB 1949: NAS Norfolk
- 25 FEB 1949: NAAS Cecil Field
- 24 MAR 1950: NAS Jacksonville
- 25 MAR 1951: NAAS Cecil Field
- 07 OCT 1951: NAS Jacksonville
- 28 FEB 1952: NAAS Cecil Field
- 16 MAY 1952: NAS Jacksonville
- 13 OCT 1952: NAS Cecil Field
- Back to Table of Contents
Air Wings
Date - - - - Tail Code - - - Air Group
- 12 MAY 1945 - - - T† -
CVG-4/CVAG-1/CVG-1*
- 20 JAN 1958 - - - AK - CVG-10
- 05 DEC 1960 - - - AB - CVG-1/CVW-1‡
- 25 AUG 1968 - - - AJ - CVW-8
- 1971 - - - - - - AG - CVW-7
- * 15 NOV 1946 - CVG-4 was redesignated
CVAG-1 and 01
SEP 1948 - CVG-1.
- † In JAN 1946 - CVG-4 assigned the tail code T
when
assigned to the carrier Tarawa CV 40.
- ‡ 29 DEC 1963 Carrier Air Groups were redesignated
Carrier Air Wings.
- Back to Table of
Contents
Deployments
Departure & Return - - - - - - Air Wing - - - - Carrier - - - -
Aircraft -
- - - - Area of Operations
- 28 JUN 1946 to 15 JUL 1946: CVG-4 - CV 40
-
F4U-4 -
Transit to West Coast via Panama Canal
- 01 AUG 1946 to 29 APR 1947: CVG-4/CVAG-1 - CV 40 -
F4U-4 - Western Pacific
CVG-1 patch from Joe Kyle
- 01 OCT 1948 to 21 FEB 1949: CVG-1 - CV 40 - F8F-1 -
World Cruise
- 20 MAR 1951 to 06 OCT 1951: CVG-1 - CVB 43 - F2H-2
-
Mediterranean
- 24 MAY 1952 to 11 OCT 1952: CVG-1 - CV 18 - F2H-2 -
Mediterranean/NorLant
- 11 JUN 1953 to 02 DEC 1953: CVG-1 - CVA 42 - F2H-2
-
Mediterranean
- 27 DEC 1954 to 14 JUL 1955: CVG-1 - CVA 41 - F2H-2
-
World Cruise
- 02 SEP 1958 to 12 MAR 1959: CVG-10 - CVA 59 - A4D-2
-
Mediterranean
- 06 SEP 1960 to 20 SEP 1960: CVG-10 - CVA 38 - A4D-2
-
NorLant
- 14 NOV 1960 to 27 NOV 1960: CVG-10 - CVA 38 - A4D-2
-
Caribbean
- 15 JAN 1961 to 28 AUG 1961: CVG-1 - CVA 42 - A4D-2
-
Mediterranean
- 19 NOV 1961 to 20 NOV 1961: CVG-1 - CVA 42 - A4D-2
-
Caribbean
- 14 SEP 1962 to 22 APR 1963: CVG-1 - CVA 42 - A4D-2N
-
Mediterranean
- 28 MAR 1964 to 02 DEC 1964: CVW-1 - CVA 42 - A-4C -
Mediterranean
- 28 JUN 1965 to 17 DEC 1965: CVW-1 - CVA 42 - A-4E -
Mediterranean
- 21 JUN 1966 to 21 FEB 1967: CVW-1 - CVA 42 - A-4E -
Western Pacific/Vietnam
- 24 AUG 1967 to 19 MAY 1968: CVW-1 - CVA 42 - A-4C -
Mediterranean
- 07 JAN 1969 to 29 JUL 1969: CVW-8 - CVA 38 - A-4C -
Mediterranean
- 05 MAR 1970 to 17 DEC 1970: CVW-8 - CVS 38 - A-4C -
Western Pacific/Vietnan
- 16 SEP 1971 to 16 MAR 1972: CVW-7 - CVA 62 - A-7E -
NorLant/Mediterranean
- 21 JUN 1973 to 19 JAN 1974: CVW-7 - CVA 62 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 19 JUL 1974 to 21 JAN 1975: CVW-7 - CV 62 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 15 OCT 1975 to 05 MAY 1976: CVW-7 - CV 62 - A-7E -
NorLant/Mediterranean
- 31 MAR 1977 to 21 OCT 1977: CVW-7 - CV 62 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 16 JAN 1979 to 13 JUL 1979: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 14 APR 1980 to 22 DEC 1980: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
IO
- 20 AUG 1981 to 07 OCT 1981: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
NorLant
- 05 JAN 1982 to 13 JUL 1982: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 27 APR 1983 to 02 DEC 1983: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
- 08 MAY 1984 to 20 JUN 1984: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
NorLant
- 10 OCT 1984 to 08 MAY 1985: CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E -
Mediterranean
Back to Table of Contents
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
- 12 MAY 1945: LTJG Joseph F. Simpson
(acting)
- 15 MAY 1945: LTJG John S. Tyler (acting)
- 19 MAY 1945: LCDR John H. Lackey
- 06 Oct 1945: LCDR William L. Conley
- 1947: LCDR Richard H. Guinn 21 Jun
- 07 MAY 1948: LCDR W. H. Kilgore (acting)
- 02 JUL 1948: LCDR Ronald W. Hoel
- 1949: LCDR Albert W. Newhall, Jr.
- 1950: CDR Brainard T. Macomber
- 1951: LCDR John L. Carter
- 1952: LCDR John M. Breen
- 1953: LCDR Hamilton McWhorter
- 1954: CDR Frederick G. Kidd
- 1955: CDR Paul H. Durand
- 1957: CDR Marshall P. Deputy, Jr.
- 1958: CDR Charles A. Pendleton, Jr.
- 1959: CDR William B. Barrow
- 1960: CDR Richard J. Deprez
- 1961: CDR John E. Hansen
- 1962: CDR Robert E. Oechslin
- 1963: CDR Max E. Malan
- 1964: CDR Burton E. Berglund
- 1965: CDR James D. Whyte
- APR 1966: CDR Robert C. Frosio
- NOV 1966: CDR Gerald P. Barnett
- 1967: CDR Austin C. O'Brien, Jr.
- 1968: CDR Richard M. Fletcher
- 1969: CDR Walter R. Petersen
- 1970: CDR Daniel H. L. Gholson
- 1971: LCDR Henry E. Nelson
- 1972: CDR Anthony A. Less
- 1973: CDR John F. Calhoun
- 1975: CDR James M. Hickerson
- 1976: CDR Gary W. Mau
- 1977: CDR David R. Edwards
- 1978: CDR Richard B. Curtis
- 1979: CDR Robert A. Maier
- 1981: CDR Audrey B. Whitten
- 1982: CDR James M. Gill
- 1983: CDR Michael W. Samuels
- 1985: CDR Harry M. Conner
- Back to Table of
Contents
Events
- 12 MAY 1945:
Bomber-Fighter Squadron FOUR (VBF-4) was established and initially
assigned the Grumman F6F Hellcat. A few days later the Flying Ubangis
were upgraded to the Chance Vought & Goodyear F4U-1/1D
& FG-1/1D Corsairs. In September the squadron was further
upgraded to the Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair.
- 05 OCT 1945:
VBF-4 participated in an aerial parade over Washington, D.C., in honor
of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. It also engaged in several other
air parades and exhibition flights during the month of October.
- 05 OCT 1945:
VBF-4's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Lackey, was killed
during a training flight in a North American SNJ training aircraft.
- 21 AUG to 19 SEP and NOV through DEC 1946:
The squadron operated from Kobler Field, Saipan. Conducted training and
preparations for special fleet exercises while shore based.
- 15 NOV 1946:
VBF-4 was redesignated Fighter Squadron TWO A (VF-2A).
- MAY 1947:
The Flying Ubangis were assigned two new aircraft. The new Grumman
F8F-1/1B Bearcat and the trusty old Grumman F6F-5P Hellcat.
- 02 AUG 1948:
VF-2A was redesignated Fighter Squadron TWELVE (VF-12).
- SEP 1950:
Fighter Squadron TWELVE was assigned a new jet aircraft the McDonnell
F2H-1 Banshee. In December the squadron received the Banshee upgrade
the F2H-2.
- 26 APR 1952:
The squadron was embarked in United States Ship Wasp CV 18 en route to
the Mediterranean when the carrier collided with the United States Ship
Hobson (DMS 26) which sank along with her 176 men. There were no
injuries to squadron personnel. The squadron's F2H-2s remained aboard
until Wasp entered dry dock at New York to repair her catapults which
were damaged in the collision.
- 19 AUG 1953:
While operating from United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42 in
the Mediterranean Sea, VF-12's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander
Breen, was lost at sea.
- FEB 1955:
VF-12 supported the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist civilians and
military personnel from the Tachen Islands which were being bombarded
by Red China.
- 01 AUG 1955:
VF-12 was redesignated Attack Squadron TWELVE (VA-12).
- DEC 1955:
After redesignation as VA-12 the squadron was assigned the Chance
Vought F7U-3 Cutlass and the squadron's mission changed from jet
intercept to special weapons attack.
- APR 1957:
Attack Squadron TWELVE was assigned the new Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A)
Skyhawk. In January 1958, VA-12 got the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.
- APR 1958:
VA-12 has another
record.
From John Gabbard.
- 14 NOV to 27 NOV 1960:
VA-12, aboard United States Ship Shangri-La CVA 38, was part of the
task force ordered to the coast of Central America to counter the
infiltration of Cubans into Guatemala and Nicaragua.
- 21 NOV to 27 NOV 1961:
VA-12, embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42,
operated off the coast of the Dominican Republic to support the newly
established government.
- JAN 1962:
VA-12 received a newer version of the Scooter, the Douglas A4D-2N
(A-4C) Skyhawk.
- APR 1962:
VA-12 was selected by CNO to conduct "Operation Trap," a test firing of
Bullpup missiles to evaluate their usefulness to the Navy.
- JUL and AUG 1963:
A-4C detachments from the squadron operated aboard United States Ship
Essex CVS 9 and United States Ship Intrepid CVS 11 as fighter support
for antisubmarine exercises. These operations were also used to help
develop and evaluate ASW tactics and doctrine.
- 08 AUG to 29 AUG 1964:
United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42 and air wing were
ordered to operated in the vicinity of Cyprus after fighting escalated
between Turkish and Greek forces on the island.
- 26 JUN 1966 to 21 FEB 1967:
VA-12 flying the A-4E Skyhawk, aboard United States Ship Franklin D.
Roosevelt CVA 42 - - - first of two Western Pacific/Vietnam combat
cruises.
VA-12 Kiss of Death - 1966
Patch from Joe Kyle
- AUG 1966:
VA-12 flew its first combat sortie since establishment 21 years
earlier. The squadron completed its Vietnam deployment in December 1966
without a combat loss.
- NOV 1966:
VA-12's Commanding Officer, Commander Robert C. Frosio, and another
VA-12 pilot were lost at sea in a non-combat accident during flight
operations from United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42. The
two Skyhawks lost were: A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 155051 and A-4E Skyhawk
BuNo. 150048.
- DEC 1966:
VA-12 Commanding Officer Commander Barnett, was awarded the Silver Star
for leading a 42-plane Alpha Strike against a heavily defended target
in North Vietnam.
- 12 FEB 1969:
LTJG Frank Peter Neuman was killed during recovery into a setting sun.
LTJG Newuman caught the #2 wire, but at such an angle his aircraft
proceeded to go over the side. He ejected, but by the time the sequence
completed, he was ejected almost on a parallel path to the water.
Apparently when he hit the water at that much of an angle, he broke his
neck. HC-2 could not cut him loose from his chute and the body was
never recovered. The aircraft was held by the wire with its' nose just
touching the water.
The memorial service was held onboard the Shang on 15 Feb 69.
Bob Fossum
- 05 MAR 1970 to 17 DEC 1970:
VA-12 flying the A-4C Skyhawk, aboard United States Ship Shangri-La CVA
38 - second of two Western Pacific/Vietnam combat cruises. The squadron
completed its second Vietnam deployment in December 1970 without a
combat loss.
VA-12 Kiss of Death - 1970
Patch drawn by Bud Southworth
- 28 APR 1970:
A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147803 was lost in a non-combat accident. The pilot
was rescued.
- 19 JUL 1970:
VA-12 United States Ship Shangri-La CVA 38 fly-off to Naval Air Station
Atsugi.
- 06 AUG 1970:
A-4C
Skyhawk BuNo. 149553 side number 401 was lost in a non-combat
accident. The pilot was rescued. Photograph by Masaaki Hayakawa.
- APR 1971:
The Flying Ubangis were assigned the Chance Vought A-7E Corsair II.
- OCT to DEC 1973:
United States Ship Independence CV 62 and VA-12 took station southeast
of Crete after the outbreak of war between Israel, Egypt and Syria on
October 6, 1973. During this period of operations the squadron
conducted surveillance flights against a large Soviet fleet that had
sortied from the Black Sea.
- AUG 1974:
As a result of the crisis on Cyprus, United States Ship Independence CV
62, with VA-12 aboard, was stationed off the coast of Crete. The
squadron flew surveillance of Greek, Turkish and Soviet naval and
merchant activity in the area.
- 15 APR 1980:
VA-12 deployed aboard United States Ship Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69 to
the Indian Ocean in response to the Iran-American Embassy hostage
situation. The squadron was at sea for 254 days with only one port call
during the entire eight and one-half month deployment.
- 1982:
History, source
unknown.
- 1982:
VA-12 discarded the "Flying Ubangis" name and adopted the name
"Clinchers."
- JUN, AUG and SEP 1983:
VA-12 operated from United States Ship Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69 off
the coast of Lebanon. The squadron flew in support of the
multi-national peacekeeping force stationed in Beirut.
- 01 OCT 1986:
VA-12 was disestablished, bringing to a close the long history of the
squadron and its motto "Kiss of Death."
- Back to Table of
Contents
Awards
- NAVE
- 01 Jul 1964 to 30 Jun 1965
- AFEM
- 06 Jun 1983 to 14 Jun 1983
- 27 Jul 1983 to 30 Aug 1983
- 01 Sep 1983 to 19 Oct 1983
- 27 Oct 1983 to 20 Nov 1983
- MUC
- 11 Apr 1970 to 06 Nov 1970
- NEM
- 29 Apr 1980 to 16 Jul 1980
- 22 Jul 1980 to 08 Dec 1980
- 25 May 1983 to 27 May 1983
- NUC
- 29 Apr 1980 to 10 Dec 1980
- 21 Jul 1983 to 20 Nov 1983
- VNSM
- 30 Jul 1966
- 09 Aug 1966 to 12 Sep 1966
- 01 Oct 1966 to 03 Oct 1966
- 19 Oct 1966 to 14 Nov 1966
- 24 Nov 1966 to 28 Dec 1966
- 20 Jan 1967 to 21 Jan 1967
- 10 Apr 1970 to 02 May 1970
- 12 May 1970 to 29 May 1970
- 13 Jun 1970 to 04 Jul 1970
- 28 Jul 1970 to 19 Aug 1970
- 30 Aug 1970 to 30 Sep 1970
- 20 Oct 1970 to 07 Nov 1970
- RVNGC
Sources
- Harry Gann
- Masaaki Hayakawa
- Takafumi Hiroe
- Joe Kyle
- John Martin
- Dallas H. Willingham Jr.
- Harry S. Gann
- Gary Rodgers
- Ernie Shuldhiess
- John Gabbard
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