The
VA-46 Clansmen
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
information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all
eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.
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Provided by Dave Dollarhide
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Conquer or Die - 1960
Provided by Harry S. Gann
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Patch
- VA-46's insignia was approved by CNO on 25 November
1960. The circular insignia had a blue field outlined by two concentric
black lines; the McDougal clan tartan, drawn from the heritage of the
squadron's first commanding officer, had dark blue and white lines on a
red background, interspaced with green squares; the crest was white,
outlined in black with the Latin words Vincere Vel Mori, meaning to
conquer or to die; a white stylized aircraft outlined in black; and the
banner was white with the designation VA 46 in black.
- Squadron aircraft historically used a variety of
paint schemes, most using variations of tartan over the years. The
painting of tartan on the Clansmen aircraft was complicated and time
consuming, requiring several layers of masking tape and colors of
paint. Unlike the squadron insignia, which remained the same, aircraft
tartan was subject to the interpretations of many squadron painters
over the years. It was an evolutionary process.
- The McDougal tartan was first used, which was a close
match to the squadron insignia design. In 1963, CDR McKensie became the
Commanding Officer and the aircraft tartan was modified to more closely
represent his family tartan, a darker design with black instead of blue
stripes. In 1966, as A-4Es were assigned to the squadron for a Vietnam
cruise, the squadron attempted to return to the McDougal plaid, but
without the "corporate knowledge" of previous painters, it took on it's
own unique look, with much more red and green displayed. During
transition to the A-7, the 3M company provided decals, using the
original McDougal tartan, which was used for a few years. It's
difficult to reconstruct the variety of aircraft tartan in subsequent
years. In fact, due to changing Navy directives concerning aircraft
paint, it disappeared completely during the last eight years of the
Clansmen's existence.
- Back to Table of Contents
Handle
Heritage
- May 24, 1955 established as Attack Squadron FORTY SIX
(VA-46)
- June 30, 1991 - VA-46 disestablished.
- Back to Table of Contents
Home Ports
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
- May 24, 1955 - - - - - - - - Naval Air
Station Cecil
Field, Florida
- Back to Table of Contents
Air Wings
Date - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - -
Air Wing
- May 24, 1955 - - F - - - - CVG-4
- Jul 0?, 1955 - - X/AQ* - - ATG-202
- Feb 15, 1958 - - AB- - - - CVG-1
- Jan 13, 1959 - - AF- - - - CVG-6
- Aug 30, 1959 - - AB- - - - CVG-1
- Dec 05, 1960 - - AK- - - - CVG-10/CVW-10†
- Jan 01, 1966 - - AC- - - - CVW-3
- Jan 01, 1967 - - AA- - - - CVW-17
- Jan 01, 1968 - - AC- - - - CVW-3
- Feb 12, 1970 - - AB- - - - CVW-1
- Oct 01, 1986 - - AG- - - - CVW-7
- Sep 0?, 1988 - - - - - - - COMLATWING 1‡
- Mar 01, 1989 - - AC- - - - CVW-3
- * ATG-202's tail code was changed from X to AQ in the
latter part of 1957,
probably the beginning of FY 58 (1 July 1957).
- Carrier Air Groups were redesignated Carrier Air
Wings
December 20, 1963, thus, CVG-10 became CVW-10.
- The squadron was detached from CVW-7 and came under
the operational and administrative control of Commander Light Attack
Wing 1.
- Back to Table of Contents
Deployments
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing -
Carrier -
Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
- 07/14/56 - 02/19/57 - ATG-202 - CVA 15 -
F9F-8- -
Mediterranean
- 02/13/59 - 08/30/59 - CVG-6 - - CVA 11 - A4D-2- -
Mediterranean
- 01/28/60 - 08/24/60 - CVG-1 - - CVA 42 - A4D-2- -
Mediterranean
- 02/02/61 - 05/15/61 - CVG-10- - CVA 38 - A4D-2N -
Mediterranean
- 02/07/62 - 08/28/62 - CVG-10- - CVA 38 - A4D-2N -
Mediterranean
- 10/01/63 - 05/23/64 - CVG-10- - CVA 38 - A-4C - -
Mediterranean
- 02/10/65 - 09/20/65 - CVG-10- - CVA 38 - A-4C - -
Mediterranean
- 03/11/66 - 10/26/66 - CVG-3 - - CVA 60 - A-4C - -
Mediterranean
- 06/06/67 - 09/15/67 - CVW-17- - CVA 59 - A-4E - -
WestPac/Vietnam
- 07/09/69 - 01/22/70 - CVW-3 - - CVA 60 - A-7B - -
Mediterranean
- 09/14/70 - 03/01/71 - CVW-1 - - CVA 67 - A-7B - -
Mediterranean/NorLant
- 12/01/71 - 10/06/72 - CVW-1 - - CVA 67 - A-7B - -
Mediterranean/NorLant
- 04/16/73 - 12/01/73 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7B - -
Mediterranean/NorLant
- 06/28/75 - 01/27/76 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7B - -
Mediterranean
- 09/02/76 - 11/09/76 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7B - -
NorLant
- 01/15/77 - 08/01/77 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7B - -
Mediterranean
- 06/29/78 - 02/08/79 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7E - -
Mediterranean
- 08/04/80 - 03/28/81 - CVW-1 - - CV 67- - A-7E - -
Mediterranean
- 08/23/82 - 10/30/82 - CVW-1 - - CV 66- - A-7E - -
NorLant/Mediterranean/Carib
- 12/08/82 - 06/02/83 - CVW-1 - - CV 66- - A-7E - -
Mediterranean/IO
- 04/24/84 - 11/14/84 - CVW-1 - - CV 66- - A-7E - -
Carib/Mediterranean/IO
- 08/24/85 - 10/09/85 - CVW-1 - - CV 66- - A-7E - -
NorLant
- 03/10/86 - 09/10/86 - CVW-1 - - CV 66- - A-7E - -
Mediterranean
- 02/29/88 - 08/29/88 - CVW-7 - - CVN 69 - A-7E - -
Mediterranean
- 08/15/90 - 03/28/91 - CVW-3 - - CV 67- - A-7E - -
Mediterranean/Red Sea
Back to Table of Contents
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
- May 24, 1955 - - - - Lieutenant Charles L.
Marshall
(acting)
- Jun 22, 1955 - - - - Commander Clifford A. McDougal
- 1957 - - - - - - - - Commander A. R. Hawkins
- 1958 - - - - - - - - Commander Kent L. Lee
- 1959 - - - - - - - - Commander Alfred J. Hall, Jr.
- 1960 - - - - - - - - Commander Hugh J. Tate
- 1961 - - - - - - - - Commander S. W. Callaway, Jr.
- 1962 - - - - - - - - Commander W. H. Sells
- 1963 - - - - - - - - Commander R. P. McKenzie
- 1964 - - - - - - - - Commander M. P. Mead
- 1965 - - - - - - - - Commander R. L. Lawler, Jr.
- 1966 - - - - - - - - Commander Fred S. Dunning, Jr.
- 1967 - - - - - - - - Commander Jack F. O'Hara
- 1968 - - - - - - - - Commander Alan G. Murdoch
- 1970 - - - - - - - - Commander Fred J. Withers
- 1971 - - - - - - - - Commander Marvin D. Reynolds
- 1972 - - - - - - - - Commander Dale Lewey
- 1973 - - - - - - - - Commander Jeremy D. Taylor
- 1974 - - - - - - - - Commander Ronald R. Boyle
- 1975 - - - - - - - - Commander Edward F. Bronson
- 1976 - - - - - - - - Commander David A. Page
- 1978 - - - - - - - - Commander James T. Matheny
- 1979 - - - - - - - - Commander Phillip J. Rooney
- 1980 - - - - - - - - Commander Morris M. Kemple, Jr.
- 1981 - - - - - - - - Commander Thomas R. Mitchell III
- 1982 - - - - - - - - Commander John W. Peterson
- 1984 - - - - - - - - Commander Dean M. Hendrickson,
Jr.
- 1986 - - - - - - - - Commander Robert C. Kolsterman
- 1987 - - - - - - - - Commander Tommy H. Van Brunt
- 1988 - - - - - - - - Commander Edward J. Fahy, Jr.
- 1990 - - - - - - - - Commander Mark Fitzgerald
- Back to Table of Contents
Events
- May 24, 1955:
Established as Attack Squadron FORTY SIX (VA-46) and assigned to fly
the Grumman F9F-5 Panther
- June 1955:
The Clansmen were assigned an upgraded Panther with swept wings - the
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar
- July 14, 1956:
VA-46 departed the United States aboard United States Ship Randolph CVA
15 for deployment to the Mediterranean, equipped with Sidewinder
missiles. This was the first overseas deployment of the Sidewinder.
- October through November 1956:
VA-46, along with other units of ATG-202, provided air support for the
evacuation of foreign nationals from Alexandria, Egypt, during the Suez
War.
- March 1958:
The Clansmen were assigned a light attack aircraft, the Douglas A4D-2
(A-4B) Skyhawk.
- April 1961:
VA-46 fires Live
"Bullpups", becoming the first jet attack squadron in the
Fleet Air Jacksonville area to fire live Bullpup air-to-surface guided
missiles.
LT W.H. Byng Sets Highest Mark
- August 1965:
VA-46 and other units of the air wing aboard United States Ship
Shangri-La CVA 38 operated off the coast of Cyprus in response to a
crisis in that country between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
- July 8, 1967 through August 22, 1967:
VA-46 Clansmen flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk from the from United
States Ship Forrestal CVA 59, deployed for their only WestPac/Vietnam
combat cruise.
- July 29, 1967:
While aircraft were being prepared for the second launch of the day
against targets in Vietnam, a fire broke out on the flight deck of United States Ship
Forrestal CVA 59. Flames engulfed the fantail and spread
below decks touching off bombs and ammunition. Heroic efforts by VA-46
personnel, along with other members of CVW-17 and ship's company,
brought the fires under control. Damage to the carrier and aircraft was
severe and the casualties included 132 dead, two missing and presumed
dead and 62 injured.
LCDR Fred White, in the aircraft that was struck by a Zuni rocket, was
one of those killed.
A total of eleven A-4E Skyhawks were lost in the fire. Those lost by
VA46 were:
149996
(AA416), 150064 (AA405), 150068 (AA407), 150084
(AA410), 150115 (AA412), 150118 (AA414) and 150129 (AA417).
Other Skyhawks lost were: BuNo. 152018, BuNo. 152024, BuNo. 152036, and
BuNo. 152040.
- A-4B BuNo. 144997 was destroyed in 1968 when LT. Dave
Dollarhide ejected following an engine failure. The "Clansmen"
were flying A-Bs due to the loss of their "E"s in the Forrestal Fire.
- May 4 through November 15, 1968:
VA-46 transitioned to the Vought A-7B Corsair II.
- September 17, 1970:
While enroute to the Caribbean for training exercises, United States
Ship John F. Kennedy CVA 67 with VA-46 and other units of CVW-1
embarked, received emergency orders to deploy immediately to the
Mediterranean due to the Jordanian Crisis and the hijacking of four
airliners by Arab terrorists. They remained on station off the coast of
Israel until November.
- October 1973:
Due to the outbreak of war between Israel and Egypt and Syria, United
States Ship Kennedy and her air wing, while operating in the North
Atlantic after just completing a Mediterranean deployment, were ordered
back to the Mediterranean. During the latter part of October through
mid November, VA-46 conducted flight operations while the carrier was
on station south of Crete.
- November 22, 1975:
During night operations United States Ship Kennedy collided with United
States Ship Belknap CG 26 causing major damage to the cruiser. Eight
VA-46 personnel received awards for their heroism and devotion to duty
as a result of their actions following the collision.
- September 17 through 19, 1985:
VA-46, along with other units of CVW-1, were the first to conduct
flight operations from a carrier operating inside a fjord. United
States Ship America CV 66 operated in Vestfjord, Norway, during this
evolution.
- April 14, 1986:
Because of terrorist activities linked to Lybia, American forces struck
targets in that country. During that action, VA-46 provided
air-to-surface Shrike and Harm missile strikes against Libyian radar
missile sites.
- September through October 1990 and December 1990
through January 1991:
The squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield, the build up of
American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi
Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its
withdrawal from Kuwait.
- January 17, 1991:
Operation Desert Storm, combat operations to remove Iraqi forces from
Kuwait, was launched. The squadron's A-7E Corsair IIs participated in
the first combat strike against Iraqi targets in Baghdad.
- June 30, 1991:
Attack Squadron FORTY SIX Disestablished.
- Back to Table of Contents
Awards
- Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
- NAVE
- 01 Oct 1978 to 30 Sep 1979
- 01 Oct 1980 to 31 Dec 1981
- 01 Jan 1986 to 31 Dec 1986
- 01 Jan 1988 to 31 Dec 1988
- MUC
- 29 Sep 1970 to 31 Oct 1970
- 01 Dec 1977 to 01 Mar 1979
- 03 Jun 1983 to 20 Dec 1984
- 29 Aug 1985 to 20 Sep 1985
- NEM
- 01 Jan 1983 to 20 Jan 1983
- 06 May 1983 to 08 May 1983
- 21 Mar 1986 to 27 Jun 1986
- NUC
- 17 Mar 1986 to 23 Mar 1986
- 17 Jan 1991 to 28 Feb 1991
- SLOC
- 04 Aug 1980 to 28 Mar 1981
- 23 Aug 1982 to 02 Jun 1983
- VNSM
- 15 Jul 1967 to 17 Jul 1967
- 23 Jul 1967 to 31 Jul 1967
- 12 Aug 1967 to 13 Aug 1967
- KLM
- 17 Jan 1991 to 28 Feb 1991
- SASM
Sources:
- Captain Dave Dollarhide
- Harry S. Gann
- Jim Caiella
- Clay Jansson
- Tailhook Association
- Gary Verver
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