The VA-66 WALDOS & WALDOMEN
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Fighting Rooster - 1955
Provided by Ray J. Dermody

Patch
  • There is no description or photograph available of the squadron's first patch.

  • "The Fighting Rooster" patch was approved for VF-81, January 25, 1955. This patch, a rooster toting a machine gun, became a well-known design during the next three decades. "The Fighting Rooster" continued in use following the squadron's redesignation to VA-66, July 1, 1955.

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Handle
Heritage
  • February 1, 1951, Reserve Fighter Squadron SIX-SEVENTY-ONE (VF-671) called to active duty.

  • February 4, 1953, VF-671 redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-ONE (VF-81).

  • July 1, 1955, VF-81 redesignated Attack Squadron SIXTY-SIX (VA-66).

  • VA-66 disestablished October 1, 1986.

  • VA-66 detachment continued until March 31, 1987

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • April 5, 1951- - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Jacksonville
  • February 1, 1951 - - - - - - Naval Air Station Atlanta
  • September 28, 1951 - - - - - Naval Air Station Quonset
  • June 11, 1952- - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Oceana
  • March 15, 1965 - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Cecil Field

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • April 9, 1951 - - - - - - E - - - CVG-8
  • July 1, 1955- - - - - - - C - - - CVG-6
  • November 1955 - - - - - - K - - - CVG-3
  • August 1956 - - - - - C/AF/AE†- - CVG-6/CVW-6*
  • October 6, 1967- - - - - AG - - - CVW-7
  • January 1968 - - - - - - AK - - - CVW-10
  • June 2, 1969 - - - - - - AA - - - CVW-17
  • July 9, 1970- - - - - - - - - - - COMLATWING-1
  • 1971 - - - - - - - - - - AG - - - CVW-7
  • October 1, 1986‡- - - - - - - - - CVW-3
  • * CVG-6 was redesignated CVW-6 when all Carrier Air Group (CVG) designations were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW) on 20 December 1963.
  • † CVG-6's tail code was changed from C to AF in 1957. The effective date was most likely the beginning of FY 58 (1 July 1957). Sometime in the latter part of 1962 CVG-6's tail code was changed from AF to AE.
  • ‡ VA-66 deployed with CVW-3 in John F. Kennedy CV 67, in August 1986. Administratively, it continued to be assigned to CVW-7 until its official disestablishment on 1 October 1986. After that date, the same organization continued to operate as a detachment assigned to CVW-3 until the deployment ended in March 1987.

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 11-28-51 to 06-11-52 - CVG-8 - CV 40- - F4U-4 - Mediterranean
  • 04-26-53 to 10-21-53 - CVG-8 - CVA 43 - F9F-5 - Mediterranean
  • 11-04-55 to 08-02-56 - CVG-3 - CVA 14 - F7U-3 - Mediterranean
  • 09-03-57 to 10-22-57 - CVG-6 - CVA 11 - F9F-8B - NorLant
  • 02-13-59 to 08-30-59 - CVG-6 - CVA 11 - A4D-2 - Mediterranean
  • 08-04-60 to 02-17-61 - CVG-6 - CVA 11 - A4D-2 - Mediterranean
  • 08-03-61 to 03-01-62 - CVG-6 - CVA 11 - A4D-2N - Mediterranean
  • 08-03-62 to 10-11-62 - CVG-6 - CVAN 65 - A4D-2N - Mediterranean
  • 02-06-63 to 09-04-63 - CVG-6 - CVAN 65 - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 02-08-64 to 10-03-64 - CVW-6 - CVAN 65 - A-4C - Med/World Cruise
  • 11-30-65 to 07-10-66 - CVW-6 - CVA 66 - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 01-10-67 to 09-20-67 - CVW-6 - CVA 66 - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 06-04-68 to 02-08-69 - CVW10 - CVS 11 - A-4C - WestPac/Vietnam
  • 12-02-69 to 07-08-70 - CVW17 - CVA 59 - A-4C - Mediterranean
  • 09-16-71 to 03-16-72 - CVW-7 - CVA 62 - A-7E - NorLant/Med
  • 06-21-73 to 01-19-74 - CVW-7 - CV 62 -- A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 07-19-74 to 01-21-75 - CVW-7 - CV 62 -- A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 10-15-75 to 05-05-76 - CVW-7 - CV 62 -- A-7E - NorLant/Med
  • 03-31-77 to 10-21-77 - CVW-7 - CV 62 -- A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 01-16-79 to 07-13-79 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 04-15-80 to 12-22-80 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - IO
  • 08-20-81 to 10-07-81 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - NorLant
  • 01-05-82 to 07-13-82 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 04-27-83 to 12-02-83 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 05-08-84 to 06-20-84 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Carib/NorLant
  • 10-10-84 to 05-08-85 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Mediterranean
  • 07-08-85 to 08-22-85 - CVW-7 - CVN 69 - A-7E - Carib
  • 08-18-86 to 03-02-87 - CVW-3 - CV 67 -- A-7E - Mediterranean

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
  • February 1951 - - - - - CDR H. K. Pryce
  • September 1952- - - - - CDR J. M. James
  • October 1953- - - - - - CDR Herman J. Harders
  • June 1955 - - - - - - - CDR W. Manby, Jr.
  • August 1955 - - - - - - CDR Uncas L. Fretwell
  • September 1956- - - - - CDR Robert J. Selmer
  • December 1957 - - - - - CDR W. J. McNeil, Jr.
  • May 1959- - - - - - - - CDR D. V. Marshall, Jr. (acting)
  • June 1959 - - - - - - - CDR E. C. Griffin
  • July 1960 - - - - - - - CDR R. I. Kasten
  • May 1961- - - - - - - - CDR J. S. Herman
  • May 1962- - - - - - - - CDR J. M. Tierney
  • May 1963- - - - - - - - CDR R. E. Spruit
  • May 1964- - - - - - - - CDR D. L. Hancock
  • April 1965- - - - - - - CDR W. B. Bagwell
  • June 1966 - - - - - - - CDR L. Wayne Smith
  • June 1967 - - - - - - - CDR E. M. Crow
  • May 1968- - - - - - - - CDR W. E. Ramsey
  • February 1969 - - - - - CDR A. J. Karpaitis
  • January 1970- - - - - - CDR B. A. White
  • August 1970 - - - - - - CDR W. C. Nix
  • June 1971 - - - - - - - CDR J. J. Fleming
  • June 1972 - - - - - - - CDR L. E. Barringer
  • August 1973 - - - - - - CDR R. C. Macke
  • November 1974 - - - - - CDR D. P. March
  • March 1976- - - - - - - CDR Robert T. Davis
  • June 1977 - - - - - - - CDR Stuart J. Fitrell
  • June 1978 - - - - - - - CDR James E. Gill
  • August 1979 - - - - - - CDR Frank H. Gerwe, Jr.
  • October 1980- - - - - - CDR Kent W. Ewing
  • February 1982 - - - - - CDR Richard D. Lichtermann II
  • April 1983- - - - - - - CDR Robert W. Nordman
  • October 1984- - - - - - CDR Robert J. Kelsey
  • April 1986- - - - - - - CDR Richard L. Marquis

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Events
  • February 1, 1951:
    Reserve Fighter Squadron SIX SEVENTY-ONE (VF-671) was called to active duty and assigned the F4U-4 Vought Corsair I.

  • June, 1952:
    VF-671 was assigned the F8F-2 Grumman Bearcat.

  • December, 1952:
    VF-671 was assigned the F9F-5 Grumman Panther.

  • January through February 1953:
    VF-671 / VF-81, with its F9F-5 Panthers participated in operational tests aboard the Navy's first angled deck carrier, United States Ship Antietam CVA 36.

  • February 4, 1953:
    VF-671 was redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-ONE (VF-81).

  • April 1954:
    VF-81 became the first operational fleet squadron to receive and operate the Vought Cutlass.

  • July 1, 1955:
    VF-81 was redesignated Attack Squadron SIXTY-SIX (VA-66).

  • August 1956:
    VA-66 started to receive the F9F-8B Grumman Cougar.

  • March 1958:
    VA-66 started to receive the A4D-1 Douglas Skyhawk.

  • June 1958:
    VA-66 started to receive the 4D-2/A-4B Douglas Skyhawk.

  • May 27, 1959:
    During the squadron's deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the commanding officer, Commander McNeil, was killed in an aircraft accident during a practice Carrier Controlled Approach.

  • March 1961:
    VA-66 started to receive the A4D-2N/A-4C Douglas Skyhawk.

  • 6 Jan 1962:
    Executive Officer LCDR James T. Peddy, Jr. lost in operatonal accident in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
    From Tom Wimberly, CAPT UNS Retired.
    At the time of his accident, I was a LT assigned to USS INTREPID (CVA-11) as Guided Missiles Division Officer. I was a regular bridge watchstander and was a qualified Officer of the Deck Underway. Looking in my INTREPID cruise book for the 1961-62 Med cruise, I find that on the Memorial page, I made the following note about Peddy's accident.
    "I was on watch on the bridge as OOD when he launched in an A-4 one night. I watched each airplane after launch. He didn't seem to climb. I put my binoculars on him. His lights disappeared. I went to Captain J. Lloyd Abbot, Jr. and said, "Captain, did you ever see that aircraft climb?" He didn't answer. I went to the right wing of the bridge and started looking at the water. Sure enough, we soon passed an area of disturbed water to the starboard of the ship's path. I knew it had been caused by his crash; the water was green. I had seen that sort of green disturbed water in previous years when I had seen airplanes crash into the water close aboard (an AJ Savage, an A3D, and an F4D). I went to the squawk box, called CIC and told them to mark our position, that I thought we had a plane in the water. I went to the Captain and told him of my observation and call to CIC. He called Air Ops and they soon confirmed they had no radio contact with Peddy."

  • August 14, 1962:
    The squadron participated in cross deck operations aboard the British carrier HMS Hermes (R-12).

  • October through December 1962:
    While embarked in United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65, the squadron participated in the Cuban Blockade.

  • July 31 to October 3, 1964:
    United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65, with VA-66 embarked, participated in operation Sea Orbit, the first circumnavigation of the world by a nuclear task force. The sixty-five day voyage was accomplished without replenishment. The squadron participated in numerous air power demonstrations during the voyage.

  • October 30, 1965 to August 10, 1966 The Waldos flying the A-4C Skyhawk with Carrier Air Wing 6 cruised the Mediterranean onboard United States Ship America CVA-66.

  • June 8, 1967:
    VA-66's aircraft were part of an Air Wing 6 strike group that was launched to defend United States Ship Liberty AGTR 5, when she came under attack by the Israelis during the 1967 Israeli-Arab War. When word was received that the attack had been a mistake on the part of the Israelis, the aircraft were recalled.

  • August 01, 1968:
    Name: Edward James Broms, Jr.
    Rank/Branch: O2/U.S. Navy
    Unit: Attack Squadron 66, USS INTREPID (CVS 11)
    Date of Birth: 06 May 1943
    Home City of Record: Meadville PA
    Date of Loss: 01 August 1968
    Country of Loss: North Vietnam
    Loss Coordinates: 181100N 1055100E (WF908109)
    Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
    Category: 2
    Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A4C
    LTJG Edward J. Broms while assigned to Attack Squadron 66 onboard the aircraft carrier USS INTREPID in the Gulf of Tonkin. On August 1, 1968, he was assigned the fourth position in a 4-plane day strike mission on Dong Dun, Ha Tiny Province, North Vietnam, code-named "Rolling Thunder". Broms launched in his A4C Skyhawk and the four aircraft rolled in on the target as briefed. During pullout, Broms was heard to transmit,"Puffs (flak) all around me." No other radio or visual contact was made with LTJG Broms and an extensive electronic and visual search was started. The search was called off when all efforts produced negative results. The opinion of the incident review board was that there was a low probability of survival. A Radio Hanoi broadcast confirmed the loss of an A4 aircraft during this same time frame, yet no mention was made of the pilot. LTJG Broms was classified "Missing in Action".

  • June 1970:
    VA-66, embarked in United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59, operated in the Eastern Mediterranean after Americans were taken hostage by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Amman, Jordan.

  • October 1970:
    VA-66 started to receive the A-7E Vought Corsair II.

  • October through November 1973:
    Embarked on United States Ship Independence CV 62, the squadron operated south of Crete during the Arab-Israeli War.

  • August 1974:
    United States Ship Independence CV 62, relieved United States Ship America CV 66, off Cyprus following a coup on the island. During the crisis the American Ambassador was killed and anti-American demonstrations took place which led to the evacuation of U.S. citizens to American vessels.

  • April 15, 1980:
    United States Ship Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69, deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of the continuing response to the hostage crisis in Iran.

  • December 22, 1980:
    The squadron returned from its deployment to the Indian Ocean after spending a total of 246 days at sea. With only one port visit, the longest at sea period was for 153 days.

  • June 1982:
    After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon on 6 June, VA-66 operated in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the latter part of June the American carrier forces in the Mediterranean included United States Ship Eisenhower CVN 65, United States Ship Independence CV 62, United States Ship Forrestal CV 59, and United States Ship John F. Kennedy CV 67.

  • June 24, 1982:
    VA-66 provided air support during the evacuation of Americans from Beirut, Lebanon, prior to the siege of Beirut by the Israelis.

  • October 25, 1983:
    Due to the bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, United States Ship Eisenhower CVN 65, terminated its visit to Naples and departed for the eastern Mediterranean. The squadron operated in the vicinity of Lebanon until the latter part of November.

  • March 7, 1985:
    United States Ship Eisenhower CVN 65, cut short a visit to Palma, Spain, and made a high-speed transit to the Eastern Mediterranean due to the increased tension in Lebanon.

  • October 1, 1986:
    The Waldos of VA-66 were officially disestablished but a VA-66 detachment continued in existence until March 31, 1987. The detachment continued to operate because its primary mission during the deployment was to provide Harm missile support for the air wing and carrier.

  • January 30, 1987:
    United States Ship Kennedy CV 67, cancelled its port visit to Malaga, Spain, and made a high-speed transit to the eastern Mediterranean due to the increased tension over the hostages held in Lebanon.

  • March 31, 1987:
    VA-66 Detachment was disestablished.

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Awards
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • AFEM
    • 24 Oct 1962 to 03 Dec 1962
    • 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
  • NEM
    • 19 Oct 1962 to 23 Oct 1962
    • 29 Apr 1980 to 16 Jul 1980
    • 22 Jul 1980 to 08 Dec 1980
    • 25 May 1983 to 27 May 1983
  • NUC
    • 06 Jul 1968 to 16 Jan 1969
    • 29 Apr 1980 to 10 Dec 1980
    • 21 Jul 1983 to 20 Nov 1983
  • RVNGC
    • 01 Oct 1968 to 01 Nov 1968
  • SLOC
    • Oct 1978 to Dec 1979
  • VNSM
    • 11 Jul 1968 to 12 Jul 1968
    • 14 Jul 1968 to 15 Jul 1968
    • 23 Jul 1968 to 22 Aug 1968
    • 14 Oct 1968 to 14 Nov 1968
    • 03 Dec 1968 to 27 Dec 1968

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Sources:
  • Ray J Dermody.
  • Harry S. Gann.
  • Doug Harrison.
  • Joe Morris

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