The VA-76 Spirits
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VA-76 Spirits - 1956
Provided by Wynn Foster

Patch
  • The squadron insignia, showing a cockade (tri-corner) hat and musket, symbolic of Revolutionary War (1776) times, was created March 28, 1956

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Handle
Heritage
  • June 1, 1955, Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX (VA-76) established.
  • Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX (VA-76) disestablished September 30, 1969.

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • June 1, 1955 - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Oceana
  • August 24, 1966- - - - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • June 1, 1955 - - - - - - - - O* - - - - - - - ATG-182
  • November 1956- - - - - - - - T- - - - - - - - CVG-1
  • July 23, 1957- - - - - - - - AN - - - - - - - ATG-182
  • March 15, 1958 - - - - - - - AM - - - - - - - ATG-181
  • August 8, 1958 - - - - - - - AF - - - - - - - CVG-6
  • Aprill 8, 1959 - - - - - - - AJ - - - - - - - CVG-8
  • August 29, 1959- - - - - - - AF/AE**- - - - - CVG-6/CVW-6***
  • September 22, 1965 - - - - - NG - - - - - - - CVW-9
  • September 1, 1966- - - - - - NP - - - - - - - CVW-21
  • December 1967- - - - - - - - AG - - - - - - - CVW-7 AG
  • January 27, 1969 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRALAMEDA
  • *The tail code O assigned 24 July 1956.
  • **CVG tail code changed from AF to AE sometime in late 1962.
  • ***Air Groups (CVG) were redesignated Air Wings (CVW) 20 December 1959.

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 12-15-57 to 07-22-57 - CVG-1 - - CVA 59 - - F9F-8B - Mediterranean
  • 06-09-58 to 08-08-58 - ATG-181 - CVA 11 - - F9F-8B - NorLant
  • 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-2- - Mediterranean
  • 08-03-62 to 10-11-62 - CVG-6 - - CVAN 65- - A4D-2N - Mediterranean
  • 10-19-62 to 12-03-62 - CVG-6 - - CVAN-65- - A4D-2N - Caribbean
  • 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 - - Mediterranean -World Cruise
  • 10-26-65 to 06-21-66 - CVW-9 - - CVAN 65- - A-4C - - WestPac-Vietnam
  • 01-26-67 to 08-25-67 - CVW-21- - CVA 31 - - A-4C - - WestPac-Vietnam
  • 04-30-68 to 01-27-69 - CVW-7 - - CVA 62 - - A-4C - - Mediterranean

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
    Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • June 1, 1955- - - - - - - - CDR F. J. Gibson
  • July 30, 1957 - - - - - - - CDR W. R. McQuilkin
  • October 3, 1958 - - - - - - LCDR H. R. Cheuvront
  • December 4, 1959- - - - - - CDR H. Ricks
  • December 14, 1960 - - - - - CDR L. M. Nearman
  • December 18, 1961 - - - - - CDR W. R. Bascom
  • November 15, 1962 - - - - - CDR J. R. Sanderson
  • December 11, 1963 - - - - - CDR George A. Reaves III
  • November 30, 1964 - - - - - CDR Richard C. Boyd
  • October 21, 1965- - - - - - CDR James B. Linder
  • October 1, 1966 - - - - - - CDR Albert D. McFall
  • December 6, 1966- - - - - - CDR Robert B. Fuller
  • July 14, 1967 - - - - - - - LCDR R. A. Mauldin
  • 1968- - - - - - - - - - - - CDR J. J. Barth
  • 1969- - - - - - - - - - - - CDR R. A. Mauldin

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Events
  • June 1, 1955:
    Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX (VA-76) was established. The squadron was assigned the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee.

  • January 1956:
    The Spirits were assigned the Grumman F9F-6 Cougar.

  • November to December 1956:
    During the Suez Crisis VA-76 Spirits were deployed on board United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59, off the coast of the Azores awaiting a call to enter the Mediterranean if necessary.

  • May 1959:
    The Spirits were assigned the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.

  • June 1961:
    Deployed on board United States Ship Intrepid CVA 11, in the Caribbean during the Dominican Republic crisis.

  • March 1962:
    The Spirits were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk.

  • October 19 through December 8, 1962:
    VA-76 deployed on board United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65, off Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and naval blockade.

  • March 1964:
    Deployed in the Mediterranean on board United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65, near Cyprus during Turk-Greek Cypriot crisis.

  • May 29 to June 15, 1965:
    While temporarily based ashore at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, VA-76 flew armed reconnaissance during crisis in Dominican Republic.

  • October 26, 1965 to June 21, 1966:
    The first of two VA-76 combat cruises to WestPac-Vietnam. VA-76 flew the A-4C Skyhawk with CVW-9 and struck from United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65.

  • May 11, 1966:
    Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX Commanding Officer, Commander J. B. Linder, awarded Silver Star for leading a strike against a mobile SAM site at Thanh Hoa, North Vietnam.

  • December 6, 1966:
    VA-76 Commanding Officer, Commander A. D. McFall, killed in aircraft crash following a night catapult launch from United States Ship Bon Homme Richard CVA 31.

  • January 26, 1967 to August 25, 1967:
    The second of two VA-76 combat cruises to WestPac-Vietnam. VA-76 flew the A-4C Skyhawk with CVW-21 and struck from United States Ship Bon Homme Richard CVA 31.

  • May 1, 1967:
    During sortie against Airfield at Kep, North Vietnam, Lieutenant Commander Theodore R. Swartz received a Silver Star for shooting down a North Vietnam MiG-17 aircraft with air-to-ground rockets. The event was the only enemy aircraft downed by an A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam conflict.

  • July 14, 1967:
    VA-76 Commanding Officer, Commander R. B. Fuller, shot down during combat mission over North Vietnam. Captured by enemy troops, he was a prisoner of war. Commander Fuller was released from captivity on March 4, 1973.

  • Summer 1968: During the MED Cruise LCDR R.M. Mulrooney was lost flying an A-4C Skyhawk. It is believed he was flying #306, Plane Captain was Thomas Heindel.
    John Lowry

  • September 30, 1969:
    Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX (VA-76) disestablished.

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Awards
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    • June 3 to June 6, 1965
    • October 24 to December 3, 1962

  • Navy Expeditionary Medal
    • October 19, to October 23, 1962;
    • June 4 to June 18, 1961

  • PUC
    • February 26 to July 30 1967

  • Vietnam Service Medal
    • December 2, 1965 to January 14, 1966
    • February 4 to February 23, 1966
    • March 16 to April 12, 1966
    • April 22 to May 14, 1966
    • May 23 to June 6, 1966
    • February 25 to March 21, 1967
    • April 17 to May 7, 1967
    • June 27 to July 29, 1967

  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry
    • December 2, 1965
    • December 11, 1965
    • December 21, 1965
    • December 24, 1965
    • December 26 to December 30, 1965
    • January 1 to January 2, 1966
    • January 4 to January 14, 1966
    • February 4, 1966
    • February 19, 1966
    • February 23, 1966
    • March 27 to March 28, 1966
    • March 30 to March 31, 1966
    • April 2, 1966
    • April 11, 1966
    • April 29, 1966
    • February 28, 1967
    • March 7, 1967
    • March 11, 1967
    • March 13, 1967
    • March 16, 1967
    • March 20, to March 21, 1967
    • April 29, to May 1, 1967
    • May 16, to May 18, 1967

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Sources:
  • Wynn Foster.
  • Harry S. Gann.
  • John Lowry.
  • Frank J. Mirande.

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