VA-85 Black Falcons Attack Squadron US Navy A-6 Intruder (2024)

VA-85 Black Falcons Attack Squadron US Navy A-6 Intruder (1)

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - 1994

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - Marseille, France - December 1993

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) during Operation Deny Flight - December 1993

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A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1993

A-6E Intruders (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - January 1992

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) drops Mk.82 Snakeye bombs - circa 1992

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1992

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) during Exercise North Star '91 - September 1991

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - homecoming after Operation Desert Storm / Shield - April 1991

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - April 1991

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - March 1986

KA-6D Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1986

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1986

KA-6D Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1986

KA-6D / A-6E Intruders (VA-85 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1983-84

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) over Syria/Lebanon - 1982

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1970/80's

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) with an AGM-78 Standard ARM missile loaded - 1978

A-6E Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1973

KA-6D Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1971-73

A-6A Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) dropping Mk.82 Snakeye bombs - 1970

A-6A Intruder (VA-85 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1969-70

A-6A Intruders (VA-85 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) - 1966

A-1H Skyraider (VA-85 / CVG-8) embarked on USS Forrestal (CVA 59) - March 1963

AD-5 Skyraider (VA-85 / CVG-8) embarked on USS Intrepid (CVA 11) - April 1956

History:

Attack Squadron EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY NINE (VA-859) was a reserve squadron called to active duty on 1 February 1951. Redesignated Attack Squadron EIGHTY FIVE (VA85) on 4 February 1953.
Disestablished on 30 September 1994.
The second squadron to be assigned the VA-85 designation.

Squadron Insignia and Nickname:
The squadron’s insignia was approved by CNO on 22 May 1951.
Colors for the woodpecker astride a rocket were: a blue gray background outlined in black; brown woodpecker shaded with white and different tones of brown; the shoes, gloves and face of the bird were white; the beak and Mae West lifejacket were yellow; its eyes were green with black pupils and a red head; the bomb was dark blue with a red flame and the rocket was shaded light green on top and dark green on the bottom, outlined in black.
Following the squadron’s redesignation a new insignia was approved by CNO on 24 May 1954. Colors for the winged bomb insignia were: blue background outlined in red; the clouds and wings were silver with black markings; the lightning bolt was yellow, edged with red; and the bomb was black with silver shading.
The CNO approved a change in the squadron’s insignia on 7 May 1958. Colors for the black falcon insignia are as follows: a white background outlined in black; the falcon is black with a white eye; the scroll has a white background outlined in black, with black lettering.

Nickname: Black Falcons: 1958-1994

Chronology of Significant Events:

May 1958: As part of an Atlantic Fleet training exercise (LANTRAEX 1-58), two of the squadron’s AD-6 Skyraiders, flown by Lieutenant (jg)s Strang and Woods, flew nonstop from Forrestal (CVA 59), operating off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, to NAS North Island. The flight was conducted below 1000 feet to demonstrate the low level and long range capability of the squadron. Two days later the aircraft returned, nonstop, to Forrestal.

5 Feb 1963: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander C. H. Mundt, was killed in an air crash.

22 Dec 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander B. J. Cartwright, and his bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Ed Gold, failed to return from a strike into North Vietnam and are listed as missing in action, presumed dead.

21 Apr 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander J. E. Keller, and his bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Commander E. E. Austin, were killed in action during a mission over North Vietnam.

27 Apr 1966: While serving with VA-85 as a bombardier/ navigator in an A-6A, Lieutenant (jg) Brian E. Westin was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during a combat mission over North Vietnam when he risked his own life to save that of his wounded pilot, Lieutenant W. R. Westerman.

6 Sep 1968: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander K. L. Coskey, was shot down over North Vietnam. His bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Commander R. G. McKee, was rescued but Commander Coskey became a POW. He survived the internment at Hanoi and was released on 14 March 1973.

Jul 1974: Following a coup that overthrew the government of Cyprus, VA-85 operated from Forrestal in the vicinity of Cyprus and provided air cover for the evacuation of Americans and foreign nationals from the island.

May-Jun 1981: Following increased military action and Israeli reprisal raids against Syrian missile positions in southern Lebanon, Forrestal was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean. VA-85 operated from the carrier while on station off the coast of Lebanon.

Jul 1982: Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June and the siege of west Beirut, Forrestal operated off the coast of Lebanon with VA-85 prepared to provide air support for a possible evacuation of Americans.

Aug-Sep 1982: Forrestal and its embarked squadrons provided air cover for the landing of 800 U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. The Marines became part of the multi-national peacekeeping force in that country.

4 Dec 1983: During Kennedy’s operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of the Multi-national Peacekeeping Force, several of the carrier’s F-14 reconnaissance aircraft received hostile fire from Syrian surface- to-air missile and anti-aircraft positions on 3 December. A retaliatory strike was flown by elements of CVW-3 and aircraft from Independence (CV 62) against the Syrian antiaircraft positions near Hammana, Lebanon. One of the squadron’s A-6Es was lost in the attack, its pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, was killed and the NFO, Lieutenant Robert Goodman, was captured by the Syrians. He was released 4 January 1985.

Jul 1984: The squadron operated in the Caribbean and off the coast of Central America to assist the Coast Guard with drug interdiction operations.

10 Oct 1985: The squadron’s KA-6D tanker aircraft refueled F-14s from Saratoga (CV 60) en route to their intercept of an Egyptian 737 airliner that was carrying Arab terrorists who had hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro on 7 October and murdered an American citizen. The F-14s forced the airliner to land at NAS Sigonella, Sicily, leading to the capture of the terrorists.

24 Mar 1986: Libyan missiles were fired at U.S. Naval forces operating in the Gulf of Sidra. This action precipitated a retaliation against Libya by squadrons from Saratoga (CV 60), America (CV 66) and Coral Sea (CV 43). VA-85’s A-6Es conducted a follow-up attack with Rockeye bombs on a Libyan Combattante II G-class fast attack missile craft that had been hit by a Harpoon missile fired by a VA-34 aircraft. The attack resulted in the sinking of the Combattante II. VA-85 aircraft also attacked a Nanuchka II class missile corvette with Rockeyes, damaging the corvette.

25 Mar 1986: VA-55 attacked a Nanuchka with Rockeyes, damaging but not stopping the corvette. A VA-85 aircraft then launched a Harpoon against the corvette which resulted in its sinking.

6 Sep 1989: Squadron aircraft flew missions in support of the evacuation of personnel from the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, due to the unstable situation in that country.

17 Jan-28 Feb 1991: The squadron participated in Operation Desert Storm, combat strikes against targets in Iraq and the Kuwaiti theater of operations. During this period of combat the squadron flew 585 combat sorties, consisting of 1,700 flight hours and expended over 850 tons of ordnance.

Aug 1993: Squadron aircraft flew missions over Bosnia-Hercegovina in support of U. N. Operation Deny Flight.

Nov 1993: Squadron aircraft flew sorties over Mogadishu, Somalia, in support of U. N. Operation Continue Hope.

Dec 1993: Squadron aircraft provided support for reconnaissance missions over southern Iraq, part of Operation Southern Watch.

Commanding Officers - Date assumed Command:
LCDR Richard E. Moot - 01 Feb 1951
LCDR Joe W. Williams, Jr. - 26 Sep 1952
CDR Adolph Mencin - Mar 1954
CDR Charles H. Jaep III - 06 May 1955
CDR Jack C. Heishman - Sep 1956
CDR M. G. Bramilla, Jr. - Sep 1957
CDR E. M. Coppola - 05 Sep 1958
CDR Howard C. Lee - 25 Mar 1959
CDR William Carrier, Jr. - 29 Nov 1960
CDR N. O. Scott, Jr. - Dec 1961
CDR Clinton H. Mundt - 21 Dec 1962
CDR John C. McKee - 05 Feb 1963
CDR A. H. Barie - Feb 1964
CDR Billie J. Cartwright - 15 Apr 1964
CDR J. E. Keller - 22 Dec 1965
CDR Ronald J. Hays - 21 Apr 1966
CDR J. C. Patterson - 20 Jun 1967
CDR Ken L. Coskey - 28 Jun 1968
CDR Charles B. Hunter - 06 Sep 1968
CDR Herbert A. Hope, Jr. - 06 Jun 1969
CDR Donald H. Westbrock - 05 Jun 1970
CDR David W. Timberlake - 08 May 1971
CDR Michael R. Hall - 30 May 1972
CDR Arthur M. Page - 01 May 1973
CDR Donald V. Boecker - 01 Jul 1974
CDR Richard C. Allen - 07 Nov 1975
CDR Charles R. Bubeck - 25 Feb 1977
CDR Bruce B. Bremner - May 1978
CDR Ronald J. Zlatoper - 26 Jun 1979
CDR Daniel P. Wright - 07 Aug 1980
CDR John I. Dow - 10 Dec 1981
CDR Kirby E. Hughes II - 18 Feb 1983
CDR Paul L. Bernard - 17 Aug 1984
CDR Robert W. Day - 01 Jul 1985
CDR Robert A. Tolhurst - 16 Sep 1986
CDR James B. Stone, Jr. - 11 Mar 1988
CDR Dean W. Ellerman, Jr. - 05 Jun 1989
CDR Lewis W. Crenshaw, Jr. - 16 Aug 1990
CDR Ralph C. Miko - 01 Sep 1991
CDR Bruce A. Weber - 22 Sep 1992
CDR John W. Scheffler - 29 Sep 1993

Home Port Assignments - Assignment date:
NAS Niagara Falls, New York - 01 Feb 1951
NAS Jacksonville, Florida - 05 Apr 1951
NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island - 26 Sep 1951
NAS Oceana, Virginia - 11 Jun 1952

source: NHHC