VA-133 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 VA-133 Blue Knights |
 |
|
Patch Patch illustrated - time frame unknown. |
Sources David Weber |
| Handle
Blue Knights Heritage 21AUG61 VA-133 established. 01OCT62 VA-133 disestablished.
|
Home Ports
1961 NAS Cecil Field FL. |
| Air Wings
03MAR62-6MAY62 AE CVG-13 (CVA-64) |
Aircraft
18 Sep 1961 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 2 Oct 1967 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A-4F Skyhawk * November 30, 1962: A4D-2 designation changed to A-4B. For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
| Deployments
Departure & Return - - - - - - Air Wing - - - - Carrier - - - - Aircraft - - - - - Area of Operations 03 Mar 1962 - 6 May 1962 - CVG-13 - CVA64 - A4D-2 (A-4B) - Atlantic (Shakedown |
Commanding Officers
Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer No info yet |
|
Awards No info yet |
No info yet |
|
Events 21 August 1961: The VA-133 "Blue Knights" were established and flew the A4D-2 Skyhawk from NAS Cecil Field, Florida and was disestablished on 1 October 1962. 19 February 1962: A squadron detachment was aboard the USS Constellation for carrier trials and in a standby status for possible assistance during Project Mercury. 3 MAR 62 through May 1962: CVG-13 (AE) aboard CVA64 U.S.S. Constellation for a shakedown cruise, contained: VF-131 Nightcappers flying the F3H-2 Modex 100 VF-132 Peg Leg Petes flying the F8U-2N Modex 200 VA-133 Blue Nights flying the A4D-2 Modex 300 VA-134 Scorpions flying the A4D-2 Modex 400 VA-135 Thunderbirds flying the AD-6 Modex 500 VAH-10 Vikings flying the A3D-2 Modex 600 January 1, 1962: Lt. Nils Swenson, 29, was killed last night when his A4D (BuNo 142739) jet crashed and burned during a landing approach. Swenson was returning to Cecil Field from a training flight to NAS Oceana, VA when the plane crashed about 15 miles south of Jacksonville in an area covered with brush and small pines. The Pensacola News, Friday, 02 January 1962. January 12, 1962: 1940 (hours) A4D aircraft BuNo 142680 struck tower starboard yardarm during wave off from practice CCA. Pilot Lt. D.N. Bates, ejected safely as aircraft fell into water on starboard side. Six short blasts were sounded on ships whistle. Life ring and smoke light were thrown over the starboard side. The USS Bigelow (DD-942) was designated as rescue destroyer. Aircraft crashed in 20 fathoms of water; LAT 30-57N, LONG 80-21.7W. 2010 pilot recovered by whaleboat from USS Bigelow (DD-942). USS Franklin D. Roosevelt deck log, Friday, 12 January 1962. An experienced A4D pilot departed an east coast base for some practice night CCA approaches to a big carrier and as he hadn't made a night carrier landing in almost three years all approaches were to be waved off at a safe distance and altitude. Two other A4D's were at the marshal point ahead of him and at the ten-mile gate he was well to the right of the desired track. The CCA gave him a 90-deg. turn followed by a 90-deg. right and the carrier was in front of him and moments later he called meatball and flew the glide slope. He saw two bright lights ahead and assumed it must be the other two A4D's climbing out. The meatball was going low, and he was drifting off to the right and he was adding power just as the wave-off lights flashed and he commenced a climbing turn to the right and saw what looked like a flashing white taillight directly ahead and closing. He reduced power to stay behind and dropped the nose to stay below the bogie, saw he was over-running and banked hard right climbing to pass level, crashed into the ships steel yardarm in a 60-deg. bank and ejected as something smashed into his knee, after disentangling himself from the seat and chute he lit off a flare and was rescued by the plane guard DD. NAN, Pettibone, April 1962. June 5, 1962: Lt. H. Bates safely ejected at 3,000 feet when his Skyhawk (BuNo 142115) developed engine trouble on a rocket firing run and crashed into woods 10 miles from Jacksonville. Panama City Herald, Thursday, June 7, 1962.
|
|
Unit Photos April 17, 1963: A4D-2 BuNo 142885, AE-312, and VF-131 Nightcappers F3H-2 Demon BuNo 145242, AE-107, 17 April 1962, USS Constellation, Terrier missile test. Official U.S. Navy photo. Off-Duty Photos None yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
|
|