VA-203 Blue Dolphins
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Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 VA-741 - 1961 Courtesy Captain Jack Harris |
 VA-203 - 1970 Courtesy Captain Dave Dollarhide |
 Re-designated VFA-203 Courtesy Captain Dave Dollarhide |
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Patch 194? - - Reserve Fighter Squadron 741 - no patch utilized. 1961 - - Reserve Attack Squadron 741 - The Attack Squadron 741 patch was created by CDR Grant Goodell, Commanding Officer 1963 to 1965. No patch was utilized prior to the transition to A-4 Skyhawks. The Yin/Yang background signified that squadron reservists were part time Navy and part time civilian, with the golden dart to signify the A4. 1968 - - Reserve Attack Squadron VA-2F1 - patch remained unchanged. 1970 - - The Blue Dolphin squadron insignia was designed by Lieutenant Charlie Del Pizzo, a Selected Air Reserve of ATKRON Two Zero Three. The patch background design, taken from the VA-741 patch and to red and blue, is a facsimile of the Chinese symbol know as Yin and Yang. These symbols traditionally represent the inner and outer beings of man molded into one. The Yin and Yang on the VA-203 patch represent the molding of the citizen and the sailor into one. The blue dolphin was chosen as being representative of the Florida home base and operating area, the waters of the Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. 1989 After being re-designated VFA-203, the squadron patch was retained, with only the squadron designation being changed. |
Sources David Weber Grant Goodell Jim McDonald Dave Dollarhide Harry S. Gann John Gabbard |
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Handle 194? - - Reserve Fighter Squadron 741 (unknown). 1961 - - Reserve Attack Squadron 741 (Unknown). 1968 - - Reserve Attack Squadron VA-2F1 (Unknown). July 1, 1970 - - Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins. October 1, 1989 to June 30, 2004 - - Reserve Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VFA-203) Blue Dolphins. Heritage 194x: Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDREDFORTY-ONE (VF-741) established at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. 1961: Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VF-741) was redesignated as Reserve Attack Squadron VA-741 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. 1968: Reserve Attack Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VA-741) was redesignated as Reserve Squadron VA-2F1 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. July 18, 1970: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins established at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, using Reserve Attack Squadron VA-2F1 assets. October 1, 1989: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VFA-203) Blue Dolphins at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. June 30, 2004: Reserve Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VFA-203) Blue Dolphins decommissioned at Naval Air Station Atlanta, GA. |
Home Ports 194x - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. December 1, 1977 - - - Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. October 1996 - - - - - Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia. |
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Air Wings June 1970- - - - - - - - 6F July 1, 1970 - - - - - - AF - - - - - - CVWR-20 |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 194X - - - - - - - - - Grumman F6F Hellcat. 194X - - - - - - - - - Chance Vought F4U Corsair. 1950's - - - - - - - - Grumman F-9F6 Cougar. 1958 - - - - - - - - - Grumman F-9F8 Cougar. 1961 - (NARTU) - - - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 1960's - (NARTU) - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * July 19, 1970- - - - - Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. April 5, 1974- - - - - Vought A-7A Corsair II. August 1977- - - - - - Vought A-7B Corsair II. September 1983 - - - - Vought A-7E Corsair II. November 5, 1989 - - - Boeing FA-18 Hornet. For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments No info yet |
Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer 194x to 1957- - - - - - - Unknown (VF-741) 1957- - - - - - - - - - - Cdr. Herman Meyers (VF-741) 1960- - - - - - - - - - - LtCdr. Jack Wohlberg (VF-741) 1961- - - - - - - - - - - Cdr. Grant Goodell (VA-741) July 1965 - - - - - - - - Cdr. Bill McFarland (VA-741) 1966 to 1970- - - - - - - Cdr. Jim McDonald (VA-741 / VA-2F1) July 1970 - - - - - - - - Cdr. Walter N. Vance January 1972- - - - - - - Cdr. James S. Bassett September 1973- - - - - - Cdr. Bobby S. Morgan September 1975- - - - - - Cdr. Jimmie W. Seeley August 1977 - - - - - - - Cdr. F. Francis Hughes, JR. July 1979 - - - - - - - - Cdr. A. Anthony Isger February 1981 - - - - - - Cdr. David A. Dollarhide August 1982 - - - - - - - Cdr. Jack C. Harris August 1984 - - - - - - - Cdr. George W. Weiler April 1985- - - - - - - - Cdr. Timothy G. Palmer June 1986 - - - - - - - - Cdr. Thomas J. Verrengia December 1987 - - - - - - Cdr. Ray K. Waddell December 1989 - - - - - - Cdr. Richard A. Bailey May 1990- - - - - - - - - Cdr. William C. Bailey Novmeber 1991 - - - - - - Cdr. S. C. Hallam March 1993- - - - - - - - Cdr. D. A. Lewelling March 1994- - - - - - - - Cdr. G. P. Hogan July 1995 - - - - - - - - Cdr. T. D. Benefield, JR. March 1996- - - - - - - - Cdr. A. M. Ivansheck September 1997- - - - - - Cdr. S. L. Smith September 1998- - - - - - Cdr. T. G. Canoll January 2000- - - - - - - Cdr. C. N. McCartney June 2001 - - - - - - - - Cdr. Mike Wellington November 2002 - - - - - - Cdr. Kevin Dye October 2003- - - - - - - Cdr. Joel Levin |
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Awards 1977 - Safety "S" 1986 - Noel Davis Battle "E" 1987 - Safety "S" 1992 - Noel Davis Battle "E" |
Awards continued 1995 - Golden Wrench 1996 - Golden Wrench 1996 - Noel Davis Battle "E" 2001 - Noel Davis Battle "E" |
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Events Through the years: VA-203/741 aircraft photo collage from Dave Dollarhide. 194x: About 1948 Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VF-741) was established at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The Squadron was probably assigned the Grumman F6F Hellcat (Whistling Outhouse) for its first aircraft. Sometime during the Korean War (1950?) the Squadron was probably assigned the Chance Vought F4U Corsair. After the Korean War (1954?) the Squadron was assigned Grumman F-9F6 Cougar. VF-741 later transitioned to the Grumman F-9F8 in 1958. 1961: Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VF-741) was redesignated as Reserve Attack Squadron VA-741 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The Squadron was assigned the Douglas A-4A (A4D-1) Skyhawk. Later, the squadron also received the Douglas A-4B (A4D-2) Skyhawk. 1968: Reserve Attack Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VA-741) was redesignated as Reserve Squadron VA-2F1 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. This was done as a result of a temporary Navy Reserve reorganization prompted by problems encountered when reserve units were activated during the USS Pueblo crisis. Reserve Squadron VA-2F1 continued to report to their NARTU and fly the Douglas A-4B (A4D-2) Skyhawk. October 26, 1969: Lt. Charles "Spanky" Kelaghan was killed when his A-4 Skyhawk BuNo 142126 crashed into the St. John's River while making a landing approach to NAS Cecil Field. July 18, 1970: The Navy Reserve Force concept was implemented and Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins was established at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, using some personnel assets of Reserve Attack Squadron VA-2F1. Up to this time, a Reserve Unit (Squadron) reported to the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit (NARTU) on their Naval Air Station. This 1970 Navy Reserve concept had Reserve Squadrons hold their own assets (such as the aircraft the Reserve Squadron flew) and both active duty and reserve personnel were assigned, reporting to a reserve commanding officer. However, for Skyhawk Association purposes Reserve Squadron VA-2F1 was redesignated VA-203 when Naval Air Reserve Units were combined into a newly established Carrier Air Wing 20 (East Coast AF) and Carrier Air Wing 30 (West Coast ND). The new VA-203 was assigned the Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. About 100 A-4C Skyhawks were re-manufactured into the hot-rod A-4L. May 20, 1972: I was flying Dan Condon's wing, A-4L BuNo 148578, during a practice GCA at NAS Jacksonville. The sun had already set, but we still had decent light. At the runway, Dan made a go-around for a left down-wind and approach back to Runway 9. I delayed my turn a bit to take interval for landing and as I leveled my wings on the downwind, he made his base turn call, "Three in the green. Give me the nod and I'll hit the sod." I was still smiling to myself as I approached the base turn, but then realized I'd lost sight of him. In the next instant, I saw the bright flame of his ejection seat slightly to the left and low over the Ortega River. It all happened very fast. The chute streamed, then opened parallel to the water, while the airplane pancaked onto the river. The chute swung Dan downward, quickly splashing him feet first into the water. The airplane skidded on it's belly to the far bank, flipping upside down. There was no fire. I decended to a couple of hundred feet and circled over the scene, while telling the tower to launch a helo. It was Sunday and boats were up and down the narrow river. One stopped by Dan, who was surrounded by his floating parachute, and he was pulled out of the water. He later related that it was a boatload of drunken A-7 pilots, who were applauding as they slowed next to him, asking Dan if he'd like to take a turn skiing. The J-65 had unwound after his last call to the tower and Dan had taken the time to turn away from an apartment building. April, 1974: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins were assigned the LTV A-7A Corsair II. December 1, 1977: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins moved to Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. September, 1977: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) were assigned the LTV A-7B Corsair II. October 1, 1989: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VA-203) Blue Dolphins were redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VFA-203) Blue Dolphins at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. The Squadron was assigned the Boeing FA-18 Hornet. 1993: The unit took on the adversary role October 1996: With imminent closure of Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THREE (VFA-203) Blue Dolphins moved to Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia. June 2004: Blue Dolphins decommissioned. |
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Unit Photos Webmaster note: Prior to 1970, reserve aircraft belonged to the local NARTU or Reserve Naval Air Station. Except for those squadrons on active duty, as in Korea, no reserve squadron "owned" their aircraft, as they were assigned to the NARTU/Station. In 1970, during that reorganization of the reserves into the "Reserve Force" concept, each new squadron was made independent of NARTU (later called NAR), and assigned either to CVWR-20 or CVWR-30. All squadrons were then made in the image of active duty units, with the reserve unit Commanding Officer owning the aircraft and reporting to the CAG. NARTU Hellcats in formation with a message. F-4U Cosairs at the Naval Air Reserver Training Unit. NARTU Jax VA-741 Grinnell Painting BuNo 137826 6F-10, taxies by while assigned to the Navy/Marine Reserve Training Unit located at Jacksonville, FL. 1963: VA-741 A-4B, BuNo.142843, with CDR Grant Goodell in the cockpit. CDR Goodell was Commanding Officer when this photo was taken in 1963. Provided by David Dollarhide. The VA-203 Commissioning Ceremony - July 1, 1970: JUL70: "New" VA-203 A-4L Skyhawk BuNo. 148578 - July 1970: 1970: Blue Dolphin Deuce A-4L Skyhawks BuNo. 149556 and BuNo. 147780 - 1970: School of Blue Dolphins Seeing The USA - 1970: 1970-74: A-4L BuNo 149497, AF-311 taxing out with a shipmate. Closeup. Gary Verver Collection. 1971: VA-203 BuNo 147780 trapping aboard the JFK, CVA-67. Circa 1971: VA-203 BuNo 148307 on the ramp at Jacksonville. From Gary Verver. VA-203 A-4L BuNo.149635, BuNo.145092 and BuNo.149633 in formation. The blue dolphin painted on the drop tanks was being phased out and "World Famous" no longer accompanied "Blue Dolphins" on the avionics hump. Photo taken and provided by Dave Dollarhide. A-203 A-4L BuNo.148600 (AF-312), flown by Dave Dollarhide in early '70s. Photo taken by KA-3 crewman, provided by Dave Dollarhide. 1971: A-4L BuNo.149556 flies an "OK Three Wire" aboard USS Kennedy in 1971. MAY 1971: A-4L 149556 VA-203, NARTD Jacksonville, at takeoff from NAS Oceana, VA. Photo by Ron Picciani, May, 1971. MAY 1971: A-4L of VA-203 at takeoff from NAS Oceana, VA. Photo by Ron Picciani. Lt. Dave Thornhill inverts BuNo.149594 west of NAS Cecil Field in early '70s. Photo taken and provided by Dave Dollarhide. JAN 1972: Blue Dolphins Skyhawk BuNo 147825, AF-315 parked on the ramp. Summer 1973: VA-203 officers pose with A-4L 145077 during annual weapons det at NAS Fallon. Kneeling R-L : Bob Morgan PCO, unknown, Jim Bassett CO, Tex Elliott CAG, Hal Shore. Standing R-L: Donavan, John Kuhs, Al Adeeb,, George Bole, Don Elliot; unknown, Sam Shilling, Bill Burd, Ken McClusky, John Wilcox, Bill Geary, Bill Weiler, Jim Dowd, unknown. On ladder: Dick Twilde, Bob Sibold, Jim Kirkwood. On the hump: Bob Sturgeon, Dave Dollarhide, Riley Harrell, Tim Lynch. Intake and wing: Jim Seeley, Dave Thornhill, Pete Munro, Charlie Delpizzo, Emory Gleason. A fifty year anniversary poster Provided by Dave Dollarhide. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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