VA-209 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
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Patch Provided by Mark Davidson |
Sources David Weber Mark Davidson |
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Handle DEC 1969: Reserve Squadron VA-5Y1 (Unknown). DEC 1969: Reserve Squadron VA-5Y2 (Unknown). 19??: Reserve Squadron VA-724 (Unknown). 19??: Reserve Squadron VF-725 (Unknown). JUL 1964: Reserve Squadron VA-725 Air Barons? 01 JUL 1968: Reserve Squadron VA-8 Air Barons? 01 JUL 1970: Reserve Attack Squadron 209 Air Barons. Heritage JUL 1964: VF-725 re-designated VA-725. JUL 1968: VA-725 was re-designated VA-8. 1969: Two Reserve Squadrons transferred from Naval Air Station Minneapolis: Reserve Squadron VA-5Y1 and Reserve Squadron VA-5Y2. The two Reserve Squadron were based at Naval Air Facility Detroit, Michigan. 01 JUL 1970: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED NINE (VA-209) established at Naval Air Station Glenview - Chicago, Illinois, using assets from VA-5Y1 and VA-8. 15 AUG 1971: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED NINE (VA-209) disestablished. JUN 1973: Reserve Attack Squadron VA-5Y2 was disestablished. Assets of VA-5Y2 were transfered to VC-12 at Oceana, Virginia. |
Home Ports 01 OCT 1944: Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. |
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Air Wings VA-5Y1 & VA-5Y2: Naval Air Facility Detroit, Michigan. 01 JUL 1970: AF - CVWR-20 |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 01 JUL 1964: Douglas A-4B Skyhawk 01 JUL 1970: Douglas A-4L Skyhawk |
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Deployments None |
Commanding Officers JUL 1970: CDR William J. Miller (VA-209) JUN 1971: CDR Edward Gillespie (VA-5Y2) |
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Awards No info yet |
Awards continued No additonal info |
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Events A Note: Between 1948 and 1974 the following Navy Reserve Units, VA-5Y1, VA-5Y2, VA-724, VA-725 and VA-209 were at Naval Air Facility Detroit and Naval Air Station Glenview. The relationships are not crystal clear and there may have been other units - we will update this page as more factual information arrives. July 1964: VF-725 transitioned to A-4B's and was re-designated VA-725 in July 1964. The flight demonstration team was formed in June 1967. VA-725 was re-designated VA-8 in July 1968.
July 1, 1970: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED NINE (VA-209), was established at Naval Air Station Glenview (Chicago) Illinois as part of a reorganization designed to increase Naval Air Reserve Force combat readiness. VA-209 was formed at Naval Air Station Glenview using assets from VA-5Y2 at Naval Air Facility Detroit, Michigan. The VA-209 Air Barons were assigned the Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. 1970-1971: Air Barons A-4L's Demonstration Team. VA-8 disestablished in 1970 and re-established as VA-209. The group disbanded after the 1971 season. 15 AUG 1971: Reserve Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED NINE (VA-209) was dis-established at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois. Reserve Air Wing 20 replaced VA-209 with a reserve fighter squadron. JUN 1973: Reserve Attack Squadron 5Y2 (VA-5Y2) was dis-established at Naval Air Facility Detroit, Michigan. VA-5Y2 assets were transfered to VC-12 at Oceana, Virginia. |
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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. Date unknown: NAS Glenview BuNo 142704, photographer is Wm. Jordan. I don not have a BuNo for #33 which has Capt C. Lesinge in script on the nose panel. William Jordon photo, from Gary Verver. MAY 1967: 1942 aviation cadets pose in front of Skyhawk BuNo 142128, 7V-28. Empty slots represent seven former cadets that couldn't attend and three KIA. VA-725 or VA-727 Bird. Naval Aviation News photo. 1967: NAS Glenview Skyhawk BuNo 142916, 7V-32, launches from the port side of the USS Lexington during touch-and-go operations. 1968: 1968: NAS Glenview Skyhawk BuNo 142916, 7V-32, in formation with another unknown Glenview Skyhawk. Naval Aviation News photo. SEP68: NARF Glenview Skyhawks BuNo 145046, 7V-5 and BuNo 142916 parked on the flight-line. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. SEP68: Navy/Marine Reserve Skyhawk BuNo 142850, 7V-3, parked on the flight-line. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. SEP68: Navy/Marine Reserve Skyhawk BuNo 142916, 7V-32, parked on the flight-line next to BuNo 145046, 7V-5. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. A-4A BuNo.142229, 7V-11, parked at NAS Glenview. Note that both the Navy and Marines were using this Skyhawk. From Gary Verver Collection. DEC69: CNAResTRA Air Barons flight demonstration team: BuNo 145028, 7V-22, BuNo 145047, 7V-23, BuNo 145003, 7V-20, BuNo 142916, 7V-32, BuNo 142121, 7V-29 and BuNo 145034, 7V-25. Team members were CDR Terry Denton, CDR Jim Mahoney, LCDR Gary arris, LCDR Dan MacIntyre. Naval Aviation News Photo. DEC69: CNAResTRA Air Barons flight demonstration team: BuNo 145028, 7V-22, BuNo 145047, 7V-23, BuNo 145003, 7V-20, BuNo 142916, 7V-32, BuNo 142121, 7V-29 and BuNo 145034, 7V-25. SEP 1970: Eight Air Baron A-4L Skyhawks taxi out in formation. The two that can be identified are BuNo 149542, 7V-50; and BuNo 148490, 7V-46. Dennis Stubee. 1971: Air Baron Skyhawks. A VA-209 Air Baron flight of three A-4L Skyhawks cruise over the Chicago loop. United States Navy Photograph. 27 JUN 1971: Left rear view of VA-209 Air Barons A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 149593, AF-602, on the ramp, Bridgeport, CT. Copyright R.W. Harrison. 1971: VA-209 BuNo 149623 next to BuNo 149635. Photographer is unknown, from Gary Verver. 01 AUG 1971: NAS Glenview BuNo 147829. Ordnance on #1 is unknown, MK-8x's on the centerline and a 5" ZUNI pod on #3. Another shot of 147829. A.R. Krieger photos, from Gary Verver. 1973: VA-209 BuNo 149623. Photo by I. Ward, from Gary Verver. NOV71: BuNo 147827, AF-4, ready for a start-up. Gary Verver Collection 1971 Air-show at GlenviewSix Air Baron Skyhawks. 7V-42 and 7V-51 BuNos are masked. 7V-43 is BuNo147706, 7V-40 is BuNo147802, 7V-45 is BuNo148446 and 7V-50 is BuNo149532. The Air Barons are flying in an air-show at Glenview. Photo from AT2 Dennis Stubee who was a Plane Captain for the Air Barons. 04APR71: BuNo 147708, AF-614, assigned to LCDR W.T. Reinders parked on the ramp. F. Roos. 1971: BuNo 149635, AF-3, as she taxies by the photographer. Harry Gann. Air Barons Skyhawk BuNo 148487, AF-604, parked on the ramp. L-r: ATN2 Tom Goodin, AMS3 Tony Martinez, AMH2 Mike Pierce, AME2 Gary Schweitzer, AE2 John Wilkerson, ADJ2 Les Shane & AMS1 Frank Carlson. Unknown photographer. Air Barons Skyhawk BuNo 148487, 149593, 149516, 148446, 149532 and 147827 shown on a poster. Unknown photographer. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
