VA-303 / VFA-303
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Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 Provided by Gary Galvan |
 1971 Provided by Paul Veltman |
 1971 Provided by John Gabbard |
 1984 Provided by Paul Veltman |
 1984 Provided by John Gabbard |
 1984 Provided by John Gabbard |
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Patch 23 February 1972 -- The squadron's insignia was approved by CNO. 24 April 1984 -----A modification to the above insignia was approved by CNO. The bridge design was replaced by brown mountains with white markings. |
Sources David Weber William E. Nelson, Capt. USNR (Ret) Paul Veltman |
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Handle 1972 - 1994: Golden Hawks Heritage Reserve Fighter Unit EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VF-876) was established in the late 1940's. 1961 Reserve Fighter Unit EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VF-876) was redesignated Reserve Attack Squadron EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VA-876). 1968 Reserve Attack Squadron EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VA-876) was redesignated Reserve Attack Squadron TWENTY G TWO (VA-20G2). July 1, 1970 - Reserve Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VA-303) Golden Hawks was established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, using assets of Reserve Attack Squadron TWENTY G TWO (VA-20G2). 1 January, 1994 - Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VA-303) (reserves) was redesignated Fighter Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VFA-303) (reserves). December 31, 1994 - Fighter Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VFA-303) disestablished. |
Home Ports Late 1940's- - - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Oakland, CA 1 July 1970- - - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda, CA 1 January 1984 - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA |
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Air Wings 1 July 1970 - - - - - - - - ND - - - - - - CVWR-30 Reserves |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 194? - - - - - - - - - F4U-4B Vought Corsair I. 195? - - - - - - - - - FJ-1 North American Fury 195? - - - - - - - - - F2H McDonnell Banshee July 1, 1970 - - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * July 11, 1970- - - - - Douglas A-4L Skyhawk April 5, 1971 - - - A-7A Chance Vought Corsair II August 11, 1977- - - - A-7B Chance Vought Corsair II October 19, 1985 - - - F/A-18A Boeing Hornet Three view drawings from Harry Gann, redrawn by Bud Southworth. * November 30, 1962: The A4D-2N designation changed to A-4C For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments No info yet |
Commanding Officers 1 July 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander William E. Nelson 1 July 1971 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Philip H. Benz 21 January 1973 - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Olin A. Gray 14 December 1974- - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Reid T. Melville 19 June 1976- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Alfred F. Talley 17 June 1978- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Thomas E. Gehman 21 June 1980- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Donald P. Smith 1982- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander CDR Harold Shorr 23 July 1983- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Richard A. Banks 1984- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Robert R. Greathouse October 1985- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Jon L. Green 11 April 1987 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Scott H. Davis 22 October 1988 - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander John S. Wood 19 May 1990 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Charles B. Askey 18 May 1991 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Barry C. Douglas 19 September 1992 - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Ronald J. Smeltzer 8 January 1994- - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander Jeffrey L. Schram |
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Awards NAVE - - - 1 July 1971 - - - - - - 31 December 1972 NAVE - - - 1 January 1987 - - - 31 December 1987 |
Awards continued NAVE - - - 1 January 1989 - - - 31 December 1989 NAVE - - - 1 January 1991 - - - 31 December 1991 |
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Events 194x: About 1948 a Reserve Fighter Unit EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VF-876) was established at Naval Air Station Oakland, California. The Reserve Fighter Unit was probably assigned the Grumman F6F Hellcat (Whistling Outhouse) for its first aircraft. Sometime during the Korean War (about 1950) the Squadron was assigned the Chance Vought F4U Corsair. 195?: VF-876 was assigned the FJ-1 North American Fury. 195?: VF-876 was assigned the F2H McDonnell Banshee. 1961: Naval Air Station Oakland, California was renamed Naval Air Station Alameda. The Reserve Fighter Unit EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VF-876) was redisignated Reserve Attack Squadron EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VA-876) and assigned the Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk. 196?: VA-876 was assigned the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk. 1968: Reserve Attack Squadron EIGHT SEVEN SIX (VA-876) was redesignated VA-20G2 at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. Reserve Squadron TWENTY G TWO (VA-20G2) was assigned the Douglas A-4C (A4D-2N) Skyhawk. July 1, 1970: The Navy Reserve Force concept was implemented and Reserve Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VA-303) Golden Hawks was established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, using assets of Reserve Attack Squadron TWENTY G TWO (VA-20G2). April 1971: VA-303 was assigned the Chance Vought A-7 Corsair II. November 1975: The squadron deployed aboard Ranger (CV 61) for the annual active duty training and as part of CVWR-30's tactical air mobilization test and the operational readiness exercise/inspection to ensure the squadron was seaworthy and combat ready. 19 October 1985: VFA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. When VA-303 became the first Naval Air Reserve Squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet, the change over took place at NAS Alameda, prior to the squadron leaving for NAS Lemoore. 198?: Fighter Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VFA-303) (reserves) moved to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. 25 September - 20 November 1990: A detachment of the squadron's F/A-18 Hornets and personnel, along with VFA-305, joined CVW-11 aboard Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for her transit from Norfolk to Alameda, via Cape Horn. November 1990: A detachment of squadron aircraft and personnel deployed to NWC China Lake in direct support of Operation Desert Shield. Provided critical real world electronic warfare test and evaluation missions requiring aircraft fully functional with electronic warfare, Harm missile and electronic countermeasure suites. In early 1993: The squadron added the roles of Adversary and Fleet Support to its primary mission. 1 January, 1994: Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VA-303) (reserves) was re-designated Fighter Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VFA-303) (reserves). The squadron was assigned the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. 31 December, 1994: Fighter Attack Squadron THREE ZERO THREE (VFA-303) dis-established. |
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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. June 1962: NARTU Alameda Skyhawk BuNo 139933 parked on the ramp with a tug moving into position for the tow. Naval Aviation News photo. Reserve assigned aircraft at NAS Alameda. Reserve assigned aircraft at NARTU Alameda. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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