VF(AW)-3 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
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Patch No info yet. |
Sources David Weber |
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Handle Blue Nemesis Grey Nights Heritage 02 MAY 1949 as VC-3 01 JUL 1956 re-designated VF(AW)-3 01 APR 1963: Decommissioned |
Home Ports 02 MAY 1949: NAS North Island, CA. as VC-3 OCT 1949: NAS Moffett Field, CA. as VC-2 01 JUL 1956: NS Moffett Field, CA. as VF(AW)-3 |
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Air Wings 1950s: NORAD COMFAIRMOFFETT Tailcodes: “NP” through 1956, “TT” from 1956.< |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: APR 1956: Douglas F-4D Skyray Also flew: F4U-4N, F4U-5N, F4U-5NL, F6F-5N, F3D-2, FJ-3, FJ-3M, F7U-3, AD-2Q, AD-3, AD-3Q, AD-3N, TBM-3E, SNB-5, F9F-6, TV-2, F2H-3, F2H-2N, F3H-2M, F3H-2N, F4D-1, F8U-1. 27 SEP 1956:Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * * November 30, 1962 The A4D-1 designation was changed to A-4A For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments None known with the Skyhawk. |
Commanding Officers Circa 1959: CDR John "Tex" O'Neil. |
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Awards 24OCT to 31DEC 1962: Detachment "Echo" of VF(AW)-3 awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participating in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. NAS Key West: VFAW-3 was awarded (twice) NORAD’s "best performing unit" trophy for their service in NORAD. |
Awards continued No additonal info |
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Events 1949: VC-3 was Airpac’s carrier-based night fighter squadron from 1949 through 1 July 1956 when it was redesignated VF(AW)-3. The squadron continued in a unique training role until disestablished on 2 May 1958. On the same day Fleet All Weather Training Unit U.S. Pacific Fleet (FAWTUPAC) was redesignated VF(AW)-3 at NAS North Island, CA. The two units have no connection other than designation and are completely separate organizations for historical and lineage purposes. 1958: VFAW-3 (Fighter Squadron, All Weather), was in the late 1950's the only U. S. Naval element of the North American Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD's duty was to detect aircraft approaching Alaska, Canada, and the Contiguous United States ("CONUS" in "milspeak"), to verify the incoming aircraft against filed flight plans, and aircraft would be "scrambled" to investigate when necessary. SEP 1956: The first Navy unit on the west coast to receive the A4D-1 Skyhawk for evaluation. 29 MAR 1957: LCdr. Patrick F. Cunningham 32, of Chula Vista, bailed out of his Navy jet fighter (BuNo 139924) over the San Joaquin Valley Friday, touching off a mass rescue operation when he was erroneously believed to have broken his back, Cunningham, flying an A4D Skyhawk on a routine training mission, left his plane at 17,000 feet and suffered shock and minor back injuries upon landing. The rescue involved more than 10 aircraft from the Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard, two paramedics who parachuted to the scene and an Air Force flight surgeon who was rushed in by helicopter. Long Beach, CA, Press-Telegram, Saturday, March 30, 1957.
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Unit Photos DEC56: NAN photo of a refueling improvement at NAS Moffett Field, fueling a Skyhawk from VF(AW)-3. DEC56 NAN photo. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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