VSF-1 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 1965 Jon Selah |
 Warhawks - 1965 "Boom" Powell |
 From John W. Hays |
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Patch The Eagle's head adopted by the small number of plank-owners came from the first commanding officer's family crest. The eagle head in the squadron insignia was adapted from the Waring family silverware with green slashes added to match the painted portion of the A-4’s rudder. Waring argued that as a fighter squadron VSF-1 should have red as the squadron color. Although the powers-that-be decreed otherwise, the skipper’s airplane always seemed to have red where the rest of the squadron was painted green. Aircraft side numbers were two digits beginning with the CO’s 70 and eventually reaching into the 90’s while the letter code was NA. Squadron jokers claimed it stood for ‘Not Applicable’. |
Sources David Weber "Boom" Powell M. D. Carey Harry Gann" John Hayes John D. Lowry Jon Selah Gary Verver Tailhook Association Clay Jansson Donald E. Wright |
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Handle Warhawks Heritage 01 JUL 1965: VSF-1 established. 1970 VSF-1 disestablished. |
Home Ports 1968 -69: NAS Alameda |
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Air Wings No info yet. |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 22 June 1965 - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 10 August 1967: - - - - Douglas A4D-2n (A-4C) Skyhawk * * November 30, 1962 The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments SEP 1966 - MAY 1967: VSF-1 CVS-38 - A-4B - - Mediterranean APR 1968 - 1969: VSF-1 CVA-62 - A-4C - - Mediterranean 1968 to 11DECC69: VSF-1 Det. USS Yorkton NATO exercise ‘Operation Peacekeeper’ in the North Atlantic. |
Commanding Officers 01 JUL 1965: CDR Charlie E. Waring 14 APR 1967: Commander Donald K. Wilson Apr (?) 1968: CDR Marty Asbacher last VSF-1 CO: Blair Stewart |
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Awards No info yet |
Awards continued No additional info |
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Events September 1965?: VSF-1 is commissioned. 19 October 1965: LCdr. Thomas A. Felling ejected and was rescued. 1106 (hours) A4B Bureau Number 144992 of VSF-1, Pilot LCdr Thomas A. Felling crashed into the sea of the port beam at latitude 33-04.3N, Longitude 117-59.5W and sank in 538 fathoms 0f water. 1117 Pilot recovered by helicopter and delivered on board Kearsarge. Injuries to pilot: none. USS Kearsarge deck log, Tuesday, 19 October 1965. 01 July 1966: Anti-Submarine Fighter Squadron One -- VSF-1 was split in half: One half remained as VSF-1 and deployed on the USS Shangri-La CVS-38 to the Mediterranean. VSF-1 deployed to the Med in September 1966, as a normal attack squadron in Shangri La with fourteen A-4B Skyhawks. Tail code AJ of Airwing 8. All the pilots became Shang centurions. The other half was called VSF-1 Det Alameda. VSF-1 Det Alameda was then renamed VSF-3 Chessmen. 16 October 1966: Lt. J.T. Alexander, Sr., A-4B Skyhawk BuNo 144893 . . .1937 commenced recovering aircraft - A-4B BuNo 144873 of VSF-1, pilot Lt. J.T. Alexander, Sr., sustained damage during arrested landing. Port fuel drop tank broke loose on landing, wing tank ruptured, and fuel therefrom ignited causing a large JP-5 fire on the flight deck landing area. 1941 Fire on flight deck extinguished. C/S to 12 knots. The aircraft fire caused probable (slight lined out) moderate damage to the flight deck and strike damage to the aircraft. There was no injury to the pilot. USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) deck log, Sunday, 16 October 1966. No flight hours after 16 March 1966. Status changed from A1 to Y on 16 October 1966. Status changed from Y to 1S (SOC) on 29 January 1967. Unit history from Jon Selah: I joined the squadron in Sept. 65 at Alameda. At that time, we had 0 aircraft. By October we had picked up around 15 A/C from reserve units around the US. Originally the planes were painted Red as we were the first VSF squadron. Orders came down from BUAIR to change to GREEN. All A/C were painted green with the exception of Cdr. Waring's, it remained Red. Deployed 1966; returned 1967: VSF-1 deployed on the United States Ship Shangri-La CVS-38 to the Mediterranean. Deployed 1968; returned 1969: VSF-1 deployed on the United States Ship Independence CVA-62 to the Mediterranean. 1969: NATO Cruise on the USS Yorktown. Carrier Quals were conducted aboard the USS Independence prior to the cruise. Approx. APR 1970: VSF-1 disestablished. |
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Unit Photos 1965: Change of Command, CDR C.E. Waring taking command of VSF-1 Commander C. E. Waring the VSF-1 Commanding Officer is on the left; Captain F. W. Oliver the Commanding Officer of NAS Fallon, Nevada is on the right. In the background is a YA-4B Skyhawk BuNo 145002 "Rudolph the Red Nosed Skyhawk." Charlie Eagle' resting in his 'Ready Room'. 1965-1967: CDR Waring's A-4B Skyhawk BuNo 145022 cockpit photos: bomb site and UHF channel indicator; left console with Sidewinder control panel; right console; instrument panel. Photos from Boom Powell. 1965-1966: VSF-1 Warhawks A-4B Skyhawk BuNo 145059, NA-76, on the cat. From "Boom" Powell. 1965-1966: VSF-1 Warhawks A-4B Skyhawk cockpit (possibly AK-115) circa 1965-1966. Note the sidewinder control panel, the jettison handles, no AJB, separate LABS indicator. Photo from Boom Powell. 05 February 1966: War Hawks Skyhawk BuNo 145002, NA-82, with a F11F Tiger nose parked on the ramp. Unknown Photographer via W. Mutza. VSF-1 Commanding Officer and Rudolph the Red Nosed Skyhawk (BuNo.145002). 1966: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 142872, NA-87, and squadron Blue Jackets. Photo from Jon Selah. Mar 1966: War Eagles Skyhawk BuNo 145002, NA-82, with Tiger nose and Fallon Det. Officers & Bluejackets. Photo from Jon Selah. June 1966: VSF-1 Warhawks (prior to Det Alameda split) A-4B Skyhawk BuNo 142733, NA-80, MCAS Yuma, 1966. Pilots: (l-r) LTjg. Howie Fowler, LTjg. R.R. Powell, next two; one is Lt. John Reid-Green, other unknown, CO Cdr. Charlie Waring, “Poolie” Watson (?), LTjg. Fred Kasch, Chet Nightingale (ex-P2V), John Chernowski. Crouching: Tom Felling (LSO), Maintenance LDO Phil Daugherty. Photo from Boom Powell. 1966: War Eagles Skyhawk BuNo 144999, AJ-578, in flight while operating from the USS Shangri La. Photo from Charlie Waring via "Boom" Powell. 1966: War Eagles Skyhawks BuNo 144954, AJ-571, BuNo 145022, AJ-570, BuNo 144955, AJ-578 and BuNo 144956, AJ-577, in formation while over the USS Shangri La. Photo from Charlie Waring via "Boom" Powell. 1966: CDR Waring poses in front of one of the War Eagles Skyhawks. Photo from "Boom" Powell. 1966: 1966: War Eagles pilots in front of one of the squadrons Skyhawks. L-R: (all are LTjg) Howie Fowler, Gerry Evans, Bob Powell, Phil Mall. Fowler deployed with VSF-1 in Shangri La, while the others wound up in VSF-3 in Intrepid. Photo from "Boom" Powell. 1966: 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawks on the Alameda ramp, front to back: BuNo 145002, NA-83, (aka Rudi); BuNo 144999, NA-78; and BuNo 142809. "Boom Powell". 1966: 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk formation, from top BuNo 145022, NA-70; BuNo 144954, NA-71; BuNo 144983, NA-72; and BuNo 142877, NA-73. "Boom Powell". 1966: 1966: War Eagles Skyhawk formation, cw from top BuNo 144869, AJ-580; BuNo 144994, AJ-574; BuNo 144983, AJ-572; and BuNo 142872, AJ-582. "Boom Powell". 1966-67: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144893, AJ-500, and Sunliners A-4E BuNo 151052, AJ-405, parked near the Shang's island. "Boom Powell". Late 1966, early 67: VSF-1 was still a fighter squadron with NA (not applicable, we joked) two digit nose numbers when this was taken. Navy publicity photo for article in Howie Fowler's (he’s in the foreground) northern CA hometown newspaper. "Boom Powell". 28 October 1966: partial view of VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144943 parked on the ramp next to VSF-1 BuNo 145002, NA-88, aka Rudi with the Tiger nose graft. "Boom Powell". Circa 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk formation: BuNo 142877, NA-73; BuNo 144983, NA-72; BuNo 144954, NA-71 and BuNo 145022, NA-70. "Boom Powell". 28 October 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144967, NA-89, parked on the ramp next to BuNo 145002, NA-88, (aka Rudi). "Boom Powell". Circa 1966: 12 o'clock view of VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144967, NA-89, parked on the ramp. "Boom Powell"> Circa 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144967, NA-89, as she passes over the Golden gate bridge. "Boom Powell". Late 1966, early 67: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144989, NA-79, in flight after recent washing - no oil streaks from the J-65 engine. Markings on tail are dark green. "Boom Powell". 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawks on the Alameda ramp, front to back: BuNo 145002, NA-83, (aka Rudi); BuNo 144999, NA-78; and BuNo 142809. "Boom Powell". 28 October 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 145002, NA-88, (aka Rudi) parked on the ramp next to BuNo 144967, NA-89. "Boom Powell". Circa 1966: War Eagles Skyhawk BuNo 145022, AJ-570, and squadron pilots from the Shangri-La cruise. "Boom Powell". Circa 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 145022, NA-70, aboard the Bennington as CDR C.E. Waring commemorates his 500th carrier landing. "Boom Powell". Circa 1966: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 145022, AJ-570, Charlie Hawk and CDR C.E. Waring. "Boom Powell". November 1966: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 144967, NA-89, parked on the ramp. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. November 1966: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 144967, NA-89 tail. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. 1966-67: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 145022, AJ-570, traps aboard the Shang. "Boom Powell". 1968: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 150598, AG-514, BuNo 147703, AG-503, and Spirits BuNo 147749, AG-310, as they prepare to launch from the Independence. Note the Plane Guard is about to launch. "Boom Powell". 25 May 1967: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 142872, AJ-82, tail section. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association.
1967: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 142730, AJ-576, drags the drogue for VF-13 F-8D Crusader BuNo 148692, AJ-102. "Boom Powell". 1968: USS Independence and CVW-7 (AG) aircraft in 1968. The Air Group squadrons/aircraft were VF-41 Black Aces F-4J Phantoms, VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-4J Phantoms, VA-76 Spirits A-4C Skyhawks, RVAH-7 Peacemakers RA-5C Vigilantes, VAH-10 Vikings Det. 62(KA-3B Skywarriors, VSF-1 Warhawks A-4C Skyhawks, VA-64 Black Lancers A-4C Skyhawks, VAQ-33 Firebirds Det. 62 EA-1F Skyraiders, VAW-124 Bear Aces E-2A Hawkeyes and HC-2 Fleet Angels Det. UH-2B Seasprites, 1968. 10 Oct 1968 VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 147701, AG-531, parked on the ramp. Photo from "Boom" Powell. Circa 1969: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 149497, AG-502, being maneuvered into position by the deck crew and a tillie bar. Photo by Naval Aviation News. 10 OCT 1968: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 147728, AG-507, parked on the ramp. VSF-1 BuNo 147701, AG-531, in the foreground. "Boom" Powell. 1969: Left side view of USS Independence VSF-1 Warhawks A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 148553, AG-513, on the ramp next to NARTU Alameda Navy/Marine TA-4B Skyhawk BuNo 142886, location unknown, 1969. Copyright R.W. Harrison. 10 AUG 1969: Warhawks Skyhawk BuNo 148553, AG-513, parked on the ramp. R. Lock. NOV69: BuNo 145128 of CVSG-56, VSF-1 Det.10 in the hangar for maintenance. Gary Verver Collection. 1969: Warhawks Skyhawk formation, from top - bottom: BuNo 1477xx, BuNo 147728, AG-507, BuNo 149497, AG-502 and BuNo 149583, AG-504. Naval Aviation News photo. VSF-1 BuNo144983 parked on the ramp. From "Boom" Powell. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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