VSF-86

VSF-86

Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu.

VSF-86 Gators VSF-86 Gators VSF-86 Bellicose Gators

Patch

VSF-86 Gator caricature provided by "Boom" Powell

Sources

David Weber

"Boom" Powell

Jim Vaughn

Tom Kloves

Handle

Gators

Heritage

19xx: VSF-86 established.

01 SEP 1973: VSF-86 assets moved and unit dis-established

Home Ports

NAS New Orleans, LA

Air Wings

1971: USS Ticonderoga - Tail Code NW.

Aircraft

Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:

03 JUN 1970: Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk *

* November 30, 1962

The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C

For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page:

Deployments

Circa 1971: USS Ticonderoga  CV14. CVSGR-80

Commanding Officers

No info yet.

Awards

No info yet

Awards continued

No additonal info

Events

VFS-76 and VFS-86 were two NAS New Orleans, Louisiana, based squadrons tasked with the mission to provide fighter cover for the ant-submarine carriers. Previously flying early-model A-4 Skyhawks, the squadron transitioned to the F-8H in 1971.

30 JUN 1970: "I am a "plank" owner with VSF-86 having served from 6/30/70 until 7/1/73. I was a AMH2 and a plane captain on the A4s. Jim Vaughn.

Circa 1970: VSF-86 deploys with CVSGR aboard CV-14. Jim Vaughn

August 15, 1971: VSF-86 change of command, Kloves to Etheridge aboard CV-14.

01 SEP 1973: VF-753 absorbed VSF-76 and VSF-86 and the conglomeration was re-designated Fleet Composite Squadron Thirteen (VC-13).

Unit Photos

1971: BuNo 148463, NW-601, moving towards the cat. Photo Ed Moir.

1971: Gators pilot Ed Moir in Skyhawk NW-601, BuNo 148463, on a forward cat and ready to launch from the Tico. Photo Ed Moir.

1971: Gators pilots pose in front of Skyhawk NW-601, BuNo 148463, assigned to CDR Kloves aboard the Tico. L-R: John Parks, Ed Moir, Dave Griggs, NASA Astronaut killed doing an air-show for a buddy (Admiral no less) & Dale Sisley of Lafayette, LA. Photo Ed Moir.

AUG 1971: Gators Skyhawk NW-602 aboard the Tico as a deck crewman inserts the tillie bar into the nosewheel. "Boom" Powell

Gators pilots pose next to Skyhawk NW-602 at NAS New Orleans. Photo by NavNews.

1972-73: VSF-86 Skyhawk BuNo 149563, NW-605, parked on the ramp. "Boom" Powell

Circa AUG71: VSF-86 Gators A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 149563, NW-605, being guided onto the cat with a tillie bar aboard the USS Ticonderoga.

Circa AUG71: VSF-86 Gators A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 149618, NW-603, aboard the USS Ticonderoga.


Off-Duty Photos

No info yet.

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:

  • Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk
    • 148304 C/N 12614
      • 03 Jul 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 24 Oct 1971 - NAS - NAS Glynco, GA
    • 148463 C/N 12656
      • 01 Aug 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 25 Jan 1972 - MARTD - NAS South Weymouth, MA
    • 148464 C/N 12657
      • 01 Mar 1971 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 26 Jan 1972 - MARTD - NAS Alameda, CA
    • 148517 C/N 12710
      • 03 Jul 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 16 Jan 1971 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
  • Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk Continued)
    • 148589 C/N 12782
      • 03 Jun 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 08 Feb 1971 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 149563 c/n 12888
      • 28 Aug 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 29 Aug 1971 - NAS - NAS Glynco, GA
    • 149581 c/n 12906
      • 06 Feb 1971 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 03 Mar 1971 - MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 149635 c/n 12960
      • 03 Jul 1970 - VSF-86 - NAS New Orleans, LA
      • 04 Feb 1971 - VSF-86 - Convert to A-4L
      • 27 May 1971 - VA-209 - NAS Glenview, IL

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