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VA-163 (U.S. Navy)

January 01, 1970

Attack Squadron 163 (VA-163) Saints was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. VA-163 flew the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk from 1960 to 1969.

Attack Squadron 163
VA-163 Insignia
Active1 September 1960 – 1 July 1971
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Navy
TypeAttack Squadron
Part ofInactive
Garrison/HQNAS Cecil Field
Nickname(s)"Saints"
EngagementsVietnam War
DecorationsNavy Unit Commendation x 4
Aircraft flown
AttackA-4 Skyhawk

History edit

On 1 September 1960, Attack Squadron 163 was established at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. Shortly thereafter, the Saints moved to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California where they began training for their first deployment.

 
The A-4E of VA-163's CO, CDR W.F. Foster, in 1966.

During her operational history, Attack Squadron 163 made six Pacific Fleet cruises, including four combat cruises during the Vietnam War. The first five were with Carrier Air Wing 16 in USS Oriskany between 1962 and 1968, and the last with Carrier Air Wing 21 in USS Hancock in 1968-1969.

In the first three WESTPAC combat cruises to Southeast Asia (SEA) (1965–68), VA-163 sustained periods of heavy losses, including 14 aircraft destroyed by enemy action, with at least five pilots killed, five captured, and two severely wounded. The 'Saints' also lost two squadron Commanding Officers (CO) to combat action, with the first during the 1965 WESTPAC combat cruise, CDR Harry Jenkins, in November 1965 (shot down, and made a POW). The second was CDR Wynne Foster, who lost an arm to flak in July 1966, but ejected and was rescued. (Foster later recovered, and waged a successful battle to remain on active duty).

These unit losses were then followed by the tragic at-sea USS Oriskany fire, in October 1966, which then claimed more unit personnel (among the total 44 men who were lost in the fire).

Among the four total WESTPAC combat cruises that VA-163 completed, the 1967-68 cruise was by far the costliest, in losses of both pilots and aircraft. During this cruise alone, five 'Saints' pilots were Killed In Action, or went Missing In Action, over North Vietnam. (As of mid-2009, of these five lost men, the remains of three have been found and recovered from their loss sites in Vietnam, and identified using DNA analysis. The remaining two men have not yet been accounted for.)

A total of 12 A-4E aircraft were lost during the 1967-68 WESTPAC alone, with ten lost to enemy action, and two as operational losses.

Two notable VA-163 'Saints' pilots who became POWs were then-Commander James B. Stockdale, Commander Air Group of Attack Carrier Air Wing 16 (CVW-16) in 1965 (who as 'CAG', was never actually a VA-163 member, but he was flying a VA-163 A-4E at the time of his loss), and then-Lieutenant Commander John S. McCain, III in 1967.

Amidst the intense air combat of the early war period and the subsequent losses, the 'Saints' continued to display outstanding courage and bravery, resulting in many awards for valor being issued to many 'Saints' pilots. Among them, three 'Saints' were awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary combat heroism: Commander Bryan Compton (then squadron CO), and Lieutenant Commanders James Busey and Marvin Reynolds. (Not surprisingly, these three awards were earned during the infamous 1967-68 WESTPAC, with the first two mentioned awards earned during the same mission (a 'Walleye' missile strike on the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant in August 1967).

On 1 April 1969 VA-163 was placed on inactive status, and two years later the squadron officially disestablished on 1 July 1971.

Deployments edit

 
U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Denny Earl of Attack Squadron 163 (VA-163) "Saints", with both legs shattered by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, successfully lands his Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (BuNo 152003) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in the Gulf of Tonkin, 20 November 1967. VA-163 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 16 (CVW-16) aboard the Oriskany for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Vietnam from 16 June 1967 to 31 January 1968..
from to aircraft carrier air wing tail code area
7 June 1962 17 December 1962 A4D-2 CVA-34 CVG-16 AH-3xx WestPac
1 August 1963 10 March 1964 A-4B CVA-34 CVW-16 AH-3xx WestPac
5 April 1965 16 December 1965 A-4E CVA-34 CVW-16 AH-3xx Vietnam War
26 May 1966 16 November 1966 A-4E CVA-34 CVW-16 AH-3xx Vietnam War
16 June 1967 31 January 1968 A-4E CVA-34 CVW-16 AH-3xx Vietnam War
18 July 1968 3 March 1969 A-4E CVA-19 CVW-21 NP-3xx Vietnam War

Notable former members edit

See also edit

References edit

External links edit

  • VA 163 website

January 01, 1970
navy, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2024, learn, when, remove, th. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Attack Squadron 163 VA 163 Saints was an aviation unit of the United States Navy VA 163 flew the Douglas A 4 Skyhawk from 1960 to 1969 Attack Squadron 163VA 163 InsigniaActive1 September 1960 1 July 1971CountryUnited States of AmericaBranchUnited States NavyTypeAttack SquadronPart ofInactiveGarrison HQNAS Cecil FieldNickname s Saints EngagementsVietnam WarDecorationsNavy Unit Commendation x 4Aircraft flownAttackA 4 Skyhawk Contents 1 History 2 Deployments 3 Notable former members 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editOn 1 September 1960 Attack Squadron 163 was established at Naval Air Station Cecil Field Florida Shortly thereafter the Saints moved to Naval Air Station Lemoore California where they began training for their first deployment nbsp The A 4E of VA 163 s CO CDR W F Foster in 1966 During her operational history Attack Squadron 163 made six Pacific Fleet cruises including four combat cruises during the Vietnam War The first five were with Carrier Air Wing 16 in USS Oriskany between 1962 and 1968 and the last with Carrier Air Wing 21 in USS Hancock in 1968 1969 In the first three WESTPAC combat cruises to Southeast Asia SEA 1965 68 VA 163 sustained periods of heavy losses including 14 aircraft destroyed by enemy action with at least five pilots killed five captured and two severely wounded The Saints also lost two squadron Commanding Officers CO to combat action with the first during the 1965 WESTPAC combat cruise CDR Harry Jenkins in November 1965 shot down and made a POW The second was CDR Wynne Foster who lost an arm to flak in July 1966 but ejected and was rescued Foster later recovered and waged a successful battle to remain on active duty These unit losses were then followed by the tragic at sea USS Oriskany fire in October 1966 which then claimed more unit personnel among the total 44 men who were lost in the fire Among the four total WESTPAC combat cruises that VA 163 completed the 1967 68 cruise was by far the costliest in losses of both pilots and aircraft During this cruise alone five Saints pilots were Killed In Action or went Missing In Action over North Vietnam As of mid 2009 of these five lost men the remains of three have been found and recovered from their loss sites in Vietnam and identified using DNA analysis The remaining two men have not yet been accounted for A total of 12 A 4E aircraft were lost during the 1967 68 WESTPAC alone with ten lost to enemy action and two as operational losses Two notable VA 163 Saints pilots who became POWs were then Commander James B Stockdale Commander Air Group of Attack Carrier Air Wing 16 CVW 16 in 1965 who as CAG was never actually a VA 163 member but he was flying a VA 163 A 4E at the time of his loss and then Lieutenant Commander John S McCain III in 1967 Amidst the intense air combat of the early war period and the subsequent losses the Saints continued to display outstanding courage and bravery resulting in many awards for valor being issued to many Saints pilots Among them three Saints were awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary combat heroism Commander Bryan Compton then squadron CO and Lieutenant Commanders James Busey and Marvin Reynolds Not surprisingly these three awards were earned during the infamous 1967 68 WESTPAC with the first two mentioned awards earned during the same mission a Walleye missile strike on the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant in August 1967 On 1 April 1969 VA 163 was placed on inactive status and two years later the squadron officially disestablished on 1 July 1971 Deployments edit nbsp U S Navy pilot Lieutenant Junior Grade Denny Earl of Attack Squadron 163 VA 163 Saints with both legs shattered by North Vietnamese anti aircraft fire successfully lands his Douglas A 4E Skyhawk BuNo 152003 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany CVA 34 in the Gulf of Tonkin 20 November 1967 VA 163 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 16 CVW 16 aboard the Oriskany for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Vietnam from 16 June 1967 to 31 January 1968 from to aircraft carrier air wing tail code area 7 June 1962 17 December 1962 A4D 2 CVA 34 CVG 16 AH 3xx WestPac 1 August 1963 10 March 1964 A 4B CVA 34 CVW 16 AH 3xx WestPac 5 April 1965 16 December 1965 A 4E CVA 34 CVW 16 AH 3xx Vietnam War 26 May 1966 16 November 1966 A 4E CVA 34 CVW 16 AH 3xx Vietnam War 16 June 1967 31 January 1968 A 4E CVA 34 CVW 16 AH 3xx Vietnam War 18 July 1968 3 March 1969 A 4E CVA 19 CVW 21 NP 3xx Vietnam WarNotable former members editJohn McCain James Stockdale Denny EarlSee also editHistory of the United States Navy List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons References editExternal links editVA 163 page at skyhawk org VA 163 website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VA 163 U S Navy amp oldid 1210478997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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