VA-54 was an early and long-lived Attack Squadron of the
U.S. Navy, operating under many designations during its 20-year life. It was established as Scouting Squadron VS-2B on 3 July 1928, and redesignated as VS-3 on 1 July 1937, and as Bombing Squadron VB-4 on 1 March 1943. It was redesignated as VB-5 on 15 July of that same year, and as Attack Squadron VA-5A on 15 November 1946. Finally, it was redesignated as VA-54 on 15 November 1946. VA-54 was disestablished on 1 December 1949. The squadron's insignia varied over its lifetime, depicting in turn a bird dog, a devil, and finally a bomb and five playing cards. Its nickname is unknown. It was the first squadron to be designated VA-54, a
second VA-54 was redesignated from VF-54 on 15 June 1956 and disestablished on 1 April 1958.[1]
Notable personnel
The squadron's acting commanding officer when it was established in 1928, and again for three months in 1929, was
LT Forrest Sherman, who became the nation's youngest
Chief of Naval Operations in 1949.[1]
Operational history
January–February 1929:
Fleet Problem IX was the first time the Navy's two large carriers,
USS Saratoga (with VS-2B embarked) and
USS Lexington, participated in a major fleet exercise.
March–April 1930: In March, Fleet Problem X was conducted in the
Caribbean Sea, followed by Fleet Problem XI in April.
May 1930: VS-2B's aircraft joined with the planes from nine other squadrons, which included Saratoga, Lexington and
USS Langley Air Groups, for a three-day tour of east coast cities from
Norfolk, Virginia to
Boston. The flight was commanded by Captain
Kenneth Whiting and consisted of 36 torpedo and bombing planes, 57 fighting planes, 24 scouting planes, 3 amphibian utility planes, 3 Ford tri-motor transports and 2 staff planes. It was the largest air parade that had ever been assembled on the East Coast.
5 November 1931: The squadron's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Oscar W. Erickson, was killed in an airplane crash at sea.
1931–1934: The squadron participated in Fleet Problems XII through XV
1935–1938: The squadron participated in Fleet Problems XVI through XIX.
April–May 1940: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XXI. This was the last major fleet problem conducted before the
attack on Pearl Harbor and America's involvement in
World War II.
August 1942: VS-3 and the other squadrons in Saratoga's Air Group provided air support for the
battle of Guadalcanal.
24–25 August 1942: VS-3 participated in the
Battle of the Eastern Solomons and, along with other squadrons in the Saratoga Air Group, attacked and sunk the
Japanese carrier Ryujo. En route back to Saratoga after their attack on the Ryujo, Lieutenant Commander Kirn, and ten of his SBDs attacked a Japanese flight of four
Vals, downing three and damaging the fourth.
29–30 April 1944: VB-5 conducted another strike operation against
Truk.
14 May 1944: Following a ten-month combat tour, which began in August 1943, Air Group 5 was relieved aboard Yorktown by Air Group 1 and the Air Group, including VB-5, returned to
CONUS.
7 February 1945: CVG-5, with VB-5, embarked on
USS Franklin and departed
NAS Alameda for Hawaii, arriving there on 13 February. This was the beginning of the squadron's third major combat tour in the Pacific.
19 March 1945: Following the launch of CVG-5 aircraft, including
Curtiss SB2C Helldivers from VB-5, for an attack against the city of
Kobe, Japan, Franklin was hit by two enemy bombs from a Japanese aircraft. Fires were ignited on the second and third decks from the first bomb and the second triggered munitions on the carrier. All CVG-5's aircraft still on the carrier were destroyed. The damage was one of the most extensive experienced by an
Essex-class aircraft carrier during
World War II. A total of 724 were killed and 265 wounded. However, the crew's heroic efforts saved the ship. CVG-5 personnel were transferred to
USS Santa Fe. CVG-5 aircraft in the air landed on other carriers, primarily
USS Bennington. Personnel in the water were picked up by
destroyers.
May 1949: VA-54 was the last fleet squadron to operate the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver aircraft. The squadron completed its Operational Readiness Inspection on 19 May and the last operational flight of the SB2C Helldiver.[1]
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]