VA-128 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 128
VA-128 A6A refueling another A-6A, 1970s
Active	1 September 1967 - September 1995
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Attack
Nickname(s)	Golden Intruders
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-6 Intruder TC-4C Academe

VA-128 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Golden Intruders. It was established on 1 September 1967,^[1] and disestablished in September 1995.^[2]

Operational history

• September 1967: The squadron was assigned the mission of training combat ready flight crews and replacement maintenance personnel for the A-6 Intruder.
• October 1968: Two U.S. Air Force exchange officers reported aboard for training in the A-6A.
• June 1973: A Naval Officer from the Federal Republic of Germany reported aboard for training in the A-6.
• March–May 1980: The squadron’s TC-4C, Target Recognition Attack Multisensor (TRAM) equipped aircraft, was used to monitor the hot spots on Mount St. Helens in Washington state prior to a major eruption on 18 May. The squadron’s work with U.S. Geological Survey authorities provided the forewarning necessary to save hundreds of lives since the mountain was a popular place for campers, boaters and mountain climbers.
• October 1986: The squadron assumed the additional duty of training all U.S. Marine Corps personnel on the A-6 following the disestablishment of VMAT(AW)-202.
• 1990: The squadron received the first composite wing A-6E on the West Coast.^[1]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• NAS Whidbey Island – 01 Sep 1967

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:^[1]

• A-6A Intruder – 01 Sep 1967
• TC-4C Academe – 15 Mar 1968
• A-6E Intruder – 16 Dec 1973

See also

• Attack aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

1. Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). "VA-128" (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Naval Historical Center. 1. Washington, DC: Department of the Navy. p. 199.
2. Karppi, Wendy (1997-07-01). "Airscoop - VA-128 Golden Intruders" (PDF). Naval Aviation News: 7. Retrieved 2014-02-18.

External links

• The Intruder Association VA-128 website