Attack Squadron 155 or VA-155 was an 'Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Reserve Attack Squadron VA-71E in 1946, redesignated as VA-58A on 1 October 1948, and redesignated Reserve Composite Squadron VC-722 on 1 November 1949. The squadron was redesignated as VA-728 on 1 April 1950, and called to active duty on 1 February 1951. It was ultimately redesignated VA-155 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 30 September 1977. Its nickname was Silver Fox from the early 1960s onward. It was the second squadron to be named VA-155, the first VA-155 was disestablished on 30 November 1949, while a third VA-155 was established on 1 September 1987 and disestablished on 30 April 1993.[1]
Operational history
October 1951: The squadron engaged in combat operations, flying its first sorties over Korea.
March 1965: The squadron began participation in Operation Rolling Thunder, the bombing of military targets in North Vietnam.
May 1966: VA-155 was the first A-4 squadron deploying to Vietnam using a new camouflage paint scheme nicknamed the Flying Mulberrybushes. The new paint scheme and colors were expected to reduce battle damage by making the aircraft more difficult to detect visually.
1 July 1966: The squadron's commanding officer, Commander C. H. Peters, was killed in action while leading an attack on petroleum facilities at Duong Nham, North Vietnam.
20 October 1967: Squadron aircraft sighted six North Vietnamese PT boats near Thanh Hoa and engaged the boats. Four of the PT boats were sunk, one was damaged and the sixth escaped, seeking refuge in the mouth of the river near Thanh Hoa.
25 November 1967: The squadron's commanding officer, Commander W. H. Searfus, was lost at sea following a flight deck accident in which his aircraft was lost over the side of the carrier.
March 1968: Coral Sea, with VA-155 embarked, operated on station off the coast of Korea following the capture of USS Pueblo in January by North Korea.
21 November 1970: The squadron flew missions in support of Operation Ivory Coast, an attempt to rescue American prisoners of war at the Son Tay prisoner compound, 20 miles west of Hanoi.
February 1973: Following the ceasefire with North Vietnam, the squadron flew combat missions in Laos until a ceasefire was signed with that country on 22 February 1973.
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