VS-21: Difference between revisions
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==Aircraft Assignment== |
==Aircraft Assignment== |
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[[File:TBM-3S VA-1E 1940s.jpg|thumb|A TBM-3S in VA-1E colors]] |
[[File:TBM-3S VA-1E 1940s.jpg|thumb|A TBM-3S in VA-1E colors]] |
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[[File:S2F-1 Tracker of VS-21 in flight in 1956.jpg|right|thumb|A squadron S2F- |
[[File:S2F-1 Tracker of VS-21 in flight in 1956.jpg|right|thumb|A squadron S2F-2 in flight]] |
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[[File:S3A.jpg|right|thumb|Profile of an S-3A during the squadron's service aboard the {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}]] |
[[File:S3A.jpg|right|thumb|Profile of an S-3A during the squadron's service aboard the {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}]] |
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* [[Grumman TBF Avenger|TBM-1 Avenger]] from March 1945 |
* [[Grumman TBF Avenger|TBM-1 Avenger]] from March 1945 |
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Revision as of 20:57, 21 January 2021
| Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) | |
|---|---|
_insignia_1999.png) | |
| Active | 26 March 1945 - 28 February 2005 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Role | Anti-submarine warfare |
| Size | squadron |
| Nickname(s) | Fighting Red Tails |
| Equipment | TBM-3 Avenger S-2 Tracker S-3 Viking |
| Insignia | |
| VT-41 |  |
| VS-21 (1955) | _isignia_c1977.png) |
Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It served from 1945 to 2005 and was mainly tasked with anti-submarine warfare while operating from aircraft carriers.
History
VS-21 was previously designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 21 (VS-21), Composite Squadron 21 (VC-21), Attack Squadron 1E (VA-1E), and Torpedo Squadron 41 (VT-41). It was established in the final year of World War II, and served after the war aboard Badoeng Strait helping to develop hunter-killer ASW tactics for the U.S. Navy, and ultimately operated from full-size aircraft carriers in the sea control role, capable of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It was the only squadron to receive the designations VA-1E, VC-21, or VS-21.[1]
The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron 41 (VT-41) at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington (USA), under the command of Lieutenant Joseph P. Keigher, with the General Motors-built TBM-1, TBM-1C, and TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber as part of Escort Carrier Air Group 41 (CVEG-41). Commander Air Force Pacific Fleet had designated the squadron upon formation as having anti-submarine warfare as its primary mission. On 15 November 1946, as part of a service-wide reorganization, VT-41 was redesignated Attack Squadron 1E (VA-1E). This was translated into "1st attack squadron ("VA-1") based on escort carriers ("E")", while CVEG-41 was simultaneously redesignated Escort Carrier Air Group 1 (CVEG-1). The group, which consisted of VA-1E and fighter squadron VF-1E, was assigned on 4 December 1946, to the escort carrier Badoeng Strait. VA-1E was identified by the tail code "BS" (call sign "Beef Steak"). In 1947-1948, VA-1E conducted regular ASW exercises aboard Badoeng Strait between the U.S. West Coast and the Western Pacific. The squadron saw extensive service in ASW trials and tactics development aboard Badoeng Strait.[1] When the US Navy turned back to the designation system used before November 1946, both CVEG-1 squadrons VA-1E and VF-1E were merged into Composite Squadron 21 (VC-21) on 1 September 1948, creating one of six new anti-submarine squadrons. The squadron was redesignated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 21 (VS-21) and obtained the nickname "Redtails" on 23 April 1950. After putting the S-3B Viking into service in 1991, on 1 October 1993, the squadron was redesignated Sea Control Squadron 21 (retaining the abbreviated form VS-21). VS-21 was finally disestablished on 28 February 2005.[2]
Commanding officers
- Lt. Joseph P. Keigher: 26 March 1945 (acting commander)
- Lt. Charles A. Collins: 29 April 1945
- LCdr. Kent M. Cushman: 14 September 1946
- LCdr. Harold A. Robinson: 24 November 1947
Aircraft Assignment
- TBM-1 Avenger from March 1945
- TBM-1C Avenger from March 1945
- TBM-3 Avenger from March 1945
- TBF-1 Avenger from April 1945
- TBM-3E Avenger from May 1945
- TBM-3S Avenger from 1948
- AF-2 Guardian
- S2F-1 Tracker
- S2F-2 Tracker
- S-2E Tracker
- S-3A Viking
- S-3B Viking from 1991
Air Wing Assignments
- Escort Carrier Air Group 41 (CVEG-41) from 26 March 1945 to 15 November 1946
- Escort Carrier Air Group 1 (CVEG-1) from 15 November 1946
- Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 53 (CVSG-53) (1960-1972)
- Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 59 (CVSG-53) (1970)
- Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) (1974 - 1976)
- Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-1) (1977)
- Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15) (1979 - 1980)
- Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) (1982)
- Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) (1984-1990)
- Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) (1991-2005)
See also
- History of the United States Navy
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.
- ^ a b Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). "VA-1E" (pdf). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. p. 17.
- ^ Donald, David; Lake, Jon (1992). US Navy & Marine Corps Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing.
