VS-21
| 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 |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| 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. It was the only squadron to receive the designations VA-1E, VC-21, or VS-21.[1]
History
World War II
The squadron originally as VT-41 established in the final year of World War II, and served after the war aboard USS Badoeng Strait CVE-116 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.
Late 1940s
The squadron was established as VT-41 at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington (USA), under the command of LT. Joseph P. Keigher, with the General Motors-built TBM-1, TBM-1C, and TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber as part of 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 VA-1E, while CVEG-41 was simultaneously redesignated CVEG-1. The group, which consisted of VA-1E and fighter squadron VF-1E, was assigned on 4 December 1946, on the 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.
1950s
VC-21 was redesignated VS-21 (Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 21) on 23 April 1950. The squadron became the first US Navy ASW Squadron to depart from the US on a deployment in response to the Korean War on 4 July that year onboard the USS Sicily CVE-118. During the cruise, they were responsible for the evacuation of wounded US Marine service members from Koto-ri Airfield during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.[2]
On 3 December, the squadron transferred during the deployment to the USS Bairoko CVE-115, moving from the TBM-3E to the TBM-3S ASW aircraft before returning back to on 16 February 1951. Another Korean War deployment with the Bairoko took place between 3 February to 8 May 1953. This was VS-21's first deployment the Grumman AF-2S/2W Guardian.[3]
In December 1954, VS-21 began to operate the Grumman S2F-1 Tracker. In 1955, the squadron began to display the red lighting bolt on their engine and later tailfins of their aircraft. [2] The following year, the squadron made deployment to the West Pacific and Indian Ocean onboard the USS Princeton CV-37, becoming the first Pacific Fleet VS squadron to win the Battle E award. This was followed by deployment in 1958 onboard the Philippine Sea and in late 1959 to early 1960 on the Kearsarge.[3]
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
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).
2000s
VS-21 was finally disestablished on 28 February 2005.[4]
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.
- ^ a b "VS 21 Redtails". vs29.org. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ a b "VS-21". gonavy.jp. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ Donald, David; Lake, Jon (1992). US Navy & Marine Corps Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing.
