VA-165

VA-165. Attack Squadron 165, nicknamed the "Boomers," was a United States Navy attack squadron established in the early Cold War period. Commissioned in 1960, the squadron was equipped with jet-powered aircraft and served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. It is best known for its combat deployments during the Vietnam War, operating from aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin and conducting numerous strike missions over North Vietnam and Laos.

History

The squadron was established on 1 September 1960 at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Florida, initially flying the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. It made its first Western Pacific deployment aboard the Essex-class USS *Hancock* in 1962. Transitioning to the LTV A-7 Corsair II in 1967, the unit became one of the first fleet squadrons to operate this new jet. Its most significant historical period was its involvement in the Vietnam War, where it executed critical missions such as Operation Rolling Thunder and provided close air support for ground forces during the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive. The squadron was disestablished on 10 May 1971 as part of a post-war force reduction, with its personnel and aircraft absorbed by other units like VA-25.

Aircraft assignment

Throughout its service, the squadron operated two primary aircraft types. From its commissioning until 1967, it flew the propeller-driven Douglas A-1 Skyraider, a robust aircraft valued for its long loiter time and heavy weapons load. In 1967, the "Boomers" transitioned to the modern jet-powered LTV A-7 Corsair II, which they flew for the remainder of their existence. This transition occurred at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, and the A-7 provided greater speed and advanced avionics for precision bombing missions over Southeast Asia. The squadron's aircraft typically carried a variety of ordnance, including Mk 80 series general-purpose bombs, AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles, and Zuni rockets.

Home port assignments

The squadron's primary home port for the majority of its existence was Naval Air Station Lemoore, a major jet aircraft base in California's San Joaquin Valley. Prior to its move to Lemoore, the unit was based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field near Jacksonville, Florida, following its initial establishment. These home ports served as hubs for training, maintenance, and administration between the squadron's numerous deployments to the Western Pacific. During its operational cycles, the squadron was regularly assigned to aircraft carriers homeported at Naval Station San Diego and Naval Air Station Alameda, such as the USS *Hancock* and the USS *Ranger*.

See also

* List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons * Attack aircraft * United States Navy in the Vietnam War * LTV A-7 Corsair II * Douglas A-1 Skyraider

Category:Attack aircraft squadrons of the United States Navy Category:Military units and formations established in 1960 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1971