VA-145 Swordsmen A-6 (1969) Model Proudly display this 18 inch wooden model of the VA-145 Swordsmen A-6 Intruder. Each model is carefully carved and painted by master craftsman. This is perfect for the goat locker or office and will provide a perfect aid for aviator told stories! Length - 18 inches Made from Mahogany US Veteran Owned Business The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger. A-6A Intruder/Bu. 152632 1966: Delivered to the US Navy. 1967: VA-196 as NK-405. Converted to KA-6D tanker. 1972: VA-52 as NH-516. 1977-78: VA-52 as NH-524. 1979: VA-52 as NL-521. 12/29/1979: Crashed into the Arabian Sea after a bad launch off USS Kitty Hawk. Both crewmen were killed. Attack Squadron 145 (VA-145) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy, nicknamed the Roadrunners from 1951-1954, and the Swordsmen thereafter. The squadron was established as Reserve squadron VA-702 on 1 December 1949, and called to active duty on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VA-145 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 1 October 1993 27 Mar 1951: The squadron conducted its first combat sortie, flying close air support missions in Korea. Apr 1951: The squadron, embarked on USS Boxer (CV-21), operated in the Taiwan Strait. 20 Sep 1951: VA-702 flew its last close air support sortie in Korea and thereafter, concentrated its strikes on enemy facilities and targets of opportunity as part of the interdiction program. This policy, the result of fairly stable front lines, was effective 21 September and applied to all units of the Fast Carrier Task Force. Close air support missions were now flown only by the Marine Corps and Air Force. This policy was modified later in the war and Fast Carrier Task Force squadrons again flew close air support missions. 16 Oct 1952: Commander B. T. Simonds, the squadron’s commanding officer, was lost when his plane crashed into the water immediately following its launch from the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). Jun–Aug 1958: The squadron was embarked on USS Ranger (CV-61) for her transit from Norfolk, via Cape Horn, to her new home port at Alameda. 5–8 Jul 1959: The squadron, embarked on Ranger, flew sorties from the carrier while it operated off Taiwan due to increasing tensions between the Chinese Nationalists and Chinese Communists. Jun 1964–Jan 1965: The squadron participated in Operation Yankee Team, flying Rescue Combat Air Patrols in South Vietnam and Laos. 5 Aug 1964: VA-145 participated in Operation Pierce Arrow, air strikes against North Vietnam in retaliation for the attacks on the American destroyers USS Turner Joy (DD-951) and USS Maddox (DD-731) in the Gulf of Tonkin on 4 August. The squadron’s Skyraiders, along with other aircraft from the air wing, struck torpedo boats and other targets at Hon Gay, North Vietnam. A second sortie of squadron aircraft, along with A-4 Skyhawks from VA-144, attacked five enemy naval vessels that were at sea, near the Lach Chao Estuary and Hon Me Island. The two vessels attacked by VA-145 were left dead in the water and smoking. During this attack Lieutenant (jg) Richard C. Sather was shot down. He was the first naval aviator killed in the Vietnam War. 31 Jan 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander H. F. Griffith, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions as a flight leader directing and coordinating simultaneous attacks, under extremely adverse weather conditions, against a heavily defended primary enemy line of communications and for his participation in the successful rescue of a downed naval aviator. 1 Feb 1966: During one of the squadron’s combat missions over North Vietnam, Lieutenant (jg) Dieter Dengler was shot down. He was captured in Laos and imprisoned. On 30 June 1966 he escaped from a Pathey Lao prisoner-of-war camp, was rescued and returned to the squadron on 21 July. For his daring escape he was awarded the Navy Cross. Jun–Nov 1967: During 120 days on Yankee Station, the squadron assisted in the recovery of 14 downed airmen, bo
