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VA-153 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. During a 1949 reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve, a Fighter Squadron at NAS New York (believed to have been VF-718) was redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-831. It was called to active duty on 1 February 1951. The squadron was redesignated as VF-153 on 4 February 1953, and finally as VA-153 on 15 December 1956. It was disestablished on 30 September 1977. The squadron's nickname was the Blue Tail Flies from 1953 onward.[1]
2 February 1965: The squadron began participating in operations in Laos. These operations involved Yankee Team, Operation Barrel Roll and Operation Steel Tiger missions.
March 1965: The squadron participated in Operation Rolling Thunder, the bombing of military targets in North Vietnam.
13 August 1965: The squadron's commanding officer, Commander H. E. Thomas, was killed in action over North Vietnam.
March 1968: USSCoral Sea, with VA-153 embarked, operated on station off the coast of Korea following the capture of USSPueblo in January by North Korea.
LTV A-7B Corsair II of VA-153 at NAS Cecil Field Florida after service aboard the U.S.S. F.D.Roosevelt in 1976. The aircraft wears bicentennial markings
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.
11–22 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.
February 1973: Commander D. R. Weichman, the squadron's executive officer, completed his 625th combat mission of the Vietnam War. He maintains the record for the highest number of combat missions for a Navy fixed-wing pilot during this conflict.
November 1973: USSOriskany, with VA-153 embarked, departed from operations in the South China Sea to relieve USSHancock on station in the Arabian Sea due to the unsettled conditions following the Yom Kippur War.[1]
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]
NAS New York (Floyd Bennett Field) – assigned here prior to the squadron's recall to active duty on 1 February 1951.
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