Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11
VA-112 (U.S. Navy) was officially named what from Apr 1945 to Nov 1946?
VA-112 ( U.S . Navy ) VA-112 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S . Navy . It was established as Bomber-Fighter Squadron VBF-11 on 9 April 1945 , redesignated Fighter Squadron VF-12A on 15 November 1946 , then as VF-112 on 15 July 1948 . It was finally redesignated as VA-112 on 15 February 1959 . The squadron was disestablished on 10 October 1969 . Its nickname from 1961 to 1969 was the Broncos . Operational history . - 25 Mar 1948 : operated in the Persian Gulf with Saudi Arabian Prince Ibn Saud embarked to view air operations . However , the air display was cancelled because of a sand storm and hazy conditions . - 29 Apr 1948 : Valley Forge moored port side to Dokkeskjaerkaien Dock , Bergen , Norway . The mooring was conducted without the aid of tugs , using the engine power of the squadron’s eight F8Fs spotted on the forward deck and eight other aircraft on the aft deck . The mooring operation was called Operation Pinwheel . - 5 Aug 1950 : The squadron participated in its first combat operations , flying sorties against targets in the Mokpo-Kwangju area of South Korea . - 12–19 Sep 1950 : The squadron participated in the pre-assault strikes against targets in and around Inchon , Korea , in preparation for the Inchon landing on 15 September . These strikes included road , rail , and airfield sweeps and Combat Air Patrol . During and after the invasion the squadron continued to fly daily air sweeps , striking at targets of opportunity and the enemy’s lines of communications . - 10 Nov 1950 : The squadron’s first encounter with MiG-15s occurred during a sortie over Sinuiju , North Korea . One MiG-15 was damaged during the engagement . - 23–24 June 1952 : The squadron participated in coordinated strikes against North Korean hydroelectric power plants , the first heavy attack conducted against these installations . Nine different hydroelectric power plants were struck by forces from Carrier Air Groups 2 , 7 , 11 , 19 , and the 5th Air Force . - 6–13 Feb 1955 : The squadron was on station and available for air support during the evacuation of over 26,000 personnel from the Tachen Islands during the First Taiwan Straits Crisis . - 24 Apr 1967 : Squadron aircraft participated in a multi-carrier coordinated strike against North Vietnam’s Kép Air Base , northeast of Hanoi . This was the first time a strike had been conducted against a North Vietnam MiG airfield . - 10 May 1967 : Commander M . L . Minnis , Sr. , was awarded the Silver Star for action during a strike into North Vietnam against the thermal power plant at Haiphong . - Apr 1969 : Following the shoot down of a Navy EC-121 aircraft by the North Koreans , , with VA-112 aboard , along with two other attack carriers , was ordered to the Sea of Japan Home port assignments . The squadron was assigned to these home ports , effective on the dates shown : - NAS Alameda – 09 Apr 1945 - NAAS Fallon – 30 Apr 1945 - NAAS Santa Rosa – 31 Jul 1945 - NAS Kahului – 21 Feb 1946 - NAS San Diego – 25 Nov 1946 - NAAS Miramar/NAS Miramar – 07 Apr 1951 - NAS Lemoore – 11 Sep 1961 Aircraft Assignment . The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown : - F6F-3/5 Hellcat – Apr 1945 - F8F-1 Bearcat – 11 Dec 1946 - F8F-2 Bearcat – 03 Jan 1949 - F9F-2 Panther – 11 Jan 1950 - F9F-2B Panther* – Jul 1950 - F9F-3 Panther – 31 May 1951 - F9F-2B Panther – 12 Jul 1951 - F9F-5 Panther – Oct 1952 - F9F-6 Cougar – Feb 1954 - F9F-8 Cougar – Jul 1955 - F9F-8B Cougar – Apr 1956 - F3H-2M Demon – 05 Apr 1957 - A4D-1/2 Skyhawk – Apr 1959 - A4D-2N/A4C Skyhawk – 26 Mar 1961 <NOWIKI>*</NOWIKI> The squadron’s F9F-2s were modified at NAS Barbers Point and equipped with rocket launchers and bomb racks and designated F9F-2Bs .