VF-174
What was the official name of Second VA-174 (U.S. Navy) from Feb 1950 to Jul 1966?
Second VA-174 ( U.S . Navy ) Attack Squadron 174 ( VA-174 ) also known as the Hellrazors was a United States Navy attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field , Florida , and were attached to Light Attack Wing One . It was commissioned from 1944 to 1988 . History . The unit has evolved several times throughout its history that dates back to 1944 . When it was established in March 1944 the unit was designated VB-81 flying the SB2C Helldiver . It was redesignated VA-13A on 15 November 1946 . The unit was redesignated VA-134 on 2 August 1948 flying F-4U Corsairs , and redesignated VF-174 on 15 February 1950 . The Hellrazors received their final designation VA-174 on 1 July 1966 after becoming the first US Navy squadron to receive the A-7A Corsair II . It was the second squadron to bear the VA-174 designation , the first VA-174 was disestablished on 25 January 1950 . The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1988 . The nickname Hell Razors was conceived by Walt Disney Studios , which also created the squadrons insignia , a caricature of an imaginary bat-like , razor-beaked creature from Hell , embodying the qualities of ferocity , determination , and a razor sharp skill in the use of aircraft and airborne weapons . World War II . VB-81 was established on 1 March 1944 and was deployed to the Pacific War aboard the aircraft carrier from November 1944 to February 1945 . Cold War ( 1946-1958 ) . VB-81 was redesignated VA-13A in November 1946 while the squadron was embarked on . In 1949 the squadron transferred to the East Coast . Arriving in Naval Air Station Jacksonville the squadron was redesignated to VA-134 and later VF-174 . Operating aboard the with Carrier Air Group Seventeen , VF-174 participated in operations Protex and Caribox from September 1950 to January 1951 . It returned to Jacksonville to transition to the F9F-6 Cougar and then made a short cruise to Guantanamo Bay in May and June 1951 aboard the . The Hellrazors were selected as the best fighter squadron in the Atlantic Fleet shortly before they embarked for a six-month Mediterranean Sea cruise in September 1951 aboard the . The squadron returned from the Mediterranean in February 1952 and participated in operations Mainbase and Long Step in July 1952 . In preparation for a globe-circling cruise , VF-174 deployed twice to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba for intensive gunnery training . Both time the squadron was cited for Outstanding Performance . After returning from their second Gitmo trip in early 1954 , the squadron moved to its present home at Naval Air Station Cecil Field and joined Carrier Air Group One . In late 1954 the became the first American carrier to visit the British port of Cape Town , South Africa . While in the Pacific the carrier operated with the Seventh Fleet near Formosa and VF-174 participated in the evacuation of the Tachen Island in December 1954 . Immediately after their return to Cecil Field in August 1955 , VF-174 transitioned to the FJ-3 FURY . The squadron operated with the new Furies for only a few months and then transitioned to the F9F-8 Cougar in early 1956 . With the new Cougars an attack syllabus was added to the normal fighter operations . Acting as both and attack and fighter squadron , the Hellrazors deployed to the Far East in October 1956 aboard the as a special weapons squadron with Air Task Group One Eighty One . The squadron returned to Cecil Field in May 1957 . In January 1958 , VF-174 transitioned to the F8U-1 Crusader and in March 1958 began training pilots in F8Us for Atlantic Fleet squadrons . Fleet Replacement Squadron ( 1958-1988 ) . On 1 May 1958 the squadron relinquished its seagoing role and was officially designated the Atlantic Fleet F8U replacement pilot training squadron . During the next eight years until 1 July 1966 , VF-174 excelled in all areas . The squadron evaluated the Mark IV Full Pressure Suit , the Delmar Missile and Gunnery Target System , and the two-seater TF-8A Crusader . The squadron assumed an all weather fighter capability with the arrival of the F8U-2N in November 1960 , and later trained French Navy Pilots in the plane . The squadron received the Aviation Safety Award in 1960 and again in 1962 , and the Delmar Target System Award for top efficiency in gunnery exercises in 1963 . VF-174 continued in this role until 1 July 1966 , when the squadron was redesignated Attack Squadron One Seven Four in preparation for its assignment to conduct the Fleet Introduction Program for the Navys newest light attack replacement pilots . The squadrons first A-7 Corsair II arrived on 13 October 1966 , flown by Cdr . D.S . Ross , the squadrons Commanding Officer . Vice Admiral C.T . Booth , Commander Naval Air Force , U.S . Atlantic Fleet , received the aircraft from Mr . W . Paul Thayer , president of Ling-Temco-Vought Aerospace , Inc . In January 1967 , the squadron assumed its new role of training light attack replacement pilots and completed training of the first Atlantic Fleet A-7A squadron VA-86 on 1 June 1967 . On September 1967 , VA-83 completed training and by 1 December 1967 , a third squadron , VA-37 , completed its transitioning . The squadron received its first A-7E in December 1969 , and transitioned the Atlantic Fleets first squadron VA-81 on 1 June 1970 . In addition to conducting squadron transition training , VA-174 continued to train all the replacement pilots and enlisted maintenance personnel who served in the Atlantic Fleet Light Attack Squadrons . As of 1 August 1971 , VA-174 had trained 535 pilots , 48 maintenance officers and 4815 enlisted maintenance personnel . VA-174 was the largest aviation squadron in the U.S . Navy . Commander John McCain was the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of VA-174 in the mid-1970s . The squadron also had a permanent West Coast detachment ( VA-174Det ) which had their own squadron patch . First located at MCAS Yuma and later relocated to NAF El Centro . They would provide live fire training for the student pilots at the local bomb ranges . First with Mk 76 and later Mk 82 and Mk 84 bombs . This detachment was called the Desert Rats and consisted of about 100 maintenance personnel . The West Coast detachment of aircraft would last for about two weeks . When the squadron was decommissioned many of the El Centro personnel were sent to man a new A-6 detachment that was sent to El Centro . The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1988 . There is currently a static display A-7A at NAF El Centro that bears the squadrons markings .