Attack Squadron 174 ( United States 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 . 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 . The unit was redesignated ( VA - 134 ) on 2 August 1948 flying F - 4U Corsairs and 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 . The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1988 . The nickname " Hellrazors " was conceived by Walt Disney Studios , which also created the squadron ' s 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 . History . VB - 81 was redesignated VF - 13 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 VF - 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 F8U ' s for Atlantic Fleet squadrons . 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 Navy ' s newest light attack replacement pilots . The squadron ' s 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 Fleet ' s 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 was disestablished on 30 June 1988 . There is currently a static display A - 7A at NAF El Centro that bears the squadrons markings .