View source for List of Grumman A-6 Intruder operators

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The following were operators of the [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]]:
[[Image:Grumman A-6E Intruder of VA-75 lands on USS Enterprise (CVN-65) on 9 September 1996 (6507871).jpg|thumb|right|A-6 Intruder from [[Attack Squadron 75 (U.S. Navy)|VA-75]]]]
==Operators==
===United States Navy===
* [[Attack Squadron 34 (U.S. Navy)|VA-34]] &mdash; ''Blue Blasters.'' Established 1970. Redesignated VFA-34 in 1996, flying [[F/A-18C Hornet]]s.  Based at [[Naval Air Station Oceana]], [[Virginia]].
* [[Second VA-35 (U.S. Navy)|VA-35]] &mdash; ''Black Panthers.'' Callsign: "Raygun." Transitioned from the [[A-1 Skyraider]] in 1965.  Based at NAS Oceana. Was featured in the film ''[[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]]'' along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing 8 on board the {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}}. Disestablished 1995. An A-6 Intruder, Bureau number : 152603, from the squadron, is currently on display at the Richmond Municipal Airport in Richmond Indiana.
* [[Second VA-36 (U.S. Navy)|VA-36]] &mdash; ''Roadrunners.'' Callsign: "Heartless." Established 1987. Based at NAS Oceana. Disestablished 1994.
* [[Attack Squadron 42 (U.S. Navy)|VA-42]] &mdash; ''Green Pawns, Thunderbolts'' (from 1992). Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1963. Atlantic [[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] (FRS), i.e., A-6E training squadron. Also operated [[Grumman Gulfstream I|TC-4C Academe]] aircraft. Based at NAS Oceana. Disestablished 1994.
* [[VA-52 (U.S. Navy)|VA-52]] &mdash; ''Knight Riders.'' Callsign: "Viceroy. Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1967. Based at [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]]. Disestablished 1995.
* [[Second VA-55 (U.S. Navy)|VA-55]] &mdash; ''Warhorses.'' Established 1983. Based at NAS Oceana. Disestablished 1991.
* [[Attack Squadron 65 (U.S. Navy)|VA-65]] &mdash; ''World Famous Fighting Tigers.'' Callsigns: "Cupcake" and "Fighting Tiger." Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1965. Based at NAS Oceana.  Disestablished 1993.
* [[Attack Squadron 75 (United States Navy)|VA-75]] &mdash; ''World Famous Sunday Punchers.'' Callsign: "Flying Ace." Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1963. First operational Intruder squadron. Based at NAS Oceana. Last operational Intruder squadron. Disestablished 1997.
* [[Second VA-85 (U.S. Navy)|VA-85]] &mdash; ''Black Falcons.'' Callsign: "Buckeye." Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1964. Based at NAS Oceana. Disestablished 1994.
* [[Third VA-95 (U.S. Navy)|VA-95]] &mdash; ''Green Lizards.'' Previously an A-1 Skyraider squadron that transitioned to [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk|A-4 Skyhawks]] and was later disestablished in 1970. Reestablished as an A-6 squadron in 1972. Based at NAS Whidbey Island. Last Vietnam-era A-6 squadron to be established. Significant engagements included [[Operation Frequent Wind]] (Saigon evacuation), the [[Mayaguez Incident]], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035553/http://www.95thallweatherattack.com/operation-praying-mantis/operation-praying-mantis.html Operation Praying Mantis] (actions against [[Iran]]ian naval units, including the sinking of the Iranian frigate ''Sahand'', the largest ship to be sunk by this aircraft type) [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027132536/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/7316/greenlizard.html].  Disestablished 1995.
* [[Attack Squadron 115 (U.S. Navy)|VA-115]] &mdash; ''Arabs, Eagles'' (from 1979). Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider. Disestablished in 1967. Reestablished as an A-6 squadron in 1970. Redesignated VFA-115 in 1996, flying [[F/A-18E Super Hornet]]s, introducing this model into combat during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in 2003.  Initially based at NAS Whidbey Island, then forward-deployed at [[Naval Air Facility Atsugi]], [[Japan]] from 1973 until redesignation. Reassigned to new home base of [[Naval Air Station Lemoore]], California in October 1996. Reassigned to previous home base of NAF Atsugi in December 2009.
* [[VAH-123]] &mdash; ''Pros.'' Established 1957.  Based at NAS Whidbey Island.  The ''Pros'' were the Pacific Fleet's FRS for the [[Douglas A-3 Skywarrior|A-3 Skywarrior]] and provided FRS services for the Pacific Fleet A-6 community for about one year until the establishment of VA-128 in 1967. Disestablished 1971.
* [[VA-128 (U.S. Navy)|VA-128]] &mdash; ''Golden Intruders.'' Callsign: (early)"Goldplate" (later) "Phoenix."  Established from a detachment of VAH-123 in 1967. Pacific FRS. Based at NAS Whidbey Island. VA-128's insigia and traditions were later adopted by VAQ-128, established 1997 (since disestablished) flying the [[EA-6B Prowler]]. VA-128 disestablished 1995.
* [[Attack Squadron 145 (U.S. Navy)|VA-145]] &mdash; ''Swordsmen.'' Callsigns: "Electron," later "Rustler." Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1968. Home based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA.  Disestablished 1993.
* [[Third VA-155 (U.S. Navy)|VA-155]] &mdash; ''Silver Foxes.'' Callsign(s): Stateside callsign: "Vixen" / Deployment callsign: "Jackal". Reason for difference was flight safety/deconfliction by local NAS Whidbey Island Approach Control and NAS Whidbey Island Air Traffic Control Tower in order to avoid confusion with VAQ-138 "Jacket" callsign, this despite the similarities between "Vixen" and "Phoenix" (VA-128 Callsign). Established 1987. Based at NAS Whidbey Island. Disestablished 1993.
* [[Attack Squadron 165 (U.S. Navy)|VA-165]] &mdash; ''Boomers.'' Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1967. Based at NAS Whidbey Island. Unit that filmed the inflight, flight deck, and hangar deck scenes for film ''[[Flight of the Intruder]]''. Disestablished 1996.
* [[Attack Squadron 176 (U.S. Navy)|VA-176]] &mdash; ''Thunderbolts.'' Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1969. Based at NAS Oceana. Only A-6 Squadron in history to win 3 consecutive Battle "E" awards.  Disestablished 1992.
* [[VA-185 (U.S. Navy)|VA-185]] &mdash; ''Nighthawks.'' Established 1986.  Initially based at NAS Whidbey Island, then within a year forward-deployed to NAF Atsugi, Japan until disestablishment. A-6 squadron with the shortest history. Disestablished 1991.
* [[Attack Squadron 196 (U.S. Navy)|VA-196]] &mdash; ''Main Battery.'' Callsign: "Milestone."  Transitioned from the A-1 Skyraider in 1966. Based at NAS Whidbey Island. Squadron featured in the film ''Flight of the Intruder''. Last Pacific Fleet squadron to operate the Intruder. Disestablished 1997.
* [[VA-205 (U.S. Navy)|VA-205]] &mdash; ''Green Falcons.'' Established 1970, transitioned from the [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|A-7E Corsair II]] in 1990. Atlantic Fleet [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Air Reserve]] squadron, based at [[Naval Air Station Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Flew A-6Es and KA-6Ds. Disestablished 1995.
* [[VA-304 (U.S. Navy)|VA-304]] &mdash; ''Firebirds.'' Established 1970, transitioned from the A-7E Corsair II in 1988. Pacific Fleet Naval Air Reserve squadron, based at [[Naval Air Station Alameda]], [[California]]. Flew A-6Es and KA-6Ds. Shares the same name (''Firebirds'') with VAQ-33. Disestablished 1994.
* [[VAQ-33]] &mdash; ''Firebirds.'' Redesignated from VAW-33 in 1968. Initially based at [[Naval Air Station Norfolk]], Virginia and NAS Oceana, until 1980, then to [[Naval Air Station Key West]], [[Florida]] until disestablishment. Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 33 provided the U.S. Navy with training by simulating the electronic signatures of Soviet aircraft. Flew EA-6A Intruder version only, in addition to other aircraft types. Shares the same name (''Firebirds'') with VA-304. [[Kara Spears Hultgreen|LT Kara Hultgreen]] flew EA-6As in this squadron prior to becoming the Navy's first fully qualified female [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]] combat pilot. Disestablished 1993.
* [[VX-9|VX-5]] &mdash; ''Vampires.'' Established 1951.  Based at [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]], California. Merged with [[VX-4]] ''Evaluators'' in 1993 to become [[VX-9]] ''Vampires''. Retired last A-6E in 1996.
* [[VX-31]] &mdash; ''Dust Devils.'' Formerly “Weapons Test Squadron”.  Based at [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]], California. Retired last two A-6E’s operating in Naval Service in 1997 after all other squadron Aircraft had been retired.
* Naval Strike Warfare Center &mdash; ''Strike U.'' Established 1984. Based at [[Naval Air Station Fallon]], Nevada. Merged with [[Navy Fighter Weapons School]] ([[TOPGUN]]) and [[Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS)]] (TOPDOME) in 1996 to create [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]] (NSAWC). Retired last A-6E in 1995.
* [[Pacific Missile Test Center]] (PMTC) Based at [[Naval Air Station Point Mugu|NAS Point Mugu]].
===United States Marine Corps===
* [[VMA(AW)-121]] &mdash; ''Green Knights.''  Since redesignated as VMFA(AW)-121 flying the F/A-18D and now as VMFA-121 flying the [[F-35B]].
* [[VMA(AW)-224]] &mdash; ''Bengals.'' (Formerly called ''Vultures'' during Vietnam)  Since redesignated as VMFA(AW)-224 flying the F/A-18D Hornet.
* [[VMA(AW)-225]] &mdash; ''Vagabonds,'' later ''Vikings.'' Decommissioned after Vietnam and later recommissioned and redesignated as VMFA(AW)-225 flying the F/A-18D Hornet.
* [[VMA(AW)-242]] &mdash; ''Batmen (in Vietnam era, later known as the "Bats").''  Since redesignated as VMFA(AW)-242 flying the F/A-18D Hornet.
* [[VMA(AW)-332]] &mdash; ''Moonlighters.'' (AKA ''Polkadots'') Last Marine Corps unit to fly the A-6E Intruder. Since redesignated as VMFA(AW)-332. Flew the F/A-18D Hornet until placed in cadre status in 2007.
* [[VMA(AW)-533]] &mdash; ''Hawks.''  Since redesignated as VMFA(AW)-533 flying the F/A-18D Hornet.
* [[VMAT(AW)-202]] &mdash; ''Double Eagles'' Marine Corps A-6E Intruder Fleet Replacement Squadron (deactivated).
In the 1990s, all Marine A-6E squadrons, except VMAT(AW)-202, were re-equipped with F/A-18D 'Night Attack' Hornet (including their recon-capable sub-version wired for ATARS) and re-designated to VMFA(AW). Due to the shortage of F/A-18D airframes in 2007 VMFA(AW)-332 was reduced to a "cadre status".
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/a-6-specs.htm A-6 Specifications and deployments from www.globalsecurity.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060808194753/http://www.intruderassociation.org/navy_squadrons.htm www.intruderassociation.org list of squadrons]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150106013203/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm Naval aviation squadron lineages from the US Navy Historical Center]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/newbackissues.htm Naval Aviation News]
==External links==
* [http://www.GreenLizards.org/index.html VA-95 Green Lizards]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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[[Category:Lists of military units and formations by aircraft]]
[[Category:Lists of Grumman aircraft operators|A-6 Intruder]]