Second VA-35 (U.S. Navy)

A Vought SB2U-2 Vindicator dive bomber from VB-4 at Oakland, California in 1940. Note the diving black panther insignia on the side. (Click the photo to enlarge it)

Second VA-35, nicknamed the Black Panthers, was a long-lived Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was the second squadron to be assigned the VA-35 designation.

History

The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron VB-3B at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, on 1 July 1934. It was subsequently redesignated VB-4 on 1 July 1937, as VA-3A on 15 November 1946, and as VA-34 on 7 August 1948. It was finally designated VA-35 on 15 February 1950 (the previous VA-35 had been disestablished on 7 November 1949). The diving black panther design first appeared in mid-1935, and was carried on through the various redesignations of the squadron.[1] VA-35 was disestablished on January 31, 1995 after over 60 years of continuous service.[2]

Significant events

With the Soryu in flames, the other VB-3 SBDs directed their attack against other targets. They attacked a destroyer, the Isokaze, making one hit on her fantail and “what appeared to be a battleship,” claiming a hit on her stern. All 17 SBDs from VB-3 escaped the attack without a hit and returned to Yorktown. Prior to landing on the carrier, they were directed to leave the area due to incoming enemy aircraft. All VB-3’s SBDs landed on Enterprise except for Lieutenant Commander Leslie and his wingman, Lieutenant (jg) Holmberg. These two men, low on fuel, ditched their aircraft alongside the cruiser Astoria and were picked up by the ship’s motor whaleboat.
The battle was still not over for VB-3. In late afternoon, 14 of VB-3’s SBDs were launched from Enterprise as part of a strike group ordered to attack the fourth Japanese carrier, Hiryu. Lieutenant Shumway was in charge of VB-3’s formation. The strike force located Hiryu and again caught a Japanese carrier in the vulnerable position of having armed and fueled planes on deck. Direct hits from Shumway’s SBD’s resulted in a torched Hiryu and her eventual sinking. Several of VB-3’s aircraft suffered heavy damage from attacking Japanese aircraft. However, all but two of VB-3’s aircraft returned to Enterprise. Seventeen of VB-3’s pilots received the Navy Cross for their action during the Battle of Midway, they were Ensigns Benson, Butler, Campbell, Cobb, Cooner, Elder, Hanson, Isaman, Lane, Merrill and Schoegel; Lieutenant (jg)s Holmberg, Sherwood and Wiseman; Lieutenants Bottomley and Shumway; and Lieutenant Commander Leslie.
Grumman KA-6D Intruder of VA-35 aboard USS Nimitz CVN-68 during a visit to Scotland in 1975. The Black Panther marking is displayed on the fin

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]

* Temporary shore base assignment during World War II.

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft in the months shown:[1]

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 2: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-34 to VA-38 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  2. ↑ "VA-35 Black Panthers". The Intruder Association. Retrieved 2014-02-09.