VA-216, nicknamed the Black Diamonds, was an Attack Squadron of the
US Navy. It was established on 30 March 1955, and disestablished 15 years later on 1 August 1970.[1]
1 Jul 1959: A reorganization by the Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific directed VA-216 and
VA-192 to swap aircraft and all personnel. Commander Baumgaertel, the commanding officer of VA-192, became the commanding officer of VA-216 and all other personnel assigned to VA-192 were reassigned to VA-216. The FJ-4Bs that had been assigned to VA-192 were transferred to VA-216. This exchange was similar to a redesignation, but for reasons that are not on record, it was officially directed as an "exchange" rather than as a "redesignation."
Mar 1961: VA-216, embarked in
USS Lexington, was ordered to operate off the coast of
Thailand as a result of the deteriorating position of
Laotian government forces against the
Pathet Lao. Units of Lexington's air group flew reconnaissance missions over
Laos.
May 1962: The squadron, along with other CVG-21 units embarked in Hancock, were prepared to support a
United States Marine Corps (USMC) unit that landed at
Bangkok,
Thailand and moved by air to
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Marine landing was at the request of the Thai government because of its concerns surrounding the success of
Pathet Lao forces along the Thai-Laotian border.
Nov 1963: Embarked in
USS Hancock, the squadron operated off the coast of
South Vietnam following the coup that overthrew President
Diệm.
29 Dec 1964–May 1965: VA-216 participated in
Yankee Team operations, armed reconnaissance flights over
Laos, and
Operation Barrel Roll, armed reconnaissance and strike missions in eastern
Laos covering the infiltration routes used by the Communists.
7 Feb 1965: VA-216 participated in
Operation Flaming Dart I, striking the military barracks at
Đồng Hới. These reprisal attacks against targets in North Vietnam were in response to the shelling of an American advisors compound at
Pleiku by the Viet Cong.
Mar 1966: Squadron aircraft participated in Operation Jackstay, providing close air support for the amphibious operations that cleared the
Rung Sat zone, the river channels, southeast of
Saigon.
1 May 1966: Lieutenant C. O. Tolbert was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during a combat mission over
North Vietnam involving the
Xom Dom Dien supply area and the sighting of a
SAM missile battery which was destroyed in a later mission.
7 Jul 1966: The squadron's commanding officer, Commander C. Birdwell, was awarded the
Silver Star for his actions in a strike against the
Haiphong POL storage area.
Jun 1970: VA-216, embarked in
USS Forrestal, operated in the Eastern Mediterranean after American hostages were taken by the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in
Amman, Jordan. The squadron, along with other units of CVW-17, were available also for air support during the evacuation of Americans from Jordan.[1]
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]
VA-216, nicknamed the Black Diamonds, was an Attack Squadron of the
US Navy. It was established on 30 March 1955, and disestablished 15 years later on 1 August 1970.[1]
1 Jul 1959: A reorganization by the Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific directed VA-216 and
VA-192 to swap aircraft and all personnel. Commander Baumgaertel, the commanding officer of VA-192, became the commanding officer of VA-216 and all other personnel assigned to VA-192 were reassigned to VA-216. The FJ-4Bs that had been assigned to VA-192 were transferred to VA-216. This exchange was similar to a redesignation, but for reasons that are not on record, it was officially directed as an "exchange" rather than as a "redesignation."
Mar 1961: VA-216, embarked in
USS Lexington, was ordered to operate off the coast of
Thailand as a result of the deteriorating position of
Laotian government forces against the
Pathet Lao. Units of Lexington's air group flew reconnaissance missions over
Laos.
May 1962: The squadron, along with other CVG-21 units embarked in Hancock, were prepared to support a
United States Marine Corps (USMC) unit that landed at
Bangkok,
Thailand and moved by air to
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Marine landing was at the request of the Thai government because of its concerns surrounding the success of
Pathet Lao forces along the Thai-Laotian border.
Nov 1963: Embarked in
USS Hancock, the squadron operated off the coast of
South Vietnam following the coup that overthrew President
Diệm.
29 Dec 1964–May 1965: VA-216 participated in
Yankee Team operations, armed reconnaissance flights over
Laos, and
Operation Barrel Roll, armed reconnaissance and strike missions in eastern
Laos covering the infiltration routes used by the Communists.
7 Feb 1965: VA-216 participated in
Operation Flaming Dart I, striking the military barracks at
Đồng Hới. These reprisal attacks against targets in North Vietnam were in response to the shelling of an American advisors compound at
Pleiku by the Viet Cong.
Mar 1966: Squadron aircraft participated in Operation Jackstay, providing close air support for the amphibious operations that cleared the
Rung Sat zone, the river channels, southeast of
Saigon.
1 May 1966: Lieutenant C. O. Tolbert was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during a combat mission over
North Vietnam involving the
Xom Dom Dien supply area and the sighting of a
SAM missile battery which was destroyed in a later mission.
7 Jul 1966: The squadron's commanding officer, Commander C. Birdwell, was awarded the
Silver Star for his actions in a strike against the
Haiphong POL storage area.
Jun 1970: VA-216, embarked in
USS Forrestal, operated in the Eastern Mediterranean after American hostages were taken by the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in
Amman, Jordan. The squadron, along with other units of CVW-17, were available also for air support during the evacuation of Americans from Jordan.[1]
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]