VA-215 (U.S. Navy)

VA-215, nicknamed the Barn Owls, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established 22 June 1955, and disestablished on 31 August 1967.

A second, unrelated, squadron later bore the VA-215 designation.

Significant events

 * Aug–Nov 1958: VA-215, operating from USS Lexington (CVA-16), conducted flight operations in the Formosa Straits due to the tension surrounding the Chinese Communist shelling of the Quemoy Islands.


 * 24 Mar 1959: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander P. Rippa, was killed on a training flight in Yosemite Valley.


 * Mar 1961: Lexington, with VA-215 embarked, operated 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.


 * 15 Apr 1962: Embarked in USS Hancock (CVA-19), the squadron operated off the coast of South Vietnam during the arrival of the first USMC advisor unit in the Republic of Vietnam.


 * May 1962: VA-215 and other CVG-21 squadrons from Hancock were prepared to support a U.S. Marine Corps unit that landed in Bangkok and moved by air to Udorn. 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.


 * Sep 1963: VA-215, embarked in Hancock, operated off the coast of Taiwan due to increased tensions between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China.


 * Nov 1963: VA-215, embarked in Hancock, operated off the coast of South Vietnam following the coup that overthrew President Diem.


 * Dec 1964: Squadron aircraft participated in its first Operation Barrell Roll, armed reconnaissance and strike missions along infiltration routes in Laos.


 * Feb 1965: Skyraiders from the squadron participated in Operation Flaming Dart, reprisal attacks against military targets in North Vietnam.


 * Mar–May 1965: The squadron’s Skyraiders participated in special operations in Southeast Asia, including the Rolling Thunder campaign, strikes against designated military targets in North Vietnam.


 * 5 Mar 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander R. C. Hessom, was killed in action during a mission over North Vietnam.


 * Mar 1966: Squadron aircraft participated in Operation Jackstay, providing close air support for amphibious operations that cleared the Rung Sat zone, the river channels, southeast of Saigon.

Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAS Moffett Field – Jun 1955
 * NAS Alameda –Dec 1963

Aircraft Assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
 * AD-6/AD-1H Skyraider – Aug 1955
 * AD-7/A1-J Skyraider – Jun 1961