VA-304 (U.S. Navy)

VA-304, nicknamed the Firebirds, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy Reserve, based at NAS Alameda, California. It was established on 1 July 1970, and disestablished almost 25 years later, on 31 December 1994.

Significant events

 * 1 Jul 1970: VA-304, a reserve squadron, established as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. Elements of reserve unit, VA-20G3, were used to form the newly established VA-304.


 * May 1987: VA-304 operated from the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Alberta, while participating in exercise Rendezvous 87-Bold Warrior. The exercise was a mock full-scale battle between elements of the Canadian Armed Forces with VA-304 acting as an aggressor force.


 * Aug 1988: VA-304 was the first reserve squadron to receive and operate the A-6E Intruder.

Aircraft Assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
 * A-4C Skyhawk – Jul 1970
 * A-7A Corsair II – 06 Aug 1971
 * A-7B Corsair II – Sep 1977
 * A-7E Corsair II – Sep 1986
 * KA-6D Intruder – 22 Jul 1988
 * A-6E Intruder – 05 Aug 1988