[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 ANNIVERSARY OF NAVY ATTACK SQUADRON 35

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is an honor for me to rise 
today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the oldest attack squadron 
in the U.S. Navy--Attack Squadron 35 [VA-35]--and to pay tribute to the 
many officers and enlisted personnel, as well as their families, who 
have served in and supported this historic squadron over the past 60 
years.
  This month, VA-35, known as the Black Panther Squadron, will 
celebrate their 60th year as a Navy, carrier-based aircraft squadron. 
Over the past 60 years, the Panthers have operated 19 different 
aircraft models and flown from the decks of 29 aircraft carriers, 
including a British carrier.
  VA-35's distinguished record reads like the history of U.S. Navy 
carrier aviation and modern air warfare. VA-35 was commissioned on July 
1, 1934, at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA. Their first aircraft 
was the Martin BM-1/2, 
followed in October 1934 when they were assigned the Great Lakes BG-1 
and operated from the Navy's first aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. 
Langley. Since commissioning in 1934, VA-35 has participated in most 
military actions involving the use of air power this country has been 
involved in.
  During World War II, VA-35 was embarked in U.S.S. Saratoga, U.S.S. 
Enterprise, and U.S.S. Yorktown. In 1942, operating from Saratoga, the 
squadron supported the Doolittle raid on Tokyo by providing escort 
patrols and search and rescue aircraft. In June 1942, operating from 
Yorktown and flying the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, VA-35 participated in 
the greatest naval battle of all time, the Battle of Midway. Although 
their parent carrier, Yorktown, was lost in the battle, the squadron 
was still able to conduct air strikes against two of the Japanese 
carriers. Later in World War II, flying the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, the 
squadron supported Marine amphibious landings at Guadalcanal, and 
participated in numerous major air campaigns, including air strikes 
against Manila Bay, Iwo Jima, Luzon, and Leyte.
  During the Korean war, operating from the carrier U.S.S. Leyte and 
flying the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, the Panthers provided air strikes, 
close air support, and armed reconnaissance missions against North 
Korean troops and equipment. In 1958, VA-35 again participated in 
military actions, this time in Lebanon, followed in 1962, by a 
deployment in support of Navy operations during the Cuban missile 
crisis.
  In December 1965, VA-35 was one of the first Navy squadrons to make 
the transition to the Grumman A-6 Intruder. This unique two-place 
aircraft (pilot and bombardier/navigator) provided the carrier battle 
group with a superior long-range, night/all-weather medium attack 
bomber. In November 1966, VA-35 embarked in the first nuclear-powered 
aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise, made the first of what was to be 
four combat deployments to Southeast Asia, including participation in 
the last air campaign against North Vietnam in late 1972 and early 
1973.

  Mr. President, this final air campaign, Operation Linebacker 2, 
resulted in the release of our POW's including our distinguished 
colleague from Arizona, Senator John McCain, who as a Navy pilot was 
shot down in October 1967, and was a POW for 5\1/2\ years. As Secretary 
of the Navy during 1972, I had the privilege to observe firsthand VA-35 
which included participation in Linebacker II operations as well as the 
other squadrons of Carrier Airwing 8 aboard the carrier U.S.S. America.
  Mr. President, I spent most of the Christmas holidays aboard America 
in the Tonkin Gulf, and was able to follow the difficult missions 
assigned to VA-35 which included participation in the remining of 
Haiphong Harbor and nightly, low-level bombing attacks against a 
variety of heavily defended targets in North Vietnam.
  In 1980, deployed aboard U.S.S. Nimitz, the Panthers became the first 
operational A-6 Squadron to deploy with the forward looking infrared 
radar and laser equipped A-6 TRAM configured aircraft. Responding to 
the hostage crisis in Iran, the Nimitz left the Mediterranean for the 
Indian Ocean where they would eventually spend 144 continuous days at 
sea.
  When Operation Desert Shield began in August 1992, VA-35 was assigned 
to U.S.S. Saratoga and soon arrived on station in the Middle East. 
Before Operation Desert Storm ended in the spring of 1991, the 
Panthers, now flying the latest version of the Intruder, would be the 
first United States aircraft to attack Iraqi targets and would complete 
nearly 400 air combat missions.
  As VA-35 approached its 60th anniversary in 1994, the squadron was at 
sea again, deployed to the Mediterranean on U.S.S. Saratoga. This 
deployment had special significance beyond the 60th anniversary, since 
it would be the last deployment for VA-35 beyond the 60th anniversary, 
since it would be the last deployment for VA-35 flying the venerable A-
6 Intruder and the twilight cruise for Saratoga. Not resting on its 
many laurels during this anniversary deployment, the squadron 
participated in United States efforts in support of Bosnia-Herzegovina. 
In this and other important operational missions during the deployment, 
VA-35 aircrews logged over 1,400 sorties, 2,700 flight hours, and 
completed 1,400 carrier landings, 450 of which were at night.
  Mr. President, no tribute to VA-35 on its 60th anniversary would be 
complete without a special salute to perhaps the most important part of 
the VA-35 team--the wives and families. Their contributions have been 
the greatest. I believe it is fitting and most appropriate that, as we 
honor the 60th anniversary of VA-35, we recognize and emphasize the 
unique contributions made by the wives and families.
  So Mr. President, I will conclude this tribute by saying that the 
officers and enlisted personnel of Attack Squadron 35--past and 
present--have very much to be proud of on this, their 60th anniversary. 
I ask my Senate colleagues to join me today in honoring them and their 
families, and in thanking them for their dedication, contributions, as 
well as their sacrifices, in service to their country.

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