THE FIST OF THE FLEET ASSOCIATION
PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF
VT-17 –
VA-6B – VA-65 – VA-25 – VFA-25
Historian: Scott Smith
Revised March
2007
All rights reserved
The Fist of the
Fleet Association is a non-profit group of present and former
members of the above Navy squadrons brought together by a common
bond of military service and mutual interest in preserving the
history and traditions of these squadrons.
Short History
The
squadron known as FIST OF THE FLEET is currently designated
VFA-25. This
squadron was originally established as Torpedo Squadron 17
(VT-17) on 1 January
1943, and made two WW-II carrier deployments flying
the TBF/TBM Avenger.
On
15 November
1946, VT-17 became VA-6B, flying SB2C Helldivers and
later AD-1 Skyraiders.
The squadron then became VA-65 on 27 April 1948.
In
August 1950, the squadron moved to the West Coast and joined Air
Group Two, making three carrier deployments during the Korean
War. VA-65 became
VA-25 on 1 July
1959, in a number swap with an East Coast squadron
in Air Group Six.
The
squadron made another three carrier deployments in
Vietnam
before retiring its faithful SPADs in April 1968. The squadron then
transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II and made three more carrier
deployments to
Vietnam.
The
squadron became VFA-25 on 1 July 1983 and began flying F/A-18
Hornets. This phase
of the squadron’s history is still in progress.
The
history and lineage of the present VFA-25 may be traced to
1 January
1943 because there was no break in active duty status
of the squadron even though its designation changed four
times.
“When it
mattered most and when the odds were longest, naval aviation
prevailed. And in
prevailing, it made a difference to the
United States of
America, and to the
world.” Robert Lawson & Barrett Tillman
Fist of the Fleet History
Pages
Early WORLD WAR II
(1940-1942)
