Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons
The Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons (DANAS) is a multivolume work published by Naval Historical Center of the U.S. Department of the Navy's Naval History & Heritage Command. It covers naval aviation in much the same way as the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) covers commissioned vessels.
Two volumes have been published to date: Volume 1, covering the history of attack and strike fighter squadrons, and Volume 2, covering the history of patrol squadrons. Other volumes are forthcoming.
The squadron histories are quite detailed, typically including sections on lineage, insignia and nickname, chronology of significant events, home port assignments, commanding officers, aircraft assigned, major overseas deployments, airwing assignments, and unit awards received.
DANAS volumes are available online and as PDF files on CD-ROM.
Publication data
Volume 1 (1995) includes about 140 histories and other data covering every squadron in the attack (VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, and VAP) and strike fighter (VFA) communities from the time the first of these commands was established in 1934, through the publication of this volume in 1995. There are seven appendixes, including such things as technical information and drawings for aircraft assigned to the squadrons covered, carrier deployments by year, and lineage listings for the squadrons. A glossary, bibliography, and index are also included. The information was compiled by Roy A. Grossnick, the head of the Naval Historical Center's Naval Aviation History Office.[1]
Volume 2 (2000) contains 154 histories covering every patrol squadron (VP, VPB, VP(H) and VP(AM)) in existence between 1922 and 2000. Fourteen appendixes cover technical information on patrol aircraft, submarines sunk by patrol squadrons, air-to-air claims for Navy and Marine Corps patrol aircraft during World War II, a listing of patrol squadron shore bases, etc. A glossary, bibliography, and index are also included.[2]
This book provides an opportunity to learn about the origins, achievements and traditions of patrol aviation as it relates to the naval heritage of the United States. It was written by professional historian and retired Navy Captain Michael D. Roberts.[2]
Subsequent volumes in the series will cover other components of U.S. naval aviation. In 2000, the staff of the History & Heritage Command's Aviation History Branch was in the early stages of work on Volume 3, containing the histories and lineage of all U.S. Navy fighter squadrons.[2]
Reference use
Because the DANAS is a work of the U.S. government, its content is in the public domain, and the text is often quoted verbatim in other works.
See also
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.
- Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1: The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
- Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2: The History of VP, VPB, VP(H) and VP(AM) Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
External links
- These are links to PDF files that are shorter and more manageable subsets of the complete volume:
- Table of Contents of DANAS Volume 1, with links to PDF files of individual chapters, appendixes and sections
- Title page, About the Author, Contents, Foreword, Preface and Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 The Evolution of Aircraft Class and Squadron Designation Systems
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-1E to VA-23
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-34 to VA-38
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-42 to VA-52
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-54 to VA-56
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-64 to VA-75
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-76 to VA-104
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-105 to VA-122
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-125 to VA-153
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-154 to VA-174
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-175 to VA-209
- Chapter 2 Attack Squadron Histories for VA-210 to VA-873
- Chapter 3 Heavy Attack Squadron Histories (VAH) VAH-8 to VAH-123
- Chapter 4 Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron Histories (VAK) VAK-208 to VAK-308
- Chapter 5 Light Attack Squadron History (VAL)
- Chapter 6 Heavy Photographic Squadron Histories (VAP) VAP-61 to VAP-62
- Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories for VFA-15 to VFA-81
- Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories for VFA-82 to VFA-106
- Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories for VFA-113 to VFA-147
- Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories for VFA-151 to VFA-195
- Chapter 7 Strike Fighter Squadron Histories for VFA-203 to VFA-305
- Appendix 1 Aircraft Data-Technical Information and Drawings, A-3 to AM
- Appendix 1 Aircraft Data-Technical Information and Drawings, BG to F9F (F-9)
- Appendix 1 Aircraft Data-Technical Information and Drawings, F/A-18 to TC-4C
- Appendix 2 Aircraft Carrier Listing for CV, CVB, CVA, CVAN, CVN, CVL, and CVE Designations
- Appendix 3 Carrier Deployments by Year (1946 to 1990)
- Appendix 4 U.S. Navy Squadron Designations and Abbreviations
- Appendix 5 How to Trace Squadron Lineage
- Appendix 6 Lineage Listing for VA, VA(AW), VAH, VA(HM), VAK, VAL, VAP, and VFA Designated Squadrons
- Appendix 7 Types of Aircraft Listed in the Squadron Histories
- These are links to PDF files that are shorter and more manageable subsets of the complete volume:
- Table of Contents of DANAS Volume 2, with links to PDF files of individual chapters, appendixes and sections
- Title page, About the Author, Contents, Foreword, Preface and Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Origins of Navy Patrol Aviation, 1911 to 1920s
- Chapter 2 Guidelines for Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage and Insignia
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (1st VP-1 to 2nd VP-4)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (2nd VP-5 to 2nd VP-8)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (2nd VP-9 to 3rd VP-17)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (3rd VP-18 to 1st VP-22)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (3rd VP-22 to 3rd VP-25)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories(2nd VP-26 to 1st VP-29)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (2nd VP-29 to 1st VP-40)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (2nd VP-40 to 3rd VP-45)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (VP-46 to 2nd VP-48)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (VP-49 to 3rd VP-61)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (1st VP-62 to VP-90)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (2nd VP-91 to VP-133)
- Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (VP-142 to VP-153)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-1 to VPB-16)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-17 to VPB-29)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-33 to VPB-54)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-61 to VPB-103)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-105 to VPB-118)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-121 to VPB-141)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-145 to VPB-203)
- Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-206 to VPB-216)
- Chapter 5 Heavy Patrol Squadrons (Landplane) (VP-HL) Histories
- Chapter 6 Amphibian Patrol Squadrons (VP-AM) Histories
- Appendix 1: Aircraft Data—Technical Information and Drawings – (DT to P3M1/2)
- Appendix 1: Aircraft Data—Technical Information and Drawings – (P4M Mercator to PV-2 Harpoon)
- Appendix 2: A Summary of Patrol Aircraft Ordnance Equipment
- Appendix 3: Submarines Sunk by Patrol Aircraft During World War II
- Appendix 4: Air to Air Claims and Credits for Navy and Marine Corps Patrol Type Aircraft During World War II
- Appendix 5: Seaplane Tender Listings
- Appendix 6: Patrol Squadron Shore Establishments
- Appendix 7: Lineage Listings for VP, VB, VPB, VP(HL), VP(ML), VP(MS), and VP(AM) Squadrons
- Appendix 8: Listing of Reserve VP Squadrons, February 1946 to January 1968
- Appendix 9: Medal of Honor Recipients for Patrol Aviation
- Appendix 10: Patrol Squadron Korean War Deployments
- Appendix 11: Patrol Squadron Vietnam Deployments (1964-1972)
- Appendix 12: Patrol Squadron Persian Gulf Deployments (1990-1991)
- Appendix 13: Organization and Deployment of Patrol Wings (Fleet Air Wings) 1918-Present
- Appendix 14: Reserve Patrol Squadron Call-Ups in the Post-WWII Period
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index of Patrol Squadron Histories and Aircraft Data