VA-135 (U.S. Navy)

USS Princeton at anchor in Tsingtao, China in 1948. Her airgroup included only F8F-1 Bearcats (VF-131 and VF-132) and TBM-3E/-3Q Avengers (VA-15 and VA-135)

• 14 November 1944: The squadron’s first combat strike was conducted against Manila Harbor.
• 9–20 January 1945: The squadron was part of a task force that entered the South China Sea and conducted combat operations against Cam Ranh Bay; Hong Kong and Takao Harbor, Formosa.
• 16 February 1945: The squadron struck the home islands of Japan, flying a seven-plane attack against Hamamatuo Airfield on Honshu.
• 21 February 1945: The squadron participated in its first ground support mission, flying sorties over Iwo Jima.
• 1 March 1945: The squadron flew its last combat strike of the war. During the four months of combat operations from USS Wasp it did not lose any personnel due to enemy action (two personnel were lost due to operational accidents).
• 15–29 June 1946: The squadron embarked on USS Princeton and transited from Norfolk to San Diego via the Panama Canal.[1]

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:[1]

• Naval Air Station Quonset Point – 01 Mar 1944
• Naval Auxiliary Air Field Martha's Vineyard – 01 Mar 1944*
• Naval Auxiliary Air Field Boca Chica – 20 Apr 1944*
• Naval Auxiliary Air Field Otis – 10 May 1944*
• Naval Air Station San Diego – 10 Aug 1944*
• Naval Air Station Puʻunene – 01 Sep 1944*
• Naval Air Station Pasco – 13 May 1945*
• Naval Auxiliary Air Field Sanford – 31 Jul 1945*
• Naval Air Station Quonset Point – 15 Sep 1945
• Naval Air Station San Diego – Jun 1946
• Naval Air Station Jacksonville – 01 Apr 1949

* Temporary shore assignment while the squadron conducted training in preparation for combat deployment.

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:[1]

• TBF-1C Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBM-1 Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBF-1 Avenger – Mar 1944
• TBF-1C Avenger – Nov 1944
• TBM-1D Avenger – Nov 1944
• TBM-3 Avenger – May 1945
• TBM-3E Avenger – May 1945
• TBM-3Q Avenger – 1946
• AD-4 Skyraider – Sep 1949

• List of squadrons in the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons
• Second VA-135 (U.S. Navy)
• Attack aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.