Glossary of Web Site Terms

A-7E Corsair II

The A-7 was a carrier-based, subsonic attack (fighter bomber) aircraft, intended to replace the U.S. Navy's A-4 Skyhawk. It was designed, built, and entered into service during the Vietnam War.

CVA-62 (USS Independence)

A Forrestal-class U.S. naval aircraft carrier that was first launched in June 1958. In May 1965, the CVA-62 deployed for over seven months, 100 days of which was off the coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea.

CVA-63 (USS Kitty Hawk)

The USS Kitty Hawk is a supercarrier and was the last conventionally-fueled aircraft carrier in service with the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in 1961, it holds the title of the second longest active status carrier in U.S. Naval history.

CVS-38

Commissioned in 1944, The USS Shangri-La (CV-38) was an Essex-class U.S. naval aircraft carrier. Strangely, the name was given by President Roosevelt, when he cunningly told a newpaper report that the 1942 Doolittle Raid had come from "Shangri-La", a reference to James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. The Shangri-La was involved in many campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. The carrier was decommissioned after the war but redesigned in the 1950's into an attack carrier (CVA) and as an anti-submarine designation carrier (CVS) performed as a CVA during the Vietnam War.

CVN-65 (USS Enterprise)

The USS Enterprise is the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier and is the longest of its kind.

C-118

The C-118 (photo) was a four-prop, personnel carrier aircraft similar to the Douglas DC-6 commercial airliner and was also known as the R6D (U.S. Navy Service). In 1947, USAAF ordered 166 C-118 aircraft to support operations of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS).

T-2B

The twin-engine T-2B "Buckeye" (photo) jet aircraft entered service in May 1965. It was utilized (primarily) as a basic jet training aircraft .

VAW-12

Established in 1948 as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron at NAS Norfolk, VA. From 1956 to 1966 two aircraft played a role in the squadron, the AD Skyraider "Guppy" (photo) and the WF-2 Tracer "Willie Fudd" (photo) In 1967, VAW-12 was reorganized as an air wing.

VA-12

A U.S. Navy Squadron established in 1955 and dissolved in 1986. Motto for the squadron was "Kiss of Death" with striking VA-12 insignia. During its colorful history, the squadron had played an important role in a number of key world events. In 1960, VA-12, as part of a larger air wing, played a part in counter Cuban expansion efforts. Between 1966 and 1971, VA-12 saw combat during the Vietnam War.

VA-192

Attack Squadron 192 has a long history beginning, as early, as the 1940s. Nicknamed the "Golden Dragons" (photo), the VA-192 deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during the 1970s.