Attack Squadron 215 (VA-215) was established at NAS Moffett Field, California, on 22 June 1955 and operated as part of Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21, later Carrier Air Wing 21). The Barn Owls were equipped with AD-6 (later A-IH) Skyraiders and were later augmented with similar AD-7 (A-1j) versions. VA-215 moved to NAS Alameda, California, in December 1963.
VA-215 deployed nine times to the Western Pacific, on board the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), the USS Lexington (CVA-16), and the USS Hancock (CVA-19).
In 1958, VA-215 flew missions in the Formosa Strait after the Communist Chinese shelled the Quemoy Islands. In 1962, VA-215 operated off Vietnam when Marine Corps advisor units arrived in Vietnam and Thailand in response to Communist buildups. In 1963, the squadron again patrolled off the coast of Taiwan in response to tensions, and off South Vietnam following the coup that deposed President Ngo Dinh Diem.
VA-215's 1964-65 deployment on board the Hancock brought the squadron into combat in Laos and Vietnam. In December 1964, the Barn Owls began flying armed reconnaissance and strike missions in support of Operation Barrel Roll and Steel Tiger in Laos. In February 1965, VA-215 participated in the Flaming Dart retaliatory raids in North Vietnam and soon thereafter participated in the Rolling Thunder raids in North Vietnam. Losses were heavy: the Barn Owls lost four A-Is and three pilots to enemy action, and seven other aircraft suffered strike damage.
During the 1965-66 deployment, VA-215 supported Marines in clearing out the Rung Sat special zone southeast of Saigon in South Vietnam, and new armed reconnaissance and rescue combat air patrol missions. Three aircraft and two pilots were lost in action, including the commanding officer, Commander R.C. Hessom. VA-215's final war deployment returned it into intense combat in Vietnam in 1967. Two more pilots and aircraft were lost in action.
With the phase-out of the Skyraider imminent, VA-215 was disestablished on I August 1967. Its legacy was honored with the establishment in March 1968 of a second VA-215, flying the A-7 Corsair II.