In its 13 years of service. Fighter Squadron 54 (VF-54) spent much of its life flying attack aircraft. Known first as the Copperheads and after 1951 as Hell’s Angels, VF-54 gained fame in the skies over Korea and off the hostile coast of China.
The squadron was established on 26 March 1945 as VBF-153 at NAS Wildwood, New Jersey, initially equipped with F4U-1 Corsairs. In September, the squadron switched to the F6F-5 Hellcat. The Copperheads joined the Pacific Fleet in August 1946 and were redesignated VF-16A on 15 November. VF-16A deployed on board the Antietam (CV-36) in March 1947 for the squadron’s first of seven deployments to the Western Pacific.
In October 1947, VF-16A switched to F8F-1 Bearcats, and on 15 July 1948 were redesignated VF-152. After upgrading to the F8F-2 in May 1949, VF-152 switched to the F4U-4B Corsair in December. On 15 February 1950, the Copperheads were redesignated VF-54.
VF-54 deployed with Carrier Air Group 5 on board the Valley Forge (CV-45) in the Western Pacific when North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea in June 1950. The squadron entered combat for the first time on 3 July 1950, flying in the first strikes made by carrier aircraft during the Korean War. In September, VF-54’s Corsairs flew close air support missions for the U.N. forces landing at Inchon, South Korea. On board the Essex (CV-9), VF-54 flew the AD-1, -2, -3 versions of the Skyraider attack aircraft against the heavily defended railway bridges near Wonson, North Korea.
On 26 July 1954, long after the Korean armistice, VF-54 participated from the Philippine Sea (CVA-47) in a search mission for survivors of a British flag Cathay Pacific airliner shot down by Communist Chinese fighters. Jumped by Chinese fighters near Hainan Island, two VF-54 Skyraiders downed the two LA-7s.
On 15 June 1956, VF-54 was redesignated Attack Squadron 54 (VA-54). The Hell’s Angels made their last deployment in 1957, responding to the buildup of Chinese forces opposite Taiwan while on board the Hon Homme Richard (CVA-31) with AD-6, -7 Skyraiders. Entering the jet age in December 1957, VA-54 operated F9F-8B Cougars briefly before the squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1958.