VA-56 (U.S. Navy)

Attack Squadron 56
VA-56 squadron patch
Active	4 June 1956-31 August 1986
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Attack aircraft
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Boomerangs Champions
Engagements	Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Attack	F9F Panther F9F Cougar FJ-4 Fury A-4 Skyhawk A-7 Corsair II

VA-56 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 4 June 1956, and disestablished thirty years later, on 31 August 1986. The squadron's nickname was the Boomerangs from 1957 to 1958, and the Champions thereafter.

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

* Under the Overseas Home Port Program, VA-56 and CVW-5 were permanently based aboard Midway and home ported with her at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan. The home port was officially changed on 30 June 1973. However, Midway did not arrive in Japan until 5 October. Elements of VA-56, when not operating from Midway, were based ashore at NAF Atsugi or Misawa, Japan.

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:

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