Bigford, Rufus, ATCS

First VA-34 

Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 7 August 1948
Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FIVE (VA-35) on 15 February 1950

Second VA-34

Established as Fighter Squadron TWENTY (VF-20) on 15 October 1943
Re-designated Fighter Squadron Nine A (VF-9A) on 15 November 1946
Re-designated Fighter Squadron NINTY ONE (VF-91) on 12 August 1948
Re-designated Fighter Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VF-34) on 15 February 1950

Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 1 July 1955
Disestablished on 1 June 1969

Third VA-34

 Established as Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 1 January 1970

 VA-34 adopted the insignia and Blue Blasters nickname used by the previous VA-34 squadron (the second VA-34). Colors for the insignia are as follows: blue diamond background outlined in black, red stylized wings outlined in blue and white, black and white machine gun in the shape of a cigarette, with a yellow ammunition belt and red bullets, white skull and skeleton with black markings and outline, red teeth, and red markings on the paddles (eyes).

·         January 1, 1970:

Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) Blue Blasters re-established at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

·         April 1970:
VA-34 was assigned the Grumman A-6A Intruder.

·         September 14, 1970 to March 1, 1971:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 3 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Caribbean/Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.

·         September 14, 1970:
VA-34 boarded the United States Ship Kennedy CVA 67 for its Operational Readiness Inspection prior to its scheduled November deployment to the Mediterranean. While sailing to the Caribbean, the Kennedy and VA-34 were ordered to deploy to the Mediterranean after Syria invaded Jordan.

·         December 1, 1971 to October 6, 1972:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B/C Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.

·         September 1972:
A VA-34 A-6 Intruder conducted cross-decking operations on HMS Ark Royal while operating in the Norwegian Sea.

·         April 16, 1973 to December 1, 1973:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B/C Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.

·         October through November 1973:
During the Yon Kippur War VA-34 and United States Ship Kennedy departed the Norwegian Sea and reentered the Mediterranean, conducting surveillance operations south of Crete.

·         June 28, 1975 to January 27, 1976:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         September 2, 1976 to November 9, 1976:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a NorLant cruise.

·         January 15, 1977 to August 1, 1977:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         June 29, 1978 to February 8, 1979:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         August 4, 1980 to March 28, 1981:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         August 23, 1982 to October 30, 1982:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a NorLant/Mediterranean/Caribbean cruise.

·         September through October 1982:
During the deployment to the North Atlantic, United States Ship America CV 66, was diverted to the Mediterranean due to the continuing crisis in Lebanon.

·         December 8, 1982 to June 2, 1983:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Mediterranean/IO cruise.

·         January and May 1983:
While in the Eastern Mediterranean VA-34 conducted air operations from United States Ship America in support of the multinational peace-keeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon.

·         April 24, 1984 to November 14, 1984:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Caribbean/Mediterranean/IO cruise.

·         August 24, 1985 to November 9, 1985:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a NorLant cruise.

·         March 10, 1986 to September 10, 1986:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         March 24, 1986:
Libyan missiles were fired at United States Navy forces operating in the Gulf of Sidra. As a result retaliatory strikes were initiated against Libya by the American naval forces. VA-34's A-6E Intruders, operating from United States Ship America, attacked and damaged a Libyan Combattante II G-class fast attack missile craft with a Harpoon missile. A follow-up attack by VA-85 aircraft with Rockeye bombs resulted in the sinking of the Combattante II. The Harpoon firing was the first use of this missile in combat and the squadron's first combat action since its re-establishment in 1970.

·         April 14, 1986:
Due to continued Libyan sponsorship of terrorist activity the United States initiated Operation Eldorado Canyon. VA-34 participated in this operation with its A-6Es, conducting a night, low level high speed attack against terrorists targets at the Benina airfield and military barracks in Banghazi, Libya.

·         February 29, 1988 to August 29, 1988:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 7 embarked in United States Ship Eisenhower CVN-69 on a Mediterranean cruise.

·         March 8, 1990 to September 12, 1990:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 7 embarked in United States Ship Eisenhower CVN-69 on a Mediterranean/Red Sea cruise.

·         August 1990:
The squadron flew missions in support of Operation Desert Shield, the build up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait.

·         September 1990:
The squadron returned to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

·         September 1991 to April 2, 1992:
The Blue Blasters deployed to Southwest Asia. The squadron participated in North Star.

·         May to November 1994:
The Blue Blasters' deployed in United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON CVN 73 for her maiden cruise. In June, the Blasters performed a "missing man" formation over Omaha Beach to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day.

·         1994 and 1995:
The Blue Blasters were awarded the Commander, Naval Air Force, United States Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" for 1994 and 1995.

·         1995:
VA-34 operated over Bosnia and Southern Iraq. Operational sorties were flown in both theaters enforcing United Nations mandates. Missions included Close Air Support over the former Yugoslavia, working closely with multi-national Forward Air Controllers and UN forces on the ground, and strike familiarization missions to targets below the 32nd parallel in Iraq.

·         January to September 1996:
The Blue Blasters had their last deployment flying the venerable A-6E Intruder aboard United States Ship George Washington CVN 73. VA-34 flew in support of Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR over Bosnia Herzegovina and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH over Iraq