The squadron flew during the Vietnam War and was on board the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in 1967 when a fatal fire broke out on the flight deck killing 134 sailors.

[citation needed] Attack Squadron 46 was formed at Naval Air Station Cecil Field on 24 May 1955 flying F9F-5 Grumman Panther.

[1] They departed the United States for their first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea on 14 July 1956, aboard USS Randolph with F9F-8 Grumman Cougar.

In October and November 1956 the squadron, along with other units of ATG-202, provided air support for the evacuation of foreign nationals from Alexandria, Egypt during the Suez Crisis.

[1] In August 1965, VA-46 was on board USS Shangri-La and operated off the coast of Cyprus in response to a crisis in that country between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Heroic efforts by VA-46 personnel, along with other members of Carrier Air Wing 17 and ship's company, brought the fires under control.

[2] On 17 September 1970, while en route to the Caribbean for training exercises on board USS John F. Kennedy, they received emergency orders to deploy immediately to the Mediterranean due to the hijacking of four airliners by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.