the squadron flew ad-6 skyraiders, and its mission was all-weather attack, including special (nuclear) weapons delivery. in april 1957, while deployed to the mediterranean aboard , it operated off the coast of lebanon during the jordanian crisis. on 18 december 1957, va-16 conducted the first air-to-air refueling by an operational ad skyraider squadron using the buddy store. the refueling took place over nas oceana and the squadron’s ad-6 refueled an f9f-8. on 9 january 1958, the squadron conducted the first carrier-based ad skyraider in-flight refueling while operating from .