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Scooters Forever (A-4 Skyhawk Tribute Thread)
- Thread starter ea6bflyr
- Start date
Just a ATAC Scooter from over at Fencecheck.com, landing Point Mugu.
Saints? What squadron? (West coast... east coast?) Remember I (we) lived a sheltered life in 44 at Cecil.
Steve
The "Saints" were VC-13, based at NAS Miramar.
Brownshoe,
Following up what Catmando said about the "Saints" being VC-13 at Miramar, this is from the Skyhawk.org website:
Following up what Catmando said about the "Saints" being VC-13 at Miramar, this is from the Skyhawk.org website:
- VFS-76 (Saints) and VFS-86 (Gators) were two NAS New Orleans, Louisiana, based squadrons tasked with the mission to provide fighter cover for the anti-submarine carriers. Previously flying early-model A-4 Skyhawks, the squadron transitioned to the F-8H in 1971.
- 01 SEP 1973:
VF-753 absorbed VSF-76 and VSF-86 and the conglomeration was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron Thirteen (VC-13) (Saints). - April, 1974
VC-13 transitioned to the A-4L Skyhawk. - February 1976
VC-13 was moved to N.A.S. Miramar.
"Saints"
Actually, during the Vietnam air war, the "Saints" were VA-163. Airwing 16 formed up on the East Coast just as the war was heating up & their A-4 Squadrons (VA-163 & VA-164) were then homebased out of NAS Lemoore. Between 1965 & 1969 they made 3 combat cruises on Oriskany and 1 on Hancock. While on Oriskany, they maintained their LANT FLT tail letters AH, then switched to Airwing 21 (tail letters NP) for their final combat cruise on HANCOCK.
BzB
Saints? What squadron? (West coast... east coast?) Remember I (we) lived a sheltered life in 44 at Cecil.
Steve
Actually, during the Vietnam air war, the "Saints" were VA-163. Airwing 16 formed up on the East Coast just as the war was heating up & their A-4 Squadrons (VA-163 & VA-164) were then homebased out of NAS Lemoore. Between 1965 & 1969 they made 3 combat cruises on Oriskany and 1 on Hancock. While on Oriskany, they maintained their LANT FLT tail letters AH, then switched to Airwing 21 (tail letters NP) for their final combat cruise on HANCOCK.
BzB
080809-N-3581D-048 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 9, 2008) A painting of the Stockdale Aircraft Memorial is presented to Mrs. Sybil Stockdale, widow of Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, during a ceremony near the main gate to Naval Air Station North Island. An A-4C Skyhawk attack aircraft outside the main gate honors Stockdale's memory as a Naval Aviator, Medal of Honor recipient and an American Prisoner of War during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maurice Dayao/Released)
061008-N-7899V-001 Coronado, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2006) - A Vietnam-era A-4 Skyhawk is displayed at the main entrance of the 2006 Coronado Classic Speed Festival. The festival, held Oct. 7-8, featured more than 225 of the world's top vintage racing machines competing for honors on a 1.6-mile race course built on the runways and taxiways of Naval Air Station North Island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Susan Van Veen (RELEASED)
050802-N-0295M-177 Patuxent River, Md. (Aug. 2, 2005) – A TA-4J Skyhawk attack trainer aircraft sits in front of the main administration building at the United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), on board Naval Air Station Patuxent River. USNTPS provides instruction to experienced pilots, flight officers, and engineers in the processes and techniques of aircraft and systems test and evaluation. The school investigates and develops new flight test techniques, publishes manuals for use of the aviation test community for standardization of flight test techniques and project reporting and conducts special projects. USNTPS operates approximately 50 aircraft of 13 types. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
040608-N-1281L-045 South Atlantic Ocean (Jun. 8, 2004) - An A-4 Skyhawk embarked on the Brazilian aircraft carrier BNS Sao Paulo (A12) performs a touch and go landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The U.S. Navy's newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and its crew are underway circumnavigating South America as they make their way to their new homeport San Diego, Calif., while participating in exercises supporting Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse 2004 is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class John S. Lill (RELEASED)
030423-N-2000D-004 Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2003) -- A plaque presented in honor of Commander John “Bug” Roach , hangs in a newly dedicated N78 conference room at the Pentagon in his name. Cmdr. John “Bug” Roach was a Navy pilot and Carrier Air Group (CAG) Landing Signals Officer (LSO), who achieved numerous milestones during his career before being killed when his aircraft engine and ejection seat failed leaving him unable to successfully egress from his A-4E “Skyhawk” in 1991. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Antoine Themistocleous. (RELEASED)
100303-N-2953W-133 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 3, 2010) Brazilian officers stand watch on the landing signal officer platform on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is hosting Brazilian navy officers in support of Southern Seas 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White/ Released)
coolhandlukesd
n00b
My question, has any one here that flew the A-4 ever use the JATO assist and if so what did it feel like?
I vaguely remember JATO bottles. Check in with Busybee604 and Rondebmar, both were A-4 drivers during Nam. PM them if they don’t respond to your post. (Tell them I sent Ya! Good luck with these two old farts.
)Steve
Jato
The JATO capability in A-4 Skyhawks was seldom used in Navy squadrons. It was mainly designed for ops in USMC squadrons, in areas where only short/rough runways might be available. In my 15 years flying A-4s, never made a JATO launch. No Marine ex-A-4 drivers on AW that I know of.
BzB, "Elderly Flatulent"
The JATO capability in A-4 Skyhawks was seldom used in Navy squadrons. It was mainly designed for ops in USMC squadrons, in areas where only short/rough runways might be available. In my 15 years flying A-4s, never made a JATO launch. No Marine ex-A-4 drivers on AW that I know of.
BzB, "Elderly Flatulent"