Argentinian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina)
Grupo 4 and Grupo 5 Skyhawk Escuadrones
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Patch
- First two patches from Maximiliano Guillen
- Douglas A-4AR Fighting Hawk patch from Tango.
- Argentine Air Force Escuadron III Grupo 5 patch drawn by Bud Southworth.
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Handle
Heritage
- 10 AUG 1912:
Argentine President Roque Saenz Peña created the Argentine Army Air Force. President Peña also created the EAM Escuela de Aviacion Militar (School of Military Aviation) its first director was Coronel Arenales Antonio Uriburu. Argentine Air Force designations during the Argentine Army Air Force phase include:
- 1920:
Servicio Aeronáutico del Ejército (Army Aeronautics Service)
- 1927:
Dirección General de Aeronáutica (Aeronautics Directorate)
- JUL 1936:
División Aérea Nº 1 (No. 1 Air Division, in charge of operations) and Dirección General del Material Aeronáutico (Aeronautical Material Directorate, in charge of logistics)
- DEC 1936:
Comando de las Fuezas Aéreas del Ejército (Army Air Forces Command)
- 1938:
Comando de Aviación del Ejército (Army Aviation Command)
- 1944:
Comando en Jefe de Aeronáutica (Aeronautics Command)
- 04 JAN 1945:
The Argentine President created, at the ministry-level, the Secretaría de Aeronáutica (Bureau of Aeronautics). The Secretaría de Aeronáutica was created to deal with all Argentine military and civil aviation matters excluding naval aviation affairs and assets. Reorganizations:
- 1947:
Secretaría de Aeronáutica (Secretary of Aeronautics) become the Ministerio de Aeronáutica (Ministry of Aeronautics).
- 1957:
Ministerio de Aeronáutica (Ministry of Aeronautics) become the Secretaría de Estado de Aeronáutica (State Secretary for Aeronautics, SEA).
- 1967:
Secretaría de Estado de Aeronáutica (State Secretary for Aeronautics, SEA) was reorganized into the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry's main component was Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA), which absorbed and consolidated SEA departments and other commands.
- 30 JUN 1971:
The Secretaría de Aeronáutica was renamed as Fuerza Aerea Argentina (FAA) - the Argentine Air Force.
- 1983: Group 4 transfers its Skyhawks to Group 5.
- 1994:
The 1983 United States aircraft sale embargo was lifted and Argentina ordered
thirty-six surplus A-4Ms with additional surplus J-52 engines, 20mm cannon ammunition,
and various training and support equipment from the United States. The refurbished A-4M
Skyhawks were renamed the A-4AR Fighting Hawk.
- 1995:
Lockheed Martin refurbished the first eight A-4M Skyhawks in the United States.
The remaining twenty-eight aircraft were modified at a Lockheed Martin facility
in Argentina. In the future Argentina plans to purchase eighteen TA-4J
Skyhawks from the United States.
- 31 MAY 2000:
The Argentine Air Force A-4M / A-4AR Skyhawk refurbishment and upgrade program
was completed. All thirty-six A-4AR Skyhawks are flying at Villa Reynolds
Argentine Air Force Base. Advanced flight training is being conducted
by utilizing former United States Navy Skyhawk flight instructors.
- 2007:
Group 5 Squadrons I and II continue to operate the A-4AR Skyhawk.
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Home Ports
- 1965: Coronel Pringles, Villa Reynolds - San Luis, Argentina
- 1982: BAM Río Gallegos, Argentina
- 2007: Group 5 Squadrons I and II at V Air Brigade in San Luis (800 KM west of Buenos Aires)
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Air Wings
Deployments
Aircraft
- 1966: Argentine A-4B Skyhawk (Douglas Designation A-4P).
- 1966 - 1996: Douglas A-4C Skyhawk.
- 1994: A-4AR (USMC equivalent A-4M) Fighting Hawk.
- 199?: OA-4AR (USMC equivalent OA-4M) Fighting Hawk.
- Aircraft were distributed between units utilizing a "poule-system".
- A/C Purchases: In 1965, Argentina contracted to purchase 50 surplus U.S. Navy A-4B Skyhawks for the Argentine Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, or FAA).
After the aircraft were reworked at the Douglas facility in Tulsa, OK, they were redesignated A-4P "Caza"
(Hunter) by Douglas. Twenty-five A-4B/A-4Ps were delivered to the FAA in 1966 and another 25 (A-4B/A-4P) were delivered
in 1970. Argentina also purchased four A-4Bs (BuNos 144894, 144932, 145017, and 145053) for FAA
non-operational use as spare parts sources. The Argentine Flyers simpy called them "Bravos".
In 1975, Argentina purchased an additional 25 A-4C Skyhawks for the FAA.
In 1994, Argentina contracted to purchase 36 surplus A-4M Skyhawks, to include engine refurbishments,
rewiring, and avionics upgrades. Delivery of the refurbished aircraft, redesignated A-4AR Fightinghawks, began 1997.
FAA A-4B serial numbers = USN BuNos
C-201 = 142799, C-202 = 142171, C-203 = 142421, C-204 = 142136,
C-205 = 142694, C-206 = 142762, C-207 = 142688,
C-208 = 142139,
C-209 = 142684, C-210 = 142128, C-211 = 142701, C-212 = 142773,
C-213 = 142129, C-214 = 142109,
C-215 = 142102, C-216 = 142098,
C-217 = 142747, C-218 = 142099, C-219 = 142416, C-220 = 142796;
C-221 = 142108,
C-222 = 142752, C-223 = 142110, C-224 = 142119,
C-225 = 142803, C-226 = 142090, C-227 = 142104, C-228 = 142728,
C-229 = 142734; C-230 = 142736; C-231 = 142748; C-232 = 142749;
C-233 = 142757; C-234 = 142760; C-235 = 142765;
C-236 = 142784;
C-237 = 142788; C-238 = 142830; C-239 = 142838; C-240 = 142855;
C-241 = 142859; C-242 = 142862;
C-243 = 142866; C-244 = 142883;
C-245 = 142893; C-246 = 142901; C-247 = 142902; C-248 = 142910;
C-249 = 142911;
C-250 = 142914.
- Known Losses:
- Several losses (Aprox. 20) prior to 1982 War, C-205 lost in USA on 10 NOV 1967.
- 10 lost during 1982 war
- C-204: Capitan Danilo Rubén Bolzan (KIA) 08 JUN 1982
- C-206: Primer Teniente Mario Victor Nivoli (KIA) 12 MAY 1982
- C-208: Primer Teniente Jorge Rubén Ibarlucea (KIA) 12 MAY 1982
- C-215: Teniente Velasco (Recovered) 27 MAY 1982
- C-226: Primer Teniente Juan José Arraras (KIA) 08 JUN 1982
- C-228: Teniente Alfredo Jorge Alberto Vazquez (KIA) 08 JUN 1982
- C-242: Capitan Luciano Gudagnini (KIA> 23 MAY 1982
- C-244: Mayor Hugo Angel Palaver (KIA) 25 MAY 1982
- C-246: Capitan Manuel Oscar Bustos (KIA) 12 MAY 1982
- C-248: Capitan Fausto Gavazzi (KIA> 12 MAY 1982
- 04 lost post 1982 war. One on 12 NOV 1982, C-235 on 13 JUL 1983, C-234 on 31 OCT 1984, and one on 19 NOV 1984
- 06 on display in Argentina are C-212, C-222, C-231, C-232, C-233, C-240
FAA A-4C Serial Numbers = USN BuNos
C-301 = 147714, C-302 = 148438, C-303 = 149526, C-304 = 149618,
C-305 = 148562, C-306 = 148435, C-307 = 148452,
C-308 = 148612,
C-309 = 147747, C-310 = 148450, C-311 = 148517, C-312 = 147765,
C-313 = 150595, C-314 = 149564,
C-315 = 148531, C-316 = 147806,
C-317 = 147830, C-318 = 148556, C-319 = 148533, C-320 = 149642,
C-321 = 147741,
C-322 = 149514, C-323 = 148467, C-324 = 148559,
C-325 = 149585
- Known Losses:
- A probable six lost prior to the 1982 War.
- Nine lost during the 1982 War.
- C-301: Capitan José Daniel Vazquez (KIA) 30 MAY 1982
- C-303: Primer Teniente Jorge Ricardo Farias (KIA) 09 MAY 1982
- C-304: Mayor Jorge Osvaldo Garcia (KIA) 25 MAY 1982
- C-305: Primer Teniente Jorge Alberto Bono (KIA) 24 MAY 1982
- C-309: Primer Teniente Néstor Edgardo Lopez (KIA) 21 MAY 1982
- C-310: Capitan Omar Jesus Castillo (KIA) 30 MAy 1982
- C-313: Primer Teniente Jorge Eduardo Casco (KIA) 09 May 1982
- C-319: Teniente Lucero (Recovered) 25 MAY 1982
- C-325: Capitan Daniel Fernando Manzotti (KIA) 21 MAY 1982
- 03 on display in Argentina are C-302, C-314, C322
FAA A-4AR (A-4M) BuNos
C-901 = 154328, C-902 = 153531, C-903 = 154651, C-904 = 154294
C-905 = 159472, C-906 = 158161, C-907 = 158167, C-908 = 158178
C-909 = 158419, C-910 = 158193, C-911 = 158429, C-912 = 159471
C-913 = 159493, C-914 = 159778, C-915 = 159780, C-916 = 160029
C-917 = 158164, C-918 = 158423, C-919 = 158171, C-920 = 158426
C-921 = 159475, C-922 = 160045, C-923 = 159470, C-924 = 160025
C-925 = 158413, C-926 = 160032, C-927 = 160035, C-928 = 160039
C-929 = 160040, C-930 = 160042, C-931 = 160043, C-932 = 159478
C-933 = 159483, C-934 = 159486, C-935 = 159487, C-936 = 159783
C-937 = 154173 (ex A-4F; non-operational display)
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Commanding Officers
Events
- 10 AUG 1912:
Argentine President Roque Saenz Peña created the Argentine Army Air Force. President Peña also created the EAM Escuela de Aviacion Militar (School of Military Aviation) its first director was Coronel Arenales Antonio Uriburu.
- 29 OCT 1965:
The Secretaría de Estado de Aeronáutica ordered seventy-five Skyhawks. The Skyhawks are rebuilt United States Navy and Marine A-4B and A-4C aircraft. The first twenty-five Skyhawks arrived in Argentina by ferry flight from United States to Villa Reynolds Airport, San Luis, Argentina.
Skyhawks at Villa Reynolds were assigned to Grupo 5 - [Escuadron III (Squadron III) Grupo 5 de Cazabombardeo (Group 5 Fighter-Bomber) V Brigada Aerea]. The Grupo 5 were painted brown and green. The Grupo 5 patch motto "AD ASTRA PER ASPERA" means "To the stars through sacrifice." By the 1982 Falklands war Squadron III Grupo 5 was deployed at BAM Río Gallegos. Squadron Leaders were Vcom E. Dubourg, Vcom R. G. Zini.
- 1966:
Grupo 4 - [Escuadron I (Squadron 1), Grupo 4 de Cazabombardeo (Group 4 fighter-bomber) IV Brigada Aerea] was established at El Plumerillo Airport, Mendoza, Argentina to absorb existing Avro Lincoln and Lancaster squadrons. Grupo 4 was assigned the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk which were painted with brown and gray. The Grupo 4 motto REGRESAD CON HONOR means "Return with Honor." By the May 1982 Malvinas War Grupo 4 was deployed at BAM San Julián. Squadron Leader was F. J. A. Lupiañez.
Grupo 4 A-4C Skyhawks were painted brown and gray - Grupo 5 A-4B Skyhawks were painted brown and green.
Hangar Digital photograph with permission from Flanker.
- 1967:
Secretaría de Estado de Aeronáutica (State Secretary for Aeronautics, SEA) was reorganized into the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry's main component was Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA), which absorbed and consolidated SEA departments and other commands.
- 1970:
The second delivery of twenty-five skyhawks went to the Argentine Air Force.
- 30 JUN 1971:
The Secretaría de Aeronáutica was renamed as Fuerza Aerea Argentina (FAA) - the Argentine Air Force.
- 1976:
The third deliver of skyhawks, twenty-five, arrived.
- 02 APR 1982 - 14 JUN 1982 Malvinas (Falkland) War: The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean located aproximately 300 miles east of the coast of Argentina. They are a territory of the United Kingdom, but are claimed by Argentina. In South America the islands are known as the "Islas Malvinas".
Argentina Malvinas War Aviation Events.
- 1983:
The United States imposed an aircraft sale embargo on Argentina.
- 1983:
Group 4 transfers its Skyhawks to Group 5.
- 1994:
With the 1983 United States aircraft sale embargo lifted, Argentina ordered thirty-six surplus A-4Ms with additional surplus J-52 engines, 20mm cannon ammunition, and various training and support equipment from the United States. The refurbished A-4M Skyhawks were renamed the A-4AR Fighting Hawk.
Color scheme and markings courtesy of "FCM Decals," a Brazilian decal manufacturer.
Graphic from Valter Sousa Andrade.
- 1995:
Lockheed Martin refurbished the first eight A-4M Skyhawks in the United States. The remaining twenty-eight aircraft were modified at a Lockheed Martin facility in Argentina. Argentina plans to purchase eighteen TA-4J Skyhawks from the United States.
- 1996:
Group 5 A-4C (Charlies flown in the Malvinas War) are taken out of service.
- May 31, 2000:
The Argentine Air Force A-4AR Skyhawk refurbishment and upgrade program was completed. All thirty-six A-4AR Fighting Hawks are flying at Villa Reynolds Argentine Air Force Base. Advanced flight training is being conducted by former United States Navy Skyhawk flight instructors.
- 23 JUN 2007:
Argentina Air Force currently operates two A-4AR Squadrons. They are Sq I and Sq II, both of them as part of the Group 5 stationed at V Air Brigade in San Luis (Arg heartland - 800 km west of Buenos Aires).
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Awards
Sources
- Maximiliano Guillen
- Capitan Alejandro Amoros, Argentine Air Force.
- Valter Sousa Andrade.
- Juan Manuel Baiutti.
- Flanker.
- Pablo Calcaterra
- Hernan Casciani.
- Jose Gonzales.
- Hangar Digital.
- Tango.
- Gervasio Vazquez.
Argentine Air Force Skyhawk Aviators KIA - Malvinas:
Mayor Hugo Angel Palaver, V Brigade A-4B 25 MAY 82
Mayor Jorge Osvaldo Garcia, IV Brigade A-4C 25 MAY 82
Capitan Manuel Oscar Bustos, V Brigade A-4B 12 MAY 82
Capitan José Daniel Vazquez, IV Brigade A-4C 30 MAY 82
Capitan Daniel Fernando Manzotti, IV Brigade A-4C 21 MAY 82
Capitan Luciano Gudagnini, V Brigade A-4B 23 MAY 82
Capitan Fausto Gavazzi, V Brigade A-4B 12 MAY 82
Capitan Omar Jesus Castillo, E.A.M. A-4C 30 MAY82
Capitan Danilo Rubén Bolzan, E.A.M. A-4B 08 JUN 82
Primer Teniente Mario Victor Nivoli, V Brigade A-4B 12 MAY 82
Primer Teniente Jorge Eduardo Casco, IV Brigade A-4C 09 MAY 82
Primer Teniente Jorge Rubén Ibarlucea, V Brigade A-4B 12 MAY 82
Primer Teniente Jorge Alberto Bono, IV Brigade A-4C 24 MAY 82
Primer Teniente Juan José Arraras, V Brigade A-4B 08 JUN 82
Primer Teniente Néstor Edgardo Lopez, V Brigade A-4B 21 MAY 82
Primer Teniente Jorge Ricardo Farias, IV Brigade A-4C 09 MAY 82
Teniente Alfredo Jorge Alberto Vazquez, V Brigade A-4B 08 JUN 82
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