U.S.A. Navy A-4 Skyhawk Units
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Before the Blue Angels traded in their Phantom IIs for Skyhawks in 1973, other Navy units realized the flight demonstration qualities of the A-4. In 1967 the VC-5 Checkertails formed an unofficial demonstration team flying the A-4B Skyhawk, and the VA-209 Air Barons flew demonstrations in 1970 to 71 with the A-4L.
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The SDO (Unit Duty Officer) is the unit contact point, who communicates with former
unit members about unit information, pictures, scuttlebutt,
and gathers information about former unit buddies. For your unit contact the
Unit SDO as listed here. If you are interested in becoming a Unit SDO, please contact the SDO-C.
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ATTACK SQUADRONS: An * (asterick) indicates a Replacement Air Group (RAG) Training Squadron. These units provided the final "fleet attack aircraft" training for a pilot prior to fleet unit assignment. VA43, 44, and 45 served the east coast fleet (RAG Atlantic), and VA125, 126 and 127 served the west coast (RAG Pacific).
| VA-34 Blue Blasters |
VA-36 Roadrunners |
VA-43 * Challengers
VF-43 Challengers |
VA-44 * Hornets
VF-44 Hornets |
FLEET DEFENSE FIGHTER SQUADRONS:
SUPPORT UNITS & AIR BASES:
NAEC (Naval Air Engineering Center)
NAS Lakehurst, NJ. |
West Coast Attack Base
NAS Lemoore CA. |
Adversary Skyhawks*
The A-4 Skyhawk, in several versions, was used extensively in the adversary role. Units that used the Skyhawk in that role were : VC/VFC-12, VC/VFC-13, VA/VF-43, VA/VF-45, VA/VF-126, VA/VF-127, NFWS.
The "Adversary Skyhawk" and VF-101 and VF-171 history:
VF-171 was initially formed by splitting the Phantom FRS (Fleet Replacement Sqadron)
VF-101 in August 1977. The squadrons were first a RAG
(Replacement Air Group) for the F-4 (171) and F-14 (101), but were also an east coast adversary unit
with A-4 and TA-4 aircraft, the Skyhawks mostly being based at NAF Key West.
VF-101 Grim Reapers (& Red Barons?)
NAS Oceana, VA. |
VF-171 Det Key West
NAS Key West, FL. |
Navy Adversary Pilot Association
(VFC-12*, VFC-13*, VF-43*, VF-45*, VFC-111, VFA-126*, VFA-127*, VFA-201, VFA-203, VFA-204, VMFT-401, NFWS*)
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Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Verver |
FLIGHT TRAINING COMMAND SQUADRONS:
| TW-1 (Training Wing One) |
TW-2 (Training Wing Two) |
TW-3 (Training Wing Three) |
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These training units did not fly the Skyhawk, but provided early training for most Skyhawk pilots. |
VT-1 Eaglets
NAAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, FL. |
VT-2 Doer Birds
South Field, NAAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. |
VT-3 Red Knights
South Field, NAAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. |
VT-5 Tigers
NAAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, FL. |
VT-6 Shooters
North Field, NAAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. |
VT-9 Tigers Nines
NAS Meridian, MS. |
VT-10 Wildcats
NAS Pensacola, FL. |
VT-19 Fighting Frogs
NAS Meridian, MS. |
Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Verver
NAVY RESERVE SQUADRONS:
Webmaster note: Prior to 1970, reserve aircraft belonged to the local NARTU (Naval Air Reserve Training Unit) aka Reserve Naval Air Station.
Except for those squadrons on active duty, as in Korea, no reserve squadron "owned" their aircraft,
as they were assigned to the NARTU/Station. In 1970, during that reorganization of the reserves into
the "Reserve Force" concept, each new squadron was made independent of NARTU (later called NAR),
and assigned either to CVWR-20 or CVWR-30. All squadrons were then made in the image of active duty
units, with the reserve unit Commanding Officer owning the aircraft and reporting to the CAG. On this
site you will find all era reserve combat aircraft images in the appropriate squadron photo page (with a very few exceptions), and only non-combat
support aircraft images in the reserve station photo page. |
NAS New Orleans, La.
(Pre 1970 Tail Code = 7X)
VA-821, 822 |
NAS Norfolk, VA.
(Pre 1970 Tail Code = 6S)
VA-861 |
NAS Olathe, KS.
(Pre 1970 Tail Code = 7K)
VA-881, 882 |
NAS Sand Point, Seattle WA.
VA-892 Thunder Birds |
Units that utilized the Skyhawk on a limited basis:
CAW-12
RVAH-3
Naval Aircraft Torpedo Unit at Quonset Point, RI. |
VU-1 NAS Barbers Point, HI. (2 Skyhawks assigned)
VU-7 NAS Miramar, CA. (5 Skyhawks assigned)
"VU"(Utility Squadron) designations were used 1946-1965. They provided planes for senior officer flight time, tolling targets and a lot of other catch-all sort of stuff. |
This Skyhawk website page is dedicated to Medal of Honor (posthumously) holder
Captain Michael J. Estocin, USN.
- Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant Commander), of U.S. Navy Attack Squadron 192, operating from the USS Ticonderoga (CVA14)
- Place and date: Haiphong, North Vietnam, 20 and 26 April 1967
- Entered Service at: Akron, Ohio
- Born: 27 April 1931, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Citation:
For conspicous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20
and 26 April 1967 as an A-4 Skyhawk pilot in Attack Squadron One Hundred Ninty-two embarked in USS
Ticonderoga (CVA-14).
Leading a three plane flight in support of a coordinated strike against two thermal power plants
in Haiphong, North Viet Nam, on 20 April 1967, Captain (then Lieutenant Commander) Estocin
provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats,
and personally neutralized three SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding
missile, he re-entered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a Shrike attack in the face of
intense anti-aircraft fire. With less than five minutes fuel remaining he departed the target area
and commenced inflight refueling which continued for over 100 miles. Three miles aft of Ticonderoga,
and without enough fuel for a second landing approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a
precise approach to a fiery arrested landing.
On 26 April 1967, in the support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong,
Estocin led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his Skyhawk was seriously damaged by an
exploding SAM missile; neverless, he regained control of his burning Skyhawk and courageously
launched his Shrike missiles before departing the area.
By his inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger,
Captain Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
[Dueling with SAMs was not ‘choice duty’ and those aviators who performed this mission braved fierce odds. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Estocin, of VA-192’s ‘Golden Dragons’. On 20 April 1967, Estocin was flying an ant-SAM (Iron Hand) mission from the Ticonderoga against thermal powerplants at Haiphong. Providing continuous SAM warnings to other members of the strike group, he personally neutralized three SAM sites. Estocin’s A-4E received extensive damage, but he elected to remain over the target area and made another Shrike attack, all the while receiving heavy flak fire. Depleting his ordnance, the Skyhawk pilot managed to return the crippled plane safely to the Ticonderoga.
Six days later, on another strike against Haiphong, Estocin once again pitted himself against the deadly missiles. Hit by an exploding SAM, he managed to retain control of his now burning aircraft to launch his Shrikes. Engulfed in the fireball of a detonating SAM, Estocin’s Skyhawk was seen to commence four of five aileron rolls in a 45 degree nose-down attitude. Recovering, Estocin called he had a fire-warning light and headed for the safety of the sea with fire streaming behind his aircraft. However, before he could reach this haven, the stricken A-4 once again began a series of rapid rolls disappearing inverted into the undercast at 3,500 ft. Listed as MIA, Estocin was declared dead after the war and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.]
Mike Estocin is remembered on "The Wall" panel 18E row 092.
A-4E Memorial to Mike Estocin at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
Picture of Mike at NAS Cubi Point shortly before being shotdown.
Webmaster Emeritus note on Mike Estocin's official status.
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