U.S.A. Navy A-4 Skyhawk Units
|
|
|
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.
|
| 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.
|
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:
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*)
 |
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) |
| 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. |
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.
To the
"Skyhawks Around the World" Page
a4skyhawk.org Home Page
|
|
