1965-1972
The A-4 Skyhawk carried the battle to the enemy for the U.S. Navy and Marines. Skyhawk models A-4B, A-4C, A-4E, A-4F and TA-4F were involved in the conflict.
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A-4 Skyhawk Pilots were in on the action from the very first air strikes in Vietnam, to the very last days of the conflict.
Total Navy Air Losses = 854 Aircraft, 575 Fatalities and 144 POWs.
Of these, 271 (31.7%) were Skyhawks, with 98 (17%) Skyhawk Fatalities and 48 (33%) Skyhawk POWs.
Total Marine Air Loses = 271 Aircraft, 241 Fatalities and 12 POWs.
Of these, 91 (33.6%) were Skyhawks, with 32 (13.3%) Skyhawk Fatalities and 1 (8.3%) Skyhawk POW.
Skyhawk losses to MiGs = 1, to SAMs = 32. Total A-4s lost in combat was 195.
As one would expect statistics vary based upon source. One claims 282 lost during the conflict, 195 of them in combat. But the above stats appear to be the most accurate.
First Skyhawk loss was A-4C 149578 from VA-144 aboard the USS Constellation, struck by AAA on 05AUG64, flown by LTJG Everett Alvarez who became the first, and longest held, POW of the conflict.
Final Skyhawk loss was A-4F 155021 from VA-212 aboard the USS Hancock, struck by AAA on 06SEPT72, the pilot, LT W.F. Pear was rescued.
Pilot Combat Theater Losses +.
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Hanoi |
Kep |
Thanh Hoa Bridge |
Shotup A-4E |
Iron Hand |
Yacht Club |
Olongapo |
Skyhawk Aviators
Highly decorated for their courage,
while under fire and as POWs
2 Medal of Honor
6 Navy Cross
Numerous Silver Stars, DFCs,
Purple Hearts and Air medals. |
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VSD = DaNang?
VBH = Bien Hoa
PMB = Clark or Cubi?
NCP = Cubi non-official?
DAG = DaNang non-official?
PMK = Clark or Sangley?
DaNang: ID=DNG, ch 77, area GCI was Panama |
Medal Of Honor |
Navy Cross |
Silver Star |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
Purple Heart |
Air Medal |
POW Medal |
Vietnam Service |
RVN Campaign |
Enlisted personnel played a supportive role (maintenance) in the Skyhawk's participation in Vietnam. Due to the inherent dangers of carrier flight deck operations, and in-theater combat ops, they did not serve without incurring loses.
Enlisted Combat Theater Losses +.
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Presidentail Unit Citation
Navy Unit Citation |
Vietnam Service |
RVN Campaign |
| 01 AUG 1963 |
10 MAR 1964 |
USS Oriskany CVA-34 |
CVW-16 |
VA-163 |
A-4B |
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VA-164 |
A-4B |
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| 17 OCT 1963 |
20 JUL 1964 |
USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 |
CVW11 |
VA-112 |
A-4C |
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VA-113 |
A-4C |
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| 28 JAN 1964 |
21 NOV 1964 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-19 |
VA-192 |
A-4C |
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VA-193 |
A-4C |
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| 14 APR 1964 |
15 DEC 1964 |
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 |
CVW-5 |
VA-55 |
A-4E |
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VA-65 |
A-4E |
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| 05 MAY 1964 |
01 FEB 1965 |
USS Constellation CVA-64 |
CVW-14 |
VA-144 |
A-4C |
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VA-146 |
A-4C |
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| 05 AUG 1964 |
06 MAY 1965 |
USS Ranger CVA-61 |
CVW-9 |
VA-93 |
A-4C |
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VA-94 |
A-4C |
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| 21 OCT 1964 |
29 MAY 1965 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-216 |
A-4E |
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VA-216 |
A-4C |
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| 23 OCT 1964 |
16 MAY 1965 |
USS Yorktown CVS-10 |
CVSG-55 |
VMA-223 Det T |
A-4C |
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| 07 DEC 1964 |
01 NOV 1965 |
USS Coral Sea CVA-43 |
CVW-15 |
VA-153 |
A-4C |
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VA-155 |
A-4E |
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| 20 FEB 1964 |
11 AUG 1964 |
USS Bennington CVS-20 |
CVSG-59 |
VA-93 Det Q |
A-4B |
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| 19 JUN 1964 |
16 DEC 1964 |
USS Kearsarge CVS-33 |
CVSG-53 |
VA-153 Det R |
A-4B |
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| 06 MAR 1965 |
23 NOV 1965 |
USS Midway CVA-41 |
CVW-41 |
VA-22 |
A-4C |
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VA-23 |
A-4E |
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| 05 APR 1965 |
16 DEC 1965 |
USS Oriskany CVA-34 |
CVW-16 |
VA-163 |
A-4E |
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VA-164 |
A-4E |
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| 10 MAY 1965 |
13 DEC 1965 |
USS Independence CVA-62 |
CVW-7 |
VA-72 |
A-4E |
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VA-86 |
A-4E |
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| 21 APR 1965 |
13 JAN 1966 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-9 |
VA-192 |
A-4C |
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VA-195 |
A-4C |
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| 12 AUG 1965 |
23 MAR 1966 |
USS Hornet CVS-12 |
CVSG-57 |
H&MS-15 Det N |
A-4C |
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| 28 SEP 1965 |
13 MAY 1966 |
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 |
CVW-5 |
VA-56 |
A-4E |
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VA-144 |
A-4C |
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| 26 OCT 1965 |
21 JUN 1966 |
USS Enterprise CVAN-65 |
CVW-9 |
VA-36 |
A-4C |
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VA-76 |
A-4C |
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VA-93 |
A-4C |
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VA-94 |
A-4C |
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| 10 NOV 1965 |
01 AUG 1966 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-212 |
A-4E |
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VA-216 |
A-4C |
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| 19 OCT 1965 |
13 JUN 1966 |
USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 |
CVW-11 |
VA-113 |
A-4C |
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| 10 DEC 1965 |
25 AUG 1966 |
USS Ranger CVA-61 |
CVW-14 |
VA-55 |
A-4E |
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VA-146 |
A-4C |
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| 22 MAR 1965 |
07 OCT 1965 |
USS Bennington CVS-20 |
CVSG-59 |
VA-113 Det Q |
A-4B |
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| 04 APR 1966 |
21 NOV 1966 |
USS Intrepid CVS-11 |
CVW-10 |
VA-15 |
A-4B |
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VA-95 |
A-4B |
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| 12 MAY 1966 |
03 DEC 1966 |
USS Constellation CVA-64 |
CVW-15 |
VA-153 |
A-4C |
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VA-155 |
A-4E |
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| 26 MAY 1966 |
16 NOV 1966 |
USS Oriskany CVA-34 |
CVW-16 |
VA-163 |
A-4E |
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VA-164 |
A-4E |
| 21 JUN 1966 |
21 FEB 1967 |
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42 |
CVW-42 |
VA-12 |
A-4E |
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VA-72 |
A-4E |
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VA-172 |
A-4C |
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| 29 JUL 1966 |
23 FEB 1967 |
USS Coral Sea CVA-43 |
CVW-2 |
VA-22 |
A-4C |
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VA-23 |
A-4E |
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| 15 OCT 1966 |
29 MAY 1967 |
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 |
CVW-19 |
VA-192 |
A-4E |
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VA-192 |
A-4C |
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| 05 NOV 1966 |
19 JUN 1967 |
USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 |
CVW-11 |
VA-112 |
A-4C |
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VA-144 |
A-4C |
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| 19 NOV 1966 |
06 JUL 1967 |
USS Enterprise CVAN-65 |
CVW-9 |
VA-56 |
A-4C |
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VA-113 |
A-4C |
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| 05 JAN 1967 |
22 JUL 1967 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-5 |
VA-93 |
A-4E |
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VA-94 |
A-4C |
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| 26 JAN 1967 |
25 AUG 1967 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-21 |
VA-76 |
A-4C |
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VA-212 |
A-4E |
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| 29 APR 1967 |
04 DEC 1967 |
USS Constellation CVA-64 |
CVW-14 |
VA-55 |
A-4C |
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VA-146 |
A-4C |
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| 11 MAY 1967 |
30 DEC 1967 |
USS Intrepid CVS-11 |
CVW-10 |
VSF-3 |
A-4B |
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VA-15 |
A-4C |
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VA-34 |
A-4C |
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| 06 JUN 1967 |
15 SEP 1967 |
USS Forrestal CVA-59 |
CVW-17 |
VA-46 |
A-4E |
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VA-106 |
A-4E |
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| 16 JUN 1967 |
31 JAN 1968 |
USS Oriskany CVA-34 |
CVW-16 |
VA-163 |
A-4E |
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VA-164 |
A-4E |
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| 26 JUL 1967 |
06 APR 1968 |
Uss Coral Sea CVA-43 |
CVW-15 |
VA-153 |
A-4E |
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VA-155 |
A-4E |
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| 04 NOV 1967 |
25 MAY 1968 |
USS Ranger CVA-61 |
CVW-2 |
VA-22 |
A-4C |
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| 18 NOV 1967 |
28 JUN 1968 |
USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 |
CVW-11 |
VA-112 |
A-4C |
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VA-144 |
A-4E |
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| 28 DEC 1967 |
17 AUG 1968 |
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 |
CVW-19 |
VA-23 |
A-4F |
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VA-192 |
A-4F |
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VA-192 |
A-4C |
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| 03 JAN 1968 |
18 JUL 1968 |
USS Enterprise CVAN-65 |
CVW-9 |
VA-56 |
A-4E |
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VA-113 |
A-4F |
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| 27 JAN 1968 |
10 OCT 1968 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-5 |
VA-93 |
A-4F |
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VA-94 |
A-4E |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
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| 04 JUN 1968 |
08 FEB 1969 |
USS Intrepid CVS-11 |
CVW-10 |
VA-36 |
A-4C |
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VA-66 |
A-4C |
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VA-106 |
A-4E |
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| 18 JUL 1968 |
03 MAR 1969 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-163 |
A-4E |
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VA-164 |
A-4E |
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| 07 SEP 1968 |
18 APR 1969 |
USS Coral Sea CVA-43 |
CVW-15 |
VA-153 |
A-4F |
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VA-216 |
A-4C |
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| 26 OCT 1968 |
17 MAY 1969 |
USS Ranger CVA-61 |
CVW-2 |
VA-155 |
A-4F |
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| 01 FEB 1969 |
18 SEP 1969 |
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 |
CVW-16 |
VA-112 |
A-4C |
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| 18 MAR 1969 |
29 OCT 1969 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-5 |
VA-22 |
A-4F |
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VA-94 |
A-4E |
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VA-144 |
A-4E |
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| 14 APR 1969 |
17 NOV 1969 |
USS Oriskany CVA-34 |
CVW-19 |
VA-23 |
A-4F |
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VA-192 |
A-4F |
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VA-195 |
A-4E |
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| 02 AUG 1969 |
15 APR 1970 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-164 |
A-4F |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
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| 05 MAR 1970 |
17 DEC 1970 |
USS Shangri-la CVS-38 |
CVW-8 |
VA-12 |
A-4C |
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VA-152 |
A-4E |
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VA-172 |
A-4C |
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| 02 APR 1970 |
12 NOV 1970 |
USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 |
CVW-5 |
VA-22 |
A-4F |
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VA-94 |
A-4E |
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VA-144 |
A-4F |
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| 22 OCT 1970 |
03 JUN 1971 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-164 |
A-4F |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
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| 07 JAN 1972 |
03 OCT 1972 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-164 |
A-4F/TA-4F |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
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| 08 MAY 1973 |
08 JAN 1974 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-164 |
A-4F/TA-4F |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
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| 18 MAR 1975 |
20 OCT 1975 |
USS Hancock CVA-19 |
CVW-21 |
VA-55 |
A-4F |
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VA-164 |
A-4F/TA-4F |
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VA-212 |
A-4F |
Marine Skyhawk Units Based Ashore in Vietnam and aboard ship in the Tonkin Gulf. (under construction)
1965 to 1973: MAG-11, H&MS-11, MALS-11 with VMA-331 at Da Nang
01 JUN 1965 to 31 JAN 1973: MAG-12 with VMA-121, VMA-211,VMA-214, VMA-223, VMA-224, VMA-225, VMA-311, VMA-331 based at Chu Lai
01 MAY 1968 to 09 NOV 1968: MAG-15, H&MS-15 with Air Wing CVSG-57 aboard CVS-12 flying A-4C.
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