VA-23 - Black Knights |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 VF-653 Warrior Dragon - 1951 |
 VF-151 Black Knights |
 VA-151, USS Lexington 1956 |
 Attack Squadron 23 - 1970 |
 ATKRON 23 |
 In Omnia Paratus |
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Patch VF-653's "Warrior Dragon" patch was authorized February 7, 1951. The central figure is the "Warrior Dragon" symbolizing the terrifying qualities representative of a fighter squadron, and the shield portraying its strength. A "Knight's Crest" patch was adopted by VF-151 Black Knights sometime in 1953 - 1954. This patch displays a knight's helmet mounted above a shield over a scroll bearing the Latin phrase "In Omnia Paratus" (always prepared). Under the patch was a scroll inscribed with FIGHTING ONE FIFTY ONE. In 1956 the basic VF-151 "Knight's Crest" patch was modified by VA-151 Black Knights. This patch kept the basic VF-151 elements but the scroll under the patch was changed to read ATTACK SQUADRON 151. In 1959 the basic VF-151 "Knight's Crest" patch was again modified by VA-23 Black Knights. This patch kept the basic VF-151 elements but the scroll under the patch was changed to read ATTACK SQUADRON 23. Over the years the shape of the helmet changed as did the plume colors and shape. |
Sources Al Bedford Robert J. Brozovich Harry S. Gann Tobey W. Morison Jim Ritchie Howard C. Wolf Jr. |
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1949 to 1953 Dragons 1953 to 1970 Black Knights Heritage December 1949, Reserve Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VF-653) Dragons established. February 1, 1951, VF-653 Dragons were called to active duty. February 4, 1953, VF-653 was re-designated as VF-151, Black Knights - Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE. February 7, 1956, VF-151 was re-designated as VA-151, Black Knights - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE. February 23, 1959, VA-151 was re-designated as VA-23, Black Knights - Attack Squadron TWENTY THREE. April 1, 1970, (April Fool's Day) VA-23, Black Knights - disestablished. |
Home Ports
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location: December 1949- - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Akron April 16, 1951 - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Alameda September 30, 1961 - - - - - Naval Air Station Lemoore |
| Air Wings
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing April 5, 1951- - - - - - - - H - - - - - - CVG-15 August 3, 1951 - - - - - - - H - - - - - - ATG-1 July 3, 1952 - - - - - - - - H - - - - - - CVG-15 November 1, 1952 - - - - - - U/NA* - - - - ATG-1 February 24, 1959- - - - - - NE- - - - - - CVG-2/CVW-2 ** July 1, 1967 - - - - - - - - NM- - - - - - CVW-19 * The squadron deployed with ATG-1 but used its parent air group tail code (H) until the tail code "IJ" was assigned to ATG-1 on July 24, 1956. ATG-1's tail code was changed from U to NA July 1, 1957. ** December 20, 1963 - Carrier Air Groups were re-designated Carrier Air Wings (CVG-2 became CVW-2). |
Aircraft
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: Before February 1951- - - Goodyear FG-1D Corsair I February 1951 - - - - - - North American SNJ Trainer By May 1951 - - - - - - - Vought F4U-4 Corsair I By August 1951- - - - - - Vought F4U-4B Corsair I August 28, 1952 - - - - - Grumman F9F-2 Panther * October 2, 1952 - - - - - Grumman F9F-5 Panther * May 1955- - - - - - - - - Vought F7U-3M (Gutless) Cutlass June 1955 - - - - - - - - Vought F7U-3 Cutlass December 1956 - - - - - - Grumman F9F-8B Cougar * January 1957- - - - - - - Grumman F9F-8 Cougar * July 1957 - - - - - - - - North American FJ-4B Fury May 18, 1960- - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk December 26, 1962 - - - - Douglas A-4E Skyhawk July 13, 1967 - - - - - - Douglas A-4F Skyhawk Bby James C. Ritchie * The F9F through the F9F-5 Panther have straight wings with tip tanks; the F9F-6 through the F9F-8 Cougar have swept wings. For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
Deployments 
10-12-51 to 07-03-52 - ATG-1- - CV 45- - F4U 4/4B - Western Pacific/Korea 03-30-53 to 11-28-53 - ATG-1- - CVA 21 - F9F-2- - - Western Pacific/Korea 09-01-54 to 04-11-55 - ATG-1- - CVA 18 - F9F-2- - - Western Pacific 05-25-56 to 12-20-56 - ATG-1- - CVA 16 - F7U-3- - - Western Pacific 10-04-58 to 02-16-59 - ATG-1- - CVA 14 - FJ-4B- - - Western Pacific 08-15-59 to 03-25-60 - CVG-2- - CVA 41 - FJ-4B- - - Western Pacific 02-16-61 to 09-28-61 - CVG-2- - CVA 41 - A4D-2- - - Western Pacific 04-06-62 to 10-20-62 - CVG-2- - CVA 41 - A4D-2- - - Western Pacific 11-08-63 to 05-26-64 - CVW-2- - CVA 41 - A-4E - - - Western Pacific 03-06-65 to 11-23-65 - CVW-2- - CVA 41 - A-4E - - - Western Pacific/Vietnam 07-29-66 to 02-23-67 - CVW-2- - CVA 43 - A-4E - - - Western Pacific/Vietnam 12-28-67 to 08-17-68 - CVW-19 - CVA 14 - A-4F - - - Western Pacific/Vietnam 04-14-69 to 11-17-69 - CVW-19 - CVA 34 - A-4F - - - Western Pacific/Vietnam |
Commanding Officers
Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer December 1949 - - - - - - - LCDR Cook Cleland * August 28, 1952 - - - - - - LCDR J. M. Rickabaugh November 1953 - - - - - - - LCDR Benjamin Tappan, Jr. June 1955 - - - - - - - - - CDR E. S. Parks Late 1955 or Early 1956 -----LCDR Robert H. Moore, Jr. January 1957- - - - - - - - LCDR Bernard Sevilla May 30, 1958- - - - - - - - CDR E. W. Blackburn March 6, 1959 - - - - - - - CDR L. M. Cauble April 8, 1960 - - - - - - - CDR S. G. Gorsline, Jr. September 28, 1961- - - - - LCDR Edward E. Riley (acting) November 6, 1961- - - - - - CDR G. M. Veling September 18, 1962- - - - - CDR Edward E. Riley August 20, 1963 - - - - - - CDR Robert P. Smith July 2, 1964- - - - - - - - CDR John R. Dewenter July 2, 1965- - - - - - - - CDR Robert R. King, Jr. July 1, 1966- - - - - - - - CDR Richard A. Mackell June 23, 1967 - - - - - - - CDR Charles L. Bush July 24, 1968 - - - - - - - CDR Morris A. Peelle July 9, 1969- - - - - - - - CDR Theodore L. Lloyd, Jr. * Cdr. L. Cook Cleland was also a two time winner of |
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Awards Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates: KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL: 12-04-51 to 06-20-52 04-03-53 to 08-09-53 08-22-53 to 11-21-53. NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION 12-11-51 to 06-11-52 04-16-65 to 11-04-65 08-12-66 to 02-01-67 01-26-68 to 07-23-68. KOREAN PUC 12-07-51 to 06-20-52 04-30-53 to 07-27-53. UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL 12-04-51 to 06-20-52 04-03-53 to 08-09-53 08-22-53 to 11-21-53. |
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (KOREA) December 1951 to June 1952. ARMED FORCED EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL 10-23-58 to 01-01-59 03-28-61 to 04-07-61 01-23-68 to 03-22-68 09-17-69 09-28-69 to 10-04-69. MILITARY UNIT COMMENDATION 05-05-69 to 11-03-69. VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL 07-22-65 to 08-26-65 09-11-65 to 10-09-65 09-12-66 to 10-19-66 10-30-66 to 12-04-66 12-26-66 to 02-01-67 01-25-68 to 03-04-68 03-25-68 to 04-08-68 04-16-68 04-24-68 to 05-12-68 05-20-68 to 06-14-68 06-25-68 to 07-23-68 05-05-69 to 06-04-69 06-15-69 to 07-01-69 07-12-69 to 07-30-69 08-14-69 to 09-12-69 10-08-69 to 10-31-69. |
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Events 1947: Cdr. L. Cook Cleland won his first Thompson Trophy at the Cleveland National Air Races. Commander Cleland won the Thompson Trophy again in 1949. His two Thompson Trophies rank him second only to Roscoe Turner the ace of the Cleveland National Air Races. December 1949: Reserve Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VF-653) established with LCdr. Cook Cleland commanding at NAS Akron, Ohio. VF-653 was assigned the FG-1D Goodyear Corsair I. February 1, 1951: Reserve Squadron VF-653, the Dragons were called to active duty. April 16, 1951: Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE --- VF-653 was re-assigned to NAS Alameda, California. By May, VF-653 had been assigned the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I. October 12, 1951 through August 5, 1952: Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE --- VF-653 flying the F4U-4 and F4U-4B Corsair with ATG-1 deployed to the Western Pacific and Korea on USS Valley Forge CV 45. This was the Dragon's first combat cruise to Korea. December 11, 1951: VF-653 conducted its first combat strikes in the Korean War. August 28, 1952: VF-653 was assigned the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. February 4, 1953: VF-653 was re-designated as VF-151 - Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE, the Black Knights. March 30, 1953 through November 28, 1953: Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE --- VF-151 flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther with ATG-1 deployed to the Western Pacific and Korea on USS Boxer CVA 21. This was the Black Knights' Second combat cruise to Korea. May 1, 1953: At Yokusuka (near Tokyo) - May Day was only base liberty because of Communist riots in the area. May 13 through July 27, 1953: VF-151 with fourteen Grumman F9F-2 Panthers and 22 pilots engaged their first Korean War line period on Boxer. During this period the Black Knights participated in 120 strikes in which the squadron had 33 Panthers hit by flak, 19 of those Panthers were damaged beyond repair. During combat the squadron expended 122,535 20mm cannon rounds, 1,152 five inch rockets, and dropped 3,112 bombs weighing 624,080 pounds. During the period each pilot averaged 46 missions. VF-151 pilots: Commanding Officer LCdr. John Rickabaugh, Executive Officer LCdr. Carl Roberts, Operations Officer LCdr. Herky Harper, Lt. Bob Brown, LSO Lt. Les Burton, Lt. Chuck Chute, Lt. Bill Fornoff, Lt. Max Malen, Lt. Mike Martin, Lt. Cal Russell, Lt(jg) Digger Doyle, Lt(jg) Jack Ingram, Lt(jg) Pat Kittler, Lt(jg) Jim McCarty, Lt(jg) Sam McKee, Lt(jg) Rusty Merrill, Lt(jg) Burt Shepperd, Lt(jg) "Super Secret" Smith, Ordinance Officer Ens. Al Bedford, Ens. Ken Cameron, Ens. Tom Ledford, Ens. Lou O'Neil, Ens. Roger Pattridge, Ens. Roger Sheets. July 25, 1953: VF-151 Black Knight Lt(jg) Jack William Ingram, Jr., United States Navy, born January 10, 1928, 496331, flying a Grumman F9F-2 Panther was hit by antiaircraft fire (Triple A) north of Hungnam, North Korea. Lieutenant Ingram nursed his Panther to the Korean Sea before trying to ditch --- Lieutenant Ingram did not survive the resulting crash and was Killed In Action. July 26, 1953: VF-151 Black Knight Ens. Thomas Franklin Ledford, United States Navy, in a Grumman F9F-2 Panther received a USS Boxer CVA 21 "Cold Cat." The Boxer's catapult failed to accelerate Ledford's Panther to flying speed and the Panther fell from the Boxer's bow, into the sea, upside down. Boxer then passed over the sinking plane killing Ledford. Ens. Tom Ledford was probably the last United States Naval Aviator killed in the Korean War. September 1, 1954 through April 11, 1955: Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE --- VF-151, Black Knights flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther with ATG-1 deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Wasp CVA 18. This was the Black Knights' third cruise to the Western Pacific. February 1955: VF-151 provided air support during the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Tachen Islands following the their bombardment by Communist China. May 1955: VF-151 was assigned the "Last Chance" Vought F7U-3M (Gutless) Cutlass. February 7, 1956: VF-151 was re-designated as VA-151 - Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE, the Black Knights. May 25, 1956 through December 20, 1956: Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE --- VA-151 flying the "Last Chance" Vought F7U-3M (Gutless) Cutlass with ATG-1 deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Lexington CVA 16. December 1956: Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE Black Knights were assigned the F9F-8B Grumman Cougar. July 1957: VA-151 was assigned the North American FJ-4B Fury. October 4, 1958 through February 2, 1959: Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE --- VA-151, Black Knights flying the North American FJ-4B Fury with ATG-1 deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Ticonderoga CVA 14. February 23, 1959: VA-151 was re-designated as VA-23, Black Knights - Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE. August 15, 1959 through March 25, 1960: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23, Black Knights flying the North American FJ-4B Fury with CVG-2 deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Midway CVA 41. May 18, 1960: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE was assigned the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk. September 30, 1960: Lt(jg). Arthur W. Winterbottom, 27, of Ardmore, PA, was killed Friday when his VA-23 Skyhawk (Buno 142092) crashed into a 30-foot steel target when he failed to pull out of a dive on a low-level bombing run at NAAS Fallon, NV. Reno Gazette, 01 October 1970. Oakland, CA, Tribune, Friday, September 30, 1960. Lebanon, PA, Lebanon Daily News, Saturday, October 01, 1960 Lt(jg). Arthur W. Winterbottom, 27, was killed when he struck a 30-foot steel target during a low-level bombing run at Fallon. The squadron was engaged in competitive low-level napalm lay down at 500 knots and 50-300 feet altitude. On this run the pilot was at 20 feet on release and failed to clear the top of the billboard and disintegrated into bits and pieces that scattered for almost a mile beyond the target. Naval Aviation News, Grampaw Pettibone, July 1961. February 16, 1961, through September 28, 1961: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23, Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk with CVG-2 deployed the Western Pacific on USS Midway CVA 41. September 30, 1961: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE VA-23 was reassigned to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. November 12, 1961: NAS Lemoore reported its first air fatality since becoming operational this year. Lt(jg). Robert Anthony Huff, 26, of VA-23 was lost at sea during night operations with the USS Midway off the Monterey Peninsula on Sunday. A search for the A4D (BuNo 142852) was unsuccessful. Eureka, CA Humboldt Standard,, Tuesday, November 14, 1961. 2013 A4D-2 BuNo 142852 of VA-23, pilot LTJG Robert Huff, crashed into the sea while on final approach to Midway at latitude 36-52.2N, longitude 123-16.1W, and sank in 1700 fathoms of water. 2015 Bausell (DD-845) and Anderson (DD-786) commenced search for pilot. Commenced maneuvering on various courses at 10 knots while directing destroyers in search. 2307 Search concluded. Results negative. Pilot LTJG Robert Huff presumed dead. USS Midway deck log, Sunday, 12 November 1961. April 6, 1962, through October 20, 1962: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23, Black Knights flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk with CVG-2 deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Midway CVA 41. August 11, 1962: Lt.(jg). Andrew F. Cianciotto (VA-23) ejected from his disabled A4D Skyhawk (BuNo 142904) shortly after take-off a quarter mile out from the from NAS Atsugi runway. The Skyhawk crashed 200 yards further on after it tore through the power lines of a nearby electric railway. A rescue helicopter picked up Cianciotto and rushed him to the U.S. Army Japan hospital. Doctors say he may have suffered a broken shoulder. US Armed Forces Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, August 12, 1962. September 18, 1962: Cdr. George Morwood Veling (VA-23 CO) is presumed dead after his A4D-2 Skyhawk (BuNo 145055) crashed Tuesday night shortly after taking-off from the USS Midway. The Navy said he is presumed to have died after an 11-hour search failed to turn up any trace of Veling. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, 20 September, 1962.5 1955 hours an A4D, Cdr. Veling, pilot, crashed shortly after catapulting from Midway. Ozbourn (DD-846) detached to investigate. 2149 Detached Hollister (DD-788) to assist Ozbourne. USS Midway deck log, 18 September 1962. September 27, 1962: A flight of three A-4B Skyhawks launched from their home CVA (USS Midway) for a coastal air station in Japan. From there they made a navigation flight to a target area in South Korea, released a practice bomb on the target and climbed to 38,000 feet for the return to the ship. Lt. R.A. Davis, the number 3 man on the leader's starboard wing, noted he was falling behind and increased power to 99%, easing the nose over to pick up some airspeed. As he closed up alongside, he eased the nose up to resume his stepped-up position and noted an immediate 5% loss of RPM. Lowering the nose and increased throttle didn't regain the lost power and he was rapidly falling behind the other two planes. He decided to switch to manual and pulled the throttle back to the halfway position and threw the switch as the RPM was coming down which resulted in a loud thud which shook the whole aircraft followed by three more violent thuds. He shut the engine down, switched to primary and hit the air-start switch without success. As he glided down, he informed the flight of his problem and tried several more air-starts without a relight and the engine sounded like a bucket of loose bolts. At 17,000 feet he an airfield in a small valley surrounded by rugged mountains behind him and decided to try a flame-out approach to the airfield. He hit the 180 position at 5,000 feet and 240 knots, gear up, flaps and hook down and speed-brakes out. At the 135 position he had 4,000 feet and 230 knots and lowered his landing gear with excess airspeed that would make him land long. As he rolled into the groove, he retracted the brakes and pushed the nose over resulting in a tremendous rate of descent and he had to break his glide at 5-600 feet and set down at 200 knots and 3,500 feet down the 6,600 feet runway. As he went off the end of the runway at the old K-9 airfield with the brakes locked at 100 knots he ejected (and A4D-2 BuNo 142894 was destroyed). Naval Aviation News, Grampaw Pettibone, February 1963. Grampaw Pettibone (cont.), December 26, 1962: VA-23 was assigned the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk. The Black Knights were the first squadron in the world to be assigned the "E" Skyhawk. October 10, 1963: Lt.(jg). Francis J. Davis, 24, (VA-23, NAS Lemoore) ejected from his Skyhawk (BuNo 149662) Wednesday while on a routine training flight 55 miles west of the Golden Gate. He was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Utah County, UT The Daily Herald, Thursday, October 3, 1963 November 8, 1963, through May 26, 1964: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23 Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk with CVG-2 deployed to the Western Pacific on United States Ship Midway CVA 41. February 26, 1965: Lt.(jg) Larry J. Cooper, 25, is presumed to have been killed Thursday when his A4E Skyhawk (BuNo 151146) crashed into the sea about 150 miles SW of San Diego. While operating from the USS Midway he flew into a restricted area, was mistaken for an expected target drone, and shot down by a Terrier missile fired from the USS Preble (DDG-88) in the Silver Lance training exercises off A search of the crash area revealed scattered debris. Long Beach, CA Press-Telegram, Friday, February 26, 1965. 1450 Received report that LTJG Larry J. Cooper of VA-23 in an A4E #345 BuNo 151146 was seen crashing into the water by his wingman bearing 040 T at 36 miles. Alerted ships in proximity and dispatched helo to scene. USS Midway Deck Log, Thursday, 25 February 1965. February 28, 1965: Lt.(jg) James W. Sloat Jr., ejected safely when his A-4E (BuNo 151153) exploded in flight at 2,500 feet during a refueling operation from another A-4E while participating in Operation Silver Lance. The plane crashed about 160 miles SW of San Diego and the pilot was pulled from the water by a helicopter piloted by Lt (jg). D.H. Jung. US Armed Forces European Stars and Stripes, Wednesday, March 3, 1965. March 6, 1965, through November 23, 1965: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23 Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk with CVG-2 deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam on USS Midway CVA 41. This was the Black Knight's first combat cruise to Vietnam and first combat since the Korean War. April 25, 1965: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE was the first squadron to use the Shrike anti-radiation missile in combat. June 2, 1965: VA-23 Black Knights A-4E BuNo 151144, NE-348, Lt.(jg) David Marion Christian was killed when he was hit by AAA while pulling up from his second ZUNI attack on a radar site south of Than Hoa. On June 2, 1965, an VAW-13 EA-1F "Spad" electronics aircraft BuNo 132540, VR-70,was launched from the USS MIDWAY for assistance in a search and rescue mission over North Vietnam. The crew of the Spad was Lt.(jg) M.D. McMican, pilot; Lt.(jg) Gerald M. Romano, navigation officer; Petty Officer Third Class William H. Amspacher, Electronic Countermeasures Operator, and ATN 3 Thomas L. Plants. While circling the scene of an [unnamed] A4E pilot's ejection over the South China Sea, the Spad was hit by enemy fire and was observed to crash land and burn on the nearby coast. While still over the water, a crewmember was seen to bail out, but his parachute did not open, and he fell into the sea. A week later, the body drifted ashore, according to an intelligence report. This body was not recovered by U.S. forces at that time. [NOTE: The loss location given by Defense Department is not over the South China Sea, but some five miles inland, in Nghe An Province, near the city of Sam Son. At best, if the loss occurred over water, it occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin.] The crew of the Spad was placed into the category Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered. It was assumed the three perished in the crash of the plane and the fourth (unspecified in the report) perished just prior to the crash in his unsuccessful ejection attempt. On June 2, 1965, two Navy A-4E aircraft were shot down in the general area that the EA1F rescue aircraft was circling. One of them was flown off the USS MIDWAY by Lt.(jg) David M. Christian and is most likely to be the subject of the search by the Spad because the accounts seem to match. Navy accounts do not specify the identity of the downed pilot, nor do they indicate if he was ever rescued. June 2, 1965: VA-23 Black Knights A-4E BuNo 151161, NE-349, Lt. McKamey was flying combat missions with his wingman over North Vietnam from the USS Midway (CVA-41) in an A-4E Skyhawk. During an “uneventful” routine reconnaissance flight, they started to head back to the ship when the jets crossed over a river, and he saw something that resembled a construction site. He told his wingman that he wanted to take a closer look at it, so he turned around and flew at low altitude to see what it was. "Suddenly I heard a sharp ‘thump, thump!’ — not unlike a knock on a door— on the side of the aircraft and I immediately lost all electrical power,” according to McKamey "I put the plane into a climb and reached for the generator. I jerked the handle, and it came off in my hand. That's when I began to realize that I was probably in more trouble than I realized." With his cockpit filling with smoke and his jet engulfed in flames, he ejected and parachuted towards Earth. Landing in an open area, he quickly saw armed Vietnamese running towards him and was immediately apprehended. His aircraft was shot down some fifty miles south of the crash location of VAW-13 EA-1F "Spad" BuNo 132540, VR-70. July 28, 1965: Lt. Grant R. Townsend, 27, ejected when he was pulling his A4 Skyhawk (BuNo 149962, NE 341) out of a bombing run when a sudden explosion jolted the plane and he was engulfed in a ball of flame and the aircraft was completely out of control, lost to own bomb explosion. After a 90-minute visit to North Vietnam, he was rescued by a helicopter piloted by USAF Lt. Walter Turk. The Progress-Index, Thursday, July 29, 1965. August 11, 1965. Black Knight A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151185 side number NE 345 was shot down by a North Vietnamese Surface to Air Missile - SAM. The pilot, Lt.(jg) D. H. Brown, Jr., was Killed in Action. February 2, 1966: Lt.(jg) Larry S. Mettler, 27, was killed Wednesday night when his Skyhawk crashed in the ocean as it was launched from the USS Constellation and sank about 45 miles NW of San Diego, CA. Albuquerque Journal (Friday) February 4, 1966. 1914 A-4E Skyhawk Bureau Number 150027, side number 336, pilot Lt.(jg) Larry S. Mettler, crashed into the sea upon launching from number two catapult at latitude 32-05.2N longitude 117-50.6W in 500 fathoms of water. Commanding Officer assumed the conn. Ceased flight operations. Commenced a Williamson turn with the first leg to port. Set the maneuvering combination, dispatched plane guard USS Taussig DD-746 and airborne helicopter to the scene to commence SAR operations. Upon completion of Williamson turn steadied on course 205 at 5 knots. Taussig and helicopter at the scene of the crash. 1941 Commenced maneuvering around Taussig at a range of 1000 to 2000 yards. 2100 recovered one helicopter containing downed pilot's flight helmet. 2117 Assigned Taussig to remain on crash scene and conduct search until first light. USS Constellation deck log, Wednesday, 2 February 1966. February 24, 1966: Cdr. Robert R. King (A-4E BuNo 151104) and LCdr. Stewart Blair (A-4E BuNo 151157), both assigned to VA-23 at NAS Lemoore, ejected when their Skyhawks collided about one mile south of MCAS El Toro, CA while making a practice GCA. Blair's Skyhawk crashed about six miles south of MCAS El Toro at 7:16 p.m. and King's Skyhawk crashed more than 15 minutes later in an open area at Camp Pendleton. King was hospitalized at Camp Pendleton with a dislocated shoulder. Redlands, CA, Redlands Daily Facts, Friday, February 25, 1966. 24 May 1966: LCdr. Joseph P. Cullen, 33, ejected safely from A-4E BuNo 151104 following a flameout. A fire started by a crashing NAS Lemoore jet burned over more than 4,000 acres of range land in southwestern Kings County, CA, before it was extinguished Tuesday night. The pilot, LCdr. Joseph Cullen of Lemoore, parachuted to safety seven miles south of Kettleman City. County firemen and forestry crews fought the fire for 10 hours. Cullen, uninjured, said the engine on his A4 Skyhawk jet quit. After several futile efforts to restart it, he bailed out. The Bakersfield Californian, Thursday, May 26, 1966. August 29, 1966, through February 23, 1967: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23 Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk with CVG-2 deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam on USS Coral Sea CVA 43. This was the Black Knight's second combat cruise to Vietnam. October 10, 1966: Black Knight A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151150 side number NE 340 was shot down by a North Vietnamese Surface to Air Missile - SAM. The pilot, Lt.(jg) M.S. Confer, was Killed in Action. January 13, 1967: Black Knight A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151158 side number NE 345 was shot down by North Vietnamese antiaircraft fire - Triple A. The pilot, Lt.(jg) M. P. Cronin, ejected successfully, was captured by the North Vietnamese and made Prisoner of War. January 15, 1967: Lt.(jg) Daniel Hagan Moran was killed when his A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151168 side number NE 346 was hit by AAA while he was participating in a strike on the Qui Vinh railroad yard about 10 miles SW of Van Yen. Although the Skyhawk had a large hole in the starboard nose under the cockpit it remained flyable - and Lt.(jg) Moran took it out to sea. Escorting aircrewmen saw him move in the cockpit, but Moran was flying erratically and did not respond to radio or hand signals. Moran took his aircraft to the North SAR destroyer and ejected close alongside, but he was dead when a boat crew from the destroyer pulled him from the water. December 28, 1967, through August 17, 1968: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23 Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk with CVW-19 deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam on USS Ticonderoga CVA 14. This was the Black Knight's third combat cruise to Vietnam. There were no combat losses this cruise. March 15 to 20, 1968: After the January 23, 1968, capture of USS Pueblo AGER 2 by North Korea, VA-23 operated from Ticonderoga in the Sea of Japan - commanding the seas for the United States of America. April 1968: VA-23 flew combat strikes around Khe Sahn, South Vietnam, in support of the besieged Marine base. July 23, 1968: VA-23 Black Knight LCdr. Lawrence D. Gosen, United States Navy in A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154189 was given a Ticonderoga cold catapult and lost over the side in a non-combat accident. LCdr. Gosen was killed. Long Beach, CA Independent Press-Telegram, Wednesday, July 24, 1968. 0728 Plane crash off starboard bow during launch position 18-21N, 107-48E, pilot not sighted. USS Ticonderoga deck log, 23 July 1968. LCdr. Gosen (Class of 59) flying with the VA-23 Black Knights, was lost in A-4F BuNo 154189 due to a launch failure aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). LCdr. Gosen's casket flag was presented to his widow, Patricia, at the dedication of A4F 154977, NM 301. He, and squadron mate Lt. S.K. Smiley, are remembered with their names on the nose of Skyhawk BuNo 154977 aboard the museum ship USS Midway. April 14, 1969, through November 17, 1969: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE --- VA-23 Black Knights flying the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk with CVW-19 deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam on USS Oriskany CVA 34. This was the Black Knight's fourth and last combat cruise to Vietnam. July 20, 1969: Lt. Stanley Kutz “Tiny” Smiley KIA, his wingman thinks that Stan (A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 154993 side number NM 306) was hit by a 37mm and was either killed by the round or his aircraft was disabled, and he could not eject. From "Pat" Patrick. Lt. Smiley was Flight Lead on an armed road recon into Laos. They were returning when Lt. Smiley wanted to check out a truck he had seen. His wingman rec'd no coms about aircraft trouble before Lt. Smiley dove into the ground about sixty km N-NE of Saravane. Lt. Smiley (Class of 63) flying with the VA-23 Black Knights embarked in USS Oriskany (CVA-34), was shot down in Laos by gun fire in A-4F BuNo 154993 NM-306 and was KIA. Since there are no known survivors, Lt. Smiley's casket flag, which was presented to his Class Officer at the dedication of A4F BuNo 154977, is displayed in the Light Attack Ready Room in USS Midway. He, and squadron mate LCdr. L.D. Gosen are remembered with their names on the nose of Skyhawk BuNo 154977 aboard the museum ship USS Midway. July 29, 1969: Lt. Ronald R. Machens ejected safely from BuNo 154184 following an in-flight refueling engine fire. 1647 received report of parachute off starboard side. 1650 received word that reported man overboard was erroneous and was actually an ejection off the starboard side. 1653 received word that Lt. Ronald R. Machens from VA-23 was recovered by helo #005 having ejected from his burning aircraft A-4 bureau #669271 (sic). He was taken to sick bay and examined by the ships medical officer, then released in good condition. USS Oriskany deck log, Tuesday, 29 July 1969. 13 March 1970: Lt. Michael H. Draper, 34, ejected safely before his A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo 147710) attack jet crashed in an uninhabited area about four miles NW of Truckee in the Sierra yesterday after an engine failure while returning to Alameda. Oakland Tribune, Sat., March 14, 1970. April 1, 1970: Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE was officially disestablished on April Fool's Day, after more than 19 years of active service to the United States of America. |
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Unit Photos VF-653 F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125480 - 1952 VF-653 Grumman F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125480 side number H 113 at Naval Air Station Alameda in October 1952. Photograph by and from Robert Brozovich.VF-653 F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125559 - 1952 VF-653 Grumman F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125559 side number H 110 at Naval Air Station Alameda in October 1952. Panther BuNo. 125559 nose detail. Photograph by and from Robert Brozovich. VF-653 F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125184 - 1952 Robert Brozovich stands next to VF-653 Grumman F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125184 side number H 101 at Naval Air Station Alameda in October 1952. Panther BuNo. 125184 front view. Close up of the nose section of Panther BuNo. 125101. Photographs by and from Robert Brozovich. VF-151 F9F-2 Panther - 1953 VF-151 Black Knight Grumman F9F-2 Panther on the USS Boxer CVA-21 off Korea displays five inch rockets on folded wing prior to mission over North Korea during the summer of 1953. USN photograph from Alan Bedford. VF-151 F9F-2 Panther - 1953 Black Knight Grumman F9F-2 Panthers line up for launch on USS Boxer CVA-21 off Korea. VF-151 was on Boxer from March to November 1953 for combat against North Korea. VF-151 was redesignated VA-151 which was redesignated VA-23. USN photograph from Alan Bedford. VF-151 F7U-3 Cutlass Flight - 1956 Black Knight deuce of Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass flight flying past Mount Fuji, Japan in 1956. BuNo. 129615 - side number U-308 leads BuNo. 129617 - side number U-302. USN photograph from Charles Swinford. 01SEP60: VA-23 taken at NAF China Lake in 1960 l-r across the top of the photo: ****, Bill ****, John Deed, ****, **** Tony Davis. Middle row l-r: Charles H. Ha**son far right Front row l-r: ****, Tom Bulze, ****, ****, ****, Frank But** ****. Navy photo from Gary Verver. 1962: Midway based Black Knights Skyhawk formation from l-r: BuNo 145055, NE-401, BuNo 142904, NE-411, BuNo 142894, NE-408 and BuNo 144936, NE-405. Naval Aviation News circa 1962: Black Knights Skyhawk BuNo 142894, NE-408, behind the JBD as she waits her turn to launch from the stbd cat. Photo source unknown. Unidentified VA-23 Black Knights Skyhawk NE-412, on the ramp at NAS Lemoore. Courtesy of Tom Bispo. 16 February 1964: Lt(jg). Davis in VA-23 Black Knights A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149964, NE-340, gets the launch signal aboard the USS Midway (CVA-41). Official U.S. Navy photo.
28 October 1965: VA-23 Black Knights A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 152017, NE-336, piloted by Cdr. Robert R. King of Pomona, CA, (VA-23 CO), fires 2.75-inch rockets at Viet Cong targets in Vietnam. Official U.S. Navy photo. 1965: VA-23 A-4E BuNo 152046, NE-xx, 1965 USS Midway. Photo from Melly Jones, G. Verver Collection. 1965: VA-23 Black Knights A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 151143, NE-343, with the hook and gear down and the speed breaks out. Official U.S. Navy photo. Flown by CDR Robert R. King of VA-23 BuNo 152017 Skyhawk unloads a savo of 3 inch rockets against the Viet Cong. USN Photo provided by Gary Verver FEB66: 1966: Formation of four VA-23 A-4E Skyhawks, possibly over California. NAN Photo from Gary Verver. 1966-1967: VA-23 A-4E BuNo 151168 taxiing forward for a launch aboard the Coral Sea. Visible behind 168 is VA-22 A-4C BuNo 147761. Probably between Aug 1966 and end of Feb 1967 as that is when VA-22 and VA-23 were on the Coral Sea. From Gary Verver. August 1966: Skyhawk formation of Black Knights BuNo 151143, NE-343, BuNo 149962, NE-338, BuNo 149963, NE-347 and Redcocks BuNo 147844, NE 226. John Champlin via "Boom" Powell. November 1966 Coral Sea CVA-43: LT Jerry P. Shafer was forced to land his A-4E aircraft into Coral Sea's barricade after a combat strike near Haiphong in North Vietnam. BuNo 151120 was hit in the left wing, was on fire at different times in the flight, and was very low on fuel. December 1966: left rear view of damaged Black Knights Skyhawk parked on the Coral Sea flight deck. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza.
02 January 1967: right side view of Black Knights Skyhawk BuNo 151162, NE-336, assigned to CO Cdr. Dick Mackell parked on the ramp as it awaits repairs to the burned out lower tail section. p/c is AA W.L. Jackson. MAR67: BuNo 151187, NE-338, parked on the ramp. #222, in the background. Gary Verver Collection. 1967-1968: VA-23 Black Knights A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154188, NM-301, from the USS-Ticonderoga in-flight, 1967-1968. Official U.S. Navy photo. 15 March 1968: Black Knight March 15, 1968 telegram for Uncle Ho Chi Minh. Photograph from Jim Ritchie. 15 Mar 1968: BuNo 154188, NM-301, carrying the name of CO Commander Chuck Bush, chained down on the deck of the Tico. Photograph from Jim Ritchie. MAR 1969: Black Knights Skyhawk BuNo 154195, NM-302, assigned to XO CDR Ted Lloyd, parked on the Lemoore ramp. NAS Washington T-28B Trojans BuNo 137682 & 137643 at left and NAS Washington T-1A Seastars BuNo 144197. Nick Williams. 1969: NM 310 and NM 312. VA-23 A-4F Skyhawks in flight near Naval Air Station Lemoore California. USN photograph from Jim Ritchie. 1969: BuNo 154195, NM-302, of VA-23 aboard CVA-34 in 1969. Photo from Richard Mylar. 1969: VA-23 Black Knight A-4F Skyhawk and Patch Poster. Graphic drawn by Jim Ritchie. 1969: Black Knight preparing to enter the cockpit as the Plane Captain looks on. Lee Morris. 1969: 1969: NM-302 Under tow while the ship is in port. CVW-19 aboard the Oriskany was on a WestPac (Vietnam) Cruise. Perhaps the port is Subic Bay Phillipines. Note the aft "Hell Hole" (engine access) is hanging open. Lee Morris. 1969: With a air refueling tank (Buddy Store) on the centerline station, this "Black Knight" will be doing Tanker Duty. Lee Morris
1969: Tires smoke as this Skyhawks touches down. Note the "Plane Guard" escort cruising the wake of the Oriskany, just in case someone winds up in the water. And the LSO is peeking around the LSO Platform wind break to check on the trap. Lee Morris 1969: NM-307 does a flyby of the Oriskany. Lee Morris 1969: LTJG "Mac" McCullen mans NM-307. Lee Morris 1969: Maintenance is checking out the cockpit. A/c is loaded with ordinance, but no one is in Flight Deck Uniform so launch is still some time off. Lee Morris 1969: NM-310 taxies. Lee Morris 1969: Maintenance crew at work on NM-314. Lee Morris 1969: Plane Captain Art Peck in 314 which has LTJG "Mac" McCullen's name on it. Lee Morris 1969: 1969: NM-314 has a wire and begins roll out with speed brakes still open. Lee Morris 1969: Loaded up with iron bombs and taxing towards the cat with the help of nose wheel tiller bar. Yes the "Foxtrot" has nose wheel steering but the Blue Shirt can walk the nose wheel into the exact cat hookup position more precisely than the pilot can from the cockpit. Lee Morris 1969: Ready to go on the Port Cat, holdback is drawn tight, and the Cat Officer is going through his launch procedure. Note the position of the flaps for takeoff. Some units used a knotched stick to ensure exact positioning of the flaps, checking the bird behind the JBD when the bird was next up on the cat. Lee Morris 1969: CVW-19 Skyhawks aboard the USS Oriskany. Left to right is VA-512 NM-512, VA-23 NM-304 and VA-192 NM-4xx. 1969: Closeup of CVW-19 Skyhawks aboard the USS Oriskany. Left to right is VA-512 NM-512, VA-23 NM-304 and VA-192 NM-4xx. Richard Mylar. Off-Duty Photos None yet. |
24 SEP 1965: 
A-4 Aircraft assigned to this unit:
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