VC-7 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 UTRON Seven |
 Patch courtesy Richard E. Dellwo |
 FLECOMPRON 7 |
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Patch No info yet. |
Sources David Weber Richard E. Dellwo John Gabbard Torg Anderson Scott Van Aken |
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Handle Redtails Heritage 4 December 1942 - - VJ-1 established. 1946- - - - - - - - VJ-1 Re-designated VU-7 2 July 1965 - - - - VU-7 re-designated VC-7 30 September 1980 - VC-7 dis-established. |
Home Ports Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location: 4 December 1942 - - - NAS Alameda, CA Feb 1943- - - - - - - NAS San Diego, CA (Now North Island) Squadron Detatchments were commissioned as: VU-12 at Tougue Point, OR - 1943 VU-13 at Tougue Point, OR - 1943 VU-14 at South San Francisco Airport, CA - 1943 |
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Air Wings No info yet. |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 1942- - - - - - - J2F-5 1942- - - - - - - North American SNJ Texan 1942- - - - - - - Douglas SBD Dauntless 1942- - - - - - - PBY-1 1942- - - - - - - BD-2 1943- - - - - - - PV-1 1943- - - - - - - JM-1 1944- - - - - - - FM-2 1944- - - - - - - JRF-5 1945- - - - - - - Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat 1945- - - - - - - JM-2 1945- - - - - - - Grumman TBF1C Avenger 1945- - - - - - - Grumman TBM-3 Avenger 1945- - - - - - - R4D 1946- - - - - - - Douglas JD-1 (UB-26J) Invader * 1946- - - - - - - Beechcraft SNB-2 Bug Smasher 1946- - - - - - - Beechcraft SNB-3 Bug Smasher 1946- - - - - - - SNB-5 (RC-45) * 1947- - - - - - - TD2C-1 Drone 1947- - - - - - - TDD-3 Drone 1947- - - - - - - KDR-1 Drone 1947- - - - - - - KDR-2 Drone 1947- - - - - - - HO3S 1947- - - - - - - HTL-2 1952- - - - - - - R5C-1 1952- - - - - - - Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat 1952- - - - - - - Grumman F9F-2 Panther 1955- - - - - - - Grumman F9F- Cougar 1957- - - - - - - North American FJ-3 Fury 1958- - - - - - - North American FJ-4 Fury 1961- - - - - - - F8U-1 Crusader 1962- - - - - - - Lockheed TV-2Sea Star 1962- - - - - - - Grumman US-2C Tracker 3 January 1965- - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 1968- - - - - - - F4B Phantom II 14 March 1969 - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 2 April 1969- - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 31 May 1973 - - - Douglas A-4F Skyhawk 7 April 1970- - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk 8 August 1973 - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk 196?- - - - - - - AQM-37A (Air-launched, self-propelled target) * November 30, 1962 The JD-1 designation changed to UB-26J The SNB-5 designation changed to RC-45 The A4D-2 designation changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation changed to A-4C The A4D-5 designation changed to A-4E For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments 11 January to 13 June 1950 - CVG-19 - USS Boxer (CV-21)- - - TBM-3U - B-XXX - - WesPac 28 May to 22 November 1955 - CVG-4- - USS Intrepid (CV-11) - AJ-2 - - F-5XX - - Med |
Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer DEC 1942-OCT 1943................... LT W. R. LIPSCOMB OCT 1943-JUL 1944................... CDR P. K. WILL JUL 1944-FEB 1945................... LT H. B. SOMERVILLE FEB 1945-MAY 1946................... LCDR L. H. MILLER MAY 1946-MAR 1947................... LCDR C. N. MAKER MAR 1947-JUN 1947................... CDR R. L. ELDRIDGE JUN 1947-JUL 1947................... CDR R. C. STARKEY JUL 1947-JUN 1948................... CDR R. M. PRAY JUN 1948-MAY 1949................... CDR W. H. WESTON MAY 1949-AUG 1950................... CAPT C. F. GREBER AUG 1950-AUG 1950................... CAPT J. G. LEWIS AUG 1950-JUN 1951................... CDR E. G. REED JUN 1951-DEC 1952................... CDR N. R. LINCOLN, JR. DEC 1952-JUN 1954................... CDR A. M. ELLINGSON JUN 1954-JAN 1955................... CDR R. B. FORWARD JAN 1955-MAR 1957................... CDR R. L. CENTNER MAR 1957-APR 1957 .................. CDR R. F. WOLFE (Acting) APR 1957-AUG 1958................... CDR H. E. BELEW AUG 1958-MAR 1959................... CDR W. A. COMER MAR 1959-MAR 1960................... CDR G. C. BURKEY MAR 1960-OCT 1960................... CDR K. P. REHNBERG, JR. OCT 1960-OCT 1961................... CDR M. W. VINEYARD OCT 1961-OCT 1962................... CDR D. S. BEDSOLE, JR. OCT 1962-OCT 1963................... CDR H. G. DERSAM OCT 1963-OCT 1964................... CDR W. J. ENNIS OCT 1964-OCT 1965................... CDR N. E. HECKERT OCT 1965-OCT 1966................... CDR W. M. EARLEY, JR. OCT 1966-OCT 1967................... CDR B. TESCH, JR. OCT 1967-OCT 1968................... CDR R. F. MCLAUGHLIN OCT 1968-OCT 1969................... CDR J. W. BRANNON, JR. OCT 1969-OCT 1970................... CAPT. B. W. HALL OCT 1970-OCT 1971................... CDR H. D. AVERYT OCT 1971-OCT 1972................... CDR G. M. DEMPSEY OCT 1972-OCT 1973................... CDR G. L. VANDEWATER, JR OCT 1973-OCT 1974................... CDR D. W. CASWELL OCT 1974-OCT 1975................... CAPT J. F. BELL OCT 1975-OCT 1976................... CDR E. W. WINGERTER, JR. OCT 1976-DEC 1977................... CDR R. E. DELLWO DEC 1977-MAR 1979................... CDR D. P. GAUTHIER MAR 1979-JUN 1980................... CDR G. D. MERRIMAN JUN 1980-SEP 1980................... CDR D. J. CAREY |
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Awards No info yet |
Awards continued No additional info |
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Events 4 December 1942: VJ-1 (Fleet Composite SquadronSEVEN) was commissioned at NAS Alameda, CA to provide fleet combat units on the West Coast the essential training services they required. Target towing for aircraft & ships, tracking runs, & simulated attacks on submarines & destroyers, photographic & mapping and anti-aircraft gun crew training missions. 1943: Added training of Photographic Mates on the West Coast until Utility Squadron SEVEN (VU-7) absorbed the Fleet Air Photographic Laboratory which was part of the squadron for 15 years. 1943: A detachment of SNJs was located at Dutch Harbor, AK setting up towing facilities for the Anti-Aircraft Training Center there when the Japanese bombed the airfield in July 1943. 1945: Saw the addition of electronic warfare missions, radar jamming and tests with captured Japanese radar for radar countermeasures and experimentation. 1945: Had search radar, LORAN navigation equipment, VHF radios, radio altimeters, and identification equipment installed in the JM-1s. 1946: Redesignated VU-7 - Serving under the Commander, Utility Wing Pacific Fleet (Decommissioned 1965) 1947: Added launching and recovering drone targets. 1948: The squadron became a surface as well as an aviation unit with the addition of 60 foot AVR boats to aid in the recovery of drones. 1947: Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) was decommissioned and became a permanent detatchment of VU-7 at NAS Santa Ana, CA, performing all the squadron's target drone operations. December 1948: The drone detachment is commissioned as VU-3. 1948: Detachment Able was formed at NAS Barbers Point, HI when VU-1 was disestablished. 1949: Detachment Baker was established from VU-9 at NAS Agana, Guam January to June 1950: Detachment of two TBM-3Us, two officers and twelve enlisted were deployed aboard USS Boxer (CV-21) for WestPac cruise to provide target towing for the air wing. This was the last shipboard deployment for VU-7. August 1950: Detachment Baker formed the Nucleus of Fleet Utility Squadron FIVE (VU-5) commissioned at NAS Agana, Guam. July 1951: Detachment Able re-established as Fleet Utility Squadron ONE (VU-1) at NAS Barbers Point, HI 1951: VU-7's KD drone units transferred to VU-3. 1952: 25 different detachments to various West Coast locations. 30 October 1964: All prop driven aircraft transferred out. 2 July 1965: VU-7 redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron SEVEN (VC-7) and placed under the command of Commander, Fleet Air Miramar. August 22, 1968: Lt(jg). William L. Bianchini, 23, was killed Aug. 22 when his VC-7 A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 145032) crashed into the ocean about 30 miles west of San Diego on a routine training flight with other pilots from Miramar. The crash occurred about 1 p.m. and Coast Guard and rescue aircraft were dispatched to the scene. The Columbus Daily Telegram, Columbus, NB, Thursday, September 5, 1968.
November 19, 1974: Lt. Jeffery D. Stanley, 26, was missing after a Tuesday afternoon mid-air collision (BuNo 148553) over the Pacific 35 miles from San Diego enroute from Miramar to the Pacific Missile Test Center. F-4 Phantom pilot Lt. Russel Owen, 26, and RIO CWO Richmond Staples, 37, were rescued. Daily Review, Wed., November 20, 1974. Lt. Jeffery D. Stanley, 26, was lost at sea today following a flaming midair collision over the Pacific. The planes collided Tuesday 35 miles from San Diego. F-4 Phantom pilot Lt. Russel Owen, 26, and RIO CWO Richmond Staples, 37, were rescued. Long Beach Press Telegram, Wednesday, November 20, 1974. OCT 1975-OCT 1976: CDR Edward W. Wingerter, Jr. was born in Hang Chow, China on 27 November 1935. His father, an aviator, was an American Advisor to the Chinese Air Force.
During his career in the Navy, CDR Wingerter has accumuated over 4,700 hours of flight time of whick 3,700 are in light attack jets. He has made 7 extended deployments; five in the Sixth Fleet, one in the Seventh Fleet and on in the Second Fleet. He has flown 50 combat missions over North Vietnam and has accumulated over 700 carrier landings. OCT 1976-DEC 1977: Commander Richard E. Dellwo, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, entered the Navy in 1953. In 1956, he reported to NAS Pensacola and began flight training as a Naval Aviation Cadet. He has served in Attack Squadrons 93, 124, 127 and 196. Additionaly, CDR Dellwo has been assigned to NAS Twin Cities, MN. and NAS Whiting Field, FL. as a flight instructor. During his career, CDR Dellwo has accumulated over 5,400 flight hours, of which 3,600 were flown in the A-4 aircraft. He has to his credit over 250 combat missons over North Vietnam. For his accomplishments he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, twenty-two Strike-Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals with Combat "V", Navy Achievement Meda with Combat "V", three Navy Unit Commendations, the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. CDR Dellwo is married to the former Marjorie Benson of Dassel MN. The have two daughters, Tammy and Cindy. DEC 1977: Change of Command. Squadron History and mission. January 24, 1979: Cdr. Davis P. Gauthier, 40, ejected safely Wednesday before his VC-7 A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 155012) crashed in the foothills four miles east of NAS Miramar runway while returning from a routine training flight. Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, January 25, 1979. A Navy squadron commander ejected safely Wednesday seconds before his A-4 Skyhawk crashed four miles short of the NAS Miramar runway. Santa Cruz Sentinel, Tuesday, January 25, 1979. January 9, 1980: LCdr. Gaylord S. Parrett, 36, and Ens. Dewayne G. Cousins, 22, ... unknown crew members are missing and presumed dead after their VC-7 TA-4J Skyhawk (BuNo 154323) disappeared over the Pacific 62 miles south of San Diego Wednesday during a routine training mission. Tyrone Daily Herald, Thursday, January 10, 1980. An aircraft carrier, a destroyer and five helicopters searched the Pacific 62 miles south of San Diego for a Navy Skyhawk jet that disappeared Wednesday during a routine training mission. "At this time the crew members are presumed dead," a spokesman at NAS Miramar said adding the "accident is under investigation by the Navy.” Identification of the two missing flyers was withheld until relatives could be contacted. The crew aboard the TA4J aircraft was based at Miramar's Fleet Composite Squadron Seven. New Castle News, Thursday, 10 January 1980. LCdr. Gaylord S. Parrett and Ens. Dewayne G. Cousins are presumed dead after their TA-4J Skyhawk apparently crashed about 62 miles SW of San Diego on a routine training mission Wednesday morning. Los Angeles Times, Friday, January 11, 1980. LCdr. Gaylord S. Parrett, 36, and Ens. Dewayne G. Cousins, 22, are presumed dead as Navy gives up the search for an A4 Skyhawk jet that apparently plunged into the ocean Wednesday. Both pilots were stationed at NAS Miramar. Palm Beach Post, Saturday, January 12, 1980. VC-7, TA-4J Buno 154323 was destroyed at San Clemente Island when the aircraft crashed into the water following an inverted spin, 09 January 1980. Unsuccessful ejection, 2 crew. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. April 1980: Received notice of disestablishment effective 30 September 1980. 27 June 1980: The squadron's final mission was flown, towing DART targets for VMFA-513's AV-8 Harriers, while completing its last detatchment at NAF El Centro, CA. The squadron's 37 years and 7 months of service had ended. JUN 1980-SEP 1980: Lieutenant Commander David J. Carey left Jeannette, Pennsylvania to enter the Naval Academy, where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1964. He received his wings in March, 1966, and reported to Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California, to fly the A-4's with Va-163. They deployed in June 1967, and he was shot down by a SAM near Hiaphong on 31 August 1967. Upon returning to the United States in March, 1973, he went to Flight Refresher Training at Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas, and was the assigned to VF-126 as Safety and Operations Officer. He reported aboard VC-7 in January, 1977. LCDR Carey has accumulated 1630 flight hours during his career, 1330 of which are in the A-4 aircraft. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit, five Bronze Stars, six Air Medals and the Purple Heart. Lcdr Carey is married to the former Karen Nelson of Walnut Creek, California. They have two children, Jeffrey and Alyssa. 30 September 1980: VC-7 Decommissioning: page 1 (ceremony), page 2 (history), page 3, page 4, page 5, page 6, page 7, page 8, page 9, page10 (Skyhawk), page 11 (Officers), page 12 (Skyhawks).
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He attend the University of Florida for 2 years in order to complete college requirements for the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Aviation Cadet Wingerter entered flight training in September 1955, graduated from jet training at NAS Kingsville, Texas and was designated a Naval Aviator in March 1956. Ensign Wingerter reported to NAS Corry Field for his first tour of duy in the Basic Training Command as a Flight Instructor flying the SNJ. Following this tour, in October 1958, he was assigned as one of the first Replacement Pilots in Attack Squadron 44. Upon completion of the A-4 Skyhawk training syllabus in May 1959, he reported to VA-172, then deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in USS F.D. Roosevelt.
In 1971 he received his BA degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, Montery, CA. Prior to reporting to VC-7 in November 1974 as Operatons Officer, CDR Dellwo served in the USS Hancock as strike operations officer.
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Unit Photos 1965: Skyhawk BuNo 142917, one of thirteen A-4B's, becoming the 1st and only squadron in the San Diego area operating with Skyhawks. Naval Aviation News Left side view of Tally-HOers Crusader & Skyhawk diamond formation. F-8C BuNo 145562, UH-10; A-4C BuNo 149645, UH-21; F-8A BuNo 144427, UH-9, and A-4C BuNo 147715, UH-27. Tailhook Association. Aug 1967: BuNo 144924 piloted by CDR Bernard Tesch, jr., during the 1st flight with a center-of-gravity-towed Dart target. Naval Aviation News Photo. 07 AUG 1969: in-flight view of two unknown Redtails Skyhawks and two unknown Crusaders in formation. CW from lead: F-8 Crusader UH-18, A-4C Skyhawk UH-30, F-8 Crusader UH-17 and A-4C Skyhawk UH-3x. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. 1970: BuNo 149505, UH-20, assigned to LT "Tut" Tuttle parked on the ramp with a Delmar tow target on the port pylon. F-4 Phantom BuNo 153870 in the background. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. 14 March 1970: BuNo 148548, UH-24, parked on the ramp. Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. October 1970: VC-7 TallyHoers A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 149505, UH-20, with a DART tow target, location unknown. Photographer unknown. 18 Nov 1972: BuNo 148553, UH-07, parked on the ramp & configured with a DART tow target. Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. BuNo.145118 - Tallyho Skyhawk, centerline buddy store, parked on the ramp. Courtesy of Scott Van Aken. 1972: BuNo 149547, UH-04, assigned to LCDR A.J. Bennett parked on the ramp. Lionel Paul. 1972: Skyhawk BuNo 142113, UH-46, resting on the drop tanks after a wheels-up landing. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. 12 MAY 1973: BuNo 149645, UH-05, parked on the Miramar ramp. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. 1973: BuNo 147728, UH-11, A-4C parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 12 April 1975 : BuNo 148555, UH-27, parked on the ramp. Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. VC-7 A-4L BuNo 149531 P. Bergagnini. 1969-74: Left side view of VC-7 Tally HOers A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 148548, UH-24, on the ramp, NAS Miramar. Copyright R.W. Harrison. JUN 1975: Left side view of VC-7 Tally HOers A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 148555, UH-27, on the ramp, NAS Miramar. Copyright R.W. Harrison. BuNo.145062 on the ramp. M.J.Delgado. 15 OCT 1975: BuNo 148555, UH-2316 parked on the ramp. R. Dowers photo, G. Verver collection. 15 OCT 1975: BuNo 158465, UH-314, parked on the flight-line. G. Verver collection via R. Dowers. 1976: VC-7 REDTAIL A-4F BuNo. 154183. A VC-7 Redtail A-4F Skyhawk BuNo. 154183 - side number UH 310 based at Naval Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California rests on the "Tinker Air Force Base" flight line. Next in line is a Memphis Marines A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151990 - tail code QP. A VA-43 TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154291 - tail code AD waits for a crew at the end of the flight line. Mark Robbins. 13APR76: Tally Hoers Skyhawk BuNo 154217, UH-306, parked on the ramp. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. 13APR76: TallyHoers Skyhawk BuNo 155012, UH-3030, parked on the Miramar ramp. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. 24 Sept 1977: BuNo 155063, UH-301, parked on the ramp. 15 FEB 1978: BuNo 154323, UH-316, as she taxies by the photographer with a Dart tow target under the wing. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza. BuNo 155017, UH-09, assigned to LT Bill Powell as she taxies by the photographer. W. Munzenmaier. DEC79: 158129, A-729, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 26 Mar 1978 BuNo 153518, UH-305, parked on the ramp in a white paint scheme and Redtails drop tanks. Gary Verver Collection. 08OCT78: BuNo 154183, UH-304, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. Plane Captain Cord Cameron with BuNo 148552 of VC-7, UH-03. A few years later she had an Argentina Plane Captain, as A-4Q C-319. Photo from Cord Cameron. BuNo 154322, UH-312, in a vertical climb. Gary Verver Collection. BuNo 155031, UH-302, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. APR91: a href="/sites/default/files/images-buno-152102-153690/153498c.jpg">BuNo 153498, UH-315, parked on the ramp. Rob Mignard. 16 MAR 1985 ?: An air-to-air left side view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft from Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124, NJ-401) ) being refueled by a Skyhawk (A-4C BuNo 147765, UH-02) aircraft from Fleet Composite Squadron 7 (VC-7). Photo marked 16 MAR 1985, but may not be date shot. DVIC DN-SC-85-06075. From Gary Verver. 1975-78: VC-7 Redtails A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 155033, UH-304, in formation over CA with VC-7 Redtails A-4F BuNo 155064, UH-301. Photographer unknown. 1975-79: left side view of VC-7 Redtails A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154217, UH-306, assigned to LT Skip Smith, taxiing by the photographer. PC is AOAA J. B. Harris. BuNo 154217, VC-7 UH-306, on the ramp. BuNo 155017, VC-7 UH-09, on the ramp. VC-7 Tally-HOers A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 147715, UH-27, A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 149645, UH-21, DF-8F (F-8A) Crusader BuNo 144427, UH-9, and F-8C Crusader BuNo 145562, UH-10, in flight near San Diego, CA. Official U.S. Navy photo. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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