A-7E

[Finn]

A trio of Corsairs with a mix load of Mk-82s, Shrikes and Paveway I LGBs:

 

 

Jari

[firefly7]

Nice picture Jari, would that be the Desert Storm timeframe.

[ziggyfoos]

12 minutes ago, firefly7 said:

Nice picture Jari, would that be the Desert Storm timeframe.

 

Vietnam 1971-72 cruise I imagine.

By the time of Desert Storm A-7's were low-viz grey.

[blackbetty]

would that be an iron hand loadout?

[firefly7]

Thank you Ziggyfoos, i should have remembered that, I'm getting old, no wait, I'm allready old. Ohh! The humanities !

[Finn]

5 hours ago, blackbetty said:

would that be an iron hand loadout?

 

I think they carried a Shrike for a just in case if needed situation. You can make out the tail fin of another Paveway I on the i/b pylons of #401 & 410 while 402 has 6 Mk-82s on the right side so no LGB on the middle pylon. Also note parts of the bottom of 401 looks to be grey, probably a build up of dirt and grime that just got a quick wipe down while the nose gear doors are still white. One last item they all have chaff installed, the blue under the tail.

 

edit: here is 401 with Snakeyes and LGBs:

 

 

Jari

Edited March 25, 2021 by Finn

[Oldbaldguy]

Boy, you can certainly tell that nobody took the time to crawl under these airplanes to try to clean the hard to get to places.  Looks like all three are carrying Sidewinders on the fuselage stations.

[John1]

Not too many Vietnam era pictures of Navy jets with laser-guided bombs.   What platform was designating for the A-7’s?  

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, John1 said:

Not too many Vietnam era pictures of Navy jets with laser-guided bombs.   What platform was designating for the A-7’s?  

During Vietnam, I believe the USN used Pave Knife on the centerline of the A-6A Intruder.  Later when the A-6E got the TRAM upgrade, the laser designator was in the undernose turret.

[Finn]

They also had TA-4s that had a designator in the back seat:

 

 

edit: a bit more info here:

 

http://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-4f-laser-spot-tracker.html

 

Jari

Edited March 28, 2021 by Finn

[ziggyfoos]

5 hours ago, Jennings Heilig said:

I got into a heated argument with a modeler who “knew” that no TA-4F/J had ever been in combat.  Incorrect!

That should've been a short argument.

Understandable that USN limited late war use would not be that well known but I'd suspect more people would be familiar with USMC TA-4Fs in Vietnam - especially modelers considering several decals feature their various markings, both in kit and aftermarket (most with their later playboy bunny).

[Oldbaldguy]

And how about the Israeli two-holers?  Anybody know if they dropped a bomb or two or were they used only as trainers?

[John1]

4 hours ago, Oldbaldguy said:

And how about the Israeli two-holers?  Anybody know if they dropped a bomb or two or were they used only as trainers?

From what I read they were strictly trainers.  

[Finn]

They did use them in combat, 1 was lost:

13-Oct-73 TA-4   Ran Ofri\Yehuda Shefer   Egyptian SAM, Ofri killed at ejection, Shefer recovered

Jari

[Scotsman]

Jennings you should know better than to argue with a modeller , after all they know everything!