VA-45

Photograph Album


Overhead view of Blackbirds delta formation Fly-in.
"Boom" Powell Photo.

1966: Blackbirds, DET 1, Skyhawk BuNo 150022, AU-661, as she checks out a Soviet Bear.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

MAY 1968: Skyhawk BuNo 153498, AD-616, assigned to LT A.R. Papandrea, parked on the flightline next to VT-26 Cougar BuNo 147397.
Nick Williams

DEC 1968: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154305, AD-620, assigned to LT C.J. Krasko, parked on the ramp. p/c is P.L. Nasi.
Frank MacSorley

1969: BuNo.148609 A-4C aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid.
"The A-4 was a rare sight in northern Europe, but a couple of times the Intrepid docked in Copenhagen Harbour."
Comment and photo by Alf Blume of Denmark.

1971: Blackbirds Det. II Skyhawk BuNo 147698, AU-661, assigned to LCDR Worm Elmore aboard the USS Intrepid.
Unknown photographer, photo via W. Mutza

1971-72: Blackbird TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 154303 Side number 501.
This photograph of BuNo. 154303 was presented to Wendell Biggs by the Commanding Officer, Commander Gilmore, on the occasion of his promotion to AT2 on 1 September 1972. BuNo 154303 was still being flown by VA-45 in 1977.
Official United States Navy photograph from Wendell Biggs.

1971-72: VA-45 Det 1 A-4E Skyhawks Flying Wing on a VQ-2 Skywarrior.
VQ-2 Spanish Spook Douglas A-3 Skywarrior "Whale". Two VA-45 Det 11 A-4E Skyhawks, BuNo. 150091, side number 611 and BuNo. 151066, side number 613 visit another Douglas product. The Det 1 Blackbirds were attached to United States Ship Intrepid CVS 11 during 1972. Date of photograph unknown.
Official United States Navy photograph from Nathan Swapp.

1971-72: Blackbirds A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149664, AD-771, A-4C BuNo 149558, AD-661, and TA-4J BuNo 154303, AD-501.
"Boom" Powell

1971-72: Blackbirds A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149664, AD-771, A-4C BuNo 149558, AD-661, and TA-4J BuNo 154303, AD-501.
From "Boom" Powell

1971-73: Blackbirds A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149664, AD-771, A-4C BuNo 149558, AD-661, and TA-4J BuNo 154303, AD-501.
Photo from "Boom" Powell.

Circal 1972: A-4E AU-600 on final.
"Boom" Powell"

Circal 1972: A-4E formation.
"Boom" Powell"

1972: BuNo.150022 A-4E of VA-45 Detachment 1 aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in 1972 in Copenhagen Harbour. BuNo.152012 is also in the photo.
Photo by Alf Blume of Denmark.

JAN 1972: Blackbirds Det. II Skyhawk BuNo 147698, AU-661, assigned to LCDR Worm Elmore aboard the USS Intrepid.
G. Verver collection

1972: Blackbirds, DET 1, Skyhawk BuNo 150012, AU-662, as she checks out a Soviet Tupolev 114 Moss, "AWACS-ski".
Among the over 200 intercepts VA-45 Det 1 made in 1972 was the first ever of the Tupolev 114 ‘Moss’ ‘AWACS-ski’.
1972: Blackbirds, DET 1, Skyhawk BuNo 150012, AU-662, as she checks out a Soviet Tupolev 114 Moss, "AWACS-ski".
Photo from "Boom" Powell.

Blackbirds DET I Skyhawk BuNo 149647, AU-616, moments from touch-down.
From "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET I Skyhawk BuNo 149647, AU-616, as she checks out a Soviet Badger.
From "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET I Skyhawk BuNo 149647, AU-616, as she checks out a Soviet Badger.
From "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET-1 Skyhawk BuNo 149995, AU-607, as she launches from the Intrepid.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET-1 Skyhawk BuNo 149995, AU-607, in formation with another Blackbirds Skyhawk.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET-1 Skyhawk BuNo 149995, AU-607, tied down topside on the Intrepid.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

Blackbirds DET-1 pilots pose in and around the cockpit of Skyhawk BuNo 149995, AU-607.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

1972: Blackbirds, DET 1, Skyhawk BuNo 150022, AU-661, in formation with Blackbirds BuNo 152012, AU-662.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom"

1972-74: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154303, AD-000, parked on the ramp.
From "Boom" Powell

Feb 1973 Blackbirds Skyhawks BuNo 154618 refueling BuNo 149994, AD-773 as BuNo 145106 flys alongside.
Naval Aviation News Photo

MAY 1973: Blackbirds DET I Skyhawk BuNo 149647, AU-616, parked on the ramp.
Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy

1973: Blackbirds DET-I officers pose next to Skyhawk BuNo 151084, AU-605, aboard the Intrepid.
Raoul Alvarez via "Boom" Powell

04 Oct 1974 BuNo 154618, AD-000, parked on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

Chief Jon N. Ackley received these plaques while serving with VA-45 and VA-83.
Photo provide by Master Chief Ackely's son, Alan N. Ackley.

DeC 1977 Chief Jon N. Ackley received this photo on his promotion to Master at Cecil Field NAS.
TA-4Fs BuNo. 153461, 152867, 153460 and 154650 are shown in formation.
Photo provide by Master Chief Ackely's son, Alan N. Ackley.

VA-45 Blackbird Ball Spring 1975.
VA-45 Blackbird Officers and Leading Chief pose during the annual festivities.
Photograph from Mike Trout.

VA-45 Blackbird Ball Spring 1976.
VA-45 Blackbird Officers pose during the festivities. Commander Trout is still the Executive Officer, being extended to allow returning Prisoner of War Commander Leonard Hyatt to re-enter a normal career pattern.
Photograph from Mike Trout.

24 July 1976 left side view of a Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 153471, AD-602, on the ramp in an all white paint scheme.
Photo by T. Waddington, G. Verver collection.

Blackbird ACM TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 153497 Side number 601 - August 1976.
With the May 27, 1976 change of command VA-45 received a mission to develop an Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) program for Atlantic Fleet Light Attack. Maintenance positioned TA-4J BuNo. 153497 on the north side of the VA-45 hanger at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida for its Official United States Navy portrait. In the background hangar is a VA-174 Corsair II.
In a rear quarter view of Blackbird BuNo. 153497, are VA-45 Skyhawks in the background and illustration of how the Skipper's bird was configured for the ACM mission. Executive Officer Dick Porter's Skyhawk was painted with a different desert camouflage scheme. In addition to the camouflage paint, the VA-45 Skyhawks had a slick wing and a 150-gallon centerline tank.
Official United States Navy photograph from Mike Trout.

Nov 1976 BuNo 153497, AD-601, assigned to CO, CDR Mike Trout. In the background is a Flying Gators A-4L Skyhawk.
Gary Verver Collection

19 Jun 1976 BuNo 153461, AD-605.
Photo by W.G. Welch

VA-45 Blackbird Ball Spring 1977.
VA-45 Blackbird Officers and mascot pose during the festivities. Commander, Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet assigned a fighter pilot, Lieutenant Leddy (sitting on the Blackbird's lap), to VA-45 to assist developing an Air Combat Maneuvering program. VA-45 received the ACM mission July 1, 1976.
Photograph from Mike Trout.

22 AUG 1977: Skyhawk BuNo 153460, AD-611, assigned to LT J. Davies, parked on the flightline next to BuNo 151095.
Photographer unknown.

Circa 1975 - 1978: Blackbirds BuNo 154318, AD-605, in formation with what we believe to be BuNo 153461.
Circa 1975 - 1978: Blackbirds BuNo 154318, AD-605, in formation with what we believe to be BuNo 153461.
Circa 1975 - 1978: Blackbirds BuNo 154318, AD-605, in formation with what we believe to be BuNo 153461.
Photos by Harry Gann.

17 APR 1978: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 153460, AD-611, parked on the NAS Kingsville ramp.
G. Verver collection via R. Dowers.

17 APR 1978: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 153471, AD-602, parked on the NAS Kingsville ramp.
G. Verver collection via R. Dowers.

22 SEP 1979: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154318, AD-605, and BuNo 154319, AD-610, parked on the ramp.
Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy

22 SEP 1979: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154318, AD-605, parked on the ramp.
Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy

JAN 1980: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154303, AD-606, parked on the ramp.
Rob Mignard

May 1980 BuNo 153469, AD-607, parked on the line.
Gary Verver Collection

Sept 1984 Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154327, AD-13, parked on the ramp at NAS Miramar.
Photo by Mike Shapiro

Nov 1985 BuNo 151064, AD-10, on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

Two Blackbird TA-4J Skyhawks BuNos. 154298 & 158436 - 1986 or 1987.
A flight of TA-4J Skyhawks BuNo. 154298 with side number Alpha Delta 01 and BuNo. 158436 with side number Alpha Delta 06 from Fighter Adversary Squadron Forty Five (VF-45) fly over the Whiskey-174 warning area where the Squadron performed Adversary A.C.M. tactics against fleet fighter squadrons on detachment to Naval Air Station Key West Florida. Time frame 1986-1987.
From a photograph by Robert Lay.

Two Blackbirds: A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151064 and a F-16N - 1987.
The squdron received F-16N's in 1987. Here is A-4E AD 10 BuNo. 151064 with a F-16N over the fort on the Dry Tortuga's.
From a photograph by Robert Lay.

28 JUN 1987: VA-45 A-4E BuNo 151064, AD-10, parked on the ramp at Westover AFB.
R. Rys

Aug 1987 BuNo 149977, AD-15, parked on the ramp.
Michael Grove via Tailhook Association.

1988: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154327, AD-03, assigned to LCDR Dave 'Caveman' Rath, parked on the line.
Dave Steinbacker

Jan 1988 Skyhawk BuNo 155110, AD-02, parked on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

16 JAN 1988: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 158083, AD-01, parked on the ramp and painted in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
C. Kaston

02 FEB 1988: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 151038, AD-16, parked on the ramp and painted in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.


Nov 1988 BuNo 158083, AD-01, parked on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

Nov 1988 Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 154318, AD-00, parked on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

Blackbird TA-4J 155110, Alpha Delta-02 - 1989:
TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 155110 side number Alpha Delta 02, of VF-45 "Blackbirds", Naval Air Station Key West, FL. Seen on the Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georga, transit line on July 28, 1989, bearing one of the more bizarre adversary schemes of off-white and medium gray, with reverse lettering and insignia. Black VFA-127 F-5E peeks into picture on right.
From a photograph by Frank J. Mirande.

Blackbird A-4E 151064, Alpha Delta-10 - 1989:
A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151064, side number AD-10 of the VF-45 "Blackbirds" based at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, as seen at Naval Air Station Atlanta on October 12, 1989. The Skyhawk is clad in a light and medium-gray ACM scheme and sporting a red-orange star on the tail.
From a photograph by Frank J. Mirande.

1989 right front view of Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 149651, AD-17, on the flight line.
J.M. Ramos via Tailhhok Association.

Blackbird A-4E 151064, Alpha Delta-10.
Official U.S. Navy photo from the Don Scott collection.

Blackbird A-4E 152070, Delta-13 1990:
VF-45 Blackbird's A-4E BuNo. 152070, side number 13 finished in one of their notorious ACM schemes is photographed on the Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georga, flight line in January 12, 1990.
The VF-45 Blackbirds were based at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida.
From a photograph by Frank J. Mirande.

March 1990 Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 151050, AD-14, parked on the ramp.
Photo by T. Panopalis, Gary Verver Collection

19 March 1990 BuNo 155110, AD-02, parked on the ramp.
Photo by R.E. Kling, G. Verver collection.

BuNo 149651 parked on the line in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
Gary Verver Collection.

13 NOV 1990: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 151038, AD-16, parked on the ramp and painted in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
W. Munzenmaier

Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 153502, AD-600, parked on the flightline.
Neal Schnieder

Nov 1990 BuNo 151038, AD-16, on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

Nov 1990 BuNo 151038, AD-16, on the flight line.
Ted Paskowski, G. Verver collection.

13 NOV 1990: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 151050, AD-14, assigned to "BOG" parked on the ramp and painted a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
W. Munzenmaier

1992: Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo 151064, AD-10, in formation with a squadron F-16 and painted in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
Unknown photographer via W. Mutza

09 March 1992 BuNo 151033 parked on the ramp.
Photo by T. Panopalis, Gary Verver Collection.

Blackbird A-4E 151064, Alpha Delta-10 - 1993:
A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151064, side number AD-10 of VF-45 "Blackbirds", Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, again at Naval Air Station Atlanta, four years later (11-24-93). Gone is the red-orange star, replaced at the end of 1992 with "diplomatically correct" tail markings and green side numbers (the tail marking being a reproduction of the unit insignia). The camouflage pattern was also changed during repaint, as compared to the earlier photo.
From a photograph by Frank J. Mirande.

VA-45 Blackbirds Skyhawk BuNo. 153497 on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

VA-45 TA-4F BuNo 154312, looks like AD-611.
Gary Verver Collection.

VA-45 TA-4F AD-601, BuNo 153490
Don Scott photo, Gary Verver Collection.

VA-45 TA-4J AD-606 BuNo unknown, AD-613 BuNo 154327 and AD-602 BuNo 153471.
TA-4J Skyhawks from VA-45 in formation over Fort Jefferson National Park, Dry Tortugas, FL.
Flying lead in Hawk-606 is the VA-45 CO CDR James "Boink" Tyan with AMS1 Mark T. McCabe,
flying Hawk-613 is LCDR Tom "Maggot" McInvale, and on his wing in Hawk-602 is LCDR Steve "KC" Brandenburg.
Photography by Bruce R. Trombecky, Gary Verver Collection.

Blackbird A-4E 151064, Alpha Delta-10 Tailfeathers:
Detail of A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151064, side number AD-10. An attractive insignia, but with a change-of-command in a few months, the red-orange star would return! In any event, the Blackbirds were disestablished about a year later.
From a photograph by Frank J. Mirande.

TA-4J SKYHAWK BuNo. 158136
NWFS TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 158136 side number AD 15 wait on the ramp.
Photograph from Michael Klaver.

Blackbirds Aggressor Skyhawk BuNo 151064, AD-10, parked on the ramp and painted in a blue/gray camouflage scheme.
W. Munzenmaier



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