MAG-12,
H&MS-12 Outlaws
The Squadron Duty Officer
(SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help
old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit
information. The
SDO List.
The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related
information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all
eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.
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Heritage
Home Ports
Air Wings
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
- 1965 - 1971 - - - - - - - WA - - - - - - -
- - -
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Deployments
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier -Aircraft
- - Area of Operations:
- 1965 - 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - DaNang
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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Events
- March 1965:
First Marine Division mud Marines waded ashore at Da Nang to protect
the allied airfield from the Viet Cong. The mud Marines were soon in
the midst of heavy combat and were requesting air support of their own.
The Marine landing coincided with a need for a new coastal air base
needed to reduce flight time to targets in Quang Tin province and
adjacent districts.
Da Nang was the first Marine air base in South Vietnam. Marine Aircraft
Group 11 (MAG-11) would direct most operations assigned Da Nang
aircraft that flew north of the base and over the DMZ and southern
North Vietnam.
A second airfield was sorely needed. Chu Lai located about 50 miles
south of Da Nang was chosen for the new airfield. Starting in April
1965 Navy Seabees worked in 100-degree-plus temperatures to prepare the
remote Chu Lai site for an aluminum plank SATS (short airfield for
tactical support) "tinfoil strip" 4,000-foot runway. A catapult and
arresting gear were planned to allow Skyhawks to use the field. The
arresting gear was soon installed but a catapult was not available. So
JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) was planned to reduce the Skyhawk takeoff
distance by half. Soon the Chu Lai facility had a runway, arresting
gear, taxiways, and a parking ramp. A catapult was installed May 14,
1966.
Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) was assigned to Chu Lai to direct
most Skyhawk operations in South Vietnam. The plan was to rotate
Skyhawk squadrons to and from Chu Lai and Japan to conduct combat
operations.
The Skyhawk --- The Marine Corps had flown the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
since 1957, but had to wait eight years to fly the Skyhawk in combat.
The A-4 Skyhawk was armed with two internal 20mm cannons and could
carry additional guns in external pods. The A-4C had three external
stores stations available and the A-4E had five external stores
stations available. From the external stores stations Marine pilots
could deliver approximately 8,500 pounds of ordnance ---"iron" bombs
weighing up to 1,000 pounds, napalm, Zuni semi-guided rockets, cluster
bombs, and unguided rockets.
- June 1, 1965:
Colonel John D. Noble, MAG-12 Commanding Officer, lead Lieutenant
Colonel Robert W. Baker, VMA-225 Commanding Officer, and three other
VMA-225 "Vagabond" A-4C Skyhawks (tail code CE) into the new Chu Lai
air base (June 1, 1965 - October 1965).
Later on June 1, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard J. Stender, VMA-311
Commanding Officer, lead three VMA-311 "Tomcat" A-4E Skyhawks (tail
code WL) into the new Chu Lai air base. (June 1, 1965 - October 1965;
February 1966 - March 1967; June 1967 - February 1970; May 1972 -
January 1973).
Still later on June 1, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker,
VMA-225 Commanding Officer, lead the first "Vagabond" combat mission
from Chu Lai striking the enemy six miles north of the base.
- June 2, 1965:
Early in the morning Colonel John D. Noble, MAG-12 Commanding Officer,
lead four VMA-225 "Fighting Eagle" aircraft to bomb and strafe Viet
Cong forces near the base.
Later in the morning of June 2, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard J.
Stender, VMA-311 Commanding Officer, lead three other "Tomcat" Skyhawks
on the squadron's first Chu Lai combat mission. The four VMA-311
"Tomcats" bombed and strafed Viet Cong forces in Quang Ngai, about
twenty miles south of Chu Lai.
On this mission Colonel Stender demonstrated a colorful departure as he
took the short runway and ran his engine up to 85 percent power for the
takeoff check. Colonel Stender inadvertently hit the JATO firing button
when calling the tower for takeoff clearance and the JATO fired. The
Skyhawk leaped forward; Stender brought the engine to 100% and was on
his way --- barely getting airborn and blowing sand for a mile after he
was airborne from the short runway.
- June 16, 1965:
All twenty VMA-311 A-4E Skyhawks had arrived at Chu Lai to begin an
intensive period of combat operation.
- June 23, 1965:
The United States Air Force 2nd Air Division, which directed air
strikes in South Vietnam, cited VMA-311 for "the finest close air
support we have ever seen!"
- June 28, 1965:
The VMA-214 "Black Sheep" (tail code WE) arrived bringing twenty A-4C
Skyhawks to Chu Lai (June 28, 1965 - February 1966; April 1966 - March
1967).
- August 1965:
During Operation Starlite North Vietnamese forces tried to attack Chu
Lai but were driven off by mud Marines on land and in Skyhawks in the
air.
- October 15, 1965:
The VMA-211 "Wake Island Avengers" (tail code CF) arrived bringing
twenty A-4E Skyhawks to Chu Lai. (October 15, 1965 - July 1966;
November 1966 - September 1967; December 1967 - February 1970; May 1972
- February 1973).
MAG-12 now commanded about 80 Skyhawks at Chu Lai.
- October 1965:
MAG-12 now started to rotate Skyhawk squadrons to Japan. VMA-224
"Bengals" (tail code WK) arrived bringing twenty A-4E Skyhawks to Chu
Lai (October 1965 - April 1966; July 1966 - November 1966).
VMA-225 "Fighting Eagles" were rotated to Japan.
- December 1965:
The VMA-223 "Bulldogs" (tail code WP) arrived bringing twenty A-4E
Skyhawks to Chu Lai. (December 1965 - December 1966; March 1967 -
December 1967; April 1968 - January 1970).
The VMA-311 "Tomcats" were rotated to Japan.
- December 29, 1965:
First Lieutenant Thomas F. Eldridge, United States Marine Corps VMA-211
"Wake Island Avengers" was Killed in Action. Lieutenant Eldridge's A-4E
Skyhawk was hit by .50-caliber fire as he rolled in on enemy positions
during a helicopter escort. Despite a leg wound, Lieutenant Eldridge
was able to drop his load of napalm and turn for base. His crippled
craft crashed 13 miles from Chu Lai and killing Lieutenant Eldridge.
- February 1966:
The VMA-311 "Tomcats" arrived with twenty A-4E Skyhawks (tail code WL)
to Chu Lai. (June 1, 1965 - October 1965; February 1966 - March 1967;
June 1967 - February 1970; May 1972 - January 1973).
The VMA-214 "Black Sheep" were rotated to Japan.
- March 19, 1966:
First Lieutenant Augusto "Gus" M. Xavier, United States Marine Corps
VMA-311 "Tomcats" was Killed in Action. Lieutenant Xavier was attacking
targets in mountainous terrain in predawn darkness and failed to pull
out of a strafing run.
- April 1966:
VMA-214 Black Sheep arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
VMA-224 Bengals were rotated to Japan.<
- May 14, 1966:
Chu Lai's aircraft carrier type mobile catapult system became
operational. The aircraft catapult was able to launch Skyhawks on
either north or south runway headings.
- July 1966:
VMA-224 Bengals arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers were rotated to Japan.
- September 6, 1966:
First Lieutenant Thomas H. Hawking, United States Marine Corps VMA-311
"Wake Island Avengers" was Killed in Action. Lieutenant Hawking had
successfully ejected from his Skyhawk after hitting a tree during a
bombing run. Lieutenant Hawking grabbed a line trailed by a passing
Huey, but as the helicopter climbed Hawking lost his grip and fell to
his death.
- September 21, 1966:
The Viet Cong attacked Chu Lai with mortars, wounding some VMA-223
"Bulldog" personnel.
- October 1966:
Chu Lai West, a 10,000-foot concrete runway with aircraft hardstands
and taxiways, was completed.
- November 1966:
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
VMA-224 Bengals rotated to Japan.
- December 1966:
The VMA-121 "Green Knights" (tail code VK) arrived bringing twenty A-4C
Skyhawks to Chu Lai, (December 1966 - October 1968). They were the
seventh Marine Skyhawk unit to fly Vietnam combat missions from Chu
Lai. Earlier, in 1962, the "Green Knights" deployed with Skyhawks to
Ubon, Thailand, to help prevent a coup. VMA-121 had returned home
without firing a shot.
VMA-223 Bulldogs rotated to Japan.
- (1967):
Tropical weather in Vietnam provided much low cloud and rain to cover
the Viet Cong. The Marines used ground controlled precision radar to
allow bombing through clouds and at night. The pilot would put the
Skyhawk on autopilot and couple to the ground precision radar
controller when headed toward the target. The computerized system
initiated directional changes and released ordnance at the correct
altitude and time via radio signals received by the Skyhawk's computer.
Tactical air control increasingly passed to jet aircraft during the
war. Marine Skyhawk pilots worked with Air Force FAC (forward air
controllers) using the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog; and the Marines had their
own FAC aircraft --- the two-seat TA-4F Skyhawk dual-control trainer.
The TA-4F had the two-cannon armament and similar stores delivery
capability of the single seat Scooter. The TA-4F and single seat
Skyhawk's avionics were similuar --- making for maintenance ease. The
TA-4F was flown by Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 12 and
H&MS 13 at Chu Lai, and H&MS-11 at Da Nang.
- February 3, 1967:
The VMA-223 Bulldogs set a one-day, 59-sortie record for the Skyhawk,
during which the squadron flew a mix of A-4Cs and A-4Es. Along with the
other A-4 squadrons, VMA-223 also flew close air support sorties during
Operation Double Eagle in February and Operation Utah in March. The
Bulldog pilots were rapidly becoming veterans, and their commanding
officer, Lt. Col. Robert B. Sinclair, was congratulated for flying the
squadron's 10,000th accident-free hour.
- March 1967:
VMA-223 Bulldogs arrived Chu Lai, Vietnam.
VMA-214 Black Sheep rotated to Japan.
VMA-311 Tomcats rotated to Japan.
- April 19, 1967:
In the afternoon two A-4Es from VMA-121 flown by Captain Robert C.
Blackington (flight lead) and his wingman, 1st Lt. Samuel B. Vaughan,
had twice struck targets adjacent to rice paddies about 21 miles south
of Chu Lai. The FAC (forward air controller) called them in again.
"After the spotter told us of the Viet Cong activity," Blackington
recalled, "I immediately made a run, dropping two 250-pound bombs.
Vaughan followed about a mile behind me, dropping identical ordnance."
Vaughan was of the opinion that the fires the Skyhawks had started
indicated a hidden ammunition dump, but the forward air controller
remained skeptical that the target had been totally destroyed. On his
target assessment overflight, the Air Force pilot noted more enemy
troops and called for another pass from both Skyhawks. More bombs were
dropped, and on his final run Blackington fired 200 rounds of 20mm
ammunition. Once more the Cessna O-1E flew over the target. This time
the Bird Dog pilot commented, "You guys do excellent work."
- May 1967:
Skyhawk squadrons initiated "hot pad" alerts at Chu Lai, during which a
section of armed aircraft awaited a scramble call with pilots in their
cockpits and engines turning over.
- June 1967:
VMA-311 Tomcats arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
- July 6, 1967:
VMA-311 Tomcat Major Ralph E. Brubaker was south of the Demilitarized
Zone when his A-4E Skyhawk BuNo.151032 was struck by a SA-2 SAM
(surface-to-air missile). Major Brubaker's Skyhawk became
uncontrollable and the Major successfully punched out. Safely on the
ground Brubaker was rescued by helicopter and suffered only a
dislocated knee in the action.
- September 1967:
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers rotated to Japan.
- December 1967:
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
VMA-223 Bulldogs rotated to Japan.
- Chulai 1967 History
by David A Prendergast
- January 1968:
The North Vietnamese Tet Offensive began in January 1968, a focal point
of the North Vietnamese attack was the Marine outpost at Khe Sanh.
Having been isolated by the loss of the A Shau Valley area in 1966, the
26th Marines stationed there were hardly surprised when the attack
began.
The core of the enemy offensive was concurrent attacks on towns and
U.S. installations throughout South Vietnam. Among the targets was Chu
Lai, where, on January 31, rockets injured two men from VMA-311,
damaged four of that squadron's A-4s and destroyed part of the bomb
dump. In retaliation, the Bulldogs destroyed an enemy rocket dump south
of their base on February 25.BR>
The battle to prevent the capture of Khe Sanh became one of the epic
ground-air actions of the war. It included a huge logistics airlift to
bring the Marine defenders food, medical supplies and ammunition. To
help this effort, the Corps devised the "Super Gaggle" formation, which
centered on a Lockheed Hercules C-130 cargo plane, flying with
helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft escort.
Twelve A-4s flew the first Super Gaggle on February 24, 1968, joining
20 CH-46 and UH-1E helicopters on a mission coordinated by a TA-4F. The
role of the Skyhawks was to "sanitize" the en route and landing areas
by working them over with bombs, napalm and 20mm cannon fire. Operation
Niagara, the huge, coordinated air plan to hold Khe Sanh helped break
the Tet Offensive; yet the break was not exploited, and the United
States ultimately began withdrawing combat units. A number of bases
lost their front-line status, among them Chu Lai.
- April 1968:
VMA-223 Bulldogs arrived at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
- October 1968:
VMA-121 Green Knights departed Chu Lai, Vietnam to Japan.
- April 1969:
On April 4, 1969 First Lieutenant Ronald D. Layton, flying a VMA-211
A-4 Skyhawk against the enemy in the Republic
of Vietnam, was shot down and killed by enemy ground fire. His actions
during this mission earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Please read the full context of the citation.
- January 1970:
VMA-223 Bulldogs departed Chu Lai, Vietnam to Japan.
- February 1970:
MAG-12 departed Chu Lai, Vietnam and relocated in Japan.
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers accompanied MAG-12 to Japan.
VMA-311 Tomcats accompanied MAG-12 to Japan.
VMA-223 Bulldogs departed Chu Lai, Vietnam and returned to CONUS.
The VMA-311 Tomcats moved to Da Nang under the operational control of
MAG-11, continuing to support the ongoing war in Laos and Cambodia. One
of the earliest arrivals in the war zone, VMA-311 had by May 7, 1971,
flown 47,663 sorties.
- September 3, 1970:
Marine Base Chu Lai was transfered to the United States Army; the last
Marine (VMA-311 Tomcat) sorties were flown from Chu Lai on September
11, 1970.
- May 17, 1971:
Two Marine Skyhawk squadrons, VMA-311 and VMA-211, arrived from Japan
at the recently reactivated base at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. These
units concentrated air strikes against enemy troops surrounding An Loc
and responded to calls from counterattacking SVN forces attempting to
gain ground in adjacent areas.
- March 30, 1972:
The North Vietnamese invaded South Vietnam. MAG-12 comprised of
H&MS-12 Outlaws, VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers & VMA-311
Tomcats flew into Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam (near Saigon) from
Iwakuni, Japan.
- May 1, 1972:
VMA-311 flew sorties into Cambodian border regions.
- August 29, 1972:
First Lieutenant Charles G. Reed flew VMA-311's 50,000th sortie. The
Tomcats went on to fly a total of 54,625 sorties by the war's end.
- January 26, 27, 28, 1973:
VMA-311 ground personnel hung what they thought were the last bombs (the last bomb was painted red, white and
blue and daubed with slogans for the occasion) on the Tomcat
Skyhawks and strapped in the last duty Tomcat pilots. Colonel Dean
Macho, commander of MAG-12, led the mission, a strike into the Mekong
Delta region. Da Nang's ground troops waited anxiously for the Skyhawks
to return. They all did.
Photograph from Mike Shelton.
- January 27, 1973:
The war officially ended January 27, 1973 - the U.S. agreed to end
hostilities around 11:45 A.M. local RVN time. THE LAST BOMB.
Colonel John Caldas, Commanding Officer of VMA 311, just before he led
the last combat sortie of the Viet Nam war on January 27, 1973
--armistace day from Bien Hoa. The bomb rack was configured such that
the painted bomb in the picture was the last one released from the
compliment on the A-4E Skyhawk; and that Skyhawk was the last plane in
his flight to drop bombs just minutes before the end of hostilities at
11:45 local RVN time. The target was an old, former French rubber
plantation north of Bien Hoa where there was reported enemy activity.
The bomb
painted by
troops in the squadron says: THE LAST BOMB, 9,738.38 tons
dropped VMA-311, Bien Hoa, RVN 17 May 72 - 27 Jan 73.
Photograph from Steve Caldas.
- Webmaster's Note:
It appears Colonel John Caldas of VMA-311 dropped the last bomb of the
war. Colonel Dean Macho, Commander of MAG-12, was reported dropping
last bombs on January 26, 27 and 28th. Source documents do not agree on
the date or time for Colonel Macho's drop(s).
- February 1, 1973:
Mag-12 Outlaws with VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers and VMA-311 Tomcats
departed Vietnam for Iwakuni, Japan on January 30 & 31, 1973.
- Back to Table of Contents
Awards
Sources:
- Col. John Caldas, USMC Ret.
- Col. Tom Elser, USMC Ret.
- Harry S. Gann
- Masaaki Hayakawa
- Takafumi Hiroe
- Mike Shelton
- Hideroh Tanaka
- Barbara Layton Scheibel
- John Freeman
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