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VAL-4 Squadron History
The ‘Black Ponies’ of Light Attack Squadron FOUR were established on January 3, 1969 with the squadron’s commissioning at NAS North Island, CA. VAL-4 received 18 borrowed Rockwell OV-10A ‘Broncos’ from the Marine Corps. Approximately 650 personnel (505 enlisted, 145 officers) served in VAL4.
Arriving in Vietnam around March 25th of 1969, by April they were flying combat sorties from two separate detachments at Binh Thuy Air Base as well as Vung Tau Army Airfield. Tasked to support elements of the River Patrol Force (TF 116), VAL-4 assisted in efforts to disrupt Vietcong activities along the Mekong Delta.
An important part of the Brown Water Navy, VAL-4 assumed four basic mission types:
1. Scramble Alert
2. Light Attack Fire Team (LAFT)
3. Special Ops support
4. Spotter/alert aircraft
As the Navy’s only land-based attack squadron, VAL-4 killed more enemy and saved more allies with close air support (CAS) during their time in Vietnam than all other Navy squadrons combined. In just over three years, the ‘Black ponies’ flew 42,862 hours in support of 21,802 sorties. Eleven thousand tons of ordnance was dropped, resulting in 4,487 confirmed enemy kills, 3,288 structures destroyed, and 1,036 sampans sunk.
The ‘Black Ponies’ ceased operations on April 1, 1972 at NSA Binh Thuy and were deactivated 10 days later at NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. VAL-4 was the recipient of the President Unit Citation (PUC) for actions conducted between June 1969 - February 1970. While conducting combat operations, VAL-4 lost 7 aircraft resulting in 6 pilots and 1 observer KIA. Eight pilots, 1 observer, and 1 enlisted were wounded in action. Under constant enemy fire while making multiple attempts to rescue two downed aviators.