The protagonist of our story (#12755) was an A-4C with intense combat activity: Since leaving the factory, it has toured Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean Sea and Vietnam with the US Navy.
Acquired by the Argentine Air Force, it was deployed to southern Argentina due to the conflict with Chile over the Beagle Channel, and was finally shot down in 1982 in the waters of the South Atlantic.
In the U.S. Navy
Skyhawk #12755 was manufactured at the Douglas El Segundo Division (California) plant in 1961, and was immediately destined to the United States Navy (USN).
Assigned in 07/1961 to VA-64 “Black Lancers”, it was deployed to the North Atlantic for fleet air defense duties aboard aircraft carrier USS “Wasp”.
Later, in 09/1962, it was deployed aboard the USS “Independence” (CVA- 62) to the Caribbean Sea in support of the blockade of Cuba ordered by President Kennedy.
Subsequently, it deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic with the same aircraft carrier between 1962 and 1964, flying with VA-72 squadron.
It also participated in the Vietnam War with VA-36 aboard the USS “America” between 1966/1967.
In 06/1967, it was also stationed with its squadron in the Mediterranean, at the time when hostilities between Israelis and Arabs were developing into the Six Day War, providing air cover to the USS “Liberty” NSA (US National Security Agency) spy ship, which was mistakenly attacked by the Israeli IDF.
From 08/1969, it was reassigned to VA-36 USS “Forrestal” in the Mediterranean until squadron deactivation on 08/01/1970.
Relocated to NAS Alameda (California), it was discharged to Davis Monthan AFB (Arizona) on 03/26/1974.
The future C-305 was acquired in 1974 from Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Center (AMARC) storage with 4,630.25 hours under its belt and dispatched by sea, arriving at Rio Cuarto Material Area (Área de Material Río Cuarto, ARMACUAR) in 01/1975.
In the Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA) acquired it in “as is” condition between August and September 1974 and it was transferred to Argentina by sea along with the rest of the acquired lot.
It was the first A-4C to fly in Argentina, doing so on 12/04/1975 with vice-commodore Juan Carlos Gabarret at the controls.
On 04/06/1976 it moved to Mendoza flown by captain Oliva, landing at 19:30 hours (local time), and it was allocated to IV Air Brigade (IV Brigada Aérea, VI Br Aé) on 05/06/1976 with 4,665.55 hours.
On 01/19/1978, it was part of a five aircraft formation escorting Chilean president, general Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, who was visiting Mendoza to meet Argentine counterpart, lieutenant general Jorge Rafael Videla, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Gambande.
When the conflict with Chile over the Beagle Channel was developing, it deployed to San Julián on 12/13/1978.
On 07/17/1979 it suffered a mid-air collision with sistership C-315 while flying over Desaguadero (Mendoza), recording 6% damage.
Conflict in Malvinas
From the beginning of the conflict 04/02 through 04/30/1982 it remained out of service in ARMACUAR.
On 04/30 it performed two local flights over Mendoza (its only activity registered that month) and another flight in Mendoza on 05/11/1982.
Deployed to San Julián on 05/20/1982 by the 1st lieutenant Vázquez.
On 05/21, it completed fragmentary order #1201 as “Rondo” (capt. Caffaratti), configured for ground attack with a MK.17 bomb and aerial refueling and two days later performed a two-hour flight flown by ensign Isaac.
On 05/24/1982, it was shot down over 9 de Julio Bay (King George Bay) on the Western shore of Gran Malvina (West Falkland) Island, killing its pilot, lieutenant Jorge Bono.
Jorge Alberto Bono (call sign “Cóndor”), KIA
Born on 02/18/1956 in Bell Ville (Province of Córdoba), he was the son of Egidio Edgar Bono and Nelly Carolina Herrera.
Joined FAA’s Military Aviation School (Escuela de Aviación Militar, EAM) on 02/03/1975 and graduated as ensign on 10/14/1978; getting his military pilot wings in 1979.
On 05/22/1980 he married Miriam Ibarra in Oliva (Córdoba) and on 10/05/1981 Nicolás, his son, was born.
On 05/24/1982 he took off from San Julián on board C-305 to complete fragmentary order #1230, joining Jaguar flight with 1st lieutenant José Vázquez (C-324) and ensign Guillermo Martínez (C-318).
They reached the target area in San Carlos Strait and dropped their bombs presumably on frigate HMS “Arrow”, receiving heavy anti-aircraft fire.
As a result, they all lost fuel while flying back to the mainland and across the Gran Malvina (West Falkland).
While climbing as they were getting wet feet North of San Jorge Island, Bono (most likely deadly injured or already dead) started a gentle downwards turn and, despite persistent calls from his companions, finally crashed into the sea at 9 de Julio Bay.
On 05/24/2022, the the town hall of Bell Ville, his birthplace, paid tribute to him 40 years after his death in “Plazoleta Héroes de Malvinas”, with war veterans and city officials in attendance.
Variants
- A4D-2N (1961), A-4C (re-designated 1962), A-4C (initial Argentine configuration, 1975).
Identities
- USN BuNo 148562 (1961), AMARC #3A379 (03/26/1974) and FAA C-305 (12/04/1975).
Owners and operators
- United States: VA-64 “Black Lancers” NAS Oceana, VA (10/11/1961); VA-72 “Blue Hawks” NAS Oceana, VA (09/28/1962); NAS Quonset Point, RI (06/05/1964); VA-76 “Spirits” NAS Oceana, VA (10/19/1964); VA-44 “Hornets” NAS Cecil Field, FL (09/16/1965); VA-36 “Roadrunners” USS America (12/19/1966): VA-66 “Waldos” USS Intrepid (09/28/1967); VA-64 “Black Lancers” USS Independence (01/19/1968); VA-36 “Roadrunners” Det 33 NAS Cecil Field, FL (08/21/1969); MARTD NAS Alameda, CA (08/01/1970): AMARC Davis Monthan AFB, AZ (03/26/1974); Lockheed Aircraft Services, Ontario, CA (10/17/1974).
- Argentina: ARMACUAR (first flight in Argentina 12/04/1975); IV Br Aé El Plumerillo, Mendoza (05/06/1976), struck off charge FAA file 1,124,515 with 6,094.20 total flight hours (08/12/1982).
Fate
Shot down in the South Atlantic, King George Bay (9 de Julio Bay) on 05/24/1982. Both plane and pilot were never found to date.
Bibliography: Jorge A. Núñez Padín: “A-4C Skyhawk” (Air Force Series #30, Argentina, 2023). Internet sources: U.S. Navy, amilarg.com.ar, Héroes de Malvinas Facebook group, Malvinas Guerra Aérea, AMARC Experience, 3040100 y Skyhawk Association. Luis Satini, Javier Ruberto, Alejandro Golpe and Fernando Benedetto made fundamental contributions to the making of this story.
