{"id":9549,"date":"2024-01-15T12:00:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T11:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=9549"},"modified":"2024-01-14T12:43:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T11:43:44","slug":"skyhawk-illustrated-12755-from-the-cold-war-to-the-bottom-of-the-south-atlantic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawk-illustrated-12755-from-the-cold-war-to-the-bottom-of-the-south-atlantic\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyhawk Illustrated #12755<\/b>: From the Cold War to the bottom of the South Atlantic"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In the U.S. Navy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Skyhawk #12755 was manufactured at the Douglas El Segundo Division<\/strong> (California) plant in 1961, and was immediately destined to the United States Navy (USN).<\/p>\n

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Flying with VA-64 and launching from aircraft carrier USS \u201cIndependence\u201d (CVA-62), circa 1968 (photo: USN).<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Assigned in 07\/1961 to VA-64 \u201cBlack Lancers\u201d, it was deployed to the North Atlantic for fleet air defense duties aboard aircraft carrier USS \u201cWasp\u201d.<\/p>\n

Later, in 09\/1962, it was deployed aboard the USS \u201cIndependence\u201d (CVA- 62) to the Caribbean Sea in support of the blockade of Cuba<\/strong> ordered by President Kennedy.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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These were very far away! Although the documents say they had already been delivered, our guide, Ben Knowles, marked them as “we can’t go near them, they must go to Argentina”. Visible from a moving bus are at least: 148452\/C-307, 148562\/C-305 and 147747\/C-309 (photo: eLaReF).<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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It also participated in the Vietnam War<\/strong> with VA-36 aboard the USS \u201cAmerica\u201d between 1966\/1967.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>, providing air cover to the USS “Liberty” NSA (US National Security Agency) spy ship, which was mistakenly attacked by the Israeli IDF.<\/p>\n

From 08\/1969, it was reassigned to VA-36 USS \u201cForrestal\u201d in the Mediterranean until squadron deactivation on 08\/01\/1970.<\/p>\n

\"Comparative<\/a>
Comparative profile of 148562 in US Navy’s VA-64 and C-305 in Argentine Air Force’s IV Air Brigade (Art: Javier Ruberto\/Perfiles en Detalle).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Relocated to NAS Alameda (California), it was discharged to Davis Monthan AFB (Arizona) on 03\/26\/1974.<\/p>\n

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 (\u00c1rea de Material R\u00edo Cuarto, ARMACUAR)<\/em> in 01\/1975.<\/p>\n

In the Argentine Air Force<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza A\u00e9rea Argentina, FAA)<\/em> acquired it in \u201cas is\u201d condition between August and September 1974 and it was transferred to Argentina by sea along with the rest of the acquired lot.<\/p>\n

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C-305 was the first A-4C Skyhawk to fly in Argentina, crewed by vice-commodore Juan Gabarret, and later deployed to Mendoza’s IV Br A\u00e9 (photo via Fernando Benedetto).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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It was the first A-4C to fly in Argentina, doing so on 12\/04\/1975 with vice-commodore Juan Carlos Gabarret<\/strong> at the controls.<\/p>\n

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 A\u00e9rea, VI Br A\u00e9)<\/em> on 05\/06\/1976 with 4,665.55 hours.<\/p>\n

On 01\/19\/1978, it was part of a five aircraft formation escorting Chilean president, general Augusto Pinochet Ugarte<\/strong>, who was visiting Mendoza to meet Argentine counterpart, lieutenant general Jorge Rafael Videla<\/strong>, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Gambande.<\/p>\n

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C-305 deploying at an Argentine air base, circa 1975 (photo: Horacio Gareiso via Alejandro Golpe).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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When the conflict with Chile over the Beagle Channel was developing, it deployed to San Juli\u00e1n on 12\/13\/1978.<\/p>\n

On 07\/17\/1979 it suffered a mid-air collision with sistership C-315 while flying over Desaguadero (Mendoza), recording 6% damage.<\/p>\n

Conflict in Malvinas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From the beginning of the conflict 04\/02 through 04\/30\/1982 it remained out of service in ARMACUAR.<\/p>\n

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Lieutenant Jorge Bono (far left) at the Grupo 4 de Caza, Mendoza, circa 1982 (photo via 3040100.com.ar).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

Deployed to San Juli\u00e1n on 05\/20\/1982 by the 1st lieutenant V\u00e1zquez.<\/p>\n

On 05\/21, it completed fragmentary order #1201 as \u201cRondo\u201d (capt. Caffaratti), configured for ground attack with a MK.17 bomb and aerial refueling and two days later\u00a0performed a two-hour flight flown by ensign Isaac.<\/p>\n

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A-4C C-305 shot down zone (source: Google Earth).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

Jorge Alberto Bono (call sign “C\u00f3ndor”<\/span>), KIA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Born on 02\/18\/1956 in Bell Ville (Province of C\u00f3rdoba), he was the son of Egidio Edgar Bono and Nelly Carolina Herrera.<\/p>\n

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First lieutenant (post mortem) Jorge Alberto Bono was granted the \u201cArgentine nation to valor in combat\u201d and \u201cArgentine nation to the killed in combat\u201d medals. The photo shows him shortly after graduating from EAM in 1978 (photo via H\u00e9roes de Malvinas Facebook group).<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Joined FAA’s Military Aviation School (Escuela de Aviaci\u00f3n Militar, EAM)<\/em> on 02\/03\/1975 and graduated as ensign on 10\/14\/1978; getting his military pilot wings in 1979.<\/p>\n

On 05\/22\/1980 he married Miriam Ibarra in Oliva (C\u00f3rdoba) and on 10\/05\/1981 Nicol\u00e1s, his son, was born.<\/p>\n

On 05\/24\/1982 he took off from San Juli\u00e1n on board C-305 to complete fragmentary order #1230, joining Jaguar flight with 1st lieutenant Jos\u00e9 V\u00e1zquez (C-324) and ensign Guillermo Mart\u00ednez (C-318).<\/p>\n

They reached the target area in San Carlos Strait and dropped their bombs presumably on frigate HMS \u201cArrow\u201d, receiving heavy anti-aircraft fire.<\/p>\n

As a result, they all lost fuel while flying back to the mainland and across the Gran Malvina (West Falkland).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

On 05\/24\/2022, the the town hall of Bell Ville, his birthplace, paid tribute to him 40 years after his death in \u201cPlazoleta H\u00e9roes de Malvinas\u201d, with war veterans and city officials in attendance.<\/p>\n

Variants<\/strong><\/h3>\n