MAG-46, VMA-134 (Regulars) |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
|
 |
|
Patch No info yet. |
Sources David Weber John Gabbard |
| Handle
No info yet. Heritage No info yet. |
Home Ports
No info yet. |
| Air Wings
No info yet. |
Aircraft
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 7 September 1984 - Douglas A-4M Skyhawk 31 March 1992- - - Douglas A-4J Skyhawk 2 April 1992 - - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
| Deployments
No info yet |
Commanding Officers
No info yet. |
|
Awards No info yet |
No info |
|
Events 21 June 1970: Capt. Walter B. Dozier (VMA-134, MARTD Los Alamitos, A-4C 148501 scheduled as #3 of a four-plane ordnance mission in the R-2512 MCAS Yuma conventional targets area. Departed as a single a/c configured with two full 300-gallon fuel tanks. The pilot taxied into takeoff position on runway 22L centerline and after completing engine runup and all required checks, takeoff was commenced at 1403. After 3800 feet of takeoff roll and accelerating through 140 knots aircraft vibrations were experienced. Dozier aborted the takeoff with 4,000 feet of runway remaining. The vibration continued and he closed the throttle, repeated his intentions to abort again on UHF, dropped the arresting hook, commenced braking and steered right towards the centerline of the runway. The a/c continued drifting slowly to the right and a magnesium fire started in the area of the right main wheel. The E5 arresting system located 22 feet into the runway overrun was engaged 33 feet to the right of centerline at approximately 85-90 knots. A right swerve followed and the nose wheel and right main strut contacted the right side arresting gear chain collapsing the right main strut and rupturing the wing fuel cell in two places. A fuel fire commenced in the area of the right main strut. After coming to rest, the fire burned throught the right drop tank igniting the fuel which enveloped the entire right wing and fuselage. Dozier manually opened the canopy, released the four disconnect fittings and oxygen mask and egressed over the left canopy rail without injury. The plane received Alpha damage. MARTD Los Alamitos AAR 3-70A. Note: At 1200 20 June 1970 maintenance removed and replaced right brake- bled and serviced both brakes - taxi hop check good. 16 May 1971: Capt. Joseph A. L. Bechtol, MARTD El Toro, A-4C BuNo 145126, 5L-16, was authorized and scheduled to fly an AIC flight for pilot and controller training on the morning of 16 May 1971. Since the control unit, MACS-23, was located at Buckley ANG Base Capt. Bechtol had flown into Buckley from MCAS El Toro on 15 May 1971. Capt. Bechtol launched as wingman of a flight of two A-4C aircraft, MARTD El Toro, A-4C BuNo 145126, 5L-16 and BuNo 148572, 5L-11. At approx. 1006 Capt. Bechtol contacted Buckley tower and obtained the duty runway (14) and weather and was cleared to land and given the current surface winds of 180 deg. at 12 knots. He landed slightly right of centerline about 500 feet from the approach end of the runway. The right tire wore down into the tread and then blew out and he transmitted that he was going off the side of the runway. When the nose gear had sunk 15 inches into the ground it collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest inverted. At approx. 1037 Capt. Bechtol was assisted from the aircraft. AAR-2-71 18 November 1974: Capt. Paul Phillips ejected safely from his A4 Skyhawk after the nose gear collapsed on landing at Nellis AFB. Phillips was attached to a reserve squadron at MCAS El Toro. Reno Gazette-Journal, Monday, 18 November 1974. 17 June 1983: VMA-134 A-4F BuNo 154213 (Maj.) John Beery ejected safely, hydraulics failure after take-off from Miramar, crashed near Del Mar, CA. During preflight the pilot noted a hydraulic leak near the tail-hook selector valve took responsibility to trouble-shoot and direct the repair effort with the host base support crew with help the ASO at his parent command. Unavailability of the part precluded repair and the parent command recommended capping the valve and plugging certain lines which stopped the leak but limited the hook to be extended only once. The parent command ASO authorized a one-time flight. No VIDS or MAPS was initiated, and a CDI didn't inspect the work. Three minutes after launch at 8,000 feet the pilot noted light smoke around his feet and a burning sensation in his eyes. The utility hydraulic light illuminated and the pilot reduced power and turned back toward his takeoff point. The fire warning light came on and flight controls became sluggish. The pilot pulled the flight control disconnect but stick response was nil. He heard a pair of muffled explosions, lost generator power and ejected. Naval Aviation News, Grampaw Pettibone, November-December 1984. |
|
Unit Photos No info yet. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to Det B Alameda:
|
|
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to Det South Weymouth.
|