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Aggressor A-7 ?????


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During the 80's there were several exercises where units were tasked to provide dissimilar air and they temporarily painted up their aircraft for this role.

VA-22 was a normal attack squadron though.

I don't know the exact circumstances of this scheme, but that could be the reason. Dave Brown, Brian P or Fuji might be able to give better info.

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You'll get some results on this. That is a combat painted jet, not an aggressor. There is another, a brown and green one. I think they were involved in that Iranian naval engagement. Decals were done in 1/48, by Two Bobs, I think. I have them in my stash.

Edit...found this real quick...

"In April 1988, while in the Persian Gulf, VA-22 aircraft participated in sinking the Iranian Frigate Sahand which fired missiles at two American A-6 Intruders."

and this...

"1988, the squadron was deployed aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) and participated in escorting tankers through the Arabian Gulf during Operation Ernest Will. In April of the same year, the Iranian Frigate SAHAND fired missiles at two American A-6 Intruders. VA-22 jets assisted in retaliatory strikes against the aggressor frigate, sinking the vessel with precision guided weapons and free fall bombs in what was termed a "measured response" to Iranian actions in the Arabian Gulf."

I think the two jets that were painted up in that boss camo probably participated in that strike prior to their new paint job. I don't know how long they stayed painted like that.

Edited by DutyCat
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It is H E double hockey sticks to be stuck in a rut, and I'm stuck....I just can't get used to USN aircraft in anything other than grey/gray......Even better when they're Gull Gray/white....Oh well I probably have company, but it's just hard to find......I won't say woe is me, it's my choice and I'm stickin to it!!!! :rofl: :unsure: .

Edited by Angels49
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This one?

a7e_golfo.jpg

Superscale did this sheet, #48-411. Its a sheet I have in my collection that I plan on building eventually.

THere was some CVW-8 Intruders, VA-36 I believe, in brown and brown camo for the first desert storm too. Carpana did decals for those.
Edited by Adam Baker
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This one?

a7e_golfo.jpg

Superscale or Microscale did the sheet. I have it, but cant find it right now.

That sheet for the SLUF was packaged with the Hasegawa "VA-72 Final Cruise" kit... Carpena did a sheet with a VA-36 jet, however it was a gray TPS bird with an orange Road Runner (I say Ckicken) head on the tail. Apart from the chicken head drawing, not much else is accurate for that particular airframe.

I know Hi-Decal makes a 1/72 tan camo A-6E from VA-36 (same cruise), but am unaware of a 1/48 version...

HTH!

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To my knowledge, no one used the A-7 in the aggressor role. VAQ-33 and 34's birds where standard TPS scheme with red stars on the tail.

The VA-22 bird was a test scheme, there was two type of scheme tried out on VA 22's birds. The VA 72 bird was a special scheme for Desert Storm and was painted on the bird about half way through the war.

I don't think the A-7 would make a good aggressor, it was not as manuruevable as the A-4. Compared to the A-4, it was a brick but could haul just about anything the Navy had.

HTH

Reddog :yahoo:

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To my knowledge, no one used the A-7 in the aggressor role. VAQ-33 and 34's birds where standard TPS scheme with red stars on the tail.

The VA-22 bird was a test scheme, there was two type of scheme tried out on VA 22's birds. The VA 72 bird was a special scheme for Desert Storm and was painted on the bird about half way through the war.

I don't think the A-7 would make a good aggressor, it was not as manuruevable as the A-4. Compared to the A-4, it was a brick but could haul just about anything the Navy had.

HTH

Reddog :yahoo:

Dog

VAQ-33 had their Firbird logo on the tail, not the red star. The VA-72 scheme was painted after the ceasefire , it never flew combat in that scheme, unlike the VA-36 A-6s

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Nick,

I have one of those 1/48 TB VA-22 decal sheets, #48-115.

Aircraft are #301 greys camo, #302 brown & black.

I'm in the UK. Drop me a PM if interested.

Regards,

Gerard

Edited by Gerard
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This is HILARIOUS. I am currently the intel officer for the 1-184 infantry currently deployed to Kosovo (suck). I got a new E-5 in my shop who used to be an officer aboard the USS Enterprise back in '86. During that time, I was enlisted and in, you guessed it, ATKRON 22, the Fighting Redcocks. What a small world.

We were sharing navy stories and I told him about the bird I painted when I was assigned to corrosion control. Yes. This one.

I painted that bird after getting special permission from the squadron commander ( I think it was CDR Roberts? ) who obviously got permission from higher. I had seen camoflaged Phantoms and thought it would be a morale thing to have a special bird.

There is nothing more to it than that. I cant remember if I painted that in 1986 or 1987, but it really looked sharp and was a show case bird for a while. We also had a bird painted that was brown, beige, and dark brown camoflaged. Cannot remember why/when. It has been a long time since I was 150 pound E-4 and working on the flight deck. Memories fade as girth increases. heh.

Great to see this picture floating about. I wish I had pictures of the little red ship I painted on the side of the skipper's bird when we sank the Iranian frigate. Good times. :crying2:

PS: Google can find anything. lol

Edited by rchappell77
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In addition, I have an old 1/72nd Almark sheet in the stash which has markings for VA-22's Gecko Sluf. It's OOP, but could probably be hunted down - I got mine... eh... three girlfriends ago. ;-)

Cheers,

Andre

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Dog

VAQ-33 had their Firbird logo on the tail, not the red star. The VA-72 scheme was painted after the ceasefire , it never flew combat in that scheme, unlike the VA-36 A-6s

Roger that, thanks for keeping me honest. :crying2:

Reddog :salute:

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This is HILARIOUS. I am currently the intel officer for the 1-184 infantry currently deployed to Kosovo (suck). I got a new E-5 in my shop who used to be an officer aboard the USS Enterprise back in '86. During that time, I was enlisted and in, you guessed it, ATKRON 22, the Fighting Redcocks. What a small world.

We were sharing navy stories and I told him about the bird I painted when I was assigned to corrosion control. Yes. This one.

I painted that bird after getting special permission from the squadron commander ( I think it was CDR Roberts? ) who obviously got permission from higher. I had seen camoflaged Phantoms and thought it would be a morale thing to have a special bird.

There is nothing more to it than that. I cant remember if I painted that in 1986 or 1987, but it really looked sharp and was a show case bird for a while. We also had a bird painted that was brown, beige, and dark brown camoflaged. Cannot remember why/when. It has been a long time since I was 150 pound E-4 and working on the flight deck. Memories fade as girth increases. heh.

Great to see this picture floating about. I wish I had pictures of the little red ship I painted on the side of the skipper's bird when we sank the Iranian frigate. Good times. :thumbsup:

PS: Google can find anything. lol

♪ It's a small world after all ♪

♪ It's a small world after all ♪

Great story. I'm thinking of doing an A-7 in this colorscheme now.

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