RETURNING SOON!

VAL4 Plankowners
VAL4 'Black Pony' Plankowners - NAS North Island

✈ ✈ The 'Black Ponies' of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) came into being on January 3, 1969 when the squadron was commissioned at NAS North Island across the bay from San Diego, California. Light Attack Squadron Four was the first Navy squadron of its type, flying Rockwell OV-10A 'Broncos' that the Navy had borrowed from the Marine Corps. VAL-4 began arriving in Vietnam around March 25th of 1969, and began flying combat sorties from it's two detachments at Binh Thuy and Vung Tau on April 11, 1969. The 'Black Ponies' soon became an important part of the Brown Water Navy primarily responsible for supporting U.S., Allied and Vietnamese forces throughout the Mekong Delta.
 
 ✈ ✈ On April 1, 1972 the 'Black Ponies' stood down at NSA Binh Thuy and the squadron was decommissioned and deactivated on April 10, 1972 at Cubi Point in the Phillipines. In its short history, the 'VAL-4 Black Ponies' flew more than 21,000 combat sorties totaling over 42,000 flights - a Navy record for fixed wing aircraft. The 'Black Ponies' had dropped over 11,000 tons of ordnance costing more than $22,500,000.

     04/69-12/69   01/70-12/70   01/71-12/71   01/72-04/72   Total 
 Sorties Flown   5,395   7,354   7,004   2,049   21,802 
 Flight Hours   9,613   15,268   14,250   3,731   42,862 
 Confirmed Enemy Kills   751   1,090   2,425   221   4,487 
 Structures Destroyed   897   1,248   959   184   3,288 
 Bunkers Destroyed   239   504   1,010   366   2,119 
 Sampans Destroyed   307   311   347   71   1,036 


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Soliciting Stories and Photos and ??? for inclusion.


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Black Pony Mission Statement

Maintaining And Flying The OV-10A "Bronco",The VAL-4 "BLACK PONIES" Were Manned, Equipped, Trained And Tasked To Protect Mobile Riverine Ground Forces Throughout The Mekong Delta. The Black Ponies Consistently Went In Harm's Way To Enhance And Extend The Quality Of Life For Those In The "Brown Water Navy" And To Other U.S. And Allied Forces In South Vietnam.
 
This Website Was Established To:
~Locate And Account For As Many Members Of Light Attack Squadron Four As Possible.
~Honor The Memory Of Our Lost Squadron Members.
~Assist "Black Ponies" And Their Family Members In Anyway Possible.
~Present And Preserve An Informal And Unofficial History Of VAL-4, It's Men And It's Mission.
~Provide An Informative And Educational Story Of The Navy's Only Permanently Land Based Squadron In South Vietnam.

'Status Of Forces'
There Were Approximately 650 Sailors Who Served As Black Ponies Of Which 145 Were Officers. Larry Hone Completed The Arduous Task Of Locating And Contacting All Of VAL-4's Officers Except For Some Of The Marine Observers. The "Squadron Roster" Is As Complete As I Can Make It And Lists All Of The Known Officers And Enlisted Men And Their Current Whereabouts, If Known.

Email: Bob