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A-7A/E Corsair II
[VA-27] 1967 - Introducing the VA-27 Royal Maces. Here is a great shot of the squadron over NAS Lemoore flying the A-7A Corsair II.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1967 - Lt. Karp flying a VA-27 Royal Mace A-7A.

[Image Source - Rodd Karp]
[VA-27] 1967 - VA-27 Royal Mace A-7A above the clouds.

[Image Source - Rodd Karp]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1968 - A shot of one of the first Royal Mace jets in action off of Vietnam in 1968-69. Here an A-7A aboard the USS Constellation CVA-64 is at full power on the catapult. The black cross on the radome was a visual marker for the LSO to distinguish the A-7 from the F-8.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] Oct. 15, 1968 - A-7A Mace's 612 and 610 taxii into take off position at NAF Atsugi.

[Image Source - Masaaki Hayakawa]
[VA-27] 1968 - A VA-27 A-7A launching from the USS Constellation CVA-64.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here

[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1968 - Two Great pictures of the Royal Maces with USS Constellation CVA-64.

[Image Source - Cdr. George Pappas]
[VA-27] 1968 - A VA-27 A-7A launching from the USS Constellation CVA-64.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1968 - USS Constellation CVA-64. Nice shot of some of the Royal Mace A-7A's over a mountain range.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1968 - USS Constellation CVA-64. Same sortie, different location.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1968 - USS Constellation CVA-64. Approaching NAS Atsugi.

[Image Source - Japanese web page]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1968 - Two Maces over the Mountains.

[Image Source - Cdr. George Pappas]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1970 - An A7-A Royal Mace Taxiing.

[Image Source - Takafumi Hiroe - http://www.gonavy.jp/]
[VA-27] Mar. 7, 1970 - A-7A Mace 407 on final to NAF Atsugi.

[Image Source - Masaaki Hayakawa]
[VA-27] 1971 - An A7-E Royal Mace from the early 70's when they were assigned to the USS Enterprise, The Big "E".

[Image Source - US Navy]
[A7-E VA-27] 1971 - A VA-27 A7-E Corsair II joined up with a KA-3B Skywarrior over the skies of Vietnam. From 1971 while deployed aboard the USS Enterprise CVAN-65.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[A7-E VA-27] 1971 - A VA-27 A7-E Corsair II at an Air Show in Japan.

[Image Source - Yukio Oishi]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1971 - USS Enterprise Westpac - Beautiful shot of two Royal Mace Corsair II's in formation with the moon in the background.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1971 - USS Enterprise Westpac - Same moon background as above with single A-7.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1971 - USS Enterprise Westpac - Three VA-27 Mace A-7's over Hawaii.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1971 - USS Enterprise Westpac - Beautiful shot of a VA-27 Mace flying along the coast of Hawaii.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1971 - USS Enterprise Westpac - VA-27 Royal Mace over the Pacific.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27] 1971 - 1733468 was taken on the Enterprise Westpac Cruise in 1971.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27] 1971 - 1735353 was taken on a fly-off inbound to Subic Bay. Northeast Luzon is in the background. Enterprise Westpac Cruise 1971.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27] 1971 - 1742142 was taken on a cross country flight to Denver, Colo. in 1970. Pilots were Steve Russell, Hugh Lacey, and Matt Johnston.

[Image Source - Steve Russell]
[VA-27] 1972 - Two VA-27 A7-E Corsair II's.

[Image Source - Jerry Jacobs]
[VA-27] 1972 - Two VA-27 A7-E Corsair II's drop their Mk-82 500lb bombs over Vietnam in support of Operation Linebacker. Notice up to this point in time that there was no mace painted on the tail, only the "shark's theeth".

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1972 - Cover of Naval Aviation News.

[Image Source - Rodd Karp]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1972 - WestPac USS Enterprise. VA-27 Mace loaded with MK-82's on the cat.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1972/73 - Eight Royal Maces in formation note the Battle E on the fuselagel.

[Image Source - Vought Heritage Museum]
[VA-27] 1972/73 - Flight of four A-7's

[Image Source - Vought Heritage Museum]
[VA-27] 1972/73 - USS Enterprise CVAN-65. Launching off the pointy end.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] [VA-27] 1973 - VA-27 A-7E's on sorties from CVAN-65.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1973 - A-7 Mace on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise CVAN-65.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1974 - Two Royal Maces in formation,

[Image Source - Unknown]
[VA-27] 1970's - Royal Mace A-7E trapping aboard USS Enterprise.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1975 - Royal Mace A-7E's of VA-27 parked in the "pack" aboard USS Enterprise.

[Image Source - Vought Heritage Museum]
[VA-27] 1975 - Royal Maces deployed aboard the USS Enterprise CVAN-65. Near the West Coast.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27 CAG]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1977 - Two A7-E Corsair II from VA-27 & VA-97 over CVAN-65.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1977 - VA-27 A7-E Corsair II siiting on the tarmac at NAF Atsugi.

[Image Source - H. Funyu]
[VA-27 CAG]
[VA-27 CAG] 		1977 - VA-27 A7-E Corsair II painted in CAG colors. NAS Lemoore.

[Image Source - Japanese web site]
[VA-27 PAINT]
[VA-27 PAINT]
[VA-27 PAINT] 		1978 - A VA-27 A7-E Corsair II with experimental camouflage paint scheme. NAS Lemoore.

[Image Source - Japanese web site]
[VA-27] 1978/79 - This is probably around when the squadron was switched from CVN-65 to CV-43. No carrier name is painted on the tail and most of the planes apppear with the new green tipped vertical stabilzer.


[Image Source - Japanese web page]
[VA-27] 1979 - This is probably around when the squadron was switched from CVN-65 to CV-43. Note that the CAG paint scheme is the old CVN-65 paint scheme but USS Coral Sea appears on the tail. "00" was repainted by the summer of 79 with the green tipped tail and different Mace on the tail.


[Image Source - Vought Heritage Museum]
[VA-27] 197? - This is a VA-27 A-7E. Any guess what these markings are?
From Jerry Jacobs: Might be golden bomb/bombing derby awards. They had competitions for visual dive, loft, radar, etc. and overall bombing derby winner.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1979 - An A-7E Corsair II of Attack Squadron (VA) 27 intercepts a Soviet Il-38 patrol aircraft that was flying in the vicinity of the carrier Coral Sea (CV 43) steaming in the North Arabian Sea, circa 1979. Such scenes were common during the Cold War as Soviet aircraft sought to keep track of U.S. carriers around the world.


[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1979 - An A-7E Corsair II of Attack Squadron (VA) 27 intercepts a Soviet Il-38 patrol aircraft that was flying in the vicinity of the carrier Coral Sea (CV 43) steaming in the North Arabian Sea, circa 1979. Such scenes were common during the Cold War as Soviet aircraft sought to keep track of U.S. carriers around the world.


[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1979 - Two Maces in formation.


[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] [VA-27] 1979 - A couple of VA-27 Mace pictures probably during workups.


[Image Source - Bruce Henion]
[VA-27] 1979 - Great shot of VA-27 A-7E 410 on the flight line.

[Image Source - Steve Williams]
[2 Corsair's] 1979 - Two VA-27 A7-E Corsair II's circle the USS Coral Sea. Where are those Bear's?

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1 Jan 1980 - An air-to-air right side view of two Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) A-7E Corsair II aircraft over the southern California coast.

[Image Source - US Navy]
=[Lake] 198? - Nice shot of 405 over a mountain lake. My guess, early 80's?

[Image Source - Japanese web site]
[Huffer] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. A "huffer" starting Royal Mace Corsair II. Notice the orange and black stripes on the wing? These were painted on just before we made the attempt to rescue the hostages from Iran in 1980. The USA had sold so many of our planes to Iran, that our pilots needed a visual marker to tell the good guys from the bad guys.

[Image Source - Bob Dorais]
[CAT] 1980 - Another shot of a VA-27 Royal Mace Corsair II(414) with the orange and black stripes on the wing.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[CAT] 1980 - Another shot of a VA-27 Royal Mace Corsair II(414) with the orange and black stripes on the wing.

[Image Source - Bruce Henion]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		April 4, 1980 - Sunrise behind a VA-27 Royal Mace A-7E.

[Image Source - DoD]
[Checker 1] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Rolling up to the "Cat". Gotta make sure everythings buttoned down, not leaking(much) and none of those pesky pins are still in.

[Image Source - Bob Dorais]
[Cat Hook-up] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Getting hooked-up to the catapult, USS Coral Sea.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[Checker 2] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Full power...everthing moved...still not leaking(much)...let him go!

[Image Source - Bob Dorais]
[Flight 3] 1980 - Three Royal Mace Corsair's loaded with a few "bee-bee's".
"No slack in light attack".

[Image Source - US Navy]
[CAG Trap] 1980 - USS Coral Sea. CAG trap. "OK 3".

[Image Source - US Navy]
[Trap 1] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Stoppin' short. 410 catches the #1 wire.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[Fold] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. A Royal Mace just after a trap. Folding wings and getting off the angle deck.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[Fold] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Sunset on the Indian Ocean.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1980 - An A7-E Royal Mace approaching NAS Atsugi.

[Image Source - Takafumi Hiroe - http://www.gonavy.jp/]
[VA-27] 1980, March 6 - A Royal Mace A-7E sits on the flight deck of USS Coral Sea at sunrise.

[Image Source - DoD]
[VA-27] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. 406 trapping, "OK 3".

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea - Royal Mace taxiing up to the port catapult.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1 Jan 1980 - An A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft from Light Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) is directed by a flight deck crewman aboard the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA (CV-43).

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1 Jan 1980 - Air-to-air left side view of an A-7 Corsair II aircraft from Light Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27).

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. VA-27 Mace loaded with MK-82's rolling up on the cat.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1980 - WestPac USS Coral Sea. Beautiful shot of the VA-27 CAG Mace taxiing up to the cat.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1980 - Two VA-27 A7-E Corsair II's over the USS Coral Sea.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27]
Hi Resolution Photo Click Here 		1 Jan 1980 - Cockpit view (from the A-6) of an A-6E Intruder attack aircraft from Medium Attack Squadron 196 (VA-196) refueling an A-7E Corsair II attack aircraft from Light Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27). The removable in-flight refueling probe projects upward immediately forward of the wind-screen of the Intruder.

[Image Source - US Navy]
[VA-27] 1980 - This picture is from the first barricade in 1980 aboard USS Coral Sea. Bruce Eaton (Mojo) was my roommate and his was the aircraft that the hook came off after catching a wire. On the LSO platform, we saw Mojo catch the wire and refocused our attention to the next aircraft approaching. The foul-deck light stayed red and the aircraft was waved-off. Looking back to the carrier deck, all we saw was the tailhook assembly and the wire out of tension, looking like spaghetti. Then we saw Mojo's A-7 climbing from below deck level.

[Image Source - John Davis]
[VA-27] 1980 - Same barricade landing incident as above.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Site Launched March 7, 2000