Hobby Master Archive

In February 1965 A-4C 149574 was transferred from VA-144 to VA153 “Blue Tail Flies” on board the USS Coral Sea. In Vietnam this aircraft made numerous sorties carrying ordnance such as Mk. 84 2,000 pounds and fuel tanks. On June 25, 1965 while on an armed reconnaissance flight 10 miles north of Thanh Hoa and piloted by CVW-15 CAG, ex-VA153 CO, Cdr. Peter Mongilardi, A-4C 149574 NL/306 was hit by 37mm flak and crashed killing the pilot. Mongilardi became the first CAG to be shot down in the Vietnam War.