photographer unknown

Loaded out with four live 500 lb. Mk.82 bombs (two under each wing). A well worn but reliable A-7A, 153152 was with VA-93 from 1973 through 24 April 1977. It arrived at MASDC on 1 June 1977, and was given a new life when it was converted to an A-7P for the Portuguese Air Force. It was lost in a mishap on 4 December 1989 near Vila Vocosa, Portugal.

This A-7A is loaded out with two live 2000 lb. Mk.84 bombs (one under each wing). VA-93 and VA-56, both aboard USS Midway, were the last two fleet A-7A squadrons (the Navy Reserve still had A-7As for a little while longer). On April 24th, three days after I took this slide, both squadrons flew off all the A-7As to NAS Cubi Point for return to the U.S. by ship. 153228 arrived at MASDC on 27 May 1977. It was later converted to an A-7P for the Portuguese AF with s/n 5517 (later 15517). Its flying days finally ended in 1994 and it was scrapped.