27 January Commander, Naval Air Systems

Command directed that the Naval Aviation Integrated

Logistic Support Task Force be phased out. This Task

Force, generally known as NAILS, had made an in

depth study of aviation logistics with particular

emphasis on spares and repair parts support manage-

ment. Among other things, it recommended that a

NAILS Center be established.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

. --

It

'_A ;..

t

Old way, launching with catapult bljdle 11 lO446

1969

3 January VAL-4, the first Navy squadron of its type,

was established at NAS North Island, Calif., to operate

the OV-lOA Bronco. When VAL-4 deployed to Vietnam

in March, it became an important part of the brown-

water Navy, operating from two airfields in the

Mekong Delta to provide direct support for U.S. and

Vietnamese Navy Riverine operations.

-

-.Jr"

..

14 January A fire aboard Enterprise resulting from

detonation of a MK-32 Zuni rocket warhead overheat-

ed by exhaust from an aircraft starting unit, took 27

lives, injured 344 and destroyed 15 aircraft. Repairs to

the ship were completed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in

early March.

267

New way,

A-7 launch

with nose

tow gear

119077

An F-4B from VF-l43 fires Zuni rockets during Seventh Fleet opera-

tion in South China Sea 1 lO794