VA-12 Flying Ubangis have a couple of interesting distinctions in the A-4 community.
1st, they are the only line unit to fly the A-4E with the forward fuselage makings of the A-4C retained. That is, the US national insignia (star and bar) had the forward fuselage placement same as the "C" and because of this the rescue arrows were also placed as the "C".
VA-12 began flying the A-4 in 1957 and converted from the A-4C to the A-4E in 1965 in just prior to their 1st Westpac cruise aboard USS FDR from June 1965 thru February 1966. Their 2nd distinction was having to give up their "E" models and revert back to the A-4C in March of 1966 upon rotation back to their home port of NAS Cecil.
According to a4skyhawk.com they flew the A-4C thru March 1971 and converted to the A-7E in April 1971.
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