This patch consists of two pieces, the A-7D patch, and the Test Team tab. They are not connected. The United States Army. Has not been permitted to operate fixed-wing combat aircraft since the establishment of an independent United States Air Force. To meet its need for close air support of its troops in South Vietnam, the Army pressured the Air Force to procure a specialized subsonic close air support fixed-wing aircraft that would suit its needs better than the general-purpose supersonic aircraft that the USAF preferred. The Vought A-7 seemed to be a relatively quick and inexpensive way to satisfy this need. However, the USAF was initially reluctant to take on yet another Navy-designed aircraft, but Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. On 5 November 1965, Secretary of the Air Force. And USAF Chief of Staff General John P. Announced that they had decided to order a version of the Corsair II, designated A-7D, for the Tactical Air Command. The A-7D differed from the Navy’s Corsair II in several ways. For one, the Air Force insisted on significantly more power for its Corsair II version, and it selected the Allison TF41-A-1 turbofan engine, which was a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Spey. It offered a thrust of 14,500 pounds, over 2000 pounds greater than that of the TF30 that powered the Navy’s Corsair IIs. Other changes included a head-up display, a new avionics package, and an M61A1 rotary cannon in place of the two single-barreled 20-mm cannon. Two YA-7D prototypes were completed with TF30-P-6 engines, and the first of these flew on 6 April 1968. The first Spey-powered A-7D (67-14854) flew for the first time on 26 September 1968. The seventeenth production aircraft introduced a provision for boom flight refueling in place of the Navy’s probe/drogue system, with the boom receptacle being on the top of the fuselage behind the cockpit and offset to port. The A-7D first entered service in 1970 with the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing. At Luke AFB Arizona, and the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing. At Myrtle Beach AFB. South Carolina was equipped with four squadrons of A-7Ds by 1972; the 355th TFW at Davis-Monthan AFB was equipped with four squadrons in 1972, and in 1973, the 23d TFW at England AFB, Louisiana was fully equipped with A-7Ds. The 354th TFW first deployed two squadrons of A-7Ds to Korat Royal Thai AFB. Thailand in September 1972 as part of Operation Cornet Dancer, The A-7Ds were quickly assigned the “Sandy mission” of providing air cover for Combat Search and Rescue. Missions of downed pilots. Taking over from Douglas A-1 Skyraiders. (and adopting their call sign of “Sandy”), the A-7’s higher speed was somewhat detrimental for escorting the helicopters but the aircraft’s high endurance and durability were an asset and it performed admirably. On 18 November 1972, Major Colin A. Clarke led a successful CSAR mission near Thanh Hoa. To rescue a downed Republic F-105 Thunderchief. The mission lasted a total of 8.8 hours during which Clarke and his wingman took a number of hits from 0.51 cal (12.7 mm) anti-aircraft fire. For his actions in coordinating the rescue, Clarke was awarded the Air Force Cross. The USAF’s second-highest decoration for valor, and his A-7D AF Serial No. 70-0970 was eventually placed on display on 31 January 1992 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. With the end of US involvement in South Vietnam, the 354th TFW, deployed at Korat, began flying combat sorties in Cambodia to support the Lon Nol government in support of Khmer National Armed Forces. Against the Khmer Rouge. Rotational deployments began to Korat from the 355th TFW and 23d TFW, with pilots and support personnel beginning six-months deployment cycles. In March 1973, the 354th transferred a squadron of A-7Ds to the 388th TFW, the host wing at Korat RTAFB at the time, which re-established the 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron. And created a permanent USAF A-7D presence in Southeast Asia. A-7Ds from both wings stationed at Korat engaged in combat operations in Cambodia until 15 August 1973 when an A-7D of the deployed 353d TFS/354th TFW. Carried out the last air support mission. In March 1974, the 354th TFW transferred several more aircraft to the 3d TFS prior to its return to Myrtle Beach AFB. The USAF A-7D flew a total of 12,928 combat sorties during the war with only six losses. The lowest of any U. Fighter in the theater. The aircraft was second only to Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. In the amount of ordnance dropped on Hanoi. And dropped more bombs per sortie with greater accuracy than any other U. The item “Authentic Air Force USAF A-7D Test Team” is in sale since Friday, June 02, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Patches”. The seller is “zeustinker” and is located in Marietta, Georgia. This item can be shipped worldwide.