This is a 4" patch, no hook and loop.
The Black Ponies of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) came into being on January 3, 1969 when the squadron was commissioned at NAS North Island across the bay from San Diego, California. Flying Rockwell OV-10A ‘Bronco’s’ that the Navy borrowed from the Marine Corps, The Black Ponies established two in-country detachments in March of 1969. Flying operations began in April when the Black Ponies began flying combat sorties out of Binh Thuy and Vung Tau. The Black Ponies were mainly responsible for supporting brown water forces throughout the Mekong Delta.
Being able to carry more ordnance farther and faster than the UH-1 choppers of the Navy’s helicopter squadron HAL-3 soon made the Black Ponies a favorite among ground troops. In 1970 alone, the Black Ponies flew 7,354 combat sorties for a total of 15,268 hours; they expended 5,450,383 rounds of 7.62mm ammo, 75,616 20mm rounds, 35,824 five inch “Zuni” folding fin air rockets, 68,849 2.75″ rockets and 10,436 flares. They had a confirmed body count of 1,090 with an additional 1,902 probable kills. They destroyed 311 watercraft and damaged 389. Destroyed 1,248 bunkers and damaged 1,700 more. 504 bunkers were destroyed and 187 damaged and they were credited with destroying 36 .51 cal gun sites. Also in 1970 there were 5 squadron personnel wounded in action, one person killed in action and 3 aircraft lost due to enemy fire.
From the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross down to Navy Achievement Medals, the Black Ponies accumulated over 1760 decorations for meritorious service and gallantry in 1970. On April 1, 1972 the Black Ponies stood down at Binh Thuy and the squadron was decommissioned and deactivated on April 10, 1972 at Cubi Point in the Philippines. In its short history, the Black Ponies flew more than 21,000 combat sorties totaling over 42,000 flights – a Navy record for fixed wing aircraft. The Black Ponies has dropped over 11,000 tons of ordnance costing more than $22,500,000.
