United States Navy Light Atttack Squadron Four "Black Ponies"

VAL4 'Black Pony' Plankowners - NAS North Island

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. VAL4 was the first Navy squadron of its type, flying North American Aviation OV-10A 'Broncos' that the Navy had borrowed from the Marine Corps. VAL-4 began arriving in Vietnam around March 25th of 1969, and began flying combat sorties from it's two detachments at Binh Thuy and Vung Tau on April 11, 1969. The 'Black Ponies' (by Ltjg. Dan 'Frito Bandito' Sheehan) soon became an important part of the Brown Water Navy tasked with providing close air ground support for U.S., Allied and Vietnamese forces throughout the Mekong Delta.

On April 1, 1972 the 'Black Ponies' stood down at NSA Binh Thuy and the squadron was decommissioned and deactivated on April 10, 1972 at Cubi Point in the Phillipines. In its short history, the 'VAL-4 Black Ponies' flew more than 21,000 combat sorties totaling over 42,000 flight hours - a Navy record for fixed wing aircraft. The 'Black Ponies' had destroyed over 3,200 structurs, 2,115 bunkers, 1,025 sampans; they amassed over 4,485 confirmed enemy kills while dropping over 11,000 tons of ordnance costing more than $22,500,000.

Left - NSA Binh Thuy ✈✈✈ Right - VNAF Binh Thuy

››› "The tragic, the comic, the terrifying, the poignant are all part of the story of the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta between 1969 and 1972. Flying their Broncos "down and dirty, low and slow," they killed more enemies and saved more allies with close-air support during the three years they saw actionthan all the other naval squadrons combined. The U.S. Navy's only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the riverine forces, SEALs, and allied units in borrowed, propeller-driven OV-10As. ‹‹‹
Paperbook editions still available on Amazon - September 2026
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Black Pony Mission Statement Maintaining And Flying The OV-10A "Bronco",The VAL-4 "BLACK PONIES" Were Manned, Equipped, Trained And Tasked To Protect Mobile Riverine Ground Forces Throughout The Mekong Delta. The Black Ponies Consistently Went In Harm's Way To Enhance And Extend The Quality Of Life For Those In The "Brown Water Navy" And To Other U.S. And Allied Forces In South Vietnam.
 
This Website Was Established To:
~Locate And Account For As Many Members Of Light Attack Squadron Four As Possible.
~Honor The Memory Of Our Lost Squadron Members.
~Assist "Black Ponies" And Their Family Members In Anyway Possible.
~Present And Preserve An Informal And Unofficial History Of VAL-4, It's Men And It's Mission.
~Provide An Informative And Educational Story Of The Navy's Only Permanently Land Based Squadron In   South Vietnam.

'Status Of Forces' There Were Approximately 650 Sailors Who Served As Black Ponies Of Which 144 Were Naval Officers And 4 Were Marine Corps Officers; Additionally 22 USMC Personnel Served With VAL-4 When The Two YOV-10D Broncos Were With Us At Binh Thuy. Larry Hone Completed The Arduous Task Of Locating And Contacting All Of VAL-4's Officers Except For Some Of The Marine Observers. The "Squadron Roster" Is As Complete As I Can Make It And Lists All Of The Known Officers And Enlisted Men And Their Current Whereabouts.The Memorial Page Lists The Known Lost Black Ponies.