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Cold War

The EA-7L, the SLUF variant that served as the enemy aircraft

by Till Daisd
written by Till Daisd

The EA-7L was employed to mimic Soviet aircraft and was frequently equipped with various jamming and ECM pods

The A-7 Corsair II, built by LTV Aerospace Corporation (the same company that made the renowned F-8 Crusader), took the role of the A-4 Skyhawk as the primary light attack aircraft for Naval Aviation. The A-7 made its first flight in September 1965 and had many characteristics with the F-8 Crusader, particularly the single jet intake gaping beneath the nose.

The Corsair II, on the other hand, had a short, stubby profile that exuded toughness and made it clear that it was built to carry bombs. The Short, Little, Ugly, Fucker, or SLUF, as her aircrews dubbed the A-7, developed into perhaps the most effective tactical jet bomber of the Vietnam War.

Remembering the EA-7L, the SLUF variant that played the role of adversary aircraft
A U.S. Navy Vought EA-7L Corsair II aircraft from VAQ-34 on the ramp during the U.S. 3rd Fleet North Pacific Exercise (NORPACEX) at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (USA) on Nov. 8, 1987

The EA-7L variant’s distinctive ability to act as an enemy aircraft was something the SLUF was not designed to perform.

Remembering the EA-7L, the SLUF variant that played the role of adversary aircraft
A Vought EA-7L Corsair II aircraft (BuNo. 156794) of the Pacific Missile Test Center (PTMC) parked on the flight line at Naval Air Station Point Mugu (California, USA) on Dec. 30, 1991

A total of eight TA-7Cs were converted into EA-7Ls due to a lack of TA-4 Skyhawks. These planes, which frequently carried a variety of jamming and ECM pods, were deployed by the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 (VAQ-34) “Electric Horsemen” of the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG) to mimic Soviet aircraft.

Remembering the EA-7L, the SLUF variant that played the role of adversary aircraft
U.S. Navy Lieutenants Lori “Wrench” Melling (left) and Laura “Moose” Mason from VAQ-34 pose for a picture in front of their EA-7L Corsair II aircraft during the U.S. 3rd Fleet North Pacific Exercise (NORPACEX) at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (USA), on Nov. 8, 1987.

In 1984, the EA-7Ls received an A-7E standard upgrade while keeping their twin seats. In 1991, the plane was retired. There are currently very few images of this long-forgotten variation of the powerful SLUF.

Remembering the EA-7L, the SLUF variant that played the role of adversary aircraft
Looking suitably pleased with themselves after completing a harrowing cross-country from NAS Pensacola, Lt Anne Kruger (pilot) and Lt Jackie Maher (Naval Flight Officer) pose for the camera. Described by them as the worst flight of their lives, the crew had flown into a thunderstorm in their ‘unmanned’ EA-7L Corsair II, the aircraft’s generator failing after it received a lightning strike. Flying without instruments or radio communications, the crew somehow managed to link up with an A-3 from Key West and recover to base ‘stuck’ to the Skywarrior’s wingtip. (Picture from the book Superbase 24 KEY WEST ‘Top Guns’ of the East Coast, 1991 Osprey Publishing, George Hall)

Photo by PH2 Bruce Trombecky / U.S. Navy and Sgt. W. Thornton / U.S. Air Force

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