VA-216 Black Diamonds A-4C Skyhawk
VA-216, nicknamed the Black Diamonds, was an Attack Squadron of the US Navy. It was established on 30 March 1955, and disestablished 15 years later 1 August 1970.
VA-216 Fly A-4C Aircraft On Coral Sea's 4th Vietnam Combat Cruise
07 SEP 1968 to 18 APR 1969:
Attack squadron VA-216 flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk deployed with Carrier Air Wing CVW-15 aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43 to the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea for combat in WESTPAC/Vietnam.
21 NOV 1968:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuAer 148608 lost in a flight deck catapult mishap.
The avaitor, 
CDR Marvin Joel Naschek perished in crash at sea; body was recovered.
03 JAN 1969:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuAer 147764 NL 610 was shot down over Laos.
The aviator, LTJG R. M. Aaron, ejected and was rescued.
14 FEB 1969:
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuAer 149529 NL 607 was shot down by AAA fire over Laos.
The aviator, 
LTJG L. J. Stevens, was declared "Missing in Action."
VA-216 A-4C Skyhawk BuAer 148547 NL 601 was damaged by AAA fire over Laos.
The aviator, LCDR J. F. Meehan, ejected and was rescued.
On 14 February 1969, then LTJG Larry J. Stevens was the aviator of the #2 aircraft in a flight of two that launched from the USS Coral Sea on a night strike mission against Highway 92, which was a primary artery of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. As the aviators surveyed their target area, they spotted a convoy of enemy trucks moving along the road. They reported their location to the on-site Forward Air Controller (FAC), who was coordinating the strike mission, requesting permission to initiate a bomb run on the targets.
At 2156 hours, that permission was granted and both Skyhawks rolled in on the convoy with the lead aircraft in front and Lt. L. J. Stevens right behind him. Almost immediately NVA Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) gunners opened fire on the Skyhawks in defense of their supply line. At an altitude of roughly 10,000 feet, both aircraft were struck by the intense and accurate ground fire from those batteries. The flight leader, LCDR J. F. Meehan, was able to regain control of his damaged aircraft, broke off his attack pass and commenced a climbing turn to 14,000 feet, then headed eastward.
The LCDR Meehan was able to keep his own crippled aircraft under control long enough to cross the North Vietnamese coastline and reach the safety of the Gulf of Tonkin. He finally was forced to eject over open water and was recovered a short time later by a Search And Rescue (SAR) helicopter.
As LCDR Meehan was breaking off his attack heading, he felt a tremendous double explosion and saw an accompanying white flash. He observed his wingman's aircraft crash and explode on a barren hillside whose jungle cover had long since been stripped away by years of attacks. The on-site FAC and other aviators witnessed the ground explosions. No parachute was seen in the night's darkness and no radio transmissions were heard. However, a few minutes later, a five to ten second emergency beeper signal was heard emanating from the rugged mountains below by the other aviators.
LTJG Stevens was assumed to be captured if he survived the crash. Years after the war, LCDR Meehan said, "Larry went down fast and hard. He didn't get out."
In April 1991, the US government released a list of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action who were known to be alive in enemy hands and for whom there is no evidence that he or she died in captivity. This list, commonly referred to today as the USG's "Last Known Alive" list, included Larry J. Stevens.
In June 1990, an unverified photograph surfaced with three captives holding a sign,"25 May 1990." Larry Stevens was identified by his family as one of the men. Larry James Stevens is on "The Wall" at Panel 32W - Line 33.
| Name | Larry James Stevens |
| Rank/Branch | Lieutenant Commander/US Naval Reserve |
| Unit | Attack Squadron 216, USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) |
| Date of Birth | 17 December 1942 (Hawthorne, CA) |
| Home of record | Canoga Park, CA |
| Date of Loss | 14 February 1969 |
| Country of Loss | Laos |
| Loss Coordinates | 163900N 1061900E (XD398402) |
| Status in 1973 | Missing in Action |
| Category | 2 |
| Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground | A-4C "Skyhawk" |
Below: right side view of Black Diamonds Skyhawk BuAer 147698, NL-605, and BuAer 149529, NL-607, over Yankee Station.
| Variant | A-4C |
| Custodian | VA-216 |
| Location | air-to-air |
| Date | circa 1968 |
| Contact | G. Verver |
| Photo Credit | CAPT D.L. Clarke |
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