Officially Licensed US Navy VA-23 Black Knights Patch — Attack Squadron 23 Black Knights Embroidered Patch
The Black Knights — VA-23, riding into battle on the A-4 Skyhawk, a Pacific Fleet attack squadron that embodied the knightly virtues of courage, honor, and lethal skill.
Attack Squadron 23 (VA-23), the "Black Knights," was a U.S. Navy carrier-based attack squadron that operated the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The Black Knights' name evoked the dark-armored warriors of medieval legend — fearsome, elite, and utterly committed to the fight. VA-23 brought that same intensity to the carrier-based attack mission, deploying with the Pacific Fleet aboard aircraft carriers to project American air power across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
VA-23 saw combat during the Vietnam War, where the Black Knights' A-4 Skyhawk pilots flew strike missions against heavily defended targets in North and South Vietnam. The Skyhawk's agility and small size gave VA-23's pilots a measure of survivability against the dense anti-aircraft defenses they encountered, while its heavy weapons load ensured that every sortie carried significant destructive power to the target. The Black Knights' combat experience in Vietnam forged a legacy of courage and professionalism that defined the squadron.
The Black Knights represent the best traditions of Navy light attack aviation — aggressive, precise, and fearless in the face of enemy defenses. VA-23's legacy lives on in the memories of the pilots and maintainers who served under the Black Knights' banner and carried the fight from the carrier deck to the target.
Perfect For: VA-23 Black Knights veterans, A-4 Skyhawk community members, Vietnam-era naval aviators, Pacific Fleet attack aviation historians, and Navy heritage squadron patch collectors.
VA-23 Black Knights — dark armor, sharp swords, and deadly aim — the medieval warriors of carrier attack aviation.
