From 4 May through 15 November 1968 , VA-46 transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II . On 17 September 1970 , while en route to the Caribbean for training exercises on board the USS '' John F. Kennedy '' , they received emergency orders to deploy immediately to the Mediterranean due to the hijacking of four airliners by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine . They remained on station off the coast of Israel until November . During October 1973 , with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War between Israel , Egypt and Syria , the '' Kennedy '' and her air wing , while operating in the North Atlantic after just completing a Mediterranean deployment , were ordered back to the Mediterranean . During the latter part of October through mid-November , VA-46 conducted flight operations while the carrier was on station south of Crete . On 22 November 1975 during night operations , the '' Kennedy '' collided with the USS '' Belknap '' , causing major damage to the cruiser . Eight VA-46 personnel received awards for their heroism and devotion to duty as a result of their actions following the collision
hijacking of four airliners
Dawson's Field hijackings
VA-46 (U.S. Navy)