Search- and-Rescue Superstar

A-7D SLUF

- Warren E. Thompson

IN ANY OF ITS VARIATIONS, the A-7 has never been thought pretty; in fact, it had barely landed in Vietnam when its unique appearance earned it the nickname “SLUF,” which stood for “short little ugly fella.” The A-7D may best be described as a heavy-ordnance carrier, long-legged, close-air-support fighter/bomber. When armed with 1,000 rounds of ammo and eight Mk. 82 bombs, its external fuel tanks gave it a combat radius of 480 nautical miles.