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KA-3B Skywarrior 138973 air refueling tanker. Tail code AE of Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) VAH-10 'Vikings' Modex side code 020. On final approach for a carrier arrested landing. This webpage courtesy of 'GO!NAVY' by Takafumi Hiroe of Japan, records that KA-3B Modex 020 was part of CVW-6 (code AE) www.gonavy.jp/CVW-AEf.html embarked aboard CVA-66 USS AMERICA before or between Jan.10 & Sept 20, 1967 on a Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean deployment. Partial quote refering to KA-3B 138973 in text of comments for this webpage: www.aero-web.org/specs/douglas/ka-3b.htm "I was in VAH13 on Whidbey from 1962-64. I was crew chief (Plane captain ) on Bu No 138973 (608)- Kitty Hawk. I'm trying to track down what happened to that bird. so far I know that it was converted to a KA3B tanker and sent to VAH10 as (610). Then retired in about 1970 to SARDIP. ..." L B Wing Oldsmar, FL A little info on KA-3B Skywarrior 142659 Originally built as A3D-2. Accepted by US Navy Sept 1957. Re-designated A-3B from 1962. Converted by NARF Alameda to KA-3B in June 1967. Retired to the then MASDC as AN2A0052 Dec 13, 1970. To SARDIP status. Still there May 1975 (Stricken Aircraft Reclamation and Disposal Program) Reference may be found here recording KA-3B 138973 as Modex 101 of VAH-10 Detachment 64 aboard CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION: www.gonavy.jp/CVW14-NK1968.html This was some time during the period between May 29, 1968 & Jan.31, 1969 with CVW-14 (code NK) for a Vietnam War deployment. (My thanks to Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian) Another picture of KA-3B 138973 on 'flickr' may be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/19369790@N02/2571170605/ Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico. 1970 KA-3B Skywarrior 138973 of CVW-8 tail code 'AJ' with squadron Modex code '610'. Again courtesy of the pages of 'GO!NAVY' website: www.gonavy.jp/ And its webpages: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-AJf.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW8-AJ1970.html KA-3B Bu No 138973 is recorded as belonging to VAH-10 DET.38 'Vikings' Modex 610. CVW-8 was deployed aboard CVS-38 USS Shangri-La before or between March 5th & Dec.17th 1970 on a Vietnam War cruise. VAH-10 was re-designated VAQ-129 on Sept 1, 1970 whilst still with air refueling detachments deployed aboard carriers. Here's a picture of 138973 in 1970 when assigned to USS Shangri-La: (There are details of its service if the Japanese is translated) geta-o.maxs.jp/USMIL/A/A-3/KA-3B/KA-3B.htm The pic is here: geta-o.maxs.jp/USMIL/A/A-3/KA-3B/Ka-3b(aj610)138973-0730.jpg A picture of KA-3B 138973 may be purchased here: www.transportphotos.com/air?page=47&sort=desc&ord... (Input MIL14330 in 'Advanced search' for details) KA-3B Skywarrior 138973. VAQ-129 USN [AJ:610] formerly of USS Shangri-La at Davis Monthan AFB (MSDAC) April 1971 By year 2010 it will have long been salvaged and scrapped.

I have a framed copy of this photo. It was recently found in a collection of photo's belonging to a (recently died) New Zealand veteran - who fought in the Vietnam/Korea wars

A3D-2 Skywarrior captured making a violent rocket assisted take off. (JATO/RATO) Code ZB of VAH-4 'Fourrunners' on tail with zigzag marking. Large Modex side number 2 with squadron emblem directly behind. From another aspect, a picture of the same aircraft during the same take off as in the 'flickr' pic: a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/138912_vah-4_jato.jpg Full Navy Bureau serial number 138912 on lower tail, ZB code above with same marking, Modex 2 on nose and squadron emblem directly behind. The aircraft had a short existence. Some notes; A3D-2 Skywarrior 138912 Accepted By US Navy Dec 1956 Salvaged and scrapped after accident aboard USS Oriskany while operated by VAH-2. Reference to the incident from this dedicated 'A-3 Skywarrior Association' web page: www.a3skywarrior.com/memorial/full_accident_date.htm VAH 4. Det F. CVA 14. USS Oriskany A3D-2 Bu No 138912. 8/20/1960. (20 August 1960) Lost an engine during take off from NAS Cubi Point and the A/C hit the water. It is not known exactly what the outcome was for the four named crew members.

RATO photo link on www.a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/images/138912_vah-4_jato.jpg

Many thanks for the kind supply of modified picture internet link. Unfortunately the A-3 Skywarrior accident link has also been modified and thus a further search is necessary to re-establish a link to that relevant webpage...... The internet is a constantly evolving and ephemeral transient phenomena . Several links provided by me in some 1500 detailed comments to 'Flickr' military aviation images have over a period of over just two years changed or been deleted and lost. Especially the A-3 Skywarrior Association and A-4 Skyhawk Association internet website links and those links to their webpages as they have both rebuilt them. Hope my comment was helpful and informative and also thank the San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive for displaying the image.

From another aspect, a picture of the same aircraft displayed by another 'flickr' contributor during the same take off as in the above 'flickr' pic: Full Navy Bureau serial number 138912 on lower tail, ZB code above with same marking, Modex 2 on nose and squadron emblem directly behind. www.flickr.com/photos/my_public_domain_photos/6095637852