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Grumman AD-6 Skyraider 135370 of VA-115 ‘Arabs’ Modex 508 Tail code NH of Carrier Air Group /Wing Eleven CVG-11 / CVW-11) Curved color decoration on engine, wing and tail tips. Picture may date from 1958 and color decoration may be green. VA-115 was with CVG-11 / CVW-11 from 1958 to 1966 Picture including A-1H 135370 with VA-145 ‘Swordsmen’ as Modex 506: groups.yahoo.com/group/PropNavy/attachments/folder/169689... 137622 NK-512, 135370 NK-506 A-1H VA-145 no date 1967 picture of A-1H 135370: (look for picture with following words below, to view) www.gonavy.jp/bbs2-a1.html A-1H 135370/AH-505 CVA-34 Oriskany (Nov.15, 1967) det.H No.3227 1967 record for A-1H 135370: www.gonavy.jp/CVW16-AH1967.html A-1H 135370 VA-152 Modex 505 June 16 1967 to January 31 1968 CVA-34 USS Oriskany After horrendous losses from both a tragic onboard fire and combat over Vietnam. (information courtesy of Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian) The eventual fate of A-1H 135370 is as yet unknown. A very similar pic to the above from the famous Bill Larkins portfolio dated 1957: www.flickr.com/photos/34076827@N00/4686679997

Four Douglas AD-6 / A-1H Skyraiders in tight echelon right formation all in Light Gull Gray and Insignia White and colored diamond shapes on rudder. Wearing Carrier Air Group Eight (CVG-8) code AJ on tail, repeated on wings. (from aircraft closest four numbers of its six digit serial on base of tail) 9636 Modex 501 3964 Modex 510 3525 Modex 507 Modex 502 unidentified USS FORRESTAL on rear fuselages Aircraft belonged to VA-85 ‘Black Falcons’. Some part serial numbers are over rudder decoration and indecipherable. Information taken from 'GO!NAVY' internet website, courtesy of Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian: www.gonavy.jp/index.html www.gonavy.jp/CVGf.html www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG8-2f.html VA-85 was assigned to CVG-8 aboard CVA-59 USS Forrestal from at least 1958 to 1963. VA-85 info webpage: www.militaryaircrafthistorian.com/va-85.html Representative period picture VA-85 ‘Black Falcons’ AD-6/A-1H Skyraiders: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-1H_VA-85_CVA-59_Mar1963... Two Douglas A-1H Skyraider of VA-85 Black Falcons await launch during the fly off of squadrons of Carrier Air Group Eight (CVG-8) from the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) as it approached the United States on 1 March 1963 at the end of her 1962/63 deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. From known AD-6 production batches the closest match to full serial numbers are; Bu No 139636 Modex 501 Bu No 13964? Modex 510 Bu No 13525? Modex 507 The only identified airframe is AD-6 / A-1H 139636. When flying with VA-152 during the Vietnam War, the aircraft suffered engine failure and was lost during a test flight over the Gulf of Tonkin on July 21, 1965. Fortunately the pilot was able to bail out and be rescued.

A picture open to interpretation as it may have been captured during a year of great tumult for the United States and the entire World. On lower left is a Douglas AD-6 Skyraider Modex 508 possibly from VA-65 ‘Tigers’ – except the Modex number should be in the 400 sequence. On folded over upper wing is code AF of Carrier Air Group Six (CVG-6). View looking down from carrier control island to aft starboard elevator three with short extended rear platform which is identified as that of the brand new nuclear powered CVAN-65 USS Enterprise. As part of CVG-6,VA-65 ‘Tigers’ deployed on CVAN-65 USS Enterprise from late 1962. VA-65 deployment record: www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VA065.html Destroyer Escort DE532 USS Tweedy, US Navy Reserve Training ship (John C Butler class destroyer escort) catching up close alongside possibly for underway replenishment: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tweedy_(DE-532) From decoration on tail, the rear end of a Vought F8U-1 Crusader of VF-62 ‘Boomerangs’ with tail code AK of CVG-10 from CVAN-65 USS Enterprise recorded aboard below for early 1962 only: www.gonavy.jp/CV-CVN65f.html VF-62 deployment record: www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VF062.html (all ‘GO!NAVY’ info courtesy of Takafumi Hiroe of Japan) Beyond are rear fuselages of two Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawks, nearest with tail code AF of CVG-6 and dark painted rudder with what may be several stars in a near vertical line. These markings are associated with VA-66 ‘Waldos’. Also carries indecipherable US Navy aircraft carrier name in a script that could be interpreted as ‘USS ENTERPRISE’ above NAVY. Last four of six digit serial number may be read as 8579 on lower forward tail of closest A4D and that of furthest as 8552. Closest match from known Skyhawk serial number batches is that the aircraft are A4D-2N 148579 and A4D-2N 148552. However unfortunately there is as yet no record for both airframes being with VA-66: a4skyhawk.org/3e/va66/va66.htm a4skyhawk.org/3e/va66/va66-a4-unit-assign.htm From September 1962 onward all US navy aircraft designations were simplified AD-6 becoming A-1H, A4D-2N became A-4C & F8U-1 became F-8A. Pictures of a mix of aircraft aboard CVAN-65 USS Enterprise including some from VA-66, brought together for the 1962 ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ in November-December of that year. a4skyhawk.org/content/buno147739-vma-225-cvn-65-0 a4skyhawk.org/content/buno-148452-va-66-af-503 (VA-66 and CVAN-65 pics courtesy of the ‘Skyraider Association’) Thus this image dates from 1962 on board CVAN-65 USS Enterprise.