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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.

The aircraft escorting the AC-119K is a Douglas A-1H (AD-6) Skyraider, USAF Serial No. 52-139608 (ex- US Navy BuNo 139608), "Blood Sweat Tears," of the 1st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), 56th Special Operations Wing (SOW). It would later be transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF).

Four Douglas AD-6 / A-1H Skyraiders in echelon right formation (from aircraft furthest away) all in Light Gull Gray and Insignia White. Bu No 139613 Modex 407 Bu No 139633 Modex 406 Bu No 139626 Modex 404 Bu No 139624 Modex 412 Wearing decorative Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) code NK in a lighter hue on tail, repeated black in normal manner on wing. Date of picture unknown, possibly late 1950s or early 1960s. All belonging to VA-145 ‘Swordsmen’. www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VA145.html As part of CVG-14 / CVW-14, VA-145 had the AD-6 / A-1H between 1958 & 1966. AD-6 / A-1H 139626 is recorded as being transferred to the Vietnam Air Force of the then Republic of South Vietnam. Unfortunately there is as yet no known internet accessible info on the history or fates of AD-6 / A-1H 139613, 139624 & 139633. Picture of same formation of above four aircraft with AD-6 / A-1H 139613 included as Modex 407 of VA-145 near NAS El Centro California: groups.yahoo.com/group/PropNavy/attachments/folder/185528... AD-6 / A-1H 139633 was chosen as the subject for a 1/48th scale set of model decals: www.squadron.com/ProfileDetails.asp?item=EP48006 Eagle Strike Douglas Skyraider Aircraft Decals EP48006 AD-6 / A-1H 139633, VA-145 Modex 407 NAS Fallon NV '50's,