cvsg55

S-2E Tracker 151650 VS-23 ‘Black Cats’. Side number 19. Code NU of CVSG-55 (Carrier Anti-Submarine Warfare Air Group 55) June 20, 1968. www.forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/S-2.html www.forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/s2-tracker-1... Grumman S2F-3S (S-2E) Tracker BuNo 151650 ………………………………………………….. 3/20/1972: Struck off charge at NARF Quonset Point, Rhode Island. 8/1972: Sold to the Turkish Navy as TCB-650. With 301 Filo. 1976: Withdrawn from use. Put into storage at Topel Air Base Turkey.

VS-23 was an Anti-Submarine Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was disestablished on 27 September 1968. Operational history From 19 June-2 December 1958, VS-23 was assigned to USS Princeton for a Western Pacific deployment. From 1961-68, VS-23 ‘Black Cats’ and VS-25 Golden Eagles were part of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 55 (CVSG-55), assigned to USS Yorktown. VS-23 was embarked on USS Yorktown for three Vietnam deployments: 23 October 1964 – 16 May 1965 6 January - 27 July 1966 28 December 1967 – 5 July 1968 On 17 March 1968, an S-2E disappeared on a night anti-submarine patrol. Four days later, aircraft wreckage was recovered, and assumed to be from the plane. All four crewmen were listed as killed in action, but their bodies were never recovered. Home port assignments The squadron was assigned to these home ports: NAS North Island Los Alamitos NAS, Los Alamitos, California.

THIS AIRCRAFT IS STILL FLYING AS OF YEAR 2023. Grumman S-2E Tracker 151640 VS-25 ‘Golden Eagles’. Side number 38. Code NU of CVSG-55 (Carrier Anti-Submarine Warfare Air Group 55) www.forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/S-2.html www.forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/s2-tracker-1... Grumman S2F-3S (S-2E) Tracker BuNo 151640 Delivered to U.S. Navy. Assigned to VS-25 as NU-38, 1964-1965. Transferred to VS-33 as NT-135 May 18, 1973: Put into storage at Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) Arizona. Five digit Process Control Number (PCN): 1S401. Departed: February 17, 2000. United Aeronautical Corporation, Tucson, AZ. Sold on the civilian market and registered as N513DF and N438DF. 22 August 1996. To USDA Forestry Service, Mather, CA with new c/r N513DF. 1 September 1998. Civil registration, N513DF, cancelled. Remanufactured as a turbo prop powered S-2F3AT by Marsh Aviation. New construction number, 0229-003 assigned to the airframe. 1 February 2000. Certificate of airworthiness for N438DF {2} (S-2F3AT, 151640) issued. To USDA Forest Service Fepp, McClellan, CA. Based at California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, McClellan Sacramento airport Sacramento, CA. Operated as ‘CAL FIRE’ Tanker Number 85. S-2F3AT N438DF FAA Certificate Issue Date: 02/01/2000 FAA Certificate Expiration Date: 07/31/2029

On the right: Grumman S-2E Tracker 149259 VS-25 ‘Golden Eagles’. Side number 33. Coded NU of CVSG-55 (Carrier Anti-Submarine Warfare Air Group 55) CVS-10 USS Yorktown. 1966. Behind that: Grumman S-2E Tracker VS-25 ‘Golden Eagles’. Side number 34. With engines running: Grumman S-2E Tracker. Possibly BuNo 152340 of VS-25 ‘Golden Eagles’. Side number 39. From 1961-68, VS-23 ‘Black Cats’ and VS-25 Golden Eagles were part of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 55 (CVSG-55), assigned to USS Yorktown. CVSG-55 was embarked on USS Yorktown for three Vietnam War deployments: 23 October 1964 – 16 May 1965 6 January - 27 July 1966 28 December 1967 – 5 July 1968