cvw9

Inflight color picture of two A-6A Intruders from VA-165 'Boomers'. 155719 Modex 504 with unpainted radome & 155695 Modex 506 with oversprayed radome. Tail code NG of Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) with large dart like marking (or boomerang) over squadron emblem. USS CONSTELLATION in small characters is also over national insignia. Both in light gull gray and white scheme. Both loaded on wings and centerline with several Mk 82 Snake Eye bombs or Mk36 aerial mines from their folded retarding petals. Lit from high angle sunlight. Despite use of ‘flickr’ 'Actions', 'View All sizes' and 'Original' facilities plus keyboard ‘Ctrl’ with + (plus sign)or mouse wheel to increase size and attempt identification of aircraft, the image has low definition and it is difficult to decipher large serial numbers on base of tails. However, after excellent and generous assistance from the San Diego Air and Space Museum both aircraft are positively identified. By using records from 'GO!NAVY' internet website and its pages courtesy of Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan, identification of serial numbers of individual aircraft assigned to squadrons and air wings is sometimes possible: www.gonavy.jp/ www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html There is a match within this webpage for Modex 504 A-6A 155719 during the 1973 deployment but not for A-6A 155695: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1973.html Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) was assigned to CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION between January 5th & October 11th 1973 (Vietnam War) A-6A 155719 with VA-165 'Boomers' as Modex 504. 'GO!NAVY' record for the 1974 deployment is unfortunately incomplete so no actual match may be made: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1974.html CVW-9 (NG) CV-64 USS CONSTELLATION June 21 – December 23, 1974 (WestPac, Vietnam War, Arabian Gulf) The 'GO!NAVY' record for the next VA-165 deployment with CVW-9 in 1977 does not include either serial numbers so the possible date of above 'flickr' pic is 1974. www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1977.html Nor do the 1979, 1980 or 1982 entries include the two aircraft. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. A-6A Intruder 155719 There is a 'flickr' pic that may be of A-6E 155719: www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/425988951/ As related above from info in the pages of this website: www.gonavy.jp/index.htmlCVW-9 www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1973.html Between January 5 & October 11,1973) VA-165 'Boomers' equipped with A-6A/KA-6D operated A-6A 155719 as Modex 504 when part of CVW-9 (code NG) aboard CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION. From info on this website courtesy of Professor Joe Baugher of Chicago, Illinois: home.att.net/~jbaugher4/newa6_1.html A-6A 155719 came from a 1969 production batch Later Bu No 155719, amongst a large batch of A-6A's, was modernised to A-6E standard. From this website: www.chinalakealumni.org/1979.htm may be seen; A-6E Intruder, BuNo 155719, NG-503. (VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 161084, XE-22, and A-6E Intruder, BuNo 155719, NG-503, about 1979. Official Navy photo, PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.) From info on this ‘GO!NAVY’ webpage: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.htmlCVW-9 Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) [tail code NG] was assigned to CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION between Feb.26th & Oct.15th 1980 (on RIMPAC'80, WestPac, Indian Ocean deployment) VA-165 'Boomers' was aboard equipped with A-6E & KA-6D. From info on this webpage: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1980.html Modex code 503 is again recorded as Bu number 155719. 1983-1984 record including A-6E 155719: www.gonavy.jp/CVW6-AE1983.html CV-62 USS INDEPENDENCE Task Group From October 18, 1983 to April 11, 1984 CV-62 USS INDEPENDENCE was on deployment with air wing CVW-6 (code AE). A-6E 155719 is recorded with VA-176 ‘Thunderbolts’ as Modex 503 for the period. An American task force sailed to the Caribbean to conduct an Invasion of Grenada codenamed Operation Urgent Fury that began on 25 October 1983. Grenada is a Caribbean island nation with a population of just over 100,000 about 100 miles (160 km) north of Venezuela. A-6E 155719 would have taken active part in the invasion. Control of the which was under the Air Staff of the USS Independence. After this was completed the carrier sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to patrol the Mediterranean Sea. 1984 British spotters report including A-6E 155719: homepage.ntlworld.com/nigel.sadler1/page_article_CV-62%20... A-6E 155719 is recorded with VA-176 ‘Thunderbolts’ as Modex 503 CV-62 USS Independence was at anchor near Portsmouth England, UK from 24 to 31 March 1984. 1986 record including A-6E 155719: www.gonavy.jp/CVW6-AE1986.html From June 4 to November 10, 1986 A-6E 155719 was with VA-176 ‘Thunderbolts’ as Modex 503 as part of air wing CVW-6 code AE for an Atlantic Ocean & Mediterranean Sea patrol aboard CV-59 USS FORRESTAL. A 1990 US sighting report for A-6E 155719 at former NAS South Weymouth Massachusetts: www.scramble.nl/showreports.htm (Click on 'North America' on left then within the list ‘United States of America’, scroll down to South Weymouth (MA) then click on ‘1990’ to view – scroll again to entry) 23 June 1990 Static: 155719/EA-512 A-6E VMA-AW-332 MCAS Cherry Pt. This is interpreted as; A-6E 155719 was with US Marine Corps unit VMA-(AW)-332 ‘Moonlighters’ as Modex 512 and squadron tail code EA while based at MCAS Cherry Point North Carolina. 1994 US spotters report including A-6E 155719 with others in NAS Norfolk Naval Air Depot storage after being withdrawn from service - note no markings are recorded: www.scramble.nl/showreports.htm (Click on 'North America' on left then within the list ‘United States of America’, scroll down to ‘Norfolk (VA)’ then click on ‘1994’ to view – scroll down again to view entry) NAS Norfolk (VA), 41st International Azelea Festival Airshow 24 April 1994 NAD Storage: A-6E/KA-6D: 155719 is included among fifteen aircraft logged. Commercially available slides of A-6E 155719: www.mar.co.uk/ Input 155719 in ‘Search’ box on top right of webpage to view entries. There are six entries, (one incorrect): Grumman A-6E 155719; When with USMC VMA(AW)-224 ‘Bengals’ as Modex 505 with tail code WK. When with USMC VMA(AW)-332 ‘moonlighters’ as Modex 507 tail code EA from 1992. And one when with VMA(AW)-533 ‘Hawks’ as Modex 556 tail code AC when assigned to CVW-3 & CV-67 USS John F Kennedy in 1986 & 1987. As yet, from internet sources the fate of A-6E 155719 is not confirmed. There is no known record of it being retired to AMARC storage in Arizona. The aircraft may have been stored then scrapped at a Naval Air Depot. Possibly the one at Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. A-6A Intruder 155695 The aircraft in the picture may also be erroneously interpreted as 155696, however this was tragically lost with its crew in 1969 over Laos on 29 September 1969 www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm 1970 -1971 record for A-6A 155695 with the US Marine Corps: www.gonavy.jp/usmc/55/usmc5501.html From 1969 to 1972 VMA(AW)-533 'Hawks' tail code ED was part of Marine Aircraft Group Fifteen MAG-15 forward based at MCAS Iwakuni Japan. In 1970 A-6A 155695 joined VMA(AW)-533 as Modex 1 to replace another. During 1971 A-6A 155695 was transferred to an unknown unit. Picture of A-6A 155695 with VMA(AW)-242 Batmen: www.footnote.com/document/51219471/ A-6A Intruder 155695 VMA(AW)-242 Modex 9 tail code DT. Date unknown. Sometime in the 1970's Bu No 155695 was converted from A-6A to A-6E. 1984 picture of A-6E 155695: www.airlinehobby.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=6... 155695 A-6E VA-55 28Apr1984 A-6E 155695 VA-55 ‘Warhorses’ as Modex 503 Tail code AK of CVW-13 If picture taken on April 28 1984 this was probably during the air wing work up period as CVW-13 did not deploy until October 1, 1985 to May 19, 1986. www.gonavy.jp/CVW-AK2f.html 1993 picture of A-6E 155695: www.airfighters.com/photo/47378/M/USA-Navy/Grumman-A-6E-I... A-6E TRAM Intruder 155695 VA-34 ‘Blue Balster’ Modex 522 NAS Fallon Nevada October 28, 1993 1996 picture of A-6E 155695 with VA-34 ‘Blue Blasters’ as Modex 512. Tail code AG of CVW-7. www.airlinehobby.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=6... possibly on board CVN-73 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON between January 26 & July 23, 1996 during a Mediterranean Sea patrol. A-6E 155695 was officially purchased by the US Navy on 7 January 1969 and possibly came from a 1969 production batch. A-6E 155695 is logged with a relatively average number of (for a carrier associated aircraft) 5126 flight hours. Plus an average number of 1021 catapult assisted take offs (CATS) and 1063 carrier arrested landings (TRAPS). This was possibly because of periods of existence with land based US Marine units. A-6A 155695 was placed in the A-6E upgrade program and throughout its lifetime was constantly updated until eventually chosen in the early 1990’s for complete rebuild with a new Composite Wing, rewire and all latest systems installed. End of 'Cold War' defense cuts forestalled and wasted the advantages from the rewing/rebuild program and rather than flying another ten years or more the entire Intruder fleet - including all those many newly rebuilt, was wound down between 1990 & 1996 until there were no more left in active use. Go here for list with notes of all Intruders built: www.intruderassociation.org/losses.html Click on; “Every A-6 that was ever built” (Courtesy of the “Intruder Association”) A-6E Intruder 155695 was retired on 31 July 1996 to the then AMARC via Davis Monthan AFB Arizona. Upon arrival it was given AMARC inventory code AN5A0209. Plus location code 011216. This was AMARC West, Area 1, Row 12 & Position 16. A-6E 155695 was Struck Off Charge on 5 December 2000. By going to this website "AMARC III": www.amarc.info/ Mouse clicking on 'Inventory by type', scroll down to box 'A-6 Intruder', mouse click on it and the most up to date inventory list may be viewed. Inventories dated 15 December 2010, 14 January 2011 & 29 March 2011 record 163 A-6 still in storage at what is now 309th AMARG. A list dated 14 Sept 2010 recorded 174 Intruder. Because of recent precautionary restrictions on information only the minimum details of aircraft at AMARG are allowed to be published. All aircraft in all "AMARC III" lists are in arrival date order only. A-6E 155695 arrival date was 31 July 1996 and is included on that list so by end of March 2011 still existed in a desert military compound near Tucson Arizona. Maintain a check on this website as it is regularly updated………. the numbers decrease continually…….

Dad flew this plane (155695) down to Miramar from Whidbey in mid August 1975 when this picture was taken. C.O. at the time. www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a6pics/155695.jpg

Model correction; The E-2 Hawkeyes flown-by VAW-116, had transitioned to 'Bravo' models (E-2B) by their CVW-9/Constellation deployment in JUL71. E-2B Hawkeye (BuNo 151718/NG 013)

Super Carrier CVN-70 Carl Vinson in Flight Operations