douglasad5

One of our NAF China Lake AD-5N/A-1G Skyraiders taken between August 1962 and August 1965, probably in the earlier part of that range. Armitage Field, NAF China Lake. Pilot is CDR Abele. Ordnance is two MK-8x iron bombs with Snakeye retarded fin assemblies.

Color picture of Douglas EA-1F Skyraider turning out of formation. In Light Gull Gray and Insignia White with squadron code GD of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirty-Three (VAW-33) on tail plus Modex number 809 on engine cowling. Below that are individual markings on nose, a chess game knight and possible black bird symbol plus some unreadable italic script across at a diagonal angle. Unfortunately the ‘last five’ of serial number on base of tail is entirely obscured. Image resolution is insufficient to read full serial number in shadow below horizontal tail This EA-1F was one of 53 AD-5Ns converted and redesignated AD-5Q as a four-seat electronic countermeasures aircraft fitted with search radar and under wing ECM pods . The two electronics operators were seated facing aft underneath a bulged aluminum rear canopy with small semi-circular window. APS-31 radar pod installed on the starboard underwing pylon. Other antenna protrude from the aft ventral fuselage and extreme tail. Auxiliary fuel tank on centerline station. All AD-5Qs were redesignated EA-1F from September 1962. Dedicated VA(AW)-33 / VAW-33 / VAQ-33 website: www.reenactor.net/vaq-33/vaq-33_history.html

Douglas AD-5 / A-1E Skyraider 132545 PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE across center tail. 545 on engine cowl. Possibly in white and dayglo red/orange. Somewhere along the line this aircraft was modified into an electronic countermeasures aircraft for fleet protection use. 1968 picture of Bu No 132545 distinctly as an EA-1F: www.gonavy.jp/bbs2-a1.html (look for picture with following words below, to view) EA-1F 132545/AK-601 CVS-11 Intrepid (Sep.1, 1968) MACH3 No.3211 EA-1F 132545. VAQ-33 DET 11 Modex 601. CVW-10 code AK ‘GO!NAVY” internet record for EA-1F 132545 during 1968: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-AK1f.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW10-AK1968.html EA-1F 132545 is recorded with VAQ-33 DET 11 as Modex 601 part of CVW-10 code AK during a June 4 1968 to February 8,1969 Vietnam war deployment. (above info courtesy Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian) EA-1F 132545 was retired to desert storage at the then MASDC near Tucson Arizona on 18 July 1969. Fate unknown. Dedicated VA(AW)-33 / VAW-33 / VAQ-33 website: www.reenactor.net/vaq-33/vaq-33_history.html On 1 February 1968, VAW-33 was redesignated "Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Thirty-Three (VAQ-33). " Then, in June 1969, VAQ-33 relinquished all its aircraft and prepared for disestablishment

From 1960 through 1962, I was stationed at Pacific Missile Range, Pt. Mugu, California and assigned as an ECM opperator on this aircraft; 132545. At that time she was painted with the dayglo orange nose and tail configuration with Pacific Missile Range across the tail. A sister craft, 132506, was also assigned to Pt. Mugu but retained the typical gray Navy paint. Our mission was missile launch support for Vandenburg AFB and Pt. Mugu.