douglasskywarrior

Slightly indistinct and overly darkened copy of a picture of two Douglas A-3B Skywarrior equipped as aerial tankers, one refueling the other. A-3B Skywarrior 144627 Modex 5 A-3B Skywarrior 142659 Modex 2 Tail code ZB of VAH-4 'Fourrunners' Both these aircraft were tragically lost in different circumstances. A-3B Skywarrior 144627 Originally built as A3D-2. Accepted by US Navy June 1959. Became A-3B from 1962. Lost on March 8, 1967 during night mining sortie over North Vietnam (cause unknown) while operated from USS Kitty Hawk by VAH-4. Here is a full record of aircraft losses from CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk: www.ejection-history.org.uk/CARRIERS/USS_KITTY_HAWK/uss_k... 8 March 1967. USN. A 3B. 144627. Code ZB. Modex 5. VAH 4. North Vietnam. LCdr C O Crain; KIA. Lt (jg) G F Pawlish; KIA ATN2 Ronald E. Galvin: KIA Here is a record of the events of CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk: www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k4/kitty_hawk-ii.html “ 8 Mar 1967: Holly Green 5, an A-3B (BuNo 144627), LCDR Carroll O. Crain, Jr., LT(JG) George F. Pawlish, ATN2 Ronald E. Galvin, VAH-4 Det C, went down at sea en route to a mining mission over the Kien Qiang River, North Vietnam, 17º48’N, 106º38’E. Though due to “unknown causes,” Holly Green 5’s loss is considered combat-related, in all probability due to enemy ground fire.” In remembrance of Commander Carroll O. Crain, Jr., www.virtualwall.org/dc/CrainCO01a.htm asthevalleyturns.com/memorial.html ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. A-3B Skywarrior 142659 Originally built as A3D-2. Accepted by US Navy April 1959. Re-designated A-3B from 1962. Converted by NARF Alameda to KA-3B in June 1967, then to EKA-3B in Sept 1967. Re-configured back to KA-3B. Destroyed due to mishandled aborted take-off when with VAQ-308 from NAS Alameda. www.a3skywarrior.com/memorial/full_accident_date.htm VAQ 308 142659 10 Oct 1977 (9/10/1977) Oakland inner harbor immediate adjacent to boundary of NAS Alameda. Aborted take off at NAS Alameda. At 3500 ft. drag chute deployed and streamed. The tail hook was lowered. Tire marks extended for 4000'. Aircraft left runway and impacted harbor waters nose down. Pilot; LCDR John Bell RN: AME2 James Sullivan 1969 pictures of EKA-3B 142659 of VAQ-130, Modex 615, refueling A-4E Skyhawks, both with tail code NF from CV-31 USS Bon Homme Richard: a4skyhawk.org/5e/g151022/html/151131c1.htm a4skyhawk.org/5e/g151022/html/151131c2.htm Dated 8 August 1969. A record of EKA-3B 142659 aboard CVA-66 USS America for a period between April 10, & Dec.21, 1970: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1970.html Marked as Modex 617 when replaced another EKA-3B lost overboard on 4 July 1970. 142659 transferred to VAQ-129 DET.19 of CVW-21 aboard CVA-19 at beginning of December 1970. 26 December 1970 picture of EKA-3B 142659 with VAQ-129 as Modex 616 tail code NP of CVW-21 over NAF Atsugi, Japan: a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/EKA-3B_142659_VAQ-129_DET_19_U... geta-o.maxs.jp/USMIL/A/A-3/EKA-3B/EKA-3B.htm geta-o.maxs.jp/USMIL/A/A-3/EKA-3B/Eka-3b(np616)142659-076... KA-3B 142659 of VAQ-308 "Griffins" at NAS Cecil Field in January 1976. (Photo: Paul Minert Collection via R. E. Kling) : www.aircraftprofiles.dk/?page_id=146&album=11&gal... www.aircraftprofiles.dk/wp-content/gallery/vaq-308-griffi... My respect to the crews of both aircraft, their families or friends. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. During the Skywarrior production run, provision for airborne tanker equipment was incorporated on twenty A-3B airframes from serial number 142650. When the tanker package was retrofitted on earlier bombers as a permanent installation, the modified aircraft were then designated KA-3B. A-3B's could and did carry the tanker reel and hose/drogue unit prior to the 1967 official designation of KA-3B. The following passages from this web page titled 'Douglas A3D-2/A-3B Skywarrior' contains more relevant information: www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa3_3.html "The next 20 A3D-2s (BuNos 142650/142665 and 144626/144629) were fitted with a midair refuelling probe on the port side of the aircraft that extended forward of the nose. Provision was made for the installation of a removable inflight refuelling and tanker package in the bomb bay, which included a hose reel unit and a large fuel tank. The aircraft was also equipped with Cambered Leading Edge (CLE) wings that incorporated inboard leading edge slats which increased the wing area from 779 to 812 square feet. The midair refuelling package, the flat panel nose radome, and the new dovetail fairing were progressively retrofitted to most of the early production A3D-2s." (credit to Professor Joe Baugher, Chicago, Illinois, USA)

I enjoyed doing that amount of research in year 2011. Thank You!

Douglas YA3D-1 Skywarrior. Bu No 130352 Side code 352. Midnight blue paint scheme overall YA3D-1 130352 Accepted Oct 1953 Became NA-3A from 1962. Struck off Charge at NARF Alameda following June 1965 inflight accident while operated by Naval Missile Center from Point Mugu, California. Possibly SOC April 1966. As yet there is no record of the incident here: www.a3skywarrior.com/memorial/full_accident_date.htm

A3D-2 Skywarrior captured making a violent rocket assisted take off. (JATO/RATO) Code ZB of VAH-4 'Fourrunners' on tail with zigzag marking. Large Modex side number 2 with squadron emblem directly behind. From another aspect, a picture of the same aircraft during the same take off as in the 'flickr' pic: a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/138912_vah-4_jato.jpg Full Navy Bureau serial number 138912 on lower tail, ZB code above with same marking, Modex 2 on nose and squadron emblem directly behind. The aircraft had a short existence. Some notes; A3D-2 Skywarrior 138912 Accepted By US Navy Dec 1956 Salvaged and scrapped after accident aboard USS Oriskany while operated by VAH-2. Reference to the incident from this dedicated 'A-3 Skywarrior Association' web page: www.a3skywarrior.com/memorial/full_accident_date.htm VAH 4. Det F. CVA 14. USS Oriskany A3D-2 Bu No 138912. 8/20/1960. (20 August 1960) Lost an engine during take off from NAS Cubi Point and the A/C hit the water. It is not known exactly what the outcome was for the four named crew members.

RATO photo link on www.a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/images/138912_vah-4_jato.jpg

Many thanks for the kind supply of modified picture internet link. Unfortunately the A-3 Skywarrior accident link has also been modified and thus a further search is necessary to re-establish a link to that relevant webpage...... The internet is a constantly evolving and ephemeral transient phenomena . Several links provided by me in some 1500 detailed comments to 'Flickr' military aviation images have over a period of over just two years changed or been deleted and lost. Especially the A-3 Skywarrior Association and A-4 Skyhawk Association internet website links and those links to their webpages as they have both rebuilt them. Hope my comment was helpful and informative and also thank the San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive for displaying the image.

From another aspect, a picture of the same aircraft displayed by another 'flickr' contributor during the same take off as in the above 'flickr' pic: Full Navy Bureau serial number 138912 on lower tail, ZB code above with same marking, Modex 2 on nose and squadron emblem directly behind. www.flickr.com/photos/my_public_domain_photos/6095637852