douglasskywarrior

I have a framed copy of this photo. It was recently found in a collection of photo's belonging to a (recently died) New Zealand veteran - who fought in the Vietnam/Korea wars

Stirring picture of a Skywarrior attack bomber being thrust off a carrier. A3D-2 Skywarrior Tail code AK of Carrier Air Group Ten (CVG-10) Modex 503. Black painted nosecone. Early style canopy, under fuselage fairing over periscope in front of wheel well, rear turret for twin cannon. Wings are also without cambered leading edge (CLE) aerofoil. Slightly blurred full Navy six digit serial number on lower tail. From examination of this production list with notes: www.a3skywarrior.com/html_files/a-3production.html (Thanks to the A-3 Skywarrior Association) It looked like either 135574 or perhaps 132574 ? However the closest match is A3D-2 Skywarrior 138974. There is reference to A3D-2 Skywarriors being part of air group CVG-10 only once, during 1958/1959: www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG10f.html VAH-5 'Savage Sons' using Modex codes in the 500 range was the squadron equipped with A3D-2. This was aboard CVA-59 USS FORRESTAL some time before or between Sept 2, 1958 & March 12, 1959. For a deployment across the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea. KA-3B 138974 may also be seen in this 'flickr' pic: www.flickr.com/photos/77968948@N00/4289641354/ Info on Bu No 138974; Originally built as an A3D-2. Accepted by US Navy May 1957. Redesignated A-3B in 1962. Converted to KA-3B by NARF Alameda in June 1967. Struck Off Charge July 1970. Salvaged at NARF Alameda, California. It will have been scrapped a long time ago. Reference to A3D-2 138974 being used very early in its existence by specialist squadron VQ-2: www.wherndon.com/vq2sandeman/ Update: In 1958 after the loss of two of its A3D-1Q aircraft the squadron received and operated three A3D aircraft BUNO's 135425, 138943 and 138974, which were used as a trainer/parts hauler some which had some special projects gear installed.** A picture of VAH-4 A-3B Skywarrior Bu No 138974 diving and releasing a bomb. www.vaq34.com/a3list/138974.jpg 1964 picture of A-3B 138974: www.navsource.org/archives/02/026216.jpg An A-3B Skywarrior ("Whale"), BuNo 138974, assigned to VAH-11 "Checkertails" goes for #3 wire on USS Independence, probably in the second half of 1964. Good view of 5"/54 mounts. a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/VAH-4_138974.jpg A-3B 138974 from 'Heavy Four' when stationed on USS Oriskany during 1966. With Mk84 2000 lb bomb falling away from the aircraft. A 1966 picture of KA-3B Skywarrior Bu No 138974. www.aircraftprofiles.dk/?page_id=351&albu&album=2... A KA-3B of VAH-4 Det. G. "Fourrunners" (138974) refuels a A-4E of VA-163 "Saints" over the Gulf of Tonkin in May 1966. Detachment G. operated from USS Oriskany (CVA-34) from May 26th, 1966 to Nov. 16th, 1966. (Photo: Paul Minert Collection) A 1968 picture of KA-3B Skywarrior Bu No 138974 on this web page:. www.gonavy.jp/bbs2-a3.html VAH-4 code ZB Modex 5 dated June 9 1968 on approach to NAF Atsugi, Japan. From info on this website and its web pages: www.gonavy.jp/ (Many thanks to Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian) Between Nov.18th 1967 & June 28th 1968, CVA-63 USS KITTY HAWK on Vietnam War deployment. with Carrier Air Wing Eleven embarked (CVW-11) [tail code NH] VAH-4 DET.63 (tail code ZB) equipped with KA-3B Skywarriors was aboard. Detachment aircraft numbered 1 to 6. Within another webpage: www.gonavy.jp/CVW11-NH1967.html it is luckily recorded that detachment 63 aircraft number 5 was Bu No 138974. Caption taken from a picture of KA-3B 138974 in publication; "USN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AIR UNITS 1964-1973": A KA-3B (BuNo 138974) tanker of VAH-10 Vikings at Edwards AFB in June of 1969, prior to deploying on USS HANCOCK (CVA-19) in September. For this cruise VAH-10 adopted the CVW-21 tail code of 'NP', replacing their assigned tail code of 'ZR'. (Clay Jansson) KA-3B 138974 was in service until at least 1970. After that date there as yet are no known web based references to it Hasegawa 1/72 scale model with KA-3B Skywarrior 138974 depicted: www.flevoaviationhobby.net/images/kitreviews/1-72/hask42/... It may still be available via 'eBay'.

Better quality copy of same picture from another 'flickr' contributor: www.flickr.com/photos/my_public_domain_photos/4489117442/ Many thanks to 'aeroman3'.

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