douglasskywarrior

Turning in formation high over the ocean. A3D-2 Skywarrior 138934 VAH-4 ' Fourunners' Modex 7. CVG-19 below NAVY Early type lightly framed canopy, rounded nosecone, periscope fairing beneath nose, gun turret and gun laying radar dome on rear fuselage. VAH-4 ' Fourunners' provided a detachment to Carrier Air Group Nineteen (CVG-19) on three occasions between 1960 & 1963 aboard CVA-31 USS Bon Homme Richard. Info from these 'GO!NAVY' webpages: www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG19f.html www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VAQ131.html (Thanks and credit to Takafumi Hiroe of Japan for ‘GO!NAVY’ information) Color profile of above aircraft as depicted: wp.scn.ru/en/ww3/b/796/3/0/7 Unit: VAH-13, US Navy Serial: 7/ZB (BuNo.138934) www.aerofiles.com/_doug.html (use slider to scroll one third down page for second A3D entry and 138934) Picture of A3D-2 138934 being catapulted to take off speed, with tail code ZA of VAH-2, Modex 4. And from CVG-5 www.aerofiles.com/doug-a3d2.jpg 1958 picture of A3D-2 138934, tail code ZA of VAH-2, Modex 4. And from CVG-5 www015.upp.so-net.ne.jp/checkertail/archives/011.htm Passing overhead during landing at NAF Atsugi, Japan. VAH-2 Det B using code ZA was part of CVG-5 aboard CVA-31 USS BON HOMME RICHARD some time between July 12 & Dec.9, 1957 ('WestPac' voyage) www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG5f.html Picture of A3D-2 138934, tail code NG of CVG-9 landing at Yokota air base Japan. Date unknown: It may have belonged to VAH-2 on CVA-14 USS Ticonderoga 1957/1958 or with VAH-6 on CV-61 USS Ranger from 1960; www015.upp.so-net.ne.jp/checkertail/archives/060.htm www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VAH06.html www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG9-2f.html Some notes on A-3B 138934; Originally built as A3D-2 Number 85 on Skywarrior production line Constructor Number 10795 Accepted by US Navy May 1957 Re-designated A-3B from 1962. March 4, 1963. Lost in carrier landing accident while operated by VAH-13. This dedicated 'A-3 Skywarrior Association' website records the incident: www.a3skywarrior.com/memorial/full_accident_date.htm A/C struck the ramp & boltered after going below the glide slope & LSO called wave off. MLG debris hit the LSO. Lost hydraulics preventing 'bingo' diversion to NAS Atsugi. Plane caught fire on the starboard beam. Two chutes were seen. A/C crashed 4 miles ahead of CVA [MLG; Main Landing Gear] The plane struck ramp while landing on CVA-63 USS Kitty Hawk, March 4, 1963 500 mi SE of Tokyo. Became airborne again, caught fire, 2 of three crewmembers seen parachuting from plane, plane crashed into ocean. 2 crewmembers killed, one survived. LSO hit by debris and injured. These facts confirmed by Kenneth Mortensen who was eyewitness of this accident. Pilot; Lieutenant Commander James Wilson Jr Bombardier Navigator; Lieutenant John Shoemaker AM3; ADJ2 Charles Eustace (AM3; Aircraft Structural Mechanic Third Class (Naval rating) (ADJ2; Aviation Machinist's Mate, Jet Engine Mechanic, Second Class [Navy rating]) Landing Signal Officer; LCDR William Carey It is not known who jumped out and if they survived, from the injury codes provided. (Thanks and credit to Takafumi Hiroe of Japan for all ‘GO!NAVY’ info) Go here for two very pertinent stories from men who experienced bailing out of a Skywarrior: www.a3skywarrior.com/whaletales/leaving.html 'We Are Leaving the Aircraft' and 'Crew Bails Out; Pilot Saves Plane'

Captured as it leaves the deck from the catapult. A-3B Skywarrior Bu No 147657 Tail code NL of Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15) VAH-2 ‘Royal Rampants’. Modex 610/810 repeated on extreme rear. As recorded on this ‘GO!NAVY’ website: www.gonavy.jp/index.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NLf.html VAH-2 ‘Royal Rampants’ as part of CVW-15 - tail code NL Was embarked on CVA-43 USS CORAL SEA before or between Dec.7 1964 & Nov.1, 1965 for a very long early Vietnam War deployment in the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin. (My thanks to Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval aviation historian) 1964 pictures of A-3B 147657 on a site for VA-94 'Mighty Shrikes: a4skyhawk.org/3e/va94/va94.htm Two air to air archival pictures of 147657 below; 1964 picture of A-3B 147657: a4skyhawk.org/content/147735-va-94-us-navy-photograph-wz-... Location: air-to-air Date: 1964 Description: VAH-2 EKA-3B Whale BuNo. 147657, NL 810, passing gas to Mighty Shrikes Skyhawk BuNo. 147735, NG 404 while BuNo. 149541, NG 413, waits his turn. 1964 picture of A-3B 147657: a4skyhawk.org/content/149541-va-94-us-navy-photograph-whi... Location: air-to-air Date: 1964 Description: EKA-3B VAH-2 Whale BuNo 147657, NL 810, stands ready to fuel two Shrike Skyhawks, BuNo 147735, NG 404 and BuNo 149541, NG 413. Nice color Picture with A-3B Skywarrior 147657 included: 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/AndersonChuck/3830.htm 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/AndersonChuck/3830L.jpg Note tail code NL, Modex 810 and squadron badge aft of cockpit. Here is a nice picture of A-3B 147657, Tail code NL Modex 810: www.1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/AndersonChuck/52... Douglas 593-8 KA-3B Skywarrior (147657 c/n 12421) US Navy Vought V-383 RF-8A Crusader (146861) US Navy Remarks about the RF-8A flight by Chuck Anderson: "This was quite a trip....My wing and I took off from USS Ranger 100 miles east of Danang and tanked south of Saigon. We flew across the Gulf of Siam and took low level photos of the coast of Malaysia for a planned landing exercise. Then we flew back, tanked again, and landed aboard after about 4 hours in the air." Although designated an attack bomber, A3D-2/A-3B Skywarriors could and did carry the tanker package prior to the official designation of KA-3B. Some notes on A-3B Skywarrior Bu No 147657 Originally built as A3D-2 Number 272 on Skywarrior production line Constructor Number 12421 Accepted by US Navy August 1960 Re-designated A-3B from 1962. Converted to KA-3B in June 1967 Further converted to EKA-3B in January 1968. In May 1975 converted back to KA-3B Skywarrior Bu No 147657 appears to have belonged to these units during its existence; VAH-2, VAW-13, VAQ-130, VAQ-208, VAK-208 & VAK-308 Finally withdrawn from use 27 September 1989. Stored in desert boneyard as AN2A0118 at the then AMARC, near Tucson Arizona, until partial scrapping with remainder going to a private museum. EKA-3B 147657 may also be viewed in this ‘flickr’ pic here: www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/282287428/ From info on following website and its webpages: EKA-3B 147657 was aboard CV-64 USS Constellation between May 29, 1968 & Jan.31, 1969 to support the Vietnam War. www.gonavy.jp/index.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NKf.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW14-NK1968.html This was with VAW-13 DET.64 as Modex 112 then 106 with CVW-14 code NK. During 1971/1972 EKA-3B 147657 of VAQ-130, DET 1. CVW-9 tail code NG, was again onboard CV-64 USS Constellation for the Vietnam War. From info on this website and its webpages: www.gonavy.jp/index.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NGf.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1972.html It’s recorded that only between Oct.1 1971 & July 1, 1972 aboard VAQ-130 DET.1 'Zappers' equipped with EKA-3B. were aboard USS Constellation The three assigned wore Modex codes 614, 615 & 616. Unluckily, it is recorded that 616 was Bu Number 147657! So that's wrong! (Credit to Takafumi Hiroe of Japan) 1978 color picture with KA-3B 147657 as tail code AF Modex 612 of VAK-208 www.airliners.net/photo/0652244/ At RAF Mildenhall England. Dated 17 September 1978 1982 color picture of KA-3B 147657 as tail code AF Modex 612 of VAK-208 www.airfighters.com/photo/25046/M/USA-Navy/Douglas-KA-3B-... At RAF Mildenhall England. Dated 26 September 1982. 1989 color picture of KA-3B 147657 as tail code AF Modex 522 of VAK-208 - its final unit. www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=748359 At Frankfurt Rhein-Main air base, Germany. Dated 17 September 1989. This 2001 AMARC inventory records KA-3B 147657 as tail code AF Modex 522 formerly of VAK-208 - its final unit: home.clara.net/mwindridge/Database/20May01/area_241.htm (Use slider to scroll to center of page) KA-3B 147657 is recorded in the MASDC & AMARC Database - Douglas A-3 Skywarrior www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCDB.asp?SessionId=534092316&a... Serial; 147657. PCN; AN2A0118. Type; Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior….C/N 12421. ARRIVAL DATE; 27-SEP-89 Disposition:Unknown / Nose to Southern Utah Air Museum, Washington, UT. Fuselage to HVF West, Tucson, AZ. And scrapped. Found on this website, what seems to be the only remaining part of KA-3B 147657: (Use slider to scroll all way to bottom of page) www.a3skywarrior.com/ready-room/a-3-dispositions/a-3-muse... "Gibbs Whale Museum" KA-3B BuNo 147657 VAH-2, VAQ-130, VAQ-208, VAK-208, VAK- 308 Ennis Gibbs Woodland, Utah (E of SLC, UT) 435-783-2439 egibbs@allwest.net Call ahead of time and Ennis will provide you a tour of the Whale and the opportunity to sit in your favorite flight position. 'Before cockpit removal' 'After cockpit removal' 'BN side of cockpit' " (Note Modex code 522 on nose)

www.deseretnews.com/article/640186330/Veteran-has-whale-o...

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'.