ep3orion

VQ-2 EP-3B and EA-3B aircraft on the ramp at NAS Rota, Spain. Photo by PH2 Bishop circa 1976 Lockheed EP-3E Orion of VQ-2 'Sandeman' with Modex 25 on nose. Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior of VQ-2 with what may be Modex 12 on rear fuselage. Wings folded and chained down to ramp. An emblem used for a period of time by the squadron on the tails of both aircraft. Or as this website explains: vq-2.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/Insignia.htm “The Phantasm depicted in the center of the insignia is recognized worldwide as the VQ-2 "Sandeman" and characterizes the sensitive nature of squadron operations. The red and yellow color scheme of the insignia, similar to the national ensign of Spain, subtly suggests the Spanish heritage of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (VQ-2) which was based at Naval Station Rota, Spain from 1960-2005.” A cropped version of the above 'flickr' pic may also be viewed here: www.vpnavy.com/p3/vq2p3_02_19may2001.jpg Q-2 P-3 BUNO: Unknown "...VQ-2 EP-3B and EA-3B aircraft on the ramp at NS Rota, Spain. Photo by PH2 Bishop circa 1976. Photo from the Defense Visual Information Center www.dodmedia.osd.mil/dvic/..."; Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [19MAY2001] Here is a cropped picture of above 'flickr' and web picture - but with better definition and more detail reveals the aircraft to be EA-3B 144850 VQ-2 Modex 12: picasaweb.google.com/herndonjohn/EA3B#5131213410102991394 ‘JQ-12 BUNO 144850’ …………………………………………………………………………………………. EA-3B Skywarrior 144850 had a tragic ending. From personal notes on EA-3B Bu No 144850; Built as an A3D-2Q Accepted by US Navy Jan 1959. Became EA-3B from 1962 Seen aboard USS Saratoga 1980. Seen aboard USS Nimitz EA-3B 144850 as JQ Modex 12, with a VQ-2 DET. was assigned to CVW-7 on CVN-69 DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER some time between Jan.5 to July13, 1982 (Mediterranean). Seen on USS Eisenhower in 1986. Later EA-3B 144850 became Modex 17 JQ with VQ-2 Seen aboard USS John F Kennedy as JQ-17. Seen as Modex 17, JQ, aboard USS Coral Sea 1986. Picture of VQ-2 squadron EA-3B Modex 12: www.aero-web.org/database/aircraft/getimage.h tm?id=794 'EA-3B 144850 over USS Saratoga' 'Ranger 12 from VQ-2 in marshall over CV-60' Official US Government issued leaflet on US Naval aviation spyplane activities, use slider to scroll right down near bottom where references to VQ-1 & VQ-2 appear, with a picture of 'EA-3B BuNo144850 Ranger-12" (in full side on view, with tail code JQ and stylised bat emblem, stored onboard a carrier) "A DANGEROUS BUSINESS: The U.S. Navy and National Reconnaissance During the Cold War" www.nsa.gov/about/_files/cryptologic_heritage /publication... www.nsa.gov/about/_files/cryptologic_heritage/publication... After long service with VQ-2, EA-3B 144850 crashed during an unsuccessful emergency barricade landing attempt aboard USS Nimitz on Jan. 25th 1987. All Seven were crew killed. www.portlyautey.com/ECM-2.htm (Use slider to scroll down two thirds of webpage for entry with details and pictures of EA-3B 144850 careering through barrier on NIMITZ and veering overboard) Seven fatalities. www.portlyautey.com/ECM-2.htm LT Alan A. Levine, Pilot. LCDR. Ronald R. Callander, Nav. LT Stephen H. Batchelder, Eval. LT James D. Richards, Eval. AT2 Richard A. Herzing, ESM OP. Note: Took flight from AT2 Rob Crair in order to get his 100 traps in the EA-3B. CTI3 Craig R. Rudolf, Intel. CTI3 Patrick R. Price, Intel. "On 01/25/1987 EA-3B was attempting to land on the USS Nimitz CVN-68 at night during blue water operations off of Lebanon. Aircraft attempted to catch the arresting gear wire 5 times to no avail. During one of the bolters the EA-3B drop out of view below the flight deck almost impacting the water. After regaining altitude the aircraft was running low on fuel with less than 800lbs left, the aircraft then meet up with the A-7 tanker which would not work because the buddy store was spewing fuel every where (No Joy). Due to the low fuel state the EA-3B was unable to make it to a shore base and it was decided to launch the KA-6B tanker. It was then determined that the A-6 couldn't be launched due to it was blocked in on the bow by other aircraft from the last recovery. After a discussion between the aircraft, CAG and VQ-2 CO, It was ruled out for the crew to bail out or ditch into the cold Mediterranean water. The barricade was rigged, then it was discovered that a big wrench used to tighten up the barricade was missing, so the barricade was sagging 8 foot. The EA-3B made a really nice approach to the carrier descending toward the barricade at a high angle, once near the barricade the LSO told the pilot to "Cut, Cut" meaning kill the engines, the pilot failed to do so flying into the barricade really high hitting the nose landing gear on the sagging barricade ripping it back and slamming the A-3 into the deck then skidding down the flight deck and off the angle into the sea. The rescue Helo hovered above the A-3 not noting any movement inside; the helo SAR swimmers did not enter the A-3. After 13 minutes of floating the EA-3B sank with its 7 men crew to the bottom of the sea. "" Another EA-3B (146448) was painted as '12' and set up as an open air memorial to the crew of 144850. EA-3B Bu No 146448 VQ-2 Aircraft number 12. Tail code JQ. www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-EA -3B-Skywarri... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-EA -3B-Skywarri... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-EA -3B-Skywarri... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-EA -3B-Skywarri... After another carrier landing incident, the last ship detachment that EA-3B's of VQ-2 ever did was on Sept 12th 1987 aboard CV-60 USS SARATOGA. After that date the Skywarrior was restricted to land based operations only. The A-3 Skywarrior series was designed and built without ejection seats. Two other ‘flickr’ pics of EA-3B 144850: www.flickr.com/photos/tonyolsen/2133467706/in/photostream/ www.flickr.com/photos/29374594@N00/1533452115/ ……………………………………………………………………………………………. A list of P-3 & EP-3E aircraft with VQ-2 compiled from pictures found on world wide web; Modex….Bu No…Type.. 11…….. 156525.. P-3C 14………161414 EP-3E 20………149677 EP-3E 20………150510..P-3 ?? 21…….. 149668 EP-3E 22………150502 EP-3E 22…….. 157326 EP-3E 23…….. 148888 EP-3E 23…….. 157316 EP-3E 24…….. 150505 EP-3E 24…….. 156529 EP-3E 25…….. 150494.EP-3E VQ-2 JQ-25 26…….. 157320 EP-3E Pictures of VQ-2 P-3A B/C picasaweb.google.com/herndonjohn/P3ABC# Pictures of P-3A 150494 with VP-5: www.vpnavy.com/vp5_aircraft.html www.vpnavy.com/p3/vp5p3_02_14feb2005.jpg www.vpnavy.com/p3/vp5p3_03_14feb2005.jpg www.vpnavy.com/p3/vp5p3_04_14feb2005.jpg www.vpnavy.com/p3/vp5p3_06_14feb2005.jpg PIcture of P-3A 150494 with VP-8: www.vpnavy.com/p3/vp8p3_08_06apr2003.jpg EP-3E 150494 VQ-2 JQ-25 1974 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 22 of VQ-2: www.aero-pics.co.uk/ew/EP-3E%20150494%20Mildenhall%202402... 1974 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 22 of VQ-2: www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=756322 1980 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 25 of VQ-2: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/1... 1984 pictures of EP-3E 150494, Modex 25 of VQ-2: jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5616845&showexif=1 www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1093605/ www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1191881/ www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/1... 1991 picture of EP-3E 150494, of VQ-2: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/0... 1991 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 25 of VQ-2: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1233082/ Record of EP-3E 150494 and its ultimate fate: www.p3orion.nl/100314_P3ALR-LM.pdf www.p3orion.nl/p3alr.html EP-3E 150494 (former P-3A) Accepted by US Navy 3 Nov 1962. Now scrapped

Awesome.

The above 'flickr' pic may have come from here, taken in 1980, around the time of a special VQ-2 EA-3B flight titled; ‘Round the World Road Trip’: www.vpnavy.com/p3/vq2p3_01_03sep2001.jpg VQ-2 P-3 BUNO: XXX025 "...VQ-2 (JQ-25) EP-3B and EA-3B fly in formation near NS Rota, Spain, July 1980. Photo from the Naval Historical Center..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [03SEP2001] VQ-2 'Batmen'. EP-3E Orion 150494 Tail code JQ Modex code 25 EA-3B Skywarrior 146455 Tail code JQ. Modex code 17 just under pipe of refuelling probe. Relevant VQ-2 patch: (there were several for the unit) www.vpnavy.com/logo_01/vq2patch_01_03oct2006. jpg …………………………………………………………………………………………… Two other 'flickr' pics of EA-3B 146455: www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4564691116/ www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/4698162058/ From my own personal notes gathered on EA-3B’s assigned to both units VQ-1 and VQ-2. Modex 17 from VQ-2 may be EA-3B Bu No 146455. EA-3B Skywarrior 146455 Originally built as Douglas A3D-2Q Skywarrior, From 1962 redesignated EA-3B. Constructor number 12407. Accepted by US Navy April 1960. Assigned to VQ-2 as Modex 7. Tail code JQ. Seen Weisbaden, Germany Feb 1st 1971 as Modex 17. JQ. www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=785711 Ref to EA-3B BUNO 146455 R-7 in near mishap 9 Sept 1970: www.portlyautey.com/ECM-2.htm Ex USS John F Kennedy, forward undercarriage U/S - divert Rota, and by pilot skill landed safely. EA-3B 146455 flew from NAS Rota Spain to USS Eisenhower in Pacific 1980 on ‘Round World Road Trip’. Took part in round world flight with EA-3B 146455 during Aug 1980. www.aero-web.org/database/aircraft/getimage.htm?id=309 JQ-17 BUNO 146455, USS Eisenhower 1980 picasaweb.google.com/herndonjohn/EA3B#5131430091203074674 picasaweb.google.com/herndonjohn/EA3B#5131428089748314706 Seen as Modex 17. JQ. Andrews Air Force Base 1980 a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org/EA-3B_VQ-2_JQ17_Andrews_AFB_9a... Seen as Modex 17. JQ. Frankfurt Rhein Main. Germany. 19 Dec 1980. flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=911954 Seen on 'Coral Sea' CV-43 off Libya coast 1986 as 17, JQ. www.usscoralsea.net/images/8586a3vq2.jpg EA-3B 146455 was also seen as 17 at Prestwick Scotland Sept 1986. This web page from ‘GO!NAVY’ website by Takafumi Hiroe of Japan records VQ-2 aboard CV-66 USS America between 1984 & 1986: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-ABf.html Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1 tail code AB) was embarked aboard CV-66 USS AMERICA between March 10, 1986 & Sept 14, 1986, for the Mediterranean Sea, Libya and Gulf of Syrte dispute. This is corroborated by information below. A detachment by VQ-2 with EA-3B (Modex unknown) tail code JQ were also on temporary assignment to CVW-1 from their base at Rota in Spain. This is corroborated by information further below. See “1986 - Last deployment of an A-3 Skywarrior on the Coral Maru.” EA-3B 146455 was retired on 9 Sept 1991 to the then AMARC near Tucson, Arizona as AN2A0129, Information gleaned from ‘The AMARC Experience’ web link: www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCDB.asp?SessionId=534092316&a... 146455 ..AN2A0129...Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior….12407..09-SEP-91 Information on Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior 146455 This A/C spent it's entire flying career in VQ-2 out of Rota, Spain. In August 1980 we flew her along with 146453 around the world to catch up with our ship in the Indian Ocean. We took off from Rota, flew to Azores, Nova Scotia, Wash DC, Ellsworth SD, Alameda, Hawaii, Wake IS, Guam, PI, Diego Garcia, USS Eisenhower (our ship), Djibouti, Athens and finally back to Rota. Whew what a trip. We flew like 26,000 miles to catch up to our ship and return, could be a record for a carrier based A/C. Fond memories of this A/C and that around the world flight. Side #'s in VQ-2: #7 #17 then finally #005 John Herndon vq2sandeman@hotmail.com - 23:07:34 16 August 2010 Another info source provides a little info combined with this web picture of both EA-3B 146453 as 15 and 146455 as 17 taken during the ‘Round the World Road Trip’ in August 1980: www.aero-web.org/database/aircraft/getimage.htm?id=309 The picture of the two EA-3Bs Bu No 146453 Ranger 15 and 146455 Ranger 17, was taken over the Pacific Ocean in 1980 on the way to USS Eisenhower in support of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, on VQ-2's first around the world Det RT-80 (Short for Road Trip 1980). Further information on EA-3B 146455 from this excellent picture and caption: www.usscoralsea.net/images/8586a3vq2.jpg 1986 - Last deployment of an A-3 Skywarrior on the Coral Maru. "Dawn Launch" - 'Ranger 17', EA-3B (146455), from VQ-2 on the starboard bow cat of the Coral Sea (CV-43). Mission: Electronic Warfare, locate and identify hostile Libyan Naval Combatant ships. Use AN/ALR-40 ESM and COMINT systems. Mission was successful with the destruction of a Libyan ship by an A-6 bomber. Note the action: Cat crew departing from bridle hookup, Troubleshooter checking bleed ports at both engines as they are brought up to full power and the button man in the catwalk at the ready. It looks like a 'thumbs up launch'. [From Mark Swisher - A-3 Skywarrior Association] By going to this website: www.amarc.info/ Mouse clicking on 'Inventory by type', scroll down to box 'A-3 Skywarrior', mouse click on it and the most up to date inventory list of A-3 Skywarriors stored in desert conditions at AMARG in Arizona may be viewed. Inventory dated 14 Sept 2010 records eleven A-3 Skywarrior; One of which is; EA-3B. Bu No 146455 Arrival Date…..09-Sep-91 Storage Code..AN2A0129 EA-3B Bu No 146455 Still exists in 2010 ! ! …………………………………………………………………………………………… EP-3E 150494 VQ-2 JQ-25 1974 picture of EP-3E 150494, as Modex 22 of VQ-2: www.aero-pics.co.uk/ew/EP-3E%20150494%20Mildenhall%202402... 1974 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 22 of VQ-2: www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=756322 1980 picture of EP-3E 150494, as Modex 25 of VQ-2: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/1... 1984 pictures of EP-3E 150494, Modex 25 of VQ-2: jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5616845&showexif=1 www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1093605/ www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1191881/ www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/1... 1991 picture of EP-3E 150494, of VQ-2: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Lockheed-EP-3E-Orion/0... 1991 picture of EP-3E 150494, Modex 25 of VQ-2: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1233082/ Record of EP-3E 150494 and its ultimate fate: www.p3orion.nl/100314_P3ALR-LM.pdf www.p3orion.nl/p3alr.html EP-3E 150494 (former P-3A) Accepted by US Navy 3 Nov 1962. Now scrapped