grummanintruder

Airborne monochrome picture of two A-6A Intruders from VA-196 'Main Battery' tail code NE of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2). Nearest is Bu No 155599 Modex 512 and furthest is Bu No 155604 Modex 504 Black ace symbol of VA-196 aft of cockpit. Both in gull gray and white scheme with radome overspray 'USS RANGER' over national insignia. It is extremely fortunate there is an internet record for the two aircraft: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NEf.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW2-NE1969.html VA-196 'Main Battery' is recorded as having both aircraft as pictured A-6A 155599 as Modex 511 A-6A 155604 as Modex 504 The squadron only sailed once aboard CVA-61 USS RANGER with CVW-2. This was between October 14, 1969 & June 1, 1970 for a Vietnam War deployment over Laos and North Vietnam …………………………………………………………………………………………….. Very fortunately the operational career of A-6A Intruder 155599 is fairly well documented on website 'GO!NAVY': www.gonavy.jp/ A-6A 155599 was used in at least two wartime deployments over South East Asia & Vietnam. 1968-1969 record for A-6A 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW2-NE1968.html CVW-2 (NE) CVA-61 USS RANGER October 26, 1968 - May 17, 1969 (Vietnam War) A-6A 155599 VA-165 'Boomers' Modex 512 1971-1972 record including A-6A 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW14-NK1971.html CVW-14 (NK) CVAN-65 USS ENTERPRISE June 11, 1971 – February 12, 1972 (Vietnam War) A-6A 155599 VA-196 'Main Battery' Modex 513 Sometime during the mid 1970's A-6A Bu No 155599 was updated to A-6E. It was also equipped with the 'TRAM' system for pinpoint targeting and laser bombing. 1979-1980 record including A-6E 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW15-NL1979.html CVW-15 (NL) CV-63 USS KITTY HAWK May 30, 1979 – February 25, 1980 (WestPac) A-6E 155599 VA-52 'Knightriders' Modex 507 1981 record of A-6E 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW15-NL1981.html CVW-15 (NL) CV-63 USS KITTY HAWK April 1 – November 23, 1981 (Western Pacfic) A-6E 155599 VA-52 'Knightriders' Modex 507 Four 1983 pictures of A-6E 155599 'TRAM' Intruder: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... A-6E 'TRAM' 155599 VA-65 "Tigers" Modex 501 tail code AG of CVW-7. CVN-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower. Attending 35 years of 323 Sqn Netherlands Air Force, Leeuwarden Air Base. October 20/21, 1983 1984-1985 record for A-6E 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW7-AG1984-2.html CVW-7 (AG) CVN-69 USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER October 10, 1984 - May 8, 1985 (Mediterranean Sea) A-6E 155599 VA-65 Modex 512. Pictures available commercially of A-6E 155599 from this website mar.co.uk/ In 'Search' box on top right Input N12937 for 1990 picture of A-6E 155599 with VA-176 'Thunderbolts' as Modex 506, code AE of CVW-3. Input N13120 for 1985 picture of A-6E 155599 with VA-65 'Tigers' as Modex 500, code AG of CVW-7. CV-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower. Input N15154 for 1987 picture of A-6E 155599 with VA-65 'Tigers' as Modex 504, code AG of CVW-7.CV-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower. Input N18508 Input N15154 for 1990D picture of A-6E 155599 with VA-34 ' Blue Blasters as Modex 504, code AG of CVW-7.CV-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower. 1990 record including A-6E 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW7-AG1990-2.html CVW-7 (AG) CVN-69 USS DWIGHT D.EISENHOWER March 8, 1990 – Sept 12, 1990 (Mediterranean Sea & Persian Gulf) A-6E 155599 VA-34 "Blue Blasters" Modex 504 1990 picture of A-6E 155599 'TRAM' Intruder: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... A-6E 155599 VA-34 "Blue Blasters" Modex 504 tail code AG of CVW-7. Deck of CVN-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower. Palma de Mallorca Bay, Balearic Isles, Mediterranean Sea. June 16, 1990 1991 record including A-6E 155599: www.gonavy.jp/CVW7-AG1991.html CVW-7 (AG) CVN-69 USS DWIGHT D.EISENHOWER September 26, 1991 – April 2, 1992 (Mediterranean Sea) A-6E 155599 VA-34 'Blue Blasters' Modex 504 Confusing entries for A-6E 155599 as possibly crashing on 7 November 1990. www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm This website records info chronologically so use slider to scroll down to two dates for Nov. 7 1990. Yet A-6E 155599 is recorded as existing during 1991. It is not yet exactly known from internet sources what was the eventual fate of A-6A/E 155599. There is no known record of it being retired to AMARC storage in Arizona. The aircraft may have been stored at a Naval Air Depot then scrapped. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. A-6A 155604 www.gonavy.jp/CVW2-NE1968.html CVW-2 (NE) CVA-61 USS RANGER Oct.26, 1968 - May 17, 1969 (Vietnam War) A-6A 155604 VA-165 'Boomers' Modex 504 Three webpages recording Intruder Bu No 155604 starting out as an A-6A, becoming an A-6E, then metamorphosing into a KA-6D: www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa6_1.html www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa6_4.html www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa6_7.html All info courtesy of Professor Joe Baugher, Chicago, Illinois. During the 1970's Bu No 155604 was modernized and uprated to A-6E. A 1977 picture of A-6E 155604 with US Marine Corps unit VMA(AW)-224 'Bengals' Squadron tail code WK, Modex 07. visipix.dynalias.com/newsgroups/newsgroups/gr_result.php?... Input 155604 over 1556 in box , click on 'Go' for picture, click on aircraft pic' to view. Note incorrect caption; "A-6E 155604 VMA(AW)-533 4-22-77" [date is interpreted as April 22 1977] 1978-1979 record for A-6E 155604 with VMA(AW)-224: www.gonavy.jp/usmc/05/usmc0502.html Unit Deployment Program Marine Aircraft Group Twelve forward based at MACAS Iwakuni, Japan had VMA(AW)-224 'Bengals' (code WK) with A-6E 155604 Modex 07 (later Modex 357) from May 1978 to May 1979. From May 5, 1980 A-6E 155604 was stored at the then MASDC in Arizona as AN5A0039. It was later returned to service. Sometime between 1980 & 1984 Bu No 155604 was placed into a further conversion program. To strip out all attack capability and be made into a permanent air refueling tanker with modified fuel control & hose and drogue unit in rear fuselage, thus becoming a KA-6D. 1984 record for KA-6D 155604: www.gonavy.jp/CVW7-AG1984-1.html CVW-7 (AG) CVN-69 USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER May 8 – June 20, 1984 (Caribbean & North Atlantic Ocean) KA-6D 155604 VA-65 'Tigers' Modex 513. June 1984 British spotters report including KA-6D 155604: homepage.ntlworld.com/nigel.sadler1/page_article_CVN-69%2... CVN-69 USS Dwight D Eisenhower anchored in Stokes Bay on 1 June arriving for the D-Day 40th Anniversary. Sailed for Brest on 6 June. Had crossed Atlantic Ocean via the Azores and Portugal following exercises off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 1st to 6th June 1991, anchored in Stokes Bay off Portsmouth harbor, England, UK. KA-6D 155604 VA-65 'Tigers' Modex 513. 1984-1985 record including KA-6E 155604: www.gonavy.jp/CVW7-AG1984-2.html CVW-7 (AG) CVN-69 USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER October 10, 1984 - May 8, 1985 (Mediterranean Sea) KA-6D 155604 VA-65 'Tigers' Modex 516. 1991 British spotters report including KA-6E 155604: homepage.ntlworld.com/nigel.sadler1/page_article_CV-66%20... KA-6D 155604 VA-85 'Black Falcons' Modex 520. Code AB of CVW-1 CV-66 USS America. Anchored off Portsmouth harbor, England, UK. 24 to 28 September 1991. It's not yet known from internet sources what was the eventual fate of A-6A/E/KA-6D Intruder 155604. There's no known record of it being retired to AMARC storage in Arizona. The aircraft may have been stored at a Naval Air Depot then disposed of for salvage.. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. (Info in GO!NAVY' website is gathered purely on a voluntary basis and may be fragmentary. It is extremely fortunate when there are records of actual aircraft and their serial numbers available. For which recognition and appreciation of Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval air historian for all ‘GO!NAVY’ references is well deserved)

IBM APS-116 sensor installation in the radome for the Grumman A-6B Intruder. See more in comments here:

Adequate definition monochrome copy of a color picture available in print elsewhere. Grumman A-6A Intruder Bu No 155644 in the markings of VAH-128 'Golden Intruders’ with Modex code number 800 below cockpit windshield and tail code NJ used by the squadron plus gold banding with black stripes across tail originally applied to A-6 aircraft in precursor unit VA-123 'Professionals'. VA-128 was based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington State. The US West coast Replacement Air Group/Fleet Replacement Squadron that provided training services for A-6 aviators and maintainers. VA-128 info courtesy of the 'Intruder Association': www.intruderassociation.org/ www.intruderassociation.org/squadrons.html www.intruderassociation.org/squadrons/va128.html A color version of the picture may be viewed on page 18 of publication “COLORS & MARKINGS OF U.S. NAVY CAG AIRCRAFT C&M VOL.16 PART 2 - ATTACK AIRCRAFT A-6 INTRUDER A-7 CORSAIR” by Bert Kinzey & Ray Leader which is internet downloadable. Quoted caption reads: "The only marking that indicated that A-6A, 155644 was the 800 modex on the nose. This photograph was taken at Edwards Air Force Base, California in May 1969. The squadron badge was located on the fuselage behind the canopy." (Spering/A.I.R.) Identified by its 800 Modex code, this was a designated aircraft for an air wing commander or historically 'Commander Air Group' or CAG. Aircraft wearing a three digit Modex number with digits 00 after the first number are normally spoken of as the 'CAG plane'. Behind is the tail top from a KA-3B Skywarrior with code NP of Carrier Air Wing Twenty One (CVW-21) possibly belonging to VAH-10 'Vikings' that served on CVA-19 USS HANCOCK between August 2, 1969 & April 15, 1970 during the Vietnam War A record for VAH-10 on this 'GO!NAVY' webpage: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NPf.html From 1970 A-6A 155644 became part of a regular carrier squadron: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1970.html A-6A 155644 was with VA-165 ‘Boomers’ as Modex 501, part of air wing CVW-9 (NG) aboard CVA-66 USS AMERICA between April 10 & December 21, 1970 for the Vietnam War. 1971-1972 record including A-6A 155644 still with VA-165: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1972.html A-6A 155644 of VA-165 'Boomers' now as Modex 500, with CVW-9 (NG) aboard CVA-64 CONSTELLATION from October 1,1971 to July 1,1972 for deployment to the Vietnam War. 1981 dated pencil drawing of A-6A 155644 in 1972: www.markwaki.com/pages/A-6A Pencil.htm 1973 ‘flickr’ pic of A-6A 155644: www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/425989681/ CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION was deployed between January 5th & October 11th 1973 - again for the Vietnam War with Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) tail code NG assigned to it. A-6A 155644 still with VA-165 'Boomers' as Modex 500 1973 ‘flickr’ pic with A-6A 155644 included among the aircraft tightly packed on the hangar deck of CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION: www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/425989681/ Quote taken from comment below picture: “There is an A-6 tail just above '12', the double numbers '00' denote a 'CAG' plane of that particular squadron, being VA-165 equipped with A-6A/KA-6D. '00' denoting Modex 500 Bu number 155644.” There is a good 1973 picture of A-6A 155644 with VA-165 'Boomers' as Modex 500 tail code NG caught being ‘trapped’ aboard USS Constellation on page 24 and a color profile within page 40 available to view from a publication that may be freely downloaded off the internet - if searched for; “USN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AIR UNITS Volume 3 1964 – 1973” By Duane Kasulka Squadron Signal 6162. 1973 record including A-6A 155644: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1973.html CVA-64 USS CONSTELLATION was deployed between January 5th & October 11th 1973 (Vietnam War) Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) tail code NG was assigned to it. A-6A 155644 was still surviving as Modex 500 with VA-165. 1974 record including A-6A 155644: www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1974.html CVW-9 & CV-64 USS CONSTELLATION from June 21 to December 23, 1974 A Western Pacific, Vietnam War plus the Arabian Gulf trek possibly in aftermath of an Arab Israeli war during October 1973 (Yom Kippur War) A-6A 155644 was still flying with VA-165 ‘Boomers’ as Modex 500. Some time in the 1970's Intruder Bu No 155644 was put into the update program to become an A-6E. 1980-1981 record including A-6E 155644: www.gonavy.jp/CVW1-AB1980.html Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) code AB was assigned to CV-67 USS JOHN F.KENNEDY for a Mediterranean Sea patrol between August 8, 1980 & March 28, 1981 A-6E 155644 is recorded with VA-34 ‘Blue Blaster’ as Modex 507 1991 to 1994 record including A-6E 155644 www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1991-2.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1992.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1993.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1994.html Some time between September 1991 & December 1994 A-6E 155644 flew with VA-115 ‘Eagles’ as Modex 512. In 1994 it was replaced by another A-6E Intruder. This was as part of permanently forward deployed air wing CVW-5 (code NF) based at NAF Atsugi in Japan, flying from CV-62 USS INDEPENDENCE, home ported at Yokosuka and also forward deployed. (GO!NAVY' website info is gathered on a purely voluntary basis and may be fragmentary. It's extremely fortunate when records of individual aircraft serial numbers assigned to squadrons are available. For which recognition and appreciation of Takafumi Hiroe, citizen of Japan and naval air historian for all ‘GO!NAVY’ references is well deserved) 1994 color picture of A-6E 155644: www.gonavy.jp/bbs2-a6f.html Scroll down and click on picture above caption titled; A-6E TRAM 155644/NF-512 (1994) T.SPARK No.397 After the 1991 US defense cuts the A-6 fleet was gradually reduced before complete withdrawal. In 1994 A-6E 155644 (c/n I-370) was recorded in storage at Naval Air Depot, NAS North Island, California. After ‘demilitarisation’ (so it won’t ever fly again) A-6E 155644 went direct from storage to the "Yanks Air Museum", Chino, California and was placed in a compound behind their restoration hangar. Yanks Air Museum official internet website: www.yanksair.com/index.html www.yanksair.com/BoneyardTarmac.html Yanks Air Museum location and access info: www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/North_America/USA/California/... Grumman A-6E Intruder 155644 is marked with tail code NF and Modex 521. There is a sad picture of A-6E 155644 dated 2002 at 'Yanks' here: www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/a6-155644.html Four more pictures of A-6E 155644 at 'Yanks' in semi derelict and deteriorating condition: www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=155644 An opinion – if A-6E 155644 is still in this condition – it reflects badly on the reputation of the museum.