grummanintruder

"TIAS" stands for the IBM APS-118 Target Identification Acquisition System which was fitted to Grumman A-6A Intruder aircraft modified to A-6B standard for the "Iron Hand" Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role, seeking out and destroying enemy radar systems with the AGM-78 Standard Anti-Radiation Missile ("STARM"). See:

Monochrome picture of Grumman A-6A Intruder 157013 VA-52 ‘Knightriders’ Modex code 501 in black outlined with white. Squadron emblem of medieval knights helmet with plume on forward upper part of tail. Dark color rudder with last two digits’ 01’ of Modex on upper part. Aircraft in gull gray and white with white or unpainted radome on an airfield ramp with wings folded under high angle sunlight. Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) on outer pylon. Tail tip and engine of an EKA-3B Skywarrior behind. Tail code NH of Carrier Air Wing Eleven ‘GO!NAVY’ internet webpage for CVW-11 deployments: www.gonavy.jp/CVW-NHf.html Note; the 1972 & 1974 deployments included VA-52 equipped with A-6A Intruder. After this the squadron is recorded as operating the A-6E. Unfortunately Intruder Bu No157013 is not as yet recorded with VA-52. 1970-1971 record that includes A-6A 157013: www.gonavy.jp/CVW2-NE1970.html A-6A 157013 was with VA-145 'Swordsmen' as Modex 500 when part of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) code NE aboard CVA-61 USS RANGER October 27, 1970 to June 17, 1971 for an extended Vietnam War deployment. A 1970-1971 Vietnam War period picture of VA-145 ‘Swordsmen’ A-6A Intruder on ‘flickr’ to illustrate how A-6A 157013 would have looked then: www.flickr.com/photos/divemasterking2000/194159354/ A-6A Intruder 157018 in foreground. Wearing hi-viz markings of VA-145 'Swordsmen' with Modex nose code 504 and tail code NE of CVW-2 probably aboard CV-61 USS Ranger around 1970-1971. Sometime during the 1970’s Bu No 157013 was updated from A-6A to A-6E. 1977-1978 record including A-6E 157013: www.gonavy.jp/CVW8-AJ1977.html CVW-8 (code AJ) was embarked on CVN-68 USS NIMITZ from December 1, 1977 to July 20, 1978 for a Mediterranean Sea patrol. A-6E 157013 was with VA-35 ‘Black Panthers’ as Modex 507 during that time. 1978 picture of A-6E 157013: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1156814/ A-6E 157013 VA-35 ‘Black Panthers’ Modex 507 Tail code AJ Seen onboard USS Nimitz anchored in the Solent off Portsmouth, UK - England 25th June 1978 1978 picture including A-6E 157013: www.planepictures.net/show.php?id=754971 A-6E 157013 VA-35 ‘Black Panthers’ Modex 507 Tail code AJ Seen onboard CVN-68 USS Nimitz anchored. 2 July 1978 As on this website page: www.planepictures.net/search4.cgi?stype=actype&srng=2... 1982 picture of A-6E 157013 with US Marine Corps unit VMA(AW)-224 ‘Bengals’. www.cloud9photography.us/Military-Aviation-11/Grumman-A-6... A-6E 157013 of VMA(AW)-224 ‘Bengals’, Modex 11 & squadron tail code WK with emblem on rudder. Pictured at MCAS Yuma Arizona & dated July 1982. 1983 picture of A-6E 157013 with US Marine Corps A-6 training unit VMAT(AW)-202. www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Marines/Grumman-A-6E-Intrud... A-6E 157013 Modex 09 & squadron tail code KC. VMAT(AW)-202 ‘Double Eagles’ Fleet Replacement Squadron. MCAS Cherry Point MCAS North Carolina, November 9, 1983 1986 record for A-6E 157013: www.gonavy.jp/CVW14-NK1986.html A-6E 157013 was Modex 506 with VA-196 ‘Main Battery’ as part of CVW-14 (code NK) aboard CV-64 USS CONSTELLATION for a short exercise cruise in the North Atlantic Ocean between September 4 & October 20, 1986. 1987 record including A-6E 157013: www.gonavy.jp/CVW14-NK1987.html Still as part of CVW-14 (code NK) aboard CV-64 USS CONSTELLATION, A-6E 157013 of VA-196 ‘Main Battery’ as Modex 506 Deployed with the air wing between April 11 & October 13, 1987 for a Western Pacific, Indian Ocean & Arabian Gulf voyage. 1990 reference to A-6E 157013: www.gonavy.jp/CVW2-NE1990.html CVW-2 (code NE) was assigned CV-61 USS RANGER during the December 8, 1990 to June 8, 1991 for Operations ‘Desert Shield’ & ‘Desert Storm’, A-6E 157013 joined VA-155 ‘Silver Foxes’ as Modex 411 to replace an A-6E during this important war deployment. (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) A-6E 157013 was retired to the then AMARC via Davis Monthan AFB near Tucson Arizona on 3rd March 1994 and stored with PCN/Inventory No. AN5A0092 & Location code 040204. This was AMARC West. Area 4, Row 2, Position 4. March 2005 picture of A-6E 157013 in the desert air: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1016374/ A-6E 157013 previously with VA-128, Modex 556 Short code 5A0092 Dated March 15, 2005 VA-128 ‘Golden Intruders' was the US Pacific coast based Fleet Requirements Squadron. So the final operational period of A-6E 157013 was with the training and conversion unit for A-6 aviators and maintenance personnel at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington State. May 2008 picture of A-6E 157013: www.airfighters.com/photo/26204/M/USA-Navy/Grumman-A-6E-I... www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... A-6E 157013 (cn I-482) previously with VA-128, Modex 556 NAS Whidbey Island, WA Retired to AMARC 3 March 1994 stored with the PCN/Inventory No. AN5A0092. Short code 5A0092. Dated May 4, 2008 September 2008 picture of A-6E 157013: www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-A-6E-Intruder/... A-6E 157013 (cn I-482) previously with VA-128, Modex 556 NAS Whidbey Island, WA Retired to AMARC 3 March 1994 & stored with the PCN/Inventory No. AN5A0092. Short code 5A0092. Dated September 29, 2008 By going to this website "AMARC III": www.amarc.info/ Mouse clicking on 'Inventory by type', scroll down to box 'A-6 Intruder', mouse click on it and the most up to date inventory list may be viewed. Inventories dated 15 December 2010, 14 January 2011 & 29 March 2011 recorded 163. A-6 still in storage at what is now AMARG. A list dated 14 Sept 2010 recorded 174 Intruder. Because of recent precautionary restrictions on information only the minimum details of aircraft at AMARG are allowed to be published. All aircraft in all "AMARC III" lists are in arrival date order only. As A-6E 157013 arrival date was March 3, 1994 and is still included on that list so by end of March year 2011 still existed in a desert military compound near Tucson Arizona. Maintain a check on this website as it is regularly updated………. the numbers decrease continually as airframes are disposed of for salvage and scrapping. My extreme thanks to Martyn Swann for "AMARC III"

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.