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:

Grumman A-6A Intruder 152619 in gull gray and white scheme with gray/white overspray on radome. Below windshield is squadron side code 'Modex' number 846. External fuel tank on outer pylon has gold nose tip and what is interpreted as letter combination VA-128 on rear end. Aft of national insignia is letter combination VA-128. On tail is displayed large angled part emblem of VA-128 ‘Golden Intruders’ in gold & white with angled squadron code NJ after. On base of tail is full Navy Bureau of Aeronautics serial number 152619. Last two digits of Modex ‘46’ on upper extremity of tail above rudder. Gold painted tail tip with black delineating line. Lower rear fuselage of F-8 Crusader behind of VF-24 'Fighting Renegades'. F-4B Phantom II behind possibly with tail code NJ of VF-121 'The Pacemakers'. VA-128 ‘Golden Intruders' was the US Pacific coast based Fleet Requirements Squadron. The training and conversion unit for A-6 aviators and maintenance personnel based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington State. As A-6A 152619 came from a 1965-1966 production batch and VA-128 did not exist until 1967, the picture may be dated from 1967 then until 1972. 1973 color picture of A-6A 152619: www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/572159.html A-6A 152619 with VA-35 ‘Black Panthers’ as Modex 501, tail code AJ of CVW-8, assigned to CV-66 USS America. Seen at Barksdale Air Force Base "Open House" Louisiana 1973. Sometime during the mid 1970's Bu No 152619 was converted from A-6A to KA-6D aerial refueling tanker with permanently installed hose and drogue unit in the rear fuselage and majority weapons delivery capability removed. 1977 to 1980 record for KA-6D 152619 with VA-115 'Arabs' as Modex 521: www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1977.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1978.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1979.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1980.html Some time between January 1977 & December 1980 KA-6D 152619 stayed with VA-115 as Modex 521… In 1980 it was replaced by another KA-6D Intruder. This was as part of permanently forward deployed Air Wing CVW-5 (code NF) based at NAF Atsugi in Japan, flying from CV-41 USS MIDWAY, also forward deployed. 1981-1982 record for KA-6D 152619 www.gonavy.jp/CVW9-NG1981.html KA-6D 152619 was with VA-165 'Boomers' as Modex 514 tail code NG of CVW-9 on board CV-64 USS CONSTELLATION from October 20, 1981 to May 23, 1982 for a Western Pacific & Indian Ocean. 1989 -1991 record for KA-6D 152619 with VA-185 'Nighthawks' as Modex 411: www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1989.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1990.html www.gonavy.jp/CVW5-NF1991-1.html Some time between January 1989 & December 1991 KA-6D 152619 was with VA-185 as Modex 411. This was as part of permanently forward deployed Air Wing CVW-5 (code NF) based at NAF Atsugi in Japan, assigned to forward deployed CV-41 USS MIDWAY. KA-6D 152619 arrived into desert storage at the then AMARC on 31 January 1992. Given inventory code AN5A0061 & Location code 040117. This was AMARC West, Area 4, Row 1, Position 17. Its last unit before retirement was VA-52 'Knightriders', based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington State. Go to this internet website for A-6 Intruders at AMARC/AMARG, (Last visit on 21-8-2008) scroll down to entry KA-6D 152619, click on picture to view aircraft in desert storage: www.supercruise-preserved.nl/w&r/united%20states/amar... Go to this website; "AMARC III": www.amarc.info/ Mouse click 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 KA-6D 152619 arrival date was January 31 1992 and is no longer on that list indicates it has been disposed of for salvage and scrapped.

A-6A, BuNo 155719. Delivered to the US Navy 1969. Assigned VA-165, codex NG-504 1973-1974. Upgraded to A-6E. To VA-165, codex NG-503 1979-1980. To VA-176, codex AE-503 1983-1986. To VMA(AW)-533, codex AC-556 1986-1987. To VA-176, codex AE-503 1989-1990. To VMA(AW)-332, codex EA-512 1990. WFU NAS Norfolk, VA 1994.