ussindependence

Douglas A-4C Skyhawk 149638 VA-86 ‘Sidewinders’ Modex 409 with squadron motif on fuselage side Tail code AG of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) Seen aboard CVA-62 USS INDEPENDENCE Picture possibly dated June 1963 as the squadron and air group were involved in ‘local operations’ off the Virginia Capes. www.gonavy.jp/CV-CV62-01f.html Note two Grumman S-2E/F Trackers behind on right. These aircraft were part of an antisubmarine squadron that normally flew off smaller specialized carriers for AS work, not from ‘super carriers’ like USS Independence, so this indicates the image was recorded during work up exercises. Also VA-86 as part of Carrier Air Group Seven (CVG-7 code AG) deployed on a Mediterranean Sea patrol aboard CVA-62 USS INDEPENDENCE from August 6, 1963 to March 4, 1964 during which a major Navy air unit designation was changed from Air Group to Air Wing. www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG7f.html (CVG-7 re-designated CVW-7 on December 20, 1963) A-4C 149638 may have flown from the carrier during this cruise. Another picture of A-4C 149638 while with VA-86 as Modex 409 in 1963/1964: a4skyhawk.org/content/149638-va-86-unknown-w-mutza-2458 A-4C 149638 VA-86 Modex: AG-409 Date: August 1963 – March 1964 Photo Credit: unknown via W. Mutza right side view of Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 149638, AG-409, parked on the line. A-4C 149638 served with nine Atlantic Fleet Attack squadrons from 1962 to 1970 and with East coast based US Marine Corps Air Reserve Training units from 1972 to 1975. A 1970 picture with A-4C 149638 included: a4skyhawk.org/content/149638-va-66-joe-turpen-2457 a4skyhawk.org/content/148467-va-66-photo-joe-turpen-1894 Variant: A-4C Custodian: VA-66 BuNo: 149638 Modex: AA-302 Location: USS Forrestal Date: 1970 Photo Credit: from Joe Turpen Waldo's Skyhawk BuNo 148467, AA-308, during the 1970 Forrestal Med Cruise This was the last Skyhawk deployment for VA-66 before going to the A-7. The Skyhawk on the left is BuNo 149638 www.vermontel.net/~tomh/AIRCRAFT/UNITS/VMA322/A4BCGallery... www.vermontel.net/~tomh/images/AIRCRAFT/USMC/VMA322/A-4C/... A-4C 149638/QR554 rolls out on runway 08 at NAS South Weymouth on 26 August 1972 in this Tom Hildreth photo A-4C 149638 was flown into storage at the then MASDC near Tucson Arizona in February 1975 and Struck Off soon after. In October 1984 it was sent to the Fallon Range Nevada as a ground target Information courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’ and ‘GO!NAVY’ internet websites..

VF-84 F-4B first cruise (Med + Vietnam) aboard the USS Independence. First variation of the scheme - skull & cross bones within a flag. Many birds arrived from the cruise with all black tails instead of the flag. 1964-65.