My Heavy Five admin officer went to VAP-62 in the mid 60's. He said they
operated some pretty clandestine missions in the eastern Med and further
east. They perfected hanging the little starter pod on an outboard wing
pylon, carried the starter hoses on hooks they put in the aft
compartment, started one engine with one hose, then linked the hoses to
reach from the suspended starter pod on one wing to the other engine,
started it, and off they went from some pretty undeveloped and
un-equipped airfields. I don't think the strategic value of the A3D/A-3
variants is yet fully appreciated, the photo and ECM versions did some
pretty hairy missions. Every so often you will read a yearning for the
KA-3B tankers, even the ES-3A Shadow. But the bean counters and MBA's
now rule the military. Fortunately the Soviet Union is no more.
Joel McEachen VAH-5


wrote:
On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 05:08:46 GMT, "J.McEachen"
wrote:

Mike Weeks wrote:

wrote:


On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 19:53:54 -0500, Rolf T. Kappe
wrote:

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:08:16 -0600, wrote:

Does anyone know where I might find the side numbers/BuNo of the
Aircraft lost on the USS Forestall on 29 July 1967. TIA.

Walt

Side numbers you can find he
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/59.htm

Specifically:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/025929.jpg

--Rolf

Thanks very much for the info. Now if I can just match side numbers to
BuNos... There does seem to be a couple of discrapancies. There seems
to be one extra A4 and a a missing RA5C. Thanks again.
Walt


Some suggestions -- contact any combination of the following and make a
request specific for the BuNos of those aircraft lost/damaged:

Naval Historical Center, the Naval Aviation History Branch -- CVW-17
1967 Command History Report;

Navy JAG -- any appendix or other add-on to the formal Court of Inquiry
which lists the losses (personnel and/or equipment);

Naval Safety Center -- ask for any report which includes the aircraft
lost/damaged (it's possible that JAG and NSC would actually have the
same report.)

Frormlly do a FOIA with your specific request via:

http://www.foia.navy.mil/

and let the Navy find the info for you. g It may take some time of
course.
MW


a3skywarrior.com has a list of dispositions of all A-3's. If any were
lost on Forrestal, the date should show.
Joel McEachen VAH-5

Thanks. I know the site. I was in VAP-62 when it de-commissioned. Good
tour of duty. No A-3s were lost in the fire but 3 RA-5cs were. Thhanks
again.

Walt