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Interesting read
Correct, when they were nuclear bombers. The tanker package only arrived
in 1961-2, A4D/A-4's did all the tanking for CVA's with two wing mounted fuel tanks and a centerline "buddy package." VQ had a few A3D-1Q's, the A-3 versions (TA-3B, VA-3B, RA-3B, EA-3B) came in in 1960, and the bomber conversions (KA-3B, EKA-3B, ERA-3B) started about 1965. The Forrestal class carriers were built as strategic platforms (remember the "Revolt of the Admirals"?) until 1963 when the nuclear triad of ballistic missile subs, B-52's, and ICBM's took over strategic missions. CVA's had nuclear missions in Sixth and Seventh Fleet, with A-3's, A-4's, and A-1's. The high level bombing that the A-3 was designed for became low level missions, with all three Navy attack planes proficient in pop-up and loft bombing maneuvers. We used radar bomb scoring sites (RBS) in Jacksonville (navy) and Charlotte (usaf) as well as portable usaf rbs units that moved around to give us a real challenge with different targets. We had practice bomb sites (mk 56 (?) iron bombs with phosphorous charge in nose) and practice -larger- bombs at Lake George, FL (a semi-sunken LST in the center was the aim point) and Stumpy Point, NC. In the Med we dropped the practice bombs on a target at RAF El Adem, Libya; RBS was a navy site at Naples. Heavy Attack Wing ONE at NAS Sanford, FL (I think it was the last 'type' command left then) maintained bombing scores and posted the top ten B/N's for the prior month on a "totem pole" outside the Navy Exchange. Under 200' (our ASB-1A - an electro-mechanical analog computer with radar and optic sights - based on the WWII Norden bomb sight had a mechanical tolerance of 1200', under that we figured was real good,) got us a patch for the "Bulls Eye" club, with strips for second and subsequent awards. Whidbey Island was the west coast counterpart (how they flew off 27-C Essex class carriers amazed me!) and in 1962 - with the last A-3B's 147xxx BuNo's - got the digital ASB-7 bombing systems I figured because the A3J/A-5A was arriving at NAS Sanford. It is interesting to note that Bombardier/Navigators in the A3D/A-3B up to 1961 could be nugget Naval Aviators, NAO(B)/Naval Aviation Observer B/N (prior to NFO's,) or enlisted air crew bombardier/navigators. The third crewman who sat facing rear immediately behind the plane commander was an enlisted aircrewman, trained as a gunner/navigator. Heavy Attack had to be the best opportunity for aviators (largest plane, single pilot,) NAO's (best seat and duties for NAO's,) and enlisted aircrewmen (who could be gunner/navigators or bombardier/navigators.) The rest you know. The Vigilante wasn't a good bomber but it got converted to the recce RA-5C which in Viet Nam had the highest percent loss rate along with the F-8. A-3's were too valuable/risky for bombing so became highly cherished tankers, active ECM, and recon planes. The A-3A first flew in 1952, had no ejection seats (which is probably why so many survived, no one wanted to jump out of one,) and retired from Naval service in 1993. Several still fly for Hughes Aircraft in California. USAF bought a Douglas derivative a/c, the B-66, and the Army flew one (with a Naval Reservist crew) for missile testing. It was the largest plane to fly regularly from a carrier, and it holds the record for catapult shot weight, thirteen at 84,000# from Independence on August 25, 1959. It was quite a plane. Joel McEachen VAH-5 Mushmouths Greasy Rider wrote: On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:46:22 GMT, "J.McEachen" postulated : VAH-5 VAH-5 flew A3D s ... correct? |
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