NAS's Miramar & North Island ...

[Rajay]

I gotta zero in on the Albatrosses!

Part 4 of 4


An HU-16C Albatross assigned to the seaplane tender Currituck (AV-7), probably pictured at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California 1965

Grumman "model" G-64 short-wing Albatross, serial no. G-369 supposedly also served in the USCG as UF-1G s/n 1292, but before 1962 (so some dates or something else must be off here) because there were no short-wing UF-1G’s still in the USCG inventory when the DOD aircraft designation scheme was officially changed in 1962. Since it was originally ordered by the US Navy as a model UF-1 and was apparently transferred to the USCG before 1962 and they were "done" with it before 1962 and it is still in existence now, i.e. it was never scrapped (see next) the only conclusion is that the USCG eventually gave it back to the US Navy - before 1962. I'll have to check into that further...

As I mentioned, this Albatross is also still around - it is ex-N2NA with Charles Hainline, currently registered as N1954Z to Albatross Adventures LLC of Kingwood, TX.

An HU-16 Albatross of Patrol Squadron (VP) 31 pictured at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California 1965

Originally a short-wing "model" G-64 (OEM s/n G-127) that was built in April 1952 for the USAF as an SA-16A, s/n 51-050, it is curious that even after its conversion as a Grumman model G-251 long-wing, MAD-stinger equipped ASW Albatross (aka a “SA-16B/ASW” which post 1962 was re-designated as an SHU-16B) it still retained its USAF serial number and base model type even while in service with the US Navy.

Also curious to me is the fact that most other Albatross databases indicate that it was one of the ASW conversions originally contracted for by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and was completed in October 1961 - and in 1970 it supposedly went from Norway to Peru as FAP-521.

One of my Albatross books says that VP-31 was the test & evaluation squadron that checked out this conversion for Grumman – in 1961 (not 1965), but the US Navy never actually “bought” any of the type for themselves. So, technically-speaking it was never actually "in service" with the Navy and apparently this was just a temporary paint scheme before it went to Norway. But there is still one other conflict here – that same book also says that only two ASW Albatross “prototypes” were evaluated by VP-31, USAF serial no. 51-070 was the first and 51-048 was the second…

Actually, now that I re-read that section of the book, it says that there were only two ASW “prototypes” and VP-31 evaluated only two aircraft, but the first prototype was USAF s/n 51-070, which is pictured in the book still in USAF markings and the supposed second "prototype" s/n 51-048 was pictured without any specific service markings at all – so maybe in order to fit all of the semantic requirements here, it will turn out that one of the two ASW Albatrosses evaluated by VP-31 was not technically a “prototype” – i.e. s/n 51-050.

Last edited by Rajay on Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[StudeDave]

Seeing as I was stationed at NAS NI for three tours adding up to something like 12 years-
I can not even begin to express how totally cool these little slices of history are!!!
I will admit- it is weird for me to see all those flying boats in my hanger.
Where'd all the H-60s go...?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[planemech2]

Made cruises on the Ticonderoga, Hancock, Constellation and Ranger. F-8H on Tico, RF-8G on Hancock and Connie, E-2C on Connie and Ranger. Watched the F-8 crash into Hangar 1 at Miramar. I've got quite a story about that to share sometime.

[Cubs]

Douglas DT-1, NAS NI 1920

First, note the two parachuters on the lower wings, one of whom is about to step off.
--Tom

One has already stepped off.

[Cubs]

Made cruises on the Ticonderoga, Hancock, Constellation and Ranger. F-8H on Tico, RF-8G on Hancock and Connie, E-2C on Connie and Ranger. Watched the F-8 crash into Hangar 1 at Miramar. I've got quite a story about that to share sometime.

A company I used to work for,my former boss saw that F-8 crash, also.
Have a Miramar "green weenie" story to tell, also. On a separate thread.

[seaknight15]

The two big hangers at North Island my dad was stationed there in 1943 at VP-14 with PBY'S and VPB 102with PB4Y-1's. I was there in the same Hanger's from 1973 to 1977 at HC-3 with CH-46's.

[Clifford Bossie]

One of the many highlights for me at the Centenial of Naval Aviation in 2011 was getting to see the seaplane hangars at North Island close up.

[AT1_SFGardner]

Some nice stuff here for you vets, sources NMNA archives, Library of Congress archives, SDASM archives


Three (3) F-4J Phantom II fighter aircraft of VF-33 from USS Independence (CVA-62) c 1970's outside of NAS Miramar

Wow. Memories. I served with VF-33 at the time this photo was taken, late 1980 or early '81 (don't recall specifically). We were soon to transition to the F-14 Tomcat and we painted three Phantoms in historical schemes to say farewell. We were on our way home from the Indian Ocean. "Gonzo Station Yacht Club". But Independence was stationed out of Norfolk at the time, and VF-33 was out of NAS Oceana, Virginia.

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks very much for posting. It's nice to have vets post first hand and accurate information on some of the photos I post. That's one of the great pleasures I get for the efforts, as well as hearing from others with personal history to share. Neat stuff from all.

Thanks again Mark

[Marauderman26]

This is one my favorite threads, completely agree with Mark on having the vets posting on the WIX.
Everybody see the USS Yorktown alongside the pier, NICE flying boats amidships huh.

[56Olds]

On Dec 22, 1969, I had my back turned to the pilotless F-8 heading for the hangar. Another sailor, walking towards me suddenly had a look of horror on his face. "What's wrong?", thinking he was looking at me. He couldn't answer, then I realized he was looking over my shoulder. I turned, saw flash, and heard the bang. I thought something had exploded inside the hangar. Then the huge fireball filled the entire hangar door opening.
The crash trucks arrived in seconds, as they were already on alert at the runway. The hangar deluge system was going off, and I couldn't see inside, not even an inch. As the crash truck sped up to the door, I thought he would stop and start spraying, but he didn't slow, just dissapeared through the curtain of fire, smoke, and water. I was sure that driver just laid down his life, to save whomever was inside that hangar. I hope he survived, I never did hear what became of him. I heard at the time that seven had died, but later read twelve. Several killed were cpo's in a maint control meeting.
The airplane had come through the closed east doors (on the opposite side from the picture), dead center. West doors were open, as in the picture. Hangar was full of F4's. Several ejection seats fired through the roof, and several secondary explosions were heard, aircraft, drop tanks, and nitrogen bottles exploding from servicing carts.
The only recognizable part of the F8 was the vertical fin, stuck in the wall.
I was on the ramp, same side as the picture. My squadron VC-7, was in the hangar across the ramp (approximately the same angle from which the photo was taken)

Last edited by 56Olds on Mon Oct 06, 2014 12:09 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Welcome. Here are additional photos of that event.

[56Olds]

Wow! Those pictures bring it all back. I'm shedding a few tears here.

[Flywisher]

Thank you Clifford Bossie for those wonderful photos of the North Island hangers!

I got to visit the north one back in the 1950's when my dad took me in the to see a PBM. He was maintenance chief. It was a quiet day, and he took me inside the plane.
I was knee high to a grasshopper back then, so the hanger and the plane (especially up on its dolly!) seemed to reach to the sky. I got a little spooked climbing that long, shaky ladder to the hatch.

A great memory.

Dad told me that one day around that time period he was standing just inside that very hanger door hearing the roar of a Sea Dart (remember those?) making a test run on San Diego Bay. Suddenly there was a loud concussion. That was the word he used. He said he stepped out of the hanger in time to see a tall geyser of water. Nothing left of the plane. The Navy gave up on the Sea Dart after that. By the way, a Sea Dart stands on a pylon in front of the San Diego Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park.

I've never since been in a position to take photos, though. When you took these, I was across the bay on Shelter Island. Previously, I worked for the Navy and spent a fair amount of time on North Island, but during those times private photography near hangers and aircraft was seriously frowned upon!

Thanks again.

[Flywisher]

Does anyone remember a crash at Miramar in the mid-to-late 1950's that took the roof off the old C.P.O. Club?

The old club was near the eastern end of the main runway. From the dining room one had a great view of the planes taking off and landing. I remember it had one of those sprayed ceilings with multi-colored glitter in it. Looked like a starry sky, only prettier.

My dad was maintenance chief for one of the squadrons back then, and sometimes he, Mom & I would have dinner at the club. Being just a kid, I quickly got bored, so watching the planes out there was a great treat.

One day Dad told me there had been an accident at the club the night before, he was going out to look at the results, and did I want to go along? (I sure did!)

A jet trying to land the night before missed the runway and took the center out of the club's roof. Fortunately it was late and no one was in the club but a man cleaning up in the kitchen. He heard a loud noise and stepped out to find the roof over the lobby and bar gone. No one was hurt in the club.

We walked in and looked around. All the walls were there. Actually, to look at it from the side, you almost couldn't tell anything had happened. But the center of the building was open to the sky, and there was debris scattered around.

Dad said the pilot ejected but was too low for the seats of that day. His parachute didn't open in time.

I've been looking around, finding references to various other incidents, but no mention of this one. I'm just curious to know a little more, such as what aircraft it was. Dad told me at the time, but I long ago forgot.

As you might guess, they built a new C.P.O. Club far away from the airplanes!