Skywarrior Ready On Cat 2

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:32 am

A-3 Skywarrior of VH-4 Det Echo ready to launch from the USS BHR CV-31 1964

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

Npthing like a cloudy day on the Bonny Dick ! Great shot Jack. Thank you.

mlenoch · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:50 am

NOtice the moon roof is open.
Brave pilots on a wooden deck.
VL

MX304 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:12 pm

vlado wrote:

NOtice the moon roof is open.
Brave pilots on a wooden deck.
VL

Was that SOP for carrier ops?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:27 pm

Yes it was. Same for the Willie Fudds.

MX304 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:04 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

Yes it was. Same for the Willie Fudds.

I assume it was to allow the seats to come out faster / more safely in an emergency?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:05 pm

Quote:

I assume it was to allow the seats to come out faster / more safely in an emergency?

huh??

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:41 pm

I don't think the "All 3 Dead" had "Bang Seats" so they kept the sun roofs open in case things did not go well!

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior (BuNo 135432) of heavy attack squadron VAH-3 Sea Dragons (tail code EW) pictured moments before trapping on board the carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 1957. The A3D-1 135432 was scrapped at the NARF Alameda in August 1968.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:58 pm

Robbie's correct about the seats. My step-dad had about 500 hours and 50 traps with Heavy 4 with some
very close calls. They had one when the Det OIC wiped out the gear trying to land and the crew bailed out.
A F3H was launched to shot it down but it crashed before the 1st F3H kill could be claimed. BTW the OIC was
a former S-2/R5d pilot drafted to A-3 due to a pilot shortage and was sent to the beach after this incident.
Night ramp strike on 4th pass. ZB 14 got airborne minus the tailhook & port MLG. CVA & DEs formed V for bailout.
Bailed out on down wind leg due to smoke in the cockpit from door blow-down cartridges. All rescued by the USS Robinson.

MX304 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:02 pm

Robbie Stuart wrote:

I don't think the "All 3 Dead" had "Bang Seats" so they kept the sun roofs open in case things did not go well!

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior (BuNo 135432) of heavy attack squadron VAH-3 Sea Dragons (tail code EW) pictured moments before trapping on board the carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 1957. The A3D-1 135432 was scrapped at the NARF Alameda in August 1968.

That makes more sense now. I didn't realize it did not have ejection seats.

Oscar Duck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 5:40 am

That A-3 is headed for a bolter methinks. ...run out of wires

The A-3 had no bang seats. The top hatch was for ditching. They had a crew slide to bail out at altitude.

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Skywarrior Ready On Cat 2

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