Warbird Information Exchange

Sorry for the thread saturation lately. but when I'm asked by veterans to post photos of aircraft/squadrons/units etc. especially units they had something to do with. I snap to attention and am extremely honored to do so. ... As you know I just post old photos that's all I do and it's not a big deal at all. But it is a big deal when a veteran asks for something. I'm very humbled by it and it's the absolute least I can do.

Also I greatly appreciate all the "Thank you's" from ALL of you who enjoy these photo threads. I do it not for pats on the back, but because I enjoy it and like to see that others enjoy them as well, it's always been that way and will continue that way as long as the management doesn't mind.

Steve I hope these are OK for you and thank you for your service.

Mark

Part 1 VC-35 Skyraiders


AD-4N of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) on the ground at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oakland.


AD Skyraider of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35), in flight


AD-3 AD-4Qs of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) near San Diego.


Four (4) AD-4NLs of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) in flight .


five Navy Douglas AD-3Q Skyraiders, of VC-35, taken on March 13, 1951 flying in formation.


Eight (8) AD-4Qs and AD-4s of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) in flight near San Diego.


AJ-2 of Heavy Attack Squadron Six (VAH-6) and AD of (VC-35) on the deck of CVA-10 (USS Yorktown).


AD-6s of(VA-155) on the deck of CVA-10 (USS Yorktown). Other aircraft are AD-4W (VC-11) and an AD-4N VC-35.


AD-5s of Composite Sqquadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) in flight. All Weather Attack Squadron Thirty-Five 2 Jul 1956.


AD-5N of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) on the ground at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oakland


AD-5N of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) on the deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10)


AD-4W and AD-4NL of Utility Squadrons Eleven (VC-11) and Thirty-Five VC-35) on board CV-9 (USS Essex) off the coast of Korea.


AD-4NL of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) in flight


AD-4N of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) , VAN team item, from CV-9 (USS Lexington), off Korea.


AD-1Q, blue, of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35) on the ground.


A gaggle of Spad's or Stockholders Pride. ADs of Composite Squadron Thirty-Five (VC-35)


Composite Squadron (VC) 35 personnel pictured at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California.

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Part 2 VA-145


Two (2) AD-4Bs of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) on the ground at Naval Air Station (NAS) Denver.


Two (2) A-1Hs of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) in flight with the USS Constellation (CVA-64) steaming in the background


Two (2) A-1Hs from Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) and one RF-8A of Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Sixty-Three (VFP-63) in the western Pacific (WESTPAC).


AD-6 of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) from CVA-34 (USS Oriskany), on the ground at Marine Corps Auxillary Air Station (MCAAS) Yuma.


AD-6 of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) from CVA-34 (USS Oriskany) on the ground at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar.


AD-4B of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) on deck of CVA-15 (USS Randolph).


AD of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) from USS Intrepid (CV-11) on the ground.


A-1H of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) takes off from the flight deck of the USS Constellation (CVA-64).


A-1H of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) on the ground at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, with wings folded.


A-1H of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) makes an arrestment on the deck of USS Constellation (CVA-64).


A-1H of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five (VA-145) flying over the Tonkin Gulf.

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Part 3 AJ Savage's


AJ-1 Savage being backed into position on the carrier deck


AJ-1 Savage is getting ready to takeoff from the carrier


AJ-1 Savage taking off while another Savage is already in the air


AJ-2 Savage of Heavy Attack Squadron Seven VAH-7 from CVA-9 USS Essex refueling FJ-3M Fury from Fighter Squadron Sixty-Two VF-62


An AJ-1 Savage of Composite Squadron VC5 pictured on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Coral Sea CVB43


An AJ-2 (Savage) leaves the flight deck of the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) from a free deck launch. The plane is from Heavy Attack Squadron Eleven (VAH-11)


Coral Sea (CVA 43) underway in the Mediterranean with AJ Savage heavy attack aircraft visible on the aft part of the flight deck.



First landing made by an AJ-1 (Savage) on board the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) piloted by CDR J. J. EManski Jr., Heavy Atack Squadron Eleven (VAH-11)


four Navy Savage AJ-1's getting ready to take off from the U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVB-43) to begin the Suitability Trials.


Navy North American AJ Savage assigned to Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, MD


Navy North American AJ-1 Savage as it Gets The Cut from the LSO officer


Navy North American AJ-2 Savage from VC-5 refueling a F2H3 Banshee from VF-31 circa 1954-1955


Navy North American AJ-2 Savage refueling two F-9 Panthers circa 1950


Navy North American AJ-2P Savage of VJ-61 in flight.


North American AJ Savage joined VC-5 in September 1949 intended as Navy's first carrier-capable nuclear-weapon carrier in what would become Cold War TRIAD.


three AJ-1 Savages setting on the deck of the U.S.S. Coral Sea, CVB-43


two Navy North American AJ-1 Savages flying in formation along an unidentified coast line on September 1949


USS Coral Sea (CV-43), the Navy North American Aviation AJ-1 large attack bomber is the heaviest airplane ever to land on a carrier


USS Midway (CV-41) with Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. North American AJ-2 Savage from Composite Squadron Seven (VC-7)

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Part 4 S-2 Trackers


Underside view of an S-2 Tracker of Anti-submarine Squadron VS31 in flight c 1965


S-2 Trackers of VS-22 "Checkmates"


S-2B Tracker


Grumman S-2 Tracker variant


Grumman S-2 Tracker


Point Cruz CVE119 with an HO4S-3S of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron HS4 and S2F-1 Trackers of VS25 c 1955


HMAS Melbourne R21 arriving at Pearl Harbor


HO4S-3S of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 4 operates from the escort carrier Point Cruz (CVE 119) and S2F-1 Trackers of (VS) 25 c 1955


The carrier Antietam (CVS 36) underway with an S2F Tracker and HSS Seabats on the flight deck c 1957


Los Alamitos Grumman S-2 Trackers


North Island S-2 Tracker


S-2 Tracker

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Part 5 S-2 Trackers


C-1 bureau number 136763 assigned to VR24DET


An S2F-1 Tracker assigned to the Naval Air Reserve at Naval Air Station (NAS) Grosse Ile, Michigan, pictured at Bishop Airport in Flint, Michigan c 1970


An S2F S-2 Tracker pictured flying low in the vicinity of a surfaced U.S. Navy submarine during exercises at sea c1965


An S-2 Tracker of Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 33 flies low over the water with its magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) boom extended c 1968


An S-2 Tracker of Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 31 pictured in flight with its magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) boom extended c 1965


An S-2 Tracker launches from the carrier Essex (CVS 9) during operations in the North Atlantic c 1964


Aerial view of the bow of USS Intrepid (CVS 11) underway with E-1 Tracer and S-2 Tracker aircraft parked on the forward portion of the flight deck.

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS...........

Thank you so much Mark. Those are fantastic. In our little group we have a guy who flew with VC-35 in Korea and then with VA-145 the night of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. So I'll make sure he gets those.

Here is a photo of him lanfing on the USS Constelaltion (CVA-64) with VA-145 in 1964.


As a retired Marine Corps pilot, I never really knew just how big the Navy's ASW force was. I found out in our group we have former S-2 pilots coming out our ears. They will appreciate also.

Again, I thank you for your postings.

Regards
Steve

Good morning Steve, and your very welcome. Notice Skyraider #510 here as well. Wonder if this is your fellow pilot flying. EDIT: just noticed the tail #'s are different.


Two A-1H's of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five VA-145 in flight with the USS Constellation CVA-64 steaming in the background


Four AD's of Attack Squadron One Hundred Forty-Five VA-145 Carrier Air Group Fourteen CAG-14 in formation over Naval Air Station NAS Miramar and surrounding area

Also found these VJ-61 AJ's which one looks to show the natural metal finish you describe. Very cool indeed. Thx for sharing.


two Navy North American AJ-2B Savages of VJ-61


Navy North American AJ-2P Savage of VJ-61 in flight


AJ-2P aircraft of Heavy Photographic Squadron Sixty-One VJ-61 in flight off Diamond Head Territory of Hawaii


AJ-2F of Heavy Photographic Squadron Sixty-One VJ-61 on the ground at Naval Air Station NAS Willow Grove


AJ-2P of Heavy Photographic Squadron Sixty-One VJ-61 Detachment Q Three Det Q3 on the ground at Naval Air Station NAS Sangley Point

He flew the AJ-2P Recon version of the Savage. VJ-61. Heres a little except of what i found.

"VJ-61 Detachment Queen was assigned to Sangley Point, Philippines, during the Korean War. The detachment was originally made up of AJ-2P 128050 (PB/1) and 128054 (PB/2). Det Queen enhanced the two aircrafts markings by adding a red tip fin and white prop spinners. One of the detachment's secret missions was to fly surveillance over China and North Korea. PB/2 128054 was stripped of all excess weight, including the tail hook in an effort to increase the aircraft's top speed on the deck. In theory it was possible to out-run the Communist MIGs. The blue paint was removed from the undersides and sides of PB/2 and replaced by waxed natural metal surfaces to increase the AJ's speed further. During these missions the crewmen carried 45 caliber hand guns with bandoleers of ammunition and brought aboard Thompson sub-machine guns."

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The AJ is a very cool looking plane. It's kind of surprising that this type didn't gravitate towards civilian tanker use once they were retired. It seems like it would have been a great tanker. Are there any other examples still extant other than the one at NNMA?

Bzzz. Wrong answer. That honor would belong to the C-130.

A better statement would be the AJ-1 is the heaviest airplane to consistently operate from an aircraft carrier. (Or something to that effect.)

(Sorry if my phrasing sounds harsh.)

EDIT: I'm really enjoying the postwar pictures of the straight-deck and escort carriers, you don't see that too often. (Figures that everyone else comes here for planes and I'm looking at ships. )

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Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

The one at the Naval Aviation Museum is the only surviving example to the best of my knowledge. Really a shame, because a flying warbird AJ-2/A-2B Savage would be something to see!

Actually I believe that the Douglas A3D/A-3 Skywarrior that effectively replaced the AJ Savage was the heaviest aircraft to see regular operational service on an aircraft carrier.

Is the one in Pensacola the same airframe that GE used as an engine testbed that was painted white and red? That's the last one I recall 'flying' on a regular basis.

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Apparently this one was used as a fire fighting aircraft and then an engine test bed aircraft in Oregon until 1975. It was in storage for 10 years and then made a final flight to NAS Pensacola in 1985. I sure wish I ccould have seen that last flight!

http://collections.naval.aviation.museu ... /Query.php

Sad thing was, the Navy kept the first prototype XAJ-1, 121460 at the Naval Air Engineering Center in Philadelphia for static load testing into at least the mid-70s. Air Classics had a couple photos of it, intact minus cowls and outer wing panels, in the February '76 issue. Too bad nobody saved it. Here's a photo from 1967:

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/ph ... 12531.html

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

That is sad. That XAJ-1 prototype should definitely been saved. Perhaps in a perfect world that one could have been shipped to Pensacola for restoration for the museum, and the AJ-2/A-2B flown from Oregon in 1985 could have been maintained as a flying warbird........

Oh well, I guess we should be thankful we have one surviving airframe (unlike the R6O/R6V Constitution, C-74 Globemaster I, B-19, B-32 Dominator, Boeing 314 Dixie Clipper, Northrop XB-35 and YB-49, YB-60, P6M Seamaster, R3Y Tradewind.... just to name a few that come to mind.