NAS Cubi Point, PIPhotograph AlbumVC-5 Det Cubi Flightline 1967. Photo taken looking toward the North from the VC-5 Det Cubi hangar roof by John Mosbarger. The closest plane is a Beechcraft RC-45J SNB (Secret Navy Bomber) Bug Smasher BuNo. 138450. The SNB was notorious for ground-looping. Next are four Grumman US-2C Traders. UE-32 was in transit from VC-5 Det Naha, Okinawa. Next are four Douglas A-4B Skyhawks. Adjacent to the Skyhawks is a DF-8F Chance Vought Crusader. Several lines back are some transit Skyhawks. Photograph by and from John Mosbarger VC-5 Det Cubi Point - 1976? VC-5 Checkertail VC-5 Det Cubi Point, Philippines crew in the 1975 to 1977 time period. Photograph from Robert A. Lay VC-5 Det Cubi Aircraft - 1967. A flight of four Checkertail aircraft enters the break for landing at Naval Air Station Cubi Point. Two VC-5 Det Cubi Grumman US-2C Traders lead two A-4B Skyhawks into the break. The US-2C was a gutted S-2F (Stoof) Tracker anti-submarine airframe with a big cargo space and - or the ability to cram six to twelve bodies into the hold. With Utility Squadrons the aircraft towed targets, delivered the mail and parts to carriers, along with other assorted chores. The US-2C cruised at 150 knots and could fly four to six hours on its fuel. The Stoof was the aircraft that transported Bob Hope and his troupe to Tonkin Gulf Yankee Station Boats. Photograph by and from John Mosbarger VC-5 Det Cubi Aircraft part 2 - 1967. A flight of three Checkertail aircraft enters the break for landing at Naval Air Station Cubi Point. A VC-5 Det Cubi Grumman US-2C Trader leads two A-4B Skyhawks. The Skyhawks nearly fell from the sky trying to fly formation on the US-2C Stoof with its 180 knot speed. All Stoof versions had a very "short shank" (distance from wing to tail). At any speed and particularly during takeoff the loss of an engine was spectacular. The rudder wasn't big enough to keep the aircraft straight and at slow speed and full power on the remaining engine the aircraft would "pinwheel" out of control into the ground. A fix that provided more rudder helped but you could always tell an experienced Stoof pilot by bulging leg muscles. The bug-eyed Stoof was actually a joy to fly. It was over-powered. It trimmed well. Sometime the auto-pilot worked. It was stable in instrument flight. It had great vision. The Stoof had large bubble bay-windows next to the pilot and co-pilot. Pilots could lean into the window and look back along the fuselage. With both engines turning the Stoof was over-powered. On takeoff at max-power a lightly loaded Stoof would leap into the sky and climb at 80 degrees nose up - for 2,000 feet. . . This was only done at Air Force bases to impress the Tower Boy Scouts in Blue. Photograph by and from John Mosbarger A Good View of Cubi Point airfield - 1967, with the VC-5 Checkertail Angels BuNo. 145036, BuNo. 144074, BuNo. 142874, BuNo. 144974 heading for the runway. This picture's background is interesting: There is a black "Queer" Douglas A-3 Skywarrior probably from VQ-1, sitting in the far revetment. These Skywarriors snooped the China and Russia coast, from Vladivostoc to Vietnam. What they electronically learned is still probably "Top Secret." The Skywarrior had terrible fuel management and weight and balance problems because of inaccurate fuel gauges. Landings on ship and ashore were always - interesting! Next to the Skywarrior is a North American RA-5C Vigilante. The "Vigi" had a crew of two - a Non-Flying Officer sat buried in the fuselage behind the pilot -- this poor soul had one small 4 inch diameter window to peer out of. The weapon systems for this aircraft were never produced so the Vigi did photo reconnaissance. Landing a Vigi on the Boat was always an interesting event! They use to sell tickets to Vulture's Row for a Vigi Event. The Vigi didn't have elevators - the whole stabilator flapped up and down - it was an awesome sight, on final, with the stabilator flapping back and forth in the wind - full throw! At night everyone got on their knees and prayed for the Vigi crew. LSO's were terrified and liked to say "BINGO" before the Vigi even had a chance to break. Photograph by and from John Mosbarger "Thar She Blows!" Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupts and a VC-5 TA-4J is there. Actually the VC-5 Skyhawks are on a fly-away. Photograph from Missy Cummings Road Runner four Skyhawk right echelon formation flies over Subic Bay, Philippines. USN photograph from Frank Purpura. MAY 1970: Beautiful scenic Subic Bay, Philippines - 1970. The Shang docked at the Cubi Point Naval Air Station pier in May 1970. Looking above the flight deck you can see the infamous Cubi Point Officer's Club on the hill overlooking Subic Bay. On the flight deck are a number of A-4E Skyhawks, a F-8 Crusader and a Willie Fudd. VA-152 was assigned to CVS-38 at the time. Photograph from Ernie Shuldhiess. See the VC-5 Pages for more VC-5 Skyhawk pictures. |
