VA-106Photograph Album24 Oct 1958 Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 142782, AF-514, is readied for launch from the Intrepid. Naval Aviation News Photo, Gary Verver. 1959: Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 142767 trails the hose and drogue as it refuels from BuNo 142773 which is taking on fuel from another Gladiators Skyhawk (BuNo 145025 or 145026). Naval Aviation News Personnel - 1959-1961 aboard the U.S.S. Shangra La CV-38. Photo from Cruise Book, via Otto Krueger. Personnel - 1959-1961 aboard the U.S.S. Shangra La CV-38. Photo from Cruise Book, via Otto Krueger. Personnel - 1959-1961 aboard the U.S.S. Shangra La CV-38. Photo from Cruise Book, via Otto Krueger. VA-106 maintenance 1959-1961 aboard the U.S.S. Shangra La CV-38. Photo from Cruise Book, via Otto Krueger. Gladiator four plane. In March 1961, six Skyhawks flew over the United States Ship Shangri-La CVA-38 in the Mediterranean off Navplion, Greece on returning from an escort mission. An accompaning VFP-62, F-8 Crusader flying top cover rolled on his side and snapped this picture from his side camera. The Crusader photo bird was piloted by LCDR Norm Youngblood, Officer in Charge, of VFP-62 Det 44. The Shang was headed into the wind and launching the next flight cycle. The Skyhawk flight was actually made up of 6 planes but two were cropped from the picture. LCDR Otto Krueger the VA-106 Operations Officer was flying lead in AK 300; Left wing was LTJG Jim "Trim" Tabb in AK 302; On right wing was LT Bob Kemper in AK 306; Tail-end Charlie in AK 310, was LTJG Jack Peace. Subsequently Killed in Action December 31, 1967, CDR John Darlington Peace III, is listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall panel 33 line 10. The pilots of the two cropped Skyhawks were LTJG John Kessler and LTJG Jay Rower. Wire services published this picture and erroneously identified the lead plane pilot as CAG CDR Frank Ault. USN photograph from Otto Krueger. 1960: left front view of Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 142724, AK-313, tied down topside on the Shang. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 1962: Gladiators Skyhawks BuNo 145011, AK-303, and BuNo 144962, AK-301, tied down on the Shang's flight deck. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza VA-106 Personnel during 1962 Shangri La Med Cruise. Ron Zillmann 1963-64: Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 148463, AG-316, parked on the ramp. Neil Schneider Oct 1964 partial left front view of Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 149529, AK-306. UH-25B Retriever at right is BuNo 128496. Naval Aviation news Photo. 1964-66: BuNo 148546, AK-309, on the ramp behind an array of Skyhawk ordnance including FFAR's, Sidewinders, Bullpups and iron bombs. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza JAN 1965: These Gladiator Skyhawks flying in a spear formation represent the striking punch of the NAS Cecil Field, FL based squadron operating with the USS Shangi La. Naval Aviation News 1965 Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 150585, tail code AK, moving onto the Shang's forward cat. Naval Aviation News Photo. Nov 1965 Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 147796 prepares to taxi forward after the hookman has cleared the arresting cable. Naval Aviation News Photo. A-4E SKYHAWK BuNo. 151178 -- 1966 VA-86 A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151178, side number AG 412 is shown trapping on the United States Ship Independence CVA-62 in 1966. USN photo from Jack "Puresome" Woodul. 1966 a Gladiators pilot preflights Skyhawk BuNo 148600 aboard the Sara. Naval Aviation News Photo. VA-106 Gladiators A-4E, BuNo 150070, AA-321, tied down on the USS Forrestal. Probably June/July 1967 as VA-106 deployed on the Forrestal in "67" with tail code AA and modex 3xx. They sailed 6 June and the stern of the Forrestal had a new look after 29 July. Official U.S. Navy photo, Don Scott collection and courtesy of Gary Verver. 29 July 1967 burned out hulk of Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 152024, AA-310, on-board the USS Forrestal, CV-59, following the fire while on station off the coast of Vietnam. US Navy Photo. A-4E SKYHAWK BuNo. 151178 -- 1968 VA-106 Gladiator Skyhawk BuNo. 151178, side number AK 210 --- rebuilt and upgraded and now operating from the United States Ship Intrepid. 151178 is shown cleaned up after takeoff from Naval Air Station Atsugi September 2, 1968. Black & white photograph by and from Takafumi Hiroe of Yokohama, Japan. BuNo. 152069 is brought to the launching position on a steam catapult aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11), during flight operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, September 1968. Note nosewheel steering bar in use. Pretty sure the squadron is VA-106 as they were the only A-4E squadron on-board the Intrepid at that time and they used the AK 2xx modex. Information is that the other two A-4 squadrons on-board were VA-36 and VA-66 and they flew A-4C's with the modex AK 5xx and AK 3xx. Official US Navy Photo - Provide by Gary Verver. 02 Oct 1968 Gladiators Skyhawk BuNo 151027, AK-202, taking off from NAS Atsugi. Photo by Masakaai Hayakawa NOV 1968: BuNo 155078, AK-201, assigned to CDR Walt Clarke parked on the ramp. Nick Williams FEB 1969: BuNo 150091, AK-217, parked on the ramp. Nick Williams Skyhawk decorated VFA-15 Briefing Room, 2005. Coordinator and photographer Lt Michael A. DePalma. |