VA-15Photograph AlbumVA-15 onboard FDR for MED cruise 1958-1959. From cruise book of Harry Clark. "VA-15 was orginially commissioned as Torpedo Squadron Four on 10 January, 1942. The squadron saw action in many important operations during WWII, flying the famed TBD Devastator and TBM Aventer. They received their first AD a/c in August of 1949. While aboard the USS FDR the squadron was awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT "E" for battle effiecency in 1953. In 1957 they awarded the Chief of Naval Opearations Aviation Saftey award while aboard the USS Forrestal. CDR. William J. Gray is presently Commanding Officer." VA-15 Officers holding the Squadron Patch VA-15 Ready Room aboard the FDR. VA-15 Berthing Working on the Engine VA-15 A1s in 1958 VA-15 A1s in 1959 VA-15 A1 providing fuel VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Maintenance Crews VA-15 Trap BuNo.149619 1960: Clansman Skyhawk BuNo 142715, AB-409, Blue Bolts Skyhawk BuNo 144900, AB-306, and Clansman Skyhawk BuNo 142718, AB-404, aboard the F.D. "Boom" Powell VALions - October 1966. The VA-15 pilots from the 5/1/66 to 10/30/66 Vietnam combat cruise on United States Ship Intrepid CVS-11 pose before A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142945 AK 305. United States Navy photograph from Dave Thornhill. Another shot of the VALions - October 1966. The VA-15 pilots from the 5/1/66 to 10/30/66 Vietnam combat cruise on United States Ship Intrepid CVS-11 pose before A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142945 AK 305. United States Navy photograph from Dave Thornhill. VALion pilot - 1966. Lieutenant Junior Grade Dave Thornhill poses by Douglas A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142945 AK 305. Photograph from Dave Thornhill. 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 149619, AK-200, as she taxies across the Intrepids flight deck with a load of iron bombs. Intrepid Cruise Book from "Boom" Powell 1966-67: tail section and J-65 engine of Valions Skyhawk BuNo 149621, AK-204, as she undergoes maintenance in the Intrepids hangar bay. Intrepid Cruise Book from "Boom" Powell 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148470, AK-207, taxiing across the Intrepids flight deck with a Shrike missile on #3. "Boom" Powell 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148470, AK-207, with a load of conventional ordnance aboard the Intrepid. "Boom" Powell 1966: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148470, AK-211, in tension and ready to launch from the Intrepid. "Boom" Powell 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148484, AK-214, aboard the Intrepid as the plane captain cleans the canopy. US Navy via "Boom" Powell 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148495, AK-203, being manually moved into position in the Intrepids hangar bay. US Navy via "Boom" Powell 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148495, AK-203, as the Ordies prepare to hand an MBER on the port side pylon. US Navy via "Boom" Powell 1966: BuNo 144882, AK-303, brings up the rear as the squadrons Skyhawks wait to be laoded aboard the USS Intrepid. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 1966: right side view of Valions Skyhawk BuNo 142945, AK-305, as she taxis by the photographer. Butlers Last Chance Gas Station is painted on the tail and LCDR Dave Carroll below the cockpit. Tom Hansen 1966-67: BuNo 144997, AK-308, assigned to LCDR Dave North as she taxis by the photographer. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 1966-67: Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148484, AK-214, and VSF-3 Skyhawk BuNo 142126, AK-103, on the Intrepids hangar deck during a sweepdown. U.S. Navy photo via "Boom" Powell 25 May 1967 BuNo 145013, AK-00, parked on the ramp. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. Artwork on BuNo145013. Javier Ruberto 25 May 1967 BuNo 145013, AK-00 tail. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association. 1967: flight of eleven Valions Skyhawks. Photo from "Boom" Powell. VA-15 Skyhawks Reload - 1967. This picture was taken early in 1967 as VA-15 got ready for another combat tour to Vietnam. The closest three planes (BuNo. 144997 AK 308; BuNo. 145013 AK 00; BuNo. 142717 AK 311) are holdovers from the previous combat cruise of 5/1/66 to 10/30/66 on the United States Ship Intrepid CVS-11 as evidenced by their 3xx side numbers. The furthest A-4C (BuNo. 149621 AK 201) is partially ready for the next Vietnam tour - 6/21/67 to 12/9/67 - again on Intrepid. United States Navy photograph. 1967 Valions Skyhawk BuNo 148446, AK-210, ready to be launched from the USS Intrepid. Photo credit unknown. 1967: a flight of eleven Valions Skyhawks. "Boom" Powell 1967: an unknown Valions Skyhawk on the cat with the bridle in tension and ready to launch from the USS Intrepid. "Boom" Powell 1967-68: Valion & Green Lizard Skyhawks aboard the Intrepid as she transits the Suez. cw from lower left: VA-15 BuNo 144988, AK-309; VA-95 BuNo 142900, AK-506; VA-15 BuNo 145013, AK-300; VA-15 BuNo 144997, AK-308; and VA-15 BuNo 145001, AK-3xx. "Boom" Powell May 1968 Valions Skyhawk BuNo 149639, AA-00, as LT Gene "Wimpy" Atkinson receives the BE BE bomb from CAPT R.B. Baldwin after chalking up an amazing perfect score at Fallon. Also present are CDR's Bob Ferguson & Jim Snyder. Naval Aviation News Photo. A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149621 - 1970. was again photographed July 16, 1970 at Atsugi, Japan. At that time 149621 was with VA 172 flying from the Shangri-La as AJ 300. Photograph by and courtesy of Takafumi Hiroe of Yokohama, Japan. Thornhill bagged - August 1, 1967. Lieutenant Dave Thornhill was shot down in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147670 by North Vietnamese Triple A fire during a mission to Hon Gai, North Vietnam. Pictures here are of Daves return to Intrepid. United States Navy photographs from Dave Thornhill. VA-15 Skyhawks. A flight of four VALion Skyhawks. United States Navy photograph VA-15 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148543 - 1968. VALion A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148543 (in the background) readies for flight during the United States Ship Forrestal CVA-59 and Carrier Air Wing 17's 1968 - 1969 Mediterranean cruise. This was VA-15's last cruise using the Skyhawk. Also in this picture are North American RA-5C Vigilante BuNo. 148281 side number 605; and in the foreground VA-152 Fighting Aces A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 145022 side number AA 511 -- this cruise was probably the last A-4B Skyhawk cruise. Photograph by and from Warren A. Harms VA-15 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148460 - 1968. VALion A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148460 side number AA 402 on the United States Ship Forrestal CVA-59 port cat. Photograph by and from Warren A. Harms VA-15 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147696 and 147688 - 1968. Lieutenant Warren Harms parks VA-15 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147696 side number AA 403 on the starboard bow after trapping onboard United States Ship Forrestal CVA-59. Already parked is VALion A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147688 side number AA 416. Photograph by and from Warren A. Harms May 1980 BuNo 147830, AA-406, parked on the ramp. Tailhook Association. VA-15 A-7s in formation Valion's in formation near NAS Fallon aproximately 1980. Photograph supplied by Valion Chuck Rider 2006: two former VALions visit old haunts. Will McManus |