VA-72Photograph Album1957: Blue Hawks flightline. L-r BuNo unknown, AG-311, BuNo 142177, AG-301 and BuNo unknown, AG-312. Larry Mahoney Circa JAN 1958: VA-72 A4D-1 BuNo 139937, AG-306 at Gitmo. Plane Captain is signaling start to the pilot. Naval Aviation News photo. A VA-72 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142701 - 1958. A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142701, side number AG 301, the pilot's name Ruiz -- photo was taken about 1958. U. S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. 1959: BuNo 142712, AG-304, as she moves into position on the starboard cat. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza July 1959 Blue Hawks Skyhawk BuNo 144970 launches from the USS Independance. Naval Aviation News Photo. 1960: Blue Hawks CO CDR J.K. Beiling in Skyhawk AJ-301 indicates readiness to take-off on a record setting strike of 2,250 miles non-stop from Oceana to the Caribbean. Naval Aviation News Photo Aug 1961 Three Blue Hawks Skyhawks in formation during the 1961 Med cruise. BuNo 144978, AG-302, upper left; BuNo 144952 at bottom and BuNo 144898 at upper right in flight near Sardinia, Sicily. Naval Aviation News Photo. 1964 Med Cruise, CVA-62 USS Independence VA-72 Pilots Pose by A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 150007 - Summer 1964 U. S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. VA-72 Ready Room in 1964 aboard the "INDY". Contributed by John Lammers Clockwise from top left #305 BuNo 150021 (#306), BuNo 150002 (#30?), BuNo 149993 and #300 BuNo 150008. Each with 2 drop tanks and a Bullpup on the centerline station. Photo caption reads; Air-toAir of A-4E aircraft, Attack Squadron 72. 10 Jun 1964. Gary Verver Collection. A "real" Hawk is shown off while at Cubi Point, PI. in 1965. Dave Griggs (later, an astronaut), Joe Mossman, USAF Capt. Joe Mitchum (exchange pilot), and Lane Hubbard (bottom bunk). All except Lane, as of 10 Jan 03, are deceased. Photo from Al Carpenter LTJG Joe Russell Mossman exits his "Scooter". LTJG Mossman was lost in combat on Sept. 13, 1965. Photo from Al Carpenter 1965 WestPac Cruise USS Independence CVA-62 BuNo 150002 "Blue Hawk" Broken Tail Feather resulting from some night formation flying. Photo courtesy of Al Carpenter. Al was NOT the Driver! United States Ship Independence CVA 62 Summer of 1965 U. S. Navy photograph from Al Carpenter. VA-72 in 1965 Boeing's photo caption was: "A total of 637 F-4Bs was manufactured. One of VF-41’s Phantoms, armed for combat air patrol over an A-4 Skyhawk strike force, is launched from the USS Independence on Yankee Station." The Skyhawk in the foreground is VA-72, BuNo 150007, and the one moving onto the cat is VA-86, BuNo 151149, modex 407. The Skyhawk behind 1149 is VA-86 modex 411. Boeing Photograph. VA-72 A-4E Skyhawk on the Catapult - 1965 Blue Hawk A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151115 side number AG-313 in tension on the Independence CVA 62 starboard cat. In the background and on the port catapult is VA-86 Sidewinder A-4E Skyhawk BuNo.151166 side number AG-400 ready for flight. The picture was taken 1965. U. S. Navy photograph from Al Carpenter. A flight of four VA-72 A-4E Skyhawks - 1965 A-4E Blue Hawk Skyhawks in right echelon from the United States Ship Independence CVA 62 in 1965. Lead BuNo. 150008 side number AG 300; #2 BuNo. 149993 side number AG 303; #3 BuNo. 150021 side number AG 305; #4 BuNo. 150002 side number AG 306. The picture was taken 1965. U. S. Navy photograph from Puresome. A Diamond Formation VA-72 A-4E Skyhawks - 1965 A-4E Blue Hawk Skyhawks in a diamond formation from the United States Ship Independence CVA 62 in 1965. Lead BuNo. 150008 side number AG 300; #2 starboard of Leader BuNo. 149993 side number AG 303; #3 Port of leader BuNo. 150021 side number AG 305; #4 slot BuNo. 150002 side number AG 306. The picture was taken 1965. U. S. Navy photograph from Al Carpenter. VA-72 Blue Hawk Squadron Personnel 1965: Commander Grover C. "Bull" Walker, February 10, 1965 as he passes VA-72 command to Commander Joe Adkins. U. S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. Commander Joe D. Adkins after February 10, 1965 as he received documents from Captain "Blackie" Kennedy. U. S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. Youthly Puresome - 1965 Our pal Youthly dismounts after another arduous mission over the Mediterranean Sea. Photograph from Jack Woodul. Three new VA-72 Centurions cut the cake. Indy XO Captain Sam Rorex and CAG Commander Garry Garland present a Centurion Cake to Commander Joe Adkins, Lieutenant Pat Kober and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jan Harris - summer of 1965. U. S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. VA-72 Officers. Photo from John Lammers 1966 - 1967 WestPac Cruise USS Roosevelt CVA-42 A flight of four VA-72 Skyhawks tanking from a Whale. U.S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. A flight of four VA-72 A-4E Skyhawks in diamond formation. A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151058 side number AB 501 is nearest the camera. Picture was taken after February 1966. U.S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. Fantail of United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42 The FDR from the pilot's point of view on short final. Taken from a VFP-62, F-8 Crusader on December 12, 1966. U.S. Navy Photograph from Al Carpenter. VA-72 A-4E BuNo 150023. P.N. Neighbors, AN, of VA-72 (left) and M. T. Martinez, SN, of VA-72 (right) jockey deadly ordinance to launch ready A-4 Skyhawk aircraft on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). 03 Sep 1966. Gary Verver Collection. A-72 BuNo 151106, AB-500, as it loses a SHRIKE missile during an arrested landing aboard the Roosevelt. Dated 2 Oct 1966 and is official U.S. Navy from Gary Verver collection. VA-72 Blue Hawks 1966 - 1967 with BuNo 151137. U. S. Navy Photograph from John Carpenter. 1967 - 1968 Med Cruise USS Roosevelt CVA-42 A VA-72 flight of three A-4B Skyhawks and United States Ship F. D. Roosevelt CVA 42 - 1967. Blue Hawk A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144881, side number AB 501 leads Steve Pollock in A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142122, side number AB 502. Number three is A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142745, side number AB 505. This 1967 flyby photograph was taken by a RF-8 photo Crusader --- the whole air wing was lined up behind the photogator to get their pictures taken. The photographers almost never carried color film so this shot is in black and white. BuNo. 142122 side number AD-475 was first assigned to VA-44 in September 1958 and is pictured in 1960 leading a VA-44 Hornet A-4C. Photo from Walt Adams. USN photograph from Steve Pollock. The Commanding Officer's A-4B BuNo. 144881 side number AB 501 - 1967 VA-72 Skipper Cdr. Ed Hofstra taxies to the FDR cat in A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144881 side number AB 501. The Blue Hawks were assigned the A-4B Skyhawk in March 1967. USN photograph from Steve Pollock. Blue Hawk A-4B Skyhawk at the Ramp - 1967 VA-72 A-4B Skyhawk is ready to catch the F. D. Roosevelt three wire. Photograph by Steve Pollock. A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142818? side number AB 508 - 1967 VA-72 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142818? side number AB 508 has the F. D. Roosevelt three wire. Photograph by Steve Pollock. VA-72 Blue Hawk Squadron Personnel 1967 - 1968: Lieutenant Steven Pollock "Cheated death again." Flight deck crewmen are overjoyed that Steve got their Scooter back in one piece. Photograph from Steve Pollock. FEB 1968: BuNo 145000, AB-500, parked on the ramp. Duane Kasulka 1969 Med Cruise USS Shangri La CVA-38 A-4B Loose Duece. BuNo. 142937 aand BuNo. 1450137 - 1969. During the United States Ship Shangri La CVS-38 Med cruise two A-4B Skyhawks climb away from the boat. Blue Hawk A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142937 side number AJ 503 leads Steve Pollock in A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 145013 side number AJ 507. Photograph from Steve Pollock. "Welcome Aboard" information. |
