VA-76Photograph Album1961: USS Intrepid based Spirits Skyhawk Attack Bomber formation zooms over home. Joe Morris 1961: USS Intrepid based Spirits Skyhawk formation, from l-r: BuNo 144990, AF-507, BuNo 144988, AF-500, BuNo 142767, AF-511 and BuNo 144953, AF-502. Joe Morris 1961 BuNo 142784, AF-508, tied down on the deck of the USS Intrepid with six mk-81s on each wing and a centerline fuel tank. Gary Verver Collection May 1962 Air Group Six Centurions representing 12,010 arrested landings pose in front of Spirits Skyhawk BuNo 144976, AF-507, after completing a Sixth Fleet deployment aboard the USS Intrepid. Naval Aviation News Photo. BuNo.147704 being "hoisted" aboard the Enterprise in 1965. Photo is U.S. Navy. OCT-DEC 1962: BuNo 148452 AF-503 parked forward on CVN-65 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dave Leiber - VMA-225 NOV-DEC 1962: Skyhawks parked forward of the island on CVN-65 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. CVW-6 Tail Code was "AF" until late in 1962, when it changed to "AE". Normally VA-66 and VA-76 Skyhawks provided the light attack jets for CVW-6 aboard CVN-65; the "CE" A4-C Skyhawks are VMA-225 brought aboard for additional fire-power as were VA-64 Skyhawks. Shown are BuNo 148606 of VA-64, 149522 as AF-606 of VA-76, 149618 of VA-64, an AD-6 Skyraider "SPAD" of VA-65, 147769 as CE-12 of VMA-225, 145131 as CE-16 of VMA-225, 147776 as CE-02 of VMA-225 and 147739 as CE-14 of VMA-225 2nd shot forward: Skyhawks parked forward of the island on CVN-65 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Shown are BuNo 147704 from VA-64, 149618 as AF-3xx of VA-64, an AD-6 Skyraider "SPAD" of VA-65, 147769 as CE-12 of VMA-225, 147776 as CE-02 of VMA-225 and 147739 as CE-14 of VMA-225. Dave Leiber - VMA-225 BuNo.147704, AE-501, ready for launch from the USS Enterprise with a pair of drop tanks attached. Wynn Foster. 24 MAY 1967: right rear in-flight view as Spirits Skyhawk BuNo 147843, NP-684, bolters from the Bonnie Dick after it failed to catch an arresting wire when returning from a combat mission. U.S. Navy Mig Killing Skyhawk - A-4C BuNo.148609 The Experimantal Aircraft Association displays a very accurate replica of CDR "T.R." Swartz's MiG killer A-4C at Wittman Field, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flying Scooter replica is actually A-4B 142112, originally owned by the Combat Jets Flying Museum of Houston, Texas, it was flown on the airshow circuit for several years before being donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association about 1994. Here is the replica Scooter, August 10, 1999 by Frank Mirande. 1968: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 150598, AG-514, BuNo 147703, AG-503, and Spirits BuNo 147749, AG-310, as they prepare to launch from the Independence. Note the Plane Guard is about to launch. U.S. Navy from "Boom" Powell Spirit A-4C Skyhawk - 1968. Spirit Skyhawk parked on the USS Independence CVA-62. Plane Captain John Lowry in the cockpit. Picture from John Lowry. BuNo.149540 with VA-76. Michael Blackstock FEB 1969: left side view of Fighting Spirits Skyhawk BuNo 149645, AF-301, assigned to CDR Joe Barth parked on the line. Note the MiG marking on the port intake. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza BuNo.149540, Spring 2004, as it rests at the Marana Airport awaiting its fate with ATW Aviation. Michael Blackstock |