VA-81 SunlinersPhotograph AlbumVF-81 Crusader F9F-8 Cougar - 1957. Led by F9F-8 Cougar BuNo. 141099 side number O 113 two VF-81 Crusaders fly over the Mediterranean near United States Ship Lake Champlain CVA-39. During the January through July 1957 cruise Lake Champlain with ATG-182 and VF-81 operated off the coast of Lebanon during the Jordan crisis. USN picture from Harry S. Gann collection. VA-81 Skyhawks in Diamond Formation. The photo of the VA-81 diamond is stamped Official photograph U.S. Navy, CVA-59-14474-(L) 6-3-60, A4D's of VA-81 in flight. A-4's are: AJ-402 is A-4B BuNo 144923, AJ-403 is A-4B BuNo 144931, AJ-407 is A-4B BuNo 144922, AJ-411 is A-4B BuNo 144951. Photo courtesy of Gary Verver VA-81 Skyhawks in perfect formation. Photo is stamped Official photograph U.S. Navy, CCA-59-144 (L) 6-?-60, A4D's of VA-81 in flight. Same A-4's as the diamond photo. Photo courtesy of Gary Verver BuNo.150125 VA-81 A-4E AJ-402, BuNo 150125 aboard the USS Shangra-la. Looks like Mk-81's on the centerline TER, drop tanks on #2 & #4 and an MBER with practice bombs on #5. Gary Verver Collection. VA-81 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 - 1960. A4D-2 / A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 off of United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59 getting ready to pass gas to a Skywarrior. A-4 with belly hose reel and extra tanks under the wings. A-4s did the majority of the tanking until A-3s took over. 3 shot photo sequence by Joel McEachen VAH-3 VA-81 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 - 1960. A4D-2 / A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 off of United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59 starting to pass gas to a Skywarrior. A highlight of our Air Power demos both off the Virginia capes and in the Med was a flyby of a Whale refueling from a Scooter (the standard tanker in 1961 with two wing tanks and a buddy store with drogue). In this one, you can see we are plugged in, Forrestal is 10 o'clock low. Joel McEachen, BN, 61-63, VAH-3 & VAH-5 VA-81 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 - 1960. A4D-2 / A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 144930 off of United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59 passing gas to a Skywarrior who is getting up close and personal. Comments: "I had the good fortune to fly with LT C. N. "Charley" James, now CAPT, USN (ret.). He could make the A3D do anything in the sky except the Flogger's or Flanker's (?) tail stand. On a refueling flyby, he asked if I wanted to count the A4d-5's rivets. I did. This picture is my pride and joy. One looker asked if the A-4 was riding our bow wave." Joel McEachen, BN, 61-63, VAH-3 & VAH-5. "CAG-8, USS Forrestal, Fire Power demos always had an flyby of an A4 refueling an A3. LT Charles James liked to push the basket back into buddy tank! One time he was a spare for live bomb run and got launch with no bombs, plugged into Scooters 108 times, no fuel just plugged in." Don Pierce, Operations Chief VAH-3 and RVAH-3 1964/66. 1961 Crusaders Skyhawk BuNo 144919, AJ-405, with a Bullpup missile ready to launch from the Forrestal. Naval Aviation News Photo. VA-81 A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142715, 144927, and 144951 in fomration. Note the Buddy Store on AJ411. U.S. Navy photograph from "NavAirNews" dated March 1961. Provided by John Gabbard. 1961: Sunliners Skyhawk BuNo 144927, AJ-402, parked on the ramp. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 11 NOV 1961: Sunliners Skyhawk BuNo 144930, AJ-406, assigned to LTJG B.G. Hodges aboard the USS Essex at Southampton. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 1964: steam rises from the Forrestals cat track as the deck crew moves VA-81 Skyhawk AJ-408 into position for launch. Naval Aviation News photo Circa 1964-65: AJ-409 preparing to "tank". Tom Meyers VA-81, VA-83 & VMA-311 onboard the Forrestal in 1965 - 1966 Squadrons embarked during FORRESTAL's CVW-8, 1965-1966 deployment were VF-74, VF-103, VA-83, VA-81, VMA-331, VAH-11, VAW-12, VAW-33, VFP-62, AND HU-2. CVW-8 had a tail code of AJ. But there are two sets of tailcodes pictured. AA & AJ. Photo by Tony Redman 1965-1966 time frame. 1966-67: Sunliners BuNo 151027, AJ-400, as she taxies by the photographer. Howie Houserman 1966-67: VSF-1 Skyhawk BuNo 144893, AJ-500, and Sunliners A-4E BuNo 151052, AJ-405, parked near the Shang's island. (What these two guys are up to is not known, but it appears there was a fresh water shortage aboard the "Shang".) "Boom" Powell 1967: BuNo 150125, AJ-402, as the deck crew hooks her up to one of the Shang's catapults. Howie Houserman 1967-68: Sunliners Skyhawk BuNo 147829, AJ-401 provides the background for a photo of the squadron officers aboard the Shang. Howie Houserman 1967-68: Sunliners Skyhawk BuNo 149646, AJ-410, provides hte backdrop for a squadron officers photo aboard the Shang. Howie Houserman 1967-68: right side in-flight view of Sunliners Skyhawk formation, cw from top: BuNo 147829, AJ-401; BuNo 145076, AJ-403; BuNo 149531, AJ-412 and BuNo 149646, AJ-410. Howie Houserman VA-81 Sunliner A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147748 - 1969. Sunliner A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147748 side number AB 401 on the deck of United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA 67. The Sunliners operated off the coast of Libya following a September 1, 1969 coup that overthrew Libya's monarchy. USN picture from Harry S. Gann collection. BuNO 147814, AB-412, Skyhawk launching. Launch-Bow catapault officer gives launch signal to an Attack Squadron Eighty One (VA-81) Skyhawk aboard the USS John F. Kennedy during fleet training exercises off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Official U.S. Navy photo by PHC B.M. Andersen, Gary Verver Collection. VA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet Catapult - 2000. A VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet AA-407 is photographed on the George Washington CVN-73 catapult during the June through December 2000 Mediterranean cruise. USN Photograph. VA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet With JSOW - 2000. VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet AA-412 is photographed hauling a Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), a long range glide cluster bomb. USN Photograph. German Airforce MiG - 2000. A German Airforce MiG joins the exercise USN Photograph. Air-to-Air Refueling - 2000. A VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet AA-402 is photographed waiting for the Lockheed S3 Viking to finish refueling from the Air Farce KC-135 tanker during the Mediterranean cruise. USN Photograph. VA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet Overhead - 2000. VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet AA-414 is photographed overhead the George Washington CVN-73. USN Photograph. VA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet Approach - 2000. A VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet AA-402 is photographed from the LSO platform while in the groove to land on the George Washington CVN-73. USN Photograph. VA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet Landing - 2000. A VFA-81 Sunliner FA-18 Hornet is photographed from the LSO platform while over the United States Ship George Washington CVN-73 arresting wires. USN Photograph. |