VA-86

Photograph Album


VF-84 Sidewinders on USS Lake Champlain:

VF-86 F9F-5 Panthers and United States Ship Lake Champlain - 1954
A flight of four Sidewinder Panthers fly down Champlain's starboard side to break for landing. E-404 leads followed by E-415 BuNo. 125232, E-416, and E-402.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125232 - 1954
Sidewinder Panther BuNo. 125232 side number E-415 misses Champlain's 9-wire and proceeds down the deck . . .
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125232 - 1954
Sidewinder Panther BuNo. 125232 side number E-415 performs an in-flight barricade to a crash landing. Look at the flight deck people running for their lives.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther side number E-416 - 1954
Ship and Squadron personnel disengage Sidewinder Panther E-416 from the barricade after a crash landing.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther side number E-416 - 1954
A tug drags Panther E-416 from the barricade after a crash landing.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther side number E-403 - 1954
Panther E-403 was blown over by another Panther taxing past to the catapult.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 Panther on the Lake Champlain Cat - 1954
Sidewinder Panther on the catapult gets ready to go flying.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

A Panther on the Lake Champlain - 1954
Sidewinder Panther gets a tip tank fueled by a grape.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-61 Jolly Roger F9F-6 Cougar BuNo. 130960 side number E-108 on the Lake Champlain - 1954
One of the first F9F-6 Cougar squadrons was the VF-61 Jolly Rogers. Other VF-61 Cougars were:
BuNo. 130961 side number E-107; and BuNo. 130969 side number E-109; BuNo. 130962 side number E-104; and BuNo. 130968 side number E-111.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-86 F9F-5 PANTHER BuNo. 125473 - 1955
A Squadron Chief conducts tailhook point service training on Grumman F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 125473 with side number E-415. BuNo. 125473 replaced BuNo. 125232 which was wrecked as pictured above. Sidewinder Panthers were painted blue with yellow trim.
United States Navy photo from Gran Rhodus.

VF-84 Commanding Officer CDR H. V. LADLEY - 1954

VF-84 Officers - 1954

VF-84 Chiefs - 1954

VF-84 White Hats - 1954

VF-84 Pilots Brief in the Ready Room - 1954

VF-84 RECORDS - 1954
Lieutenant Junior Grade William Ogle works with ADAN Carroll Owens and AK3 Bruce Schneider on the books.

VF-84 MAINTENANCE - 1954
Several Sidewinders replace a radio while a jet mechanic inspects turbine blades.

VF-84 ORDINANCE AND TWEETS - 1954
These Sidewinders work on the radar system and the canons.

VF-84 ON THE JOB TRAINING - 1954
A Sidewinder Chief supervises work on the Panther's landing gear.

CARRIER AIR GROUP EIGHT - 1954

Lake Champlain Cruise Book United States Navy Photographs from Gran Rhodus

VA-86:

SEP 1958: A4D-2 Aircraft of VA-86 conducting in-flight refueling in the eastern Mediterranean. Ship is USS Randolph - CVA-15.
The visible BuNo's left to right are 142687, 142678 & 142124.
From Gary Verver Collection
USN 1039207 Date 9-24-58 - Official US Navy Photograph
Released
US Naval Photographic Center
US Naval Station
Washington, D.C. 20390

MAY 1959: Sidewinders Skyhawk formation over the Mediterranean. BuNo's front to back are 142687, AG-410, 142678, AG-412 & unknown.
Naval Aviation News photo

1959: Sidewinders Skyhawk AG-417 is on its way to the hangar deck via the deck edge elevator.
Naval Aviation News

1959: Sidewinders Skyhawk AG-413 is tied down on deck near the island of CVA-62.
Naval Aviation News

SEP 1959: Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 142683, AG-402, and L to R: Ralph Von Glahn, John Middleton, CO Rod Schall, XO Sam Rorex & Frank Rush.
Captain Rodney F. Schall

SEP 1959: Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 142683, AG-402, and L to R: Bob Bristol, Johnny Johnson, Jay Stoker, Hermie Muller, Bob Fischer & Jan Martin.
Captain Rodney F. Schall

Circa 1959 Navy Combat Artist, LT Richard A. Genders rendition of Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 142776 "Early Morning Flight Preparation" aboard an aircraft carrier.
(Artists drawing in the colors of VA-66, but has VA-86 on the fuselage)
Naval Aviation News.

VA-86 Officers in Sept. 1959
Provided by Captain Rodney F. Schall, then Commanding Officer of the Sidewinders.

VA-86 SNAKES ON THE INDY - 1961
Three A4D-2 (A-4B) Snake Skyhawks prepare for a CVG-7 mission from the United States Ship Independence CVA-62 during the August through December 1961 Mediterranean cruise. BuNo. 144898 side number AG 400 left; BuNo. 144888 side number AG 406 center; and AG 405 right are being spotted for start.
United States Navy photo from Al Carpenter.

Skyhawk BuNo 149638, AG-409, parked on the line.
Unknown photographer via W. Mutza

Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 145058, AG-404, parked on the line.
Unknown photographer via W. Mutza

VA-86 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.

1965 In the background and on the port catapult is Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo.151166, AG-400 ready for flight.
Photo from Al Carpenter.

VA-86 AND VMA-324 SKYHAWKS ON THE INDY - 1966
During the United States Ship Independence CVA-62 Mediterranean cruise starting April 19, 1966 and ending August 27, 1967 --- CVG-7 attack squadrons VA-86 Sidewindesr and VMA-324 Devil Dogs shared the flight deck. VA-86 flew the A-4E which in the picture side numbers 400 and 410 have no letters on the vertical stabilizer. The VMA-324 Skyhawks 306 and 308 had the letters AG painted on the vertical stabilizer. BuNos. of some of the VA-86 A-4E Skyhawks on the Indy cruise were: 152041, 151155, 151149, 151117, 149967, 149973, 149984 and 152089.
From a Steve Waldschmidt 35mm slide.

1966: Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 151164, AG-402, as she comes to a quick stop aboard the Independence.
"Boom" Powell

SIDEWINDER A-4E 151178 - 1966
VA-86 A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 151178, side number AG 412 is shown trapping on the Indy. This picture was probably taken during the 1966 cruise.
United States Navy photo from Puresome.

A4D-2 Aircraft of VA-86 conducting in-flight refueling in the eastern Mediterranean. Ship is USS Randolph-CVA-15
The two in the foreground are AG-410 BuNo 142687 and AG-401 BuNo 142124
The one most visible in the background is AG-412 BuNo 142678 and the one hidden behind it looks to be AG-407
Official US Navy Photograph from Gary Verver Collection

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.

May 1969 Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 142124, AG-401, trailing the refueling drogue. Carrier may be the USS Randolph.
Naval Aviation News Photo.

VA-86 SIDEWINDER A-7E Corsair II, side number AJ 402 from the United States Ship Nimitz.
Photo from Robert Lay.


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