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BuNo132270 - AD4B Skyraider Bill Holmes AD4B Skyraider Bill Holmes AD4B Skyraider Bill Holmes AD4B Skyraider Flight Line Bill Holmes 1959 in flight formation of Vagabonds Skyhawks assigned to the USS Essex: top to bottom BuNo 142745, AK-512, BuNo 152742, AK-509 and BuNo 142731, AK-505. Naval Aviation News photo, Gary Verver. Sep 1960 Vagabonds Skyhawk BuNo 145104, CE-13, with the newly developed MBER on each hard point with six 500 lb. bombs on each. Naval Aviation News Photo. 1962: Scooter with a "Message" This is a picture of (Rich"Dino"Lee) while aboard the USS Intrepid during Carrier Quals summer of 1962. Dino's talking to his Line Chief about a message he wrote on the nose wheel panel to his buddy's back at the flight Line in Cherry Point, NC. Dino was a brown shirt and assigned to CE-11. Provided by Rich "Dino" Lee 1962: GYSGT Charles E. Brown checks the tail section on on of the squadron Skyhawks. Naval Aviaton News 1962: bombs, bullets and rockets displayed in front of, on and around VMA-225 Skyhawk CE-10 are some of the ordnance payloads delivered by the squadron and maintained by the ordnance shop. Naval Aviation News OCT-DEC 1962: Ordnance men of VMA-225 and CVW-6 eyeballing something off the starboard side of the Enterprise during the Cuban Missile Crisis Deployment. VMA-225 was the first Marine Skyhawk Unit to deploy aboard the new carrier, CVN-65. Dave Leiber 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 OCT-DEC 1962: Skyhawks launch off CVN-65 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Skyhawk units of CVW-6 (VA-66 and VA-76), along with VMA-225, not normally a part of CVW-6, were deployed aboard to provide additional fire-power as were VA-64 Skyhawks which joined the Enterprise in Nov. Dave Leiber 1963: Vagabonds line crew prepares Skyhawk BuNo 147822, CE-21, for a training flight. Naval Aviaton News 1963: A Vagbonds Ordie loads Mk-76 practice bombs on Skyhawk BuNo 145081 prior to a training hop during the Caribbean cruise. June 1963 Vagabonds officers talk over procedures beneath Skyhawk BuNo 147776. Naval Aviation News Photo. MAY 1964: BuNo 148531, CE-12, assigned to LT J.E. Townsend parked on the ramp. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza NOV 1964: BuNo.147808 parked on the ramp at NAS Naha. Photo by Bob Paul. NOV 1964: Bob Paul riding the brakes of BuNo.145101 at Okinawa. Photo by Dewey Reimer. NOV 1964: BuNo.145096 cockpit check by Dewey Riemer. Photo by Bob Paul. Formation Takeoff - November 1964 A November 1964, Vagabond Skyhawk section takeoff from Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa. A-4C Skyhawk side number CE 18 leads Skyhawk BuNo. 148537 - side number CE 16. The Skyhawks are loaded with inert water-sand-filled practice bombs. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin Halpin. Vagabond Deuce - November 1964 Douglas A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148530 - side number CE 15 flies wing on CE 18 during a November 1964 cross-country flight over the Pacific near Japan. Note the radiation shields stowed behind the pilot's heads. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin Halpin. NOV 1964: BuNo148537 takes off with a load of Napalm. Photo by Bob Paul. DEC 1964: BuNo.148430 is preflighted by Bob Paul. Photo by Dave Shapleigh. VMA 225 Marines Leave Iwakuni - May 17, 1965 United States Ship Washoe County LST 1165 gulps VMA 225 Vagabonds at Iwakuni Harbor, Japan for the trip to Chu Lai, South Vietnam. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. Beautiful Down Towne Chu Lai - May 23, 1965 The tropical beach at Chu Lai where the VMA-225 United States Marines are about to land May 23, 1965. The picture was taken from the deck of United States Ship Washoe County LST 1165 adrift in a lovely South China Sea lagoon. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. The United States Marines Land At Chu Lai - May 23, 1965 A view of the causeway from the Washoe County to the beach at Chu Lai. Before the Chu Lai airstrip was built, everything shipped to Chu Lai came over this causeway. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. A June 1, 1965 view at the Vagabond Chu Lai tent area with John Karaban (left), the VMA-225 patch and an unknown Marine. Sometime later, Seabees brought in iron matting for the Vagabond flightline built in this area. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. 1965: LCpl R.J. Benz (L), LCpl D.L. Daugherty (c) and Cpl P. Hall (R) move out with a 2,000 pound practice bomb as they load VMA-225 Skyhawk CE-20 for it's next flight. Naval Aviation News Close-up of Vagabond Sign - June 1, 1965 Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. First Skyhawk, A-4C BuNo. 147779, to Land at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam - June 1, 1965 Colonel John Noble, Commanding Officer of Marine Air Group 12 after landing at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam in VMA-225 Vagabond Douglas A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147779 - side number CE 6. Colonel Noble flew BuNo. 147779 from Iwakuni, Japan to Cubi Point in the Philippines; after refueling Noble flew the Skyhawk to Chu Lai for the first Skyhawk landing at Chu Lai. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. JUN 1965: VMA-225 is first A-4 Marine squadron "In-Country". Photo by Dan Yates. Cake Cutting After The Marines Land Their Skyhawks at Chu Lai - June 1, 1965. In a ceremony in front of A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147779 -- side number CE 6, the Commanding Officer of MAG12, Colonel John Noble eats a piece of cake after landing at Chu Lai. To Colonel Noble's left is the pilot of the second aircraft Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker the Commanding Officer of VMA 225. To Lieutenant Colonel Baker's left is the pilot of third aircraft Major Donald E. Gillum the Executive Officer of VMA 225; And to Major Gillum's left is the pilot of fourth aircraft Major David Teichmann the Officer-In-Charge of VMA 225 S1. As you can see, the matting is not yet finished and it had rained just before the landing. God only knows where they got the cake as at this time the troops were in fox-holes about a mile south eating C rations. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. Vagabonds Go On The Attack - June 1, 1965 VMA 225 Chu Lai A-4C Skyhawks CE-2 and CE-11 are being servicing and armed just before the first Vagabond Vietnam mission. Vagabond Marines in the picture (L to R): Gunny Buckner from Quality Control; Gunny Boyer from avionics, Ron Benz from ordinance and John Karaban from the flight line with his back to the camera. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. To The V C With Luv --- From New York" - June 1, 1965 You do not have to go to New York to get mugged - New York can come to you. Vagabond A-4C Skyhawk CE 12 waits for a five hundred pound bomb. The notation says "For the V C from New York." In the background Skyhawk CE 14 has a JATO bottle already loaded right under the MARINES lettering. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. Vagabonds Return From The Attack - June 1, 1965 Four Skyhawks are shown parked at the north end of the Chu Lai airstrip after returning from their first mission. During the first few weeks the Skyhawks were parked overnight at the runway's north end until taxiways and flight lines were completed. Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin. 1965 Vikings Skyhawk BuNo 148520, CE-13, tail hook down, prepares to catch the Morest cable at the new expeditionary airfield at Chu Lai. Naval Aviation News Photo. JUN 1965: BuNo.145094 prepares to land at Chu Lai. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: BuNo.145095 taxies at Chu Lai. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: CO of VMA-255 in BuNo.145065 at Chu Lai. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: CO of VMA-255 in BuNo.145094 at Chu Lai. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: BuNo.147767 taxing out. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: BuNo.147767 JATO takeoff. Photo by Dan Yates. JUN 1965: BuNo.147752 JATO takeoff. Photo by Bob Paul. JUN 1965: Lt. Dahoney in BuNo.148465 being refuled by Bob Paul. Photo by Dave Shapleigh. JUN 1965: Plane Captain and Tiller Bar bring out BuNo.148462. Photo by Bob Paul. JUL 1965: BuNo.145101 flown by LT Saunders. Photo by Al "Spike" Nunn. JUL 1965: Lt. Hamilton makes 1000th safe "Morest" landing. Photo by Bob Paul. JUL 1965: Tiller Bar brings out BuNo.148462. Photo by Bob Paul. JUL 1965: Capt. Jacobsen and Plane Captain Bob Kasper with BuNo148537. Photo by Bob Paul. JUL 1965: BuNo148537 air born. Photo by Dan Yates. JUL 1965: BuNo148597 under repair. Photo by Dan Yates. JUL 1965: Lt. Long in BuNo148597 being refueled by Duke Hagee & Marty Halpin. Photo by Dan Yates. AUG 1965: BuNo.148436 is manned by Lt. Stewart. Photo by Dan Yates. AUG 1965: Ray Markley prepares BuNo.145065. Photo by Bob Paul. AUG 1965: BuNo.145096 ready for combat. Photo by Dan Yates. AUG 1965: BuNo.145125 taxing out. Photo by Bob Paul. Lieutenant General Victor Krulak Inspection - August 1965 Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific Lieutenant General Victor "Brute" Krulak inspects the VMA 225 flight line. Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker Commanding Officer VMA 225 and First Sergeant Hugh J. Feagin are escorting the General during his inspection. Photograph by Dan Yates and from Martin Halpin. A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148462 - side number CE 9 - August 1965 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148462 - side number CE 9, is in the revetment. Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara rides a jeep to inspect the VMA 225 flight line. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin Halpin. A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147752 - side number CE 12 - August 1965 Lieutenant Ralph Stewart is preflighting BuNo 147752 CE 12, at Chu Lai in August 1965, before going on mission. Later in 1969 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147752 was assigned to VC-5 Detachment Cubi Point, Phillipines. Seen here flying wing on A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147834 side number UE 27. Photograph by Warren A. Harms. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin J. Halpin. A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148850 - side number CE 24 - August 1965 VMA 225 Plane Captain Ray Henkel has just finished preflighting Ralph Stewart's A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 148850 CE 24 at Chu Lai. Notice the napalm tanks on the wing stations. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin J. Halpin. Vagabonds A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148530 CE 15 JATO Takeoff - September 1965 VMA 225 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148530 - side number CE 15 roars down the Chu Lai runway with a combat load of bombs. Photograph by Ralph Stewart and from Martin Halpin. 1968: Bulldogs maintaince tech performs one of the myriad duties that have contributed to the squadrons outstanding record of 24,535 flight hours without a single accident. Naval Aviation News |