VMA-324Photograph Album1955-56 MED Cruise: VMA-324 Skyraiders craned aboard for 1955-56 Mediterranean cruise aboard the USS Lake Champlain, which had a straight wooden flight deck and no hurricane bow (only gun tubs). Andy Anderson of VMA-324. Devil Dog A-1H Skyraider Line - 1956 A color photograph of VMA-324's ramp at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, February 1956. At the time the squadron was assigned the trusty single seat Douglas AD-4B Skyraider -- lovingly called the SPAD (a trusty WW-I French fighter) by its pilots. At times on the boat the SPAD wasn't so trusty. Here we see the result of "torque roll" when the Devil Dog pilot cobbed the power at slow airspeed. Comment by Bill Headley Photograph by Harry S. Gann Jun 1959: big transition from the Spad to the Skyhawk is taken by USMC Capt. George Fritschi as he moves from the piston driven AD-6 to the jet powered Skyhawk, BuNo 144955. Naval Aviation News Photo. VMA-324 A-4B A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142937, side number DX 17 is pictured on the VMA-324 ramp. Harry S. Gann VMA-324 A-4C - 1964 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 145080, side number DX 19 was on the USS Independence CVA-62 cruise from August 63 to March 1964. The picture was taken May 1, 1964 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. Shortly after the picture was taken VMA-324 was issued the A-4E Skyhawk. USMC photograph from Allen Feldman THE VAGABONDS - 1965 VMA-324 in a group photo at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads in March of 1965. BuNos of the Skyhawks in the picture: 150064, 150098, 150090, 150061, 150068, 150006, and 149995. USMC photograph from Steve Waldschmidt 26 MAR 1966: head on view of Devildogs Skyhawk BuNo 151051, after it failed to clear a ridge line on approach to MCAS beaufort, SC, and cut some 68 trees 30-40 feet above the ground. Naval Aviation News VMA-324 MAINTENANCE HANGER - 1966 Squadron Skyhawks are getting last minute maintenance work at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina before the 1966 USS Independence (CVA-62) cruise. Scooters were having the tail DX identification changed to the Indy Air Group's AG identification; and the normal orange trim was being replaced by the Airgroups blue trim. BuNos of some of the A-4E Skyhawks making the Indy cruise: 150123, 150082, 151072, 150110, 150095, 152067, 150138 and 150090. From a Steve Waldschmidt 35mm slide VMA-324 ON THE INDY - 1966 VMA-324 Devil Dogs and VA-86 Sidewinder tinkertoys are shown lined up on the Indy's port side before a mission in May 1966. The Devil Dogs were assigned 300 series numbers and the Sidewinders were assigned 400 series numbers. During the cruise Lt.Col. Elder received the 1966 CNO Safety Award for VMA-324. From a Steve Waldschmidt 35mm slide USN photograph from a Steve Waldschmidt VMA-324 A-4C - 1967 Photo of a Douglas A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 148575, side number DX 11, from VMA-324. The photo was taken May 29, 1967 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Photograph by Harry S. Gann BuNo.145033 Devildogs Skyhawk, DX-1, tied down on the ramp. Courtesy of Scott Van Aken. VMA-324 A-4M - 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158158, side number DX 3 was on Detachment at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona on April 22, 1971 and is shown firing a Zuni rocket. VMA-324 was the first operational Marine squadron to receive the A-4M Skyhawk. The A-4Ms were received by VMA-324 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Photograph by Harry S. Gann Photograph scanned by Fred Lewis VMA-324 A-4Ms - 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158158, side number DX 3 flies close parade right eschelon on A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 1 near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 1971. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier VMA-324 A-4M BuNo. 158164 A-4M Skyhawk 158164, side number DX 7, rests on the ramp. The photograph is from Michael Klaver, Webmaster of the F-4 Phantom II Website. VMA-324 A-4Ms - 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158171, side number DX 16 and A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160 DX-1 in left eschelon near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 1971. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier VMA-324 A-4M and Squadron Pilots - 1971 This photo was taken in April 1971 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma with A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 1 and A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 150138 in the backgound. VMA-324 was on a det from Cherry Point to received their A-4Ms. They were the first squadron to be outfitted with the A-4M aircraft. The skipper was Lieutenant Colonel George Ertlmeier shown eighth from left on rear row. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier Commanding Officer's A-4M - 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 1 stands ready for a mission at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 1971. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier VMA-324 A-4M Loose Deuce - after 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 19 leads A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158171, side number DX 16 over the mountains near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier VMA-324 A-4M after 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 19 rolls in on a target near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier VMA-324 A-4M after 1971 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo. 158160, side number DX 19 breaks near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Photograph by Harry S. Gann from Peggy Ertlmeier 1971: BuNo 150031, DX-4, parked on the ramp next to BuNo 151074. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza 1971: BuNo 151074, DX-15, parked on the ramp. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza MAY 1971: BuNo 152012, DX-8, parked on the ramp next to a TF-9J Cougar. J. Wible 1971: Skyhawk BuNo 151040, DX-22, piloted by John Garretson over Mt Rainier taken by his wingman. Mark Williams 27 MAY 1972: Vagabonds Skyhawk BuNo 158160, DX-19, releasing a TV guided Walleye over one of the practice ranges. Harry Gann VMA-324 A4-M BuNo 158158 fires rocket. Looks like it is a 5" ZUNI FFAR (folding fin aircraft rocket). Douglas photos from Gary Verver Collection that were a part of the 27 Feb 1979 News Release from McDonnell Douglas. |