I was a plane captain with VAH-9 on the Sara in 62 &63 Med crusies--The A3D was a sweet bird, I miss hearing the roar of those J57 engines

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Flew the "whale" from 1961-1980 off and on as regular Navy and Naval Reserve pilot. Never had a moment's concern about those wonderful J-57 engines which made not having ejection seats more palatable. The EKA3B's were the heaviest I flew (aboard 27 Charlie carrier" Bonnie Dick" in 68 during VN. The 147 series CLE(cambered leading edge) model was an excellent operational a/c but for cross country flying, the TA3B was unbeatable.

My father, CDR Art Irish, was the first CO of VAH-2, transitioning from VP-29 (P2Vs) to the A3D. When I looked at the drawing above the specifications it rang a bell and I looked at the large scale model of the A3D that had been presented to my Dad by his Chiefs (I think) and it has the same tail number as the drawing. The model has a green lightning bolt on the tail and the "Flying Hippo" patch used by the squadron at the time. I recall visiting my Dad at NAS North Island one summer and crawling all around that particular aircraft, under the stern eye of one of those Chiefs. Memories...

plane captain vap-62 1965-1969 was a great time!!!!!!

I was just going through my late father's papers this evening and found a flight manual for the A3D 2 T and decided to look up the aircraft on the Web. All the posts here from those who served as pilots and crew members on the Skywarrior have been very interesting.

My dad worked at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California and must have aquired the manual there.

Was in Heavy 9 Hoot Owls at Sanford, Fl and aboard the Sara from 59 thru 61, bummed several rides with LT Tracy, LT Cooke, Dave Roach (3/C) and was thrilled at take-off, scared to hell at landing. Witnessed one of our whales go into barricade and stop 14 ft from going over -- it was at night and pouring down rain, LCDR John Ralston was the pilot, and Paradis was 3/c, forget who the B/N was. What a thrill for a pilot wannabe. Best time I had in my 15 years in the Navy... Love the Navy!!! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY....HAHA

On 7 July 1961, 50 miles SW on Naha AFB, Philiphines, we had a dual engine failure at 5000'. Tried two relights, no luck. Told the crew to standby to bail out. I pulled D-handle and ended up with the d-handle and about 2' of cable. Told the crew to bail out out the upper ditching hatch. A great crew, we all got out, slid dowm the top, through the tail, and clear.. No injuries and I got out at 1100'. We were back flying in 72 hours.. A3D-2 138924...

I have over 1000 hours in the EA-3B (A3D-2Q)with VQ-1 from 1960-63. Flew it all over the United States and the Pacific and Far East. Fellow pilots included Stan Eldredge, Charlie Chute, Gerry Hesse, Bill Mayo, and Ashley Hodges. Thanks to Stan, I think that I was the most junior officer ever designated aircraft commander. Beautiful aircraft in flight and great performance. It would have been a much safer aircraft with ejection seats. I'm living proof that you really needed the drag chute and hytrol breaking system on anything less than an 8000 foot runway, especially a wet one.

I was plane captain of 142246 with VAH-8 during '59-'60 Far East Deployment on USS Midway, CVA-41. I also had the good fortune to make 6 cat shots and landings as fourth crewman, WOW! (And they rave about rollercoasters)

Started my 28 year Navy career with VQ 2 in Rota, Spain. Time frame 1965- 1967. Worked my way up from mees cook to EA 3B Plane Captain. Flew with great pilots such as Cdr Ed Laney,Bob Arn, Daum,Ad Burkett Jack Taylorand Lcdr Lilliboe. ^41 hours in 19 months and 58 missions over N Vietnam. Then with VAQ 33 as FRAMP instructor, 1978-1981. Love the Whale.

It's hard to match the trill of cats & traps in an EKA-3D on a 27C class carrier.

Photo/Nav VAP-61 Guam '68 to '70. Jumped out of 144826 over Laos in Aug '69 with CDR Jim Berry, an E3 maintenance tech and our CAI camera tech rep. All safe and sound in the end. Flew carto flight lines to one-half degree with Ray Thompson over Thailand. Beautiful and forgiving aircraft. Transitioned to the workhorse of VN A-6s but have the fondest memories of the RA-3B and flying photo recon out of Da Nang and carto throughout the South Pacific, Asia and Australia.

Served with VAH-4 as a Nuclear Weapons Loading Crew Chief 1960-1964. Heavy four pilots were the best as they had to land that beast on the 27C class carriers (small Attack carriers). Uss Oriskany, Hancock, Bonnie Dick,Ticonderoga, that was a tough job in heavy seas and during night ops. Got to ride the jump seat some, what a blast !!!!!!

1957 Med Cruise VAH 1, 1957 N. Atlantic VAH 1. on USS Forrestal out of Jax Fl. Got to fly as 4th crew a few times. That was something in "57". Still proud to have been U.S. Navy. God Bless America.

VAH 11 Det 8 - "eightballers" best time in my life. Lost my flight jacket w/patch. Anyone know where I can find one for VAH 11 Det * ???

I was an RM2 and August to November 1964 flew with VAH-11 Det 8 off USS Independence in North Atlantic and Med developing Leapfrog comms. Was time of my life thanks to PO2 Richard Marklin (3/C), Lt. Field (B/N) and Lt. D.E. Nichols (pilot)

Silver, I was probably one of the jumpers you dumped out over El Centro (1969). As I recall you were "supposed" to stay under speed for my exit... and you jacked it up a bit. WOW, going out of that "whale" in free fall you get to know what a blown leaf feels like in a category 5 hurricane.

I was an A3 Plane Captain for just over a year and one cruise on the "Bonnie Dick" 1964. Spent most of the cruise in the PI. Nothing I did before and nothing I have done since was as exciting as catshots and traps in the A3. Been many times I wish I had stayed in the NAVY. I am a Tailhook member. VAH4

I was in VAH 10 And was plane captain on A/C 204 (138944)on board USS Constellation CVA 64 in 1964 when we got orders to welcome the PT Boats into the war.The very A3D now sets on the USS Lexington at Corpus Christi Texas as museum display.

Served in VAH-5 out of Sanford, FL and abord USS Forrestal, then in VAH-11 during the transition to vigilante's 1961-64, went to "B" school the back to VAP-62, 1964-66. Then to shore duty at NAS China Lake,CA, assigned to flight line and flight crew on the only A3, which crashed on March 15,1967 Great aircraft !!!

Our Mugu A3D disappeared on fligt from NMTC in 1959 and was never found to my knowledge. Anyone know what happened to the plane and 3 flyers?

Missing from this fine site is the littlest A-plane, the Skooter, the A-4(D) Skyhawk. I saw one at the side of the road in Texas, on a stick. Beneath it, in it's shadow, was a thousand sparrows, not one outside the shadow. Little birds worshipping the big God Skyhawk, very Twilight Zone.

scrolled right by the B-66 entry

i'm an idiot

us air force flew it as the B-66 and RB66 i believe

us air force flew it as the B-66 and RB66 i believe

VAP-62 1964-66. Great plane. I was low power turn qualified on the A3D, what power! I still have my VAP 62 name tag

First flew the A3D at Patuxent River in 1955 and have since flown almost 2000 hrs in this beautiful bird, including development of loft tactics in VX-5, Director of training in the A3D RAG Squadron, and CO VAH-2. Loved every minute of it.

First flew the A3D at Patuxent River in 1955 and have since flown almost 2000 hrs in this beautiful bird, including development of loft tactics in VX-5, Director of training in the A3D RAG Squadron, and CO VAH-2. Loved every minute of it.

Got to fly this plane in El Centro and had my last Navy hop in the Whale. Enjoyed it's power and range. We were able to use it for many parachute tests while sharing it with the Cat and Arressing people on the East Coast. Had many a hook-up getting fuel from the A3 used as tankers and electronic jamming on our missions off the Hancock in VN. Many F8 pilots enjoyed the extra fuel we got from the A3 over the A4 tankes. Great seeing the A3 come aboard a 27 Charlie, especially at night. The F8 was tough enough, but not that large. It was a mini Tin Cloud for us.

Loved flying this plane especially at El Centro and not on the ship.

I was a Crusader driver most of my career.

Need one of you Whale drivers to comment on the fleet flying of a single pilot aircraft that was one of our most valuable planes on the ship. Never thought I'd have so much to say about the A3. It was a great plane.

Served with VAP 62 at NAS Jacksonville, FL from 1967 to 1969, then with VAQ 33 in Norfolk, GA from 1969 to 1970. The "Whale" still has first place in my heart among the planes. Vappers, email me.

I was a plane captain in VAH-5 in 1960-61 on the USS Forrestal and had the privilege of flying as 4th crew several times on this aircraft. What a thrill!

VAP-62 Nas Jax 1964-1966.
The best years of my life.