I was an AD3 in VF-63 in CAG 2 on the Essex in Nov. 1954 when they launched 3 AJ-2 Tankers from the catapults. The deck was too crowded to free fly them. The Essex had brought them from North Island. They went to Barbers Point NAS to perform aerial refueling exercises with Banshees. The Essex was just beginning its ORI for our WestPac cruise.

My Dad, Lt. JG N. R. Kluga, was a pilot in VAP62 during 1953. He was based at Sanford and deployed to Naples Italy as well. He did carrier qualification landings with the AJ-s in August 1955 on the USS Champlain.

My late husband Alfred R. Wood flew the AJ2 out of Patuxent River and was deplooyed in VC7 to Port Lyautey in Oct. 1953. Would like to hear from any former squadron members.

I was based at NAAS Sanford, Fla. from 1953 to 1956 with VJ-62. I served overseas with Detachments Charlie, Fox and Love from 1954, 1955 & 1956. In 1957 the Squadron moved to NAS Norfolk, VA. when it was VAP-62 and I was discharge as a PN2 in 1957. I really had a wonderful time during the entire 4 years. Let me hear from you if you can.

I was based in Sanford,Fl. with VJ-62 1952 1955< We deployed to many areas in Europe. I made Detachment Fox and Love, both in Turkey.I have quite a bit of History on the Sqdrn. I still live in the Sanford area.

Any of them left, static or flying?

I joined VC-5 from AE A school at NAS Jax in 1952, and ended my 4 year tour with the squadron in 1955 which included 2 deployments to Port Lyautey [now Kenitra]. & the Med. for NATO operations. Great group, completely dedicated to keeping an unreliable plane in the air. [cont'd]

CRASHED IN THESE AJ 2S THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS BAD. WE CAME IN TOO HIGH AND FAST. WHEN THE PLANE HIT THE DECK, IT BROKE UP INTO THREE PARTS--THANK GOD THE TAILHOOK HELD AND THE PARTS STAYED TOGETHER. THAT WAS ON THE INTREPID IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF 1954 DURING CARRIER QUALIFICATIONS. AFTER RETURNING FROM A MISSION IN EARLY 1955 OUR AJ2 PLANE BECAME TANGLED IN THE BARRIERS DURING A LANDING ON THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN. THAT WAS IN THE MED IN EARLY 1955. LATER THAT SPRING IN 1955 WHILE LANDING ON THE CORAL SEA, WE LANDED SO HARD THAT THE WINGS BETWEEN THE ENGINES AND THE FUSILAGE CRACKED. SOME OF MY FELLOW CREWMATES WERE KILLED IN THE AJ AFTER I LEFT THE SQUADRON FOR MY DISCHARGE IN JULY 1955. MY SQUADRON WAS VC 8, STATIONED AT PATUXET RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, PORT LEAUTE NORTH AFRICA, AND ABOARD THE CARRIERS--INTREPID, THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN, AND THE CORAL SEA. VC 8 WAS TRANSFERRED TO SANFORD, FLORIDA IN AUGUST OF 1955.WE FLEW MOCK BOMBING MISSIONS IN THE US, EUROPE, AND TURKEY. WE DID PHOTO RECONNASANCE IN NORTHERN GREECE, AND REFUELED JETS IN MID-AIR IOVER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. I WAS AN AVIATION ELECTICIAN, SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER

Well, I have finally found a picture of the first plane I ever flew in. I was a yeoman attached to the Service Test Division at Patuxent River, Md. When one of the pilots learned that I had never flown he took me up on a test hop up the East Coast. I stayed in the Navy, converted to Photo Intelligenceman and then was selected for Limited Duty Officer (Intelligence) finally retiring in 1982 as a Commander. Still remember that first flight!

I flew as 3rd crewman on the AJ in VAH 7, in Sanford, FL from Aug 1954 thru March 1958 and loved the plane. We flew off "Straight Deck" Carriers and spent a considerable time just circling above the carrier with a full tanker load in case someone was running low on fuel. We only had 3 AJ's aboard each carrier due to their size and was usually the first to launch and the last to land. I have "Dumped" many hundred gallons of AV gas, to get down to landing weight.

Hi - I'm building a model of the never completed USS United States, CVA-58. The Savage must have been the nuclear bomber contemplated for the carrier and I will need to build 12 Savages (1/700 scale). Can you help me with plans? Thanks

The AJ was the Navy's response to the USAF B-36: a plane that could deliver nuclear weapons of that era, from the three CVB carriers, anywhere in the world. In turn, this justified building a fleet of larger carriers, a major USN goal as the Cold War continued indefinitely.
For us pilots, the AJ was a cranky beast to fly: sluggish, complex, lots of bugs. Its A3D replacement was better.

Dear Sirs,
Now I build 1/72 Savage kit from MACH 2. Maybe somebody know about size of wheel and tyres, used on AJ?

My oldest brother was a crew chief/flight engineer on AJ's. He is a retired ADJC. Murdoch A. MacDonald. He can be reached at:Murdokay@yahoo.com Lives near NAS Whidbey Island.

I am currently writing a technical reference for the history of airtankers in the US. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone with images or documentation on the AJ's used in this role.

On Sept 17, 1966, an AJ-1 crashed just down the street from our house in North Hollywood, CA. This AJ-1 operated by AJ Airtankers out of Burbank, CA, was configured as a chemical bomber to fight forest fires in the western US. Unfortunately, this AJ-1 lost an engine shortly after departure from Burbank and went down 3.3 miles from Burbank Airport. Sadly, the pilot was lost in the crash but his last minute decision to bank the plane away from several homes saved numerous lives in our neighborhood on that day. Hats off to all pilots who face difficult decisions at difficult times and manage to minimize collateral damage.

Specifications list the third engine as an Allison J33 'Turboprop'. Firstly, I believe the J33 was a 'Turbojet'--no propellor, and secondly, being mounted in the aft belly of the aircraft would not allow room for a propellor.

I was in SQUADRON VC6 AT NORTH ISLAND NAS, SAN DIEGO,IN 1953-1955. I DID MAINTENANCE ON COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT. I WENT ABOARD THE ORISKANY FOR FLIGHT QUALIFICATIONS, THE FIRST PLANE LANDED AND THE PROPS HIT THE DECK. IT WAS SENT TO THE HANGER DECK. THE NEXT PLANE PULLED THE ARESTING CABLE OUT AND WAS COUGHT BY THE BARRIER.IT WENT TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THE ISLAND AND KILLED ONE OF THE DECK PERSONELL. THE AJ 2 WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLANE BUT HAD MANY ACCIDENTS.

I'm a military hobbist and I have a little question. Maybe someone know something about a conventional bombload of the Savage? I found on Joe Baugher's website http://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/newa2_2.html only one option, 6 x 1600 lb bombs but I think there must be more combinations? Of course I know that all (or almost all) Savage bomber were configured only for one nuclear store.

I was a Weapooneer/Pilot in VC-5.The Navy's First Atomic Weapons Delivery Squadron. We transitioned from special modified P3Vs to the AJ-1. Later as a test pilot at PAX River I conducted the service test evaluation of The AJ=2. A very difficult aircraft to maintain due primarily to hydraulic problems,but in retrospect The AJ series was the Navy's first carrier based nuclear weapons delivery aircraft.

The Carrier was in fact CV-43. My father was with VC-5 at the time. He later served as Air Ops on CV-64 more than a decade later.

I was in VJ-61 from 1952-56 at N.I. and Miramar and I am searching for anyone who may have served with me at that time, and I am searching for any pins/patches specifically for VJ-61 to add to my Jacket. Now living in MN.

Thanks Guys.

(email to: weatherguesser@military.com)

My nearly completed model of an AJ 1 Savage is at www.virtualaerodrome.com.

During a summer Midshipman cruise in 1953 I was LSO spotter (ship's company) aboard the USS BENNINGTON. An AJ1 crashed; one life was lost. An experience I'll never, never forget, of course...

I too served in VJ-61, based Miramar Naval Station, 1952-54.
I was not involved with the AJ's we had, but I did hear that they had a tendency to "blow out the after hatch!" And, I did hear that they, "were kind of difficult!" I don't know how true that was, but it was a "different" aircraft! I was mainly involved with maintenance of the auto-pilot/photo systems on the PB4Y's.

Although I served four years as PHA from 1957-61, and a lifelong student of various military aircraft, I never knew of the AJ Savage. I wish to thank my friend CWO Tom Yarbrough, ret...for bring this, innovative aircraft,? to my attention.

I was in Squadron VC-6 based at North Island NAS, San Diego, in 1954-55. Detachment at Atsugi, Japan. I flew off of the Oriskany, Essex and the Midway, during operations aboard these ships. These were not cantered deck carriers at this time and some of the landings were pretty stressful, as these large, heavy bombers had a hard time coming out of these experiences without injury. We practiced bomb runs during these exercises. I remember one time when flying at the upper limits of this plane, 31,000 feet, that the turbos on these engines tended to surge. One time this resulted in a throttle that would not close down all the way. We had to land on a carrier with one quarter throttle. When the LSO gave us the "cut" sign, the bombardier had to reach out and close the mixture control quickly to shut off the engine. But, no harm done.

I served aboard the USS Intrepid CVA-11 with the Marine detachment from '55 to'57. Off duty, we used to watch plane launchings from th 07 level while in the Mediterranean.
We called these planes "AJ Squaredaways". I think they were all launched using the steam catapults.

I flew in the AJ2P as a Photographers mate 2nd class in VJ62. 1952-1955. We were based in Sanford Fla. Crews deployed to Naples Italy for 6 month tours, mapping areas in Europe.

My dad, AD1 Earl C (Bill) Bishop, died 20Jul1955 in the crash of his AJ Savage at Naples Italy. I was only 9 when he died, but over the years I've contacted many of his shipmates; I came to realize how dangerous the Savage was to all who flew in it. But it was very necessary given the Cold War tensions existing at that time.

I was an AD attached to VJ-61 and can truhfully say I never worked so hard to keep an aircraft in the up status as I did during my tenure with the AJ. I hold some fond memories of the AJ as well as the sorrow of losing a couple of friends in in a crash.

Dear Sirs:
Am questioning the statement about the first carrier landings being made aboard the USS Constellation in August 1950. There was no aircraft carrier named Constellation in commission in August 1950. Constellation, CV-64, came along many years later. I believe that the carrier that you were referring to was the USS Coral Sea, CVB-43.