During my service aboard USS Ticonderobe CVA 14 in 1955-56 I watched flight operations on many occasions. A couple of things I remember were, an AJ being catapulted and the brakes were not released. The plane sank a bit as it left the deck but maintained it's flight status. The other incident was on landing, the arresting gear connected but the fuselage separated. The plane didn't break into pieces but it was quite a mess. Anyone out there aboard the "TI" in the Med. that remeber those incidents?

I spent two tours with (VJ-61 and VAP-61) at Miramar 53 and 54 and at Agana Guam 57 and 58. I was on flying status both tours and spent more time on a check stand than in the air. I have many fond memories from that period, that was befor NATOPS was born and took the fun out of flying.

I spent two tours with (VJ-61 and VAP-61) at Miramar 53 and 54 and at Agana Guam 57 and 58. I was on flying status both tours and spent more time on a check stand than in the air. I have many fond memories from that period, that was befor NATOPS was born and took the fun out of flying.

I WAS AN AD SERVED IN VJ62 FROM 1955 TO 57 WENT ON DET CHARLEY IN 56 TO TURKEY TRYING TO LOCATE ANY ONE WHO SERVED WITH ME.

I flew the AJ-2P while with VAP61, Guam station. My first squadron as an aviator. We phptografted a lot of SE Asia in the two years I was with that unit. A proud time and many fond memories. Great aircraft, in my opinion.

My cousin, Howard E. Gulledge was on the carrier U.S.S. Essex during the Korean War. He also flew with VJ-61 as a photographer on the AJ-2P. He told me alot of stories about it. But he has passed on and everytime I see the AJ at Pensacola, I always think of him.

My dad was attached to VAP 61 at NAS Miramar in 1954. He was an ATCS in charge of the three man camera repair section of the squadron.
The squadron had two very large, gray and belligerent geese as mascots and there was one holding an aviation camera depicted on the squadrons patch.
We went to Guam with the squadron from 1956 - 1958. I have memories of catching the "cattle-car" down to his squadron area and being allowed to play around the parked aircraft with a couple of buddies whose dad's were also in the squadron. The planes had a smell that was particular to the type. I later found out that the hydraulic system for the aircraft was using a new and somewhat hazardous hydraulic fluid. And "two turnin', one burnin' ", I remember being painted in a wall in Fiddler's Green, the base CPO club. That's where our Cub Scout den met.
I can also remember watching an AJ run off the end of the runway and catch fire. My dad was real quiet that night at home.
In '57, a detachment of two planes was sent to Thailand for a 3 month mission. Shortly before my dad passed, he told us that they were flying from Phuket in Thailand as well as Pnom Pehn (?) in Laos and somewhere in Cambodia. I guess we were involved in SE Asia way before Kennedy sent in the first wave of advisors.

To Tom S.:Re tankers. We had one AJ configured as an IFR (inflight refueling) tanker at NATC Patuxent River. The J33 engine was removed and replaced with air refueling hose etc. My friend, AD2 Jim Vaughn was killed in the damn thing when it nosed over on takeoff in 1953. Oh, BTW, all you AJ sailors are wrong about your a/c being the first nuke capable bombers to deploy on carriers. I was an AD2 plane captain in VC-4 aboard USS Midway in 1952/1953 with F2H-2B's when your AJ's came aboard for a short visit. The "B" stood for nuclear bomber.

Dear Sirs,
maybe somebody can help with info about list of stencils servicing instructions on AJ's aircraft?
Thanks!

I was in VC-8 in 1954/1955, and maintain the only website devoted to the first Navy nuclear attack squadrons at http://community.webtv.net/charles379/USNComposite

My dad, Marty Martyniak,(deceased Sept '03) was a BN on AJ's. I can't remember what squadron he was in right now, but can look that up, along with some of his logbooks that show BN's. Interested in hearing any info.

My father, Lt. Charles B. Dickson, flew the AJ-1 in 1951. He was allocated to Project Sandia (nuclear weapons development at Albuqurque) and was attached to the Naval Aviation Detachment at Kirtland AFB, NM.
The AJ-1 crashed and killed my father on June 8,1951,8 miles south of Albuquerque, at the Valley Gold Farm (from what I've been told).

His plane was North American AJ-1, Bureau Number 124169. I am wondering if there are files on my father, personally, probably on microfiche, that could be printed off, perhaps including his service history and so forth.

My sister was 17 months old and I was 4 at the time of the crash. We are seeking information from anyone who knew our dad or has any information on the crash, the crash site or
circumstances. From what I've been able to learn, there was a fire in the engine area and one survivor.

My sister and I will be visiting Albuquerque in late February 2010, we are hopeful to have more information to help give our visit some closure. Thank you in advance.

When I was a firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department we contracted to use two (2) AJ-1's owned by AJ Tankers and they operated out of the Van Nuys airport. Both ships did eventually go down but when they were running well they sure did a fine forest fire suppression support job for us. Now LACoFD uses heavy copters.

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]