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| The first naval combat aircraft designed to carry an atomic bomb and for a time the world's largest carrier based aircraft, the Savage was developed (as the North American NA-146) to meet a US Navy requirement for a high performance attack bomber capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.
In order to meet the specification's demands a large aircraft was required, this in turn dictating the need far an unusual composite powerplants configuration - a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radials as the primary engines augmented by an auxiliary Allison J33 turbojet in the lower rear fuselage.
This third engine was intended to provide a high speed 'dash' capability during the attack phase of the aircraft's operation and for extra boost on takeoff when required.
Other features included shoulder mounted folding wings, tricycle undercarriage, wing tip fuel tanks and (on the first models) dihedral tail planes.
The Savage was ordered In June 1946, the first of three XAJ-1 prototypes flying on 3 July 1948. These were followed by 55 initial production AJ-1s, the first one flying in May 1949.
Deliveries to US Navy squadron VC-5 began in September 1949 and the first carrier landings were performed aboard USS Constellation in August 1950.
The AJ-2 first flew on 19 February 1953, this upgraded model featuring revised versions of the same powerplants, increased fuel capacity, systems modifications, a taller fin and no tailplane dihedral.
Preceding the AJ-2 bomber was the photo-reconnaissance AJ-2P (first flight 6 March 1952) equipped with 18 cameras for day and night photography at high and low altitudes, photo-flash bombs in the weapons bay, automatic control of most of the cameras, the associated electronics equipment in a modified nose and additional fuel capacity. Four US Navy combat squadrons were still operating the AJ-2 in 1958 and these received AJ-2Ps.
A number of AJ-1s and AJ-2s were converted to flight refuelling tankers with a hose-and-reel unit installed in the weapons bay. The few Savages still in service in September 1962 when all USAF and USN aircraft designations were combined into the existing Air Force system were redesignated A-2A (AJ-1) and A-2B (AJ-2).
| MODEL | AJ-2 |
| CREW | 3 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-44W, 1790kW + Allison J33-A-19 auxiliary turboprop, 2087kg |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 23973 kg | 52852 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 22.91 m | 75 ft 2 in |
| Length | 19.20 m | 63 ft 0 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 758 km/h | 471 mph |
| Mitch Meyer, e-mail, 08.04.2012 05:52 Both my Dad Norman D Meyer and Uncle Charlie Meyer where photographers mates on the AJ.. they where in the Navy in the early 1950. There C.O. was Harland A Gray. They where air crew in a VJ 61 or 62. reply | | Ed Legg, e-mail, 28.03.2012 06:23 Nice site.
Located my X crewon the AJs reply | | George D. Banky, e-mail, 28.02.2012 23:19 George is my older brother who regarded this the finest adventure of his USN career, from D Day at Omaha Beach to Port Lyauty, Morrocco. Amy one out there know him. He is 85 now & would like to touch base w / comrads. reply | | Jack Baird, e-mail, 30.01.2012 20:04 I flew in the AJ-2P with VJ-62 from 1952-1955, as a photographers mate 2nd class. We were stationed in Sanford Fla, and deployed as detachments to Naples Italy. I was on 2 detachments. Any squadron mates still around ? reply | |
| | jerry kimball, e-mail, 27.01.2012 20:02 I made a mistake in my comments...I served /flew aircrew with VJ61 from late 1953 instead of 1954. Jerry Kimball reply | | DAN HOFMAN, AT3, e-mail, 26.11.2011 15:48 STATIONED AT NAS NORFOLK, 54-56, VJ-62. SKIPPER WAS CDR. JOHNSON, EXEC. LTCDR MOTHER HINES. GREAT DUTY AFTER 18 MONTH'S AT AIR SEA RESCUE ARGENTIA NFLD. TERRIFIC SHIPMATES. COPODICHINO HOUSE 80, HMMMM. LOOKING FOR SQD PATCH AND MODEL. reply | | John Watkins, e-mail, 11.10.2011 04:22 Interesting stories.
I did fly as crewman with VAH7 from 1955 to 1957.
Logged many hours in aj's.
And in 1965 I would fly a cesna 172 from Santa Monica Ca over to
Van Nuys airport to visit with the guys flying the aj1 fire bombers.
Three aj1's where purchased from the navy at Lichfield Park and
One was used for spares and two were flying.The jet engines were
Removed from these planes.
With VAH7 I primarily flew with lt Ken Enney. He later retired as
PCapt and we were good friends. He died in 2007 and his wife one
Week later.My wife and I attended both services.
One event in 1957 we were in zero visibility and hit mountain top
Cut 15 feet off starboard wing kept flying few hundred miles and
Landed in Istanbul Turkey with aj2 134043. reply | | Ken Kubiak, e-mail, 06.10.2011 21:40 Was attached to VP61 on Guam for 27 months and made the trip to New Zeeland. Lost a plane returning from the Phillipines and set air records for airtime while searching 121000 sq miles. All we ever found was a tip tank. Many great and happy memories of this time! 1958-1960 reply | | Bob Boyce, e-mail, 05.09.2011 21:14 Are you aware of any models of this aircraft? While stationed in VAP-62 at NAX JAX, I flew in this a /c from JAX to NAS ANACOSTIA, DC AND returned. reply | | frederick lee, e-mail, 14.08.2011 21:42 The first carrier langing was on the Coral Sea. The Constellation was not commissioned in the 1950's. reply | | walt downs, e-mail, 21.07.2011 23:26 I remember 2
ajs aboard CVA20 Bennington, not sure of the sqadron.This was late smmer of 55 in the Pacific. still looking for VA105 shipmates, or Bruce Bergner from VA36. AJs leaked oil, and made funny noise. reply | | John Hannahs, AT3, e-mail, 23.06.2011 23:25 Was in VC8 and VAH11. The AJ was a nightmare to maintain. As an AT I recall freezing my but off at Pax River and roasting with the scorpions in Port Lyautey.
Life on the Randolph was a bitch but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. We had lots of spare parts from "Able Jokers" that broke. I was just a kid that had fun in Rabat and have many slides & pictures. Still, it was serious business. Everyone knew their job and we did it well. My worst recollection was when an AJ from another squadron, VC5, I think? went down in the village of Sanford. It was said the pilot may have feathered the wrong prop? The plane hit the RR tracks and bounced into 3 houses. I was helping with fire /rescue and it was total carnage. After VC8 I got my pilots license and used it commercially, thanks to Uncle. reply | | ORESTE (RUSTY) DIAZ, e-mail, 26.04.2011 22:59 I REMEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO VC-6 IN 1953 OUT OF AVIATION MACHINIST MATE SCHOOL IN NORMAN,OKLAHOMA AND MY FIRST JOB WAS TO CRAWL UP THE LANDING GEAR TO CHECK FOR CRACKS IN THE TURBO SUPERCHARGER TURBIN WHEEL,THE COMMANDER OF THE SQUADRON WAS CMD. STULTZ AT THE TIME, I REMEMBER THAT ONE OF OUR PLANES DROPPED
AN ENGINE WHEN IT HIT THE DECK ON LANDING, I BELIEVE THE PILOT WAS LT. MC MAHON.I THINK OUR PLANES WERE RATHER LARGE TO BE LANDING ON A STRAIGHT DECK ESSEX TYPE CARRIERS,TOO BAD WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ANGLE DECKS THEN.I THINK THAT FOR ITS TIME IT WAS A GREAT AIRPLANE. reply | | Stan Brauen, AMH3, e-mail, 19.04.2011 01:05 I joined VC-7 at Moffet Field in December, 1950. VC-7 was then relocated to NAS Norfolk in April /May, 1951. I did the first tour in Lyautey and was schooled on the AJ at North American in Columbus, OH in December, 1952 while based at Patuxent River. I served as an AM till discharge in October, 1953 prior to VC-7 going to Pt Lyautey for a second tour. Ed Clark and I spent a lot of hours doing mods at NAS Norfolk and correcting hydraulic leaks. Went on CV18 and CV43 quals. I have been to several VC-7 reunions. Great memories. reply | |
| | John Goheen, USN, Ret., e-mail, 12.04.2011 01:51 My first exposure to the Navy was at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA in early 1956. I was assigned to Heavy Attack Squadron Two, with the A3 Skywarrior. But we didn't have any yet. Douglas was still building them. So I was sent TAD to VC-6 to learn the bombing system in the AJ-2 Savage which was the same system used in the A3. When VAH-2 received the Skywarrior aircraft, I returned to VAH-2 and spent eleven years with the Skywarrior. However, I cut my teeth on the AJ-2. reply | | Ed Legg, e-mail, 20.03.2011 03:56 I was attachted to VC-7 for 36 months.
Flew as 3rdcrewmanon the AJ-1,AJ-2 & radioman on the P2V3c.
I was on the Coral Sea in Sept 53 when we lost our skipper's crew who crashed near Italy a sad day. reply | | BRIAN WALLACE, e-mail, 22.02.2011 21:30 My dad flew the AJ off the USS Lake Champlain. He has so many great stories and what the aircraft would do. I to this day, have a t-shirt of his squadron, the Son of Savage with the native and the bone twisted in hair. I think he was a LT at the time but retired as a CDR. 90 years old today and doing well. Pensacola, FL. His email is helpon@cox.net. Call name was Poncho. reply | | Diane Caralivanos, e-mail, 05.02.2011 05:12 I am writing trying to find anyone who may have known, or known-of, my father Lt. Charles B. Dickson, He flew the AJ-1 out of Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM in 1951. I would so greatly appreciate any information anyone may have about the crash or of knowing my dad. Thank you in advance. Diane Dickson Caralivanos reply | | PJ Imhof Ret. VAP-62 / VAH-15, e-mail, 11.01.2011 20:28 Was an AM in VAP-62 and also in VAH-15, as well as a 3rd crewman.
VAP-62 was at NAS NORVA untilapprox. Sept. 1957, when they moved to NAS JAX. I was xferred to VAH-15 in Feb 1958 until decomissioned in early 1959.
Haven't found too many people from those squadrons online.
Yell this way, if you're one of them. reply | | Glenn Hudson, e-mail, 10.01.2011 18:43 Had flown of the Coral Sea the previus day in the same AJ that crashed at Naples. While on liberty, went up to see the crash site which was a horrible pile of molten aluminum reply |
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