Naval Aviation

[CWtheMan]

My A-7 Corsair II story – very short version

As my sea tour with VF-41 (Black Aces), F-4 aircraft, was coming to an end, I got orders to shore duty. They were a surprise. As a very junior Aviation Structural Mechanic (hydraulics) second class I was selected to attend factory training on the Navy’s newest acquisition, The Corsair II.

I reported to the LTV factory in Texas for training then on to VA-174 which would be the east coast A-7 training squadron and model manager. It was the beginning of 12 years – spanning 22 years - with all Navy models and never back to back assignments until at the near end of my naval career when I went from VA-46 to CLAW-1 at NAS Cecil Field, FL.

A lot of my A-7 pictures are “boot-legged” as we were not allowed cameras in aircraft operating areas.

These pictures will be well received by those pilots that did their carrier qualification training on the USS Lexington (CVT-16) in the Gulf of Mexico; and the enlisted maintenance personnel that worked the flight deck.

[scottz]

USS Midway welcoming USS Carl Vinson home. Taken from the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returning after nine months in the Persian Gulf (Valiant Shield, 2015).

[scottz]

HSM 73 Battle Cats (MH60 Seahawks) departing the Vinson as she returns to San Diego.

[scottz]

VFA-94 (Mighty Shrikes) F/A 18 Super Hornet, F/A 18 trap, refueling demo, MH60 demo dropping sonobuoys

[scottz]

Paying respect.

[scottz]

F/A-18 launch, F/A-18 flyby, MH60

[scottz]

USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) firing exercise, Carrier Strike Group escorts

[CWtheMan]

A few days ago I was looking around on the net for pictures of the USS Midway and found this one.

Ironically I served on both of the carriers in the picture. In early 1965 the USS Independence (CVA-62) deployed from Norfolk, VA on a 7 month deployment to the Pacific Fleet and more specifically, the South China Sea. I was a member of VF-41, F-4B Phantom II aircraft. It was my first deployment with an attack aircraft carrier. I worked the flight deck for that entire cruise as a VF-41 airframes flight deck troubleshooter.

In early 1970 I reported to VF-151 – my second F-4B/N squadron assigned to the Air Wing in the USS Midway (CVA-41). From 1970 to 1973 we deployed twice (7 mos & 11 mos) to those same seas in support of our troops in Vietnam. My entire tour of duty with VF-151 was as their scheduled maintenance supervisor, called check crew and later phased maintenance crew.

This picture was taken at Pearl Harbor.

[CWtheMan]

The first one has a little historical information about Ellsworth AFB at Rapid City, SD.



The second one is a WWII Air Corps Comics postcard. Got a small box full of them one time. Sold most of them. This one has a little damage so I still have it.

[BrooksFam]

Love the WWII aircraft. The P-38 Lightning is one of my favorites. Also like the P-61 Black widow.

[CWtheMan]

Naval Air Station Cecil Field at Jacksonville, FL was a popular east coast Naval Air Station. It was closed by BRAC actions in the 1990s.

The base was turned over to the city of Jacksonville and is now known as Cecil Airport.

One day after a round of golf at the Cecil Airport, I decided to take pictures of the aircraft still on display. It was in the news that they were going to be removed. They lined the main road after entering the main gate.

My camera at the time was an old analog with limited storage area.

[jasin1]

Very impressive! My sons room as a child was and still is filled with die cast models of some of these planes (Mostly ww2 planes) and tanks as well.
I’ve always been fascinated with aviation and military history.
Thanks for taking the time to start this thread.

[CWtheMan]

Being an an airborne tanker base, Grand Forks, AFB in ND has a large tanker bird on display right at the main entrance to the base.

(Very nice FAMCAMP parking out in the "south 40").

[B-O-B'03]

Originally Posted by CWtheMan

These little aircraft have a long history of supporting the military in a various number of mission assignments.

This first picture is a colorized postcard from a collection I have that I picked-up at a yard sale – the next one I found on display at the aviation museum at Ellsworth AFB, SD - The last one was found on display at DMAFB, Tucson, AZ.

Attachment 30222 Attachment 30223

Attachment 30224 Attachment 30225

A buddy of mine had a 1946 Aeronca champ, which is a very similar design, 65HP Continental engine, prop start, nothing electrical in it.

He kept it in a barn, took off from the cow pasture and it was a ton of fun to fly in.

-Brian

[RV lifestyle]

I was a Naval Aircrewman, AW, AC, & AZ. I started my career in as an AW and SAR swimmer with SH-5 Night Dipper stationed on CVN-69 "IKE". Did a med cruise in 81/82. Fell in love with Naples Italy. Then went back to school for Air Traffic Controller and finally ended my career as an AZ stationed in GITMO and NAS Cecil Field FL, VA-81 F/A-18 Squadron. I loved the Navy and miss it terribly.

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by RV lifestyle

I was a Naval Aircrewman, AW, AC, & AZ. I started my career in as an AW and SAR swimmer with SH-5 Night Dipper stationed on CVN-69 "IKE". Did a med cruise in 81/82. Fell in love with Naples Italy. Then went back to school for Air Traffic Controller and finally ended my career as an AZ stationed in GITMO and NAS Cecil Field FL, VA-81 F/A-18 Squadron. I loved the Navy and miss it terribly.

I think I've already posted this picture here somewhere. It's a picture of a VFA-18 aircraft on display at Cecil Airport.

[CWtheMan]

One tine we stayed at the Barksdale AFB FAMCAP for a week. It rained heavy almost all the time we were there.

We never did get out of the truck to get pictures. Here are some of what we got through the wet windows. These aircraft displays are at different locations aboard the base.

[CWtheMan]

VF-41 F14 aircraft night launch from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

[CWtheMan]

The little McDonald Douglas F4D Skyray became operational in 1951. It was the first carrier-based aircraft to hold the worlds absolute speed record of 759.943 MPH.



In 2006, the lookalike Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II got all the accolades with a top speed of 1199 MPH.

[CWtheMan]

Last week we visited Jacksonville, FL. While there we drove out to see all the improvements at Cecil Airport.

I served at Naval Air Station Cecil Field from 1966 –1970 while attached to Navy Attack Squadron VA-174.

The POW MIA Memorial has just added an A7 aircraft display and it’s an old restored A7 with VA-174 Markings. Here are a few pictures.