photographer unknown - w/o 08 december 1980

photographer Angelo Romano - w/o 09 april 1975

A-7A 153228 had just been returned to VA-93 after having undergone maintenance at Atsugi which included stripping the aircraft and repainting it in the basic A-7 markings when this photo was taken. The squadron then will repaint all other markings and numbers, including the shark mouth on the intake. The "3228" on the vertical fin will also be painted over.

Accepted by the USN on 30 June 1970, and withdrawn from use at AMARC on 24 August 1989. A-7E 157504 during its active service was assigned to VA-113, VA-94, VA-122, VA-195, VA-97, VA-174, VA-66, and VA-205.

Slide taken during flight operations aboard USS Midway (CV-41). A-7A 153191 was accepted by the USN on 16 June 1967. It was lost in the Sea of Japan on 30 March 1977. A catapult malfunction resulted in not enough airspeed to get airborne. The pilot ejected as the aircraft reached the end of the flight deck. The ejection seat also malfunctioned and did not separate the pilot from the seat and unfortunately the pilot was lost.

Slide taken on the Carrier Ramp at NAS Cubi Point. Air Wing 14 was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and was on deployment to the western Pacific in November 1976. A-7E 156845 was accepted by the USN on 26 January 1970 and arrived at AMARC on 23 June 1988. During its active duty it was assigned to VA-25, VA-97, VA-195, VA-147, VA-205, and VA-204.

I took this slide from another VA-303 A-7B while enroute back to NAS Alameda, CA. after the completion of a multi day war at sea exercise with the USS Constellation (CV-64). During the exercise the VA-303 A-7B aircraft simulated both high and low level cruise missiles. The carrier strike group was located about 250 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. The squadron operated out of NAS Whidbey Island, WA. for the event.

Photographer T.R.Waddington - later modified to QF-4S

Accepted by the USN on 17 October 1974. On 8 January 1980, while assigned to VA-97 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV-43), this aircraft had a night ramp strike. The pilot had a successful ejection. CV-43 was operating in the South China Sea at the time. Slide taken by Mr. J. Breux.

Slide taken during the Carrier Air Wing Reserve 30 annual active duty period at NAS Fallon. A-7B 154554 was accepted by the USN on 26 March 1969, and struck off charge on 14 January 1987. Over its career it was assigned to VA-122, VA-93, VA-56, VA-155, VA-125, VA-215, VA-303, VA-204, and VA-305. It is currently on display at the Gillespie Field branch of the San Diego Aerospace Museum.

This Crusader was first assigned to VCP-63, 'Cameras Unlimited' based at NAS Miramar, CA. The plane flew with other squadrons and had at least four carrier deployments before joining the Marine Corps, VMJ-4, at Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment (MARTD), NAS Olathe, KS. In November 1984, the aircraft was SOC after 24 years as the highest time RF-8 in the inventory. It became part of the USS Alabama Memorial Park in Mobile, AL but, in 2005, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina and destined for for the bombing range at Eglin AFB. Fortunately saved, it arrived at FWAM in December 2008.

Original photo shot by Giorgio Salerno, aboard the USS Saratoga.

photographer Robert F. Dorr

This SNV-1 is inreality BuNo 34373 and was accepted by the US Navy in May 1943 to Cuddihy Field in Corpus Christi, Texas, and then to NAS Dallas. It was stricken from service in October 1944 and its history is unknown from then until the 1980s. It was at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) in Denton and was part of their Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC). After the program was phased out the aircraft was donated for preservation and is on display as BT-13 64966.

photographer unknown

Preserved outside Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, this bird flew with the Blue Angels from 1995 to 2006 or so. Seen just before the Military Bowl between the University of Cincinnati and Virginia Tech, hence the crowds filing by.

Product of the Columbus Division, North American Aviation.

photographer Werner W. Hartman

Photographer unknown - w/o 29 december 1986