Spent 3 years flying in the back of the EA-3Bs as an ELINT operator. Enjoyed it all and was privileged to to fly and work with amazing professionals both in the air and that kept the planes flying.
The “Whale” as it was affectionately known was a great aircraft. Well ahead of its time when it entered service. A fact evidenced by its 35 years (1956 - 1991) of service in the Navy and continued use by Raytheon as a test platform until 2011, totaling 55 years of service, with the last flying Skywarrior being 52 years old at the time of its last flight.
I flew aboard in that RA3B two days and the flight just before Skipper Frohne's hook point broke on his trap! Its in my Navy Logbook! Roger Chaffee and I were on Vultures Row and watched the entire thing until the plane sank taking Roger Paganessi done with it entangled in his chute.
FASCINATING! Thanks for sharing your memory of this incident...particularly given it's Memorial Day Weekend. All the best - Mike (mcbarnette AT gmail DOT com)
This event happened just before I arrived at VAP-62. It was a shadow which hung over us, but which we overcame, and were repeatedly recognized for our achievements within The Atlantic Fleet. It was the best tour in my 20+ years in the U.S. Navy.
When the VAH squadrons converted to RVAH they began flying the RA-5C Vigilante. Although it didn't look it, the Vigilante was actually bigger than the Skywarrior. When I was in Ranger, we had a squadron of Vigilantes and a squadron of Skywarriors. The Skywarriors, commonly called Whales, were our tankers. At that time, 1968-'70, their designation had not yet been changed to KA-3D.
@@NavyCWO Yes. You? My wife & I traveled to Whidbey Island from So California a couple months back visited the A-3 Skywarrior Memorial they’ve got just outside one of the gates. Made me get quite emotional inside. I miss those days tremendously including the people I served with.
We fished that wreck many times. It was first found by a man we called chinaman. They caught a lot of fish on it I believe it was in the late 70s early 80s when he found it.
@@aocfishman00 yes it was jimmy Chang. He was a very lucky fisherman. Really funny guy. We still tell his stories. We called him the ##inaman. I could put the ch. Because UA-cam blocked my comment. Lol
@@aocfishman00 I love your guys channel. Definitely want to get to deeper diving. I used to be on the SAFMC ap. Fishes along time. Where did you get all your deep diving classroom certs and is there any schools. I heard about one in the keys
Spent 3 years flying in the back of the EA-3Bs as an ELINT operator. Enjoyed it all and was privileged to to fly and work with amazing professionals both in the air and that kept the planes flying.
Thanks for this 👍✈️
I flew BUNO 144850 as head spook out of NAS Key West. She rests at the bottom of the Med with seven crewmen from VQ-2 aboard! RIP crew of Ranger 12.
Great information and looks cool wreck to dive
Thanks!
The “Whale” as it was affectionately known was a great aircraft. Well ahead of its time when it entered service. A fact evidenced by its 35 years (1956 - 1991) of service in the Navy and continued use by Raytheon as a test platform until 2011, totaling 55 years of service, with the last flying Skywarrior being 52 years old at the time of its last flight.
last plane i was in was a T6 TRAINER ,Thanks for sharing my friend, New Sub.
I have always wondered where the entire landing sequence is, it would be great to see the entire approach etc.
I flew aboard in that RA3B two days and the flight just before Skipper Frohne's hook point broke on his trap!
Its in my Navy Logbook!
Roger Chaffee and I were on Vultures Row and watched the entire thing until the plane sank taking Roger Paganessi done with it entangled in his chute.
FASCINATING! Thanks for sharing your memory of this incident...particularly given it's Memorial Day Weekend. All the best - Mike (mcbarnette AT gmail DOT com)
This event happened just before I arrived at VAP-62. It was a shadow which hung over us, but which we overcame, and were repeatedly recognized for our achievements within The Atlantic Fleet. It was the best tour in my 20+ years in the U.S. Navy.
My dad, Bert Melnick, was a pilot in VAP-62 at about that time.
When the VAH squadrons converted to RVAH they began flying the RA-5C Vigilante. Although it didn't look it, the Vigilante was actually bigger than the Skywarrior. When I was in Ranger, we had a squadron of Vigilantes and a squadron of Skywarriors. The Skywarriors, commonly called Whales, were our tankers. At that time, 1968-'70, their designation had not yet been changed to KA-3D.
Man, they where working it to stay airborne. Even raised the landing gear to get a few more feet of clearance off surface.
Spent a few years around these aircraft and the P-3 while stationed in Spain in the mid to late 1980’s & early 1990’s.
✌🏽
Q-2 guy?
@@NavyCWO Yes. You? My wife & I traveled to Whidbey Island from So California a couple months back visited the A-3 Skywarrior Memorial they’ve got just outside one of the gates. Made me get quite emotional inside. I miss those days tremendously including the people I served with.
Seems to have deteriorated as quick as a WW2 ac underseas?😳
Jman
Where the remains of the crew ever recovered and if not, was the site reported to DPAA?
The crew was not recovered and the site has been reported.
@@aocfishman00 thanks for the update.
We fished that wreck many times. It was first found by a man we called chinaman. They caught a lot of fish on it I believe it was in the late 70s early 80s when he found it.
I was told the wreck was first located by New Smyrna Beach commercial fisherman Jimmy Chang in the late 1960s.
@@aocfishman00 yes it was jimmy Chang. He was a very lucky fisherman. Really funny guy. We still tell his stories. We called him the ##inaman. I could put the ch. Because UA-cam blocked my comment. Lol
Yes, I am familiar with the local nickname for the wreck...LOL
@@aocfishman00 I love your guys channel. Definitely want to get to deeper diving. I used to be on the SAFMC ap. Fishes along time. Where did you get all your deep diving classroom certs and is there any schools. I heard about one in the keys
A3D..all three death- thats how the crews called this aircraft. Wery sad.
All 3 Dead..☹️