A-rabs at War

[Nefarious]

Saw this floating around my Facebook feed today. It's footage from VA-115's cruises aboard USS Midway 1972-73. The video is mostly original film from the cruises but is also spliced with some stock A-6 Intruder footage from other sources. Very nice, had never seen it before thought I would share.



The video is 2 years old, but got shared by an aviation website yesterday apparently. From the site it was shared at:

The video was uploaded as a tribute to the late Lieutenant Raymond P Donnelly. Donnelly was a VA-115 A-6A bombardier / navigator who was seriously wounded by ground fire while on a mission over North Vietnam on July 19th 1972. Despite the best efforts of his pilot, Lieutenant Michael T McCormick, to revive him, Donnelly died before the Intruder made it back to the Midway. The flight deck footage is as remarkable as the message of the video is poignant.

Featuring footage shot during actual A-6A strikes, and plenty of cat shots and traps (including a barrier trap), the film stars the A-6A Intruders of VA-115 Arabs (call sign Arab), but also the rest of Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW5). The A-7s of VA-56 Champions (call sign Champion) and VA-93 Blue Blazers (call sign Raven), F-4s of VF-151 Vigilantes (call sign Switchbox) and VF-161 Chargers (call sign Rock River), EKA-3Bs of VAQ-130 Zappers (call sign Robinson), E-2Bs of VAW-115 Liberty Bells, SH-3Gs of HC-1 Detachment 8 Angels (call sign Clementine), HH-3As of HC-7 Detachment 110 Sea Devils (call sign Big Mother), even the RF-8Gs of VFP-63 Detachment 3 (call sign Cork Tip) all play supporting roles.

The footage is as mixed bag in that much of it was obviously shot during CVW-5 WestPacs but some other footage has been spliced in. Nonetheless the video is definitely worth watching- especially if you served aboard Midway during the timeframe of the film. Titling is a bit confusing because Midway’s WestPac deployments ran from April to November of 1971, and from April 1972 to March of 1973.

Enjoy the video, and remember Lieutenant Raymond P Donnelly and his devotion to, and ultimate sacrifice for, his country.

[jskibo]

Nice!

I was an A-6 Mech.  Miss my plane

[Nefarious]

Nice!

I was an A-6 Mech.  Miss my plane

As was my dad. 20 years, VA-42, VA-65, VA-34, VA-85.

My favorite plane!

[oakranger]

Go to 8:20, F-4 ready to take off I notice what looks like straps attached to the plane to the deck and catapult.  What was the reason for that.

[Nefarious]

Go to 8:20, F-4 ready to take off I notice what looks like straps attached to the plane to the deck and catapult.  What was the reason for that.

F-4s and some other era aircraft used chain bridles to launch on the catapult.

[Devil 505]

SWEET!

[oakranger]

F-4s and some other era aircraft used chain bridles to launch on the catapult.

Why?

[Nefarious]

Why?

Those aircraft did not have nosegear with catapult locking bars like the A-6, A-7. The F-4, A-4, RA5C, A-3 and A-1 all used the bridle chain setup.

[KCDitto]

I was USMC TACTICAL AIR CONTROL  The A-6 guys were awesome





Always hit what you wanted them too

[oakranger]

Those aircraft did not have nosegear with catapult locking bars like the A-6, A-7. The F-4, A-4, RA5C, A-3 and A-1 all used the bridle chain setup.

Ah,  you would think they fixed that right away it they were navy planes.  Interesting. 

[Nefarious]

Ah,  you would think they fixed that right away it they were navy planes.  Interesting.

Here's a good history on them. You could say that landing gear started being built around the catapult.

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/01/catapult-innovations.html

[oakranger]

Here's a good history on them. You could say that landing gear started being built around the catapult.

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/01/catapult-innovations.html

Thanks for posting that.  Interesting evaluation how they end up to a easy setup.  Can not imagine they will change it anymore but you never know.

[Nefarious]

I was USMC TACTICAL AIR CONTROL  The A-6 guys were awesome


(Image removed from quote.)


Always hit what you wanted them too

(Image removed from quote.)

Cool pics! As a navy brat, these and a few other Navy planes were constantly over head until I was 11 years old. A-6s, F-14s, F-18s.

[Ramesis]

I was airdale... '69 -'73
Last 2yrs ('71-73) was at gtmo with vc-10
Worked with F8-Ks and S2 stoofs

[icepac]

I remember having to climb over the door openings on the midway as a little kid in 1966.