Skywarrior Ready On Cat 2

[Jack Cook]

A-3 Skywarrior of VH-4 Det Echo ready to launch from the USS BHR CV-31 1964

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Npthing like a cloudy day on the Bonny Dick ! Great shot Jack. Thank you.

[mlenoch]

NOtice the moon roof is open.
Brave pilots on a wooden deck.
VL

[MX304]

NOtice the moon roof is open.
Brave pilots on a wooden deck.
VL

Was that SOP for carrier ops?

[Jack Cook]

Yes it was. Same for the Willie Fudds.

[MX304]

Yes it was. Same for the Willie Fudds.

I assume it was to allow the seats to come out faster / more safely in an emergency?

[Jack Cook]

I assume it was to allow the seats to come out faster / more safely in an emergency?

huh??

[Robbie Stuart]

I don't think the "All 3 Dead" had "Bang Seats" so they kept the sun roofs open in case things did not go well! US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior (BuNo 135432) of heavy attack squadron VAH-3 Sea Dragons (tail code EW) pictured moments before trapping on board the carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 1957. The A3D-1 135432 was scrapped at the NARF Alameda in August 1968.

[Jack Cook]

Robbie's correct about the seats. My step-dad had about 500 hours and 50 traps with Heavy 4 with some
very close calls. They had one when the Det OIC wiped out the gear trying to land and the crew bailed out.
A F3H was launched to shot it down but it crashed before the 1st F3H kill could be claimed. BTW the OIC was
a former S-2/R5d pilot drafted to A-3 due to a pilot shortage and was sent to the beach after this incident.
Night ramp strike on 4th pass. ZB 14 got airborne minus the tailhook & port MLG. CVA & DEs formed V for bailout.
Bailed out on down wind leg due to smoke in the cockpit from door blow-down cartridges. All rescued by the USS Robinson.

[MX304]

I don't think the "All 3 Dead" had "Bang Seats" so they kept the sun roofs open in case things did not go well! US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior (BuNo 135432) of heavy attack squadron VAH-3 Sea Dragons (tail code EW) pictured moments before trapping on board the carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 1957. The A3D-1 135432 was scrapped at the NARF Alameda in August 1968.

That makes more sense now. I didn't realize it did not have ejection seats.

[Oscar Duck]

That A-3 is headed for a bolter methinks. ...run out of wires

The A-3 had no bang seats. The top hatch was for ditching. They had a crew slide to bail out at altitude.