Whale Tales
We are posting, for your reading and enjoyment, past articles that have appeared in aviation publications, and first hand accounts of experiences while flying and serving with the A-3 Skywarrior. These will be sanctioned and controlled by the A-3 Association. If you would like to submit a story for public consumption please contact us.
from ANA Wings of Gold
by LCDR John A. Williams, USN (Ret.)
Submitted by Jerry Adams
"HMS Navy takes a shot at VAQ-33"
Submitted by Ronald DeSantis
Submitted by Chuck Huber
Submitted by Bill Metzger
Submitted by Roger Eidenschink
Submitted by Nick Nickerson
The real story of 142236.
Submitted by Frank Cogdell.
Submitted by Vic Kretsinger as found in Approach magazine
Submitted by Vic Kretsinger as found in Approach magazine
Photos submitted by Roger Sharrer and text by T.J. Wiley
Submitted by L.J. "Jack" Stevenson, LCDR USN (ret) AKA Speedo.
This is Jack's account of how he became known as being a little, shall we say 'intense'.
Submitted by CDR Jim Newcomb USN RET.
This is Jim's first hand account of a VAH-4 Det Bravo Skywarrior's (BuNo 138966) narrow escape after a broken 2 wire trap aboard the USS Ticonderoga.
Submitted by TD2 Kenneth Minick of the NAF Naples Radar Bomb Scoring Unit.
Editors note: This is a piece of history and mentions the "Hoot Owls" of VAH-9.
"No Wonder They Called It a Whale"
by Gil Bouffard
Not a 'tale' but coverage of the VQ-5 Disestablishment ceremony at NAS North Island, Ca. on June 4, 1999.
Reprinted from Jan. 69 issue of Approach magazine.
Author: Unknown
This event occurred on April 8, 1968 during carquals off San Diego aboard USS Constellation, CVA-64, in preparation for Wespac deployment of VAW-13 Det 64, later to become VAQ-133.
An account from the Assoc. of Naval Aviators "The best of Gramps"
Author: Unknown
This article was submitted by 'Ole Whaler' Vic Kretsinger. If any whalers out there have a knowledge of this event, we are interested in the date, squadron, crew, BuNo and more details. Please contact us!
"Hey, Don't Forget Us Army Guys"
Written by: Gil (Buffy) Bouffard, SFC (E-7) U.S. Army 59-80 (retired).
Gil earned his Navy Aircrew wings and flew in EA-3Bs with VQ-1 (68-70), as a signals collection operator/analyst, out of Atsugi, Japan. He now resides in Lathrop, Ca. Submitted to Hook magazine 1987. 8/8/98
Author: LCdr. Rick Burgess
Portions reprinted with permission from Naval Aviation News Nov/Dec 1991 issue. This article reports the events of the A-3 Skywarrior's retirement ceremony on Sept. 27, 1991 at NAS Key West, Fl. 6/28/98
Articles reprinted from Approach Magazine 1961 and USS Ranger's newspaper reporting an onboard fire and bailout of an A-3B's crew. After the crew of 3 bailout, the pilot determines the fire to be out and traps aboard Ranger with no crew and no problems on July 6, 1961.
Author: Unknown
3/2/98