BuNo. 136691
The twin-engine S-2A (S2F-1) Tracker, introduced in 1954, was the first carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft specifically designed to combine the detection and attack roles in a single aircraft. As early models of the S-2 were replaced some were modified to utility versions such as the US-2B. The S-2 airframe also served as the basis for the carrier based C-1 Trader transport and E-1B Tracer early-warning aircraft. Converted S-2 Trackers continue to fly today as fire-fighting aircraft with the California Department of Forestry.The anti-submarine varient of the Tracker was equipped with a wide array of electronics and sensors capable of detection, localization, and classification of submarine contacts. The S-2A was fitted with a wing-mounted 85 million candle power searchlight, retractable magnetic anomaly detector, electronic counter measures equipment and 20 sonobuoy dispenser tubes in the rear of the engine nacelles. The S-2Bs were later converted from S-2As by adding Jezebel acoustic echo ranging system. The S-2C features a larger weapons bay to facilitate the use of a bigger ASW torpedo. They were replaced in the fleet by the S-2D and S-2E, distinguished from their predecessors by an increased wingspan and a lengthened fuselage. Greater internal fuel capacity increased the range of the later models.

“Stoofs” (for S-two-F) were one of the strongest and most versatile Navy aircraft ever built. More than a thousand have been produced for the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, nationalist China, Thailand, and Uruguay.

Adopted by: Nolan Carillo, CDR Paul Edwards USNR Ret.

Specifications

Crew(S-2A): 4 man crew (pilot, co-pilot & two ASW operators)
Length: S-2A,B,C 42 ft 0 in (S-2D,E 43 ft 6 in)
Height: S-2A,B,C 16 ft 4 in (S-2D,E 16 ft 7 in)
Wing Span: S-2A,B,C 69 ft 8 in (S-2D,E 72 ft 7 in)
Engines: 2 Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone
Horsepower at takeoff: 1,525 bhp
Max speed (Sea Level): S-2A,B,C 229 kts. (S-2D,E 210 kts.)
Cruising Speed: 130 kts.
Service Ceiling: S-2A,B,C 22,000 ft (S-2D,E 19,000 ft)
Combat Range: S-2A,B,C 841 nm. (S-2D,E 1000 nm.)
Weapons: Nuclear depth charges, conventional depth bombs, five inch rockets, Zuni rockets and homing torpedoes
Combat Endurance: S-2A,B,C 6.5 hrs.; S-2D,E 7.7 hrs.

Information

The F-8 Crusader was the United States Navy’s first supersonic jet fighter. It was also the Navy’s last dedicated, gun-armed fighter jet. This distinction leads many to call the Crusader, “Last of the Gunfighters”. The F-8s superior combat exchange ratio (18 enemy planes shot down vs. 3 lost) against Vietnamese MiGs lead to a Vought representative to call the F-8E the “Mig Master”, the name stuck. A direct descendant of the classic Vought F4U Corsair, the Crusader did the unheard of when the prototype went supersonic on its’ maiden flight.

This cockpit section was removed from the fuselage of a Chance Vought F-8K Crusader. The F-8K was originally manufactured as an F-8C. Both the Navy and Marine Corps flew the F-8C in combat during the Vietnam War. During these combat deployments the F-8C was credited with six kills (5 MiG-17s and one MiG-21). In 1968, Vought began to modernize the F-8C into the F-8K. Upgrades included under-wing mounts for carrying ordinance and improvements to the cockpit. This cockpit section is painted in the colors of the “Sun-Downers” of VF-111. Aboard Hornet in WWII as VF-11, the “Sun-Downers” is one of the most famous names in naval aviation. During the Vietnam war VF-111 served on 8 deployments (1963-1970). On September 9, 1968 a “Sun-Downers” F-8C flown by Lt. Tony Nargi shot down the last official F-8 MiG kill of the Vietnam War. The Crusader finished service with the United States Navy in 1987, the French Navy retired their Crusaders December 1999, ending 44 years of F-8 Crusaders in naval aviation.

Specifications

Length: 54 ft 3 in

Wingspan (folded): 22 ft 6 in

Wingspan (spread): 35 ft 8 in

Height: 15 ft 9 in

Engine: A Pratt and Whitney J-57-P-16

Thrust: 13,000 lbs in military, 17,500 lbs in afterburner

Empty Weight: 17,550 lbs

Armament: four Colt-Browning 20mm aircraft cannons, four Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, rockets & with under-wing pylons mounted, the F-8 could carry up to 4,000 lbs of bombs.

History

• VF-103 (1960-1964)
• VF-84 (1964)
• VF-174 (1964-1965)
• VU/VC-4 (1965-1968)
• VF-13 (1968)
• NPRO Dallas (1968)
• NAS NORIS (1970)VC-5 (1970)
• VFP-63 (1970)
• VF-202 (1970)
• MARTD (1971-1973)
• DMAFB (1973-disposal)

Achievements

The F-4 established 16 speed, altitude and time-to-climb records. In 1959, its prototype set the world altitude record at 98,556 feet. In 1961, an F-4 set the world speed record at 1,604 mph on a 15-mile circuit. By the end of production in 1985, McDonnell had built 5,068 Phantom II’s. Bu.No. 153879
Active Duty Life: 1960 to 1996

Design Features

• Armed with missiles only until the F-4C version installed an external 20mm gun pod. The F-4E got an internally mounted Vulcan M61A 20mm canon.
• Boundary layer air control system on leading edge flaps
• Could carry an external bomb load of no less than 22,500 lb. – greater than that of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Read More

• “US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965-70” by Peter Davies, Osprey Combat Aircraft #26
• “US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1972-73” by Peter Davies, Osprey Combat Aircraft #30
• “F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21” by Peter Davies, Osprey Publishing

The F-11 “Tiger” was intended to be a simple, lightweight, air superiority, day interceptor to protect the fleet. It was also the last fighter produced by Grumman until its introduction of the F-14 “Tomcat”.

The F-11 was the smallest airframe possible designed around a given engine. The aircraft was so small that only the tips of the wings folded. Thin swept wings incorporating spoilers instead of ailerons coupled with an area-rule (coke-bottle fuselage) design enable the “Tiger” to achieve a top speed of over 900 mph. Tigers reached a speed of 1386.47 mph in level flight and achieved a world altitude record of 76,828 feet.
First flown in July 1954. Subsequent test trials provided for one of the most bizarre moments in aviation history when a Grumman pilot managed to “shoot himself down” with his own bullets. Firing the guns in a dive, the trajectory of the bullets allowed him to overtake them on his pullout causing aircraft damage, an engine flame-out and a crash landing.

Nearly 200 “Tigers” were produced with some going to the Blue Angel flight demonstration team. The balance were assigned to six day-fighter attack squadrons. Having been replaced by the F8U “Crusader”, the F11Fs saw only brief front-line service and were ultimately sent to Advanced Training Command and Reserve squadrons.

Specifications

Designation: F11F-1/F-11A

Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Corp.

Type: Day fighter

Crew: Pilot only

Power Plant: (1) 7,450 lb s.t. Wright J65-W-18

Dimensions: Span 31′ 7

Weight: 22,160 lbs

Speed: 750 mph, maximum

Range: 635 mi, tactical

History of Grumman F-11A Tiger BuNo.141821

• Accepted 03-31-58. BAR Bethpage
• VF-51 Miramar 04/58-08/58
• VF-121 Miramar 08/58-02/59
• FASRON 10 Moffett Field 05/59-12/59
• VF-111 12/59-02/61
• Storage Field Litchfield Park 03/61-11/61
• O&R BUWEPS Cherry Point 01/62-02/62
• TARON 26 Chase 02/62-11/64

Information

Piasecki Helicopter Corp designed the HUP family of tandem-rotor aircraft soon after World War II ended. The design goal was for a utility helicopter that could be based on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers for search and rescue, plane guard and general transport duties.

At the conclusion of the first American spaceflight to orbit the Earth, a Retriever ferried Mercury astronaut John Glenn from a destroyer to the primary recovery ship. HUPs were in service with the Navy and Marine Corps from 1949 until the early 1960s.

Information

Kaman Aerospace Corp developed the Seasprite in the mid-1950s as a shipboard utility helicopter for the Navy. Its primary missions were anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship surveillance while secondary missions included search and rescue, medical evacuation, personnel transfer, surveillance and reconnaissance, post-attack damage assessment, and naval gunfire spotting. Seasprites were in service with the U.S. Navy from 1962 until 1993.

Information

Sikorsky Aircraft designed the all-weather SH-3 SeaKing family of helicopters primarily for a ship-based anti-submarine warfare mission. The Seaking could carry both SONAR detection equipment and a variety of weapons used to attack submarines. It also performed admirably in anti-ship surveillance, search and rescue, cargo and personnel transport, communications, and airborne early warning roles.

SH-3’s were the primary astronaut recovery helicopter for all Gemini and Apollo space missions. SeaKings served with the U.S. Navy from 1961 until 2006.

The Avenger

This aircraft is a TBM-3 “Avenger” torpedo bomber. Purchased by the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation in 1998, it has been restored by volunteers with funds provided through donations. This “Avenger” is painted in the squadron markings of VT-17, a squadron that fought from the deck of USS Hornet CV-12 during WWII.

The TBF/TBM was designed to be a replacement for the TBD Devastator. Public unveiling of the plane was scheduled for December 7, 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to naming the aircraft “Avenger”. During WWII the Avenger was regarded as a rugged torpedo plane; used against surface vessels & ground targets in the Pacific. In the Atlantic the Avenger flew primarily as an anti-submarine aircraft. The aircraft was produced in many variations including versions with two wing-mounted .50 cal. guns; with special radar; with cameras for photo recon and searchlights for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), utility, ECM & Carrier On Board Delivery models. After WWII, Avengers served with the Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force & French Navy. The last TBMs to be retired from active service in 1962 were flown by the Japanese Self Defense Force.

A Shared Lineage

• VT-17 Aboard USS Hornet 1945
• VFA-25 Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln 2003
• Torpedo Squadron SEVENTEEN (VT-17) was established 1 January 1943.
• Redesignated Attack Squadron SIX B (VA-6B) 15 November 1946.
• Redesignated Attack Squadron SIXTY-FIVE (VA-65) 27 July 1948. Redesignated
• Attack Squadron TWENTY-FIVE (VA-25) July 1959.
• Redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron TWENTY FIVE (VFA-25) July 1983 (first squadron to be assigned the VFA designation).

7 Apr. 1945: VT-17 based on U.S.S. Hornet CV-12, along with other units from task force 58.1, attacked a Japanese naval force composed of the super-battleship Yamato and her escorts. Facing a heavy onslought of fire, VT-17 aircraft scored the first torpedo hits on the Yamato & sunk one of her destroyer escorts. For their actions in this battle the following squadron personnel were awarded the Navy Cross: Lieutenants T. C. Durkin and S. G.

Sullivan; Lt(jg) J. F. Monaghan & Ensign W. F. Nickel. Lieutenant H. E. Clark; Lt(jg) T. J. Coghlan and Ensign R. S. Hanlon were awarded the Silver Star for their actions. All of VT-17’s aircraft did not return, Ensign Leo O’Brien; his gunner, Jacob E. Ricketson; and James L. Opheim, were missing in action.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003: VFA-25, based on U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln CVN-72, was part of the longest U.S.Naval deployment in 30 years. With the first strike against targets in Baghdad, VFA-25 began flying 20 combat sorties daily delivering a total of 300,000 lbs. of ordinance which resulted in the destruction of armored divisions, military airfields, facilities and command & control infrastructure.

The “Fist of the Fleet” squadron insignia and nickname are known around the world. A black fist clenching a red lightning bolt on a field of yellow with three stars representing a war in which “Fist” aircraft have flown –in World War II VT-17 TBM Avengers, in Korea VA-25 AD Skyraiders and in Vietnam VA-25 AD Skyraiders & A-7 Corsair II. With Operation Iraqi Freedom the squadron now has a fourth star.

Specifications

Crew: Three
Length: 40 ft (12.2 m)
Height: 16 ft 5 in (5 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft (16.5 m)
Empty Weight: 10,843 lbs (4,918.4 kg)
Maximum Weight: 18,250 lbs (8278.2 kg)
Powerplant: One Wright/Cyclone R-2600-20 with 1,900 horsepower 14 cylinder, air-cooled
Maximum Range: 1,130 mi with torpedo; 1,920 mi as scout aircraft
Maximum Speed: 267 mph (at 16,000 ft)
Service Ceiling: 23,400 ft
Defensive Armament: Two wing-mounted .50 caliber Colt-Browning M2 machine guns with 335 rounds per gun; one turret-mounted .50 caliber Colt machine gun with 400 rounds; & one tail mounted .30 caliber machine gun with 500 rounds;
Offensive Armament: In bomb bay: one 22.4 in Bliss-Leavitt Mark 13 torpedo or Max. 2000 lbs of bombs or depth charges. Eight under-wing mounted 5-inch rockets.