I remember the Ranger was losing a plane a week out there. Our squadron, VA-145, flying A6 Intruders, had a cold cat shot, so the plane just rolled off the bow. We lost our XO, Cdr. Smith, that night. We also lost a young airman or third class petty officer from our squadron on this A3D shown in this picture. His father had died back in the States, so he was riding in the navigator's seat back to the Philippines so he could get home for his father's funeral. This was a freak cat shot...maybe too much steam or something else. The A3 started down the cat, but it seemed like the nose gear got pulled off, and the plane just plunged over the bow. A3D means "All 3 Dead", as was the case here. The young sailor never made it to his dad's funeral.
During carrier quals out of Alameda, we were greeted by Viet Nam war protesters on the Golden Gate Bridge as we went under it on our way out. They dumped garbage and anything they could down on the Ranger, crew and airplanes. When we came back under later in the week, they "blew the stacks" as this photos shows. Covered all the protesters in soot! Wa-Hoo!
wait a minute i was flying plane captain in third seat when this crash occured. i was also night super of line shack. i heard she was rebuilt. carlos ingram
This is a photo of one of our planes. I was a member of VF-154. I was one of the arming crew (red shirts) standing along side. I very well could be in this photo. What size do they come in.
just wasting time cruising the net. at first I thought this was a picture of me (on the left), but it could be Evans. we looked similar. the guy on the right is Larry Bonner. We were all part of the VA-113 ordnance crew for that 1970-71 Wespac cruise.
we knew our daily load tally and figured it out that each guy on our loading crew lifted 16 tons a day. We played or sang a lot of Tennessee Ernie Ford's song that cruise.
I was in my office V-5 (Air Dept.-1968 to '71) at the time. I heard the crash on the flight deck announcement, and wanted to see what happened. I ran up the port catwalk ladder, and ended up coming up where the engine was in the catwalk!!! I tried to get out of there, but a lot more guys had the same idea...I couldn't back down the stairs. Thanks for the pics!!!
My dad was on Monkey Mountain. He died there 9/7/65, after being there from 10/64. I was 11 at the time. I have pictures too that he sent us. His name is CMSgt Earl Willoughby, he was with Det 1, 619th TCS. He was an adviser working in radar.
Ed saw the picture of DaNang and it brought back memories, l was TAD from Ranger to that mountain in the background of your picture(monkee Mountain)1964,in 64 though there was nothing there no buildings or anything just tents, good to say hi to a shipmate that was "incountry" and made it back,drop a line love to hear from you JAY LEONE p.s my pictures are on the ranger web site
This picture brings back the day I was flown in off the Ranger,6 of us for my enlistment was over. I fell asleep in one of those buildings. Not aware,if we were to get attacked I was to run to the basement! (Had beer at the club night before,pictured here somewere). Week before we lost a superconstellation .(attacked on run way) We took off C130 April 1970, Several months had passed, going to work,on the radio I hear all lost at sea off carrier Ranger airplane double .turboprop. That was the plane we were on! Guess it was'nt my time. Stephen OM1 Retired 1996
I was just getting nosey when I caught the pic of the whale overboard.I was on board at the same time.In factIwas with vaq 134 and was the plane captainof the whale.Thanks forthe memory.She broke her back and was off loaded in Subic.Let me know if youget this message.
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