Counterpart of the Pacific Fleet's VQ-1,
FAIRECONRON TWO has served with the Atlantic Fleet since it was commissioned at Port
Lyautey, Morocco, as Electronics Countermeasures Squadron Two on September 1,1955. A3D1Qs
began supplementing the unit's P4M1Qs in 1956 and Skywarriors have been operated by the
squadron ever since. Homeported at NS Rota, Spain, since November, 1958, the squadron was
redesignated VQ-2 on January 1, 1960. Over the years, VQ-2 has operated Lockheed EC
121 s and EP-3s alongside its Skywarriors to
provide electronic reconnaissance for the Sixth Fleet. In addition to its normal
operations, including regular deployments since 1965 aboard carriers operating in the Med
and in the Atlantic, VQ-2 has undertaken several notable deployments: a deployment to NAS
Key West, Florida, in the fall of 1962 to provide SIGINT during the Cuban crisis the
deployment of Det Bravo to Da Nang AB,
South Vietnam, for four years beginning in 1965;
and deployments to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean during various
contingencies (including the confrontation with Libya during April, 1986). Skywarrior
models operated by VQ-2 have included the A3D-1Q, A3D-2Q/EA-3B, and TA-3B.
FLEET TRANSPORT
SQUADRON ONE(VR-1)
At least one transport configured TA-3B is known to have
been operated by this TRANSRON.
Misc.
AEROSPACE RECOVERY FACILITY (ARF)
The Aerospace Recovery
Facility at El Centro, CA came into existence sometime in the 60’s in support of the
space program. Later it became known as Naval
Aerospace Recovery Facility and then in the early 70’s, it assumed a joint usage role
with the US Air Force and the US Navy as the National
Parachute Test Range. The local command operated several aircraft,
which included an A3 Skywarrior from sometime in the early 60’s through 1979. The original A3 was Buno #130353, which crashed at
an air show in El Centro around 1964, killing all 3 onboard. 353’s replacement #142242, which operated
from the NARF until April of 1976 when it was destroyed at Lakehurst, NJ during a test
program. 142242 was replaced by Buno# 142630
and operated there until 1979 when the National Parachute Test Range was disbanded, 142630
was then transferred to the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake.
The “White Whale”, named because of its white paint job
for easy spotting by ground personnel during testing, was used as a drop platform, its
bombay was equipped with four “coffin boxes” from which dummies rigged with test
parachutes could be tested at various speeds and altitudes, plus other test vehicles could
be slung and dropped. Live test jumpers were
taken up, in the cockpit area, and bailed out for live testing of parachute systems at
high altitudes and high speeds. The aircraft
was also used as a photo chase aircraft on numerous test programs. In addition to having an A3B the Air Force
stationed an RB-66 #530488, it’s version of an A3B, at the facility as a test bed in
support of test programs.
COMMANDER, FLEET LOGISTICS SUPPORT WING
(COMFLELOGSUPPWING DET WASHINGTON DC)
Beginning in June, 1959, a single VA-3B (BuNo
142672) was operated from NAS Patuxent River as a VIP transport for the CNO, as well as
for sundry projects at the Naval Air Test Center. In September, 1965, this aircraft and
some personnel were transferred to NAF Washington D.C. thus marking the debut of the
present COMFLELOGSUPPWING DET (or CFLSW Det). This detachment was officially formed in
July, 1978 when it was attached to the Commander, Reserve Tactical Support Wing
(COMRESTACSUPPWING) and received its current designation in May, 1982. Its mission ranges
from executive transport of dignitaries—including cabinet members, the CNO, and
foreign VIP visitors—to support for medical recovery teams from the Bethesda Naval
Hospital, the National Institute of Health, and the Walter Reed Army Hospital. At the end
of 1985 this Det. operated two VlP configured TA-3Bs and two North American CT-39Gs.
FLEET ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUPPORT GROUP (FEWSG)See VAQ-33 and VAQ-34.
NATIONAL PARACHUTE TEST RANGE (NPTR)
See Aerospace Rescue Facility.
NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER (NADC)
Established on August 1, 1948, at Johnsville,
Pennsylvania, the Naval Air Development Center has had the missions of performing research
and development in the field of aviation medicine and of developing aircraft electronic,
pilotless aircraft, and aviation armament. NADC is known to have operated at least two
RA-3Bs.
NAVAL AIRBORNE PROJECT OPERATIONS GROUP(NAPOG)
To provide operational control airborne support
to the Pacific Range Electromagnetic Signature Studies (Project PRESS), in 1963 NAPOG
received an NRA-3B which had been modified by Douglas to mount infrared, visual and
ultraviolet sensors in a dorsal turret. Based at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, the aircraft operated
from the Kwajalein Army Test Site and the Eniwetok Air Force Auxiliary Airfield.
NAVAL AIR RESERVE UNIT ALAMEDA(NARU ALAMEDA)
In June, 1974, when VAQ-130 moved to NAS Whidbey
Island, Washington, to become an EA-6B unit, responsibility for training Skywarrior
aircrew and maintenance personnel was transferred to the Naval Air Reserve Unit at NAS
Alameda, California. Primarily operating TA-3Bs and RA-3Bs, NARU Alameda performed as the
A-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron until October, 1977, when the Skywarrior's longer than
expected life prompted the return of FRS/FRAMP functions to an active unit, VAQ-33.
NAVAL AIR SPECIAL WEAPONS FACILITY/NAVAL WEAPONS
EVALUATION FACILITY(NASWF/NWEF)
Established at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, in
August, 1952, NASWF provided naval participation in various programs involved in the
application of nuclear weapons to aircraft. Later redesignated Naval Weapons Evaluation
Facility, this facility conducted the special weapons phase of the A-3D1 BIS trials in
1956/57. Subsequently, additional tests were conducted to clear the Skywarrior for
carriage and release of a variety of nuclear devices.
NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER (NATC)
NATESTCEN active participation in the Skywarrior
program began on November 5, 1954 when one of the XA3D1s was delivered to NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland, for accelerated service tests. Subsequently, NATC tested all Skywarrior
versions. The Center last used a KA-3B as a tanker in support of the F-18 program.
NAVAL AIR TEST FACILITY (NATF)
Established at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, on
October 1, 1957, NATF was responsible for evaluating and supporting the development of
aircraft launching and recovery systems. Among the aircraft types operated in support of
its role, NATF was assigned at least one A-3A. In addition, time expired or otherwise no
longer airworthy Skywarriors were used at NAS Lakehurst for ground training and non-flying
tests.
NAVAL MISSILE CENTER/PACIFIC MISSILE TEST CENTER
(NMC/PMTC)
During 1959, the U.S. Naval Missile Center at
NAS Point Mugu, California, received its first two A3D1s. Since then PACMISTESTCEN has
operated highly modified Skywarriors (NA-3A, NA-3B, NRA-3B, and NTA-3B) to support several
of its activities, including captive flight testing of missile weapon systems, test and
evaluation of electronic warfare components and systems, and electronic warfare exercises
for the Fleet.
NAVAL ORDNANCE TEST STATION/
NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER (NOTS/NWC)
In support of its RDT&E activities, NOTS
China Lake, California, (later redesignated NWC China Lake) has operated a small number of
Skywarriors as testbeds for weapons and armament systems. In early 1987 a KA-3B was still
in use at China Lake.
Over the years other users have included the
Grumman Aerospace Corporation, the Hughes Aircraft Company, the Westinghouse Electric
Corporation, and the United States Army.
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