Some unique pictures of a Vietnam-era jet

[DenalDouglas]

I took these at Fulton County Airport, New York, earlier today. This is the Douglas XA3D-1, the only surviving prototype (of two built) of the A-3 Skywarrior. The A-3 Skywarrior was originally designed as a strategic nuclear bomber in the 1950s, but was relegated to other purposes with the development of ballistic missiles. It was used as a conventional bomber in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967 and could carry almost 13,000 pounds of bombs, nearly twice that of its Soviet counterpart, the Il-28. In Vietnam, the A-3 was typically used to carry the massive 2,000 lb Mk 84 bombs. Several variants also performed special missions in Vietnam throughout the course of the war: the KA-3 provided aerial refueling, the EA-3 operated on electronic reconnaissance missions, the RA-3 served in the photo reconnaissance role, and the EKA-3 provided both aerial refueling and electronic warfare support. The US Air Force also used the derivative B-66 Destroyer in Vietnam, but only for reconnaissance and electronic warfare. At a maximum 68,000 lb. takeoff weight, the A-3 was the heaviest aircraft regularly deployed from US Navy aircraft carriers, and partly as a result of this, also had a relatively high accident rate, with 120 (of 283 built) being lost in crashes. However, the A-3 was otherwise very reliable, and served its various roles with distinguishment up until the Gulf War. There are only two known combat losses (shootdowns), both in Vietnam. The last A-3s in service were ERA-3s used by electronic warfare units VAQ-33, in Florida, and VAQ-34, in California, until 1991. There is only one A-3 left in flyable condition, EA-3B No. 144865 at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.