This is one of the 85 A-3B bombers refitted in 1967 for the tanker role with probe-and-drogue system in place of bombing equipment.

Photo by Jim Tunney.

This is one of the 85 A-3B bombers refitted in 1967 for the tanker role with probe-and-drogue system in place of bombing equipment. After being SOC the plane spent some time at MASDC with inventory number 2A0111 but is now part of this super museum.

Once an EKA-3B Skywarrior, developed for the electronic warfare role, but in its final years of operations converted to KA-3B aerial refueler. This Whale belonged to Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 208 "Jockeys" which was established out of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 208 (VAQ) 208, on 1 October 1979 and disestablished on 30 September 1989. BuNo 147665 sadly crashed during a low-level mission into Pyramid Lake near Reno (NV) on 13 January 1988, killing three crew onboard.

Once an EKA-3B Skywarrior, developed for the electronic warfare role, but in its final years of operations converted to KA-3B aerial refueler. This Whale belonged to Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 208 "Jockeys" which was established out of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 208 (VAQ) 208, on 1 October 1979 and disestablished on 30 September 1989. BuNo 147665 sadly crashed during a low-level mission into Pyramid Lake near Reno (NV) on 13 January 1988, killing three crew onboard.

Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 308 "Griffins" ('ND-52x') was Alameda based. The squadron was established on 2 May 1970 as a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-308 and equipped with EKA-3B Skywarriors. After that task was taken over by the Prowler, some Skywarriors were converted to KA-3B aerial refueler. The squadron was redesignated as VAK-308 on 1 October 1979 and was disestablished on 30 September 1988. This 147666 was retired and preserved to the Western Aerospace museum now renamed Oakland Aviation Museum, in Oakland (CA).

Once an electronic warfare aircraft, but after that task was taken over by the EA-6B Prowler, some of the Skywarriors (nicknamed Whale), where converted to KA-3B and soldiered on as an aerial refueler. Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 208 "Jockeys" ('AF-52x') was part of the US Navy Carrier Air Wing Reserve (CVWR) 20. The squadron was established on 30 July 1970 as a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 208 and was redesignated to VAK-208 on 1 October 1979. It was disestablished on 30 September 1989. This 147657 was retired to AMARC with inventory code 2A0118 in September 1989.

Wings folded on the platform of homebase Naval Air Station Alameda on one of the shores of San Fransisco bay. Former EKA-3B, converted to KA-3B, retired to AMARC in April 1992 with inventory code 2A0099 and left the storage depot on...? Fate unknown.

Receiving some line-maintenance, this oldy was parked in one of the hangars of homebase NAS Alameda. BuNo 147648 was delivered as an EKA-3B electronic warfare aircraft and was converted in the mid-seventies to a KA-3B aerial refueler. Following that, it was converted to an adversary aircraft and served VAQ-33. As such, the Skywarrior was seen at NAS Key West in 1994. Fate unknown.

former EKA-3B, converted to KA-3B, retired to AMARC in April 1992 with inventory code 2A0099 and left the storage depot on...? Fate unknown. BuNo 142664 is ssen here at the platform of its homebase, brotherly next to 147666.

Once an EKA-3B Skywarrior, developed for the electronic warfare role, but in its final years of operations converted to KA-3B aerial refueler. This Whale belonged to Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 208 "Jockeys" which was established out of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 208 (VAQ) 208, on 1 October 1979 and disestablished on 30 September 1989. BuNo 147665 sadly crashed during a low-level mission into Pyramid Lake near Reno (NV) on 13 January 1988, killing three crew onboard.

Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 308 "Griffins" ('ND-52x') was Alameda based. The squadron was established on 2 May 1970 as a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-308 and equipped with EKA-3B Skywarriors. After that task was taken over by the Prowler, some Skywarriors were converted to KA-3B aerial refueler. The squadron was redesignated as VAK-308 on 1 October 1979 and was disestablished on 30 September 1988. This 147666 was retired and preserved with the Western Aerospace museum in Oakland (CA).

Once an electronic warfare aircraft, but after that task was taken over by the EA-6B Prowler, some of the Skywarriors (nicknamed Whale), where converted to KA-3B and soldiered on as an aerial refueler. Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron (VAK) 208 "Jockeys" ('AF-52x') was part of the US Navy Carrier Air Wing Reserve (CVWR) 20. The squadron was established on 30 July 1970 as a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 208 and was redesignated to VAK-208 on 1 October 1979. It was disestablished on 30 September 1989. This 147657 was retired to AMARC with inventory code 2A0118 in September 1989.

This KA-3B displays it's sleek lines on departure from the 88' El Centro show

Photographer unknown. This was one of four VAQ-208 Skywarriors on deployment for NATO exercise "Northern Wedding". Unfortunately this aircraft crashed into Pyramid Lake, Nevada, during a night low-level mission in January 1987, killing the crew of three.

FLASH 20 VAQ-34's KA-3B taxis in for static display at the 89' Van Nuys show