Photographer unknown

Photographer Peter R. Foster

In storage at Mojave. Constructed as an A3D-2P for the US Navy as 144832. Served with VAQ-33 at Key West in the tactical electronic warfare role after conversion to an ERA-3B in 1973. On retirement from the US Navy, joined Thunderbird Aviation at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport. Transferred to missile development operations with the Raytheon Corp in California. The registration N162TB was cancelled in 2012. The cockpit section was preserved and put on display at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Lexington.

In the MASDC storage area. Operated by NAF Washington for the Chief of Naval Operations. Arrived in storage 09 Apr 1974 with inventory code 2A098. Also in view 147652 / TR-33 EKA-3B of VAQ-130 which arrived in storage on 02 Apr 1974. 142672 was delivered to the USN in Oct 1959 as an A3D-2Q and became an A3D-2Z (VA-3B) in 1959 for the CNO. To NARF Alameda, CA on 27 Sep 1980 and put back into service with VAQ-33 and later VQ-1. She crashed into the Pacific 125 miles NNW of Guam while with VQ-1 on 23 Jan 1985 killing 9 onboard.

International Air Tattoo 1977. Operated by VQ-2 'Sandeman.' Delivered to the US Navy in Dec 1959 as a Douglas A3D-2Q Skywarrior and redesignated to EA-3B in 1962. Stored at AMARC 01 Nov 1990.

This A-3 served previously with VAQ-33 before being retired to AMARG during May 1990 where it was stored with the PCN/Inventory No. AN2A0120.

Douglas A-3 Skywarrior NMC-75, 144825 seen here at the Naval Missile Centre. Eventually withdrawn from service on 30th September 1991. Scanned from an original reproduced photograph from my collection, date, and photographer unknown.

In storage at Mojave. Built in 1958 as a YA3D-2P, the prototype reconnaissance Skywarrior, redesignated RA-3B in 1962. Its US Navy career included work with the Pacific Missile Test Centre at Point Mugu, California with further modification and another change of designation to NRA-3B. In 1969 it gained an experimental sonobuoys installation on the fuselage side. At the conclusion of military service, registered N256HA with Raytheon Flight Systems for further test work. Scrapped in 2002.

Seen here in store at Mojave. Carries on its tail fin the logo of Thunderbird Aviation, for whom it had flown from Deer Valley Airport, Arizona. As 144856 it last served with the US Navy as part of VAQ-33 Firebirds based at NAS Key West, Florida. By 2001 it had been restored as N870RS of Raytheon Flight Test Systems at Van Nuys Airport, Los Angeles, CA. This registration was cancelled in 2011.

This Skywarrior was TOC with the USN in November 1957 and served until it was ferried to NEAM in February 1976. It is now one of the outdoor exhibits at this 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.