MILITARY COLLECTIBLES

FOR AVIATION BUFFS

BACKGROUND PICTURE IS OF A U.S. NAVY A3D-2 SKYWARRIOR ..THIS ONE FRON HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON 9( VAH-9) HOOTOWLS .THE A3D-2 WAS PUT IN SERVICE IN THE LATE 50S AND STAYED IN SERVICE UNTIL THE EARLY 90S .IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS THE MOST INPORTANT AIRCRAFT IN THE AIRGROUP .iT WAS THE LARGEST AIRCRAFT TO OPERATE FROM ANGLE DECK CARRIERS .THE SQUADRON HAD 12 AIRCRAFT , EACH COULD CARRY 2 NUKES ON A ONE WAY MISSION DURING THE COLD WAR . THE NUKE CARRYING MISSION WAS ABANDONED ONCE POLARIS CARRYING SUBS ENTERED THE FLEET ,THEY SAW LIMITED SERVICE IN VIET NAM AS BOMBERS VAH-4 WAS INVOLVED WITH THESE MISSONS DROPPING IRON BOMBS. .IT BECAME THE BACKBONE AS A INFLIGHT REFUELER .WHEN DESIGNED ITS BOMB BAY COULD BE FITTED WITH A LARGE FUEL TANK ( QUICK TURNAROUND )AND WITH EXTERNAL UNDERBELLY HOSE KIT COULD GIVE FUEL.IT COULD ALSO REFUEL INFLIGHT FROM OTHER TANKERS WHICH MADE IT VERY VERSATILE.DURING VIET NAM THE HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRONS WERE CONVERTING TO VIGILANTEES ALSO A NUKE CARRIER .BUT WERE SOON TAKEN OFF THIS MISSION AND CONVERTED TO PHOTO /RECON DUTIES .( RVAH-9 ) THE A3D-2 STAYED AROUND AS ECM AND OTHER ASSORTED MISSIONS AND WERE LAST SEEN OPERATING OUT OF NAS KEYWEST FLA. IN THE EARLY 90S .SOME STILL FLY OUT OF EDWARDS AS TEST CELL FOR NEW EQUIPMENT THESE ARE PRIVATELY OWNED OR ON LOAN TO AEROSPACE MANUFACTURES .