My mother worked for Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics, the company that made the VDI (Vertical Display Indicator) & HUD (Heads-Up Display) for the A-6, so I was familiar with what this aircraft could do long before I actually got to see it in action. My relationship with the A-6 predates my utilizing them for airstrikes while a FACman during my ToD. Hardpoints: 5 total: 4 wing and 1 fuselage with 18,000 lb (8,170 kg) load The airmen ejected and were rescued by a Navy helicopter. Hatfield, from the carrier USS America they were shot down by ground fire on 24 January 1973 while providing close air support. The last Intruder to be lost during the war was from Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35), flown by LT C. Of the 84 Intruders lost to all causes during the war, 10 were shot down by surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), two were shot down by MiGs, 16 were lost to operational causes, and 56 were lost to conventional ground fire and AAA.
Seconds later the port engine failed, the controls froze, and the two crewmen ejected.
An explosion under the starboard wing damaged the starboard engine, causing the aircraft to catch fire and the hydraulics to fail. It was later converted to an E model in 1977 and was station with VA-205 at Naval Air Station Atlanta before retirement in 1994.The first loss occurred on 14 July 1965 when an Intruder from Attack Squadron 75 (VA-75) from the carrier USS Independence, flown by LT Donald Boecker and LT Donald Eaton, commenced a dive on a target near Laos. The “C” variants were specially equipped with additional sensors and avionics to improve their attack capabilities on convoys moving equipment and supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War. In June of 1969, it became one of only twelve intruders, out of 693 built, to be converted to an A-6C. The A-6 (Bu # 155648) on display at the Aviation History & Technology Center started its life as an A-6A in November 1968. During the Vietnam War, 68 were shot down by enemy forces. However, its slower speeds and low-level roles meant that it was one of the most vulnerable aircraft to enemy anti-aircraft weapons. Its design meant it was adaptable as technology advanced and capable of a variety of missions, including refueling via the “buddy store” system, laser targeting, electronic warfare, and other specialized missions. It could carry 18,000 pounds of ordinance, including nuclear weapons, on missions over 500 miles away without refueling. While it may not be considered the sleekest design, the A-6 had ample power and range complimenting its all-weather capability.
The flight crew sat in side-by-side configuration, further improving visibility to the bombardier/ navigator and improving crew communication. Technologically advanced for its time, an integrated suite of avionics and sensors allowed Intruder crews to carry out missions, even when visibility was extremely limited.
Before the A-6, combat flight operations were severely limited in inclement weather, low cloud ceilings, or low light. It is the first aircraft to offer the United States Navy an option for combat operations in any weather, day or night. The A-6 is a jet-powered, carrier-based, medium duty aircraft that entered service during the Vietnam War.
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