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NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63)

WestPac Deployments

Sixth WestPac (Fourth Vietnam War) Deployment,
30 December 1968–4 September 1969

Photos by John Williams, via Bob Canchola

NS-cv63-jw69-01 209Kb E-2A Hawkeyes, VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs," and F-4B Phantom IIs, VF-213 "Black Lions" and VF-114 "Aardvarks."	NS-cv63-jw69-02 194Kb E-2A Hawkeye, BuNo 151725, modex NH010, VAW‑114 "Hormel Hawgs" (later converted to E-2B).	NS-cv63-jw69-03 263Kb RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-11 "Checkertails," and F-4B Phantom IIs, VF-114 "Aardvarks" and VF-213 "Black Lions."	NS-cv63-jw69-04 198Kb Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11.
NS-cv63-jw69-05 212Kb RA-5C Vigilante, BuNo 150831, modex NH605, RVAH-11 "Checkertails," recovering aboard.	NS-cv63-jw69-06 208Kb RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-11 "Checkertails," and F-4B Phantom IIs, VF-114 "Aardvarks" and VF-213 "Black Lions" (BuNo 153015, right, became an operational loss on 3 July 1969).	NS-cv63-jw69-07 147Kb Flight deck activity.	NS-cv63-jw69-08 216Kb Flight deck activity—does not always involve actual flight.
NS-cv63-jw69-09 245Kb UH-2C Seasprite, BuNo 149744, modex UP03, HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels."	NS-cv63-jw69-10 285Kb Nose of RA-5C Vigilante, modex NH602, RVAH-11 "Checkertails."	NS-cv63-jw69-11 184Kb F-4B Phantom IIs from VF-114 "Aardvarks" ready to launch, and UH-2C Seasprite from HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels" ready to act if necessary.	NS-cv63-jw69-12 239Kb Aircraft from Carier Air Wing (CVW) 11: Vigilantes, a Skywarrior, Corsair IIs and Phantom IIs.
NS-cv63-jw69-13 183Kb UH-2C Seasprite from HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels," with E-2A Hawkeyes and F-4B Phantom IIs.	NS-cv63-jw69-14 239Kb F-4B Phantom II, BuNo 153057, modex NH210, VF‑114 "Aardvarks." Later upgraded to F-4N standard.	NS-cv63-jw69-15 171Kb KA-3B Skywarrior, BuNo 138931, modex NH611, VAQ-131 "Lancers." (Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center [MASDC] in 1971.	NS-cv63-jw69-16 245Kb E-2A Hawkeye from VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs," with two F-4B Phantom IIs and one A-7A Corsair II.
NS-cv63-jw69-18 198Kb F-4B Phantom II recovers aboard. Note the "dishes" of two E-2A Hawkeyes in the foreground.	NS-cv63-jw69-19 173Kb Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11.	NS-cv63-jw69-20 283Kb Some R & R.	NS-cv63-jw69-21 194Kb UH-2C Seasprite in flight, two A-7A Corsair IIs on deck.
NS-cv63-jw69-22 158Kb Plane guard destroyer in the background. BuNo 142403, whose tail can be seen in the center-right foreground, was an A-3B Skywarrior converted to KA-3B standard in 1967 and to EKA-3B in 1968.	NS-cv63-jw69-23 259Kb A-7A Corsair II, VA-105 "Gunslingers," recovering aboard.	NS-cv63-jw69-24 202Kb A-6 Intruder, VA-65 "Tigers," about to recover. Two RA-5C Vigilantes (#601 & #606) and the same EKA-3B Skywarrior (#615) seen in photo jw69-22.	NS-cv63-jw69-25 213Kb Great view of *Kitty Hawk*'s island and many of her radar, radio, and EW antennas.
NS-cv63-jw69-26 389Kb Landing craft.	NS-cv63-jw69-27 119Kb UH-2C Seasprite in flight.	NS-cv63-jw69-28 270Kb Another view of *Kitty Hawk's island and some aircraft types, left-to-right: A-7A Corsair II, VA-37 "Bulls;" RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-11 "Checkertails;" A-6A Intruder* (obscured by the RA-5C), VA-65 "Tigers;" E‑2A Hawkeye, "Hormel Hawgs;" two more Vigilantes, far right.	NS-cv63-jw69-29 238Kb Aircraft of CVW-11 during a period of R & R.
NS-cv63-jw69-30 208Kb Intruders and Phantom IIs—and at least one Corsair II.	NS-cv63-jw69-31 213Kb An aircraft (barely visible above the plane guard destroyer) approaches to recover aboard. #601 is BuNo 149301 (RA-5C Vigilante); #615 is BuNo 142403 (EKA-3B Skywarrior).	NS-cv63-jw69-32 246Kb A-6 Intruder, VA-65 "Tigers," traps aboard.	NS-cv63-jw69-34 183Kb A-7A Corsair IIs, VA-37 "Bulls" and VA-105 "Gunslingers."
NS-cv63-jw69-35 214Kb UH-2C (upgraded UH-2A) Seasprite, BuNo 149780, modex UP06, HC-1 Det. 63 "Pacific Fleet Angels." Retired in 1994.	NS-cv63-jw69-36 207Kb A-7A Corsair II, apparently from VA-105 "Gunslingers," about to recover aboard.	NS-cv63-jw69-37 196Kb A carrier's flight deck is one of the world's most dangerous workplaces and firefighting equipment, such as this Oshkosh MB-5 truck, is an absolute necessity.	NS-cv63-jw69-38 277Kb Same as jw69-28, but with an MB-5 firefighting truck and a second VA-37 "Bulls" Corsair II.
NS-cv63-jw69-39 200Kb E-2A Hawkeye, VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs." Appears to be BuNo 151713, later upgraded to E-2B standard.	NS-cv63-jw69-40 202Kb Seasprite UP06 again. On the right, nose of A-6A Intruder BuNo 155581, NH501, later upgraded to A-6E standard.	NS-cv63-jw69-41 285Kb Left to right: F-4B Phantom II, VF-114 "Aardvarks;" two E-2A Hawkeyes, VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs."	NS-cv63-jw69-42 167Kb Left to right: RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-11 "Checkertails," modex NH604 (appears to be BuNo 149304, later converted to RQ-5C); A-6A Intruder, BuNo 155588, modex NH512, VA-65 "Tigers" (later converted to KA-6D and upgraded to A-6E).
NS-cv63-jw69-43 178Kb E-2A Hawkeyes, VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs;" F-4B Phantom IIs, VF-114 "Aardvarks."	NS-cv63-jw69-44 210Kb EKA-3B Skywarrior, BuNo 142632, NH616, VAQ-131 "Lancers," about to trap aboard. NH615 (EKA-3B, BuNo 142403) and NH606 (RA-5C Vigilante, BuNo 148929, RVAH-11 "Checkertails.")	NS-cv63-jw69-45 123Kb A-7A Corsair II "in the groove." Note extended tailhook.	NS-cv63-jw69-52 167Kb The same? A-7A Corsair II, VA-37 "Bulls."
NS-cv63-jw69-48 114Kb F-4B Phantom II (apparently from VF-114 "Aardvarks") "in the groove." Note extended tailhook.	NS-cv63-jw69-47 42Kb E-2A Hawkeye, VAW-114 "Hormel Hawgs." (Appears to be BuNo 151725, which was later upgraded to E-2B standard.)	NS-cv63-jw69-49 214Kb RA-5C Vigilante, RVAH-11 "Checkertails" (BuNo 150831, NH605) recovers aboard. A squadron mate and two F-4B Phantom IIs parked on deck.	NS-cv63-jw69-50 233Kb A-6A Intruder (may be BuNo 155581, NH501) about to trap aboard. RA-5C Vigilantes parked on deck.