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INTRUDER'S FINAL FAREWELL : "505, INTRUDER BALL , HOOK DOWN, 6.0, FAGS (Fighter/Attack GuyS) HAVE GOT THE CON"
1963-1997
As the backbone of the Carrier Attack Aviation for the past thirty-four years, the A-6 Intruder stood ready to deliver its formidable payload at any time, day or night, in any weather. The A-6 put teeth in the term "Carrier Forward presence". It saw combat in Vietnam, Lebanon, Libya, in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and over the shores of Kuwait and Iraq. It delivered iron bombs, laser guided bombs, and every air-to-ground missile available in the Navy inventory for the past three decades. The Intruder was never the prettiest or the fastest aircraft on the flight deck, but was always the hardest working, the "Workhorse of Naval Aviation". Originally designated the A2F-1, BUNO 147864 first took flight on April 19, 1960. When aircraft designations were standardized, the A2F-1 became the A-6A and entered service with VA-42 in March 1963. Since then it has served honorably in seventeen Navy and seven Marine Corps attack squadrons. It has been modified with over 400 improvements and technology enhancements. The A-6B became a surface-to-air missile suppression platform, the A-6C, the first aircraft equipped with electro-optic sensors, and of course, the KA-6D, the first fully dedicated carrier tanker. The mission capabilities were also continuously updated to include state-of-the-art avionics and sensors. The A-6E, designated in 1971, became the definitive Intruder attack aircraft for the 1970s and 1980s, employing a new digital computer, a multi-mode radar and a new weapons release system. In 1979, the A-6E TRAM (Target Recognition Attack Multi-sensor) integrated the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and laser sensors used for target identification and self-contained laser guided bomb delivery. The last operational modification, Systems Weapons Improvement Program (SWIP), was an extensive upgrade to improve mission effectiveness and standoff weapons capability. A total of 693 A-6s were built, including 488 A-6As, 95 A-6Es, 71 A-6E TRAM, 34 A-6E SWIP and 5 A-6Fs. The Intruder leaves the service of her country at the peak of her capabilities. She has accomplished every mission asked with perfection and departs without an equal replacement for her "true" all-weather long-range strike mission. The A-6 INTRUDER has played an essential part in the changes that have reshaped the world, a fitting accomplishment for such a great aircraft. So, "Thank You Grumman Ironworks" for building a truly outstanding aircraft that has served our wonderful nation for so long. It was the "Baddest Mother" ever to cross the wake of Carrier Aviation. We, her aircrews and maintainers, salute you. As a nation we've reveled in the comfort of your Sound of Freedom. To you we say:
Originally designated the A2F-1, BUNO 147864 first took flight on April 19, 1960. When aircraft designations were standardized, the A2F-1 became the A-6A and entered service with VA-42 in March 1963. Since then it has served honorably in seventeen Navy and seven Marine Corps attack squadrons. It has been modified with over 400 improvements and technology enhancements. The A-6B became a surface-to-air missile suppression platform, the A-6C, the first aircraft equipped with electro-optic sensors, and of course, the KA-6D, the first fully dedicated carrier tanker. The mission capabilities were also continuously updated to include state-of-the-art avionics and sensors. The A-6E, designated in 1971, became the definitive Intruder attack aircraft for the 1970s and 1980s, employing a new digital computer, a multi-mode radar and a new weapons release system. In 1979, the A-6E TRAM (Target Recognition Attack Multi-sensor) integrated the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and laser sensors used for target identification and self-contained laser guided bomb delivery. The last operational modification, Systems Weapons Improvement Program (SWIP), was an extensive upgrade to improve mission effectiveness and standoff weapons capability. A total of 693 A-6s were built, including 488 A-6As, 95 A-6Es, 71 A-6E TRAM, 34 A-6E SWIP and 5 A-6Fs.
The Intruder leaves the service of her country at the peak of her capabilities. She has accomplished every mission asked with perfection and departs without an equal replacement for her "true" all-weather long-range strike mission. The A-6 INTRUDER has played an essential part in the changes that have reshaped the world, a fitting accomplishment for such a great aircraft.
So, "Thank You Grumman Ironworks" for building a truly outstanding aircraft that has served our wonderful nation for so long. It was the "Baddest Mother" ever to cross the wake of Carrier Aviation. We, her aircrews and maintainers, salute you. As a nation we've reveled in the comfort of your Sound of Freedom. To you we say:
"Goodbye old friend... You've served us well!!"
INTRUDER SITES: Pardon My Intrusion , Aviation Photographics-Last Intruder Launch, Aircraft: Grumman A-6E Intruder , College Donated A-6E , Navy A-6E , Jane's Combat Simulations , A-6 Intruder Model Airplane , Grumman A-6 Intruder , A-6 Simulator , Flight of the Intruder , MAWD , Partial Ejection from A-6 Aircraft , Steve's A-6 Page (13 yrs old) , A-6 Tribute , Green Lizards , Thomas E. Scheurich POW/MIA , LCDR James Kelly Patterson, USN, POW/MIA OTHER AVIATION SITES: Wings of Gold - US Naval Aviation, Tailhook Association , DoD Joint Combat Camera Center, Aviation Photogaphics, Aviation Records , The Best Military Aviation Page , Military City , Navy , Operation Desert Storm Debriefing Book , AIRPIX Series, Govt Surplus , Vulture's Row , Navy News , Tailhook-91 , Tailhook 91 (part 2) , USMC Aviation / AV8 Harrier , F/A-18 E/F - Super Hornet , River Rats , Naval Aviation News , Skyhawk Association , A-1 Skyraider Homepage , USS Intrepid , AO Shack , USS Midway , Aviation 3D Discovery Online--A-6 Intruder Intruder Association A-6E Bureau NumberLocations/Info Intruder Patches The Naval Aviator The Mission: Attack All Weather Attack--Marine A-6 History Congressional Record Foreign Military Sales The Future A-6X INTRUDER A-6E Bombing Run
Pardon My Intrusion , Aviation Photographics-Last Intruder Launch, Aircraft: Grumman A-6E Intruder , College Donated A-6E , Navy A-6E , Jane's Combat Simulations , A-6 Intruder Model Airplane , Grumman A-6 Intruder , A-6 Simulator , Flight of the Intruder , MAWD , Partial Ejection from A-6 Aircraft , Steve's A-6 Page (13 yrs old) , A-6 Tribute , Green Lizards , Thomas E. Scheurich POW/MIA , LCDR James Kelly Patterson, USN, POW/MIA
OTHER AVIATION SITES:
Wings of Gold - US Naval Aviation, Tailhook Association , DoD Joint Combat Camera Center, Aviation Photogaphics, Aviation Records , The Best Military Aviation Page , Military City , Navy , Operation Desert Storm Debriefing Book , AIRPIX Series, Govt Surplus , Vulture's Row , Navy News , Tailhook-91 , Tailhook 91 (part 2) , USMC Aviation / AV8 Harrier , F/A-18 E/F - Super Hornet , River Rats , Naval Aviation News , Skyhawk Association , A-1 Skyraider Homepage , USS Intrepid , AO Shack , USS Midway , Aviation 3D
Discovery Online--A-6 Intruder Intruder Association A-6E Bureau NumberLocations/Info Intruder Patches The Naval Aviator The Mission: Attack All Weather Attack--Marine A-6 History Congressional Record Foreign Military Sales The Future A-6X INTRUDER A-6E Bombing Run
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August 2001
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Created © April 1997 by Jeff "Winnie" Winston, all rights reserved.
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