| Date: 8 January 1971 |
| Aircraft type: A-6C Intruder |
| Serial Number: 155647 |
| Military Unit: VA-145 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Ranger |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Keith Royal Wilson Curry (KWF) |
| Lt Cdr Gerald L Smith (Survived) |
| The Ranger lost another aircraft and its pilot in an accident on the 8th. An Intruder crashed into the sea 400 yards in front of the carrier seconds after launch and only one of the crew was found and rescued. The A-6C TRIM (Trails, Roads, Interdiction, Multisensor) was a specialised version of the Intruder designed for the interdiction role over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The aircraft was fitted with a variety of sensors including LLTV and FLIR which were supposed to significantly enhance the aircraft’s ability to spot and target traffic on the Trail at night and in bad weather. Only 12 aircraft were produced, modified from basic A-6As, and they were used by VA-35 and VA-165 in addition to VA-145. On their last deployment in 1972 the A-6Cs were fitted with a laser target designator to mark targets for Paveway laser-guided bombs. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.