VMA(AW)-224 CAG bird on Coral Sea in 1972

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Does anybody have any info or photos of this aircraft? I’d like to know what the bureau number and special markings on it were. I’ve just started another Academy F-4B which will be VF-51’s CAG bird, NL-100, 150456, and next I’d like to do the Kinetic A-6A in VMA(AW)-224’s markings. I’ve got several A-6 references which have good photos and information on other AC in 224, but nothing on the CAG bird.

Thanks in Advance,

Tom

2

Is this the one? EDIT: Sorry, wrong squadron. Please disregard this photo. [:$]

3

Thanks anyway. On that cruise they had a green rudder with the squadron emblem on it and a Marine Corps emblem on the fuselage in front of the sqdn number and Marines.

4

finding a set of these (they match the markings in “Flamboyant Markings” by Osprey) might be all you can do,you would look for that sheet at either Impact or Flightdecs.

modelingmadness.com/…/im48001.htm

keep in mind that not all squadrons always had a CAG marked aircraft, and even if they had a -500, it might have been marked the same as the rest of the squadron

have you tried the A-6 Intruder Association ? That might give you some leads.

Rex

5

I’ve got the Impact decals for VMA(AW)-224. It looks to be a very nicely done sheet. Haven’t tried the Intruder Assoc. yet. Thanks for the tip.

6

two other places that are chock full of USN/USMC WestPac photos

go to http://www.gonavy.jp/ and look at Message Board I and Message Board II,they have hundreds and hundreds of aircraft photos

unfortunately, the text in most of the pics is in Japanese, making a search hard to do,but, there are US Vietnam photo sections in there, loosely grouped by aircraft type

7

Excellent! Thanks for the tips. I’ll check out both those sites.

Thanks,

Tom

8

CAG Sheets generally flew with Charlie Carr as his B/N. Charlie’s non de guerre was Vulture. The CAG bird had the “patience my ass, I want to kill something” vulture on a white rudder. I believe the bureau number was 155700 but I could be mistaken. I also belive that 155700 was shot down over North Viet Nam on December 27, 1972 while assigned to 533 at Nam Phong. Jim Chipman and Marshall Price were killed.

9

Thank you very much. I really appreciate the information. I knew that CAG Sheets and Charlie Carr usually flew together, but I’d never seen anything on the 500 A/C’s bureau number or markings.

Thanks again,

Tom