Maverickson
Well-Known Member
It's all about Nylon! Unfortunately, By 1969 most U.S.N. flight personel preferred nylon flight jackets to leather. As the Skipper, dad still wore his G-1 on occasion. From time to time I did see dad in one of these puffy looking nylon flight jackets. This is a good close up of a nylon navy flight jacket. In this picture my father is seen holding up a cake in the VA-152 ready room to comemmorate one of his squadron mates 500 carrier landings aboard the USS Forrestal.
These guys were getting a break during a Mediteranian deployment. Less than a year after this photo was taken VA-152 was to be called back to Vietnam for a final combat tour on Yankee Station aboard the USS Shangri-La. They did four combat deployments in a six year period.
The next photo was again taken in late 1969. This time from the flight line in front of the squadron hanger #23 at NAS Alameda. You are looking at a photo of my father's airplane. In addition, this photo was made just shortly before "The Mavericks" joined the USS Shangri-La. Just subsequent to this photo, the squadron was allowed to change the color scheme of the airplanes. These planes were to become very flashy to be going into combat. Those brightly colored fighting machines can be viewed from the squadron web page http://www.skyhawk.org/5e/g149959/html/149977a.htm, http://www.skyhawk.org/6e2/html/va-152_aj-513.htm http://www.skyhawk.org/6e2/html/va-152- ... ldiess.htm as they looked when deployed in hostile waters aboard the Shangi La. A model airplane company used the likeness of the squadron's planes for their A-4 Skyhawk decal kit. I believe it is still available.
Enjoy the photos!
Dave
These guys were getting a break during a Mediteranian deployment. Less than a year after this photo was taken VA-152 was to be called back to Vietnam for a final combat tour on Yankee Station aboard the USS Shangri-La. They did four combat deployments in a six year period.
The next photo was again taken in late 1969. This time from the flight line in front of the squadron hanger #23 at NAS Alameda. You are looking at a photo of my father's airplane. In addition, this photo was made just shortly before "The Mavericks" joined the USS Shangri-La. Just subsequent to this photo, the squadron was allowed to change the color scheme of the airplanes. These planes were to become very flashy to be going into combat. Those brightly colored fighting machines can be viewed from the squadron web page http://www.skyhawk.org/5e/g149959/html/149977a.htm, http://www.skyhawk.org/6e2/html/va-152_aj-513.htm http://www.skyhawk.org/6e2/html/va-152- ... ldiess.htm as they looked when deployed in hostile waters aboard the Shangi La. A model airplane company used the likeness of the squadron's planes for their A-4 Skyhawk decal kit. I believe it is still available.
Enjoy the photos!
Dave