Date:	Thursday 25 February 1971
Time:	00:37
Type:	Grumman A-6A Intruder
Owner/operator:	VA-145, US Navy
Registration:	156994
MSN:	I-463
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	near USS Ranger (CVA-61) in Gulf of Tonkin, off North Vietnam -   Vietnam
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	USS Ranger (CVA-61) Gulf of Tonkin, off Vietnam
Destination airport:	USS Ranger (CVA 61)

Narrative:
A‑6A Intruder BuNo. 156994/'NE-500' of VA‑145, US Navy, on board the USS Ranger (CVA-61). Lost on combat operations February 25 (local time), 1971 when crashed into the sea shortly after a catapult launch from the USS Ranger in the Gulf of Tonkin, off North Vietnam. Aircraft came down off the port bow of the carrier.

Both crew - Lt Commander William R. Galbraith and Lt Daskin D. Waters (bombardier/navigator) ejected and were rescued by the USS Ranger "plane guard" SAR helicopter

1. A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War By Rick Morgan
2. U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed During the Vietnam War By Douglas E. Campbell
3. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries20.html
4. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
5. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
6. USS Ranger (CVA 61) deck log

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
20-Aug-2013 10:41	Uli Elch	Added
20-Aug-2013 10:44	Uli Elch	Updated [Date, Registration, Cn, Total fatalities, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Narrative]
23-Mar-2016 19:55	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
23-Mar-2016 19:57	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
13-Nov-2023 12:39	fabiop	Updated [Date, Time, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category]