ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 57248
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| Date: | Thursday 23 July 1981 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Grumman EA-6B Prowler |
| Owner/operator: | VAQ-133, US Navy |
| Registration: | 158813 |
| MSN: | P-43 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | USS America (CVAN-66), -
 Yemen
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS America (CVAN-66), Gonzo Station, Northern Arabian Sea, off Yemen |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
EA‑6B Prowler BuNo. 158813/'NH 606' of VAQ‑133 as part of CVW‑11 on board the USS America (CVAN-66). Lost July 23, 1981 when crashed on take‑off from the carrier in the Indian Ocean. The USS America operated in the Indian Ocean, on "Gonzo" Station, an area of the Northern Arabian Sea, off the coast of Yemen, for the first time between May 12 to June 3, 1981, after which time it visited Singapore. On June 18, 1981, the ship departed that port for its second stint on "Gonzo Station." This deployment was to last 35 days. Upon completion of her second northern Arabian Sea line period on August 4, 1981, the USS America shaped a course for Australian waters conducting a "Weapons Week" exercise in the vicinity of Diego Garcia. According to the following eyewitness report:
"...23 July 1981, EA-6B, VAQ-133. VAQ-133 was part of CVW-11 embarked on USS America CVAN-66. I was on the flight deck that day as part of VA-95. The aircraft was lost due to a cold cat shot on cat 3 (waist cat) in the Indian Ocean. Commander W. D. Joslin commanded an EA-6B squadron at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. Lt C.H. Leach was my operations officer in VAQ-141 later as a Lt Commander..."
All three crew - Lt R. H. Leach, Lt Commander W.C. Alpeter, and Commander D.W. Joslin (pilot)- ejected safely.
Sources:
1. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries20.html
2. http://nigelrsadler.webspace.virginmedia.com/ea6production.htm
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
4. http://www.uscarriers.net/cv66history.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 01-Apr-2016 17:29 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Nov-2020 08:50 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
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