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| Date: | Thursday 19 September 1963 |
| Time: | 23:32 |
| Type: |  North American A-5A Vigilante |
| Owner/operator: | US Navy |
| Registration: | 149290 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Mediterranean Sea -
 Mediterranean Sea
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS Independence (CVA-62) |
| USS Independence (CVA-62) |
Crashed into water, port side of ship. Crew (LCDR James R. Conrey, LT Theodore C. Garrett) did not survive. Aircraft attached to VAH-1 Squadron, modex AG604.
Operating off of USS Independence at 2332 hours, this A-5A went into the water, port side (depth 1,650 fathoms or 9.900’). Possible ramp strike but deck log does not specify.
Just 10 minutes prior F-4B Phantom BuNo 150637 had gone in the water after a ramp strike and sheared gear. The crew of the F-4B had ejected and were recovered at 2356 by destroyer USS Lawe. Carrier remained in area where the A-5A was lost with three destroyers conducting SAR: USS Lawe, USS Dyess and USS J. C. Owens. Crew was never recovered. Another source: “broke its back on night landing and went into sea.”
VAH-1 Crew:
Lt Commander James R. Conrey, pilot
Lt Theodore C. Garrett, BN
Sources:
http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-5.html
USS Independence deck log and cruise book
“North American A-5A/RA-5C Vigilante (Naval Fighters, 64)” by Steve Ginter
USS Independence deck log
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Jan-2022 19:25 | fabiop | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ] |
| 22-Feb-2022 17:24 | TB | Updated [Other fatalities, Country, Category, ] |
| 09-Jul-2024 12:02 | ChrisB | Updated [Source, Narrative, Category, Photo, ] |
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