Description

VA-35 Black Panthers A-6 Intruder Model

Proudly display this 18 inch wooden model of the VA-35 Black Panthers A-6 Intruder.  Each model is carefully carved and painted by master craftsman.  This is perfect for the goat locker or office and will provide a perfect aid for aviator told stories!

• Length – 18 inches
• Made from Mahogany
• US Veteran Owned Business
• The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger.

• 1970: Delivered to the US Navy.
• 1973-74: VA-176 as AE-505.
• 1975: VA-34 as AB-505.
• Upgraded to A-6E.
• 1977: VA-35 as AJ-511.
• 1978: VA-65 as AG-510.
• 1979-81: VA-35 as AG-511.
• VMA(AW)-242.
• 1982: VA-75 as AC-500.
• 1984-85: VMA(AW)-224 as WK-02.
• 1993-94: VA-85 as AB-500.
• 7/1994: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.

May 1935: Ranger (CV 4) and her embarked air group, including VB-3B, participated in Fleet Exercise XVI. This was the first time VB-3B and Ranger participated in a Fleet Exercise.

25 Nov 1935–25 Feb 1936: A detachment from VB-3B, including six BG-1s, was assigned to Ranger’s Cold Weather Test Detachment and operated aboard Ranger in Alaskan waters.

Apr–Jun 1936: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XVII.

Apr–May 1937: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XVIII.

28 May 1937: VB-3B participated in an aerial review celebrating the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jul 1937: The squadron, embarked in Lexington (CV 2), participated in the search for Amelia Earhart Putnam and Fred Noonan.

Sep 1937: VB-4, embarked in Ranger, visited Lima, Peru, in conjunction with the International Aviation Conference being held there.

Mar–Apr 1938: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XIX.

Apr–May 1940: The squadron participated in Fleet Problem XXI. This was the last major fleet problem conducted before America’s involvement in World War II.

Apr 1942: VB-3, embarked in Enterprise (CV 6), provided escort patrols for the task force which launched Colonel Doolittle’s B-25 raid against Tokyo.

4 Jun 1942: At the Battle of Midway, VB-3, embarked in Yorktown (CV 5), engaged in its first combat operations. Yorktown’s first strike included 17 SBD-3’s from VB-3 led by Lieutenant Commander Leslie. Approximately an hour after launch, VB-3’s aircraft sighted the Japanese Fleet and commenced their dive-bombing attack; the primary target was the carrier Soryu. Lieutenant (jg) Paul A. Holmberg was the first to drop his 1,000 pounder on the Soryu. His hit was followed by two more from VB-3’s SBDs. Soryu erupted into flames and eventually sank.

With the Soryu in flames, the other VB-3 SBDs directed their attack against other targets. They attacked a destroyer, the Isokaze, making one hit on her fantail and “what appeared to be a battleship,” claiming a hit on her stern. All 17 SBDs from VB-3 escaped the attack without a hit and returned to Yorktown. Prior to landing on the carrier, they were directed to leave the area due to incoming enemy aircraft. All VB-3’s SBDs landed on Enterprise except for Lieutenant Commander Leslie and his wingman, Lieutenant (jg) Holmberg. These two men, low on fuel, ditched their aircraft alongside the cruiser Astoria and were picked up by the ship’s motor whaleboat.

The battle was still not over for VB-3. In late afternoon, 14 of VB-3’s SBDs were launched from Enterprise as part of a strike group ordered to attack the fourth Japanese carrier, Hiryu. Lieutenant Shumway was in charge of VB-3’s formation. The strike force located Hiryu and again caught a Japanese carrier in the vulnerable position of having armed and fueled planes on deck. Direct hits from Shumway’s SBD’s resulted in a torched Hiryu and her eventual sinking. Several of VB-3’s aircraft suffered heavy damage from attacking Japanese aircraft. However, all but two of VB-3’s aircraft returned to Enterprise. Seventeen of VB-3’s pilots received the Navy Cross for their action during the Battle of Midway, they were Ensigns Benson, Butler, Campbell, Cobb, Cooner, Elder, Hanson, Isaman, Lane, Merrill and Schoegel; Lieutenant (jg)s Holmberg, Sherwood and Wiseman; Lieutenants Bottomley and Shumway; and Lieutenant Commander Leslie.