anj4de Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) Hello all With my Tomcat slowly getting finished I am toying with the idea of starting a Skyray that has been in the stash for years already. Now the Tomcat will (hopefully) one day be part of a 1978 CVW-8 group of models. This brings me to the idea of having a second group...I am looking at CVG-6 (?) that as far as I know was embarked on USS Interpid in 1961. Why Intrepid...it's the only Essex carrier I have been on personally already! My Skyray will be a VF-74 bird. Now I have this picture below which I think is just super great! It shows Interpid's deck in the harbor of Genua/Italy. I can see Skyraiders, Skyhawks (B or C), Crusaders (C?) and the Skyrays. I now need more details on the squadrons that were on that mission. Any help is highly appriciated. I have a half build Tamiya Skyraider, Hasegawa's Skyhawks (B and C) and also a Crusader (E) and a Cutting Edge -C conversion in my stash already. So kit wise it looks quite good already...time is an issue though! ;-) cheers Uwe Edited December 30, 2017 by anj4de Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Most of this air wing ended up going over to the USS Enterprise in 1962, while VF-74 went into Phantoms on Forrestal at the same time. Some equipment changed, as VF-33 went to F-8E Crusaders on Enterprise. I did a reference piece on the initial Enterprise air wing in FSM back in the 1990s. Don't know if there were any squadron numbers that changed, but the equipment on Enterprise was: F-4B VF-102, F-8E VF-33, A-5A VAH-7, A-1H VA-65, A-4C VA-76, A-4C VA-66, A-4C VA-64, RF-8A VFP-62 Det.65, E-1B VAW-12 Det.65, EA-1F VAW-33 Det.65, and UH-25B HU-2 Det.65. If you have it, check out FSM February 1993. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris D Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 For the 1960-61 deployment of the USS Intrepid in the Med, they embarked CVG-6, consisting of VF-74 in F4D-1, VF-33 in F11F-1, VA-66 in A4D-2, VA-65 in AD-6, VA-76 in A4D-2, Det 33 from VFP-62 consisting of four F8U-1P, and Det 33 from HU-2 with a pair of HUP-3. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Superheat Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) Uwe, The Crusaders are VF-33 F8U-1E's (F-8B after 1962), which dates the photo to the Aug 1961-Feb 1962 cruise, the only one 33 made in that version. As Paul pointed out, their next cruise was on the Big E in the F-8E. The -1E/B had the same radar (and cockpit) as the -2/C, but no ventral fins and no A/B cooling scoops. Can't see the wheels, but most likely all early types, ie spoked nose wheel and ribbed mains, but possibly some had the familiar late disc mains. Cool photo, where did you find it? Cheers, Tom PS: I should note that the Cutting Edge C conversion isn't very accurate. The Muroc Models version, though not perfect, is much better. Edited December 30, 2017 by Superheat additional info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Here are a couple of links: https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv11-61/index.html https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv11-62/index.html of the cruise time periods. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hello Tom, Chris, Jari Thanks a lot for the detailed answers... So if I am going for a VF-74 Skyray then there should be no Crusader Fighters but only the Recce birds! The cruise with VF-74 was still done with F-11 Tigers... On the Crusader cruise the Skyray sqaudron was VF-162, which decals exist for as well. Choices, choices... On a side track...what amazes me is the number of squadrons and different types at that time and for a comparitively small carrier. Not that boring uniform Hornet load of today...;-) cheers Uwe PS: @Tom...PN inbound! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 ...just found that link...a bit earlier but beautiful Interpid pics inside... http://www.rlynn.net/ cheers Uwe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chriss7606 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 I can help you with your question. There seems to be a bit of cunfusion. The Skyrays in your first photo that has the VF-33 Crusaders in it are not from VF-74. If you look closely the trim on the Skyrays is dark blue. The following is the air group assignments: CVG-6 CVG-6 August 6, 1960 - February 17, 1961 August 3, 1961 - March 1, 1962 Mediterrranean Mediterranean CO CVA-11 CAPT (later RADM) CO CVA-11 CAPT (later RADM) Edward C. Outlaw (USNA 1935) J. Lloyd Abbot Jr. (USNA 1939) CAG- CDR Dale C. Klahn CAG- CDR James L. Holbrook (USNA 1944) VF-74 F4D-1 AF 1xx VF-162 F4D-1 AF 1xx VF-33 F11F-1 AF 2xx VF-33 F8U-1E AF 2xx VA-66 A4D-2 AF 3xx VA-66 A4D-2N AF 3xx VA-65 AD-6 AF 4xx VA-65 AD-6/5 AF 4xx VA-76 A4D-2 AF 5xx VA-76 A4D-2 AF 5xx VAW-12 Det. 33 WF-2 GE 7xx VAW-12 Det. 33 WF-2 GE 7xx VAW-33 Det. 33 AD-5Q GD 8xx VAW-33 Det. 33 AD-5Q GD 8xx VFP-62 Det. 33 F8U-1P GA 92x VFP-62 Det. 33 F8U-1P GA-91x HU-2 Det. 33 HUP-3 HUxx HU-2 Det. 33 HUP-3 HU xx If you want to do a VF-74 bird, then the squadrons in the first column would be the companion models for your Skyray. If you're set on doing a Crusader from VF-33, then you'd have to switch squadrons to get the air group assignment to match. I hope this helps you out! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) Thanks a lot Chriss I will go for the first cruise for now...since I like the VF-74 decals with teh big red USS INTERPID very much! Started looking around for a FM F-11 Tiger but those seem to be rare. The Crusader I have will be used later for a VF-162 bird... cheers Uwe PS: A little side notice...I had to push the button on this one!!! https://ms-plueth.de/detail/index/sArticle/25322 Edited December 31, 2017 by anj4de Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bdt13 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Uwe- Good luck on your Intrepid projects. The Intrepid has always been of interest to me as a family friend was a photographer's mate aboard her in the late 1960's - early 1970's; the CVS days. He showed me some great slides of air operations when I was a kid, and got me interested in carrier aviation more than I already was. That was before the ship was a museum, which I have been fortunate enough to visit shortly after the opening. I'll be watching this thread with interest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Finding the FM F11F Tiger will be rather difficult. Someone out there may have one they aren't going to build. As maligned as that kit was, not many people want to give them up because it's really the only thing out there. You could convert the Lindberg kit (I've done it), but it takes a lot of work. The Collect Aire resin kit will get you closer, but it's very crude, very expensive, and also hard to find. Good luck with your hunt! That will make a fine display with all the aircraft types. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted January 7, 2018 Author Share Posted January 7, 2018 Hello all Quick question on the Skyray pics...the 16440 seems to be very light in those pics. Is this de to bleaching or was the paint in the 50ties/60ties different...or is it just the pics? The almost white apperance looks very cool! cheers Uwe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Probably more to do with the photos. The planes were probably pretty clean at that time, too, not getting as dirty as Phantoms during Vietnam conflict. Most likely color photos of the day were taken on Kodachrome which was certainly the best color slide film ever, but variations in exposure could wash out or muddy colors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 8 hours ago, anj4de said: Hello all Quick question on the Skyray pics...the 16440 seems to be very light in those pics. Is this de to bleaching or was the paint in the 50ties/60ties different...or is it just the pics? The almost white apperance looks very cool! cheers Uwe If you can get ahold of Mr. Color or Mr. Paint, they make phenomenal Light Gull Grays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 On 8.1.2018 at 3:08 AM, Darren Roberts said: If you can get ahold of Mr. Color or Mr. Paint, they make phenomenal Light Gull Grays. I use them both already...great paints! It's just that in the pictures the gull gray appears even lighter...but it may be fading or the film itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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