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Douglas Skywarrior
The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy, and among the longest serving; it entered service in the mid-1950s and was not retired until 1991. For many years after its introduction, it was also the heaviest aircraft ever flown from an aircraft carrier, earning it the unofficial nickname "The Whale". Its primary function for much of its later service life was as an electronic warfare platform and high capacity tanker.
A modified derivative also served in the USAF until the early 1970s as the
B-66 Destroyer. The Skywarrior is the only Navy strategic bomber to enter service, (the Martin P6M SeaMaster tested well but never entered service due to the Navy fearing loss of funding for surface ships and subs if it encroached on the Air Forces' strategic bomber role and the pending elimination of the flying-boat platform). Later multi-role aircraft like the
A-5 Vigilante could also go on strategic missions.
The US Navy published its requirement for a long range, carrier-based bomber with a 10,000 pound bomb load in January 1948. The contract was awarded to Douglas Aircraft on 29 September 1948 and the first flight of an A-3 was 22 October 1952. The first A-3 was assigned to VAH-1 Squadron on 31 March 1956.
– Design & Development
– Operational History
– Specifications
– Variants
– Operators
– Gallery
– Survivors
Sources:
Wikipedia: A-3 Skywarrior
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