The WHALES of DESERT STORM

[@IrisAviation91]

DISCLAIMER: I made an error in my research, the aircraft on the thumbnail is an ERA-3B, with the AN/ALQ-99 pods. VQ-2 used the EA-3B which could not carry the AN/ALQ-99. The ERA-3B was an aggressor EW aircraft, that carried the AN/ALQ-99. The ERA-3B also had RAT, stubbier/wider canoe than the EA-3B, and an extended tail. The ERA-3Bs never saw the Gulf, only the EA-3Bs of VQ-2 (Bu.No.146454 and Bu.No.146448).

[@colkelley]

Since I was ERA-3B Electronic Warfare Aircraft Model Manager, Aircraft Commander, Mission Commander and Event Commander as well as NATO Coordinator with VAQ-33, I caught that. The extended tail was a chaff dispenser capable of laying a 120 mile long chaff corridor. I also caught that you showed a picture of a P-3 ASW bird, calling it an EP-3 at time 1:20. I also flew the EP-3 and sent the first message calling for the start of the Vietnam evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) on April 29, 1975, when I was 25.

[@andrewniemyer8286]

Just some notes from a former VQ-2 EA-3B SEVAL (Senior Electronic warfare eVALuator, what we called the EW officer in the back) Whales were “beached” due to an increasing lack of critical parts at sea. (Per the Officer in Charge of the very last VQ-2 carrier detachment) The Nimitz mishap had nothing to do with it. Speaking of the Nimitz fatal, the IFR probe did not snap off, Nimitz’s airborne tanker’s package failed, and there was no readily available KA-6D. Rescue Swimmer was told to hold off, as there was no visible sign of any survivors and the inside of the Whale was pitch dark. Whales went on to keep flying as bailed RTD&E platforms nearly 20 years after their “retirement.” The EA-3B at Ft. Meade was brutally disassembled for storage, along with the other aircraft of Vigilance Park. 😢 Her disassembled remains are carelessly stashed nearby, and 10th Fleet doesn’t seem to GAF, and neither do the people at the National Cryptology Museum. 😢😢

[@timdennis3035]

Former whale pilot from VQ-2 in Rota, Spain. I knew the crews who were flying the EA-3B’s in your video. Terrific group of guys and a great airplane to fly, and yes it was like flying a 1957 Chevy aboard the carrier, in fact I think the windshield wipers were from a 57 Chevy, lol

[@whalenav]

Don’t know if you remember but we met at the Army-Navy game in ‘92. I got to the squadron after you but most of the video they use here I took. If you would like any, let me know. I digitized most of my whale footage and could get it to you if you’d like. Mike Dawson

[@timdennis3035]

Hi Mike, yes I do remember and I appreciate your offer. Are you going to the reunion in Pcola ? If you are I look forward to seeing you again. Tim Dennis.

[@marbleman52]

I am just now seeing this video. From 1971-75, I was enlisted and in a Navy squadron, VAQ-33, permanently land based at N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. I became a Plane Captain for the four ERA-3B Skywarriors that we had. The squadron also had four A-4 Skyhawks, two F-4 Phantoms, and one gorgeous EC-121 Super Constellation. We were an ECM squadron: Electronic Counter-Measures. Our mission was training the fleet to recognize and deal with enemy electronic warfare. Yep, our ERA-3B's had the jamming pods under both wings, men operating the ECM stations in the bomb bay, and a chaff dispenser under the tail. The A-4's would simulate enemy aircraft, much like they would do in helping train Top Gun pilots. The F-4 Phantoms had a radar in the nose that simulated Russian missiles. The EC-121 had a tall radome on top and a round one under the belly. It carried a crew of electronic technicians who could listen in on and mess with all of the communications between the carriers and the pilots in the air. And boy, did they mess with them...!! On one mission, the technicians in the EC-121 found the radio frequency between the Carrier and their planes that were on patrol. The technician ordered the planes to return to the carrier. The planes started back. As they got near the carrier, the carrier frantically called the jets and demanded why they were returning. The pilots said that they had been ordered to return. The carrier told them that they had been "had" and tricked. Our squadron had a big laugh over this...!! I loved being a Plane Captain for our A-3's. It was a very hands-on plane and each one had it's own 'personality' and little quirks that you needed to be aware of. I became very protective of "MY" A-3's. I will always have very fond memories of my short few years in VAQ-33. I should have stayed in...!!

[@LimitlessThinker]

I was stationed at VAQ-33 in the late 80's. Lots of good people!

[@marbleman52]

@@LimitlessThinker ...HI....nice to hear from another VAQ-33 person. Where was the squadron located by then?

[@HUMINT1]

I was only 18 and maybe had 6 months in the Navy before getting orders and attached to VQ-2 Rota, Spain. I was with VQ-2 from 1988-1991. Worked in Maintenance Control. Great times definitely. Think of those times often! Thank you for the video. ✌🏽

[@nextworld9176]

Thanks!

[@herndonjtexas]

Note you used several videos without permissions of the owners or providing credits including myself. Credit Keith May, Squadron VQ-2, John Herndon, Bob Dasher, Michael Dawson, patch in video designed and made by Steve Lopez

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

This is what the youtube copyright system was meant for, you should use it.

[@angeli154]

Nerds

[@nextworld9176]

WOW. Great to see this. I flew OS 3 in WestPAc for VQ-1. Got shot at my North Koreans. SSaved our Plane Captain when hthe lower hatch opened in flight while he was standing on it. Greaetest three years of my life. Glad to see your guys made it to Gulf I. I was in the USAF at Ramstein doing log support for Desert Storm/Shileld, wishing I could be on the Whale then. Kudos on the video. BZ to fellow Whalers.

[@nextworld9176]

Sorry, keyboard trouble. I meant POS 3.

[@IrisAviation91]

Damn, you have some awesome stories to tell. It's an honour to have people with such rich experiences watch my videos!

[@danielfodera7977]

Former VQ2 EA-3B aircrew here. Thanks for posting this. The interior footage is quite rare. Will be fun to show the grandkids! I was flying a different airframe for desert storm and didn’t know or had forgotten about the whales flying too. Thanks for telling their story.

[@IrisAviation91]

Great to see one of the aircrew watching the video, must have sparked loads of memories! Thanks a lot.

[@whalenav]

Most of your footage, especially the interior but some of the flying as well, I took. I was a navigator with VQ-2 and was with the squadron until we retired our whales.

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

There is a Skywarrior on display at a small aviation museum in Oakland, CA. If memory serves it is a former tanker model.

[@ostrich67]

I remember seeing them at AIMD NAS Alameda when I was on the USS Carl Vinson there in 1989-90.

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

@@ostrich67 I remember seeing one now and then when I first moved to the East Bay. That would have around 1982. Occasionally I'd see planes destined for Alameda fly over the house.

[@snorelacks7069]

I was in the backend of those planes during DS/DS as an ELINT operator in "Bart of Arabia". Some of the best shipmates and consummate professionals I flew with over three flying tours in VQ-2 and VPU-1.

[@yanktornado5121]

Such a beast. Such bravery.

[@afterburner94]

The use of Meteor music in the background is so fitting for an aviation video. Well done!

[@Naber_Dan]

VQ-2 det-A 81-83 I remember working on #11, #12, and #16.

[@agdgdgwngo]

Always liked the Skywarrior, big and menacing. Looks like a real handful to get on a carrier deck, no wonder there were accidents.

[@IrisAviation91]

Yeah, especially considering it was the largest regularly operated jet in the USN!

[@raymondyee2008]

Got this from Aviation Geek Club: “Indeed, a single EA-3B (launched from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia) was on station for each carrier strike into Iraq, the ‘Whale’ crews coordinating their activities with E-2Cs and EA-6Bs for the targeting of HARM against Iraqi SAM and radar sites. EA-3Bs also provided a similar service to USAF elements attacking targets in northern Iraq, the ‘Whales’ flying from Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete”

[@tmobaile1187]

ITS THE FIRST TIME I HEARE ABOUT IT VERY EXCELLENT INFORMATION SIR 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@IrisAviation91]

REALLY COOL PLANE, THANK YOU

[@jbaviation4700]

Broooo, I am literally looking forward to every new video, keep up the good work!

[@IrisAviation91]

So glad, thank you!

[@yanktornado5121]

Sad about the crew but glad to see there sea legs finally rested a land birds for the rest of there service lives. Man. I learned a lot on this one and I think you learned a little yourself I think your getting as much brain sponging as your faithful subscribers! With respect to your research and editing skills brother it just keeps getting crispier and crispier loving every second of these videos and it’s a privilege to be a part of this channels growth by being the first to see and them and engage first answering many questions. John Clayborn of the Invader Foundation started an Aviation Research Network and this is exactly what it’s about! Credible sources and actually putting a rating on source credibility and I absolutely promise you that your arm is part of this reach to help people learn. So we all learn. And your channel becomes part of the network of credibile viable sources. No money or anything it’s just some friends man. We all love this stuff. So if ever say Gulf Whales are the subject in the network’ well were gona hand em off to you my friend and you become the outlet to learn! While growing! 💪🏼 you know him i forgot 🤦🏻 I completely forget. Now I want to erase this whole thing 🤣🤣🤣 no. Leave it. It’s important. We’re all in this together the passion brother we’re Aviation nutters Aviation Addicts! Avgeeks! Whatever right!!! Sorry rant over. Video got me pumped up. History is rich in these birds.

[@IrisAviation91]

I keep learning too much in the videos, I can’t retain so much info 🤣. Really glad and excited to be making almost a video library network sort of thing for all those avgeeks to use out there! So much passion man🤣

[@curtreus6065]

- VQ-2 (Jun '90 - Dec '92) Airframer (120) / (12c) Painter; Stories ??? - Where the hell do I start ???; Tried to get on the Jedda, SA Det, but only (BRIEFLY) got on the Pee-3 airlift one, to Bahrain, last day of the war. - Remember "Bart of Arabia & Horse with No Name" & their triumphant return to Rota !; Made the last PW Det (Souda Bay Spg-Sum '91); Lots of stills that probably should be scanned; Lots MORE !!! AM1(AW) C.G. Reus "Older"

[@aj-2savage896]

"002" seen there was the only A-3 ever painted in the TPS scheme.

[@cllwydd]

The Whale was first off the deck and last to land. Darkness and fatigue may have contributed to the crash (per Norfolk Ledger Star feature story). RIP to the crew.

[@colkelley]

The EA-3 lost off the ship in the Med was because of a rattled pilot who wanted to Bingo to land but was refused by the VQ-2 Det OINC. When he tried to plug into the tanker he broke the refueling drogue, leaving him no choice but to try the barrier. He had come in high on all previous passes and came in high again, ignoring the Landing Signal Officer's commands. The nose wheel caught the top of the barrier and slammed the Whale onto the deck where it skidded off the angle deck. I was told that no divers were allowed because if the highly-classified materials in the EA-3. I flew the EC-121 and EP-3B/E with VQ-1 and the ERA-3B with VAQ-33 as a Navy EWO.

[@RJFlyer]

By the way, the 2 F-15 markings on the side of Bart if Arabia were mock engagement kills/assists. (Oops, meant to reply to Karmpus lol)

[@IrisAviation91]

Oh nice, thanks for finding it out! I wonder how they got those kills lmao

[@ironcity9053]

Early 1980s the Whales of VAQ-208 and 308 reserve squadrons at Alameda were transferred to VAQ-33 at Norfolk to support training and tanking for F/A 18 testing at Pax River. The aircraft were I think EKA-3s. I has the NAVAIR HQ end of moving the maintenance training detatchment cross country with a refurbish stop in Millington TN and the flight simulator ( 2 trailers, one for cockpit and one for the tube type analog computer and instructor station. It made it to Norfolk and actually worked when it arrived.

[@snorelacks7069]

Negative...they were MiG-29 silhouettes stenciled on the plane after they were intercepted by AT2 Perry and shot down by coalition aircraft. I think they might have been F-15s. I was flying in those aircraft as an ELINT operator at the time.

[@aj-2savage896]

Can't leave the vintage DS fun to the Canberras and Starfighters alone.

[@jbaviation4700]

When are they getting longer?

[@JohnSaylock-ec4cd]

PR 010 was my fav. Whale. We flew the shit out of her in the straights off the the kittyhawk in 88.

[@billkrolikowski2960]

Glad that the plane is off carriers anymore

[@rolandjaycutter3504]

Nice video, but you made a error in the opening. The EA-3, like the RA-3 and TA-3, were factory built as, not conversions.

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks for picking up on this, my bad

[@colkelley]

But the ERA-3B was a conversion...converted from RA-3s.

[@nosaltadded2530]

Weight was a serious consideration. I do not think that the A-3 was pressurized. I could be in error. If so, I would like to know.

[@Jeff-l6t5l]

We were pressurized. Weight wasn't that big of a deal, the weight issues were always considered.

[@nosaltadded2530]

@@Jeff-l6t5l Good thing to know. Handling these big jets on the flight deck was a considerable challenge.

[@Eirik36]

I had no idea the whales were apart of the gulf!

[@karmpuscookie]

Sky Warrior. Easy to say.

[@IrisAviation91]

Yep

[@batickell]

So why the F-15 kill marks?

[@IrisAviation91]

We still don’t know, someone suggested they were simulation kills in an exercise.

[@mikemcdermott1664]

We marked radar sites taken out. There were a couple of MIGs identified by VQ2 and relayed to AWACS but I thought those were by the EPS. I’m sure someone will let you know for sure at some point. Do one in the EPs in Desert Storm ad well if you get he time.

[@briancooper2112]

1981 crash?

[@Jeff-l6t5l]

The '81 crash was a VQ-1 Whale deployed to the USS Ranger on a WestPac cruise.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

DOUSE THE ROCK !!! Totally insufferable !! ... outta heah , ya HEAH ..