USS Midway Carrier Action - Vietnam 1965 A-4 Skyhawk A-1 Skyraider A-3 Skywarrior F-4 Phantom CVA-41

Navy photographers captured the action in the air and on deck as USS Midway (CVA-41) contributed warplanes to the effort over Vietnam in these scenes from May 1965.
A Douglas A-3 tanker variant of the Skywarrior leads A-4 Skyhawks. Prop-driven Skyraiders with bombs under their wings chug to the catapult. Looks like their drop tanks even have anti-glare paint on the upper surfaces.
Sparrow missiles come up from below for arming an F-4 Phantom. Cockpit film shows an A-3 taking fuel from a tanker-configured A-3.
And classic light signals emanate from Midway as messages are sent to other U.S. Navy ships in the South China Sea.
USS Midway F-4 Phantoms made the first aerial victories of the Vietnam war in the month following these films. And Midway Skyraiders pulled off an incredible downing of a MiG-17 that month.
Years later, in January 1973 a Midway aircraft scored the last aerial victory of the war. USS Midway became a successful museum ship in San Diego following its decommissioning.
When you subscribe to the Airailimages Channel, it helps our channel growth and visibility. We appreciate that effort.

[@user-vx6nm6nb8b]

The Skyhawk A4E marked 348 on the nose was my cousin's David M. Christian. He was shot down and lost in that plane on 6/2/1965 about a month after this film was made. Several other brave pilots lost their lives searching for him. They may have been from one of the EA-1F show taking off as well. I was so amazed to see his plane in your video. Thank you so very much for posting it. What a great find this was. Larry Christian

[@airailimages]

Wow... that is quite a story. I'm glad you found our upload of this film. Always good to hear from the families of veterans and to honor their memory.

[@sharongilligan8813]

I am Larry's sister and I am so thankful for this video. Our 2nd cousin was listed MIA, we remember stories about him as we did not know what happened until April 1986/87 when his remains were identified and returned by the North Vietnamese. Wish we could talk to survivors that would have known him. @@airailimages

[@timclark607]

I believe my dad's old logbook has an entry of the loss of your cousin. He was a good pilot!

[@richardkraft1554]

The man standing on the left is my dad (Richard Kraft).

[@billscott1601]

My Dad was on that very cruise. He was a RIO with VF-21, I have his cruise book and flight log books. I’ve tracked the missions he flew during that deployment. He deployed for almost a year.

[@steveowens913]

My hat is off to your dad. A brave man indeed! Not many folks realize that the Navy pilots could actually hand their wings in during that conflict! Their flight days in the USN would be over, but they would still be alive! I was in an F4 Phantom squadron from '69 to '71. VF-102 Diamondbacks. And our squadron went over North Vietnam the 2nd half of 1968, on the USS America. First guy shot down was our Commanding Officer. Became a P.O.W. until the end of that war until his release in March of 1973. So these guys, including your dad, didn't even have the advantage of the Top Gun program, which started March of 1969, and made a major difference!!!

[@MG101]

Wow, thanks for his service. Just checking, the VF-21 are the freelancers right?

[@lorenzcassidy3960]

6:29 - 6:54 The two A-4s are armed with AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles. In 1965, this must have been one of earliest Iron Hand missions! Scale aircraft modeler and U.S. naval aviation enthusiast from Italy here. 👋

[@airailimages]

There's a lot of detail to be found in these older films. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@rodneylane634]

The black area on top of the drop tanks on the Spads is anti-skid paint. Maintenance guys would step up on the drop tank to climb out on the wing. Great videos of a by-gone era!!!

[@airailimages]

Thanks for commenting. More vintage film to come...

[@gangstaparadise-qu3su]

Thank yor for the information

[@henrymurray230]

God bless Bos'n Heard, multi tours on Midway. He's most likely standing on the deck looking down on us.♥️

[@airailimages]

Thanks for watching, and thanks for adding that bit of history.

[@williamcoe9200]

Your channel deserves to grow.from a veteran that worked on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga

[@nervechews6781]

This is why I love KZbin. Great upload. Thanks.

[@airailimages]

You are very welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@WrightBrosRC]

The A-4 Skyhawk catapult launches are awesome! One of the Navy's low cost success stories.

[@airailimages]

One of Ed Heinemann's keep-it-simple designs.

[@SnakePliskin762]

Should've kept n upgraded for the Taliban

[@sequoyah59]

Those are against regulations now. Low cost and success stories have both been stricken from naval regulations.

[@enricomandragona163]

The A-7 would of made a better choice and actually served in the Gulf war

[@jimandmia]

I was briefly aboard the Midway. Absolutely fascinating experience.

[@FN_FAL_4_ever]

God Bless Ed Heinemann for bringing us the A-3 Skywarrior, A-1 Skyraider, and the A-4 Skyhawk

[@marbleman52]

sraybil32980....I was enlisted and in an aviation squadron VAQ-33, 1971-75. We had four A-4's, four ERA-3B's ( A-3), two F-4 Phantoms, and one EC1-Super Constellation. I was a Plane Captain for our ERA-3B Skywarriors. I enjoy watching any films that show the A-3's. Thanks....!!

[@nikonmark37814]

Having worked on the flight deck of the USS Independence, CV-62 back in 1974 - 1977 I have a lot of respect for the men working on the flight deck and the pilots and aircrew too! If I were 18 years old I'd do it all over again, it was a wonderful experience!

[@airailimages]

If you'd do it all over again, that's a good endorsement for your time in the Navy! Thanks for commenting, and thanks for watching.

[@88mike42]

Hey shipmate...We likely crossed paths. I was up there with you, 1976 workups, 1977 Med cruise. Cross decked to CV-69 in Jan. 1978.

[@enricomandragona163]

Agreed I was right behind you on CV-59. Remember the old saying can't have your head up your Ass!! Lol

[@josephstevens9888]

Same here...

[@joebarber4030]

Didn’t realize it then , that I would miss the excitement and rush of working the deck at night, during night ops with attack squadron VA-37. USS Saratoga CV-60. 1973-76

[@johnwhite2855]

Worked on land based A1’s at NKP Thailand in ‘68 and ‘69 a true old work horse. Tough as nails!

[@airailimages]

Thank you for watching and mentioning your time with USAF A-1s in Thailand. That must have been quite a time!

[@ChiefAUS]

You just keep hitting gold with these old videos. Keep them coming. Thanks

[@airailimages]

Glad you appreciate them. More to come!

[@williamchristian8389]

I was on Midway from January 1970 to April 1972. Great Ship. I came aboard as a 18 year old AGAA and left a21 year old AG2. I grew up on Midway.

[@airailimages]

Thanks for adding your story!

[@stevendorris5713]

Fantastic stuff. Love the images of the Spads loaded up!!

[@airailimages]

Yes -- that's a lot of weight on folded wings.

[@josephstevens9888]

Great footage.... those A-1 Skyraiders definitely were one beast of a flying machine!

[@vellu_s1792]

Thanks for those VA-25 Skyraider images. I´m building a 1/48 model right now. :)

[@airailimages]

Excellent! Always happy to hear when any of our videos can help modelers.

[@vascoribeiro69]

What a big jump from the A-1 to the A-7 Corsair

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I was a right seat qualified Crewman/Navigator in VAH-8 during this cruise. I can't believe this video exists. ADC Wes Swisher A/C C/N USN Ret. 1983

[@airailimages]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Always like to hear from veterans.

[@TheCpage66]

May of '65, my Dad was about to finish up his second tour of the region over on the USS Kittyhawk and come home.

[@airailimages]

Always good to hear from the families of veterans. Thanks for watching.

[@louissimons7787]

The Kitty Hawk was there in the spring of '64, not '65. We flew over Southeast Asia but not North Vietnam. Our captured pilots were not acknowledged until years later and came home in '73.

[@martinpennock9430]

Another great video of our brave naval crews. Not a popular period to be in the service. I see some of these folks at the VA when I go. They're pretty rough nowadays. God bless em all. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for all you do! 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@airailimages]

When I look at film from more than a half-century ago, I often wonder "Where are these people now? Are they still with us?" And hope they are doing fine.

[@martinpennock9430]

@@airailimages Many seem to be, as I said, I do see quite a few Vietnam vets at the VA. Many look to be in their 70's. A few from the Korean War. I did see one WWII veteran in Dallas a while back, who was in the European theater, but he looked to be in his 90's and in a wheelchair. But I would expect that at his age. Again, God bless you and yours always!🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@user-ki3dw9uh3y]

كيف تباريكون على اجرامكم و فسادكم ايها الكفار الشياطين الكلاب المجرمين يسوق الشيطان فيكم كالبغال كالحمير كالكلاب كالحيونات ليس لكم ايو هدف إلى الشر والكفر والفساد والاعانة على ذالك في صفوف طريق جند الشيطان الرجيم الملعون الممقوت ومن أجل ماذا حاربتم الشعب الفيتنامي من أجل ماذا ياشياطين ملعونة في الحياة الدنيا و في الحياة الاخرة يوم يقوم الناس لربي العالمين من قبورهم بعد موتهم إلى الحساب والجزاء والوقوف بين يدي الخالق الجبار القهار القوي القادر العليم الجليل الذي خلقكم وخلقنا وخلق الخلق كله لا تنفعكم اسلحتكم لا طائراتكم و لا دباباتكم ومدافعكم وسواريخكم ولا أي قوت وتتطور وقال الله عزى وجل سبحانه و تعالى في القرآن الكريم بعد بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم ولقد تركتم ماخولناكم وراء ضهوركم وجيتمون فورادى كما خلقناكم أول مرة سنموت كما مات من قبلنا وسنرحل ونذهب وتفنى الحياة الدنيا أين رجال الحرب العالمية الاولى و الحرب العالمية الثانية وحرب الفيتنام و كل الحروب لقد ماتو وفنو ومن لم يمت في الحرب وساحة القتال مات بالمرض أو في الفراش أو أي سبب وغدا عند الله تجتمع الخصوم

[@billdonnelly1134]

Skyraider has been 1 of my favorites for a long time. Don't know what size the bombs were but 12 on wings 1 big 1 centerline and 2 big drop tanks. WOW that's impressive. Thanks 4 another great video.

[@airailimages]

You are very welcome!

[@mikejohnson5900]

The Skyraiders were a fantastic aircraft and were the best friends of the MACV SOG guys on the ground because they could loiter and fly low and slow (compared to the fast jets, i.e. F-4s etc..) and deliver their ordnance on target in danger close situations. Thanks for the great video.

[@heslinphotography429]

12 on the wings were MK 82 500 pound bombs

[@timanderson5543]

Not to mention a full load of 20mm ammo.

[@dankuettel5063]

My favorite era of Navy Aviation

[@airailimages]

Good! Thanks, as always, for watching.

[@enricomandragona163]

Nothing like the color of the aircraft Era ! 81 ended that!!

[@arthurbarnett5205]

Brings back memories, I was aboard when this film was taken.

[@airailimages]

Glad you found it. Thanks for watching, and thank you for serving.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

Me too. VAH-8 Crewman/Navigator. ADC Wes Swisher A/C C/N USN Ret. 1983.

[@craigpennington1251]

Brings back a whole lot of old memories. Was long ago but seems like yesterday. At least the MIdway was saved. The Saratoga didn't make it. Very sad.

[@timothymclennan20]

Simply fantastic footage again Mate 👍👋🇦🇺

[@airailimages]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@williamreisen9342]

Served with VF-111 on that 1965 cruise flying F8 Crusa

[@airailimages]

Thanks for watching, for commenting, and for serving.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I was a C/N with VAH-8. One day over Hawaii two F-8's rolled in on us. I saw them at 8 o'clock and started jamming their radar locks. My pilot said to tell him when the F-8's went level at our six. They did and my pilot dropped our flaps and gear which stalled out the F-8's. maybe you? LOL

[@daryllect6659]

6023- A-4 Skyhawk USMC VMA 141 1965-1971 oooRAH!

[@matrox]

I remember 1965 like it was yesterday, I was in 3rd grade, visited the NY Worlds Fair in 65'.

[@airailimages]

Yup -- doesn't seem long ago, does it... Thanks for watching.

[@blackrocks8413]

the US Navy was doing amazing things in 65. In the 80's we benefitted from all the lessons learned, the hard work of those who set the pace. All without computers and datalink or as sophisticated tech. Its an orchestra on the roof and something not quickly forgotten. /AQ //VA85

[@airailimages]

All the stories I've been told by Navy flight deck personnel give me so much respect for what you did. And thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Kingwoodish]

Great to see the Spads armed up and launched from the catapults. What a workhorse with good loiter time when needed. It was obsolete and long gone when Afghanistan came along but it seems it could have done well there for close air support. We'll never know because the A-10 did a phenominal job there as well as in Iraq despite the USAF brass wanting to shelve it.

[@enricomandragona163]

The spad would of been easy picking for a shoulder man rocket 🚀 and bad environment all together for a radial engine

[@tommy35ss]

​@enricomandragona163 Sure, any aircraft that is good for CAS is easy pickings for a MANPADS. That is part of the risk. Where they are countered is with chaff and other countermeasures. The idea is they can perform in contested environments where it is too dangerous for helicopters or AC-130s, but effective CAS is still needed.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I was in VAH-8 on this cruise flying in A-3's. One day a Spad taxied into the tail of another Spad. The flight deck was covered in aluminum pieces. On another day the Spad's deck launched ahead of the jets. We over flew a Spad that lost it's oil pressure and had to return to the carrier. We completed our mission and returned to the ship. We were in the ready room when the Spad got back to come aboard. About half way down the glide slope it's engine seized and the pilot splashed down. Clmbed out on his wing and was picked up by a destroyer plane guard. They finally had to sink the Spad with gun fire as it would not sink.

[@marstuv5068]

​@@wesleyswisher9624wow! 😮

[@user-ho1xk8dq5m]

Very nice!!! And music !

[@airailimages]

Many thanks!!

[@allgood6760]

Thanks.. we operated Skyhawks with our RNZAF 👍🇳🇿

[@airailimages]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@timclark607]

My Dad flew with VA-23 on this combat cruise. Midways 20th anniversary as well.

[@airailimages]

Always good to hear from the families of veterans. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@larryking1673]

Fighter Squadron ONE SIX ONE migs in May, great memories.

[@airailimages]

And thanks for watching!

[@larryking1673]

@@airailimages USS Midway, May 1972, check it out.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

Its Rapidly becoming A Long Time Ago.

[@airailimages]

So true. Let's enjoy the friendship of Vietnam era vets, as we do all veterans.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@airailimages Thing is someone needs to be in their Late 50's at the youngest to have that war be anything but a video or (generally poorly made) movie.

[@opwave79]

Great footage! If anyone hasn’t been there yet, I highly recommend touring the USS Midway which is now a museum in San Diego. The last time I went several years ago I got to chat with a WWII pilot who told me about the planes he flew, I also toured the bridge and several decks below the hangar deck. It was a great experience.

[@airailimages]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@ILSRWY4]

@3:40 F-4B Phantom... a "B" model identified by its narrow chord main wheels and thin wing. Amazing the big A-3s and F-4 Phantom flew off this smaller carrier.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I started flying as a Right Seat P/C in VAH-123 circa 1963-64, 1966-70 and my first carrier landing was on the USS Oriskany. We had to fold the wings to get on the starboard cat. Looked like a postage stamp on approach.

[@ervinvice1521]

The USS Midway was still going strong twenty years later when I was on her for two brief deployments. I visited her in 2019 when she was a museum, and I’m sad to say it just wasn’t the same. The Midway should be a big, dirty, noisy workhorse, not a theme park.

[@airailimages]

That's an ongoing discussion with preservation of any equipment -- keep it pristine or let it be dirty and operational-looking. Hey, thanks for watching and commenting.

[@chardtomp]

I was involved in an operation with Midway in the late 1980s. I think Midway and Coral Sea were the two oldest carriers in the navy at that time. The government sure got their monies worth out of those ships.

[@enricomandragona163]

Lol I'm right there with you. CV-59-68&16. Come to the east coast and see what's sitting on the deck of the Intrepid!!

[@enricomandragona163]

Lexington was still in service however as a nuggets training ship

[@FPSHungary1337]

As an annual pass member of the USS Midway museum I beg to differ, she always gives me an excuse to take a drive down to San Diego. All the work that is being done to keep her maintained by volunteers is truly to be admired.

[@dmw7320]

Great quality of video thanks for sharing!

[@airailimages]

You are very welcome.

[@chikokishi7030]

Describing pictures that we can not see is a very confusing strategy.

[@arthurbarnett5205]

Was aboard on this 65 cruise, brings back memories, wood love more footage of the 65 cruise.

[@airailimages]

Thanks for watching, and for commenting. I am always digging in archives; never know what will turn up next.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

Hey, Shipmate. I was in VAH-8 as a Crewman/Navigator on that cruise. This brought back many memories.

[@louissimons7787]

While I was with VAH-8 aboard the Midway, it was so overcrowded that, even though I was a Navy LT, I had to share my bunk with another officer. I always thought that was my punishment by CDR. Niger for resigning from the Navy after having done a cruise in"64 with VAH-13 on the Kitty Hawk. During that cruise we flew near, but not over North Vietnam, but lost planes nonetheless. VF-111 lost two CO's, the second one was captured. @@wesleyswisher9624

[@rickb1973]

The Skyraiders easily launching with more ordinance than a B-17 had over Germany.... but on a single engine.....You gotta love that plane.

[@airailimages]

I think it would be hard to find anyone with a bad thing to say about the Skyraider. Well liked, and a stellar design from Ed Heinemann's design team. Thanks for watching,

[@louissimons7787]

The MIG pilot shot down by LT. Johnson would be one, many North Vietnamese and some South Vietnamese would disagree because the Skyraider was the perfect plane for close air support. @@airailimages

[@josephpreston6686]

The SS Enterprise should have been a museum ship to.

[@spankthatdonkey]

Fly Navy!

[@luacreskid]

And somewhere in the Med the same evolution was taking place with FDR air group. Memories.

[@airailimages]

Yes indeed! Thanks for watching.

[@Matt-mo8sl]

What a great video. How do they catapult the prop Sky Raiders? Where is the mounting point?

[@bruceburch8301]

Wow. Good video . music great. I was in the 7th grade .we knew what was going on but did not know politics.

[@airailimages]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@keithbrown99]

KA-3 was a jet !

[@austinevplab7167]

*Shooters* on carrier decks are a lot more animated today and fun to watch.

[@raybin6873]

They still used piston engine fighter planes in 1965? Interesting..

[@airailimages]

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was a durable and capable ground attack aircraft; there was even some discussion about starting its production line up again in the 60s, but ultimately the design of a new attack aircraft led to the A-10. Thanks for watching!

[@wesleyswisher9624]

Not fighters but two Mig 17's jumped a pair of 'Spads' at low level. Flight leader rolled over the top and nailed one of the Migs. The other one booked out. They were monsters and could deliver lots of ordinance to the bad guys.

[@louissimons7787]

I thought that the A-6 was to be the successor to the AD. Actually, Douglas had developed a turboprop successor but the Navy passed on that plane.@@airailimages

[@misterbig9025]

No ladies on board then

[@enricomandragona163]

😂 lol thank God 🙏

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

@@enricomandragona163 how is that a thank god?

[@alexandergorbatschow3516]

Мы же все понимаем. Всё для благо людей. Демократии и Мира.

[@zuratix8881]

Hey pin this

[@richardhudak4571]

U S N 1969

[@airailimages]

And thanks for watching!

[@williamcoe9200]

Your channel deserves to grow.from a veteran that worked on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga

[@airailimages]

Thank you very much for watching, and for your gracious comment.