VA-85 Black Falcons A-6e (1981) Intruder Model, 1/36th Scale, Mahogany, Navy

VA-85 Black Falcons A-6 (1981) Model Fly off the USS Forrestal this 18 inch wooden model of the VA-85 Black Falcons 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. A-6E Intruder/Bu. 158795 1973: Delivered to the US Navy. 1974-76: VA-85 as AA-503. 1978: VA-85 as AA-510. 1978-79: VA-75 as AC-504. 1981: VA-85 as AA-510. 1982: VA-85 as AA-5xx. 1986: VA-85 as AA-510. 1987-88: VA-52 as NL-505. 1993: VA-95 as NH-514. 1995: VA-128 as NJ-705. 8/1995: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard. 7/25/2000: Struck off charge. May 1958: As part of an Atlantic Fleet training exercise (LANTRAEX 1-58), two of the squadron’s AD-6 Skyraiders, flown by Lieutenant (jg)s Strang and Woods, flew nonstop from USS Forrestal (CV-59), operating off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, to Naval Air Station North Island. The flight was conducted below 1000 feet to demonstrate the low level and long range capability of the squadron. Two days later the aircraft returned, nonstop, to Forrestal. 5 Feb 1963: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander C. H. Mundt, was killed in an air crash. 22 Dec 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander B. J. Cartwright, and his bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Ed Gold, failed to return from a strike into North Vietnam and were listed as missing in action, presumed dead until their remains were identified in November 1994.[2] 21 Apr 1966: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander J. E. Keller, and his bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Commander E. E. Austin, were killed in action during a mission over North Vietnam. 27 Apr 1966: While serving with VA-85 as a bombardier/ navigator in an A-6A, Lieutenant (jg) Brian E. Westin was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during a combat mission over North Vietnam when he risked his own life to save that of his wounded pilot, Lieutenant W. R. Westerman. 6 Sep 1968: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander K. L. Coskey, was shot down over North Vietnam. His bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant Commander R. G. McKee, was rescued but Commander Coskey became a POW. He survived the internment at Hanoi and was released on 14 March 1973. Jul 1974: Following the coup that overthrew the government of Cyprus, VA-85 operated from Forrestal in the vicinity of Cyprus and provided air cover for the evacuation of Americans and foreign nationals from the island. May–Jun 1981: Following increased military action and Israeli reprisal raids against Syrian missile positions in southern Lebanon, Forrestal was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean. VA-85 operated from the carrier while on station off the coast of Lebanon. Jul 1982: Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June and the siege of west Beirut, Forrestal operated off the coast of Lebanon with VA-85 prepared to provide air support for a possible evacuation of Americans. Aug–Sep 1982: Forrestal and its embarked squadrons provided air cover for the landing of 800 U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. The Marines became part of the Multinational Force in Lebanon. 4 Dec 1983: During USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)’s operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of the Multinational Force, several of the carrier’s F-14 reconnaissance aircraft received hostile fire from Syrian surface- to-air missile and anti-aircraft positions on 3 December. A retaliatory strike was flown by elements of CVW-3 and aircraft from USS Independence (CV-62) against the Syrian antiaircraft positions near Hammana, Lebanon. One of the squadron’s A-6Es was lost in the attack, its pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, was killed and the NFO, Lieutenant Bobby Goodman, was captured by the Syrians. He was released 4 January 1985. Jul 1984: The squadron operated in the Caribbean and off the coast of Central Americ