{"id":11153,"date":"2018-12-28T05:30:52","date_gmt":"2018-12-28T05:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/28\/this-is-what-happened-when-an-air-force-pilot-got-assigned-to-a-navy-carrier\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:07:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:07:54","slug":"this-is-what-happened-when-an-air-force-pilot-got-assigned-to-a-navy-carrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/12\/28\/this-is-what-happened-when-an-air-force-pilot-got-assigned-to-a-navy-carrier\/","title":{"rendered":"This is what happened when an Air Force pilot got assigned to a Navy carrier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1964 U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Capt. Ron Williams was selected for a prestigious two-year U.S. Navy exchange assignment with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.navy.mil\/content\/dam\/nhhc\/research\/histories\/naval-aviation\/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-1\/pdfs\/Chapter3.pdf\" target=_blank>Heavy Attack Squadron 8 <\/a>(VAH-8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He flew 110 combat missions in the <a href=\"https:\/\/airandspace.si.edu\/collection-objects\/mcdonnell-f-4-yf4h-1-phantom-ii-douglas-a3d-2-3b-skywarrior-miscellaneous\" target=_blank>Douglas A-3B Skywarrior<\/a>, the heaviest and among the longest-serving aircraft to operate continuously from U.S. carriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nicknamed the \u201cWhale\u201d for its sheer size, the Skywarrior also earned another moniker among its three-man crews based on the difficulty of landing it on carriers, its lack of ejection seats and previous A3D designation: \u201cAll 3 Dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"578\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coral2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coral2.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coral2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,145 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coral2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,370 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coral2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,493 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An A-3 Skywarrior is launched from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Coral Sea in the Gulf of Tonkin in early 1972. (National Archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams vividly recalls several harrowing missions during his assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In March 1965, while en route to <a href=\"https:\/\/latitude.to\/articles-by-country\/vn\/vietnam\/25913\/yankee-station\" target=_blank>Yankee Station<\/a> off North Vietnam, he was in an A-3B being \u201chot refueled\u201d with an engine idling on USS <i>Midway<\/i>, one of the smallest carriers in the fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A perfect landing in the Skywarrior brought the right wingtip to within just 40 feet of <i>Midway<\/i>\u2019s island and three feet from parked aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo way they\u2019re going to launch us,\u201d Williams confidently told his two-man crew. \u201cCeiling and visibility are hovering at minimums and it\u2019s getting dark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He admitted to feeling somewhat dismayed when Primary Flight Control commanded, \u201cLaunch the duty Whale to refuel.\u201d (Among the Sky\u00adwarrior\u2019s many functions was serving as a refueling tanker.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The loaded A-3B was catapulted from 0 to 150 knots in 217 feet, and entered the cloud cover at 100 feet. Visibility appeared to be less than a half-mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reaching his assigned 5,000 feet, Williams was told the last jet had landed and instructed to immediately dump 30,000 pounds of fuel, keeping 5,000 pounds for a maximum 50,000-pound trap weight. Radar vectored his Whale onto final at 600 feet, then radioed, \u201cYou\u2019re at a half mile \u2014 go ball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams looked up from his instruments. Nothing. Back on the gauges, he tried to hold the same heading and descent rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At just 1\/8th of a mile and 100 feet he finally saw the dim red \u201cmeatball.\u201d It was perfectly lined up with the green datum lights and deck center, and he trapped on the no. 3 wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI walked to our squadron ready room with weak, shaking legs and heart pumping 1,000 rpm,\u201d he said. \u201cMost of the pilots had watched my approach on the PLAT [Pilot Landing Aid Television] and were waiting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sev\u00aderal of them grinned and one said, \u201cHey, Air Force, how\u2019d you like night, no bingo, open-water carrier operations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a typical USAF fighter pilot, Williams calmly answered, \u201cNo sweat. Any chance the skipper could schedule us for a second launch?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019d have done if he\u2019d said, \u2018Sure.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t remember too many of my thousands of landings on concrete,\u201d Wil\u00adliams said, \u201cbut I remember every one of my 141 carrier traps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1079\" height=\"650\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sky2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sky2.jpg.jpg 1079w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sky2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,181 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sky2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,463 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sky2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,617 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1079px) 100vw, 1079px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A-3B Skywarrior of VAH-4 prepares to release arresting cable after landing aboard the carrier Kitty Hawk while the warship sailed the South China Sea on April 13, 1966. The plane has been camouflaged for operations in Southeast Asia. (National Archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His most memorable was on return from a solo night mission to drop a dozen 500-pounders on an enemy early-warning radar site northeast of Haiphong Har\u00adbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ceiling and visibility had dropped to minimums, and the sea was extremely rough, causing the carrier deck to rapidly pitch up and down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experienced Douglas A-4 and McDonnell F-4 pilots were boltering: missing the carrier\u2019s arresting cables and going around for another attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, here I was, a fledgling USAF pilot flying his huge, ungainly Whale, hearing that my experienced USN buddies couldn\u2019t get their little birds on board,\u201d Williams commented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to an inoperable air-to-air refueling system, his A-3B couldn\u2019t be refueled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bingo fuel was 4,500 pounds\u2014enough to get to Da Nang with barely 1,000 pounds remaining. But, he noted, the Navy only used a USAF base as a last resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The air boss ordered him to descend from a fuel-conserving 25,000 feet to an uneconomical 1,000 feet and orbit 30 miles from the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Williams radioed that he was bingo fuel and couldn\u2019t refuel in flight, he received a \u201cRoger\u201d and instructions to come 10 miles closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With 2,000 pounds remaining, he transmitted, \u201cIf I can\u2019t have an approach right now, then please launch the rescue helo and give me a bailout heading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That finally got the air boss\u2019 attention, but he cleared Williams to commence air refueling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An uncomfortable Wil\u00adliams again reported that his plane couldn\u2019t air refuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This prompted a response of \u201cSorry. Cleared to CCA [Carrier Controlled Approach] frequency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Williams rolled inbound, he took a last look at the fuel gauge, and wished he hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It showed less than 1,000 pounds \u2014 enough for only one approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Midway<\/i> was pitching so badly the meatball was moving quickly from full-scale low to high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside a half-mile, the deck started drastically down. To get back on glide path without building airspeed, Williams did a big no-no: He pulled the twin J57 throttles to idle. Spool-up to full power would take an impos\u00adsible 18 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI felt sure the ship would act like always and wallow around in the bottom of the swell long enough to land,\u201d Williams recalled. \u201cThe only other option was to hope we had enough fuel to get high enough to bail out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pulled the yoke back in an effort to arrest his rate of descent, which only magnified it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt looked like I was going to plant 23 tons of aluminum and the three of us in the \u2018spud locker,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThe deck was rising fast as we hit, and I do mean hit, the deck short of the no. 4 wire, and probably with 9 or more Gs. The impact knocked all three of us unconscious. Two things saved us: first, the A-3B\u2019s strength; second was my idle rpm allowed the airspeed to decrease so much that there wasn\u2019t the energy to bounce the tailhook over the wires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Williams regained consciousness, a glance at the fuel gauge showed it flickering a hair above 0 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSuch a landing normally would have been most severely graded by the LSO [landing signal officer],\u201d he noted. \u201cHowever, when LSO Stu Corey entered our ready room, all he did was give me a big hug!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Williams left <i>Midway<\/i>, he said, \u201cI was certified as a Centurion with a minimum of 100 arrested A-3B landings on one carrier \u2014 and I was a half-inch shorter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He would go on to earn his colonel\u2019s eagles in the Air Force Reserve, and later retired from TWA as a 747 captain with 28,000 hours in his logbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"585\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dump2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dump2.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dump2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,146 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dump2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,374 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dump2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,499 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supply dump in North Vietnam burns after a strike by planes from the aircraft carrier Midway on May 28, 1965. (National Archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>This article <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.historynet.com\/air-force-pilot-flies-navy.htm\" target=_blank><i>originally appeared<\/i><\/a><i> in the September 2017 issue of<\/i> Aviation History, <i>one of <\/i>Navy Times&#8217; <i>sister magazines.<\/i> <i>Subscribe <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.historynet.com\/?utm_source=historynet&#038;utm_medium=nav&#038;campaign=funnel\">here<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ron Williams remembers his temporary duty assignment flying Douglas A-3B \u201cWhales\u201d from a carrier as the most challenging two years of his career<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":25577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"}}},"categories":[101,23,89,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3831],"class_list":["post-11153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"FB2OXRUAAJHSTB6OIN6EK26POU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/12\/28\/this-is-what-happened-when-an-air-force-pilot-got-assigned-to-a-navy-carrier\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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