VAQ-135 “Black Ravens” Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron Home » NAS Units » VAQ-135 “Black Ravens” Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron

vaq-135-ravens-patchActivated May 15, 1969. Deployments and detachments to Southeast Asia on USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Hancock (CVA-19), USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), and to Mediterranean on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-43), USS Forrestal (CVA-59). Transition to EA-6B July 1974.

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26 thoughts on “VAQ-135 “Black Ravens” Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron

  1. I was attached to VAQ135 in May 1969 and made a cruise on the Coral Sea (CVA43). As an Electronics tech I was a maintenance tech on the EKA-3B.
    I left the squadron in June 1971. I,m looking for anyone who was in this squadron during this period and specifically anyone who was on the beach detachment in Da Nang April-May 1970.

    1. I was on board U.S.S. Coral Sea at the same time as you. I was an HM1 with VF151. We had an A3 of yours that was close to the carrier and we were able to recover the human remains of one aircrewman or pilot, I am not sure which. I escorted the remains into danang airport and then by open air Jeep about ten miles over to the morgue in danang. While I was at the morgue I helped a young marine process several bodies of deceased military guys . If you remember the incident or the remains I took care of give me a call at 352-350-2185. I need some assistance on a couple items. Thanks from Damond “doc” Dawson email djdawson61@gmail.com vf 151 and the coral sea. I am pretty sure the A3 crashes within view of coral sea, but I did view it.

    2. I was on that beach detachment in DaNang was a plane captain at the time. Put out the fire on the plane that caught on fire while refueling.

      1. Hi Dennis, Dan Chambers here. We served at the same time in the Corral Sea and in Da Nang. Hope all is well with you.

  2. I left VAQ 135 det.5 in May 1972, Subic Bay. My commanding officer was Lcdr Hopkins. He was the very best skipper any sailor could ever have. I got out of the Navy in Subic Bay. Looking back at that time I wish that I had let him know what a great skipper he was. He always had my back and never let officers like Lt. Red mistreat the squadron enlisted personnel. I hope that he eventually was promoted to Captain.

    1. I was in Det 3 for a few months, transferred to Det 5 and went to the Med from Dec 71-Aug 72. Larry Behm Portland Ore.

  3. I was a flight deck corpsman with VF 151 on board the Coral Sea CVA 43 off the coast of Nam when one of the A3B, had a fatal accident pretty close to the ship and I was tasked with the honor of escorting the human remains of one pilot ( I think) into the morgue in DaNang I am not sure of his name,but I think he was a member of your squadron. I would appreciate any help you could give me. I think this transpired in January of 1969 or 1970 but I am not positive of the date My email address is DJDawson61@gmail.com. Phone #:352-350-2185. Thanks. Damond

    1. A note from The Virtual Wall
      On May 15,1969, one of VAQ-130’s detachments was enlarged into a new Tactical Electronic Warfare squadron, VAQ-135, homeported at NAS Alameda, California. The new unit first deployed to Southeast Asia aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in September, 1969.

      On 16 May 1970, one of VAQ-135’s EKA-3B aircraft (BuNo 142657) was transiting from the Naval Air Station at Cubi Point, Philippines, to USS CORAL SEA on Yankee Station. As the aircraft approached Yankee Station it was diverted to land at Danang Air Base in South Vietnam. During the diversion radar contact was lost. Search and rescue operations found wreckage and recovered the body of one crewman. Three men died in the loss:

      CDR Richard R. Skeen, pilot
      LCDR Eugene F. McNally, navigator (body recovered)
      ADCS Edwin R. Conner, flight engineer

  4. Was in VAQ-135 from 11/71 through 8/72 aboard the USS Coral Sea in the Tonkin Gulf. Was an AE-3, Paul Abney, maintence officer was Lt. Al Whaley.

    1. Do names like AE1 Johnson, or PN3 Posey, OIC Harv Dickey , ADJ1 Lowry ring a bell? I have been in touch with Chuck Hanson, Mike Danosky, Steve Kuhar, Mike Kaiser, Gene Marx and others over the years as pilots/navigators. Doug Kees also comes to mind for his inflight repairs to the tanker system. One of our pilots got the nickname “Black Cloud” after nine consecutive emergencies; that would be me. The old hangar at Alameda is now an indoor sports arena with treadmills, indoor soccer, etc. Sadly, our old A-3s have since been dismantled and gone forever. 142404 (NL612) was a workhorse for us, but last seen with no wings or tail. In 2002 at an A-3 reunion at VanNuys, CA, I ran into CDR Frank Bardecki, ADCS Hutto, and AT2 Leivestad; the latter having his own company in CO. Left the “Lightening Bolts” in Oct ‘73 for NRDNY, then EA-6Bs at Whidbey which eventually led to command VAQ-131 Lancers then five years at the Pentagon led to retirement. We have one of the last three Whales on display outside the main Langley Gate at NAS Whidbey Island. Fair winds, Bill Young

      1. Give me a call if you can or my email drswahman@gmail.com
        I was an AE3…only had 2 years of active duty.. I turned 21 7 days before we departed Alameda in 71″… I got to take a cat shot and landing with OIC Dickey..went into Da Nang twice..wasn’t much of an electrician . I remember you, Gene Marx, Wisconsin boy Doug Kees…(wondered if he ever opened that bar in Montana), Hutto, AE Johnson was my boss, Garry Beightol AE Air crew, Waley
        The older I get the more I appreciate what we did. I think all of us must have had a father in WW2..My father was a navigator on a troop transport plane flying from Receife Brazil, to Senegal and Casablanca
        I’m a retired Podiatrist, living in Tucson Az…close to Davis Mothen Air base and lots of boneyards
        I visited the Midway in San Diego… I still have dreams of getting lost in the carrier… Oh ya..I slept in a compartment directly under the third wire… It’s like it was yesterday
        Congrats on your progression to the Pentagon…where were you in 9-11? I’m proud to have served

  5. Ed was my best friend. He could always keep you laughing. CDR Skeen was a good trap shooter and an excellent XO. Very professional man.
    LCDR McNally was very quiet and very professional. I remember the personalities of all three they were all great military men. “GOD bless those who gave ALL”.

    Tom Dunn, ADJC

  6. Was at commisioning ceremony on 15 May 1969 and served as Plane Captain until EAOS in September 1972. Did cruises on Coral Sea (196(-1970), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1971) and Kitty Hawk (1972). Great times with great friends.

    1. Glad to hear from all you guys. I was there also for all three cruise’s, 1969-1972 . Also on Da Nan beach det. Left VAQ-135 in 1972 but stayed in A’3s at Patuent River Test Center. While in VAQ-135 was the line supervisor and aircrew as a ABH-2 and did the same thing in PAX RIVER.

  7. To Roger Young this is Gary Evers I was attached to the beach det. In Da Nang during that time. I was with John Wayne ( buckie ) May.

  8. I too was with VAQ 135 off of the Coral Sea.1971-1972.
    I was an ADJ 3rd class.and a plane captain.
    My guys nicknamed me “Capt.kink”.
    I was from Boston Mass.
    I miss you guys,especially my man”Hominy”,Ed Neal from Spartensburg S.Carolina.
    We had some memorable times in the Phillipines.

    1. Hi Ron I remember you a Ed we did have some good times in the Philippines. We drink a lot beer had a fight with with marine are t..Hope you are doing well. Do you ever talk Ed .Hope you remember me .Dannypesnell@ymail.com . Called Hoss.like to hear from you.

  9. Steve Wahman Lots of AE’s here Abney, Evers.. I remember Pesnell, Cossette, Shickshinny, Whaley’s Whalers, Wrestled Doug Kees and let him win,
    If you’re on facebook, send me a hello…I know a few others that are still around

  10. I was on the beach detachment in December and part of April-May when we were part of the “withdrawal” ..guess we were getting ready to mine Haiphong Harbour

  11. Give me a call if you can or my email drswahman@gmail.com
    I was an AE3…only had 2 years of active duty.. I turned 21 7 days before we departed Alameda in 71″… I got to take a cat shot and landing with OIC Dickey..went into Da Nang twice..wasn’t much of an electrician . I remember you, Gene Marx, Wisconsin boy Doug Kees…(wondered if he ever opened that bar in Montana), Hutto, AE Johnson was my boss, Garry Beightol AE Air crew, Waley
    The older I get the more I appreciate what we did. I think all of us must have had a father in WW2..My father was a navigator on a troop transport plane flying from Receife Brazil, to Senegal and Casablanca
    I’m a retired Podiatrist, living in Tucson Az…close to Davis Mothen Air base and lots of boneyards
    I visited the Midway in San Diego… I still have dreams of getting lost in the carrier… Oh ya..I slept in a compartment directly under the third wire… It’s like it was yesterday
    Congrats on your progression to the Pentagon…where were you in 9-11? I’m proud to have served

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