| Date: 2 October 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-3B Skywarrior |
| Serial Number: 142633 |
| Military Unit: Detachment A, VAH-2 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Coral Sea |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Cdr Charles Joseph Cellar, Jr (Survived) |
| Lt(jg) Dale Veldom Clark (Survived) |
| AT1 Larry R Sharpe (Survived) |
| AE1 Don L Menzel (Survived) |
| The Coral Sea was steaming to Subic Bay for a brief break in operations and, as was normal, some of its aircraft were launched to reach the Philippines ahead of the ship, thereby allowing some extra R and R for the crew. One of the ship’s Skywarriors was being launched with three crew and an electrician who had been specially selected for the flight as a reward for excellent work during the line period. As the catapult fired the bridle hook snapped breaking the aircraft’s nosewheel and, despite frantic attempts by the pilot to stop the aircraft, the Skywarrior slowly rolled over the side of the ship. The aircraft was hung up on the ship briefly and then fell inverted into the water. Fortunately, all four crewmen escaped from the aircraft and were picked up by one of the carrier’s helicopters. |
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