Former Intelligence Collector Had Been Languishing In Rota, Spain

EA-3B Bureau Number 146457 was a Signals Intelligence collector flying for many years out of Rota, Spain with Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (VQ-2.)  As the "Whale" was removed from service in the early 90's, she was fixed up and painted and placed in front of the Rota Bachelor Officer's Quarters as a monument to the many years of service she and her fellow Whales provided the nation while flying missions all over the world out of Rota, and to those from VQ-2 who lost their lives in the service of their country.

File Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy

But in recent years, with VQ-2's movement to NAS Whidbey Island, WA, she fell into some disrepair, and it was decided to see if she could be moved back to the USA.

A dedicated group of retired Navy flyers and Whale maintainers still in the region got together, and with the cooperation of the Navy, 146457 was fixed up for transfer, and last year a Whale once again graced a Navy flight deck as she was sea-lifted to NAS Norfolk, VA on a homeward-bound Navy carrier. Once again, a Skywarrior was gracing the Norfolk flight line, where a number of Whales from VAQ-33 once parked.

File Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy

Now, she's about to make her final voyage to her new home, the flight deck of USS Yorktown, in Charleston, SC. According to Richard Caldwell N32 at COMSEALOGLANT the transfer of the EA-3B 146457 is scheduled to take place from 28 June to 1 July. The USNS Seay is scheduled to arrive in Norfolk on June 28th. It will embark the EA-3B that day, and depart for Charleston on the 29th. She is scheduled arrive in Charleston on July 1st, and will be berthed at the Detyens Shipyard. The plane will be offloaded to a barge on arrival, and then maneuvered to the USS Yorktown.

FMI: http://a3skywarrior.com