Loss rates for A-7s in the fleet

[Gordon]

I had an interesting conversation with a pair of SLUF pilots today - an
AF type and a Navy guy. I chimed in with my 2 cents, that my
connection with the stubby little jets was that I used to fish their
pilots out of the sea when they went from "single engine" to "no
engine". Both pouted a bit at that, and Jim replied, "Statistics don't
support that 1-engine jets fall into the sea any more regularly than
2-engine jets." I countered with my own experience - on my last
cruise, the USS Midway dumped five A-7s, an SH-3, and a Hawkeye into
the ocean. At the other end of my career, same oceans, different CV,
we lost 2 Tomcats and 3 A-7s over a one-year period. I have no idea
what the actual loss rates are for A-7s vs the rest of the twin engine
fleet, but it always -seemed- like more of them were lost. Rescue
swimmers in my H-3 squadron called them SDVs ("Survivor Delivery
Vehicles").

Jim is a very intelligent guy and I imagine he is probably right, but I
wondered if anyone knew what the actual at-sea loss rates were for the
Corsair II in comparison to the rest of the fleet during its service
life. Anyone..?

v/r
Gordon

[Guy Alcala]

Gordon wrote:

> I had an interesting conversation with a pair of SLUF pilots today - an
> AF type and a Navy guy. I chimed in with my 2 cents, that my
> connection with the stubby little jets was that I used to fish their
> pilots out of the sea when they went from "single engine" to "no
> engine". Both pouted a bit at that, and Jim replied, "Statistics don't
> support that 1-engine jets fall into the sea any more regularly than
> 2-engine jets." I countered with my own experience - on my last
> cruise, the USS Midway dumped five A-7s, an SH-3, and a Hawkeye into
> the ocean. At the other end of my career, same oceans, different CV,
> we lost 2 Tomcats and 3 A-7s over a one-year period. I have no idea
> what the actual loss rates are for A-7s vs the rest of the twin engine
> fleet, but it always -seemed- like more of them were lost. Rescue
> swimmers in my H-3 squadron called them SDVs ("Survivor Delivery
> Vehicles").
>
> Jim is a very intelligent guy and I imagine he is probably right, but I
> wondered if anyone knew what the actual at-sea loss rates were for the
> Corsair II in comparison to the rest of the fleet during its service
> life. Anyone..?

Gordon, I imagine this would be the place to ask:

http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/

Guy

[Gordon]

>
> Gordon, I imagine this would be the place to ask:
>
> http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/


Thanks for the link, Guy. I sent in the data request form and will
post the info if they reply.

v/r
Gordon