P-3 and AIM-9

As a young sailor (some 30+ years ago) I flew in the back of an EP-3B 'Batrack' aicraft of VQ-1. Years later, I read of the story of the two P-3As that were converted to EP-3Bs in the 1960s.

The story is that they were CIA-operated out of Taiwan, Germany, etc. with a number of modifications for intelligence collection and agent dropping and various skullduggery. When the CIA was done (by 1968) they were modified into the Navy first reconnaissance EP-3s.

One intriguing part was that they were supposedly fitted with rear-firing AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons. To discourage MiGs while engaged in overflights...

This sounds a bit far-fetched to me...has anyone heard of such a thing?

Larry,
I heard the same stories you did (30 years ago or so, I'm a retired
AW), and I haven't been able to find anything that verifies the story.
Even some of the guys I knew flying in the "spookier" P-3s, that I knew
for years wouldn't verify anything.

Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN

Yeah, really I'm talking crazy aerodynamics...

On the other hand, does anyone remember the Soviet sub overflown by a Navy P-3 in the 1980s that had a mockup small SAM launcher up on the sail? There was some turbulence after that photo hit the fan...

So -- if you think you've got intell collectors watching you, paint up a blue missile all authentic colors and mount it on a pylon facing backwards... Hope that word filters through to the bad guys and who knows? Maybe that MiG pilot will twitch a bit, thereby causing him to miss. The Chinese Nationalists lost a lot of aircraft over the years, including several P2Vs (RB-69As).

Originally Posted by Don McIntyre

Larry,
I heard the same stories you did (30 years ago or so, I'm a retired
AW), and I haven't been able to find anything that verifies the story.
Even some of the guys I knew flying in the "spookier" P-3s, that I knew
for years wouldn't verify anything.
Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN

I was a CTI back-ender and it's only been the past few years that I have allowed myself to THINK about this stuff...let alone verify.

Here's a photo of a black-painted P-3 at NAF Naha in October of 1966 for maintenance. According to www.vpnavy.net it's buno 149678, an EP-3B of VQ-1. It was later converted to an EP-3B and was in VQ-1 but in October of 1966 it was still a P-3A, albeit modified, and belonged to the CIA/ROCAF and was flying from Taiwan, etc. Note the CHINAT insignia, along with a few odd bumps and whatnot, including adapter rails on the wing pylons...

Now THAT is an interesting pic.

Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN

Larry Cauble wrote:
As a young sailor (some 30+ years ago) I flew in the back of an EP-3B
'Batrack' aicraft of VQ-1. Years later, I read of the story of the two
P-3As that were converted to EP-3Bs in the 1960s.
y Cauble

Hmm When were you in Q1 ??? I was There 30+ years ago too, only I flew
the
other two.


Rick
Everett, Washington

Originally Posted by

Hmm When were you in Q1 ??? I was There 30+ years ago too, only I flew
the other two.

I was TAD to the Security Group det (FSD Cubi Pt) for several months in the summer of '73. Only actually flew on PR 31 (buno 149678.)