Watch This Timeless Color Film from the Saratoga! So many F-4s, F-8s and A-1H Skyraiders!
Some time ago, we wrote a piece about a British film by the name of “Operation Saratoga” which was shot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60) during her Mediterranean Sea (Med) cruise that took place between 28 November 1964, and 12 July 1965. Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) was embarked aboard Super Sara for this deployment.
This video features additional footage of the action filmed aboard CVA-60 during the same period. There is no sound, but the visuals are outstanding and consist almost entirely of CVW-3 flight ops. This footage was also uploaded to YouTube by British Pathé.
During the time the film was shot CVW-3 consisted of VF-31 Tomcatters flying the Phabulous McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II, VF-32 Swordsmen flying the Vought F-8D Crusader, VA-34 Blue Blasters and VA-36 Roadrunners both flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, VA-35 Black Panthers flying the Douglas A-1H Skyraider, RVAH-9 Hoot Owls flying the North American RA-5C Vigilante, Detachment 60 of VAW-12 Bats flying the Grumman E-1B Tracer, and Detachment 60 of HC-2 Fleet Angels flying the Kaman UH-2A Seasprite. After this cruise, VA-35 detached from CVW-3 and began its transition to the new Grumman A-6A Intruder all-weather attack bomber.
