Does anyone know the history of this VQ-1 Skywarrior? It’s an overall gloss sea blue A3D-1Q stationed in Japan c.1958, and apparently it was re-painted overall gray shortlly after this photo was taken. The fuselage is bulgiing with electronics gear.
Any history of this plane, or photos of it or similar A3D-1Q’s much appreciated. It’s really a bit of a mystery now, and the only info I have is that it conducted work along the North Korean border and coast at the height of the Cold War. Again, I think this is the only photo in existence of an all-blue A3D-1Q spy bird…thanks.
By: J Boyle - 12th March 2013 at 13:29
As you probably know, many USN aircraft were painted glossy blue in the 50s.
One source I have says the “midnight blue” was adopted in 1944 and remained the standard colour until 1955.
The A3D prototypes and early production aircraft..perhaps all 50 A3D-1s…were painted blue.
In one of my books, there is a photo of an A3D of VAH-1 on its first cruise in 1956 painted blue.
Since the A3D-1Qs were modifed from the first production batch, perhaps the answer is as simple as the Navy left them their original colour for a period before being repainted gray along with the rest of the A3D fleet.
Also, it it was doing “spy” work, perhaps the gloss Navy blue was judged to be a good camoflage colour for night use…and it would certainly blend in with other Navy aircraft of the period.
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March 12, 2013 at 3:17 am