A bomb-laden U.S. Navy Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A <i>Corsair II</i> (BuNo 153223) from Attack Squadron 147 (VA-147) "Argonauts" is launched from the aircraft carrier USS <i>Ranger</i> (CVA-61) from one of her waist catapults, during operations in the Gulf of Tonkin in January 1968. VA-147 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) aboard the <i>Ranger</i> for a deployment to Vietnam from 4 November 1967 to 25 May 1968. This was the first combat deployment of the <i>Corsair II</i>.<br>
The A-7A 153223 later crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin after launch from USS <i>Oriskany</i> (CVA-34) on 8 September 1971 while in service with VA-153. The pilot ejected and was rescued.
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PH1 Donald F. Grantham, U.S. Navy</div>
U.S. Navy photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/usn/USN-1130000/USN-1130916.html">USN 1130916</a>