A U.S. Navy Grumman C-1A <i>Trader</i> (BuNo 136772) aircraft from Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 21 (VR-21) <i>Pineapple Airlines</i> after having landed aboard the aircraft carrier USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CVA-63) during that carrier's deployment to Vietnam from 19 October 1965 to 13 June 1966.<br>136772 was lost together with C-1A 136753 in a suspected mid-air collision on 24 November 1983. Both aircraft were in service with VR-24 <i>Lifting Eagles</i> and departed Mallorca airport in the Mediterranean Sea for a flight back to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. Radar contact was lost with both aircraft at approximately 230 km from the island of Mallorca. Only a life raft and minimal debris from either plane was ever found, seven crewmembers died.
USN
U.S. Navy photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv63-66/008.htm">[1]</a> from the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv63-66/index_002.htm">USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CVA-63) 1965-66 cruise book</a> available at <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://navysite.de/cruisebooks/index.html">Navysite.de</a>