Four photos showing the accident of a Douglas A-4E <i>Skyhawk</i> (BuNo 150117) from Attack Squadron 152 (VA-152) "Mavericks" suffering a brake failure following recovery aboard the aircraft carrier USS <i>Shangri-La</i> (CVS-38) on 2 July 1970. The first photo shows the <i>Skyhawk</i> heading towards the catwalk just short of the port elevator, with Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Joe Hammond trying to push the the starboard wingtip in hopes of turning the aircraft. The second photo shows the the plane with the front wheel in the catwalk. The pilot, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William Belden, ejects in the third photo and is visible in the water in the fourth photo. Belden was rescued by <i>Shangri-La</i>´s <i>Seasprite</i> helicopter from helicopter combat support squadron HC-2 Det.38 <i>Fleet Angels</i>. This accident happened during the <i>Shang</i>´s last deployment before her decomissioning from 5 March to 17 December 1970 to Vietnam, with Attack Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) embarked.
PH3 Keith Gutherie, USN
1970-07-02
U.S. Navy Naval Aviation News October 1970 p. 25 <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1970/Oct70.pdf">[1]</a>