Williamsport, Pa. — A group of nearly one hundred people gathered at the Lycoming County Veteran's Memorial Park for the dedication ceremony of an A6 intruder.
The Intruder was dedicated as Attack Squadron Fifty-Five (VA-55) “Warhorses." The Intruder served in several other Squadrons during its service, VA-65, VA-35 (twice), and VA-42 before its retirement and donation to the Pennsylvania College of Technology in 1996.
In October 2020, ownership of the A6 Intruder was transferred to the City of Williamsport and the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park Commission through the Federal Surplus Property Program and transported to the park from the Penn College Lumley Aviation Center at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville.
Keynote speakers at the event included Pilot and Bombardier/Navigator who crewed AK-503, Captain Michael Vogt, USN, Retired, and Captain W. Craig Chewning, USN, Retired.
A second-generation Intruder Pilot, Captain Mike “Vogter” Vogt was born in Pensacola FL, and commissioned an Ensign with the Class of 1972 from the US Naval Academy. Captain Vogt’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (3), Meritorious Service Medal (4), Air Medal (Numeral 1 and Combat V), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal (2), Sea Service Deployment ribbon (11), and various unit awards.
Captain Chewning, a native of Montpelier, Virginia, graduated from Louisiana State University in May 1969, and was commissioned an Ensign through the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate Program in 1969. Following flight training at Training Squadron Ten in Pensacola, Florida, and Training Squadron Eighty-Six in Glynco, Georgia, he received his wings in May 1970.
The keynote speakers will be the Pilot and Bombardier/Navigator who crewed AK-503, Captain Michael Vogt, USN, Retired, and Captain W. Craig Chewning, USN, Retired.
A second-generation Intruder Pilot, Captain Mike “Vogter” Vogt was born in Pensacola FL, and commissioned an Ensign with the Class of 1972 from the US Naval Academy. His first sea assignment saw him deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as Navigator aboard USS Connole (DE 1056), where he earned Officer of the Deck (OOD) qualification. After flight training, he served consecutive flying assignments with Attack Squadron (VA) Thirty-Four/USS John F Kennedy (CV 67), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) Five/NWC China Lake, CA, and VA Thirty-Five/USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He retired from active duty in August 1998, and worked with small and large defense contractors, until 2012.
Captain Vogt’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (3), Meritorious Service Medal (4), Air Medal (Numeral 1 and Combat V), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal (2), Sea Service Deployment ribbon (11), and various unit awards.
Captain Chewning, a native of Montpelier, Virginia, graduated from Louisiana State University in May 1969, and was commissioned an Ensign through the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate Program in 1969. Following flight training at Training Squadron Ten in Pensacola, Florida, and Training Squadron Eighty-Six in Glynco, Georgia, he received his wings in May 1970.
After a brief staff tour with Commander Naval Air Force US Atlantic Fleet, Captain Chewning reported to Attack Squadron Fifty-Five as Executive Officer where during USS Coral Sea’s (CV 43) 1985-1986 deployment, he participated in combat operations in the Gulf of Sidra and at Benina Airfield. After serving as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron Fifty-Five and making a second USS Coral Sea Mediterranean deployment, Captain Chewning reported to USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) as Operations Officer.
Captain Chewning has over 4,000 flight hours in the A-6 Intruder and has logged over 1,000 carrier landings. His awards include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, three individual and nine Strike/Flight Air Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals with combat “V,” and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
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