The one way back was from VAW-78, just a crew of 2. Lost the cooling fan that cools the comm/nav gear. Lost their 2 primary radios, as well as the only TACAN and transponder. Crappy Wx, plane ran out of gas. One crewmember successfully bailed out, if my memory serves me correctly. This mishap is what spawned the requirement for at least a 3rd crewmember for all flights. Known in some circles as "the stunt mole."

Threre was also an "A" model lost in the 60's out at the ship in the overhead stack. I saw a copy of the plat video that showed the plane cartwheeling into the sea, minus one wing, very scary. Cause was never determined (mishap investigation was a bit different back then) but an A-7 also failed to return to the ship also and was never found. A mid-air was surmized, but never confirmed, again I don't think they spent too much time investigating aircraft mishaps back then, they just bought more planes and ordered in more crew. My how times have changed. Personally, I don't long for the good old days.....