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| The first naval combat aircraft designed to carry an atomic bomb and for a time the world's largest carrier based aircraft, the Savage was developed (as the North American NA-146) to meet a US Navy requirement for a high performance attack bomber capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.
In order to meet the specification's demands a large aircraft was required, this in turn dictating the need far an unusual composite powerplants configuration - a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radials as the primary engines augmented by an auxiliary Allison J33 turbojet in the lower rear fuselage.
This third engine was intended to provide a high speed 'dash' capability during the attack phase of the aircraft's operation and for extra boost on takeoff when required.
Other features included shoulder mounted folding wings, tricycle undercarriage, wing tip fuel tanks and (on the first models) dihedral tail planes.
The Savage was ordered In June 1946, the first of three XAJ-1 prototypes flying on 3 July 1948. These were followed by 55 initial production AJ-1s, the first one flying in May 1949.
Deliveries to US Navy squadron VC-5 began in September 1949 and the first carrier landings were performed aboard USS Constellation in August 1950.
The AJ-2 first flew on 19 February 1953, this upgraded model featuring revised versions of the same powerplants, increased fuel capacity, systems modifications, a taller fin and no tailplane dihedral.
Preceding the AJ-2 bomber was the photo-reconnaissance AJ-2P (first flight 6 March 1952) equipped with 18 cameras for day and night photography at high and low altitudes, photo-flash bombs in the weapons bay, automatic control of most of the cameras, the associated electronics equipment in a modified nose and additional fuel capacity. Four US Navy combat squadrons were still operating the AJ-2 in 1958 and these received AJ-2Ps.
A number of AJ-1s and AJ-2s were converted to flight refuelling tankers with a hose-and-reel unit installed in the weapons bay. The few Savages still in service in September 1962 when all USAF and USN aircraft designations were combined into the existing Air Force system were redesignated A-2A (AJ-1) and A-2B (AJ-2).
| MODEL | AJ-2 |
| CREW | 3 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-44W, 1790kW + Allison J33-A-19 auxiliary turboprop, 2087kg |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 23973 kg | 52852 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 22.91 m | 75 ft 2 in |
| Length | 19.20 m | 63 ft 0 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 758 km/h | 471 mph |
| Bob, e-mail, 25.03.2008 13:18 I was in VJ-61 from 1952-56 at N.I. and Miramar and I am searching for anyone who may have served with me at that time, and I am searching for any pins /patches specifically for VJ-61 to add to my Jacket. Now living in MN.
Thanks Guys.
(email to: weatherguesser@military.com) reply | | David Duckett, e-mail, 04.03.2008 04:12 My nearly completed model of an AJ 1 Savage is at www.virtualaerodrome.com. reply | | Richard A. Clark, e-mail, 18.02.2008 08:22 During a summer Midshipman cruise in 1953 I was LSO spotter (ship's company) aboard the USS BENNINGTON. An AJ1 crashed; one life was lost. An experience I'll never, never forget, of course... reply | | Bert Canepa, e-mail, 09.02.2008 00:06 I too served in VJ-61, based Miramar Naval Station, 1952-54.
I was not involved with the AJ's we had, but I did hear that they had a tendency to "blow out the after hatch!" And, I did hear that they, "were kind of difficult!" I don't know how true that was, but it was a "different" aircraft! I was mainly involved with maintenance of the auto-pilot /photo systems on the PB4Y's. reply | |
| | Gerald Ward, e-mail, 04.11.2007 16:59 Although I served four years as PHA from 1957-61, and a lifelong student of various military aircraft, I never knew of the AJ Savage. I wish to thank my friend CWO Tom Yarbrough, ret...for bring this, innovative aircraft,? to my attention. reply | | John Haskell Tidman, e-mail, 22.08.2007 18:25 I was in Squadron VC-6 based at North Island NAS, San Diego, in 1954-55. Detachment at Atsugi, Japan. I flew off of the Oriskany, Essex and the Midway, during operations aboard these ships. These were not cantered deck carriers at this time and some of the landings were pretty stressful, as these large, heavy bombers had a hard time coming out of these experiences without injury. We practiced bomb runs during these exercises. I remember one time when flying at the upper limits of this plane, 31,000 feet, that the turbos on these engines tended to surge. One time this resulted in a throttle that would not close down all the way. We had to land on a carrier with one quarter throttle. When the LSO gave us the "cut" sign, the bombardier had to reach out and close the mixture control quickly to shut off the engine. But, no harm done. reply | | David E. Tyre, e-mail, 13.08.2007 01:13 I served aboard the USS Intrepid CVA-11 with the Marine detachment from '55 to'57. Off duty, we used to watch plane launchings from th 07 level while in the Mediterranean.
We called these planes "AJ Squaredaways". I think they were all launched using the steam catapults. reply | | Jack Baird, e-mail, 10.07.2007 23:08 I flew in the AJ2P as a Photographers mate 2nd class in VJ62. 1952-1955. We were based in Sanford Fla. Crews deployed to Naples Italy for 6 month tours, mapping areas in Europe. reply | | Captain Greg Bishop, OCFA (Ret, e-mail, 12.05.2007 01:04 My dad, AD1 Earl C (Bill) Bishop, died 20Jul1955 in the crash of his AJ Savage at Naples Italy. I was only 9 when he died, but over the years I've contacted many of his shipmates; I came to realize how dangerous the Savage was to all who flew in it. But it was very necessary given the Cold War tensions existing at that time. reply | | Carl Wayn King,ADJC, Ret, e-mail, 27.03.2007 18:44 I was an AD attached to VJ-61 and can truhfully say I never worked so hard to keep an aircraft in the up status as I did during my tenure with the AJ. I hold some fond memories of the AJ as well as the sorrow of losing a couple of friends in in a crash. reply | | CWO-2 John E. Printy, USN Reti, e-mail, 20.11.2006 04:46 Dear Sirs:
Am questioning the statement about the first carrier landings being made aboard the USS Constellation in August 1950. There was no aircraft carrier named Constellation in commission in August 1950. Constellation, CV-64, came along many years later. I believe that the carrier that you were referring to was the USS Coral Sea, CVB-43. reply |
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