Douglas ERA-3B Skywarrior 144832 United States Navy

These are 1/72 scale decals for Douglas ERA-3B Skywarrior 144832, assigned to VAQ-33 (Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group), operating from the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) — depicted in a rare low-visibility scheme.

The ERA-3B was a dedicated electronic reconnaissance and threat simulation variant of the Skywarrior, converted to carry sophisticated electronic intelligence (ELINT) gathering equipment and to simulate enemy radar and electronic emissions for fleet training purposes. Where the EKA-3B combined jamming and tanking, the ERA-3B's mission was intelligence collection and adversary emulation — probing fleet defenses and helping carrier battle groups train against realistic electronic threats.

VAQ-33, the “Firebirds,” was the Navy's dedicated fleet electronic warfare support squadron, providing electronic aggressor and ELINT support to the entire fleet rather than deploying as part of a single carrier air wing. Operating from the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) — the Navy's first purpose-built supercarrier, the “FID” — VAQ-33's ERA-3Bs played a vital but little-publicized role in keeping the fleet's electronic warfare skills sharp.

The low-visibility markings on this aircraft reflect the ERA-3B's sensitive intelligence-gathering mission, reducing the aircraft's visual signature during operations. A genuinely rare and seldom-modeled variant of the Whale family. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.