Grumman WF-2 (E-1B) Tracer

Last updated on: February 21, 2018
This page is just for the early AEW carrier-capable plane, a variant of the Trader and Tracker. And yes, not a "jet", I know, I know.
At the end of this page is a list of people who have graciously offered their help. Thank you all very much!
*11/1969: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/12/1970: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*7/1974: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*9/1967: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/31/1972: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*5/3/1972: Struck off charge at NAS Norfolk, VA.
*1/1970: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/25/1971: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*7/1972: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1967-68: VAW-111 as RR-727.
*9/4/1964: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*7/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*2/8/1976: Struck off charge at NARF Jacksonville, FL.
*Currently preserved onboard the USS Intrepid Museum, NY.
*1969: VAW-121 as AU-70.
*1970-71: VAW-121.
*1972-73: VAW-121 as AU-770.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*6/29/1976: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1971: VAW-121 as AT-664.
*1978: VAW-78 as AF-010.
*1/1978: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*8/4/1963: Crashed into the sea after a bad launch off USS Enterprise. 2 crewmen were killed. Where? Or on 8/14/1963?
*8/15/1963: Written off after a deck accident onboard USS Saratoga in the Mediterranean Sea, DBR when crash-landing F3B 143476 slid into it.
*1969: VAW-121 as AU-75.
*VAW-78 as AF-011.
*1975: VAW-78 as AW-770.
*1977: VAW-78.
*11/22/1977: Struck off charge at NAS Norfolk, VA.
*Currently preserved at the New England Air Museum, CT.
*12/14/1966: Crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin due to engine failure. 3 crewmen were killed.
*1969: VAW-121 as AU-71.
*1973: VAW-207 as AF-701.
*VAW-78 as AF-773.
*1976: VAW-207 as AF-773.
*2/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*6/29/1976: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1965: VAW-11.
*1968-69: VAW-111 as NP-723.
*1969-70: VAW-11 as NP-010.
*1970: VAW-111 as NF-011.
*1973: VAW-111.
*11/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*Returned to service.
*1975: RVAW-110.
*7/10/1975: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*VAW-111 as RR-720.
*? as NS-014.
*1967-68: VAW-111 as RR-701.
*1970: VAW-111 as NM-011.
*1973: VAW-111 as NM-014.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*6/29/1976: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1963: VAW-11.
*1970: VAW-121.
*1971: VAW-121 as AU-774.
*9/12/1972: Struck off charge at NARF Quonset Point, RI.
*VAW-207 as AF-702.
*? as NM-603.
*1976-77: RVAW-110 as NM-012.
*6/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1976: VAW-88 as ND-713.
*12/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1966: VAW-11 as RR-703.
*1968: VAW-11 as NM-721.
*Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/23/1976: Struck off charge.
*Currently preserved onboard the USS Yorktown Museum, SC.
*1967: VAW-12 as AC-712.
*1967: RVAW-120 as NM-013.
*9/1967: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/31/1972: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-763.
*1970: ? as NT-013.
*1974: VAW-307 as ND-011.
*7/1974: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*6/29/1976: Struck off charge.
*Currently preserved at the Pima Air and Space Museum, AZ.
*1965: VAW-11 as RR-xx.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-713.
*1973: RVAW-110 as TT-11.
*4/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/9/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1968: VAW-121 as GE-713.
*1968: VAW-121 as AS-703.
*1969-70: VAW-121.
*1976: VAW-78 as AW-012.
*8/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1972: VAW-121 as AU-774.
*1973: VAW-121 as AE-714.
*9/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1963-65: VAW-11 as RR-766.
*1966: VAW-11 as RR-7xx.
*RVAW-110 as TT-12.
*1971: VAW-307 as ND-010.
*1972: VAW-307.
*7/13/1972: Written off.
*1969: VAW-121.
*? as AW-772.
*1977: VAW-78 as AF-013.
*1/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1973: VAW-111 as NS-010.
*4/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/9/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*2/18/1969: Crashed into Silver Peak on Santa Catalina Island, CA. 5 crewmen were killed.
*1968: VAW-121 as AS-717.
*1969-72: VAW-121.
*6/6/1972: Struck off charge at NARF Quonset Point, RI.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-763.
*1969-71: VAW-121.
*1972: VAW-121 as AT-666.
*4/1972: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1964: VAW-11 as NE-785.
*1966-67: VAW-11 as RR-761.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-761. Or as RR-762?
*1977: VAW-78.
*2/8/1977: Struck off charge at NAS Norfolk, VA.
*1972: RVAW-110.
*1/17/1972: Struck off charge at NAS North Island, CA.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-761.
*VAW-111 as RR-768.
*6/12/1970: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*VAW-121 as AJ-012.
*1967: VAW-121 as GE-720.
*1969-70: VAW-121.
*6/28/1970: Written off? Repaired?
*10/23/1973: Struck off charge at NARF North Island, CA.
*1965-66: VAW-11 as RR-xxx.
*1967: VAW-111 as RR-730.
*1970: VAW-111 as NF-012.
*3/14/1974: Struck off charge at NARF Jacksonville, FL.
*1961-62: VAW-11 as RR-706.
*1962-63: VAW-11 as RR-745.
*1964: VAW-11.
*1965-66: VAW-11 as RR-7xx.
*1970: VAW-111.
*7/25/1970: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*1965-67: VAW-11 as RR-761.
*12/1/1972: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*1970: VAW-111 as NM-012.
*1972: VAW-111 as NM-011.
*1973: RVAW-110 as NM-013.
*8/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1970: VAW-111 as NM-010.
*1972: VAW-111 as NP-017.
*1973: RVAW-110 as NM-014.
*10/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*2/28/1971: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-762.
*1971: VAW-111 as NE-016.
*1973: VAW-111 as NE-016.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*7/29/1974: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1965-66: VAW-11 as RR-782.
*1967: VAW-11 as RR-725.
*1970: VAW-111 as NF-010.
*1973: RVAW-110 as TT-12.
*4/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1964-65: VAW-11 as RR-783.
*1965: VAW-11 as RR-797.
*1967: VAW-111.
*10/8/1967: Crashed into the side of Monkey Mountain, South Vietnam in bad weather. 5 crewmen were killed.
*1967-68: ? as RR-767.
*1969: VAW-111 as RR-013.
*1973: VAW-111 as NS-013.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1969-70: ? as RR-765.
*VAW-121 as AK-702.
*1973: RVAW-110 as TT-15.
*4/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/9/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1965: VAW-11 as RR-779.
*1969: VAW-111 as NM-013.
*1971-72: VAW-11 as NE-011.
*1972: VAW-111 as NM-012.
*1975: RVAW-110 as NM-012.
*1/1975: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1973: RVAW-120 as GE-700.
*8/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1962: VAW-12 as AB-772.
*1963: VAW-11 as RR-780.
*1964-65: VAW-11 as RR-4.
*1966: VAW-11 as RR-723.
*1969: VAW-111 as RR-012.
*1973: VAW-111 as NS-012.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1967: VAW-11 as RR-726.
*1973: RVAW-110 as TT-14.
*4/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1969-71: VAW-121.
*1972: VAW-121 as AT-661.
*7/1972: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*VAW-88.
*1976: VAW-121 as AE-726.
*12/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1962-63: VAW-12 as AJ-726.
*1966: VAW-121 as AW-726.
*1967: VAW-121 as AU-726.
*10/1967: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/31/1972: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1965: VAW-12.
*3/25/1965: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
*1964-65: VAW-11 as RR-5.
*11/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1974: Returned to service.
*1974: RVAW-110.
*1974: VAW-111 as NP-014.
*11/1974: Put back into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1964-65: VAW-11 as RR-6.
*1970: VAW-111 as NP-011.
*1971: VAW-111 as NP-014.
*12/1971: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1970: VAW-121 as AT-663.
*1971-72: VAW-121.
*1973: RVAW-120 as GE-705.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1963: VAW-11 as RR-787.
*VAW-12.
*1968-70: VAW-121.
*1971-72: VAW-121 as AE-711.
*? as AC-702.
*1975: VAW-121.
*9/25/1975: Struck off charge at NARF Pensacola, FL.
*Currently preserved at the Naval Air Museum at NAS Pensacola, FL.
*1966: VAW-11 as RR-712.
*1977: VAW-78 as AF-012.
*12/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1968-69: VAW-121.
*1971: VAW-121 as AU-771.
*1972: VAW-121.
*1973: RVAW-120 as GE-704.
*9/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1968-71: VAW-121.
*1977: VAW-78 as AF-013.
*12/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*9/2/1963: Crashed into the sea while attempting to land on USS Coral Sea. 4 crewmen were killed.
*1968-70: VAW-121.
*1971-72: VAW-121 as AE-712.
*1976: VAW-121 as AE-712.
*1/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1971: VAW-121 as AU-773.
*1972: VAW-121.
*5/16/1972: Struck off charge at NARF Quonset Point, RI.
*1966: VAW-121 as AW-703.
*1968: VAW-121 as GE-707.
*1969: VAW-121 as AU-772.
*1970: VAW-121.
*1971: VAW-121 as AU-772.
*1972: VAW-121 as AT-662.
*4/1972: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1972: RVAW-110 as TT-10.
*12/1972: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*11/25/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1971-72: VAW-121 as AU-775.
*10/1975: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1976: Returned to service.
*1976-77: RVAW-110 as NM-010.
*1977: RVAW-110 as AT-773.
*6/1977: Put back into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1965: VAW-11 as RR-71.
*1971: VAW-121.
*11/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1974: Returned to service.
*1976: RVAW-110 as NM-014.
*8/1976: Put back into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1968: RVAW-120 as GE-734.
*1/1968: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*1/31/1972: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1973: VAW-111 as NS-015.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1972-73: RVAW-120 as GE-701.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/9/1975: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1969: VAW-121 as AU-77.
*1970: VAW-121.
*1971-72: VAW-121 as AE-713.
*1976: VAW-121 as AE-713.
*1/1976: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1971: VAW-111 as NM-012.
*1972: VAW-111 as NP-012.
*1972: VAW-111 as RR-xx.
*1973: VAW-111 as NE-017.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*7/29/1974: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1967: VAW-111 as RR-717.
*1968: VAW-111 as RR-013.
*1972: VAW-121 as AU-771.
*1974: VAW-121 as AU-771.
*5/1974: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1967: RVAW-120 as GE-738.
*1973: RVAW-120 as GE-702.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*6/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*9/22/1965: Ran out of fuel and ditched into the Gulf of Tonkin.
*1964: VAW-12 as GE-706.
*1968: VAW-121 as AS-706.
*1969: VAW-121.
*1970: VAW-121 as AJ-010.
*1973: VAW-78 as AW-773.
*1977: VAW-121 as AE-714.
*4/1977: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1966-68: VAW-111 as RR-760.
*1970: VAW-111 as NT-010.
*1971: VAW-111 as NT-011.
*1972-73: VAW-111 as NS-011.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*8/16/1977: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*1963-65: VAW-11.
*VAW-111 as NS-014.
*1973-74: VAW-111 as NP-015.
*1975: RVAW-110 as NL-015.
*1975: RVAW-110 as NP-601.
*10/1975: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*7/1973: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*5/29/1978: Struck off charge.
*Salvaged.
*Perhaps sold on the civilian market?
*1968-69: VAW-121.
*1970: VAW-121 as AE-xxx.
*1977: VAW-121 as AE-xxx.
*3/8/1977: Struck off charge at NARF Jacksonville, FL.
----------------------------END-----------------
For their assistance in various parts of this project, I would like to give thanks to the following
individual
people...
Bill Stein
Ron Picciani
eLaRef
Tjalling Boelman
Chuck Gable
K.Y. Lun
Alan Drum