1965 - Two F-4 Phantoms of VF-151 inbound over South Vietnam.

Oct 28, 1969 - A Russian trawler, GIDROFON (Soviet AGI, shadows USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43) in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Oct 28, 1969 - The Soviet intelligence trawler Gidrofon underway with the attack aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and her escort ships in the background.

1972 - Two McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II fighters of fighter squadron VF-111 Sundowners (foreground) and VF-51 Screaming Eagles drop four Mk 82 (500 lb/227 kg) bombs each in 1971/72. Both aircraft were deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) during a deployment to Vietnam in 1971/72. The F-4Bs are also armed with AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles. The relatively small weapons load was typical for Coral Sea due to the limited catapult capacity.

Apr 1972 - A-6 Intruders from VMF-224 pass a Junk as they head into North Vietnam in the first Alpha Strike at Hiaphong Harbor.

1974 - A McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantoms of fighter squadron VF-111 Sundowners intercepts a soviet Tu-95 Bear reconnaissance plane.

Mar 10, 1977 - Two McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantoms of fighter squadron VF-194 Red Lightnings intercept a soviet Tu-95 Bear reconnaissance plane on 10 March 1977. VF-194 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Fifeteen (CVW-15) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43). Note the experimental camouflage scheme of the Phantoms. The crew of the F-4S nearer to the camera was William Dvorak/J.T. Walior, the other was Don Duffington/Wayne Cheatum.

1980 - An A-7E Corsair II of Attack Squadron (VA) 27 intercepts a Soviet Il-38 patrol aircraft that was flying in the vicinity of the carrier Coral Sea (CV 43) steaming in the North Arabian Sea, circa 1979. Such scenes were common during the Cold War as Soviet aircraft sought to keep track of U.S. carriers around the world.

1980 - This is an AN-12 Cub (similar to a US C-130 Hercules). It can be used as a medium/long range maritime surveillance aircraft--and some were fitted with ECM (electronic Countermeasures) or ELINT (electronic Intelligence) equipment--this one appears to be a "garden variety" simply performing long range recon. - Bruce Gereber

1980 - From Mike Chlebowski: "I've also got tanker pictures(reco photo) from the F-8's showing all the oil tankers running on empty. I don't think too many people know we also cut flow of oil out of the gulf for a while while we were there..."

This in fact is a cargo vessel. Note the cranes located amidships and the kingposts located on the front of the superstructure and near the bow. Tankers do not feature this type of equipment--cargo vessels do. The comment regarding reducing the flow of oil is a true statement--and was not well publicized. - Bruce Gerber

1980 - An F-4 Phantom of VMFA-531 intercepts a TU-95 Bear (probably D variant).

Correction from Miguel Vargas-Caba: Actually it is a TU-95MS-6, better known by its NATO codename as "Bear H". The TU-95RTs (NATO: "Bear D"), was the most iconic of all the TU-95s encountered by our aircraft carriers, and was distinguished by the two bulbous antenna covers, one under the nose and a larger one under the belly, to cover its navigation and search and targeting radar.

1980 - Russian spy ships. Probably--the vessel on the left is a fishing trawler (routinely converted to AGI (Intelligence Collection Vessel) by the Russians; and the vessel on the right is most likely another converted fishing vessel, although probably configured as an AGS (Auxiliary Survey Vessel). Both routinely provide surveillance of US Navy vessels -- attempting to hide behind the innocuous appearance as "fishing vessels."

1980 - Russian fly over during Indian Ocean cruise in 1980. VMFA-323 escorting.

1980 - Russian Navy DDG and trawler.

1980 - Russian tanker.

1980 - An F-4 Phantom of VMFA-323 intercepts a Russian TU-95 Bear.

1980 - An F-4N of the VMFA-323 Death Rattlers intercepts a Russian IL-78 May near USS Coral Sea CV-43.

1980 - An RF-8G from VFP-63 fly's over a Russian ship that is shadowing Coral Sea.

Feb 1980 - Russian trawler.

Feb 1980 - Russian spy ship.

Mar 1980 - Russian IL-38 May.

Mar 1980 - Russian spy ship.

Mar 10, 1980 - A port bow view of a Soviet Kashin class destroyer passing near the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA (CV 43) during her 1979-1980 deployment.

Apr 1980 - Russian spy ship.

Apr 1980 - Russian navy frigate and cargo ship.

Apr 1980 - Russian spy ship.

Apr 1980 - Russian spy ship.

Jun 1980 - Russian AN-12 Cub.

Apr 1980 - Russian trawler.

1981 - An A-7E of the VA-97 Warhawks intercepts a Russian IL-78 May over the USS Coral Sea CV-43.

Sep 1981 - A Russian TU-95 Bear overflys the USS Coral Sea. An F-4N Phantom of the VF-21 Freelancers intercepts.

Oct 10, 1981 - An air-to-air right side view of a Soviet Il-38 Ilyushin aircraft, NATO designation "May," and a U. S. Navy A-73 Corsair II aircraft from Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14). The smaller U.S. Navy aircraft is being piloted by LCDR Dave Park.

Oct 10, 1981 - An air-to-air view of a Soviet Il-38 Ilyushin aircraft, NATO designation "May," and a U. S. Navy A-7E Corsair II aircraft from Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14). (Image Source - Robert L. Lawson / Naval Aviation Museum)

1985 - This is an Udaloy Class DDG shadowing Coral Sea in the MED. By 1985 most of the Kashin's had been retired, although there were a few still operating.

1985 - A Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 Badger aircraft being escorted by an U.S. Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet aircraft from Marine fighter-bomber squadron VFMA-323 Death Rattlers in 1985. VMFA-323 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 13 (CVW-13) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 1 October 1985 to 19 May 1986.

1986 - An F/A-18A Hornet of VMFA-323 intercepts a Russian patrol plane over the MED.

Mar 24, 1986 - A Libyan Nanuchka-class corvette burning in the Gulf of Sidra. U.S. Navy Grumman A-6E Intruder aircraft from attack squadrons VA-55(USS Coral Sea) and VA-85 attacked two Nanuchka-class corvettes with Rockeye cluster bombs and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles. One was sunk, the other was towed back to port.