Hobby Master 1/72 A-6E Intruder Devil 501 151105 VA-196 USS Independence

"Devil 501" was one of the A-6 Intruders featured in the 1991 film "Flight of the Intruder", representing an aircraft of US Navy VA-196 "Main Battery" aboard USS Independence during a fictional 1972 Vietnam deployment. For filming, A-6E TRAM Intruders from VA-165 were modified to resemble earlier A-6As, including removal of the distinctive TRAM turret and application of period-style high visibility markings. VA-196 was an appropriate choice for the story: author Stephen Coonts actually served with the squadron, and his experiences flying A-6s from USS Enterprise helped inspire his original Flight of the Intruder novel.