English: U.S. Navy catapult crewmen position a Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo 149508) of Attack Squadron 93 (VA-93) "Blue Blazers" for launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA-61), 24 March 1965. VA-93 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) aboard the Ranger for a deployment to Vietnam from 5 August 1964 to 6 May 1965. The plane is carrying practice bombs. Markings below the cockpit indicate that the plane's assigned pilot was Lieutenant Commander Olof M. Carlson.
Note: The U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command identifies the aircraft carrier as the USS Hancock (CVA-19). However, the island visible in the background and the blast deflectors to the left indicate that this picture was taken aboard a Forrestal-class carrier, much larger than the Essex-class carrier Hancock. The Douglas Skyhawk website [1] identifies the plane as the VA-93 plane "NG-303". Also the photographers were stationed aboard the Ranger as other photos indicate. According to the USS Ranger (CVA-61) 1964-1965 cruise book [2], also LCDR Carlson was assigned to VA-93 aboard Ranger.