faunt@cisco.com (Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269) (11/20/90)
From: Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269 <faunt@cisco.com> The KA-3 was modified to carry the drogue, hose-reel and fuel in the bomb bay. They were often designated EKA-3's and used for escorting the fighter/attack A/C on over-water ferry flights. The A6, S3 and our friend the A4 can be all be equiped with an external refueling pod, often called a "buddy-store". Provision had to be made in the plumbing and wiring on the appropriate external stores location for this, but the buddy store could be installed and removed very easily. We used A4B's for tankers at times in the late 60's. I suspect that one of the issues in the timing of use of in-flight-refueling is the difference in hazard in transfering jet fuel versus gasoline. I have seen a picture of ifr done in the 20's. Two open-cockpit propeller a/c, one above the other, with the hose dropping from the upper to the lower, and a crewman standing in a cockpit holding the hose to the filler.