Thursday, December 19^th 1996, marked the end of an era for US Naval Aviation as the last A-6E Intruder launched from the USS Enterprise off the coast of South Carolina. The day was dark and gray when the last Intruder roared off of the rain swept deck, matching the emotions that many felt as it flew off into the history books. The last Intruder catapult launch was performed by VA-75 Sunday Punchers in # 501 (Bu 162179) which sported nose art of a cartoon boxer on the port side of the radome. It's tail featured all of the squadron badges that operated the Intruder throughout it’s career with the US Navy. The aircraft was flown by Captain Bud Jewett with B/N (bombardier/navigator) Commander Jim Gigliotti, VA-75 Squadron Commander, in the right seat. Retired Vice Admiral Richard Allen, who flew the A-6A with VA-75 during the Vietnam war, gave the wind up signal and finally the launch signal as honorary launch officer. After take-off, it returned to homecoming ceremonies at NAS Oceana, marking the end of a successful six month deployment aboard the USS Enterprise.