Castle Air Museum welcomes classic warbird to its collection

ATWATER, Calif. — It was a very special day for one U.S. Navy veteran who got to once again sit in the cockpit of a classic warbird during an unveiling in Atwater.

The Castle Air Museum held its unveiling ceremony Saturday morning for the last saved Grumman A-6E Intruder.

This classic warbird went through 2-years of restoration after it was saved from a dessert storage area in Tucson, Arizona.

U.S. Navy veteran, Greg Smith was the last pilot who flew this plane back in 1997.

Smith got the opportunity to jump in the cockpit as crews towed it to its display area.

The Grumman A-6E Intruder was brought to the Castle Air Museum in Atwater earlier this month and is also featured in the 1991 film “Flight of the Intruder” starring both Willem Dafoe and Danny Glover.