a4

Very interesting to see the planform view of the A-4 Skyhawk relative to its cousin the F4D Skyray! I had no idea that the Skyray's wing was so much larger.

As of year 2013 this aircraft still exists, is preserved in outward form and approaching sixty years old Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk 142850 VA-112 ‘Broncos’ Modex 210 Tail code NH of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11) Seen at NAS Miramar California June 25, 1960 In the lower left background is a Douglas F4D-1 Skyray possibly of VFAW-3 (All Weather Fighter Squadron 3) attached to ADC (Air Defense Command) and based at NAS North Island, San Diego California. Also the tail end of a USAF Lockheed T-33A with numbers 8998. From study of production lists on the following internet websites it is deduced the aircraft may be T-33A-1-LO, Fiscal Year Number 51-8998 www.millionmonkeytheater.com/T-33.html www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html The above ‘Flickr’ image may also be viewed in this viewable/downloadable PDF document - and by using the heading counter; on page 73 of 91: www.scribd.com/doc/78713120/Naval-Fighters-49-Douglas-A-4... Caption reads; 142850 at Miramar on 25 June 1960.(Swisher) A4D-2 142850 was accepted for service on August 27 1958. First joined training squadron VA-126 ‘Fighting Sea Hawks’. Then as an early aerial adversary with the short lived ‘Fleet Air Gunnery Unit’. From the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1963 it flew with active Navy squadrons. Firstly with VA-112 ‘Broncos’ of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11 code NH) and from CVA-19 USS HANCOCK between July 16, 1960 & March 18, 1961 on a Western Pacific patrol. Then with VA-212 ‘Rampant Raiders’ of CVG-21 code NP for two deployments on CVA-19 USS Hancock during build ups of regional political tension. The first from February 2 to August 24, 1962 on a WestPac and the coasts of South Vietnam & Thailand. The second between June 7 & December 16, 1963 – again WestPac and around the coasts of Taiwan & South Vietnam. After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified, A4D-2 becoming A-4B. A-4B 142850 then spent six years with Reserves units in Illinois until retirement to the MASDC ‘boneyard’ compound near Tucson Arizona. In 1970-72, Singapore purchased 47 surplus A-4B airframes from MASDC for the Royal Singapore Air Force (RSAF). (40 A-4B and 7 A-4s for two seat conversion). Re-designated A-4S for single seat and TA-4S for those single seat aircraft converted to two seat trainers A-4B 142850 was one of those chosen for sale to Singapore. It is is recorded being struck off the Navy list on December 31, 1970 to become RSAF serial number 600. In RSAF service A-4S/TA-4S were given 3-digit serial numbers in the 600 range (Example: 600, 651) Every aircraft had over 100 modifications. Refurbishment of the first eight A-4S was by Lockheed Air Services in the U.S.A. They were fitted with an 8400 lb thrust Curtiss J65-W-20 engine, wing lift spoilers, 30-mm cannons, a longer nose housing a new comms/nav package, saddle type ADF dorsal hump and Sidewinder AAM provision on two extra wing stations. Internal changes included a Ferranti D-101 lead computing gunsight and weapons delivery computer. Decca Type 72 Doppler and Tactical Area Navigation System (TANS), Lear Siegler Altitude and Heading Reference System and new radios, IFF, ADF, TACAN and radar altimeter. Original APQ-145 mapping and ranging radar was retained. The first A-4S flew on July 14, 1973. The remaining 32 A-4B airframes were shipped to Singapore and upgraded to A-4S by Lockheed Air Services Singapore (LASS) In 1973 the first two Skyhawk squadrons were formed, 142 Gryphon at Tengah Air Base and 143 Phoenix at Changi Air Base. After service with the RSAF A-4S 600 / A-4B 142850 survived to become a museum exhibit at the Singapore Discovery Center, 510 Upper Jurong Rd, Singapore 638365 1962-1963 image including A-4B 142850 with VA-212 ‘Rampant Raiders’ as Modex 200: a4skyhawk.org/content/142832-va-212-official-us-navy-phot... A-4B 142832 VA-212 Modex: NP-213 1962-1963 official U.S. Navy photo via Tom Bispo Golden Dragons Skyhawk formation BuNo 142832, NP-213, and BuNo 142850, AH-200 1968 picture of A-4B 142850 with the US Naval Air Reserve: a4skyhawk.org/content/142850-nas-glenview-unknown-w-mutza... A-4B 142850 NAS Glenview Modex: 7V-3 Date: September 1968 left front view of Navy/Marine Reserve Skyhawk BuNo 142850, 7V-3, parked on the flightline 1968 scanned picture of four US Naval Air Reserve Skyhawks in formation flying low over Chicago including A-4B 142850: a4skyhawk.org/content/buno-142850-va-725-glenview A-4B 142850 VA-725 Modex: 7V Location: NAS Glenview Circa 1965 Photo Credit: CNAVRES BuNo 142121, 142850, 142855 and 142916 were assigned to NART, NAS Glenview in 1964. This photo was published in the CNAVRES in 1966 to commemorate 50 years of Naval Reserve Aviation 1999 picture of RSAF A-4S 600 / A-4B 142850: a4skyhawk.org/content/142850-peter-lau-626 A-4S BuNo: 142850 Location: Jurong, Singaporea Date: December 1999 Photo Credit: Peter Lau on display at the Discovery Center, Jurong, Singapore 2008 picture of RSAF A-4S 600 / A-4B 142850: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1135861/ Douglas A-4S Skyhawk 600 Singapore Discovery Center April 19, 2008 2009 picture of RSAF A-4S 600 / A-4B 142850: www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1240883/ A-4S 600 Singapore Discovery Center July 14, 2009

Douglas A-4C Skyhawk 149638 VA-86 ‘Sidewinders’ Modex 409 with squadron motif on fuselage side Tail code AG of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) Seen aboard CVA-62 USS INDEPENDENCE Picture possibly dated June 1963 as the squadron and air group were involved in ‘local operations’ off the Virginia Capes. www.gonavy.jp/CV-CV62-01f.html Note two Grumman S-2E/F Trackers behind on right. These aircraft were part of an antisubmarine squadron that normally flew off smaller specialized carriers for AS work, not from ‘super carriers’ like USS Independence, so this indicates the image was recorded during work up exercises. Also VA-86 as part of Carrier Air Group Seven (CVG-7 code AG) deployed on a Mediterranean Sea patrol aboard CVA-62 USS INDEPENDENCE from August 6, 1963 to March 4, 1964 during which a major Navy air unit designation was changed from Air Group to Air Wing. www.gonavy.jp/CVG-CVG7f.html (CVG-7 re-designated CVW-7 on December 20, 1963) A-4C 149638 may have flown from the carrier during this cruise. Another picture of A-4C 149638 while with VA-86 as Modex 409 in 1963/1964: a4skyhawk.org/content/149638-va-86-unknown-w-mutza-2458 A-4C 149638 VA-86 Modex: AG-409 Date: August 1963 – March 1964 Photo Credit: unknown via W. Mutza right side view of Sidewinders Skyhawk BuNo 149638, AG-409, parked on the line. A-4C 149638 served with nine Atlantic Fleet Attack squadrons from 1962 to 1970 and with East coast based US Marine Corps Air Reserve Training units from 1972 to 1975. A 1970 picture with A-4C 149638 included: a4skyhawk.org/content/149638-va-66-joe-turpen-2457 a4skyhawk.org/content/148467-va-66-photo-joe-turpen-1894 Variant: A-4C Custodian: VA-66 BuNo: 149638 Modex: AA-302 Location: USS Forrestal Date: 1970 Photo Credit: from Joe Turpen Waldo's Skyhawk BuNo 148467, AA-308, during the 1970 Forrestal Med Cruise This was the last Skyhawk deployment for VA-66 before going to the A-7. The Skyhawk on the left is BuNo 149638 www.vermontel.net/~tomh/AIRCRAFT/UNITS/VMA322/A4BCGallery... www.vermontel.net/~tomh/images/AIRCRAFT/USMC/VMA322/A-4C/... A-4C 149638/QR554 rolls out on runway 08 at NAS South Weymouth on 26 August 1972 in this Tom Hildreth photo A-4C 149638 was flown into storage at the then MASDC near Tucson Arizona in February 1975 and Struck Off soon after. In October 1984 it was sent to the Fallon Range Nevada as a ground target Information courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’ and ‘GO!NAVY’ internet websites..