a4

A-4 (Aggregat 4) was another name of the V-2 rocket.

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 A4D-1 Skyhawk 139925 VX-5 ‘Vampires’ code XE side number 7 Seen carrying a T-63 tactical nuclear weapon shape on its center line pylon without retractable lower stabilizing fin. At that time the role of VX-5 was testing and devising methods of nuclear weapons delivery. The T-63/T63 was a test shape for the Mark 7 tactical nuclear implosion bomb. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_7_nuclear_bomb A4D-1 139925 was accepted by the US Navy on August 23 1956 and went straight to VX-5 on August 25, 1956 as a weapons test platform. Then spent four years with various training and support units from California based Navy air stations until 1963, when stored at the NAF Litchfield Park Arizona desert compound. After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified, and A4D-1 became A-4A. USAF & USN storage was combined into one organization in 1965 and A4D-1 139925 was moved on to MASDC near Tucson. Returned to service in 1966 as a Reserve trainer from bases in California and Kansas it flew until 1969 when Struck Off Charge. The above image may also be viewed in this viewable/downloadable PDF document on pages 80-81 www.scribd.com/doc/78713120/Naval-Fighters-49-Douglas-A-4... Caption reads; “A4D-1 139925 carries another T-63. Tail and fuselage stripes were dark green bordered by white. The nose of the aircraft and the T-63 were da-glo red.” Period picture of A4D-1 139925 with VX-5: a4skyhawk.org/content/buno-139925-vx-5-xe-7 A4D-1 139925 VX-5 code XE side number 7 Photo Credit: C. Gilbert VX-5 A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 139925, XE-7, special weapons, next to VA-54 AD-7 Skyraider BuNo 142070, Armitage Field, circa 1957 Low resolution scan of period picture with A4D-1 139925 of VX-5: a4skyhawk.org/content/139925-vx-5-official-us-navy-photo-144 A4D-1 139925 VX-5 code XE side number 7 circa 1957 Photo Credit: official U.S. Navy photo right side air to air view of Vampires Skyhawk BuNo 139925, XE-7, with a centerline mounted special test shape (All information and images courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’)