a4c

VX-5 Vampires A4D-2N Skyhawk BuNo 145066, XE-2, in-flight, circa 1962.

The above picture may also be viewed here: www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a4dpics/147811.jpg Douglas A4D-2N/A-4C Skyhawk 147811 VA-83 ‘Rampagers’ Modex 301 Tail code AJ of Carrier Air Group Eight (CVG-8) USS FORRESTAL above NAVY on rear fuselage Black painted nose to appear as if radar equipped with a covering radome as was the practice with the A-4C for that period. A4D-2N 147811 Construction Number 12575 was accepted by the US Navy from the Douglas El Segundo California plant on September 29, 1960. Between 1962 and 1967 A4D-2N/A-4C 147811 flew only from Sixth Fleet carriers with four US Navy squadrons in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters. 1960-1962; VA-83 ‘Rampagers’ of CVG-8 code AJ aboard CVA-59 USS Forrestal 1962; VA-72 ‘Blue Hawks’ of CVG-7 code AG from CVA-62 USS Independence 1963; VA-172 ‘Blue Bolts’ Detachment 15 of Carrier Anti Submarine Group 58 (CVSG-58) as temporary ‘fighter’ protection aboard anti-submarine carrier CVS-15 USS Randolph. Both 1964 and 1965; VA-172 of CVW-1 code AB from CVA-42 USS Franklin D Roosevelt 1966-1967; VA-66 ‘Waldos’ of Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6 code AE) on board CVA-66 USS America. As part of NATO, if a ‘Hot’ war had erupted this aircraft would have been used to attack enemy Soviet forces with nuclear weapons. After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified, with A4D-2N becoming A-4C. VA-66 A-4C 147811 was lost while on a Mediterranean deployment. On Thursday May 25, 1967 Lieutenant Commander A.P. Lowry ejected when his Skyhawk crashed into the sea off the starboard bow of CVA-66 USS America and sank in 1450 fathoms of water. Without injury the very fortunate pilot was saved by the rescue helicopter crew. a4skyhawk.org/3e/va66/va66.htm 1964 picture with A-4C 147811 as background: a4skyhawk.org/content/va-172-4c-buno-147811 A-4C 147811 VA-172 Modex: AB-312 Location: probably NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Date: January 1964 Carrier and squadron skippers, including Captain John Lacouture (Saratoga) and Gerald Miller (Franklin D. Roosevelt) pictured in front of VA-172 A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 147811, AB-312, probably at NAS Jacksonville, FL. Photo courtesy of Bob Lawson. 1964-1965 formation picture with A-4C 147811 included: a4skyhawk.org/content/147811-va-172-us-navy-photograph-bo... A-4C 147811 VA-172 Modex: AB-301 Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photograph from Bob Hinckley flight of four Blue Bolt Skyhawks over the Mediterranean: BuNo 149513, AB-316; BuNo 148586, AB-311; BuNo 147811, AB-301 and BuNo 149564, AB-313. They even painted the Bluebolt insignia on all four aircraft! (All information and images courtesy of the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’)

Another version of the above may be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4564690296/

Douglas A-4C Skyhawk 145118 Composite squadron VC-7 ‘Redtails’ Side number 16 and unit tail code UH A 1974 color picture of A-4C 145118 apparently taken at same place and time: a4skyhawk.org/content/145118-vc-7-photo-scott-van-aken-1304 A-4C 145118 VC-7 ‘Redtails’ side number 16 Unit tail code UH Location: NAS Miramar Date: February 1974 photo by Scott Van Aken Tallyho Skyhawk BuNo 145118, centerline buddy store, parked on the ramp ………………………………………………………………….... A4D-2N/A-4C 145118 was accepted from the manufacturer on January 8, 1960. For the first four years flew with the US Marine Corps from MCAS El Toro California. Then to “that old crazy Asian war” with the US Navy and VA-153 ‘Tail Flies’ flying off CVA-43 USS Coral Sea in 1965. During this deployment it was sent to Japan for repair, returning to the carrier and completing the tour. 1966 saw A-4C 145118 shipped out to NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines - ready for more war. Back to flying with five different Marine Corps squadrons from 1966 to 1967, logging many missions ‘in country’ - out of muddy Chu Lai Air Base in the then South Vietnam. Two rest and maintenance periods were also spent in Japan. Returning to the US mainland in 1968 and Marine/Navy training or reserve units. A-4C 145118 eventually flew as a target tow plane on both the East and West coasts of continental USA for three more years before being retired in March 1975 to the desert boneyard at MASDC near Tucson Arizona and eventually scrapped there. A 1965 monochrome carrier deck action image including A-4C 145118: a4skyhawk.org/content/145118-va-153-official-us-navy-phot... A-4C 145118 VA-153 ‘Blue Tail Flies’ side number 300 Airwing code NL USS Coral Sea 1965 official U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Jean Cote Blue Tail Flies Skyhawk BuNo 145118, NL-300, aboard the Coral Sea as a Sea Knight delivers supplies. Blue Tail Flies BuNo 148317, NL-309 at right