douglasskyhawk

Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk 145119 side number 16. Tail code WP of VMA-223 ‘Bulldogs’ US Marine Corps. Pilot and Plane Captain plus an Ordnance Man by ASM-N-7 Bullpup radio guided air to surface missile hung from the starboard inner pylon. Picture dated 1961 at MCAS El Toro California (ASM-N-7 was re-designated AGM-12B in 1962) Alongside is A4D-2N Skyhawk 147798 ………………………………………………………………………………………. A4D-2N 145119 Construction Number 12562 was accepted by the US Navy on August 24 1960. After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified and A4D-2N became A-4C A-4L 145119 is a distinguished Vietnam War veteran and may still exist in a different form in Malaysia. From 1960 to 1963 it served with two US Marine Corps squadrons. After October 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified - thus A4D-2N became A-4C. During 1965 A-4C 145119 was used by two front line Navy squadrons VA-216 ‘Black Diamonds’ aboard CVA-19 USS Hancock with CVW-21 code NP using Modex codes in number range 68x to 69x. Hancock deployed between October 21, 1964 & May 29, 1965 during the very early part of the Vietnam War. A-4C 145119 was then transferred in theater sometime in June 1965 direct to VA-153 ‘Blue Tail Flies’ aboard CVA-43 USS Coral Sea with CVW-15 code NL using Modex codes in the 300 range. This was during Coral Sea’s very long Vietnam War deployment lasting from December 7, 1964 to November 1, 1965. While flying with VA-153, on July 17 1965 this aircraft Sustained Substantial Damage from enemy anti-aircraft defenses – the Pilot escaped uninjured A-4C 145119 was then sent to Japan for repairs, remaining as an attrition replacement until March/April 1966. Between April 1966 and the end of 1967 A-4C 145119 was operated by seven Marine squadrons on nine tours out of Chu Lai Air Base in the then South Vietnam during extremely intensive operations of the Vietnam War. Plus periods of servicing and repair in Japan and training in the USA. 1969 to 1974 it served with several West & East coast Navy and Marine Reserve training units during which time it was uprated to A-4L. A-4L 145119 flew for couple of more years with Navy utility units VC-1 in Hawaii and & VC-7 in California until retired to the then MASDC near Tucson, Arizona on January 10, 1976 and given storage code AN3A462. In February 1983 A-4L 145119 was sold to Malaysia for conversion to A-4PTM and may have served as ‘M32-25’: www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A4D.html PTM= “Particular-To-Malaysia” *2/1983: Sold to the Malaysian AF as A-4PTM “M32-25”. *Currently preserved at Serdang APT. Up to forty A-4L/A-4C were overhauled & updated in the Grumman Aerospace facility at Saint Augustine Florida USA for sale to Malaysia between 1982 & 1986. This included re-wiring, adding two more wing stations, reworking the J65 engine and installation of improved avionics and ordnance gear, and a drag chute. Deliveries began in 1985, completed by February 1986 and the aircraft served with No’s 6 and 9 Squadrons, based at Kuantan. Service with the TUDM was quite brief and most were replaced by 1994. By September 1999, TUDM Skyhawks were no longer operational and derelict at the Kuantan Royal Malaysian Air Force Base. Their fate is unknown. 1965 pictures of A-4C 145119 having suffered battle damage from North Vietnamese ‘Triple A’: 1965 picture showing extent of combat damage to A-4C 145119 (note hole right through wing): a4skyhawk.org/content/145119-va-153-unknown-w-mutza-1307 A-4C 145119 of VA-153 aboard USS Coral Sea 1 of 2: Taken after a strike on the Than Hoa bridge 17 July 1965. The aircraft is A4C, buno 145119, Attack Squadron 153, pilot CDR Dave Leue', squadron XO at the time. The Plane Captain is Loftus, AN. Another 1965 picture showing extent of combat damage to A-4C 145119: (note hole right through wing in this color image): a4skyhawk.org/content/145119-va-153-al-hyde-1308 A-4C 145119, VA-153 USS Coral Sea. Photo Credit: Al Hyde 2 of 2: Taken after a strike on the Than Hoa Bridge 17 July 1965. The aircraft is A4C, buno 145119, Attack Squadron 153, pilot CDR Dave Leue', squadron XO at the time. 1970 picture of A-4C 145119 during a 1967 assignment to Japan: geta-o.jp/USMIL/A/A-4/A-4C/A-4C-3/A-4c(wl4)145119-sd10.jpg geta-o.jp/USMIL/A/A-4/A-4C/A-4C.htm A-4C 145119 VMA-311 ‘Tomcats’ side number 4, dated May 20, 1967 Yokota AB Japan 1968 picture of A-4C 145119 while awaiting maintenance and repair in Japan: a4skyhawk.org/content/145119-vma-311-nick-williams-1306 A-4C 145119 ex VMA-223 at Fleet Air Western Pacific Repair Activity NAS Atsugi, Japan Date: November 1968. Photo Credit: Nick Williams Left side view of USMC Skyhawk BuNo 145119 parked on the NAS Atsugi ramp next to an A-3 Skywarrior. Name below the canopy rail is LCol. Erin D. Smith Three recent images of A-4PTM “M32-25” in Malaysia: www.airliners.net/photo/1747810/ A-4PTM “M32-25”. at Serdang APT. Malaysia July 2010 jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6896775 A-4PTM “M32-25”. at Serdang APT. Malaysia July 2010 www.airfighters.com/photo/116896/M/Malaysia-Air-Force/Dou... A-4PTM “M32-25”. Currently preserved at Serdang APT. University Perdana Malaysia (Universiti Putra Malaysia) Serdang March 27, 2013 Two pictures of A-4PTM “M32-25” from a modeling enthusiasts internet website: malaysiascalemodelling.com/index.php?option=com_content&a... malaysiascalemodelling.com/images/stories/thomas/skyhawks... malaysiascalemodelling.com/images/stories/thomas/skyhawks... ………………………………………………………………………………………. A4D-2N/A-4C 147798 From 1960 to 1964 A4D-2N/A-4C 147798 served with three US Marine Corps squadrons & one headquarters unit. After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified and A4D-2N became A-4C A-4C 147798 then flew with the Navy as a trainer and Reserve aircraft and was finally assigned to VA-95 ‘Green Lizards’ in early 1968 until at least early 1970 VA-95 is recorded with Carrier Air Wing One, (CVW-1 code AB) aboard CVA-67 USS JOHN F. KENNEDY from February 17 to March 18, 1969 (extensive type training exercises in the Virginia Capes operating area) And again VA-95 was with CVW-1 aboard CVA-67 USS JOHN F. KENNEDY from April 5 to December 21, 1969 for a Mediterranean Sea region patrol (VA-95 was then disestablished on May 1, 1970) A fine color image of A-4C 147798 with VA-95 as Modex 507 only available commercially: A-4USN 00015 Douglas A-4C Skyhawk USN 147798 VA-95 USS John F Kennedy 16 February 1969 NAS Alameda by Douglas Olson www.cloud9photography.us/Military-Aviation-10/Douglas-A-4... www.cloud9photography.us/Contributing-Cloud-9/OLSEN-Dougl... www.cloud9photography.us/Military-Aviation-10/Douglas-A-4... A-4C 147798 with VA-95 as Modex 507 code AB was also chosen as a subject by US hobby decal company Microscale Aircraft Decals: www.hannants.co.uk/product/SS72812 www.flashie.nl/T/DC/DC072812.HTM Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (2) 147798 AB/507 VA-95 USS JFK 1968, 145132 AH/403 VA-112 USS Ticonderoga 1:72 - Microscale Aircraft Decals 72812 A-4C 147798 was converted to A-4L in 1970 and continued in service with Naval Air Reserve units including VA-205 ‘Green Falcons’. A-4L 147798 was sent into storage at the then MASDC near Tucson Arizona on September 8, 1975 Struck off two years later and sold to Malaysia during the 1980’s as A-4PTM “M32-32”

Three Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawks in echelon right copied from a damage creased monochrome print. All wearing tail code 7F of NAS Alameda (formerly of NAS Oakland) Naval Air Reserve Training Unit. With large Red/Orange ‘Dayglo’ painted areas on nose tail and wings. Picture date deduced to be 1961 from recorded history of one of the aircraft portrayed. Prior to 1970, reserve aircraft belonged to the local NARTU or Reserve Naval Air Station. Except for those squadrons on active duty, no reserve squadron "owned" their aircraft, as they were assigned to the NARTU/Station. In 1970, during the reorganization of the reserves into the "Reserve Force" concept, each new squadron was made independent of NARTU (later called NAR), and assigned either to CVWR-20 or CVWR-30. All squadrons were then made in the image of active duty units, with the reserve unit Commanding Officer owning the aircraft and reporting to the CAG. (Courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’) A representative picture of an NAS Oakland Reserve Skyhawk from 1961: www.a4skyhawk.org/content/a4d-1-nas-oakland-vf-873 Variant: A4D-1 Custodian: NAS Oakland BuNo: 123456 Modex: 7F-125 Location: NAS Oakland / NAS Alameda Date: 1961 Photo Credit: Naval Aviation News MAY61 NAN photo of a pilot beginning transition into jets, A4D-1, and also moving from Oakland to Alameda (Courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’) From the four numbers on each tailplane the aircraft type and Navy serial numbers are: A4D-1 142234 Modex 126 A4D-1 142146 Modex 115 A4D-1 142168 Modex unknown After November 1962 all US Navy aircraft designations were simplified, thus A4D-1 became A-4A. ………………………………………………………………….... A4D-1/A-4A 142234 was accepted by the US Navy on July 26, 1957. Spent three years with the US Marine Corps in California then Japan before being shipped back home to become a Naval Air Reserve trainer from three California located Navy bases until 1963 when it was stored at NAF Litchfield Park compound in the Arizona desert. In 1965 USAF & USN storage was consolidated into one organization so it got moved to MASDC next to Davis-Monthan AFB near Tucson. Returned to service in 1966 again as a Reserve trainer based in Illinois it lasted until 1968 when Struck Off Charge, ending up salvaged at a Florida Naval air base. Another version of the SDASMA ‘Flickr’ pic with A4D-1 142234 may be viewed here: www.millionmonkeytheater.com/a4dpics/142234.jpg www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A4D.html ………………………………………………………………….... The US Navy accepted A4D-1 142146 on March 11, 1957. Spent two to three years with the US Marine Corps in California and Japan before returning home to fly as a Naval Air Reserve trainer from three California located Navy air bases until a sudden and tragic demise. October 1, 1961 Captain Leroy Mathews was killed when his A4D-1 BuNo 142146 code 6G of NAS Alameda crashed in the High Sierras north of Bass Lake in the Strawberry Mine area while on a tactical flight from NAS Alameda a4skyhawk.org/3e/alameda/alameda.htm a4skyhawk.org/3e/alameda/nartu.htm a4skyhawk.org/?q=3e/alameda/142146-crash-1.htm a4skyhawk.org/?q=3e/alameda/142146-crash-2.htm (Information courtesy the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’) My respect to the pilot his family and friends ………………………………………………………………….... A4D-1/A-4A 142168 was accepted by the US Navy on March 18, 1957. Spent three years with the US Marine Corps in both California and Japan before being shipped home with the USMC to later become a Naval Air Reserve trainer from three California based Navy air stations until 1963, then stored at the desert compound of NAF Litchfield Park Arizona. USAF & USN storage was combined in 1965 into one organization so it was moved on to MASDC near Tucson. Returned to service in 1966 again as a Reserve trainer based in Minnesota and Texas it lasted until 1968 when Struck Off Charge - yet not scrapped. It was recorded at Memphis Naval Air Technical Training Center as an instructional airframe on October 21, 1975. The cockpit section of A-4A 142168 was acquired in July 1999 by the ‘Combat Air Museum’ in Topeka, Kansas as a static exhibit. Still US Government Property, its remains are officially on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola. The major portions of this aircraft are probably scrapped. Luckily there are some nice early images of A4D-1/A-4A 142168 via the internet courtesy of the ‘A-4 Skyhawk Association’: a4skyhawk.org/content/142168-vma-224-douglas-aircraft-335 A4D-1 142168 VMA-224 Modex: WK-7 Date: April 9, 1957 Photo Credit: Douglas Aircraft right side in-flight view of Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142155, WK-4, and BuNo 142168, WK-7, in flight over southern California a4skyhawk.org/content/142168-vma-224-douglas-aircraft-336 A4D-1 142168 VMA-224 Modex: WK-7 Date: April 9, 1957 Photo Credit: Douglas Aircraft Left rear in-flight view of Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142155, WK-4, and BuNo 142168, WK-7, in flight over southern California a4skyhawk.org/content/142168-vma-224-douglas-aircraft-337 A4D-1 142168 VMA-224 Modex: WK-7 Date: April 9, 1957 Photo Credit: Douglas Aircraft Right side in-flight view of Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142168, WK-7, in flight over southern California And a fine color profile of A4D-1 142168 created from the above images: wp.scn.ru/en/ww3/a/783/3/2 img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/783/pics/3_87.png A-4A (A4D-1) Unit: VMA-224, USMC Serial: 7/WK (BuNo.142168) MCAS El Toro, circa 1957 There are also internet images of its cockpit available to view: a4skyhawk.org/content/142168-combat-air-museum-museum-pho... TA-4A 142168 Construction Number: 11422 Cockpit on display at Combat Air Museum, Forbes Field/AFB Topeka, Kansas www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-A-4A-Skyhawk/0... www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00468196 Cockpit view of Douglas A-4A 142168 Skyhawk at Topeka - Forbes Field (FOE / KFOE): USA - Kansas, September 3, 2005

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