A-4A Skyhawk

s/n 139947

Originally designated A4D-1, the A-4 Skyhawk was designed in 1952 by Douglas Aircraft as a small, carrier-based ground attack aircraft capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. The Skyhawk entered service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and later served abroad. In Vietnam, 362 Skyhawks were lost serving as the Navy’s primary light attack bomber. The A-4 also fought in the Falklands War and with the Israeli Air Defense Force. Skyhawks are still in service with several air forces overseas, and as an aggressor aircraft for training purposes in the United States. Production for all A-4 variants totaled 2,960 aircraft.

HISTORY

Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft

1956, 11 December -- Accepted by U.S. Navy.

1956, 19 December -- To VA-93, “Blue Blazers,” USN Attack Squadron at NAS Alameda, CA.

1957, 16 September to 1958, 25 April -- Deployed with VA-93 in CVG-9 Carrier Air Group aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) to Western Pacific.

1958, 23 December -- To VA-56, “Champions,” USN Attack Squadron at NAS Miramar, CA.

1959, 27 May -- To VA-112, “Broncos,” USN Attack Squadron at NAS Miramar, CA.

1960, 23 March -- To VA-126, “Nulli Secundus,” USN Attack Squadron at NAS Miramar, CA. Fleet instrument training and aggressor aircraft.

1960, 30 November -- A4D-1 redesignated A-4A.

1961, 1 August -- To VA-125, “Rough Riders,” USN Attack Squadron at NAS Lemoore, CA.

1962, 9 July -- To Naval Air Reserve Training at NAS Los Alamitos, CA.

1963, May -- To storage facility, Litchfield Park, AZ.

1965, December -- To USAF Aircraft Storage & Disposition Group, Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ.

1966, March -- To NAS Alameda, CA.

1966, June -- To Naval Air Rework Facility, NAS Alameda, CA.

1966, June -- To Naval Air Reserve Training, NAS Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN.

1968, January -- Redesignated TA-4A.

1968, September -- To Naval Air Reserve Training, NAS Memphis, Memphis, TN.

1987, June -- To Nondestructive Inspection School, Chanute AFB, IL.

1988 -- To Static Display Chanute AFB Air Park

This aircraft is on loan to Octave Chanute Air Museum from the National Naval Aviation Museum.