Among the most successful postwar naval aircraft, Douglas’ A4D was contracted for well before the end of the Korean War, would be the mainstay of USN and USMC light attack squadrons during much of the Vietnam era, and remained in production until 1979. Yet another product from veteran designer Ed Heinemann, the A4D’s simple and lightweight design was a reaction to the ever increasing size and sophistication (and cost) of tactical types of the period – a point driven home by pilots in Korea were facing the comparatively austere but no less deadly MiG-15.
Some highlights:2-page cutaway diagram of the A-4M
Color section includes profiles of:
TA-4J of VT-86
A-4M of VMA-214
A-4F of the Fighter Weapons School
A-4C of VA-93 / USS Enterprise
RNZAF A-4K of No.75 Squadron
Royal Australian Navy A-4G of No.85 Squadron
A-4PTM
A-4S
Argentine A-4C
Review of A-4 Skyhawk Walk-Around
The A4D / A-4 Skyhawk is one of the more notable warplanes of the postwar era, having been produced for a quarter-century., and is only now in the twilight of its military service. I don’t believe you’ll find a finer photographic look at the “Scooter” than this book by Lou Drendel. Cockpits and access panels are opened up for inspection, and there are numerous relevant diagrams from A-4 manuals.
Some highlights:
Skyhawk evolution – side view drawings from the XA4D-1 prototype through the TA-4S stepped-cockpit trainer for Singapore.
A-4E 3-view & specifications
A-4C external features diagram & cutaway
Top Gun A-4M cockpit color photo
TA-4J cockpit
Israeli A-4M cockpit photos
A-4L cockpit photo (B&W) The A-4L was a rebuild of A-4Cs with the dorsal
A-4M drag chute housing photo
Israeli extended tailpipe mod to counter the threat from SA-7 Grail shoulder-fired SAMs
diagram – A-4M antenna locations
TA-4J VF-126 adversary
TA-4J of VX-4 with sharkmouth
Color profiles include:
A-4B of VA-93 detachment aboard USS Bennington
A-4C of VA-153 aboard USS Coral Sea
A-4E Marine squadron VMA-331 aboard USS Forrestal
A-4E of VA-56 aboard USS Enterprise
Marine OA-4M fast FAC of H&MS-12
TA-4F of VT-86 in two-tone gray tactical paint
Sample book via Squadron/Signal
A-4 Skyhawk bibliography and further suggested reading:
- “A4D Wing Proves Rugged” Naval Aviation News May 1957 p.14
- “First ‘Es” awarded A4Ds – Earned by VA-34 in Cuba Exercise” Naval Aviation News January 1958 p.15
- “The Shangri-La Stingers” Naval Aviation News, April 1958 p.13. 4 photos. Details the history of VA-113.
- Photos (2): A4D-1s of NASWF particpating in the Operation Plumbob atmospheric nuclear tests in Nevada. Naval Aviation News April 1958 p.17.
- Photos (2): A4D-2 with Mk.2 20mm gun pod Naval Aviation News June 1958 p.15
- VA-72 Hawks fly Skyhawks” Naval Aviation News July 1958 p.25. Two photos of VA-72 A4D-1s during a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- “VA-106 Receives A4D-2 – Douglas Plane Replaces Cougar” Naval Aviation News August 1958 p.28
- Photo: A-4 of VMA-311 with eighteen 250lb bombs. Air Pictorial January 1961 p.13
- Photo: A4D of VA-44 in experimental high-visibility paint scheme. Naval Aviation News April 1961 p.18
- Photo: A4D-2N of NATC with NAVY/MARINES markings; last jet at NAS Anacostia. Naval Aviation News April 1961 p.33
- “First A4D-5 Being tested – Skyhawk Evaluated At Edwards” Naval Aviation News October 1961
- Photo: A4D BuNo 145003 of VA-83 aboard USS Forrestal. Naval Aviation News November 1961 inside cover.
- “Lemoore’s last A-4B sortie” Naval Aviation News January 1965 p.13
- Photo: TA-4E first flight. Naval Aviation News September 1965 p.3
- Photo: Line of A-4Bs prepared for loading aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11) at Norfolk. All Hands July 1966 p.40
- Photo: side view of a Walleye underneath an A-4 Aviation Week & Space Technology August 8, 1966 p.29
- Photo: A4D BuNo 148614 armed with bombs and Bullpup ASMs Aviation Week & Space Technology August 15, 1966 p.138
- Photo: A-4 of VU-7 carrying a Dart target Naval Aviation News August 1967 p.37
- Photo: A-4 of VA-146 – USS Constellation Naval Aviation News February 1968 p.20
- Photo: TA-4J BuNo 155087 taking off Aviation Week & Space Technology May 19, 1969 p.19
- Photo: In-flight view of A-4K NZ6201 and TA-4K NZ6251 Aviation Week & Space Technology January 26, 1970 p.22
- Ad for McDonnell Douglas, with art depicting a pair of heavily-armed A-4Ms flying low Aviation Week & Space Technology May 4, 1970 p.6
- Photo: A-4 of VA-205 landing aboard USS Saratoga. Naval Aviation News September 1975 p.27
- Photo: A-4 of VA-55, USS Hancock. Naval Aviation News October 1975 inner cover
- Photo: HMM-362 helo lifting an A-4 Naval Aviation News January 1975 p.4
- Photo: In-flight view of a pair of VF-43 TA-4s Aviation Week & Space Technology October 18, 1982 p.34
- Photo: In-flight shot of eight Argentinian A-4Qs, including aircraft 3-A-302, 3-A-309, and 3-A-314 Air International May 1983 p.222
- Aviation Week & Space Technology May 21, 1984 p.111 Allied/Bendix Aerospace ad, showing a pair of TA-4s in flight
- Photo: A-4 BuNo 151369 preserved in VMAT-102 markings at Gila Bend, Arizona. Warbirds International Summer 1987 p.72
- “Special Report: Brazilian Navy – Forca Aeronaval da Marinha do Brasil” International Air Power Review Autumn/Fall 2002 p.92-103. An in depth look at Brazilian naval aviation, including approximately a dozen color photos of AF-1 Skyhawks.
- “Last US Navy Scooter Flight” Air Forces Monthly July 2003 p.15 1 photo
- Scale Models
- Morgan Chua “Singapore Hawk” Scale Modeler September 1980 Converting the Monogram 1/48 scale A-4E to a RSAF A-4S.
- Ken Belisle “Hancock Hawk” Scale Modeler August 1981 Building the Hasegawa 1/72 scale A-4E/F.
- Glen D. Phillips “Desert Hawk” Scale Modeler August 1982. Converting the 1/48 scale Monogram A-4E to an Israeli A-4H.
- “Workbench Reviews: Top Gun A-4 Aggressor” FineScale Modeler February 1988 p.16 reviews the Testor/Italeri 1/72 scale A-4M.
- “Workbench Review: A-4C Skyhawk from Fujimi” Finescale Modeler October 1988 p.8b
- “Workbench Reviews: New 1/48 scale “Scooter” from Hasegawa Finescale Modeler April 2001 p.74-75
- Toni Canfora “Heinemann’s Hotrod” Airfix Model World #20 Building the Airfix A-4B as a VA-95 aircraft from the USS Intrepid. This issue also has a 4-view and color key for an Argentinian A-4C.
- Andy Renshaw “Aggressor Training – Hasegawa’s Scooter Plays Top Gun” Building the 1/48 TA-4J as BuNo 153488 Scale Aviation Modeller International April 2012
- Steve A. Evans “Israeli Eagle” Model Airplane International July 2013 Building the 1/32 Trumpeter A-4F kit as an Israeli Skyhawk. Includes a page of 1/72 color profiles.
- Daniel Zamarbide Suarez “Malvinas Malcontent” Model Airplane International January 2014 building the Hasegawa 1/48 A-4C kit as an Argentinian aircraft – includes a pair of color profiles
External: A-4 at MAPS Air Museum