Skyhawk: the A-4 at war:

[Matt Wiser]

Heinemann's Hot Rod, the Scooter, or just plain Skyhawk:


A-4 Skyhawks in World War III


The McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, which had borne the brunt of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps' light attack war in Southeast Asia, had a distinguished career in the Third World War. Still in USMC active and reserve service at the outbreak of war, the Skyhawk saw extensive service with the USMC, and also the USAF, which acquired a number of Skyhawks to rebuild former ANG A-7 squadrons that had suffered extensive combat losses. The Skyhawk also saw war service with the RAN, RNZAF, Malaysia, and the Republic of Singapore AF (the latter two on anti-piracy operations). This work will only cover those Skyhawks that saw combat during the war.


A-4E: Major upgrade of C version, with uprated J-52 engine, strengthened airframe with two extra weapons pylons with a total of five, TACAN, Doppler navigation radar, LABS, radar altimeter, and toss-bombing computer.

A-4F: Upgraded E with avionics hump and more powerful J-52 engine. Some used by USN off of Essex-class carriers in lieu of A-7s.

A-4G: F version for RAN, without avionics hump.

A-4K: RNZAF version of F with avionics hump.

A-4L: Upgrade of C with avionics hump,though with J-65 engine and only three weapons pylons. Reactivated from desert storage and used by USMC.

A-4M: Definite USMC version, with ARBS with TV and laser spot tracker. Production restarted at former NAA (Rockwell International) Downey, CA plant during the war to fill attrition and for USAF.

A-4PTM: Modified A-4C and L with most of the features of the M. For Malaysian Air Force. (PTM stands for Peculiar to Malaysia)

A-4S: 50 Bs remanufactured for Republic of Singapore AF; later upgraded again to A-4SU standard.

A-4S-1: 50 Cs remanufactured for Singapore

TA-4G: Training version of A-4G for RAN

TA-4J: Two-seat training version used throughout the war by USN Training Command, and by Navy Composite Squadrons in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guantanamo for local defense.

TA-4K: Training version of A-4K for RNZAF

TA-4PTM: Training version of A-4PTM

TA-4S: Training version of A-4S.

OA-4M: Modified TA-4Fs used by USMC for Forward Air Control duties.


Users:

USN: A-4E/F still in use in VC squadrons, as well as for Aggressor use at TOPGUN and in dedicated Adversary squadrons (VF-43, VF-126, VFA-127) TA-4J main USN trainer (replaced by T-45 postwar). E and F models from AMARC used to reactivate several attack squadrons for operations from Essex-class carriers and from land bases. Finally replaced by F/A-18C.

USMC: A-4M primary USMC attack aircraft, though supplanted by reactivated A-4Ls. OA-4Ms active in FAC role in Southwest and in Louisiana.

USAF: A-4Ms used by AF to replace attrition in A-7 squadrons. Remained in service for several years postwar, until replaced by either A-10, F-16, or F-20.

RNZAF: No. 75 Squadron did come to North America, but instead of their K models, drew on Ms fresh from the Downey production line. Combat in Pacific Northwest Theater.

Malaysian AF: A-4PTMs flew in anti-piracy operations, and active until replaced by Hawk 200s.

Singapore AF: A-4S also active in anti-piracy operations. Remained in service until 2010, when replaced by F-15SG.

[Wolfman]

The Air Force also used A-4E and A-4F aircraft to help hold the line during the early days of the war. The Foxtrots were quite quickly returned to the Navy, while the Air Force returned most of the Echoes to the Marines, keeping a handful at Edwards AFB.

The Skyhawks at Edwards AFB are still flying, by the way.

[Poohbah]

The Air Force also used A-4E and A-4F aircraft to help hold the line during the early days of the war. The Foxtrots were quite quickly returned to the Navy, while the Air Force returned most of the Echoes to the Marines, keeping a handful at Edwards AFB.

The Skyhawks at Edwards AFB are still flying, by the way.

One guy I know who flew the A-4M at Edwards (it's the first bird they make you fly without a Dash-One manual and document in the Test Pilot School course, and it's the big filter; if you screw up badly in the Scooter, you're obviously going to be a positive hazard in actual flight test operations) described it as the Mazda Miata of TACAIR. As he put it: "Great fun to fly when nobody's actually shooting at you."

[Wolfman]

They’re also used as chase aircraft.

Also, the USN used A-4Ms aboard the Essex-class carriers once production got up to speed… and A-4Ms are showing up as USN/USMC Aggressors. They started showing up in those units around the time of the Baja War.

The RAN used the A-4M to replace the A-4G.

The surviving (clapped-out) Limas wound up being sold to a rather penitent Argentina.

OOC: I put the request for the USAF TPS Skyhawks in today.