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Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Fact
Sheet
Text : Don Simms
The Douglas (later McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing) A-4
Skyhawk was designed by Ed Heinemann in 1952 as a low cost,
carrier-borne, light-weight attack aircraft for the US Navy.
The Skyhawk first flew on the 22nd of June 1954 and quickly
earned the nicknames “Scooter”, “Heinemann’s Hot Rod” “Bantam Bomber”
and “Tinker Toy Bomber” because of its revolutionary small size and
record breaking performance. One of its
original roles in US Navy service was the delivery of a single nuclear
free fall bomb, which had it been used in anger would have been a one
way flight to oblivion for the pilot!
 The Skyhawk was in continuous production for 25 years (1954-1979) and in
that time 2960 aircraft, in 22 different variants were built.
The Skyhawk has seen active service in Vietnam
with the USN and USMC (1964-1975), various Middle East conflicts with
the Israeli Air Force (1967-1990), the Falklands War with the
Argentinean Air Force and Navy (1982), and most recently in the Gulf War
with the Kuwaiti Air Force (1990-1991). In all cases it has proven
itself to be a tough and reliable aircraft, able to withstand
significant battle damage.
The Skyhawk is currently in service with the
Armed Forces of Singapore, Indonesia, Israel, Argentina and Brazil.
It was withdrawn from USMC front-line and reserve service in 1992.
Several other countries are also currently considering purchasing
surplus USN/USMC Skyhawks for use in front line service and training
and support roles. It is expected that the Skyhawk will remain in
service around the world for at least another ten years. The aircraft is
also operated by several companies providing flying training and
"Adversary or Aggressor" Services to the USN, USAF and other militaries
.
Early Skyhawks were fitted with a Curtis-Wright J65-W-4 turbojet engine,
producing 7800lbs of thrust. Later variants (including New
Zealand’s aircraft) were fitted with the Pratt and Whitney J52-P-8A/B/C
turbojet, producing 9300lbs of thrust. An even more powerful
variant of this engine, the J-52-P-408 of 11200lbs thrust, was also
available and was fitted to most Skyhawks built after 1970. The
Republic of Singapore Air Force has fitted a non after-burning General
Electric F404 turbofan engine (as used in the F-18) to it’s upgraded
A-4S-1 aircraft (modified former USN A-4B’s). In this form the
engine produces 10800lbs of thrust, with much better reliability and
fuel consumption than the original Curtis-Wright J65 engine.
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31
Years of RNZAF Operations 1970-2001
Text : Don Simms
 New
Zealand ordered 14 brand new Skyhawks (ten A-4K and four TA-4K) in 1968 at a
total cost of NZ$24 million (including the aircraft, spares, support equipment
and training). The Skyhawk replaced
the Canberra medium bomber and Vampire day fighter in RNZAF front line service.
All 14 aircraft were delivered to New Zealand by the USN aircraft carrier
USS Okinawa in May 1970.
Other
aircraft considered as possible Canberra/Vampire replacements at the time were
the F-5 Freedom Fighter, F-4 Phantom (the RNZAF’s first choice), Mirage III
(just entering Australian service), A-7 Corsair, F-104 Starfighter and the F-111
(on order for Australia). In the
end, political conservatism and cost determined that the Skyhawk was the
aircraft most suitable for New Zealand’s needs.
It was not the Air Force’s first choice, but it was cheap, had good
performance/payload for its size and had a proven combat record in Vietnam and
the Middle East. It was also in
service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fleet Air Arm (FAA).
Ten brand new (eight A-4G and two TA-4G) Skyhawks had entered service
with the RAN in 1967, with a further ten second hand ex-USN A-4F/TA-4F’s being
purchased in 1971 (eight A-4F’s and two TA-4F’s).
When
the Skyhawk entered RNZAF service in May 1970, the Canberra had completed just
11 years RNZAF service and the Vampire 21 years.
Since then the Skyhawk has completed over 30 years of RNZAF service
(1970-2001), proof of its sound design and ruggedness.
In
1984 Australia sold their ten remaining A-4G/TA-4G Skyhawks (eight A-4G’s and
two TA-4G’s) and all spares and support equipment to New Zealand for A$27
million. At the time this was
considered a bargain – the package was later estimated to be worth closer to
A$75 million.
In
the late 1980’s all 21 RNZAF Skyhawks were given an extensive Avionics and
weapon systems update, known as Project Kahu.
The cost of the project was NZ$140 million and gave our
Skyhawks the
electronic “eyes and ears” of a modern fighter aircraft such as the
F-16/F-18. Also under taken at the
same time was a re-winging program to “zero life” the wings of each
aircraft.
In
31 years of service, the RNZAF has lost seven Skyhawks in accidents, a safety
record better than any other Skyhawk operator in the world (the Australian Navy
lost ten Skyhawks in just 15 years service).
Four
of the RNZAF’s Skyhawks are genuine “Warbirds”, having flown combat
missions with the USN in Vietnam between 1968 and 1970, prior to being sold to
Australia in 1971 (NZ 6215, NZ 6216, NZ 6217 and NZ 6218).
NZ6218 was also the last single seat Skyhawk built for the USN in 1967
and has a chequered history, having been crashed and rebuilt twice in its life
(once with the USN and once with the RNZAF).
Several of the other former USN/RAN aircraft also have a chequered past
and most have been “bent” to some degree or another.
This is testimony to many years of hard service (including hundreds of
carrier landings and catapult launches in USN and RAN service) and the odd
mishap during their lives.
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RNZAF
SKYHAWK SERIAL NUMBERS AND SIGNIFICANT DATES
Text : Don Simms
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Serial
No |
Model |
US
BuNo |
First
Flight |
RAN
No |
Significant
Events |
|
NZ6201 |
A-4K |
157904 |
10
Nov 1969 |
N/A |
26/06/75
- USN exchange pilot jettisoned
his
drop tanks after the aircraft became uncontrollable due to a hydraulic
fault during a night exercise off Williamtown, Australia. Pilot awarded
the AFC for saving the aircraft. |
|
NZ6202 |
A-4K |
157905 |
14
Feb 1970 |
N/A |
|
|
NZ6203 |
A-4K |
157906 |
19
Feb 1970 |
N/A |
Crashed
20/06/96 six miles north of Ohakea
NZ,
after engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Pilot ejected
safely |
|
NZ6204 |
A-4K |
157907 |
11
Mar 1970 |
N/A |
|
|
NZ6205 |
A-4K |
157908 |
6
Mar 1970 |
N/A |
Prototype
Kahu Update single seater |
|
NZ6206 |
A-4K |
157909 |
11
Mar 1970 |
N/A |
|
|
NZ6207 |
A-4K |
157910 |
Not
Known |
N/A |
Crashed
18/10/74 one mile north of Ohakea
after
engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Pilot ejected
safely but broke a leg on landing |
|
NZ6208 |
A-4K |
157911 |
6
Apr 1970 |
N/A |
27/08/80
nose section damaged when nose wheel retracted on the ground. Crashed
23/07/92 on the south east coast of
the
North Island of NZ.
Engine flamed out after experiencing
fuel transfer problems. Pilot ejected safely. |
|
NZ6209 |
A-4K |
157912 |
15
Apr 1970 |
N/A |
|
|
NZ6210 |
A-4K |
157913 |
Not
Known |
N/A |
Crashed
Ohakea 24/10/89 after mid air
collision
with NZ 6211 during Kiwi Red aerobatics practice.
Pilot killed |
|
NZ6211* |
A-4G/K |
154903 |
20
Jul 1967 |
882 |
Damaged
in mid air with NZ 6210 on24/10/89. Repaired and returned to service 17/11/90.
Crashed Nowra Australia 16/02/01 during plugged barrel roll air show routine
practice. Pilot killed |
|
NZ6212* |
A-4G/K |
154903 |
26
Jul 1967 |
883 |
Lost canopy in flight
29/01/86 |
|
NZ6213* |
A-4G/K |
154903 |
26
Jul 1967 |
884 |
|
|
NZ6214* |
A-4G/K |
154903 |
8
Aug 1967 |
887 |
Carried
out a wheels up landing on its drop
tanks
at RAAF Base Amberley after loosing a wheel during a touch and go on HMAS
Melbourne. Date unknown. 10/01/92 suffered severe damage from a bird
strike on the RH intake while at 250ft and 420kts. Repaired and returned
to service Dec 1992 |
|
NZ6215** |
A-4F/G/K |
155052 |
26
Jun 1967 |
871 |
Served
on USS Ranger with VA-155 during its
Vietnam deployment 26/10/68 - 17/05/69, and on USS Hancock with VA-212 on
a similar deployment to Vietnam 02/08/69 - 15/04/70. |
|
NZ6216** |
A-4F/G/K |
155061 |
21
Jul 1967 |
874 |
Same
Vietnam deployment details as above.
02/06/86
20mm HE round detonated prematurely 3ft from the end of the cannon barrel
damaging the RH side of the nose area with shrapnel punctures Click
here
for an image of NZ6216 in USN Service |
|
NZ6217** |
A-4F/G/K |
155063 |
Not
Known |
876 |
Deployed
to Vietnam on USS Ranger, with
VA-155
(26/10/68 - 17/05/69) and USS Hancock with VA-55 (02/08/69 - 15/04/70). |
|
NZ6218** |
A-4F/G/K |
155069 |
29
Jun 1967 |
877 |
Last
A-4F built. Served on VA-155 on USS
Ranger
during its Vietnam deployment 26/10/68 - 17/05/69. Severely damaged by a
wire strike 02/07/69 with the USN. Also
severely damaged in RNZAF service in roll over on landing at RAAF Base
Townsville on 3 June 1985. Repaired
and returned to service 29/03/90. |
|
NZ6251 |
TA-4K |
157914 |
5
Dec 1969 |
N/A |
|
|
NZ6252 |
TA-4K |
157915 |
24
Jan 1970 |
N/A |
Canopy
inadvertently jettisoned in flight 05/02/97 near
Nowra, Australia. Repaired and returned to service 14/07/97. |
|
NZ6253 |
TA-4K |
157916 |
Not
Known |
N/A |
Crashed
25/03/81 Ruahine Ranges, North
Island
NZ. Pilot killed |
|
NZ6254 |
TA-4K |
157917 |
21
Feb 1970 |
N/A |
Prototype
“Kahu” T-bird. Damaged in heavy landing at
Ohakea 16/03/94. Repaired and returned to service 01/02/95. |
|
NZ6255* |
TA-4G/K |
154911 |
21
Jul 1967 |
880 |
Carried
out a wheels up landing on its drop
tanks
at Ohakea 14/09/89 after tearing off the RH main landing gear touching
down short of the runway threshold. Repaired and returned to service
12/03/90. |
|
NZ6256* |
TA-4G/K |
154912 |
16
Aug 1967 |
881 |
Painted
in special RNZAF 50th Anniversary
golden
colour scheme for 1987 anniversary celebrations. Crashed into sea off
Perth Western Australia 20/03/01 after pilot lost control during ACM.
Pilot ejected safely |
Notes.
*
Part of the RAN’s original A-4G/TA-4G purchase, delivered in 1967.
**
Part of the RAN’s second batch, delivered in 1971.
Made up from modified, former USN A-4F’s.
Skyhawk “NZ 6207” displayed at the RNZAF Museum
at Wigram in Christchurch New Zealand, is a modified former USN A-4L (itself a
modified A-4C), BuNo 149516, and is on permanent loan from the USN (presumably
until the RNZAF retires one of its own aircraft!).
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RNZAF Skyhawk Squadrons
No 75 Squadron
“AKE
AKE KIA KAHA” – “FOR EVER AND EVER BE STRONG”
(Text Don Simms)
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 No
75 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was first formed in October 1916, being
used in the home defence of Britain against German Zeppelin Airships during WWI.
In 1918 the unit became part of the renamed Royal Air force (RAF).
In
mid 1939 New Zealand sent personnel to England to train on Wellington
medium bombers, 30 of which had been ordered for the RNZAF.
However when war broke out in September 1939 these
crews and aircraft
were placed at the disposal of
the RAF, and in April 1940 No 75 (NZ) Squadron
was formed. For the next five years
the Squadron flew Wellington, Stirling and Lancaster bombers over Europe.
By the end of the war 75 Squadron had dropped 21,630 tons of bombs, laid
2344 mines and had shot down at least 45 enemy aircraft.
However, this impressive (and record setting) tally was not without heavy
losses. Over 220 aircraft were lost
and over 1100 aircrew killed during the war, a loss rate that was at times
amongst the highest in Bomber Command.
In
recognition of their wartime record, in October 1946 the RAF officially handed
over the 75 Squadron title and badge to the RNZAF.
This is the only occasion that the RAF has “gifted” a Squadron title
and badge to another Commonwealth Air Force and is a tribute to the sacrifices
and contribution made by all New Zealand’s in the RAF during WWII.
Post
WWII the Squadron reformed at Ohakea and re-equipped, initially with twin engine
Mosquito fighter/bombers and later Vampire jet fighters.
In February 1958 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother,
presented No 75 Squadron with its Squadron Standard, having earned the
Sovereign’s appreciation for outstanding service.
Fourteen Battle Honours were awarded, eight of which are depicted on the
Standard.
In
June 1958 75 Squadron returned to the UK to convert to the then brand new
Canberra bomber (leased from the RAF) and soon after again found themselves in
the thick of it, taking part in what was known as the “Malayan Emergency”.
Based out of Singapore, the Squadron carried out bombing missions against
Communist insurgents in Malaya for the next two years (this “police-action”
had been going on since 1948 and had involved both RNZAF ‘strike’ Squadrons
– 14 and 75, before finally reaching a conclusion in 1962).
In March 1962 the Squadron returned to Ohakea and flew Vampire’s until
the arrival of the Skyhawk in 1970.
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No 2 Squadron RNZAF
“WHAKATOPA
KIA MATE ” – “We
Swoop To Kill”
(Text Edited from
Wikipedia)
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 No.
2 Squadron RNZAF was formed in 1930 as part of the Territorial Air Force .
During World War II it served in New Zealand, providing air cove for troop ships
over Cook Straight, and the Pacific where equipped with Lockheed Ventures it
carried out reconnaissance, anti-submarine, supply dropping and bombing of land
targets.
On return to
New Zealand in October 1945, No.2 Squadron operated a variety of aircraft,
including Hudsons and Venturas (twin-engine pilot conversion and meteorological
flights). Early in 1946, No.2 Squadron also began training crews for the new
Mosquito aircraft to be ferried from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. On 11
October 1946 No.2 Squadron ceased to exist when became No.75 Squadron RNZAF, in
commemoration of the New Zealand Bomber Squadron which served throughout the war
in the RAF.
In December
1948 No.2 (TAF) Squadron was raised. This squadron operated in a similar manner
to its 1930s predecessor with annual flying carried out at Ohakea and Wigram on
Harvards and Mustangs. The Territorial Squadrons were eventually disbanded in
1957.
Reformed in
December 1984 at Ohakea, No.2 Squadron was equipped with the A-4 Skyhawk when it
took delivery of 10 ex-RAN Skyhawks (8 A-4G and 2 TA-4G) aircraft. While
stationed at Ohakea (alongside No. 75 Squadron), the squadron provided pilot
conversion and operational training, as well as being tasked for reconnaissance,
systems evaluation, and procedures development. In the middle of 1988 the
Squadron received delivery of the first Project KAHU updated Skyhawks for test
flight trials.
In February
1991 No.2 Squadron was relocated to HMAS Albatross in Australia with the updated
Kahu Skyhawks to provide the ADF, particularly the RAN, with Air Defence
Support, participating in exercises with the RAN Eastern and Western Fleets.
The squadron was equipped with two A-4K and four TA-4K aircraft supported by 50
to 60 personnel. The highlight of the RAN exercises was the successful sinking
of the decommissioned Navy Reserve Vessel HMAS Adroit in August 1994 by No.2
Squadron Skyhawks. No.2 Squadron continued to provide air defence training to
the Australian Defence Force until November 2001.
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No 14 Squadron RNZAF
“KIA MAIA,
KIA U, KIA NGAWARI” – “ "Active,
Ardent, Adaptable.”
(Text Edited
from Wikipedia)
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 No.
14 Squadron RNZAF formed on the on 25 April 1942. It was initially equipped with
harvards and then P-40 Kittyhawks.
14 Sqn served in the Pacific, on Guadalcanal, New Georgia. In February 1944 to
Bougainville, in December Green Island and in July 1945 Emirau. Whilst operating
P-40’s it claimed more than its share of the 99 air victories the RNZAF claimed.
One of its pilots Geoff Fisken, was the top scoring Commonwealth ace in the
Pacific (although half his victories were acquired with 243 Squadron). In 1944
it was re-equipped with Corsairs, and as the Japanese fighter force was
virtually eliminated 14 Sqn conducted mainly ground attack missions.
In March 1946, 14 Squadron went to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth
Occupation Force.On return from Japan, the squadron briefly operated de
Havilland Mosquitoes, converting pilots to the fighter bomber role. No.14
Squadron re-equipped with sixteen De Havilland Vampire jets in 1952. It was
based in Cyprus from 1952 to 1955 as part of a Commonwealth peace keeping force
in the area, although the unit travelled within Europe and Africa, providing a
flypast on Queen Elizabeth II's accession, and being in Kenya at the time of the
Mau Mau action.
In May 1955 14 Squadron moved to Singapore and re-equipped with sixteen De
Havilland Venoms, a swept wing development of the Vampire. No. 14 Squadron
operated from Singapore against Indonesian-backed communist insurgents in what
is now Malaysia until relieved by No.75 Squadron RNZAF English Electric
Canberras in May 1958.
After receiving nine B(I)12 and two T.13 English Electric Canberras at Ohakea in
1959, 14 Squadron deployed to Singapore in September 1964 to defend Singapore
and Malaysia at the end of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, (following in
the footsteps of No. 75 Squadron RNZAF's Canberra B.2s). No 14 Squadron operated
from RAF Tengah with detachments to Labuan (North Borneo) October/November 1964,
RAF Gong Kedak (Malayan Peninsular) June 1965 and RAF Kai Tak (Hong Kong)
October 1966. The Squadron returned to Ohakea in November 1966. The Canberras
were phased out of service in July 1970 and sold to the Indian Air Force.
No. 14 Squadron took up the role of advanced training. It briefly operated a
small number (up to 4) of two-seat A-4 Skyhawks and two-seat Vampires before
re-equipping with 16 BAC Strikemasters in 1972. The Strikemasters were replaced
by eighteen Aermacchi MB 339CBs in 1991.
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