The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, and later, McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy 's pre-1962 designation system.

Jul 24, 2018 · Designed in late 1951 to replace the Navy’s piston-engine A-1 Skyraider, at a time when nuclear massive retaliation was the national doctrine, the A-4’s specifications called for a light, expendable aircraft capable of carrying a single 2,000-pound bomb to a target 300 nautical miles away at a maximum speed of 500 knots (520 mph).

Dec 20, 2021 · Powered by a single J65 turbojet engine with two side-mounted air intakes, the A-4 Skyhawk proved agile but not especially fast, with a maximum speed of around 670 miles per hour—just below the speed of sound.

Called the “Tinker Toy” because of its diminutive size, the A-4 bore the brunt of Naval Aviation’s strike effort during the Vietnam War. Vietnam prisoners of war CDR Everett Alvarez, VADM James...

During the A-4G Skyhawk era the Squadron was designated VF-805 conforming with USN squadron designations. The 'VF' signaled the Fleet Defense role of the Skyhawk. V=Fixed Wing, F=Fighter.

Apr 17, 2025 · The A-4 was the backbone of the US Navy and Marine Corps’ light strike force for much of the 1960s, and especially during the first half of the ten-year struggle in Vietnam. A-4 pilots hurled themselves daily at heavily defended targets up and down the south-east Asian peninsula, often paying a heavy price in lives and aircraft.

Oct 5, 2022 · Skyhawks provided the US Navy and Marines and friendly nations with maneuverable, yet powerful, attack bombers that had great altitude and range capabilities, plus an unusual flexibility in armament capacity. Given its unique …

Jun 12, 2006 · Marine pilots in their diminutive Douglas A-4 Skyhawks provided vital close air support for ground forces in Vietnam. An A-4 Skyhawk from VMA-211 is readied for a dry land catapult shot from the air base at Chu Lai. The jet-powered catapult could hurl a fully armed jet into the air every 90 seconds. (U.S. Marine Corps)

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seatsubsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft designed and produced by theAmerican aerospace manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, and later, McDonnellDouglas. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy'spre-1962 designation system.

Oct 27, 2015 · Small, nimble and simply built, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk served the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1956 onward for nearly 40 years. Built as a nuclear-attack capable light bomber,...