November 18th, 2023
7minute read
World War II taught the U.S. Navy the value of carrier-based attack planes.
After the war, America began developing new, jet-powered attack aircraft including the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
It also served with distinction in the defense of Israel.
Two A-4C Skyhawk aircraft, of Attack Squadron 146 (VA-146) fly past theEssex-class aircraft carrier USSKearsarge(CVS-33) on August 12, 1964. Image: U.S. Navy
In this article, Dr. Will Dabbs gives us insight into this iconic aircraft.
It was 12 May 1970, and the morning dawned hot and clear over South Lebanon.
The perennial war between the Israelis and terrorists of sundry flavors was ever ongoing.
The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USSEnterprise(CVAN-65) cruises in the Gulf of Tonkin near Vietnam. A-4 Skyhawk attack planes are arranged on the deck. Image: NARA
The Israeli focus this day was called Operation Cauldron 2.
Lebanon was once a simply magnificent place.
The refined and well-heeled came from around the world to sample its delights.
A pair of A-4B Skyhawks of U.S. Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311) fly in formation over the Republic of Vietnam in March 1971. They were based at Da Nang Air Base. Image: Cpl. Ortiz/USMC
However, by 1970, Lebanon was caught between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.
She unlimbered the Israeli military to take care of business.
Its unfortunate geography turned south Lebanon into a war zone.
Several A-4 Skyhawks formally with Marine Attack Squadron 214 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Image: DoD/Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
The once-thriving nation never really recovered.
On this fateful day, Baban Dotan would be in the fight of his life.
He was flying tail number 5303, one of 264 Skyhawks operated by the IAF.
An A-4 Skyhawk aircraft on an attack run at Onslow Beach during Exercise Solid Shield ’85. The exercise included more than 43,000 military personnel in an amphibious assault. Image: Sgt. T.K. Burch/NARA
The A-4 is a subsonic ground attack airplane.
There really was no provision for this model Skyhawk to fight other aircraft.
The loadout consisted of five pods of unguided rockets and a pair of locally-produced 30mm cannon per aircraft.
These four pilots of Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311) were awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for combat missions in the A-4 Skyhawk defending South Vietnam. Image: Mike Servais/USMC
The Skyhawks gunsight had no parameters for air-to-air engagements.
Dotan had previously flown French-built Dassault Mirage fighters, and he already had three air-to-air kills to his credit.
Ben-Dov opened the engagement with his cannon but missed.
A Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft flies past part of Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1988. Image: PH2 Bryan K. Logan/NARA
Dotan followed up by rippling off 38 unguided rockets from two of his five pods.
These heavy air-to-ground weapons fell far short of his squirming agile target.
Dotan pitched the nose up slightly and salvoed another 38 rockets.
An A-4F Skyhawk aircraft lands at Naval Air Station, Miramar in 1989. The aircraft was part of the OPFOR for the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapon School, also known as Top Gun. Image: PH2 Bruce Trombecky/NARA
This swarm connected, pulverizing the hapless Syrian fighter plane.
By now one of the other Syrian aircraft was turning into him.
Dotan found himself in a steep dive and rapidly running out of both space and ideas.
This A-4 Skyhawk serves as an aggressor operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC,) which provides threat simulation training to the U.S. military. Image: Clark Pierce/U.S. Navy
However, his plane wasnt designed for this, and he missed.
The MiG-17 dropped down into a handy canyon and tore along like a bat outta hell.
Dotan chopped his throttle and deployed his flaps and dive brakes to bleed airspeed.
In 1982, these crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133). Image: Maj. T. Campbell/NARA
He adored the agile little fighter.
With a maximum weight of 24,500 lbs.
To swap the engine, the entire tail assembly was readily removable.
A TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft is catapulted from the training aircraft carrier USSLexington(AVT 16) on October 24, 1985. Image: NARA
Its sticker price was $860,000 apiece.
The little Skyhawk cost a fraction of what an F-4 Phantom air superiority fighter might.
The superb design of the plane made it amazingly light on the controls.
A-4 Skyhawk of Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211) being serviced by ground crew in 1968. Image: Cpl. P. Bettig/USMC
The A-4 really was a pilots airplane.
With an amazing theoretical roll rate of 720 degrees per second, The A-4s maneuvering capacity was unparalleled.
The Navys NATOPS manual restricted the roll to 360 degrees per second to avoid potential structural damage.
An A-4J Skyhawk aircraft waits behind the blast deflector for its turn at the catapult on the USSLexington(AVT-16) during pilot carrier training. Image: Jim Bryant/NARA
The A-4 Skyhawk even had a strategic nuclear mission.
As atomic bombs are by definition area weapons systems, the innate lack of accuracy wasnt a significant consideration.
Douglas produced 2,960 copies, of which 555 were two-seat trainers.
Skyhawks saw extensive action with the Israeli Air Force.
The Marines retired the A-4 in 1998, and the Navy gave theirs up five years later.
The Israelis flew the plane operationally through 2015.
