Ref. Wally"s question' The hole in the nose is for equipment

cooling of the electronics package.

i worked to install electrical harness in A-4 trainers from 1966 to 1969 for Israel & cost one million dollars each.

The A4A at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo has a 2" hole in the nos. any one know what the hole is for? Cannon? Guns? Please let me know.
Thanks

I was in VSF-1 as an ADJ-4. Did the '68-'69 cruise, on the Independence, to the med plus the carrier quals. Cross decked to the USS Wasp in November of '68 with a detatchment of four birds. The squadron fulfilled it's mission by flying cover support for the the Wasp. Intercepted a couple of Russian Bombers. The A4's looked like fleas on a dog next to those bombers.

My first Scooter as Plane Captain was A4G N13-154906 [885] in Jan68 on VF805 [RAN Fleet Air Arm, 03Apr64-08Apr88]. Since a thrust surge [FCU failure] induced Holdback Breakout in Oct80, she has sat 4000 Metres below the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka. I last walked away from an A4 Sqn. after RIMPAC78. Remember you well Charlie Rex, and so many others . 'Bravo Zulu' Ed Heinemann and your brilliant A4 Scooter. Many great flight deck memories.

I received my Flight Physiology and Survival License in April of 1968 at NAS Lemoore, California. This license enabled me to fly backseat many times day and night with the pilots of VA-163 in an A4 Skyhawk 2 seat TA4-J Skyhawk. I was even able to enjoy a dog fight with my pilot over the Sierra Nevada mountains while returning to Lemoore from Fallon, Nevada after a bombing run there. Really miss those days! ;-)

VA-45 NAS Cecil Field(1966-Jan1968) Shared a hangar with VA-44. We had 20 TA-4Fs and 2 T-28s.No carrier quals,defective nose strut.Shared 2nd seat on flights to New Orleans. Best time of my life!

I had the honor of flying this aircraft as Enlisted Aircrew/Co-Pilot in the early 1970's and I got my Wings in them. LCDR Longley was the Officer in charge of Flight Test in Pensacola, Fl that gave me the opportunity and allowed me to have memories in flying to last a lifetime and tell to my Grandchildren!I eventually flew the T2 Buckeye,T28 Trojan, T39 Sabreliner, and the UH1H Heuy. A real honor to fly for the US Navy! Retired from the Naval Reserves in 2009.

e-mail correction

spent a lot hours working on the a-4 2 med cruses 1 vietnam
cruse on the us
Rosevelt cva-42 as a AE many good times

For Bob Iserman: I was a LCDR IP in VA-44 at NAS Cecil in 1968-70'. Flew lots of our troops in the back seat of the TA-4J during my tour, maybe you were one of them? If so....we both survived. A-4s FOREVER!

Avionics USMC 65-69 A-4s the whole time. A-4s were designed, as above stated, for a nuclear launch platform with two methods of launch.

Well, I wasn't a pilot, but I did fly many times in the back sit of the A4. I was with VA44 in Cecil Field during 1967-69. Since we were a RAG squadron or planes had 2 sits. I took care of the pilots service records as they came to us for training. During that time period, we did lose a few planes and pilots. Very sad. They were great people. I can't believe not one comment on VA44.

I was a plank owner In VSF-1 when it was established at NAS
Alameda in 1965. I was an AZ2 in charge of logs and records
for the A4B's assigned to the squadron. Commander Waring was our CO. Would like to hear from anyone who served during 1965 through 1967. Thanks

For Larry Barber;:; Was VSF-1 the A4 fighter sguadren dreamed up at Alameda to go aboard the ASW Carriers to protect the ASW Aircraft? I almost went back to fly them but my butt to my knees was an inch too long so ejection was a no and Pan Am was not enthused.

The information is interesting but not at all accurate. It shows the picture of an A4A, originally A4D-1, but gives the specs for an A4E. There were many models of the A4 - Current terminology A4A, B, C, E, F, M and several TA4s. The A4A as shown weighed 8200 pounds dry and had 7800 pounds of thrust, making it a true Heinemann's hot rod. The A and B models were very dangerous. I had four complete engine failures in them in five years. One ejection, one ditching when the ejection seat didn't work either (see back cover of APPROACH Magazine July 1959), and two flame out approaches. One to MCAS Yuma and one to NAS Lemoore. This is a great reference but it needs to be more accurate. Also the A4 series should be under Douglas, not McDonnell Douglas. Pat Patrick Captain USN (Ret)

There is a reunion for VMAT-102 planned for the 2012 Yuma airshow in March. Search VMAT-102 on Facebook. See you in March jarhead!

We have just took possession of a A-4M for a static display at our Veterans Memorial # 158530 on canopy is the Col William C. Blalock "Scoundrel" on other side is Col. William F. Oehl "Frosty" pictures are available as it now is in Dunlap, Tennessee

Does anyone remember VSF-1, A4 Bs & Cs out of Alameda CA ? I did 2 med cruise Shang & Indy A4 great plane.

I was a Navy Aviation Electricians Mate and loved taking care of the electrical systems on this aircraft ... 1968 - 1971, then moved to the Phantom II.