A4B Skyhawk 
(previously A4d-2)

Bureau Numbers
142082-142141
142416-142423
142674-142953
144868-145062

A4D (A-4) Skyhawk
By the early 1950s, jet power had matured to the point where the Navy became interested in using it for an attack aircraft. At that time, the AD Skyraider was the Navy’s premier VA plane. The A4D Skyhawk (redesignated A-4) was the successor of the AD-1 Skyraider. Interdiction and close air support was what the aircraft was designed to do by the Douglas Company’s aeronautical engineer, Mr. Ed Heinemann. 

First contract 10 Sep 1952 
First flight 22 Jun 1954 
First reported in squadron 27 Sep 1956
Last delivery 27 Feb 1979
Number accepted 2,876

Internally, additional navigational equipment was provided. The ordinance delivery system was improved by the addition of the capability to carry and launch the Bullpup air-to-ground pilot-guided missile. Additional improvements were made to the flight control systems. The landing gear was strengthened and a pressure fueling system was added.

The pilot was provided with an Escapac 1 rocket-boosted ejector seat.

The first A4D-2 was delivered to the fleet in September of 1957, with the first squadron to receive the plane being the Marine Corps squadron VMA-211. 542 A4D-2s were built.

The A4D-2 was redesignated A-4B in September of 1962.

As later Skyhawk models became available, many A-4Bs were relegated to Navy and Marine Corps reserve units. Many of them were redesignated TA-4B to reflect their new training role.

Several A-4Bs surplus to Navy and Marine Corps requirements were later refurbished and sold to foreign air forces.

15 October 1955 -  Lieutenant Gordon Gray, piloting a Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk, broke the Class C world speed record for 500 kilometers with a speed of 695.163 mph at Muroc, Calif.

 24 January 1958 - Major John P. Flynn and Captain Clifford
D. Warfield of MAW-2, made a nonstop, nonrefueling
flight in A4D Skyhawks from El Toro, Calif., to Cherry
Point, N.C., covering 2,082 miles in 4 hours 25 minutes.

Before delivery of the A4D-1 to fleet units, an improved version, the A4D-2 (A-4B) was ordered into production.

Inprovements incorporated in the A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk were a stronger, "inside-out" rudder construction; a pressure fueling system with a probe for air-to-air refueling; external fuel tanks; stronger landing gear; additional navigation equipment; an improved air-to-ground ordnance delivery system; and an externally-carried "buddy store" package for air-to-air fueling of other aircraft. 

The first A4D-2 (A-4B) flight occurred on March 26, 1956, flown by Douglas test pilot Dru Wood.

Fleet delivery of the A4D-2 (A-4B) began in September 1957.

A total of 542 A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawks were manufactured, many of which were later modified and/or refurbished and sold to foreign countries (q.v.).