Heinemann’s hotrod

Australia was the first new-build Skyhawk export customer, with Minister for the Navy, Fred Chaney, announcing on October 26 1965 that 10 Douglas A-4E Skyhawks would be acquired for the RAN at a cost of £9.2 million. At the same time an order an order of 14 Grumman S-2 Trackers was announced, with the two types to replace the RAN’s de Havilland Sea Venoms and Fairey Gannets, respectively.

That first batch of eight A-4Gs and two TA-4Gs, plus the S-2 Trackers, were transported to Australia on board HMAS Melbourne, loaded onto a lighter at Jervis Bay on November 21 1967, and transported by road to Naval Air Station Nowra.

The RAN’s operational Skyhawk unit, 805 Squadron (later VF805 when the RAN adopted US Navy squadron prefixes), was then commissioned at HMAS Albatross at Nowra on January 10 1968. Training was the responsibility of 724 Squadron (later VC724), which operated the TA‑4G alongside first the Sea Venom and Vampire and then the Macchi MB‑326H.

Australia’s A-4G Skyhawk was based in USN’s A-4F but was powered by the uprated 9,300lb Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A, could carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile, and lacked the A-4F’s distinctive ‘hump’ and ability to launch guided air-to-ground weapons – reflecting their fleet air defence mission. The dual-seat TA-4Gs, meanwhile, were similar to the USN TA-4F.

Interestingly, only the A-4G could operate from Melbourne, as the TA-4G lacked the performance to successfully complete a ‘bolter’ (a go-around after failing to catch an arresting wire with the tailhook on landing) from the carrier’s small deck. (Melbourne was a WW2 era ex-Royal Navy ‘light fleet carrier’ which was significantly smaller than its USN counterparts.)

A further order for 10 Douglas A-4G Skyhawks, again eight A-4Gs and two TA-4Gs, was announced by Minister for Defence Malcolm Fraser on March 10 1970.

That second batch, all ex-USN A-4F/TA-4F aircraft brought up to A-4G/TA-4G standard, arrived on HMAS Sydney and were unloaded at Jervis Bay on August 11 1971.

In the meantime, HMAS Melbourne had undergone a major refit at Garden Island, Sydney, which was completed during February 1969. The normal complement of four Skyhawks on Melbourne was joined by six Trackers and eight Westland Wessexes, a mix that could be varied with up to eight A-4Gs on board.

During 16 years of RAN Skyhawk operations on HMAS Melbourne, the aircraft participated in numerous exercises with allied navies throughout Pacific and Asian waters.

The demanding nature of their operation saw a high attrition rate with half of the Skyhawks, eight A-4Gs and two TA-4Gs, lost in accidents. The causes were varied, engine and other mechanical failures, accidents during carrier operations such as catapult and arrestor wire failure, with one lost over the side during a storm, and in a Collision.

The most spectacular recovery occurred with N13-154910 off Singapore on November 8 1973 when the catapult failed and the aircraft crashed into the sea. The pilot suffered the harrowing experience of the ship passing over his sinking aircraft. He freed himself and was rescued.

Sadly two RAN pilots were lost in other Skyhawk accidents.

The fate of the Skyhawk in RAN service was intertwined with the replacement of HMAS Melbourne. Eventually, on March 14 1983 the newly-elected Hawke Labor government announced that Melbourne would be retired without replacement, followed soon after by the May 3 1983 decision that RAN fixed-wing flying would be phased out. Six Skyhawks were to be withdrawn by June 30 that year and with four remaining aircraft, retained for low-level target towing, to be withdrawn by June 30 1984.

‘That was not quite the end for Australia’s Skyhawks, though.’

That was not quite the end for Australia’s Skyhawks, though. After extensive negotiations, the sale to New Zealand of 10 Skyhawks, eight A-4Gs and two TA-4Gs plus spares for $28.3 million was announced on July 9 1984. In RNZAF use the aircraft were upgraded to A-4K and TA-4K ‘Kahu’ standard.

From 1991 to 2001 two single-seat and four dual-seat RNZAF Skyhawks even returned to Nowra in an air support role. (Sadly one was pilot was lost in an accident while practising for the 2001 Avalon Airshow.)

And even with the Skyhawk’s 2001 retirement from RNZAF service, ex-RAN A-4Gs fly on to this day – six of the eight A-4Ks sold to Draken International, which provides aggressor and target simulation services to the US and other militaries, are former Australian aircraft