Aussie A-4G Skyhawk Images

RAN Publicity shot. They are pretending to talk to the A-4G screaming past overhead. The shot was taken a few times and often the A-4G was very low
A-4G's on HMAS Melbourne Photo Courtesy David Ramsay
"The Catapult Director is not reacting to the shower of sparks from a defective bolt in the catapult track (subsequently repaired) during the dramatic dawn launch of the A4G. Likely any damage caused was to the catapult shuttle, and the track/defective bolt - not to the aircraft. To be fair to the Director his attention is elsewhere on the other aircraft approaching the catapult. Apparently the catapult defect was not noticed until the photo evidence was discovered, after this photo was developed later." Photo Courtesy David Ramsay
A-4G about to land on HMAS Melbourne. Photo Courtesy David Ramsay
A-4G's at Greeham Common in the UK. Photo Courtesy David Ramsay
Dave Ramsay in 886 wowing the crowd at Greenham Common in the UK
Some rare photos from the Australian Museum of Flight (AMOF) at NAS Nowra, NSW, Australia. You will see the first USN A4B landing on HMAS Melbourne, when the ship embarked Sea Venom fighters and Gannet & Wessex ASW aircraft. You see the Gannets with wings folded in the photo of the A4B being readied on the catapult. Notice the number of people involved in this exercise. "20 May 1965 a USN Skyhawk ,4874, from USS BENNINGTON flown by LCDR Ward USN, demonstrated Deck Landing Qualities by carrying out landings and catapulting from HMAS MELBOURNE . Also while on board hangar and flight deck conditions were also checked. This happened off the Philippines during exercise "Sea Horse". In 1969 the first RAN A4Gs were embarked on HMAS Melbourne. The pilot of that USN A4B was a good salesman. :-) In 2 photos you see the Wessex 31B ASW helicopter standing plane-guard for the catapult launches or arrests.
The TA-4G is in camouflage so this puts the time to be in the early 80s when this paint scheme was being used. Notice the slats are just starting to drop during the high speed, high G, low pass. The photographer was standing on the ground (on top of the cliffs) at Point Perpendicular as the a/c flew past.
A-4G 889 is shown in the first paint scheme (used circa 1969-early 70's) showing the 'checker' rudder (indicating VF 805) with the Fleet Air Defence paint scheme. The A-4G varied from the A4F in one important detail (amongst others). The A4G was wired to carry 4 Sidewinder AIM 9Bs - one on each underwing pylon rather than the 2 carried by an A-4E/F .
A-4G 887 on the deck of HMAS Melbourne
"LCDR Clive Blennerhassett climbing A-4G ladder with an S-2 Tracker and Wessex helicopter in the frame."
RAN 885 over North Sydney
	886 Near Jervis Bay NSW Australia
2 RAN A-4G's
The 'Checkmates' from VF 805 Sqn approach/touchdown in a diamond formation in late 1973. Team members: Leader (No.1) in 889 LCDR Bill Callan CO; in 872 (No.2) LEUT Pete Cox; in 886 (No.3) LEUT Graham Winterflood; and in 871 (No.4 - in the 'box') LEUT Chris Olsson SP. The formation lands on Runway 26, 6000 feet, 150 feet wide at NAS Nowra. Number 4 lands first (behind leader). Leader lands 'long' to allow No.4 (behind) to brake and get safe landing, before braking himself, safely. The Sea Venom 'RamJets' also made Diamond 4 landings as illustrated here by the A-4Gs
HMAS Melbourne with air group
HMAS Melbourne with USS Enterprise in the mid 1970s
In VF 805 late 1971 it was decided to hold a "tail logo" design competition onboard. There was the only entry due to the otherwise complete lack of interest. So by default this design ended up briefly on a few tails. Sometimes it was used to "tag" other aircraft You will see this red 'bird' occasionally on old photos/videos. Being Navy this "bird" was immediately dubbed the "shitbird" and this stuck, needless to say this design was not utilised a lot except to "trash tag" visiting aircraft. A fitting use. Phil Thompson (Lucifer) (photo courtesy of Dave Masterson).
(Picture Laurie Hillier)
“Down chains, off brakes, come ahead slowly !” Newly promoted LEUT ‘Bruiser’ Baddams RAN nervously applies generous throttle to get N13-154903 (side number 882) rolling forward as the ship (HMAS ‘Melbourne’ CVS-21) starts a roll to stbd, threatening to tip his lightly loaded (note the lack of external fuel tanks or armament) a/c backwards over the side. That single white line the a/c’s nosewheel is about to cross is the flight deck safety line (the edge of the landing path visible to the upper right), illustrating how narrow the ship’s flight deck was and just how far the WIDE wingspan of the RAN’s twin prop S-2G Tracker ASW a/c reached …That’s why the ship was modified to add what we called the ‘tram tracks’ jutting out over the ship’s side. These allowed a number of Skyhawk's to be parked along (over) the ship’s side aft of the ‘island’ … which is also why they ended-up with that curious (and hopelessly ineffective) yellow paint all over their leading edges, as may be seen on 882). It probably also accounts for why 882 has another a/c’s nose cone … the ‘control’ part of corrosion control was almost non-existent aboard ship. (Text and Picture Laurie Hillier).
(Picture Laurie Hillier)
N13-155064 (side number 877) about to snag #4 wire aboard HMAS ‘Melbourne’ CVS-21 ca 1979 – 81. Yes, that’s hastily applied yellow primer paint adorning significant portions of it’s leading edges, reflecting (non too kindly !) our desperate attempts to separate metal, air (oxygen), and salt water towards the end of our long ‘cruise’ to the Arabian Gulf. Our a/c spent most of their time deck parked and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, they were parked immediately aft of the ship’s funnel, which constantly poured out highly sulphurous (not sure of the spelling) fumes, large amounts of which ended-up adorning our a/c. All the ranting & raving on my part to the yellow shirted ‘Bears’ in the Aircraft Control Room (ACR) to get them down below for corrosion control was to no avail, the response usually being “Sorry Chief, the (new to the RAN) ‘Seakings’ (SH-3 ASW helos) take priority !” Is it any wonder a man’s eyelids twitch uncontrollably these days when people tell me ours is “ … a helicopter Navy now !” As usual (when embarked), 877 carries 2 x 150 (US) drop tanks and has Mr. Colt’s finest fitted. You can be assured their ammo canisters have their standard load out of 150 rpg, too. (Text and Picture Laurie Hillier)
Another reason why A-4G's usually operated with wing tanks . They were good secondary undercarriage, the A4 was undamaged and taxis away after this slow speed roll onto port drop tank. A video of this can be found above. (RAN Official)
A VF805 (yes, it’s one of ours, despite that blue & yellow tail !) A-4G. N13-154904 (side number 883) snagging #4 wire (while still airborne: note the fully extended MLG struts & still deployed speed-brakes) aboard HMAS ‘Melbourne’ CVS-21 during my time as CAA of the squadron, 1979 – 81 (incl.). This is what would be classed by the LSO as a ‘ … just made it’ pass ‘ … that’ll cost you a round the wardroom tonight’. As if to confirm VF805’s ‘ownership’ of the a/c, note that it’s wearing that Sqn’s standard carrier borne ‘fit’ of 2 x 150 (US) gal drop tanks (VC724 didn’t have them, only VF805 did), LAU-7A ( … did I get that right, Bill ?) Sidewinder launch ‘rail’, and that the pilot is definitely a ‘Checkmate’. Oh, another clue is the carriage of Mr. Colt’s 20mm cannons: despite the weight penalty involved (and subsequent reduction in fuel carried), all our a/c carried 2 of ‘em with full (75 rpg) ammo canisters. VC724, on the other hand, only fitted guns ‘when required’. Actually, it’s unusual that the a/c doesn’t have a blue headed ‘captive’ AIM-9B ‘Sidewinder’ on the launch rail. Must have been light on for wind over the deck that day. (Text and Picture Laurie Hillier)
USN A-4 in the gunsight of another A-4
2 A-4G's buzz HMAS Melbourne 1969 (RAN Official)
HMAS Mebourne CAG (Carrier Air Group), the leader has CAG on tail. Photo dated late 1960's (RAN Official)
4 A-4G's taking off in formation. Notice the unusual initial "painted rudder only" with dark blue / yellow stripes. (RAN Official)
HMAS Melbourne , Sydney Harbour 1971 .Here to acknowledge that VF805 flew aboard not only with our Squadron support but the support of all on HMAS Melbourne (RAN Official)
4 A-4G's around Pigeon house mountain near HMAS Albatross
(RAN Official)
VF 805 on the deck of HMAS Melbourne in 1981 alongside at Sembawang, Singapore.
This shot is significant in that it is a publicity photo (taken in USA) of the A4G carrying 4 AIM 9B Sidewinders (2 visible) which the A-4Gs were specially modified to do, having primarily a fleet defence fighter role. (RAN Official)
A-4G traps on HMAS Melbourne (RAN Official)
LSO Leut Gary Northern "talking on the phone" and LSO Leut Keith Johnson supervising (mostly hidden by canvas screen). The year would be 1969-70? (RAN Official)
Graphic Showing Typical A-4 Landing pattern onto a carrier
Kiwi and Aussie A-4's on the line Nowra
	These pictures were part of a publicity exercise, a Navy Photographer was in a chase Macchi. The destroyer is most likely HMAS Swan, the year 1973. (RAN Official)
	Shows 4 of the 5 Landing wires on HMAS Melbourne and An A-4G on Approach (RAN Official)
		RAN A-4G dented on the RAMP of HMAS Melbourne in 1971 Pilot Call Sign was Lucifer and he put a permanent bend in the fuselage. This was the RAN's first major A-4G accident at the time so the "powers that be were none too pleased
		USN A-4C(?) from VA-112 'Bombing Broncos' CVW-11 does some trial landings on HMAS Melbourne in 1965 prior the RAN acquiring their Skyhawks. Taken from www.drawquick.com.au/ships/gallery.htm