Hobby Master Archive

The first US Navy A-4 Skyhawk entered service in 1956 to replace the A-1 Skyraider but by 1979 the A-4 was being replaced by the A-7 Corsair II. VA-106 started as Strike-Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO SIX in January 1945 but became VA-106 “The Gladiators” in 1955. A total 2,960 A-4s were manufactured with 542 of them as A-4B (originally designated as A-4D-2) Skyhawks. Many of these were later modified and/or refurbished and sold to foreign countries. The Skyhawk flew more missions than any other US Navy plane during the Vietnam War and because it was so nimble it was chosen by the US Navy Aerobatic Team the “Blue Angels”.