The Skyhawk Years

The A-4 Skyhawk in Australian Service 1968 – 1984

Peter Greefield, David Prest

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Hardback

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English

Avonmore Books
01 August 2023

History; Military history: post WW2 conflicts

The magnificent Douglas A-4 Skyhawk served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1968 until 1984 with two squadrons: VF805 and VC724. VF805 was the front-line fighter unit that served aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, while VC724 was shore-based at Naval Air Station Nowra for training and support.

During that period, the aircraft on the Melbourne gave the RAN a unique capability that was central to Australian defence policy. The Skyhawk Years is a story of busy and varied deployments around Australia, Southeast Asia and regularly to the multi-national Rimpac exercises in Hawaii. A particular highlight was a long cruise to the UK in 1977 and participation in the Spithead Naval Review, part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee.

With first-hand stories from pilots and maintainers, the challenges of operations from the world’s smallest aircraft carrier are well explained. Also told are thrilling stories of air combat manoeuvres against fighters from other countries, with the A-4 often surprising more well-credentialled adversaries.

A string of mishaps ended the embarkation of Skyhawks on the Melbourne in 1980, with a sad period following which saw the ultimate scrapping of RAN fixed-wing aviation four years later. However, among the former pilots and maintainers many fond memories of A-4 operations remain alive.

By: Peter Greefield, David Prest
Imprint: Avonmore Books
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 250mm, Width: 176mm,
ISBN: 9780645700411
ISBN 10: 064570041X
Publication Date: 01 August 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword Preface and Acknowledgments Glossary Chapter 1 1945-67: Role, Testing and Purchases Chapter 2 1967-68: Initial Instructor Training Chapter 3 1968-69: The Skyhawk goes to sea Chapter 4 Flight deck engineering Chapter 5 1970: Exercise Bersatu Padu Chapter 6 1971: Training and growing the A-4 fleet Chapter 7 1972: A very busy year Chapter 8 1973: The first losses Chapter 9 1974: Tragedy Chapter 10 1975: Rimpac 75 Chapter 11 1976: OFS and VC724 Chapter 12 Support People Chapter 13 1977: Spithead Review Chapter 14 1978: Rimpac 78 and Sandgroper 78 Chapter 15 1979: Three losses in a year Chapter 16 1980: The beginning of the end Chapter 17 1981: The year that wasn't Chapter 18 1982-1984: The end of RAN fixed-wing aviation Chapter 19 The Skyhawk squadrons Chapter 20 The pilots and their aircraft Chapter 21 Tributes Chapter 22 The case for carrier-based fighters Annex A Contributors Annex B The Sundowners Song Index of Names

Reviews for The Skyhawk Years: The A-4 Skyhawk in Australian Service 1968 – 1984

""...this is much more than just a unit history; it captures the role of an outstanding aircraft... It is a book that deserves to have a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the RAN and its Fleet Air Arm and it certainly has a valued place on mine. I recommended it highly.""--Australian Naval Institute ""...the many color photos also add to the book's value, letting us see our familiar Skyhawks in different colors...""-- ""The Skyhawk Association Journal"" ""...an outstanding review of the Royal Australian Air Force's experience with the Skyhawk.""-- ""National Maritime Historical Society""