Notes: The first aircraft is for what is now known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons."  They began operating the Skyhawk in July 1959, before transitioning to the A-4F shown here from 1967-1970.  They were replaced by the A-7, and then now fly the F/A-18C.  The markings on this sheet represent the unit's 1969 deployment to the Vietnam theater aboard the USS Oriskany, and this CAG aircraft offers the most colorful tail markings of the sheet.

The second plane was the last mount of VA-23, and this set of markings covers their cruise aboard the USS Ticonderoga from late 1967 to mid-1968, also to the Southeast Asian theater.  The squadron disestablished in 1970.

The third example covers an A-4E of VA-152.  They began operations with the Skyhawk in 1968, and in 15 months, they operated three different versions.  This squadron lasted until 1971, and has not been heard from since.  The markings provided are for their cruise aboard the USS Shangri-La from March-December 1970, which was their last.

The final example covers an A-4E of VA-45, which deployed aboard the USS Intrepid in 1972 and 1973.

All of the aircraft are overall light gull gray over white, and the decals do not have national insignia.  A good source of information online can be found at www.skyhawk.org.  Kits offered in A-4E and A-4F versions come from Italeri, Hasegawa, Fujimi, and ESCI.

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