NARF - AlamedaPhotograph AlbumYA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 - May 10, 1967 Bob Krall with YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 on the Naval Air Station Alameda Flight Test line. Bob had just test flown BuNo. 137813 after it's Overhaul and Repair (O&R) Maintenance. XA4D-1 (A-4A) BuNo. 137812 was the Skyhawk prototype - the first Skyhawk built. YA4D-1 (A-4A) BuNo. 137813 was the first production Skyhawk. Photograph from Bob Krall YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 - May 12, 1967. Douglas YA4D-1 (A-4A) BuNo. 137813 flies past the United States Ship Oriskany (CVA 34) shortly after the carrier sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge - westbound. BuNo. 137813's pilot was Lieutenant Rique Beslin, a former F-8 pilot, on a NARF Alameda test flight. Lieutenant Bob Krall, who was flying in Skyhawk BuNo. 149539, took the photograph 12 May 1967. YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 was also assigned to the Reserve NAVY/MARINE unit at Naval Air Station Alameda. When Bob took this photograph the ferry squadron was pulling old Skyhawks out of the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center, Davis-Monthan Airforce Base and bringing them to the O&R's for subsequent transfer to the Reserves. Newer Reserve Skyhawks were being reassigned to fleet units. Photograph from Bob Krall YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 - 1963 Naval Air Facility China Lake YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk BuNo. 137813. The apparatus attached to the tail was made of asbestos and intended to mask the infrared signature of the jet exhaust. Not a big favorite of the plane captains, as they had to stand on something so they could hang over the side of it to inspect the tailpipe etc. during preflight. Official United States Navy photo from Gary Verver YA4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo. 137813 P-cola - Today The first Skyhawk to come down the production line YA4D-1 (A-4A) BuNo. 137813 didn't end up in the smelter. Mr. Edward Henry Heinemann and Bob Krall pose by BuNo. 137813 on May 10, 1986 at Pensacola. Today she rest proudly on display as VA-83 AJ 301 in the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida (It's free!). -- She's still there so please visit this little lady. Photographs by Captain Hook and from Robert Krall. A-4 Skyhawk BuNo. 145032 - 1967 Lieutenant Dick Calvert on a FAM flight in BuNo.145032 heads toward the Golden Gate Bridge with Lieutenant Bob Krall flying chase. Pier 39 and Crissy Field are visible beneath the Skyhawk. Lieutenant Calvert flew the P-2 Neptune and A-1 Skyraider before assignment as a NARF Alameda test pilot because of the high workload (about 100 Skyhawks per quarter from 1965 through 1967). Photograph from Bob Krall A-4 Skyhawk BuNo. 149492 - 1967 On a routine 1967 test flight out of Naval Air Station Alameda, Lieutenant Bob Krall is flying BuNo.149492 on the port wing of a Lockheed P-3 Orion. Photograph by NARF graphic arts employee Dolly Wilson from Lockheed P-3A Orion BuNo. 51375. A-4 Skyhawk BuNo. 150037 - 1967 On the NARF Alameda flight line BuNo 150037 is painted for a flight demonstration by Bob Krall as part of the Nimitz Field dedication on Naval Air Station Alameda on 26 in January 1967. Photograph from Bob Krall Displayed Skyhawk at Alameda Point. Displayed Skyhawk at Alameda Point back in 84 when it was still NAS. Displayed Skyhawk at Alameda Point back in 84 when it was still NAS. |