A-4L skyhawk
Most likely, it was built in June 1961 at Douglas Aircraft Company, El Segundo, California, with final assembly at Douglas Aircraft Company, Palmdale facility. Its first known assignment was with Squadron VA-34, the “Blue Blasters” and was not long afterward, in October 1962, it was deployed aboard U.S.S. Enterprise CVAN-65 to augment its air-wing during the Cuban Missile Crisis. November 21, 1962, VA-34 transferred from U.S.S. Enterprise to U.S.S. Independence CVA-62 and stayed aboard until U.S.S. Independence returned to the U. S. November 26, 1962.
Between March 1963 and October 1966, VA-34 was assigned to Carrier Air-Wing 3, aboard CVA-60 U.S.S. Saratoga for a series of deployments to the Mediterranean.
“Iron Hand”
Between May 11, 1967, and December 30, 1967, VA-34 was embarked aboard CVS-11 U.S.S. Intrepid and was deployed off Viet Nam. During this deployment to Viet Nam, VA-34 was engaged in “Iron Hand” missions. These missions involved preceding strike aircraft into the combat zone with the mission of attacking Surface to Air Missile sites, and Anti-Aircraft Artillery sites and neutralizing them. These were very dangerous missions and VA-34 lost 20% of the squadron’s aircraft during this deployment. U.S.S. Intrepid returned to Norfolk, Virginia after this cruise.
A-4C 148316’s last known deployment with VA-34 was aboard CVA-59 U.S.S. Forrestal, as part of carrier air-wing 17, for another deployment to the Mediterranean, July 22, 1968, to April 29th 1969.
November 1969, A-4C 148316 found itself based at Patuxent River Weapons Division for studies by the U. S. Navy for weapons load testing.
Rebuilt A-4Cs, to A-4L standard
In 1969, the country of Malaysia was expressing interest in rebuilt A-4Cs, to A-4L standard. This included adding an electronics package in a hump, in a dorsal position, in an aircraft.
Other modifications included a new ejection seat, new wing-lift spoilers, and an upgraded J-65 engine from 7700 lb. thrust, to 8400 lb. thrust. These modifications were carried out at the Naval Air Rework Facility at Pensacola, Florida. Unfortunately, the Malaysians only accepted 40 A-4Ls, and this aircraft ended up at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Arizona, for storage.
Later, A-4L 148316 found its way to ATW Aviation at Marana Airport, Avra Valley Airport, north of Tucson, Arizona, finally ending its journey at the Planes of Fame Air Museum, in Chino, California, and can be viewed in the U.S.S. Enterprise Hangar.
