VA-34 A-4B Skyhawk Bay of Pigs

[+dtmdragon 2,727]

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VA-34 A-4B Skyhawk Bay of Pigs

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During the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion VA-34 A-4B Skyhaks from the USS Essex flew a CAP/ escort mission with the intention of protecting the Rebal A-26 Invaders but due to a timing cock up were an hour late and missed engaging the Cuban T-33A fighters.  They also flew multiple reconnaissance flights over the invasion beach throughout the incident. Due to President Kennedy insisting that there be no proof of US involvement the Skyhawks had their USN markings painted over. There are no photos of these aircraft and very few of VA-34 during that time period so I have based these skins off the only photo I can find specifically of VA-34 during the Bay of Pigs Invasion as well as one from later that year. These photos are of aircraft that did not have their markings painted over however. There is an alternative skin based on a drawing Statos posted which I think makes a way cooler looking Aircraft but is unlikely to be historically accurate.

Credit goes to TW, Stratos and Nyghtfall.

If you do create a Bay of Pigs USN A-4B v FAR T-33A remember the A-4B could not carry the AIM-9 at this point and Skyhawks operating over Cuba just had two wing drop tanks plus thier 20mm cannons. Change the Aircraft role from 'attack' to 'fighter' in the A-4B_data.ini file if you want better AI performance from your wingmen.

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• Submitter
  dtmdragon
• Submitted
  01/12/2019
• Category
  A-4

 

[Wilches 1,173]

Very interesting. Could you post the Skyhawk photo please?

[NIELS 421]

Thanks much & nice work - will be a sweet addition to Cuba campain!

[+dtmdragon 2,727]

21 hours ago, Wilches said:

Very interesting. Could you post the Skyhawk photo please?

I have their with the screen shots for the download, the last 2...

 

Edited January 13, 2019 by dtmdragon