Douglas A-4D Skyhawk - 416th TFS, 37th TFW, USAF, Phu Cat, 1966
During the Spring of 1961 the incoming Secretary of Defence Robert S. McNamara left no stone unturned in his search for efficiencies in procurement and operational costs and his attention soon turned to the successful Douglas A4D 'Skyhawk' programme. Douglas had already transformed their 'bantam bomber' by replacing the Curtiss-Wright J65 engine with the Pratt & Whitney J52-P6A engine and the forthcoming A4D-5 (A-4E) version was chosen as the baseline for a minimum-change version for the USAF. Known as the A-4D (after the introduction of the tri-service designation system) the USAF Skyhawks saw extensive service at home and abroad and, in particular, served with distinction in Vietnam where it replaced a variety of tactical aircraft.