Aircraft Restoration

Aircraft restoration has moved into full swing now that we are in Staten Island. Being able to work on the hangar deck has made the process much more comfortable and work is progressing faster than anticipated.

Currently, we are working simultaneously on the Coast Guard HH-52 Seaguard and the A-4 Skyhawk. The latter has always been the first aircraft that visitors see up-close once they enter the ship through the main entrance. So far, it seems that the new exhibit plan will keep the Skyhawk front and center. For this one reason it was decided that a fresh paint job was in order.

Originally built in 1958 as an A4D-2, she spent the first few years of her career as a Marine. In 1962 she was redesignated as an A-4B and placed in storage. With the conflict in Vietnam heating up, Skyhawk 142833 was pulled from storage in 1965 and started her US Navy career as a carrier based attack aircraft. She was assigned to Attack Squadron VA-95, known as the Green Lizards, stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. VA-95 deployed with the USS Intrepid and arrived on station in the Gulf of Tonkin between April and October 1966. It is still not clear as to how many combat missions she flew over Vietnam. VA-95 and Skyhawk 142833 deployed to Vietnam not just with Intrepid, but with the USS Shangri-La and the USS John F. Kennedy as well. She apparently served her pilots well and came through three tours of the conflict unscathed!

The highlight of the research done to date is the realization that this A-4B is the only aircraft in the Museum collection that actually flew from the Intrepid during her active service life. It was also noted that she was previously painted in the markings of VA-66, another squadron that deployed with Intrepid to Vietnam a few years later. That squadron brought along a slightly more advanced “C”model of the Skyhawk, not the “B” model like 142833. It’s a bit of a mystery as to why we displayed this particular aircraft in the markings of a squadron for which she never served. As a result of this enlightenment, we will now repainted the aircraft in the VA-95 markings in which she served, complete with a 10 foot long green lizard down the sides of the body!

As for the Coast Guard Seaguard, this helicopter apparently spent her entire career on the east coast, serving at the Coast Guard Stations at Floyd Bennett Field and possibly at Sandy Hook New Jersey. Much more research is need but an old letter found in the files claims that she participated in many life saving missions. This is not hard to believe since the HH-52 has a claim of saving more lives than any other USCG chopper to date.

I tackled this restoration early because there was evidence of severe corrosion and the plastic windshields had deteriorated badly. As of right now, the metal repairs are complete, brand new windshields have been fabricated and installed, and the body has been sanded down. We are waiting for the water to be turned on at Staten Island so that we can get a new coat of paint applied. With a little luck, we will have both these projects completed by the end of July! Next up for restoration will be the FJ-3 Fury and the MiG-21.