The Douglas A4 Skyhawk in Israel Air Force Service 1968-1973

Israel was the largest export customer for Skyhawks. The Skyhawk was the first U.S. warplane to be offered to the Israeli Air Force, marking the point where the U.S. took over from France as Israel's chief military supplier. Deliveries began after the Six-Day War, and A-4s soon formed the backbone of the IAF's ground-attack force. In IAF Service, the A-4 Skyhawk was named as the Ayit (Hebrew: עיט‎, for Eagle). In the late 1960s and 1970s, Israeli Air Force Skyhawks were the primary ground attack aircraft in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. Skyhawks carried out bombing missions in the Yom Kippur War, and a considerable proportion of the tactical sorties. They also suffered heavy losses, partially because of their relatively low penetration speed. The Skyhawks bore the brunt of losses to sophisticated SA-6 Gainful missile batteries and Anti-aircraft guns. In May 1970, an Israeli Skyhawk piloted by Col. Ezra Dotan shot down two MiG-17s over south Lebanon (one with unguided rockets, the other with 30mm cannon fire). A special version of the A-4 was developed for the IAF, the A-4H. This was an A-4E which featured improved avionics and the improved thrust J52-P-8A engine. Armament consisted of twin DEFA 30 mm cannon in place of the Colt Mk.12 20 mm cannons. Later modifications included the avionics hump and an extended tailpipe, implemented in Israel by IAI. The extended tailpipe gave greater protection against heat seeking surface to air missiles. A total of 90 A-4Hs were delivered, and were Heyl Ha'avir's(Israels Air Force) primary attack plane in the War of Attrition.  I took these photos (of the tail section) of a 110 sq. A4-E shortly after the Yom Kippur war in a Kibbutz very close to the Golan Heights.  One of the many unfortunate Israeli Skyhawk pilots that pressed his attack against hidden and mobile Anti-Aircraft units of the Syrians.

The first of my Hasegawa 1/32nd scale A4-E Skyhawk models has been converted and is marked as an early A4-H of both 102 and 109 squadrons which arrived in Israel in 1968. These aircraft were immediately used on bombing missions against the PLO in Jordan and Lebanon and SEAD missions against the Egyptian anti-aircraft defenses along the Suez canal. The Skyhawk could carry a warload of 8000lbs, nearly equal to it's own weight of 10,450lbs. My Model is loaded with underwing stores to show this capability. Here is the model:

The second of my stable of Hasegawa Skyhawks is the TA-4H. This was the trainer provided by the United States to Israel along with the single seat version. The trainers served with each squadron and also at the advanced flying school. These aircraft were used in a combat role during the Yom Kippur war and provided FAC capabilities to locate mobile SAM units during the Skyhawks close air support of Israeli forces engaged against both Syrian and Egyptian armies. This model was also converted with an "H" version tail and a detailed resin cockpit. It appears in the markings of Israeli 109 squadron which had a unique placement of the "Star of David" roundel mid-fuselage.

The Third and last of my Hasegawa 1/32nd scale A4 Skyhawks is a converted "E" and displays a modified tailpipe extension and 30mm DEFA guns. These were Israeli type specific modifications which were in some instances applied to damaged aircraft in repair depot service. The 30mm guns were a planned upgrade whereas the 1 meter long tailpipe extension was a result of observing the damage inflicted by the small SAM-7 Strella missile. The Israeli mod. moved the exhaust heat source aft of the tail section and vital hydraulic control lines built into these areas. This model is marked as an aircraft from IAF 110 squadron, "Knights of the North". You may notice also that the Green is a different shade than the 2 earlier models. This was the same paint applied to the F4 Phantom and would eventually replace the Douglas Aircraft color that was originally applied.