The Aircraft

In the early 1930s there was a general consensus, particularly among the bomber cadre that Giulio Douhet was right, and that the bomber would always get through to the target, no matter what. On the other side of this discussion were the fighter jocks, who KNEW that shooting down bombers would be simple, and that their superior aircraft, skill and airmanship would always overcome whatever stratagems and defenses the bomber barons could devise. The answer to these arguments was a compromise, a fighter with enough range to accompany the bombers and enough firepower to defeat the enemy fighters.

Most major air forces came to this conclusion also. The results were:

The A-4 Skyhawk is one of the longest serving ground attack aircraft ever designed with its first flight in June of 1954 and many are still in service with several countries today. Designed as a carrier capable ground attack aircraft for the US Navy and US Marine Corps it has served in wars and conflicts for several countries. Over 3000 of these planes were built.

The “Lady Jessie” aircraft are aircraft named in honor of Jessie Beck, a woman who was a close acquaintance of one of VA-164s pilots killed in action in Vietnam; who continued to send care packages to the squadron long after his death. The first plane to display her name was Lt Cdr Dick Perry’s (the pilot killed in action) but later, the CO’s aircraft would bear the honor until the squadron’s disestablishment in 1975.