On display just inside the main gate, this A-4A had been recently repainted not long before I took this slide. In 1978 VA-303 was operating the A-7B Corsair II with these markings less the "Alameda" on the vertical fin. VA-303 had one of the more colorful paint schemes to be seen, but in just a year or two the era of "Haze Gray" was about to eliminate all the color in Naval Aviation.

Mounted on the pylon inside the main gate at Alameda Point (former NAS Alameda), beautifully repaired after the mishap on 14 June 2011 when the crane tipped over (see here).

Photo 1 of 3 (see here). After over two years of volunteer restoration work on the A-4 at the former NAS Alameda this beautiful Douglas A-4 was about to be remounted on the pylon at the main gate.

Photo 2 of 3 (see here). Suddenly the plane dropped and hit the pylon as the cables were slacked off. The reason was that the crane was tipping over and about to fall. It can be seen in the upper left hand corner.

Photo 3 of 3 (see here). The final scene with the crane on its side after hitting the tail section of the A-4 as it came down. The Skyhawk was eventually repaired and successfully mounted on the pylon (see here).