Preserved at Selfridge ANGB from 1971. Repainted since my 1981 photo of it.

Photo by Jim Tunney.

This aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off NAS Key West, FL 10 December 1990 after having collided with TA-4J 158125.

Photographer unknown - later Flight Systems Inc. N403FS

Preserved at Selfridge ANGB from 1971.

Reserve Fleet Composite Squadron (VC) 12 "Fighting Omars" used this dark, 1963 built, A-4E Skyhawk. VC-12 used the JY tailcode, but this was not carried here. On 16 Jul'93, the squadron flew their last mission with the A-4 and transitioned a year later to the F/A-18A/B Hornet. VC-12 provided adversary training to East Coast Navy air wings. This A-4E was already retired to AMARC from Jan'78 to Jul'80 with inventory code 3A523, but returned to operational service. After VC-12 got rid of their A-4s, it was moved to the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Penscacola.

Reserve Fleet Composite Squadron (VC) 12 "Fighting Omars" used this dark, 1966 built, A-4F Skyhawk. VC-12 used the JY tailcode, but this was not carried here. In '88, the squadron was redesignated into VFC-12. On 16 Jul'93, the Fighting Omars flew their last mission with the A-4 and transitioned a year later to the F/A-18A/B Hornet. In 2006 they swapped to F/A-18C/D and in 2021 to F/A-18E/F. This Skyhawk was already retired to AMARC in Aug'93 with inventory code 3A722. It was moved from the storage depot in late 1994 and it appeared on the USS Midway museum in San Diego harbour from 2005.

Aircraft is ex AMARC (code 3A460 carried on the rear fuselage). US civil registration N135AT was allocated but never carried whilst stored Marana. Aircraft was held in storage awaiting possible restoration.

Unable to determine the nose modex, aircraft is ex AMARC (code 3A488 carried on the rear fuselage) and on movement to Marana Regional was allocated N220AT. Aircraft is believed to have been a donor of parts for other restorations with the nose section under separate restoration work.

"Fighting Omars" TA-4J turning final to 24R

VC-12 TA-4J rolling out on runway 24R

Composite Squadron (VC) 12 was the Navy's first Reserve Fleet Composite Squadron. The sqn used the single seat A-4E/F and dual seat TA-4J Skyhawks and was assigned the support mission with air intercept and dissimilar air combat maneuvering (ACM) training for Atlantic and Pacific fleet units. This near black Skyhawk used JY as tailcode (not visible) in 1987 (later on the sqn was redesgnated VFC-12 and used tailcode AF). After VC-12 service this aircraft returned to Naval Training with Training Squadron (VT) 7 i the early 90s and became white/orange again. The airframe crashed on 25 Jun'92.

Composite Squadron (VC) Twelve was the Navy's first Reserve Fleet Composite Squadron. The squadron used the single seat A-4E/F and dual seat TA-4J Skyhawks and was assigned the support mission with air intercept and dissimilar air combat maneuvering (ACM) training for Atlantic and Pacific fleet units. This near black Skyhawk used JY as tailcode (not visible) in 1987 (later on the squadron was redesgnated VFC-12 and used tailcode AF) and was stored at AMARC in August 1993.