DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK Subsonic Carrier Attack Aicraft USN USMC John K. Butterfield

This exquisite painting by John K. Butterfield showcases the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a subsonic carrier attack aircraft that has been an integral part of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The skillful acrylic painting captures the intricate details of the aircraft, highlighting its importance in American aviation history. The painting is matted and framed, adding to its elegance and making it a perfect addition to any art collection. The personalized touch of the artist's signature adds value to this original piece. Without a doubt, this painting is a must-have for any aviation enthusiast or collector of contemporary art. John Keith Butterfield (1930-2023) John was born on August 6, 1930, in Momence, Illinois. The son of C. Elvin Butterfield and Clara (Wyatt) Butterfield, John was a graduate of Momence High School and the University of Illinois. He married Martha A. Butterfield in 1956 in Champaign, Illinois. John was a veteran of service with the United States Air Force, where he served as a sergeant in the Alaskan Air Command during the Korean War. He worked for the Pope Brace Company in Kankakee until becoming a contract negotiator for the US Army at Joliet Arsenal. His work there took him to the Rock Island Arsenal and later to the Pentagon. He retired from the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 1991 and returned to the Kankakee area, where he was a photographer, writer, and cartoonist for the Bourbonnais Herald, Country Market newspaper until he relocated to Las Vegas in 2015. John was an artist, whose paintings, drawings, cartoons, and hand-made greeting cards are treasured by many. He was also an avid photographer and model builder. Some of his detailed airplane models, created from scratch with found materials, are displayed at the Lyons Air Museum in Orange County, California. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, and later, McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy's pre-1962 designation system. The Skyhawk was developed during the early 1950s on behalf of the US Navy and United States Marine Corps as a replacement for the propeller-driven Douglas A-1 (AD) Skyraider. The A-4 is by comparison, a compact, straightforward, and lightweight aircraft for the era. Its maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) being roughly half of the Navy's weight specification. The Skyhawk has a short-span delta wing configuration, a tricycle undercarriage, and is powered by a single turbojet engine. The US Navy issued a contract for the aircraft on 12 June 1952. On 22 June 1954, the XA4D-1 prototype performed its maiden flight; it went on to set a world speed record of 695.163 mph on 15 October 1955. On 1 October 1956, the Skyhawk was introduced to operational service. The Skyhawk's five hardpoints support a variety of missiles, bombs, and other munitions. It is capable of carrying a bomb load equivalent to that of the World War II-era Boeing B-17 bomber, and can deliver nuclear weapons using a low-altitude bombing system and a "loft" delivery technique. Furthermore, it pioneered the concept of "buddy" air-to-air refueling, enabling an aircraft to supply others and reduce the need for dedicated aerial tankers. The Skyhawk was originally powered by the Wright J65 turbojet engine; from the A-4E onwards, the Pratt & Whitney J52 engine was used instead. The Skyhawk was in production through to February 1979, by which point 2,960 aircraft had been delivered to a variety of operators. 555 aircraft alone were built as dedicated two-seat trainers. The Skyhawk saw active combat on several occasions. The US Navy operated the type as its principal light attack aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out some of the first air strikes by the US during the conflict. The Skyhawk was the Israeli Air Force's main ground attack aircraft during both the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. In the Falklands War, Argentine Air Force Skyhawks bombed Royal Navy vessels, sinking the Type 42 destroyer Coventry and the Type 21 frigate Ardent. Kuwaiti Air Force Skyhawks saw action during Operation Desert Storm. In 2022, nearly seven decades after the aircraft's first flight in 1954, a number of Skyhawks remain in service with the Argentine Air Force and the Brazilian Naval Aviation. We strongly encourage you to thoroughly read the condition details above and to view all of the photos before purchasing, as these photos describe the item most accurately. 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