Steven Ng :: Aircraft carriers and their aircraft

USN A-4 Skyhawk panel by JG Jones

Artist: JG Jones (All)

1 Comment - 70 Views - 0 Like

USN A-4 Skyhawk panel by JG Jones Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Before Watchmen: The Comedian #2 page 19

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USN F-8 Crusaders panel by JG Jones

Artwork Details

Title:	USN A-4 Skyhawk panel by JG Jones
Artist:	JG Jones (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	70
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	12/28/2024
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Before Watchmen: Comedian #2 p.19 by JG Jones

I haven't read the comic, but it seems to be a depiction of the Tonkin Gulf incident. A US Navy destroyer reported being attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. I bought the page for the panels with the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attack plane on an aircraft carrier catapult and the two Vought F-8 Crusader fighters flying over an aircraft carrier. I believe this may be the A-4E version. The plane was designed by Ed Heinemann and built in Douglas factories in southern California. Nicknames included �Heinemann�s hot rod� and �scooter.� When I was a boy, I often saw Skyhawks flying overhead from nearby NAS Alameda. When I was working in San Francisco, I remember the Blue Angels making an early appearance for Fleet Week. It was an exciting experience. I think the aircraft carrier might be an Essex-class ship which carried Skyhawks and Crusaders. The newer carriers operated the larger Phantom II fighter. My father brought the family to see the USS Ticonderoga , USS Hancock, and USS Oriskany.

Nitpicking some details: this Skyhawk and the two Crusaders have the AF tail codes which means they are from one Air Wing operating off the same aircraft carrier, but the code numbers on the nose indicates they are from the same squadron. I believe the typical air wing at the time would have two fighter squadrons with 100 and 200 numbers. There would be two or three attack (bomber) squadrons with 300, 400, and 500 numbers. Airborne Early Warning aircraft, Anti-Submarine Warfare planes, reconnaissance types, and helicopters would have their dedicated numbers.

The tail codes starting with �A� now designate Atlantic fleet aircraft and �N� designate Pacific fleet aircraft. Later in the War, Atlantic fleet ships would deploy to Vietnam.

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About the Owner

	Steven Ng ( 4 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	July 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	s-ng
Website:	https://www.facebook.com/steven.ng.5602
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/28/2024

With the more realistic style of Jones' artwork, the art makes you wonder why there would have been a need for any military conflict when Doctor Manhattan was a walking doomsday device.

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