In 1965 the order went out to produce the Douglas Skyhawk A-4F variant that was similar to the A-4E but with improvements. A-4F 155009 C/N 13825 was delivered to VA-55 Warhorses in 1968. In April 1972 the Warhorses were involved Operation Freedom Train that was air sorties against targets in the southern portion of North Vietnam. In May 1972 the unit took part in Operation Linebacker that was a very heavy concentration of air strikes again North Vietnam with the hope of bringing North Vietnam to the negotiating table.
Designed to replace the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider the Skyhawk first flew in 1954. Its small size was a radical departure from the normal Big thinking of the time. The USN first took delivery in late 1956 with the USMC receiving theirs 3 months later. Over the years many nicknames were used, Tinker Toy, Heinemann's Hotrod (the designer was Ed Heinemann), with the E and F models labeled the Camelbecause of the electronics hump along the dorsal. Probably the most well known nickname used for the 2,960 A-4's that were produced is Scooter.