Fleet Readiness Center East restores retired Skyhawk aircraft to former glory

CHERRY POINT, N.C. (WITN) – A group of Marine Corps artisans in the east got the chance to restore a piece of aviation history for a display.

Fleet Readiness Center East reports the completion of a restoration project of a retired Douglas A-4M Skyhawk aircraft. The center’s Aircraft Clean and Paint Shop team worked to restore the aircraft to its former glory, they report.

The depot said they had not worked on a model of this unit in over 20 years. Crew members wanted the restoration to be authentic and sought input from Marine Attack Squadron 223 in Cherry Point who had pictures of Skyhawks, while adding their own personal touches.

They go on to say this is the fourth restoration of an aircraft done at the depot, but the first of this model.

Critical Item Team branch head Stephen Gurley said working on this aircraft felt like stepping back in time and how it brought back memories.

“Reviving old, retired aircraft like the A-4 for display is such an honor,” said Aircraft Clean and Paint Shop Supervisor Ronald Gray. “In doing so, we honor the depot’s history, the aircraft’s history, the aviators who flew A-4s and those who serviced it.”

Aircraft Paint Shop artisans apply the first coats of paint to the retired Douglas A-4M Skyhawk. The aircraft will serve as a historical display onboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Aircraft Paint Shop artisans prepare the historic Douglas A-4M Skyhawk for a fresh coat of paint by sanding the surface to remove any old paint. Aircraft Paint Shop artisans apply the first coats of paint to the retired Douglas A-4M Skyhawk. The aircraft will serve as a historical display onboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Recently restored a retired Douglas A-4M Skyhawk. The aircraft will be a historical display onboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, to honor local Marine Attack Squadron 223, who are known for being the last operational A-4 squadron on the East Coast. For many FRCE artisans, this was their first time working on an A-4, which made for a unique experience.

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