Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
James J. Stegman 1920 - 2009 / A-4C Skyhawk
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 28, 2010
1. James J. Stegman Marker
Inscription.
James J. Stegman 1920 - 2009, also, A-4C Skyhawk. .
James J. Stegman 1920 - 2009. Born Aug 23, 1920, in Offerle, Kansas. He was the 6th son of 18 children. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a Private. As he worked up in rank to Sergeant, he also was sent to pilot school. He received his wings in 1943. A few months later, he was sent to the South Pacific for 14 months duty in World War II flying dive bombers. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty in Korea where he flew missions in jets for 10 months and attained the rank of Major. In 1955, he became a civilian and was hired by Douglas Aircraft in 1958 and assigned him to Palmdale Plant 42 as Chief Production Test Pilot. He was there for 21 years until the last of the A-4 Skyhawk's was rolled out, and retired in 1982. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Lodge #2516 local, Moose Lodge #1926, VFW #3000, American Legion #311, and the Society of Experimential Test Pilots.,
A-4C Skyhawk General Information. Left PanelManufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Corp. (Later McDonnell Douglas Corporation) Production Period: 1955 to 1979 Number Produced: 2,960 Production Series: USN/USMC: A-4A, B, C, E, F, and M single-seat A/C, TA-4F, J and OA-4M two-seat A/C, Roles: Originally designed as a carrier-based fair-weather light-attack bomber for the US Navy; later developed into a carrier- and land-based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Navy and US Marine Corps, capable of close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, short-range strike, fleet defense, reconnaissance, forward air control, and advanced jet trainer.,
Performance and Specifications (Figures given are for the A-4M model). Maximum Speed: 700 mph (Mach 0.94) Service Ceiling: 40,000 feet above sea level Range: 2,000 miles (unlimited with aerial refueling) Weapons: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike, Walleye guided bomb, two 20mm MK 12 cannons, various unguided rockets, assorted conventional and nuclear weapons Crew: Pilot Length: 40 feet, 4 inches Wingspan: 27 feet, 6 inches Height: 15 feet Maximum Takeoff Weight: 25,500 pounds Powerplant: Pratt and Whitney J52-P-408 turbojet engine providing 11,200 lbs. of thrust, Achievments: Established the 500-KM closed course speed record at 695.163 mph in October 1955; operated by the USN Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team,
A-4C SkyHawk A/C SN145067. Right Panel:Construction # - 12313 Date Acquired: - March 2001 Acquired From: - USN China Lake, Loan Displayed: - August 2004, 31 March 1959 - BAR M&S - El Segundo, CA 18 January 1960 - BWR RDT&E - El Segundo, CA 21 April 1961 - USNMC RDT&E - NAS Point Mugu, CA 27 December 1967 - USNMC R&T - NAS Point Mugu, CA 10 March 1969 - NAS R&T - NAS Point Mugu, CA and was used as a Research and Development aircraft 03 April 1971 - Relocated to China Lake - was stricken from the inventory on May 10, 1971 and was used as a target. Date Unknown - Transferred to Ridgecrest Museum Date Unknown - A/C returned to China Lake after the museum closed March 2001 - Transferred to Palmdale Airpark and placed on display in 2004., This Aircraft is dedicated to Major James Stegman.
James J. Stegman
1920 - 2009
Born Aug 23, 1920, in Offerle, Kansas. He was the 6th son of 18 children. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a Private. As he worked up in rank to Sergeant, he also was sent to pilot school. He received his wings in 1943. A few months later, he was sent to the South Pacific for 14 months duty in World War II flying dive bombers. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty in Korea where he flew missions in jets for 10 months and attained the rank of Major. In 1955, he became a civilian and was hired by Douglas Aircraft in 1958 and assigned him to Palmdale Plant 42 as Chief Production Test Pilot. He was there for 21 years until the last of the A-4 Skyhawk's was rolled out, and retired in 1982. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Lodge #2516 local, Moose Lodge #1926, VFW #3000, American Legion #311, and the Society of Experimential Test Pilots.
A-4C Skyhawk
General Information
Left Panel Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Corp.
(Later McDonnell Douglas Corporation) Production Period: 1955 to 1979 Number Produced: 2,960 Production Series: USN/USMC: A-4A, B, C, E, F, & M single-seat A/C, TA-4F, J & OA-4M two-seat A/C
Roles: Originally designed
Click or scan to see this page online
as a carrier-based fair-weather light-attack bomber for the US Navy; later developed into a carrier- and land-based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Navy and US Marine Corps, capable of close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, short-range strike, fleet defense, reconnaissance, forward air control, and advanced jet trainer.
Performance and Specifications
(Figures given are for the A-4M model)
Maximum Speed: 700 mph (Mach 0.94) Service Ceiling: 40,000 feet above sea level Range: 2,000 miles (unlimited with aerial refueling) Weapons: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike, Walleye guided bomb, two 20mm MK 12 cannons, various unguided rockets, assorted conventional and nuclear weapons Crew: Pilot Length: 40 feet, 4 inches Wingspan: 27 feet, 6 inches Height: 15 feet Maximum Takeoff Weight: 25,500 pounds Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 turbojet engine providing 11,200 lbs. of thrust
Achievments: Established the 500-KM closed course speed record at 695.163 mph in October 1955; operated by the USN Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team
A-4C SkyHawk
A/C SN145067
Right Panel: Construction # - 12313
Date Acquired:
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 28, 2010
2. James J. Stegman Marker/A-4 SkyHawk /A-4C SkyHawk Markers
- March 2001
Acquired From: - USN China Lake, Loan
Displayed: - August 2004
31 March 1959 - BAR M&S - El Segundo, CA
18 January 1960 - BWR RDT&E - El Segundo, CA
21 April 1961 - USNMC RDT&E - NAS Point Mugu, CA
27 December 1967 - USNMC R&T - NAS Point Mugu, CA
10 March 1969 - NAS R&T - NAS Point Mugu, CA and
was used as a Research and Development aircraft
03 April 1971 - Relocated to China Lake - was stricken from the inventory on May 10, 1971 and was used as a target.
Date Unknown - Transferred to Ridgecrest Museum
Date Unknown - A/C returned to China Lake after the museum closed
March 2001 - Transferred to Palmdale Airpark and placed on display in 2004.
This Aircraft is dedicated to Major James Stegman.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is January 18, 1960.
Location. 34° 36.171′ N, 118° 5.226′ W. Marker is in Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on East Avenue P, on the left when traveling west. Aircraft at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2001 East Avenue P, Palmdale CA 93550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 720 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 30, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
