Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Douglas TA-4J
153671
| — | Grissom Air Museum | — |
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026
1. Douglas TA-4J Marker
Manufacture: Douglas
Designation: TA-4J
Serial Number: 153671
Official name: Skyhawk
Nicknames: Scooter, Heinemann's Hotrod (for Ed Heinemann, its designer), Mongoose
Function: Dedicated trainer version based on A-4F, but lacking weapons systems, and with down-rated engine.
Crew: 2, Instructor pilot and student pilot.
Wingspan: 26'6"
Length: 40'3"
Height: 15'
Power plant: One Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6B turbojet
Thrust: 8,500lb
Empty weight: 10,450lb
Max T/O weight: 24,500lb
Service ceiling: 42,250ft
Range: 1,700nmi
Armament: Two 20mm guns, one in each wing root, and a variety of external stores could be installed on the TA-4J for Air Combat Maneuvering and Strike Warfare training.
Number Built: 277 built new, and most of the 241 TA-4Fs were later converted to this configuration.
Year built: 1968
Year retired: Our TA-4J, 1989. A-4s fly as adversary trainers for the USAF, and USN to this day. Many A-4s are still in service with countries around the world.
Mission:
The TA-4J Skyhawk began production in June 1969. This model became the longest-serving of the TA-4s as the US Navy's standard
this page online
Our T-2C:
Our TA-4J left the factory as a TA-4F in 1968. Initially assigned to Attack Squadron VA-43 at NAS Oceana, Virginia the airplane was converted to a J model under a US Navy contract by Douglas Aircraft in 1971. She returned to VA-43 to train pilots until 1980 until moving to the 42nd Detachment, the Flying Gators where she continued her training role out of NAS Jacksonville, FL and NAS Cecil Field, FL. In 1989 she was retired and became the property of the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Previously exhibited in Elkhart, Indiana the exhibit was moved here in honor of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard airmen who trained at Bunker Hill during World War II.
This exhibit is the property of the US Navy and maintained through your participation in the Grissom Air Museum donor program.
Erected by Grissom Air Museum.
Topics.
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026
2. Douglas TA-4J and Marker
Location. 40° 40.126′ N, 86° 7.764′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Boulevard, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Grumman F-14B (here, next to this marker); Safe Ramp Tower (a few steps from this marker); The Convair B-58 "Texas Hustler" Rocket Sled (a few steps from this marker); Bell Aircraft Corporation UH-1H-BF (a few steps from this marker); Boeing EC-135L (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); EC-135L (within shouting distance of this marker); Cessna O-2A (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
