Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1408
Douglas A- 4F, VA-164 "Ghost Riders"
"Lady Jessie", USS Hancock
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True 1/72 scale
Professionally painted
Great attention to detail
All markings are Tampoed (pad applied)
Option to display the model on a stand that is provided
Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions
Optional armament has been provided
Canopy displays open or closed
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
Highly collectable
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 “Camel” because 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”.
During the 1950’s the future A-4 pilot Dick Perry was a university student who worked
part-time in Reno Nevada casino. While working there he became friends with another
worker and his wife who treated Dick like a son.
Dick graduated from university and joined the USN completing pilot training and reporting
to the VA-164 “Ghost Riders” in January 1966. The motherly woman kept in close contact
with Dick and sent care packages with enough pastries for the rest of VA-164 as well.
Dick managed to have a squadron party in Reno and it was held in the hotel and casino
that the man and woman who had befriended Dick now owned. The couple soon became
well known for their hospitality.
A very close attachment grew between the woman and the men of VA-164. She became
more a part of the “Ghost Riders” when Dick named his A-4 after her.
On August 31, 1967 tragedy struck when LCDR Dick Perry’s Skyhawk was hit by a SAM
off the coast of North Vietnam. Although Dick ejected and landed in the ocean, when the
rescue helicopter arrived on scene they reported that the pilot was dead. With that the
helicopter came under fire and was forced to leave without recovering Dick’s body.
Even with the loss of Dick Perry the woman kept in contact with her adopted Naval
Aviator sons. Heart broken over the loss of Dick she still managed to host a party in May
1968 for VA-163 and VA-164 to show her affection and devotion for them. She took the
time to write over 500 letters to the servicemen throughout the Vietnam War.
The men so admired this woman that they decided to honor her by putting her name on
the aircraft of every VA-164 CO. Her name would become part of VA-164 history and she
and her kindness were talked about long after the Ghost Riders were disestablished in
1975.
For 20 years it was assumed that LCDR Dick Perry’s body was lost at sea but in 1987 his
remains were returned to the US. In 1987 both Dick Perry and the “Lady” returned home.
Mrs. Beck age 83, died in Reno, Nevada, in July 1987. To most people she was known
as the “gambling grandmother” but to the men of the “Ghost Riders” she will always be
known as “Lady Jessie”.
Specifications Douglas Aircraft Corporation A-4F
Skyhawk
Type: Carrier based, single-seat attack bomber
Total number of “F” variant manufactured: 147
Dimensions
Length: 40 ft 1 in (12.22 m)
Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Wing area: 260 sq. ft (24.15 m 2 )
Weights
Empty Weight: 9,853 lbs. (4,469.24 kg)
Gross Weight: 16,216 lbs. (7,355.45 kg)
Maximum Weight: 24,500 lbs. (11,113.013 kg)
Power plant
1 X Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408
Thrust-lb: 11,200 lbs. (5080.2345 kg)
Performance
Range: 2,000 miles (3,218.688 km)
Max. Speed: 646 mph (1,039.6362 kph)
Ceiling: 40,000 ft (1,2192 m)
Armament
5 X hard points capable of carrying a maximum 10,000-
lbs.
2 X 20mm cannon in wings with 100 rounds per gun.
THESE PICTURES ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES
NOT THE FINISHED PRODUCT
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