Naval Air Test Facility & Naval Air Engineering Center, Lakehurst, NJ Patch Handle Heritage Air Wings Aircraft Base C.O.s Events Awards Photos Off-Duty Album (Empty) The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit information. The SDO List. The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster. AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association. Naval Air Station Lakehurst, NJ Patch from G. Verver Naval Air Engineering Center Lakehurst, NJ Patch from G. Verver Naval Air Test Facility Lakehurst, NJ Dedicate this page to a former Lakehurst Skyhawk Pilot or Bluejacket. Please see below. Patch No data to date Back to Table of Contents Handle No data to date Back to Table of Contents Heritage The Naval Air Test Facility at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, was established with testing catapult and arresting systems as its main responsibility. Several models of the Crusader were employed during the 1960’s, including F-8A’s, -D’s and L’s. Tailcode: none Back to Table of Contents Aircraft Date Assigned ----------------Aircraft NATF 13 March 1959: - - - - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 14 August 1961 - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 3 December 1969: - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 3 August 1972: - - - - - Douglas YA4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 26 January 1973: - - - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 26 September 1972: - - - Douglas A-4F Skyhawk 12 Jul 1974: - - - - - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk 5 August 1974: - - - - - Douglas A-4M Skyhawk 19?? - - - - - - - - - - Vought F8A Crusader 1967 - - - - - - - - - - Vought F8D Crusader 1967 - - - - - - - - - - Vought F8L Crusader NAEC 2 August 1977: - - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 28 December 1978 - - - - Douglas NTA-4F Skyhawk * November 30, 1962 The A4D-1 designation changed to A-4A The A4D-2 designation changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation changed to A-4C The A4D-5 designation changed to A-4E A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to NATF A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to NAEC Back to Table of Contents Commanding Officers Assumed command - - - name No date to date Back to Table of Contents Events 1915-1917 Ammunition proving ground for the Russian Imperial Government. 1917-1921 Acquired by U.S. Army as an ammunition proving ground. Named Camp Kendrick. 1921-1961 The country's (and, perhaps, the world's) Lighter Than Air (LTA) Center. In 1961, the Navy's LTA program was terminated. May 6, 1937 Hindenburg crashes at Lakehurst. 1958 The Naval Air Test Facility (NATF) was established. 1973 The Naval Air Engineering Center (NAEC) was relocated from Philadelphia as directed by a Shore Establishment Realignment. 1977 NAS and NATF were disestablished and merged into NAEC. 1992 The Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) was established. NAEC becomes the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCADLKE). 1994 NAWCADLKE becomes the Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) for shore station management and the Aircraft Platform Interface (API) Group for technical mission support. 1994 NAWCADLKE and the rest of the AIRCRAFT DIVISION reorganize into a Competency Aligned Organizaiton. 1997 The Aircraft Division and Weapons Division are integrated into the Naval Aviation Systems Team's Competency Aligned Organization. Back to Table of Contents Awards No data to date Back to Table of Contents Sources Gary Verver Dedication: The Skyhawk Association is looking for a Skyhawk Pilot or Bluejacket whose loss of life, while assigned to any of the Lakehurst commands, merits the posthumous dedication of this web page: Return To The Navy Unit Main Page