The Skyhawk Association Website is dedicated to:

Edward Henry Heinemann

Designer of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk,
(Heinemann's Hot-Rod) the Ferrari of airplanes.


Ed Heinemann 1947, photo from Harry Gann.
Ed Heinemann and Bob Krall pose by BuNo. 137813
on 10 MAY 1986 at Pensacola. Photo from Bob Krall.

Ed Heinemann was responsible for the design and development of a remarkably successful series of combat aircraft, from the Dauntless dive bomber to the A4 Skyhawk jet. During a career that extended over six decades, he designed more than 20 fighter, bomber, and rocket aircraft. He died on 26 November 1991 at the age of 83.

His story is told in the excellent volume, ''Ed Heinemann: Combat Aircraft Designer", co-authored by Rosario "Zip" Rausa, published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1980.

Airplanes were a part of Ed Heinemann's life since he was given a toy biplane on his eighth birthday. Years later as a teenager he would roam the grounds of the Ascot Park Speedway in Saginaw, Michigan, watching the planes flying about and waiting for the occasional visit of the Goodyear blimp. As she descended, he would run onto the field, grab the guy wires, and help haul her down.

Like the great World War II pilot, Jimmy Doolittle, Ed Heinemann attended Manual Arts High in Los Angeles, but unlike Doolittle, that's where his formal education ended. His extraordinary mechanical aptitude was recognized and nurtured in those classroom days in a way that really paid off later. He became a man whose life spanned the golden age of flight and whose foresight, determination, and genius provided the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force with some of the most reliable fighting machines ever to take to the sky.
Among them were the following: (3V images from Harry S. Gann and edited by Bud Southworth)
  • Douglas SBD "Dauntless".
    The SBD dive-bomber, many think the best one ever built. Had Swiss cheese dive flaps. Navy, Marine, and Army Air Corps pilots operated more than 5,000 SBDs during World War II. The Dauntless figured importantly in the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 and a month later, at Midway, where the USS Enterprise and Yorktown SBDs had what is generally conceived as their biggest day, sinking four Japanese carriers. Afterwards, Admiral. Nimitz thanked Heinemann and his design team for the SBD, the plane that stopped the Japanese at Midway! The SBDs were the very backbone of the Navy's carrier based bombing force in the first two years of the war. Navy pilots called the SBD the "Slow But Deadly." Some Marine SBD pilots called the SBD "The Speed Bee Dee."

  • Douglas AD "Skyraider"
    The Spad. The Able Dog. The Work Horse of the Fleet.
    The Skyraider was able to carry great loads of ordnance for long distances, and accurately deliver the firepower on target. Without equal as a close air support weapon! Flown in two wars, Korea and Vietnam. It rode the super carriers along with the jets and, although much slower than these, maintained a nuclear weapons delivery mission along with them.

  • Douglas D-558-1 "Skystreak"
    Jet research airplane. First flight -- May 1947. Capable of an eighteen G load, more than any previous aircraft. Registered a world speed record of 650 MPH.

  • Douglas D-558-2 "Skyrocket"
    Rocket research aircraft. First airplane to reach twice the speed of sound. Achieved a record attitude of 83,235 feet.

  • Douglas F3D "Skynight"
    Straight wing, jet, night fighter. The Navy's first carrier based night fighter designed specifically for the night fighter mission. Relied on radar for vision. Saw combat in Korea, primarily with Marine land based squadrons.

  • F4D "Skyray"
    Jet Interceptor. Called "a fighter pilot's dream". Set new speed and time to climb records in the mid-fifties. Initially designated the F4D, later redesignated the F-6. Fleet pilots called the F4D the "Ford."

  • F5D "Skylancer"
    Jet interceptor. Experimental follow on to the Skyray. Equipped with Sidewinder and Sparrow missile operations, in addition to guns.

  • Douglas A3D "Skywarrior"
    Jet heavy attack bomber. Cleared for carrier operations at 84,000 pounds! The Skywarrior program proved there are occasions when what the majority say is impossible can be made possible. What began as a heavy attack, nuclear bomber, served in a broad spectrum of roles, including tanker, high speed personnel carrier, photo reconnaissance, mine laying, radar navigation trainer, and a combination tanker electronic counter measures aircraft. As a tanker in Vietnam, credited with saving numerous damaged aircraft and saving many pilots and aircrew from going into the drink. The Skywarrior also jammed SAMs during raids and early in the war dropped bombs on North Vietnamese targets. Without ejection seats, Fleet pilots called the A3D the "All 3 Dead." People that didn't fly the A3D called it the "Whale."

  • A4D-1 Douglas "Skyhawk" (A-4A)
    Pilots called the Skyhawk: "Heinemann's Hot Rod;" The "Scooter;" and The "Tinkertoy" ("Tink" for short). This plane enjoyed the longest production run of any tactical aircraft in the history of aviation, about 25 years! First flown in 1954, it was finally retired from U.S. Navy active duty in 2003. It is still in use as a civilian owned combat trainer, and with some foreign countries. The Skyhawk's contribution to the conflict in Southeast Asia is well documented. In the hands of courageous pilots, marine and navy alike, it was a superb close air support and interdiction weapon. Operating from the Yankee Station carriers, it was a spearhead for major strikes against the most heavily defended targets in the history of warfare. Based ashore below the seventeenth parallel, the marines put the bomber to excellent use. The Blue Angels flew the Skyhawk for many years. Top Gun instructors flying the Skyhawk whupped everything in the sky - including Tomcats, Phantoms, Crusaders, Hornets and Vipers. It has been said that the aircraft's most significant contribution evolves around how it proved that with diligent engineering, hard work and continuing cooperation between builder and buyer, wonders can be worked. Wonders that last a very long time!

Ed Heinemann in-flight in a Skyhawk.
 Ed Heinemann after Skyhawk flight.


Ed Heinemann stands next to the last Skyhawk built.		 Heinemann was one of a kind, the leader of a design team, which time and time again gave the Navy, the finest aircraft available. Born in Saginaw, Michigan on 14 March 1908, he moved to California in 1914, where he began with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1926 as a draftsman. He served as project engineer before becoming Chief Engineer in 1936 and Vice President for Military Aircraft in 1958. In 1960, he joined Guidance Technology as Executive Vice President and in 1961 became Corporate Vice President -- Engineering for General Dynamics, a position from which he retired in 1973.

Heinemann was awarded the Collier Trophy in 1953 "for the greatest achievement in aviation in America" - the F4D "Skyray", as well as the Gugginheim Medal in 1978 in honor of his invaluable contribution to the nation. He was enshrined in the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1981 and received the National Medal of Science from President Reagan at the White House on 24 May 1983. He was designated Honorary Naval Aviator Number 18. He was a long time member of the Tailhook Association.


Following are some key rules Ed said he tried to adhere to when dealing with people. They give you a measure of the man!
  • Tell people what is expected of them.
  • Tell them in advance about changes that will affect them.
  • Let those working for you know how they are getting along.
  • Give credit where credit is due, especially for extra effort or performance. Do it while it's hot. Don't wait.
  • Make the best use of each person's ability.
  • Strive to keep ahead of schedule.
  • Don't waste time.
  • If you're the boss, give guidance, direction, and most important, decisive answers to questions.
  • Make sure people know where to go to get answers.
  • Beware of office politicians.
  • If you want to pick a man for a difficult job, pick one who has already thought out the problem or is capable of doing so quickly.
  • Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
  • A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices. Beware of these.
  • Respect the specialists -- those who are masters of a particular phase of an operation. But be wary of allowing them to make big decisions.
  • Avoid lengthy committee meetings.
  • Avoid paralysis by analysis.
  • Plan ahead.

Naval Aviation News September 1969
The Skyhawk Association is proud to dedicate our Internet Website to this remarkable individual! Ed Heinemann is truly one of the legendary stalwarts in the golden age of aviation. We are truly grateful for what he has done for us and for our country! May God continue to bless him and his family!

The author gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Commander Rosario Rausa, United States Navy Reserve (Retired), co-author of "Ed Heinemann, Combat Aircraft Designer," published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1980, and also to the Editor of THE HOOK magazine, Captain Steve Millikin, United States Navy (Retired).
By: Rear Admiral Thomas F. Brown III, United States Navy (Retired).




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