Originally made by Clyde Montgomery of WFGA Jacksonville in Florida, the film “A Ready Reserve” showcases the Florida-based 4th Marine Division Air Wing Team. The Douglas A-4B Skyhawks flown by VMA-142 Flying Gators and VMA-144 Hensagliska (Brave Little Warriors) are featured during the majority of the film as they practice ordnance delivery at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma in Arizona prior to their deployment. Lots of great Skyhawk footage in this one! Thanks to PeriscopeFilm for uploading another gem from the 1960s.
[youtube id=”pi537aVc6F8″ width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”]
Also appearing in the film are MCAS Yuma base flight A-4B Skyhawks and Vought F-8 Crusaders, Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas base flight F-8 Crusaders, and some other supporting aircraft. The sharp-eyed viewers will observe TV-2s from the Yuma base flight and even a Beech SNB Bugsmasher or two. Rotary wing components of Marine Air Group (MAG) 26 are featured practicing their shipboard qualification work aboard the assault carrier USS Guam (LPH-9). HMM-765 Sikorsky US-34 Seahorse and H&MS-26 Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopters round out the featured aircraft in the film.
