Rare Procurement of Exact Aircraft That Flew Off Intrepid 60 Years Ago

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum today announced the acquisition of a new historic aircraft to its collection, a Douglas F4D Skyray. This exact aircraft flew from Intrepid during the Cold War and will be added to the Museum's flight deck on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. It will become the 28th plane in the Museum's aircraft collection.

The Skyray, named for the unique shape of its wing (which resembles a manta ray), went into operation with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1956. It was designed to be a high-altitude fleet protection interceptor, fast enough to catch and neutralize an approaching enemy bomber flying at 500 knots. Skyrays set many speed and time-to-climb records in their day as they were able to reach supersonic speeds. The specific Skyray acquired by the Intrepid Museum from the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn., served in VF-162 and deployed on Intrepid between June 1961 and March 1962 with Carrier Air Wing Six.

"It is always exciting when we add a new aircraft to our collection, but this one is even more special because it served on Intrepid 60 years ago," said Eric Boehm, the Intrepid Museum's Curator of Aviation. "Returning this aircraft to the flight deck it once flew from is an incredible opportunity that will allow us to dive even deeper into the history and human stories behind this remarkable plane and the period of time in which it served."

On July 25, the Skyray will begin its journey to its new home at the Intrepid Museum. It will be transported on a flatbed tractor trailer from the Bradley International Airport (north of Hartford, Conn.) to a pier along the Connecticut River, where it will then take a 30-hour journey on a barge through Long Island Sound, around the southern tip of Manhattan and up the East River. Finally, after three days and 177 miles, Skyray will be lifted by a crane onto Intrepid's flight deck, where it last resided 60 years ago. Once back aboard Intrepid, their team of experts will begin working to preserve the aircraft so visitors can learn from it for decades to come.

"The Skyray is a large aircraft that is not easily disassembled, so its 177-mile journey over land and sea to transport it in one piece is a logistical and technical challenge," said Matt Woods, the Intrepid Museum's Senior Vice President of Facilities, Engineering and Security. "It requires the cooperation and coordination of multiple entities, from Connecticut's Department of Transportation and state police to the U.S. Coast Guard. We greatly appreciate all who are coming together to make sure this artifact arrives safely to its new home on Intrepid's flight deck."

"This unique aircraft, with its direct connection to Intrepid's history, is one of the most significant acquisitions for the Museum in almost a decade," said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Museum. "The Skyray's addition to our collection allows us to tell important stories through the lens of Intrepid, its crew and the fascinating technology that powered this aircraft. After its years of service, we are thrilled to give the Skyray a new mission aboard Intrepid: to educate and inspire all who walk through our doors."

The acquisition of Skyray is made possible by the estate of Margaret F. "Peggy" Donovan, a longtime member and supporter of the Intrepid Museum. Since 2012, Peggy spent more than 800 hours volunteering at the Museum, greeting and answering questions from visitors, engaging kids and pointing out exhibits they might enjoy. When she passed away in 2019, the Intrepid Museum was the recipient of a substantial planned gift of her estate, a reflection of her strong belief in the Museum's mission, exhibits and programs that bring history and STEM subjects together.

FMI: www.intrepidmuseum.org