1990 Gulf War

A-4 Skyhawk in the 1990 Gulf War

Kuwaiti A-4KU Skyhawks fought during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, then operated from Saudi Arabia with coalition forces during Desert Storm.

Weapon profileA-4 Skyhawk
SideCoalition forcesRoleFire Support
A-4 Skyhawk, Carrier-based light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - 1990 Gulf War
Image source: File:A-4E Skyhawk.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Kuwaiti A-4KU Skyhawks were used by coalition-aligned Kuwaiti forces during the 1990 Gulf War.

Sources: Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher, Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association

Kuwaiti A-4KU aircraft were prepared for Operation Desert Storm missions in Saudi Arabia in February 1991.

Sources: Kuwaiti A-4KU serviced for Desert Storm mission | U.S. National Archives, Kuwaiti A-4KU takeoff preparation during Desert Storm | U.S. National Archives

The Free Kuwaiti Air Force sortie total and single A-4 loss are reported by aircraft-history sources rather than by the archival photo captions.

Sources: Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher, Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association

Timeline

A-4 Skyhawk In 1990 Gulf War

  1. Kuwaiti Skyhawks respond to Iraq's invasion

    The Skyhawk Association says two Kuwaiti A-4KUs attacked an Iraqi armored column and that Kuwaiti records credited Skyhawks with three Iraqi helicopter shootdowns early in the invasion.

    Sources: Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association

  2. Surviving A-4KUs move to Saudi Arabia

    Baugher says Kuwaiti Skyhawks and pilots flew into exile in Saudi Arabia on 4 August 1990; the Skyhawk Association says 24 surviving A-4KUs were based near Dhahran.

    Sources: Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher, Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association

  3. First-day Desert Storm loss

    The Skyhawk Association reports that A-4KU KAF-828 was shot down by a radar-guided surface-to-air missile and its pilot was taken prisoner.

    Sources: Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association

  4. A-4KUs prepare for a Desert Storm mission

    A U.S. National Archives and DVIDS caption identifies Kuwaiti A-4KU Skyhawks in Saudi Arabia preparing to take off on a mission during Operation Desert Storm.

    Sources: Kuwaiti A-4KU takeoff preparation during Desert Storm | U.S. National Archives

  5. A-4KU aircraft serviced on the flight line

    A U.S. National Archives and DVIDS caption describes Kuwaiti A-4KU aircraft being serviced on a Saudi flight line in preparation for a mission during Operation Desert Storm.

    Sources: Kuwaiti A-4KU serviced for Desert Storm mission | U.S. National Archives

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Kuwaiti Air Force A-4KU Skyhawks were documented in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. U.S. National Archives and DVIDS imagery describes Kuwaiti A-4KU aircraft being serviced on a Saudi flight line in preparation for a Desert Storm mission on 13 February 1991, and a separate archival caption identifies Kuwaiti A-4KU Skyhawks preparing to take off on a Desert Storm mission on 2 February 1991.

Those records show deployment and mission activity after the Kuwaiti force had escaped Iraq's invasion. Joe Baugher's A-4KU history says the Kuwaiti Skyhawks and pilots flew into exile in Saudi Arabia on 4 August 1990, were integrated with the Royal Saudi Air Force, and continued fighting as part of the coalition.

Sources: Kuwaiti A-4KU serviced for Desert Storm mission | U.S. National Archives, Kuwaiti A-4KU takeoff preparation during Desert Storm | U.S. National Archives, Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher

From invasion response to exile operations

The Kuwaiti Skyhawks' Gulf War use began during Iraq's 2 August 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The Skyhawk Association's chronology says two A-4KU Skyhawks attacked an Iraqi armored column that day, and that Kuwaiti records credited Skyhawks with shooting down three Iraqi helicopters in the early morning hours of 2 August.

After Iraqi attacks and the loss of Kuwaiti bases, surviving Skyhawks shifted to Saudi Arabia. Baugher describes the aircraft as part of the coalition after that move; the Skyhawk Association places the surviving A-4KUs at King Abdul Aziz Air Base near Dhahran and says some were able to fly missions over Kuwait on the afternoon of 4 August.

Sources: Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association, Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher

Desert Storm role

During the combat phase that began in January 1991, the Kuwaiti A-4KUs served as coalition attack aircraft rather than as U.S.-operated Skyhawks. The Skyhawk Association says the Free Kuwaiti Air Force flew 1,361 sorties and lost one Skyhawk on 17 January 1991; Baugher's aircraft history gives the same sortie total and states that only one aircraft was lost.

The documented mission-preparation photographs in February 1991 support the continued use of Kuwaiti A-4KUs after the first-day loss. The 1990 Gulf War ended with the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait on 28 February 1991.

Sources: Kuwait Skyhawks in Gulf War | The Skyhawk Association, Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk for Kuwait | Joe Baugher, Kuwaiti A-4KU serviced for Desert Storm mission | U.S. National Archives, Kuwaiti A-4KU takeoff preparation during Desert Storm | U.S. National Archives, The Gulf War 1990-1991 | Naval History and Heritage Command

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Sources