It is quite a startling sight to see a supersonic combat jet perched atop a pedestal in front of a high school, but this Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a living piece of Alameda’s deep naval history. Specifically, this aircraft is an A4D-2N model—later designated the A-4C—and it serves as a permanent memorial at Encinal High School to honor the local community's ties to the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Skyhawk was nicknamed "Heinemann's Hot Rod" after its designer, Ed Heinemann, because it was remarkably small, nimble, and lightweight compared to other jets of the 1950s. Its wingspan was so short that it didn't even need folding wings to be stored on aircraft carrier decks. While it looks like a permanent fixture of the school spirit today, its presence here is a nod to the now-closed Naval Air Station Alameda, which sat just a few blocks away. For decades, the sound of jet engines was the literal soundtrack to life in this neighborhood. If you look closely at the tail and the fuselage, you’ll see the markings "MARINES" and "ETS." These indicate its service history; this specific airframe (Bureau Number 148610) served with various transition and training squadrons before being retired and put on display. The "star and bars" insignia on the wing is the standard roundel for U.S. military aircraft, while the red "bolt" on the side of the intake is a classic piece of naval aviation flair. In many American towns, you might see a bronze statue or a plaque, but in a "Navy town" like Alameda, a four-ton attack jet is considered a perfectly appropriate monument to the history of the "Island City."