Douglas A3D Skywarrior (1952-1961): In the early 1950s, Douglas set out to fill the U.S. Navy’s need for a long-range strategic bomber. The result was the Ed Heiemann- designed A3D Skywarrior, which first flew on October 28, 1952. When the Skywarrior entered Navy service in 1956 it was the largest and heaviest aircraft ever to operate from an aircraft carrier. In 1952 the Air Force placed an order for the plane under designation B-66. Named “Destroyer,” it made its first flight in June 1954 and also entered service in 1956. Changing technology soon rendered both aircraft obsolete as bombers. Production continued on both planes, however, with the B-66 serving as a weather-reconnaissance aircraft and the A3D as a carrier-based, air refueling tanker. During a nine year production run, Douglas built 282 Navy A3Ds at El Segundo, Calif, while 294 Air Force B-66s were produced between 1952 and 1958 at Douglas plants in Long Beach, Cal and Tulsa, Ok.