Skyraider 134630 at NMUSAF?

[Ken]

The June 2007 Warbird Digest shows two A-1s photographed at D-M AFB in 1999. It says that both aircraft may have been seen in Vietnam in the 1990's. 134630 looks like an A-1H and the caption says that it has since been placed in storage at the NMUSAF.

Two questions: What's the status of the A-1H and does anyone know the details on how these airplanes were returned from Vietnam to be seen less than 10 years ago at D-M? Sounds like good fodder for a documentary.

Ken

[Ken]

Before this falls off the second page ... nobody knows??

[mustangdriver]

In one of the storage faciltities, I was told that there was another Skyraider. I saw it maybe from a distance, but I am not sure if it was an A-1, but it was that size.

[Tim Savage]

Before this falls off the second page ... nobody knows??

When I was researching this for the WD article I tried to ascertain from both the folks at AMARC and the NMUSAF how the two airframes were recovered. Not much information was provided, so they either didn't know or were not talking. If I recall, one of the airframes is now at Hill AFB and the second is in long term storage at the NMUSAF.

[Jack Cook]

Evergreen has a A-1E ie AD-5 they're putting together.
When I was over there I asked the restoration head the s/n and he had no idea
He said it may have came from a park.

[John Kerr]

Two aircraft arrived at Davis-Monthan for storage in November 1997.
They were A-1H 134630 (marked 51-0630) and A-1E 135247 (marked as 52-0247). Believed to have came from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. 134630 departed in August 1999 to the USAF Museum.
135247 departed in 2000 to Hill AFB, Utah (where is is on display)

Here are the three photos from my collection and taken by John C. Parchman. These are the same photos that appeared in the Warbirds Digest.
1. 135247

2. 135247

3. 134630

[Ken]

That paint is unlike anything I've seen an A-1 wear. Any idea if these planes were flown at Aberdeen or used as ground targets?

Part of what fuels this is a "story" from a guy who was doing contractor work in South America saying that there were Skyraiders down there and that he'd seen them. I'd love to believe it but I think it's complete nonsense. But I will say that seeing these two birds show up in good condition in an odd camo raises my eyebrow.

I've flown in S. & Cen. America myself and seen plenty of the O-2s, OV-10s and A-37s we gave away ... but certainly no big daddy A-1s.

Ken

[maradamx3]

Anyone know where the NMUSAF storage facilities are? I just visited for the first time and didn't think to ask. There were a few hangars other than the Presidential and Experimental hangars that we passed by, but were given no info on.

Maybe mustangdriver knows??

Thanks!
Tommy

[mustangdriver]

You saw some of them. THey are there next to the restoration shops. There are also some buildings on the other side of the AFB. I was only there once.

[Ken]

Mustangdriver - are you still working in Nov? Any chance you could please look this bird up? And if possible, photograph a data plate?

The FlyPast May 1999 issue shows two A-1s just like the ones shown in Warbird Digest (one E and one H) sitting in a hangar in Vietnam with that dark paint scheme and black cowl ring. I know someone said they came from Aberdeen, but could they have been brought back from Vietnam?

Interesting note - I looked in Mutza's book on Skyraiders and neither of these serials match any of his extensive lists of airplanes either flown on USN cruises, the USAF, or the VNAF.

[mustangdriver]

I am , and will see what I can do.

[Holedigger]

part of the CIAAF perhaps? Went to school with someone whose father had flown black op's out of Laos in A-26's. Some spooky stuff there!

Last edited by Holedigger on Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

I am , and will see what I can do.

[John Dupre]

What is with the big red rectangle cut away from the left side of the A1H fuselage?

I remember another rumor that sometime in the 1970s the North Vietnamese were exporting some of the captured arms and aircraft and that the US Navy intercepted the ship and siezed the cargo.

Is it true that someone imported to the US a former Vietnamese Bearcat via a third country only to have it siezed by Customs since we were not then on good terms with Vietnam?

[mlenoch]

What is with the big red rectangle cut away from the left side of the A1H fuselage?

The inside of the speed brake section on the fuselage.
VL