Skyraiders ...

[bombadier29]

That last one on the third series is an AM-1 Mauler.

[Adam Kline]

Fantastic

[DC3R4DC47]

can you do C47s,and R4ds??? and yes, they are fantastic !!!

[cooper9411]

Well, Another fine post!!

[Mark Allen M]

Part 6


A-1H Skyraider of Attack Squadron One Hundred Fifteen (VA-115) in flight from USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), off South China Sea coast.

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Fri Mar 07, 2014 3:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Ken]

USAF A-1H, NKP, early 1970's showing non-standard belly camo grey. skyraider.org


USAF A-1H, 134609, 22nd SOS, emergency landing at Lima site in PDJ. Also sporting the darker grey belly. skyraider.org


A-1H/J in Thailand with non-standard black belly. Rumored to be Son Tay Raid paint scheme, although not likely. Source unknown.


USAF A-1H/J, 6th SOS, Pleiku, 1969. Source unknown.


USAF A-1E. This photo has appeared in several places, but credit should go to Norm Legget in Wayne Mutza's "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam". According to the caption, Capt Lee Minnick was hit by 37mm AAA on 1 Sep 66. He flew more than an hour to get back to Thailand and used the safety streamer from his minigun to tie off the stick to allow him to safely extract over friendly territory. He was picked up by an escorting Jolly Green. The break in the wing appears to be right at the fold line.


VNAF A-1H/J making a low pass, believed to be Da Nang. Source unknown.


USAF A-1H, 135291, 6th SOS, Pleiku, SVN, 1968. Maj Win DePoorter's squadron photo. Win flew A-1's from 1965-1969, including two combat tours and one stint as an A-1 instructor at Hurlburt Field. His decorations include two Silver Stars, five DFC's, and 29 Air Medals as well as being named TAC's 1967 Aircrew of the Year for his work as an A-1 IP. His 657 combat sorties make him the record holder among A-1 pilots and, he believes, all USAF fighter/attack pilots in SEA. Win is a dear friend and the man who first taught me to fly. A number of other images from his collection may be seen at skyraider.org.


Another view of 135291. Mutza's book lists this airframe as lost in combat. DePoorter photo via skyraider.org.


Ken

[Pogmusic]

How can you not love the Skyraider. Amazing how little change from the prototype to final production models. Obviously, major internal; but, the basic design is sound.

[Noha307]

USAF A-1H/J, 6th SOS, Pleiku, 1969. Source unknown.

Look Ma! No engine!

VNAF A-1H/J making a low pass, believed to be Da Nang. Source unknown.

Awesome! Just awesome!

EDIT: Accidentally included my writing in quote box.

Last edited by Noha307 on Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[VaBeachEd]

Awesome pics! Glad the FAA got their "thumbs out" with some help from the EAA - so they can fly again!

[Ken]

Awesome pics! Glad the FAA got their "thumbs out" with some help from the EAA - so they can fly again!

Ed, I wasn't aware of any airworthiness issues with the AD/A-1 series, would you please elaborate?? Thanks, Ken

[wendovertom]

Awesome shots! the Skyraider is a big beautiful beast. Although, that color shot with the shirtless airdales arming planes makes me think of the safety movie made after the Oriskany accident. Lack of wearing proper clothing was blamed for a lot of the burns suffered by the crew.

Tom P.

[Rick65]

"VNAF A-1H/J making a low pass, believed to be Da Nang. Source unknown."

This photo makes me think of Catch 22 and going too low.

[Ken]

Sine I uploaded these for another thread, they might as well go here too. Copyright as noted, others source unknown.

[Ken]

Absolutely love the shot of Magnet A$$; looks like the airplane is on one of its first sorties since a fresh repaint.

Ken

[Ken]

In part 4, the first photo is A-1H 135300 which flew the last operational Skyraider mission in Vietnam and is now in the museum at Pensacola.

In part 6, the first photo of the A-1E at McClellan is interesting, as IIRC, McClellan was the prime USAF A-1 deopt and this airplane is wearing what looks like the first version of SEA camo, with only sand and one shade of dark green. If so, that would date the photo as late 65 or early 66.

The 6th photo in part 6 shows a weapons crew loading a "Douglas A-1E". Given the background and cowl number this would be either a 1st ACS or 602nd ACS A-1E at either Bien Hoa, SVN or at their detachment at Qui Nhon, 1964 to early 1966.

Ken