Skyraider Extreme Damage 1966

[Ken]

This weekend is the annual A-1 Skyraider Association reunion in Florida. I wanted to salute all of those veterans for their service to our nation! I think the photo below exemplifies the hazard of operations in the A-1 community ...

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.

So many A-1s and pilots were lost - it's thrilling to know there were good days as well.



Ken

[JOHN MILLER]

amazing

[Ken]

According to skyraider.org: Capt Alvie L. 'Lee' Minnick (deceased 75/9/1). How odd that he would have passed away 9 years to the day of that photo?

[Bomberboy]

Blimey,

The similarities between that one and the one at Duxford flying legends this year is quite remarkable.

Bomberboy

[mustangdriver]

What an impressive machine!

[Ken]

This being Memorial Day Week, I decided a bump was in order.

Ken

[Ken]

Being that American heroes can be saluted any day, bump.