Skyraiders ...

[Ken]

A-1E 52-132649 which is preserved at the NMUSAF in Dayton getting her guns cleared after a sortie, most likely taken at Bien Hoa AB sometime around 1966. I recently saw a series of photos taken by the same photographer showing the airplane taxi in and the serial is clearly visible. (Not every COIN grey A-1E with a "2" on the cowl is '649 though.) This airplane served a time as a trainer at Hurlburt Field before final transfer to the Museum. It was camouflaged and later repainted grey for display. A close examination of her then and now shows a series of slight discrepancies in her markings, stencils, etc. A Playboy bunny (seen on many Pleiku A-1's) was added to her prop later although most photos seem to confirm this was not present for Maj Fisher's MOH mission. (USAF photo)

[Mark Allen M]

Good looking schemes ...


Douglas A-1E (AD-5) (SN 52-133920) at McClellan Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Douglas A-1E with wings folded at McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 15, 1968. (U.S. Air Force photo)


Douglas A-1Es on the flightline at McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 15, 1968. Nearest aircraft is SN 52-133858. (U.S. Air Force photo)

[Ken]

The 1968 date on those photos may be correct, however the Navy style spoked main wheels, black rescue arrows, absence of red triangles (indicating no Yankee extraction system), as well as the small black serial numbers leans the time frame more towards late 66, early 67 when the camo scheme was brand new. (Something about the photos makes it appear as though there is only one shade of green in the camo scheme, although I'm sure this is a fluke of the image.)

As always, thanks Mark! No disrespect to USN/USMC Spads, but I'm always game for more USAF images.

Ken

[Ken]

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


After reading the "Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus, I don't believe any H/J models were used on the Raid, so that spoils the paint scheme theory.

Ken

[Ken]

This A-1E (or A-1G) is in the collection at Hill AFB & is a rare combat vet. Returned from Vietnam around 1999, it has solid main wheels and Yankee seats. From the photos, it looks quite nice, although I have no idea what shape the interior is in. It looks as if it received a little more attention to detail than Dayton's 132649 did in her 1967-68 repaint; both missed the silver wing leading edge stripes.

The correct serial is still unknown, so I'm not certain how "120247" was assigned as that's not a valid for any AD-5. When initially finished it wore the serial of Bernie Fisher's '649 but this was subsequently changed. Today the airplane is displayed on stands to make room for other artifacts below. (photo courtesy of Hill AFB Museum)

[EDowning]

I really like those Skyraider thingys.

[Mark Allen M]

I suppose I should repost those original photos using my newer photobucket account. That's an old unpaid account they are in now. Pain in the ass to repost but if anyone doesn't want to wait for that old account to reload bandwidth I'll do it. Hate to keep seeing them disappear like that.

[Ken]

Not to forget the large number of A-1's operated by the VNAF, here are two E/G models. As some airplanes transferred several times between the USAF and VNAF, it can be hard to tell the two apart depending on the angle. One of the most consistent features of VNAF A-1's is to have an unpainted or USN grey cowl ring and/or cowl flaps. By 1968, USAF units used the 2-letter tail code, so that is usually, but not always, a distinguishing mark. Another is the VNAF national insignia, which is the US star and bar with changes made in yellow & red. This insignia nearly always appears on both upper wings of a VNAF A-1 but not necessarily on both lower. Note that neither has a tail hook; more than one USAF pilot used theirs to snag approach or departure end cables during an emergency.

Having read nearly all the books out on the A-1 in Vietnam and having friends who flew A-1's (including as VNAF IPs), the consensus is that they did an admirable job with their A-1's, considering many shortages, namely in ordnance & parts. These photos, plus a nice selection of others that they pulled from various web sources, are located at : http://www.vnafmamn.com/vnaf_skyraider.html

[Mark Allen M]

Great stuff Ken, thx much


AD-3Ws VC-12 at NAS Quonset Point


AD Skyraider production line at Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California c 1951


EA-1F Skyraider of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 13 pictured on final approach for recovery on board the carrier Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) 1965


A Vietnamese Air Force student pilot and a USAF instruction sit side by side in a VNAF A-1E Skyraider taxing to the runway at Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo)


An F-8 Crusader, FJ Fury fighters, and an AD Skyraider of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 14 fly in formation c 1957.


An AD Skyraider launches from the carrier Hancock (CVA 19) while she lays at anchor in Manila Bay. Philippines. c 1960


An AD Skyraider launches from the carrier Hancock (CVA 19) while she lays at anchor in Manila Bay. Philippines. c 1960


View of testing of the SKYTOP I egress system using an A-1E Skyraider at Naval Weapons Center (NWC) China Lake, California c 1970


A-1H Skyraider now displayed at the Naval museum passes between sideboys during a retirement ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California. On February 20, 1968

[51fixer]

View of testing of the SKYTOP I egress system using an A-1E Skyraider at Naval Weapons Center (NWC) China Lake, California c 1970

Is this the Skyraider that Bob Pond acquired?

[51fixer]

View of testing of the SKYTOP I egress system using an A-1E Skyraider at Naval Weapons Center (NWC) China Lake, California c 1970

Is this the Skyraider that Bob Pond acquired?

Yes it is.
So thats how it got to China Lake.

[Warbirdnerd]

That Skyraider should sport a Trampstamp.
She has been passed around quite a bit!
Pond-->Lone Star-->Fisk/AmJet-->Olympic-->Hisey-->Collings Foundation...

[Mark Allen M]

Nice to know that it still survives. What CF has it now?

[Ken]

135188's been hanging out in Rhode Island, right? And all dolled up in the same scheme she's wearing in that photo above. Sure glad she was saved.

Ken

[Ken]

These two photos were taken by my good friend who was a charter member of the 6th SOS. As this unit was only operational in the A-1 from Feb 68 - Nov 69, that narrows down the period of these photos. The 6th callsign was "SPAD" and they had the habit of using this callsign even when performing in the SAR/Sandy role. Their home base was Pleiku and, in many photos of Pleiku-based A-1's, a non-standard size/camo centerline tank is used as seen here. The specialty of the 6th was in covering SOG insertion/extraction, although they also performed all the standard A-1 missions as well. As the primary supporter of the SAR detachment at Da Nang, airplanes sent there often had their tail codes changed to read "6T" instead of "ET".

A-1's could, and did, carry a wide range of ordnance, however the vast majority of AF Skyraider photos capture the frequent use of CBU and rockets, as well as minigun pods. Photos of 6th airplanes often reveal a unique mix due to their diverse mission, here wall-to-wall hard bombs. In the banked photo, this appears to be about 9,000 lbs, with one outboard station empty on each side. (photo Depoorter via skyraider.org)