Skyraiders ...

[Snake45]

For those playing along at home, here's a link to Joe Baugher's USN SN pages:

http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/navyserials.html

BTW, I've found that his lists aren't perfect. I recently ran a research project in which I found things that weren't on his lists, and things on his list that differed with other sources, including photographs. But generally, they're a good place to start research.

[gary1954]

I found this photo today on Wikipedia, I found it because someone posted a web address to it in a comments section for a blog on Syria.

English: The U.S. Navy Douglas A-1H Skyraider (NE-572, BuNo 135297) "Paper Tiger II" (which was a temporary name used for just this one flight) of Attack Squadron VA-25 Fist of the Fleet being readied for a mission over the Mekong Delta in October 1965. VA-25 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41). To commemorate the mark of having delivered 6,000,000 lb. (2721.56 to) of ordnance NE-572 was equipped with a special "bomb", a toilet! The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard. One of the plane captains of VA-25 saved it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. VA-25 personnell maintained a position to block the view of the Air Boss and the ship's Captain while the aircraft was taxiing forward to the catapult. The plane was piloted by X/O Cdr. Clarence W. Stoddard, wingman was LCdr. Robin Bacon (in NE-577, BuNo 139768, with Lt. Clint Johnson shot down a MiG-17 on 20 June 1965). When the "sani-flush-bomb" was dropped, it almost hit LCdr. Beacon's plane due to its light weight.
Cdr. Bill Stoddard (now C/O) was shot down and killed by SAMs over North Vietnam on 14 September 1966, flying with VA-25 from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43).

135297 (VA-115) hit by automatic weapons fire 15 Miles North of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam in The Gulf of Tonkin Mar 17, 1967. Was able to fly out to Gulf of Tonkin, where pilot bailed out and was rescued by US Navy ship. Thanks to Joe Baugher’s Pages

[gary1954]

[quote="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)

133920 to South Vietnam AF
Thanks to Joe Baugher’s Pages

[gary1954]

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

According to the Joe Baugher’s Pages 135188 (c/n 10265) originally accepted by the U.S.N. from Douglas at El Segundo, California on June 23, 1955 and assigned to VC-11 NAS North Island, California.

During the next four years, the Skyraider served aboard the U.S.S. Wasp (CV-18), the U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12) and the U.S.S. Shangri La (CV-38) between shore assignments before being placed in storage at Litchfield Park, Arizona on December 29 1959.

On November 30 1962, the Skyraider was re-designated EA-1E while still in storage and stricken from the books in March 1963. However, with the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, it was reinstated into service and assigned to VAW-33 serving aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid and U.S.S. Wasp. While on the Wasp the aircraft was overhauled again when its radome was removed and the airframe modified and re-designated A-1E. Initially assigned to VA-122 at N.A.S. Lemoore, California, it later served aboard the U.S.S. Kittyhawk and then went to VAQ-33 at Quonset Point as a utility and training aircraft.

Finally, the Skyraider was sent to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Centre February 1970. There it remained until Roy Stafford acquired the aircraft in 1989. at Olympic Flight Museum, Olympia WA. Still airworthy.

Reported May 1989 dismantled at Chino, CA. Was acquired by civilian user and given serial N188BP, went through several owners. Registration N188RH reserved Sep 5, 2008, taken up Oct 1, 2008. In 2012 was with the Collings Foundation.

[Ken]

A few points to be made:

-- The four-ship photo including 139641; this is the first airplane lost by Wayne Warner and documented in his book "One Trip Too Many".

-- The photos of then-Maj DePoorter were photos and quotes made by me in a previous thread. Thankfully Win survived two combat tours and over 2,000 hours in the A-1 with minimal damage.

-- The toilet bomber, 135297, is being flown by Ed Greathouse, who was involved in one of the A-1 vs. MiG-17 shootdowns. I believe he was later lost in combat, however I can't locate the info at the moment. Hope I'm wrong, but I believe that was the case.

The loss of so many great Americans and these fine aircraft are yet another reason for pause as we approach another Memorial Day.

Ken

[gary1954]

[quote="Mark Allen M"]

Four Attack Squadron One Hundred Fifteen (VA-115) A-1 Skyraiders fly in formation. They are stationed aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).

142076 damaged during air strike in South Vietnam Mar 1972. It never flew again.

135263 to USAF as 52-135263. With 1st Special Operations Squadron 56th Special Operations Wing shot down by AAA Ban Karai Pass, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam Jul 28, 1970. Pilot bailed out and was rescued by HH-53 Super Jolly Green helicopter from 37th ARRS.

135257 to South Vietnam AF

3668 No Information available

Thanks to Joe Baugher’s Pages




This is a photo of four Navy Douglas A-1 Skyraiders of CVA-14 from the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, CV-14, breaking for recovery taken in April, 1963

134471 to USAF as 52-134471. With 602nd Special Operations Squadron 56th Special Operations Wing.
Crashed in Thailand due to engine failure Mar 14, 1970. Pilot killed.

25257 No information available

Thanks to Joe Baugher’s Pages

[gary1954]

AD-5 (TOW) of Utility Squadron One (VU-1) on the ground at Naval Air Station (NAS) Barbers Point.
133878 to South Vietnam AF - Thanks to Joe Baugher’s Pages


A-1H Taxiing, 56th SOW, SEA
37593 No Information available.


A-1H 135322 VNAF VVTS May-20-68[/quote]
37593 No Information available.

[gary1954]

EA-1FSkyraider132532
132532 (VAW-13) at National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL

[gary1954]

thanks snake

[EDowning]

135178 (c/n 10255) to USMC Museum, Quantico, VA Jun 1971. To
civil register as N62466 with Doug Champlin Collection of
Enid, OK. Passed through several hands and by Oct 1987
reported back at USMC Museum. Reported in 1989 with Peter
Thelen at Fort Lauderdale, FL. In 2011 based in St Charles, Missouri, still as N62466.

I don't think the "to USMC Museum, Quantico, VA Jun 1971." entry is accurate. The logbooks show it still at Pensacola well after that.

[Ken]

Hopefully Ztex won't mind if his excellent work is shared here ... photo from airport-data.com.

She's always looked good no matter what she was wearing.

[Ken]

The question of the day is, which models had clear/blue windows in the fixed section between the pilot canopies & the blue room clamshells? A quick look thru seems to show the airplanes with the castle-type rear canopy tend to have these areas solid.

Ken

[Snake45]

The question of the day is, which models had clear/blue windows in the fixed section between the pilot canopies & the blue room clamshells? A quick look thru seems to show the airplanes with the castle-type rear canopy tend to have these areas solid.

Ken

Ken, I haven't found any rhyme or reason on that on AD-5Ns/Qs/Ws, whether in USN, USMC, USAF, or VNAF service. Some have the center section in glass, others in metal. I think I've even seen a few where the rear section was glass, but the center section metal (though it would prolly take me a while to find such a photo again).

[SIDSIKO]

Here are some fates from the photos for you Gary.

135227 to VNAF in 1964.
139680 to USAF in June 1968, to VNAF in May 1971.
135257 to USAF in August 1967, to VNAF December 1972.
133878 to USAF December 1965, to VNAF November 1972

[Ken]

follow this link to neat shots of what appears to be 139612 burned up at Bien Hoa:

http://www.bhabassoc.org/?topic=burned- ... -skyraider