Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Douglas A-1 Skyraider: Spads and Sandys in Vietnam” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/douglas-a-1-skyraider/.
Douglas A-1 Skyraider: Spads and Sandys in Vietnam
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Fantastic aircraft for the mission. In a low threat environment it was the perfect answer for air support because of its loiter time and huge ordnance capability. It took an incredibly brave pilot to fly them in a high threat arena that included 23mm AA. My hat is off to those guys!
Snake45
Professional
Pretty good article, but there are some errors in the captions.
The pic captioned:
Pilots of Marine Attack Squadron 331 (VMA-331) train in A-1H (AD-6) Skyraiders over the Atlantic Ocean. Image: U.S.M.C.
...is not right. The aircraft shown is not an A-1H, nor an A-1 of any type. It's an AD-5, which would later (long after the overall Glossy Sea Blue finished was changed to Gull Gray and White) redesignated A-1E.
The pic captioned:
A fire department water truck was used to clean the 6th Special Operations Squadron A-1H Skyraider aircraft at Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, 1967. Image: U.S.A.F.
...shows not A-1Hs, but A-1Es (or Gs).
The pic captioned:
U.S. Navy Douglas AD-2 (AH-1) Skyraider attack plane on patrol from USS Boxer (CV-21) in September 1951. The ship was en route to the Korean combat area. Image: NARA
...should not have any reference to "AH-1" in it. Completely different aircraft (Bell Cobra helicopter).
The pic captioned:
During the Korean War, a Skyraider waits to be launched from the port side catapult on the U.S.S. Leyte (CV-42). Also shown are an F4U Corsair and a F5F Panther. Image: NARA
There are two Panthers in the pic, but their designation was F9F, not F5F.
The pic captioned:
Pilots of Marine Attack Squadron 331 (VMA-331) train in A-1H (AD-6) Skyraiders over the Atlantic Ocean. Image: U.S.M.C.
...is not right. The aircraft shown is not an A-1H, nor an A-1 of any type. It's an AD-5, which would later (long after the overall Glossy Sea Blue finished was changed to Gull Gray and White) redesignated A-1E.
The pic captioned:
A fire department water truck was used to clean the 6th Special Operations Squadron A-1H Skyraider aircraft at Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, 1967. Image: U.S.A.F.
...shows not A-1Hs, but A-1Es (or Gs).
The pic captioned:
U.S. Navy Douglas AD-2 (AH-1) Skyraider attack plane on patrol from USS Boxer (CV-21) in September 1951. The ship was en route to the Korean combat area. Image: NARA
...should not have any reference to "AH-1" in it. Completely different aircraft (Bell Cobra helicopter).
The pic captioned:
During the Korean War, a Skyraider waits to be launched from the port side catapult on the U.S.S. Leyte (CV-42). Also shown are an F4U Corsair and a F5F Panther. Image: NARA
There are two Panthers in the pic, but their designation was F9F, not F5F.
There was at least one more instance of an A-1 pilot receiving the Medal of Honor. While under heavy enemy fire, USAF pilot Bernard F. Fisher landed his A-1 and loaded a downed pilot aboard. Here is Fisher's MoH Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Cedric
Custom
The downed pilot Fisher rescued was Major "Jump" Myers who, when I was a kid, lived across the lake from our place. Next door to Jump was Dad's co-worker so we would go over and visit with both and had some some good times. Jump had a large painting depicting the rescue hanging over his fireplace. This was the original reproduced for the article in The Readers Digest which I think published in the 60s. The article sure brought back some fond memories.
Thanks for the info! I have asked our tech guy to correct/update the post. Should show changes soon. Thanks for reading, everyone!
HayesGreener
Ronin
I loved seeing the Skyraiders taxi out when I was at Udorn. They were a throwback from the F4's and F111's that we normally saw. The pilots would wear those colorful silk scarves flowing in the wind with the cockpit open as they taxied, I always thought "Snoopy"! They supported Pararescue Jolly Green operations as well as some CAS and special mission stuff. Air America also flew them for who knows what.
Later in the war USAF used the A7 jet in Sandy rescue operations.
Later in the war USAF used the A7 jet in Sandy rescue operations.
John Wayne
Operator
We are so fortunate to have had men like these in this article and the men we have here on this forum that were so closely involved that they can differentiate model numbers of these aircraft. They lived it 24/7 and helped make up the team that made us the freest country in the world!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Icepick Mike
Operator
Was in a place called Dak To in 67' and an A1 came in shot up and crash landed on the PSP runway there. We rushed to A/C as soon as it stopped and and rested on its' nose. The guys closest pulled the wounded pilot out and we all backed off waiting for it to cook off. It didn't and sat there tail up and just smoked. The pilot was a Vietnamese and was medivaced shortly. I was relieving my bladder when this little event started, made for an interesting afternoon of BS'n. Great A/C and saved a lot of boonie rat lives during its' service in RVN and other places in the AO.