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Douglas A-1 Skyraider

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The Douglas A-1 (formerly AD) Skyraider was a U.S. single-seat attack bomber of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. A propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, the Skyraider had a remarkably long and successful career well into the space age, and inspired a straight-winged, slow flying jet powered successor which is still in frontline service today, the A-10 Warthog.

It carried various nicknames including: "Spad" (a bi-winged airplane flown in World War I), "Able Dog" (phonetic AD), the "Destroyer," "Hobo" (radio call sign of the USAF 1st Air Commando/Special operations Squadron), "Firefly" (602nd ACS/SOS), "Zorro" (22nd SOS), "The Big Gun," "Old Faithful," "Old Miscellaneous," "Fat Face" (AD-5/A-1E version, side-by-side seating), "Guppy" (AD-5W version), "Q-Bird" (AD-1Q/AD-5Q versions), "Flying Dumptruck" (A-1E), "Sandy" (Combat Search And Rescue helicopter escort) and "Crazy Water Buffalo" (South Vietnamese nickname).

Design and development

Douglas XBT2D-1 Skyraider prototype.

The A-1 was originally designed to meet World War II requirements for a carrier-based, single-place, long-range, high performance dive-/torpedo bomber. Designed by Ed Heinemann of the Douglas Aircraft Company, the Skyraider was ordered in July 1944 as the XBT2D-1. In April 1945, one month after its first flight on 18 March 1945, it was evaluated at the Naval Air Test Center (NATC). In December 1946, after a designation change to AD-1, delivery of the first production aircraft to a fleet squadron was made to VA-19A.

The AD-1 was built at Douglas' El Segundo plant in Southern California. In his memoir The Lonely Sky, test pilot Bill Bridgeman describes the routine yet sometimes hazardous work of certifying AD-1s fresh off the assembly line (quoting a production rate of two aircraft per day) for delivery to the US Navy in the 1949-1950 time frame.

The low-wing monoplane design started with a Wright R-3350 radial engine, later upgraded several times. Its distinctive feature was the presence of seven hardpoints on each wing. The large straight wings give it excellent low speed maneuverability, and enable it to carry a tremendous amount of ordnance over a considerable combat radius and loiter time for its size, comparable to much heavier subsonic or supersonic jets. The aircraft is optimized for the ground-attack mission, and is armoured against ground fire in key locations, unlike faster fighters adapted to carry bombs such as the F4U Corsair or P-51 Mustang which would be retired by US forces long before the 1960s.

The piston engined prop-driven Skyraider was a postwar follow-on to World War II dive bombers and torpedo bombers such as the Helldiver and Avenger. It was replaced in the 1960s by the A-4 Skyhawk as the Navy's primary light attack plane. Used over Korea and briefly over North Vietnam, it was adopted as the primary ground support attack for the U.S. Air Force and South Vietnamese VNAF during the Vietnam war, before being supplanted by the jet powered A-37 Dragonfly and A-7 Corsair II.

Operational history

Korea

Workhorse of the U.S. Navy in Korea: the Able Dog.

Though the Skyraider was produced too late to take part in World War II, it became the backbone of U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and United States Marine Corps (USMC) strike aircraft sorties in Korean War, with the first ADs going into action from the USS Valley Forge with VA-55 on 3 July 1950.[1] Its weapons load and ten-hour flying time far surpassed the jets that were available at the time.[citation needed] On 16 June 1953, a USMC AD-4 from VMC-1 piloted by Major George H. Linnemeier and CWO Vernon S. Kramer shot down a Soviet-built Polikarpov Po-2 biplane, the only documented Skyraider air victory of the war.[2] During the Korean War (1950-1953) A-1 Skyraiders were flown only by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and were normally painted in dark navy blue. A total of 101 Navy and Marine AD Skyraiders were lost in combat during the Korean War, and 27 were lost to operational causes, for a total loss of 128 Skyraiders in the Korean War.

Vietnam

File:020906-f-9999r-011.jpg
A-1E Skyraiders fly in formation over South Vietnam on way to target on 25 June 1965. The aircraft are assigned to the 34th Tactical Group, based at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.

Although the carrier air wing was rapidly transitioning to jet aircraft, the A-1 Skyraider was still the medium attack aircraft in many air wings in 1965 with the A-6A Intruder slated to replace it. Skyraiders participated in the first strikes against North Vietnam, but were eventually replaced by Intruders. US Navy Skyraiders shot down two Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 jet fighters during the war on 20 June 1965 by LT Clinton B. Johnson and LTJG Charles W. Hartman III (shared victory) of VA-25,[3] and on 9 October 1966 by LTJG William T. Patton of VA-176.[2] While on his very first mission, Navy pilot Dieter Dengler's A-1H was damaged over Viet Nam on 1 February 1966, and then crash-landed in Laos.[4]

As they were released from Navy service, Skyraiders were introduced into the Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) and adopted by the USAF as one of the Skyraider's most famous roles as the "Sandy" helicopter escort on combat rescues.[5] USAF Major Bernard F. Fisher piloted an A-1E on the 10 March 1966 mission for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing Major "Jump" Myers at A Shau Special Forces Camp.[6] USAF Colonel William A. Jones, III piloted an A-1H on the September 1 1968 mission for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In that mission, despite significant damage to his aircraft and suffering serious burns, he returned to his base and reported the position of a downed flight crew member.[6]

VA-115 A-1H loaded with ordnance for a mission in Vietnam

After November 1972, all A-1s in U.S. service in Southeast Asia were transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) and their former roles were taken over by the subsonic A-7 Corsair II.[7] The Skyraider in Vietnam pioneered the concept of tough, survivable aircraft with long loiter times and large ordnance loads. The USAF lost 201 Skyraiders to all causes in Southeast Asia, while the Navy lost 65 to all causes. Of the 266 lost A-1s, five were shot down by surface to air missiles (SAMs), and three were shot down in air to air combat; two by North Vietnamese MiG-17s. The first A-1 was shot down on 29 April 1966, and the second A-1 was lost on 19 April 1967; both were from the 602 Air Commando Squadron (ACS). The third A-1 Skyraider was from Squadron VA-35 and was lost to a Red Chinese MiG-19 (J-6) on 14 February 1968. LTJG Joseph P. Dunn (USN), had flown too close to the Communist Chinese held island of Hainan, and had been intercepted. Lieutenant Dunn's A-1 Skyraider was the last U.S. Navy A-1 lost in the war, and he did not survive. Shortly thereafter, A-1 Skyraider naval squadrons transitioned to A-4 Skyhawks.

In contrast to the Korean War, fought a decade earlier, the US Air Force, in Vietnam, utilized the naval A-1 Skyraider for the first time. As the Vietnam war progressed, USAF A-ls were painted in camouflage, while USN A-1 Skyraiders were gray/white in color; again, in contrast to the Korean War, when A-1s were painted dark blue.

In 1965, to highlight the dropping of the six millionth pound of ordnance; CDR Clarence J. Stoddard, flying an A-1H, dropped a special, one time only, object in addition to his other munitions – a toilet.[8]

Algeria

The French Air Force, the Armée de l'Air, bought 113 ex-U.S. Navy AD-4s and AD-4NAs in 1958 to replace aging F-47 Thunderbolts in Algeria. The aircraft were used from December 1959 until the end of the Algerian war. The aircraft were used by the 20e Escadre de Chasse (EC 1/20 "Aures Nementcha," EC 2/20 "Ouarsenis" and EC 3/20 "Oranie") and EC 21 in the close air support role armed with rockets, bombs and napalm. After the end of the war, the remaining aircraft were passed along to Gabon and Chad.

Adaptability

In addition to serving during Korea and Vietnam as an attack aircraft, it was modified into a carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft, replacing the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger. It served in this function in the USN and Royal Navy, being replaced by the E-1 Tracer and Fairey Gannet respectively in those services.[citation needed]

Variants

Four AD-6s over Subic Bay in the Philippines in 1955
AD-4W AEW-aircraft landing on the USS Leyte
Douglas A-1E (AD-5W) (S/N 52-135206) in flight
EA-1F ECM-aircraft of CVW-9 in 1966
Douglas AD-6s (A-1H) from VA-215 on the USS Hancock

Production ended in 1957 with a total of 3,180 built. However, in 1962 the existing Skyraiders were redesignated A-1D through A-1J and later used by both the USAF and the Navy in the Vietnam War.

The Skyraider went through seven versions, starting with the AD-1, then AD-2 and AD-3 with various minor improvements, then the AD-4 with a more powerful R-3350-26WA engine. The AD-5 was significantly widened, allowing two crew to sit side-by-side (this was not the first multiple-crew variant, the AD-1Q being a two-seater and the AD-3N a three-seater); it also came in a four-seat night-attack version, the AD-5N. The AD-6 was an improved AD-4B with improved low-level bombing equipment, and the final production version AD-7 was upgraded to a R-3350-26WB engine.

  • XBT2D-1: Single-seat dive-bomber, torpedo-bomber prototype for the U.S. Navy.
  • XBT2D-1N: Three-seat night attack prototypes, only three aircraft built.
  • XBT2D-1P: Photographic reconnaissance prototype, only one built.
  • XBT2D-1Q: Two-seat electronics countermeasures prototype. One aircraft only.
  • BT2D-2 (XAD-2): Upgraded attack aircraft, one prototype only.
  • AD-1: The first production model, 242 built (statistics in table).
  • AD-1Q: Two-seat electronic countermeasures version of the AD-1, 35 built.
  • AD-1U: AD-1 with radar countermeasures and tow target equipment, no armament and no water injection equipment.
  • XAD-1W: Three-seat airborne early warning prototype. AD-3W prototype, one aircraft only.
  • AD-2: Improved model, powered by 2,700 hp (2,000 kW) Wright R-3350-26W engine. 156 built.
  • AD-2D: Unofficial designation for AD-2s used as remote-control aircraft, to collect and gather radioactive material in the air after nuclear tests.
  • AD-2Q: Two-seat electronics countermeasures version of the AD-2, 21 built.
  • AD-2QU: AD-2 with radar countermeasures and target towing equipment, no armament and no water injection equipment, one aircraft only.
  • XAD-2: Similar to XBT2D-1 except engine, increased fuel capacity.
  • AD-3: Proposed turboprop version, initial designation of A2D Skyshark.
  • AD-3: Stronger fuselage, improved landing gear, new canopy design, 125 built.
  • AD-3S: Anti-submarine warfare model, only two prototypes were built.
  • AD-3N: Three-seat night attack version, 15 built.
  • AD-3Q: Electronics countermeasures version, countermeasures equipment relocated for better crew comfort. 23 built.
  • AD-3QU: Target towing aircraft, but most were delivered as the AD-3Q.
  • AD-3W: Airborne early warning version, 31 built.
  • XAD-3E: AD-3W modified for ASW with Aeroproducts propellor
  • AD-4: Strengthened landing gear, improved radar, G-2 compass, anti-G suit provisions, four 20 mm cannon and 14 Aero rocket launchers, capable of carrying up to 50 lb (23 kg) of bombs. 372 built.
  • AD-4B: Specialized version designed to carry nuclear weapons, also armed with four 20 mm cannon. 165 built plus 28 conversions.
  • AD-4L: Equipped for winter operations in Korea, 63 conversions.
  • AD-4N: Three-seat night attack version. 307 built.
  • AD-4NA: Designation of 100 AD-4Ns without their night-attack equipment, but fitted with four 20 mm cannon, for service in Korea as ground-attack aircraft.
  • AD-4NL: version of the AD-4N. 36 conversions.
  • AD-4Q: Two-seat electronic countermeasures version of the AD-4, 39 built.
  • AD-4W: Three-seat airborne early warning version, 168 built.
  • Skyraider AEW. Mk 1: 50 AD-4Ws transferred to the Royal Navy.
  • A-1E (AD-5): Side by side seating for pilot and co-pilot, without dive brakes, 212 built.
  • A-1G (AD-5N) - Four-seat night attack version, with radar countermeasures, 239 built.
  • EA-1F (AD-5Q) - Four-seat electronics countermeasures version, 54 conversions.
  • AD-5S: One prototype to test Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) anti-submarine equipment.
  • EA-1E (AD-5W): Four-seat airborne early warning version.
  • A-1H (AD-6) - Single-seat attack aircraft with three dive brakes, centerline station stressed for 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) of ordnances, 30 inches (760 mm) in diameter, combination 14/30 inch (360/760 mm) bomb ejector and low/high altitude bomb director, 713 built.
  • A-1J (AD-7): The final production model, powered by a R3350-26WB engine, with structural improvements to increase wing fatigue life, 72 built.
  • UA-1E: Utility version of the AD-5.

Operators

Thunder Over Michigan Air show, 2006.
See also: List of A-1 Skyraider operators
Douglas Skyraider parked at airport tarmac.

While the Skyraider is not as iconic as some other aircraft, it has been featured in some Vietnam-era films such as The Green Berets (1968) , Flight of the Intruder (1991) flying as Sandy escort, and in We Were Soldiers (2002) in the ground support role. The Skyraider also played a leading computer generated role in Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn (2007), retelling the story of Navy Lt. Dieter Dengler's escape from Laos. Skyraiders are also featured in the classic Korean war movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1953).

Specifications (A-1H Skyraider)

Douglas Skyraider - Landing Gear detail.

Data from [citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One

Performance Armament

  • Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
  • Other: Up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of ordnance on 15 external hardpoints including bombs, torpedoes, mine dispensers, unguided rockets, or gun pods

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ Mersky 1983, p. 144.
  2. ^ a b Grossnick and Armstrong 1997
  3. ^ Clinton Johnson. Skyraider vs Mig-17
  4. ^ Dengler, Escape from Laos
  5. ^ "Douglas A-1H and A-1J", National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 30 December 2007.
  6. ^ a b Medal of Honor Citations: Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients (A-L), U.S. Army Center of Military History, 16 July 2007. Retrieved: 23 December 2007.
  7. ^ "Rescue in Vietnam", National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 30 December 2007.
  8. ^ USS Midway

Bibliography

  • Dengler, Dieter. Escape from Laos. New York: Presidio Press, 1979. ISBN 0-89141-076-7.
  • Grossnick, Roy A. and Armstrong William J. United States Naval Aviation, 1910–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Historical Center, 1997. ISBN 0-16049-124-X.
  • Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-1156.
  • Mersky, Peter B. U.S. Marine Corps Aviation: 1912 to the Present. Annapolis, Maryland: The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America, 1983. ISBN 0-933852-39-8.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-1 Skyraider.
Wikisource has several original texts related to Audio recordings and transcripts with comments of actual Wild Weasel missions flown during the Vietnam War, including Sandy-assisted rescue..
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