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The Douglas Skyraider was design ed as a repl acem ent for th e Dougl as SBD Dauntless and by the time it wa s int roduced it looked like an anachronism. Whilst mi lit ary aeroplanes were getting sleeker and faster and w ere powered by jet engi nes, the Skyraider was a large, propellor-driven monoplane that looked ungainly. Looks can be deceiving and the Skyraid er was to earn the affec tion of its crews and of many of t he people it supporte d in the g round wars in Korea and Vietn am and in so me sma ller conflicts. It went on to serve in ten different air fo rces and for mor e th an twenty-five years, undertak ing roles as diverse as div ebom bing, airborne early wa rni ng . air-to -air refu elling, nuclea r st rike and casualty evacuati on.
Peter C. Smith has worked as both bo ok and magaz ine edi to r but has been a full -time histo rian and w riter fo r many years. He is t he author of many magazine art icles. seven collections of short sto ries and a novel. but is better known for his meticulously researched factual history books on aviation. m ilitary and naval top ics. As well as being extensively published in th e United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Peter's books have been translated into Chinese . German. Japanese, Italian and Swedish. His expertise is also called upon as a consu ltant for television docu me nta ries . Peter is a member of th e Society of Authors, Lo ndon and he received the Royal Ma ri ne Histor ical Socie ty Aw ard for 1987/88. Origi nally fr om Norfolk. Peter now lives in Bedfor d shir e.
W hat ga ve th e Skyraide r its repu tati on and lon gev ity w as it s exce lle nt load -ear ry ing capability. its range and endurance. and its adaptabi lity. Pow ered by a single 2.700hp Wrig ht Cyclone. t he Sky raider could carry a larger weapon load than many World War Two bombers. It served with distinction in Korea an d Vietnam with the United States Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps , and was used as an airborne early warning aeroplane by the Royal Navy. The Skyraider was also used by France and some smaller nations. such as South Vietnam, Chad, Laos and Cam bo dia . Dive-bombing hi stori an Peter C. Smith tell s th e full story of th e design. d evelopment and long operational use of th is ofte n underrated aerop lane. Using archive material and fi rst-hand accou nts. th is new addit io n to th e range of Crowood Av iation book s w ill appeal to anyone w ith an int erest in m il it ary aviation.
For details o f our other aviation titles, and a cop y of ou r catalogue. w rite to: The Crowood Press Ram sbury Marlbo rough Wiltshire SN82HR Co ver des ign by Annette Findlay
£29.95
Printed in Great Britain
,..... . . ".,-
• 11. ...
LA UNCH A SKYRAllJER! W HERE IS TH E ENEMY, Admi ral wan ts (0 sec! Wh,u will the o rde r he! 'Launch a Skvraidc r!'
Deck pitching o ut uf sigh t. Seaha wks an: sin ing t ight , Venoms wo n't fly toni ght ; 'Launch a Skvraider!'
Oft co rnes the plainnvc wail. 'How ca n we get the mail !' Press on through ice and ha il'La unc h a Skvmider!'
Ship gets herself a clout how will they son it Oll(! You bet your life they' ll sho ut 'Launc h a Skvrai dcr!' W hat keeps them on th e hoil! Hard work and skilful roil; Tak es a lo t of midn igh t o il to 'Launc h a Skvra idc r!' O ff when it 's foul o r fine, pit chblack or brigh t suns hine; Three cheers for 849, whe n tllI..' Y'Launc h a Skvmtdcr.' (By kind 1l\'nni.~silJlllJf Lr Cdr P.G.W. Morris. RN, '0' Fli/{ht , HMS Bulwark, /958)
,....
••
Dougla, AD
rsu er
Peter C. Smith
The Crowood Press
,..,..."".d ~ l r. ".
F'N
1" 1t>Ir,h~
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11... C",,,,,_ I r n'''' 1I,1 R,,,n,N.'I). , t.r!I'.>T,>u.:h ~NIi 21lR
W,Il,h'Il:
r~·1t'f
c. Slmlh 1
All n.:hu ~'rJ. N" I'd" ...1 Ih~ rut>IKa""n In.,,' ..... rq>l\,JucrJ .". Ir."''ffi'lIrJ ,n dn j' t<>rm ,,,- "', any ITW"d lU, elecre e uc '" m«ru.nKd\' ,nd..JlflJ: f'ho. Ol'..... 'f'~·. rt'C,,,.Jml<:. '''' ,onv ,ni",nulk'" .r,,,..~ dnJ "'1T..,v~1 ~~..r<'m , ""Ih"", f'l'1Tlll""k'" ,n "TII'f\K 1',, ,", rhor f'lIt>h..hcT-, Brili_h lib....'" C~ul...teuint·in. Put>lic~li<>n lb u A Cdl..k'l."""' r<'<;"rJ i", th" h....>l. ...." ..,bN.- in)fll lhor firm'" L,...... ry
Dedi cation To the mem o ry of Arth ur Pcurcv - av iat io n hi storian anJ friend.
..,.
-"
Contents Introduction anJ A cknowl cJ gemcnts
WARTIME PROGRESSIO N O F T HE DIVE BOMBER
2
7 9
FALSE STA RT The Dou glas Dest royer
16
LAST C HANCE A Ne w Conce pt is Bom
21
A ST ROKE O F GENI US Development of the Daunrless-l l
29
5 T HE SKYRA IDER DESCRIBED
37
6
T H E SKYRA lD ER JOI NS T i lE FLEET
51
7
EXPERIMEN T S, MO DIFIC ATI O NS AND [MPRO VEMENTS
59
CO M BAT OVER KO REA T he US Navy Experie nce I
75
CO MBAT O VER KO REA T he US Marine Corps Experien ce
87
T HEAEW The Royal Navy Experien ce
91
3 4
8 9 10 I[
FURTHER DIVERS IFIC AT IO N
[ OJ
12
DELIVERING THE GOODS
III
13
TAR GET T UG The Swed ish Experien ce
125
COM BAT O VER VIETNAM The US Na vy Experien ce I!
129
14
,., ,...,,,,. d ~I'. ".
COMBAT OVER VIETNA M The USAF Experie nce
139
CO MBAT OV ER VIETNAM The YNA F Experience
151
SMA LL WARS The French Experience
159
18
EN D O F THE LI NE FOR THE SPAD
163
19
SPAD SU RVIVO RS
169
Append ix I
AD- I BuNo 09155 - Performance Data
181
A ppend ix II
Rescue Radio
183
15 16 17
Append ix III All -Weather Skvraider VA(AWl -33
184
Notes
188
Index
190
,.. • 11.
Introduction and Acknowledgements Th e ~ the story of a WI')' famou s aircratr, certamlv one of [he t..m,l;.'e'l ser\" in~ and bes IOH'J ci Its kind. Like (ffiln)" fam,Ill.' dive bombers, th e Ot.lll~b.S AD Skvratdcr _,., con.~iJt..reJ an anachrornsrn hy cnnc s . ho. m an al:t' ol screaming je ts, ctllllJ not N,\N us humely fca rures and rmpeller-dnven rnlf'Ul,ilm. What tho-c nitIC~ l'l IleJ tu see. in the Skymidl'r as well a~ m cder aIrcraft of it! tvpc , w as tha t it.'>
mhrn:nt eccurecv, its ability to lon er over me han kfu:1J ,tIlJ us ease of maintenance.
Brilish Ro yal Navv, the Vicrn.uuc....... A ir ATTrk.~ J... r Air. till' US Air Force, ,11ll1 the a ir forc es tlf C lInh. li.., G ,lhon and Chodl . hut alm ' ''''1 [rom II Itl jl...... ln 'klliti" n. rhc ~k~' ra i,k:t e..rncd more than its fair shan' of nickn..nw", over th e ye;m.: the 'Daunrles s-Il', in J...·!l·wnn· to ib (;1I1'k.II1.S f'n....k"\."l"~o r fwm the s ame ' Iahll'; [he · A hle, l \.~· hom It.'> fiN ,ll·S11.'1 l.ll ion AD; the ·Sp;....!·. I't.·GIII~· II wa.' .... . 01,1; ,11'1.1. I~ l" oJly. iJ,,'1 l11rinc u s I'n·t.:lshll\ ,1Il,l accuracv, [hl' ·A yin.c: DUlllp TnKk'.
F...ece, thl' French
, al\·,IIIlIO. In Ihl'li~ht u f rhc 'o\"ay In which the SlYTaiJ cr was con sidered bv the-e rt'U.. plc, th e critics' \' i C \I,S on Ji ve born....·rs c a n rca.. . . m ahl y Ix- Ji ,mi :...~. ~t y thanks, as always. ~o fiN ro thc nu-n wh, }actuallv flew the air cran . 1111'Us i, the real siory anJ t hei r op in ions are th e oru-, th.u count. Th..,y arc Admi ral ~i r j"ho
Treachcr , KCR; Chuck Mulbnl"Y. US
Navv, RIJ; Charles R. Shuford, US Non'y, RIll; Lreurenam -Cornrnander L Willi alll 1)11, .., USN. RIJ. l.icurenanr -Comm.mder (P) Pl'rcy G .W. ~1t 'rri " RN. RIJ ; fr.'lll C. Kll",I!.:,,' r. USMC; and Ron M c~b..t cr s U SN. I w'lUlJ hke
th..,
hI
e xpress my J,:ra llt u
' lU hl a n..l ll\~
~t l'rlwn
help of Cu mm,tn,I.." till" Pen valuable and un reser ved
J. Riordan IV, USN,;1t
ta l.:"n . Idl ll>C' as,i , lance was vital to my re -c arch . Sim ibrl ~', I ad n, ,"1t..J~t.· 1I\C" "ul ~lanJill~ ha..:k· Ill~ I rt.·o .'in·,l from Ma rk L. E v 'm ~, Ili'I" -
nan. ,IT the Naval Avuuum Il i ~ l
available 1I1t., EJ l lct ncmann Skyr ,li,ll'r l' rc s-, Ih·k·a'l· fllr
In)'
use: H ,E. ()o~ker, Jr.
Senior Member. A\' i,l1i"111 Rtlard oflnspccnon and Survey at Furuxent River NAS, tLLt r\'I'HlJ, fur man y va luahk· ,1''': lI ml' l1l~ All 'd).2 utTYi"1ltorp. don.two 500lb bombs e nd lw elve 5ill lOCke ts in IIighl ove r NATC Pal\lxl1ll Rivl', MD, ill September 1950, NOllonal Afch,Yes,Collelle Po'k, MD
~ It a rricelN a........, t mt.'rirs ;IIl..l ;comful of ilS c11J!it' ~rrt.ln rule:. w.:C' al1long-5er\'inli: anJ multi'ruk' mlllUI)' aircraft. lhe SkYr.liJl·r went lhrou.c:h ;) hr..11deri~ ra~ o( ~i~'IlilI1IJn", which (~ nol l>nly from l'lf'CTiilllr 1<111f'Cr:.({.r (the- US Na\"I'. the US 1-1.lI'1ne G.rl'''. lhe
,S,.llll<' (If lht.' nid.mullcs were r Ulllph, lllt.'ntary, .... 'me derugillt 'ry. rout aim . I" "II . fin" lIy, rdlec[t.'.1 ;) fl'Il.lm·~~ I,ll' Ih l' " ir( rafl. nc~ritt.' ""·l'm in.c: .. I..... ily, 10 lx· nUl I,f rLJce , the SkyTili,k' r won lhe hea rh Ilj mtlSt wh o fll'..... ii, . lr \\"hI IJq~n.ll·..I UJ'llil II 1~ l r tht.'ir S
7
conc cmc..l with the o riginal l c~t ing ,111.1 cvalu.mon III' the XBT2 D- 1 au cl AI)-I air nOlft; C Olw l A, Kn'll , FOIA Co-or.1 l1laIOr, Tl·..:hnical ru h1i ~h i n.c: Te,ulI, Na va l Air \'(l"rt"are Cenll' r Aircraft [)ivi~i(ln, P,IlU Xl'lll River, t\bl)'[im.1; the Archi \'i'l , US Pall'lll i1n.1 Tr.ldl'mark OfficI..', Wa~hio.c: too, LlC; C " m man. ler, Nal'al A ir Wa rfare C l'llfl'r Aircraft [livisiun. r ,IlIlXl·nt Riw r, !\la l)'lanJ . Thanh al",\ to Fr.m k H u.l~on . hi 'f OrlOlO ;mJ !rlcnJ; !\bnin Bowman. hi slOrian aoJ hil'n,l; L'Ik" (HC ) Pierre [\.IU' .......[ , Ch.-f du lA:p.:rrr~Jk'l1! . Gt.""tlon dl"" PrnJtKtiom. ECPA , F"n J ·h'I)'. Fr.m..:e; Lx Lil'Ulen,lIll· Colon el Au,s;I\" ~', Dira :!t."UT de ,. EwNisst· 1Th'fl1 Cin,fma!(~~te et Phlll' ~aph~ J..,s Annel;'s. Fun J 'h-I)'. Flann '; Kel'in R. Sm ith of Fredericbl-urg. Vir.c:inia. fl'r hi ~ rhllh ",,-'T,lrh~; Ra~' C, Stun in'm jor
,.
.,... " ". ~ ~ h. lI .
An AD-i IBuNo 1391311in Ih ght on 7 Oct ober 1955.
N.~
I'ho lll.l..'r'irhs " f till.' Royal Na vy A EWs; A ud rcv Pcarcv, widow uf my muc h .nuocd /.:"0" frien .j ;lIld fellow nurhor Arthur. fo r her many kindlwss"s and hospitalit y, and (or ~ i v i n.l.' rue her rlC.. muesjon (rt't'ly t,1 u......· A rt hu r's l.·xlt' n,iH· not es anJ r holl't.:rar hs ..,(the Royal N;lvy A EWs ; Keith Ferris, tlile .. '( the (nun.I l.·rs. " Iun/.: wuh R.G. S mit h, ..l( rhe A merican Socicrv of Av iat iun A rt i~lS; Ray \Y/aj..'nc..r an..1 Alex ] . Lutz, at th e Sa n Dll.'J.·..-.. Aero-pace ~t U,.t" lim. for rerm ission It. usc r hOltlJ,.'m r hs trom their collecnon: Kalhll't'n Klenholz, A rchi vist, Amcncan Ac a
Artlwes. CoIq, P, rt. MD
rane e in my Tl.'''I.·arch int o Roval Navv Skvraiders: Rol-en C. Mike sh. (or his expert advice 0 11 the So uth Vietnamese A ir Force Skvratdc rs, ami for his pcrmissit," to rcpn....lucc .....ime ,,( hi s " Ulsl;md in.l.' rhllltlj.'f'iph ,.; Stewart Lmh'1Il1. (or j-crrmssion 10 usc his specia l Vie lnamt'''I.' photogrdr h; Tom A. Br" ....-n. US M.ml W Corps Mar in e P,.... rnbcrs Newt, Km csron . Oluo. for hi s grea l hel p in ItlCilli nJ.: veter.m.. .md J....cumcnt..; and Alan o( Fmnk Smith Avrarion, Ne .....ca- rle-upon-Tvne. tor un ial lmg anJ unsliht.,J hel l' in tr.J.:king J " w n rure rc:(erencc.'s do w n th e yea rs. ~t y dl.'l.·pt."S1 gr.ltlt udc is alSl.I doc to Cluf &m yas. A rc h ive~ Reference Tc.uu , Smith· soru.m lnsntute, Wash ingh 'll, DC ; Gerard Pahl, E..Iucatiun Director of thl.' KaLulla:o" Aviat ion Histol)' Must'um, fllr ,ll.'lail., and rhoh lj.,'r
8
rhc r-.kCklbn Aviation MU'il.'lIm, Califor· nia , f,)r dl"tails and phol o",'1'<1rhs of thtir Skvr aldcr: Den ise A(lllin~t' r, and l). Menard of Ihl.' Unncd Stall's Air Force Museum Writ.:lu-Pmtl.'r'. o n Air Force 1\1-c, Oh io, fl. Jl'wi ls and rholOgr.irh., o( rbcir Sk}TaiJer. an J courtesv Jurin!: my research vrsir [herr: Lyt\lLl Sra lJ i n~ and Mam n Espen ci Thr FiJ;.:htt·r C ollccnon. 31 the lmpen al W. M u-c urn. Duxford A ufield, C lml>r.Jge. b Jt..t'll is of rhcrr Skvraidcr, "oJ r t..nni5.,ion rhoh....,:rar h II ; fk >b Turner, C Ui.Hor. Ccemander Da viJ Hob bs, RN, A:o.,blant Ontor, ' grarhic e xreni~ . Pd er C. Smidl Ri~Ie"
.••"
CHAPTER ONE
Wartime Progression of the Dive Bomber The t.m~· ~~MS {ilhe Secood WorlJ War lfItirmeJ tUlly rbe tmh rb,u the U01Tt..J :--r """ "~"
N
In lheir pre-war policy haJ
me-
dive bomber Ob ;I m.no r ln Eunl('e.lhe RO~<JI N,wy's Hun Slua JIve bomber haJ ach ic\'t..-J tht f tlJlf!' ci rbe jiM mljor ","aThhip. rhc In
(j 1lo....
.:ru:..et' K~. &'t\l'-,,~'fl 1939 anJ 19-11 , LutN. e'~ junkers ju . 87. in com bma-
[)aunrlo.' . haJ rb yc•.J the ll\'IJ.1f t. '1.. -. A~ til(' war in rbc Pao lic connnucd. rh..• Cu m" SR2C HdI JIH'r h..J finall y I,.h·!l over the fron t-line ro le tlf th e D.lt llll l...~~, anJ the
[ap an...' se N.u·y's )'"k"sllb
I '4)'
~lI i"""1
Comet (,JuJy') ..lIn.' hl.lmh.·r h..J rcp l...:c.J the Val. hJl th eir .! I\·e·h,mblll~ IIll1 lk'nc l.· rcrna mcd paramocmt.'
lm
1m .... [he Panzers, h.J Jcleared nar« In lttn natklfl in Iil:hlnin,g ca mf"l i,-'Il~ rhar aJ .1d~ ,mJ wt't"h rather rhan }"C. ~'hrn rhe PaCific Watl·Tuptt.J in Dece rnb,..r
1941. n Il. ..... rhe J a~nt.."'< Aichr Dl A 'Val' l bnmh.-r that spcarhceded the a tta ch n.ima.k II' marl al Pear l Harbor, r on [),tr · Ilin mJ In thl' InJi,m Oc ean . \Vlwn the t i!hr-h
Combining Rol es On land. the J I H ' htlll1h.'r~ wen- m 1 ..uct.:c!>...ful wh en Ihey w.. rkcd in do....: e ••'1'I:rauon with the I'arcco. wh ilt', ut -n, tlw Pau nl k'~~ ,mJ Illl' Val .lChll'n-J m....t whl'n work in l:: in a rl';11ll wirh Ih l' ir h 'I'J"l·· d' l-h ..mh<:r c. .. mp'lTl i.'n s. ,hl' (,rUUlIlla " TRD A\"l' n~t' r ,111,1 till" N,lbp l1la BSN K;II l', rl·~JX·e l i n· l r. 1I' ''\\'I.· \'l·r, ;h rill' W,II c. 'n! in lle.!, qlle~1 i" n.. h-,~an I... l'l' ,hkl.·J "..
n. ......... ao.,ln S8 Olllndin wu from !he $ame $fable I nd design er I S ltIe $ly!MIr. r... SSD·S belOll" 10 ItIe lolli Sllr flighl MU5ellm, I nd is slill f1yinglod lY. In
,1tJ7, ..... Resent II
Grlllll Chlmpioll -.: Oshkosh. lJ, Zilir. t.- Star flIghl MII_
9
wheth er rhc~ '11'\1 hnheno .....p arate, hili Illuru,llly dcpendcn r ri.. l..... might be eoml-lIwJ III ..ne arrcratr. At fir..t ... prorosal to me rge the t W\1 j;.. nus ..I arrack in one an er,lfl ....·I.·Illt..J absurd. »nce rhc method s were l"lally contra-t mg. The dive bomber n ,lll.J li ,r ih ..h.... lull' ~ure Tl<Jr lly over orhcr ' H~.· ~ III hun""" r ou rh.. ~urrr i -e anJ ,ICCIIT;"':y mhcrcnt m a st ee p dive attac]; from a ,l!real hl· l,I!ht. TIle torpc..J.I h . rnbcr. 'In rbc ",rht'r hand. made I b attac ks a lm, ....' fe'llhl·nnJ,: lilt" wave-tops, '0 ..n sure a srru"It'lh dr. 'p. "'.. Ih ,u ih hi!::hly -cns uivc ' OTJX.J ... weapon w o uIJ run a nd opera te correc tly. TIlt" Ct'IlI' hmall"n " f bor h mcrh ....I~ wa .. considered l'~~l' lUial hI sink Iaq.!.. \\·
e iall~' hll lle~hi r~.
Whll... ,m
. ,..."".., ,. all. lI .
WARTlMI ,
carriers (anJ e ven to the armoured decks ,'I F\ullsh curric rv, as in rill" Sruka ,1I1;Kks on th e lUu.mllJlu. FmmuL.ihk' and InJ.-IImltlhk·). u would rarelv sink rhcm o ut rurht . (T he Rrillsh 1-Icrmt'5 ,lO,1 rhc Iour J.lr ,l!ll'.....• earners al ~ti,lwa ~' wnl' l'Xl:\'Prlt'n".) l lcnvv cnn.....-r-, {rlu- Bnu-h ~ ljJl;,jIr.. l),rr"l'l.\hire an,1COJTlU".uI. ,InJ 11ll' J" I',!lll'''l' .\ l lkwrJd. l~l r e xam ple} rr" Vl"1.l l·ljU,llly vulncrablc, wh ile luzht cn uwr-, .md ,Il·"rroya" (suc h as the German J.:iil1i~ h..'1"~. and rhc Bnn-h SlIlllhwllrlfllJl, ( .1'11«.''''\1,'1" an,1 Fiji) were l'as)" t,l r~ets t~ 'r di vl' homl-.: r". llowever. II W,IS di'(I '\" 'rl',ll';Ir1 ~' O il lhal the
I'lto GR I: S S I (J ~ O ~ TlI ~.lJ I \' ~
1I0\l IlHC
fall' uf the Bisttlllrck, ,hl' Prince of \t'aks
rhc arnvalof the Kmlukaz.· sU iClJl' :Iliadvrs. which had to he sh" , J.'"'n to he stor JX-J. th e numbers of tij.lh ll'T!> earned by o mi' de grdJ.:e underwat er h ns of the . nher - A mer ica n earners !-.'ft",u l)' mcrea .....-J. Tlus wi.....· vulnerable lo r--tX·,lo bom ber . and in "" reduce...1thl'u \ .ffl·n~I \·e car'" II)' rhat , ~ Ihi, way IIw hulk ,,( Ih,· J,lr ;mese hall ie - I.llt· 194-" marw 'iC;I~
,!OJ till" R,'/,uIs.!. The tbk -surrll·"in f.! bomb hils of IIll" ,lin- bomber allow ed the
The Curtin SB2t HlIlldiver eve nlually look over the mantl e ol lhe Oaunlleu , . nd c. rried lhe lig hl righl inlOIhelmperill Ja panese Na....,·s bac kyard in 1945. h conlinued 10 be lh. main s irike . irc rl h oIlh. US N• ...., unlill941. when il wn supersede d by lh. Sk.,.ider. This SB2t ·5 was still ac tive wilh the R...,.,. Training Squadron It NAS Glenview, Illinois. in 19411. Emil 8U&h1er 1JtIrary. Plflu cola. Flooda
armoured Jt.-cks of ",ur1e~hips ma,lt' them In h..mhing h il ' alone. TI ll' surv iva l ,lt the Bnu-h \"'(lJ'~JlIIt' off C rl" h', anJ ,l Ihe Amt'r ic;1Il N ... \·t!tL.t al Pearl I l.lrho r. wa.' t.'\'i,lt·n ce ,,( rillS. as was the fat:! th;1t il rron...1 su Jllfkuh t" sink the ..11l·adr ha.ll rJ,nnaj.ll· dJar,lIll·.....· / Ii"'; OIl (Jua.l..lcm al. Thl" hallk'shir s' \'ullll'r"hili ty tll lur r l·dll all,Kk was dl"ar, though. a, shown hr l'\'l· nt s at Ta ran t", :md hy rill'
almo-t immune
~hJe
bombers). had 10 hi.:heldon h...lrJ lht' Iypical carrier ut Ihl' lim e . ~lIaJrtln .. of J...·ft"nJing fi~hll'TSaI Sl' had to be embarked , holh ro r r"ll-cr tilt' h.,mr....rs Jurin ~ th eir dl-:l-.'f~si \'e , tr ih's ..~a i nst the l·nl·my. ,tn,1to foil Ihl' l'lll' my hllllhl-I"'o' ,Ulaeks a~lin sl Ih d r own sh ll". T he altn was alwa ys t" ;Kh it'vl' tlu- rigl\! balance Ix·twl'l'n nffl"llsin: an..1 ,k·fl·nsin· ;liru;]11 l' mharkl'd. and r ri' lritil's 'ltil'n ch' lIlgl·d . For examrll', wllh
10
Role-Com bining Airc raft i bl.....· y\ voit;e may h;l\·l' I't"t:n lhe: l;un, )lISr.ll Sl.J In favour.i rill' rl'vulul conn' r l, h ll if was hy n,) ml~ ln\ tht- fiN. G re;u Rril;lin. in tht" 19 K'\, th .. Jt.'(ision Ix'l'n ma..ll" Itl adJ the r6k' of fightl't/inttto Cl'r lt'r Itl till' exbtinj.l rille 'I( till" !\l'W "urn ,Sku;! m' IIlOr 1anl' fha t was Ihen d,,·s i~m...1 t~ ' T Ihe tleer. Tl llS J t"(ision
,,,
." W ARTIME PIW (iR ESSION o l- TH E (J I VE RIJ\lR ER
more a result of the fact tha t co ntrol of
Gloster Gauntlet an,l Hawker Hec tor
R(~"al
Nnvv aircraft tested wirh th\' RAF, wborarhcr neglec ted it, than anythi ng else. The Air Minisnj' was totally or r oM'd to
biplanes as
dive bombmg. which W
New Requirem ents
wa-re hI civilian targets as the be st means ( If II"mnin~ all future wars. They resisrc...1 t h e A.lmir.llty's repeated requests for an accur,ue Jive-hllmhing sight, and a suitable airemil [.)C.lTTY it, and hoped inst ead roccon-
These l'x ,lll1pl~s ,,( divc-bornl-cr usc, u ll hulIgh .m imporranr part of till' sr"ry, resulted fn nn dl'ci sh lm that were mudc ', 1(1 rhc h oof", either ht'colusc of a lack "f interest . Lll.:k ,,( (lind s or vnal wnrt unc necc--it~'. O n l he o t he r ha nd , th e U S Naq'\ 1,,,1il:y pf ad dl11/.: « till' no,ll' "f rill' di vl' bomber, so tha t it J.: ra, [u'llIy l'\"oln'.! int o till' ,11 t ac k h, 11111' l·r, \\",1, till' rcsulr of a rnnrc th ,in HI /.:h and dd ailed ,,'ril', ,,f sl 11.1 ie, t hat loo k pl:lCl' ,Iurin/.: till' \1',1{ ~·ear s . TI ll' U S Navy's Bur cuu o f Ac ronauric-, ha ll paid much .un-nrion rll th e further clevclopun-n r Ill' rill" .l In ' l-orul-cr. B'I,i nJ.: t h ei r , [ensilllh "n till' EUrlll' l'a ll war e x!,eri en l" ~ ( nw ll1 ly u n till" British ), rhq illlr"dun·, 1'a,!v:lIKl'S' III 1I1l' dl·sign .' th,lt well' :drc",ly ulhll'r \\" ;I ~. li 'r the IWXt ge n· l' w t;' lll. Til l' ,Ii\·l· h, 'm lwr s;ll pr" J Ul" t i' lll ill rill" U S A ,Il lh e " ul hll·..k ,If the Padfic War wer e tilt' C urt i,s S n2C llt:lldin'r, Ill\' Brl'ws11'r S B1A BUl'l";ll)l'l'r a n, 1 till" VUltl''''' V-71 Vl~ tlge; ll1c e. O f tl ll' Sl', the I le[ ldi \"l' r \liOiS f, I f t hI' LJ~ Na vy, wil h ad,lililln:l1I1r/.:l'llt "r" ~ rs cO l11 i n~ in h om the British Ro y,ll N a vy an,[ rll\' Ro yal C; I1lOl,H,m N avy ; lh e Buccanl'er was for till" US N "vy, hUI there was ,llsll II1I1l"h ti 'r",' i ~n int ell'st , from rill" Briti sh Rural A ir Fur n ' (lI"ho klll'w it ,IS ti lt' Bt'r1l1u,b ), tlw Frell ch AnI1J~ dl' l'A ir ;Hl,1 lh e Ro val Dutc h Air Fnrl·t·: tl ll" Vl'ngl',llIl"l' \~'a , " ri ~illal1 y a Frl'IKh Aml(o(' de "Air "nlt-r, had I->n'll ha slily tak...'ll '1\"er hy thl' Britisll f"r lh l' Ro yal A ir For l"l' \Ill rill' bll l1f
1 ~n1 :e I'l}' givil1l: a .\u:11
rllk· ro rhc Skua. TIw Royal Navv stressed. bub at till" lime of design and afterwards, rhat l he num rlilc (If the Skua was Jin:- hom hing, "'It wartime and post-war pundib have n-reit1cJ1y jUJgloJ it so lelv as ,I figllla. Although it proved veT', good nt ,lin' hl.lm"ing, irs inaJ t.'\.ju'11l' powerplaut meant that II \\ -<1-' generally a failure as ;l li ~hter : , ,mJ Il lherl'fllrl" IH'IlI int (1ea rly relirl'mellt . A, a fl'sult, this CHrly eX{'l'riment in comhm m: rul l~ was .'iCcn as unsu ccessful. There lIdS a simila r silU,u io n in Ill\:' U S, v.lv:tl thl' P-S1 Muslang (ight er was rejl·ctaI e;ltly hy the USA A E hccause of a ,Iis,1rJ"llinting engine thai failed 10 proddt' ,utlicu.'nt pt"rfonnatlce ;If hi ~ h le\'t'k H.,wever, this situ,lti o n was Hlrnl'd 10 hi, aJI ;lntacc hy the aircra ft's dl'sigm'r, J.I I. 'Dutch' Kindelh.·rgt'r, who fin ed it with the Jive hrakl'S o( Ihe Vuhl'e VCllgl'anCt· ,md thus created a h ighly efll'c t ivl' di \'t' h lmhcr. lk'Signa tcJ thl' A -36 Ap,ld1l:, it C'llIIJ al~)aC I as a fightl'r ami a hi gh ·sl'l'cd ft( l1nnaissance aircraft, anJ was used in the,,-' r(lie' m comhat I->y hoth rill" US A A F anJ the RAF in Ihe MeJitl'rr;llll' ,lIl T he .mel . In th is case, opportunistic lllllt ives leJ til a succe;•.'.ful cllml->inat ion llf r{,les, (I·en if Ihe resultant aircmft W;IS suhse· quently nOI fully cxploited. Fur \-driOU_' reasons, ot her airerall In're ih.k'l'lcd in co mhinl'J rllil's, incluJinJ.: JI\'e.homl>ing, Thl' ohsoletl' Brit ish na val blr[ane torpeJo ho mhc r lyres, Ih e Fa;rt'y T~R S\\wJfish anJ A lhacore, had always , il/ll!>inl-J their hllmhcr nil l' with lhat of fe(llnnaiss;mee. Roth t n~s Wl'rl' ..b o used ,II JI\'e h.1mlx-rs, with scant Sllcel'S-'. TIll" Fd1l\"1" BarmcuJa was a no t hl'r dt' sign th,ll pWl1u",".,J much as a Jive hnmhl'r hut W,IS NJI}' Jelayed ;lnJ, finally, pro w d in :II!t'· 'lU,l1~ , By 1940, Ihl' RA F had Hltnmarily '1!>,mJom-J the excellent f-! ,lwkt'r Hl'o le y munur lane Ji \'t" bomber. When the hank · ruptc\' uf their pre·war r O[iC;l'S hl'catnl' ,lrrarent in Ihe aftennath of Dunkirk ,' they lounJ themse lves usin/.: till' We slland 1I\.,11l<Jt.r artillery spoUer and th e lll->slll<'lt'
llla k~' ,hifl
d ive 1.. . 'mhe rs.
France . and a lsn att ract ed th e at teunon 'l f t he US AA F. ' T Il\' le ssons of air fight ing over EUTl1{'l' called for rhc int roduct ion in ;111 these dtvc-l.. . nul.. . .· r types t,f what were considered Itl be th l' [atc st essent ial features: ;ml'gral homh hays ;nSlcold o( cx tcmnllv slunl,: h 'l1lhs, fllr great l'r aerodynamic I......-rtorutanc c ; ,t.'[f-st,..lilll,: fuel tan ks; flllly nutomane, p ower-operat ed J.:un turre ts (or dt'l l'n cl'; th t ing of arrbonu- md.rr -c ts. whkh involved a n clcc m mics Ch' lllL:l' fn 1111 1I1l' l Zcvoh 10 24'\·1l1t svstem: :1 chanee in t he " ti"l'Il_,;\"e gun nery, from machine gUllS 111 20111111 e mil! In ; Ill' a vy armour 1''' u rction li,r Ihe .urc rcw: nnd mu ch l,u J.:l'r h llnh an d Ilthc-r onlnunrc ca pac ity. TI le last two fcat urc- mc rea-, ·J weiglus cnonnou-lv, and much more ' ll\·l·rfull·nJ.:i1w W,IS therefore n-qurrcd. if th e arrcraft was to '1C h ien' till' increased ' I......·e..l' Ih at \wre now dl'el1led ,,, surdv' ll. necessary 1 These Ill'W rei["irt'll\ent s C'llllplica tl·J a ,Iesign, ("( lllstr uc ti!lll a nJ sUI'!,ly sitH
The main rivlli lo Ihe DOllglll5 des igns wa s the Martin AM-l Maula r, A big and powerful slr ike dive bombe r. it wa s equa l to the ea rly Skyraider in lerms 01the bardwa rBit c ould tote, as is cle ar Irom Ihis l 941 pholograp h. Evenillally, only ab out 100 we re complete d; Ihe y S8W limiled posl-w Br se rvic e in the US Fleet belore being phased oul. us Navyo!!lclal phOlograph
11
,I
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(. II .
WA~lHl" l' it O{ ; it E S SI () ~
require men ts \H'Tl' not till" sam e ;IS th e Navy's. for cx.uuplc. an d th e vOl rinus torl'ign ordcr-, wcrc chffcrc nt 'Iga in . T Ill' man.ux-mcnt WR' nor alwav-, equa l to the divcr-c d"Ill,mds lI1,l,k' "1" 111 it. Eve n t u;llly, urueur 11,'( nsi ty kd tot he BUTt'a u brenk illl-: ;1 cnrdmal rule, and o r,k'ri ng airlTa l", ,t T;liJ.:ht I'lllin rh e d rawinJ.: '-"I; lr,l, '-'di ire anv tlight h" l ing h ",l taken place. I'r,',k t,lhl y, .-h'I"S and ,k lay rl'sHltl"1. T I1l' HuTt',llI's 1;l ith in th l' Illtq,:nty ( ,f these cornparucs t, . ,kltn'r, ,Il'~l'it" till' fOll'id l ~' l h,l llging -pccilk ;ll hlll' uncl rcquin-rncru-. was tlll'lll\·l';. '!:lllgl'[l 'u~ , if nl'll'S_',lTy, r rl·n "l l'n! .;
Dive Bo m bers to Car ry Torpedo es It \\',IS the muiul sho rta).:l' of turre,ln l"Iml,l'Ts t h;lt fi T~t b l, in 1<.)4 2, t,lthe lIllest h 'Il " f din' h 'm lx'rs ,,,:rf,'nn inj! 111l' rt, ll' ,If I",th t" f1'l'd" hn llll'l.'r ,Ill.! d ive 1" ,tIll-l'r, TIll' US N,I\ 'y 11,1..1 10l' 'l' l\li-"h~\l k,tl' I'\'u.1.: 1<1, T I~[) [)l' v ; N a t ur ~ " n ~t Tl'nJ.:th at t hl' tinll' of l' l'ar! H,lrI" ,r; 1'-' I'ro,llI lIiun h ,l, 1 ll',I,e,1 ,I \ l'i1r l',lrlil'r. Two fl'I,1
Of' TIll:
[)IV~
1I0 MIIH
Ilft~' r
the 1'l.:sl p'l( k'Ij.,:l' and performance, ha ving ,I higher -pccd. lonu cr ran~l' a nd ligh ter wci glu Iha n its compctitor. T his decision was ba-ed on th e Iw"c xpl~rill1 l' n 1;11 ai ru,lt't , t h e XRT F- J ;11\.1 t he XHTU- J. I II.wcvc r. hy 1l}42, wlll'1I the sirnat inn W,IS dCOI rly lk'sl't~ rOl tl' - tIll' I \.'va.st I'l.' I ,(\(I(llh heavier rlum prc.hcted. { Irunuuuu II',IS tiIrced « I Ill, II.lify till' nircr.lft hy mo l"i nl.: th e l'ngine (urwa rd lfr. in onjc r to te- ton - stahilllY, Till' Ill'ell lll gl'l 1, 'rp1:ll' l h \I nhl~ rs llrgl'nlIy 10 tlw 11l'l'1 led III the resurrection of the C hatllt:-V,.ugllt T BU (l'nn'I'I , T1w N,lvy pLlCl'l1I,n lns, hlll Ch:I IKl'·V,lll)!ht W;l~ (u11 r n'llIlllitll'cll" pn"luling tlw IWWF4U COT" ,ir figlltl'r, anll ll,ld n" '1',ITl' capa .. il~' t" fl' intnll. lul"l' till' Sl';l \x'-'"l( Il' 1I .~ pn "luetiun lilll's. [mll',kl, till' a ircra ti was suh-l"!Itl1r,ll1l'd III VlI l t~'l' , <1, Ihe TBY- l , I lo wl'w r, thai CI 'TllJ',my was als" l'xl'eril'llCing d irl' r rllbk'lTls wif h i t~ V-72 ,live I" ,mhe r.s, JUl' {, llhl' enunll"llS growt h ill RAF, RAA E Ind ian , ~oul h A frican ,1ll,1 U~ A rmy Air F"rl l' urder~, an,lllluid nUl ( lll'l.'.
Curtiss WIIS a lso in the fie ld for a naw Navy dive bomber. w ith a n improved a nd modified repla ceme nllor Ille He lldive r, The CIlrtissltBT2C ca rried a s pec ia l radar compartmant in the re ar fuse laga, and was fa r a head 01its time. This is one ol s everlll protolypes that w are lesled but. finally, tile model was never ordere d into prodllc lion, Slanlav I. Vaughn Arch ive
12
Tile Bureau cas t about d e sl'cm t cl ~' lilTa shon-rcrm rerucdv: a r " , slhll' solunon W;IS ll((ere, 1 in th e ide a of m,lki ng the SBD Da untl ex, int o nu in ter im torpedo l-ombcr.' Do ugla, was one c ompanv that WOIS n o t ex pc ncncmu di lfilulfie, In l'x ra m l in~ it, alrl'ady well-automated producnon factlincs. l\.' ~r i l l' many nndificaI I, 'IlS hl'ing made hI till' SBI), I)l llJg[;l~ was lll, ma~l1l~ to produce the aircraft ut a .ste 'ld ily increas ing ra te. BuAn ini u.ucdan urgen t ' l'lI.h' mt, the r rllhk'm , in volved in ",k in g tbl' J lalltltle~ 10 carrv 1" tJ'l'd" l''', which. ,lCc"r,lin~ lU I'a r.,oll-', ' ... rclle cte d I" ll h "ur desperate ShoTt;lj.,:l' "f' torpedo r blll's ;1ll,1 IIll' grllwilll.: conviction tb ,lt all ..lrvc b ombers sho uld hl' ahle til carrv torpedoes." A hh , ,u~h t he re is IiI t[., mc n n. In l,f the fact in Ed licinc ru.mn's menu urs ," th is as['l'l:1 II" fill' 11";1, stu..lil'd ' ,'\'e~ had " l'l'n ,uff,'rl'.! in t hl' DUlch ElsI ln.lic~,anJ Ih l' " i gg l'~ t I.:rirl' Arm" pil"" ha..1with the ,Iirn all wa' t bat it W,lS "". sl"1I" tl' 'lirv in, T Ill' Arm y aC ll v d ~' c" nsi.lefl,d a,kill~
sr.n
." I'. AR TI\I (: PRI )( ;llI,SSIO:O> O F TI lE HIVE 1I0 MHE.R
XT BZ() · I en count ered pr" l-ll'lIb wit h the propeller COTlITIlI, .md, wit h Ih..: uu c xpcctl,d ly ca rl ~' tcmunatnm of till' war, till' I' r' larrcratt\ overweight problem. jcct wa.' cuncclh-d.] It \\,1' soon established that, although Meanwhile, Ih l' Cu rt i ~, S A2e J Iclldrvth,· fanhfulhnl e Daun tless co uld ca rl)' n sh, IU 1,1 hl' p' lff· fill'll' t,,rl'c,I" h, '1I1 hl'r pil, 'I'. ml!ht )l'llfY,trJ i:{' thi s. rrll"k'rn, wil h Ihl- rq .:ar,li nt.: till' Iolll l'r ta-l :1' lIl';rr slli<:i,!a[!" Hd[JiI"I'T anJ thl' BUCGml'er 1l1l',llH Iha l th,' IIIc oj Ihe [}aunclcss W ,ts hl'ing (011 ,t.rntl" l'xtl'nde..l. 'llld Ihl' N ,l V ~' (ould nllt New Techniq ues ,dlllrJ In rb k du: MeaJy r rod u( t illll {II ib l1"h Jin' hllml't."r at th ,1I stOll,:l'l,f til\' w;ll h, rrtumr..1 !rom the Pacific cll mhat :"m' \\'hl'h. lll'"n ,hl' , ightinl! 01 tl\l' targl'l, lth ,I 'ImiLlr ft'\jUl" t. Follllwin).! a d iscu,- ,h,mgc,! til 01 ,II"" "I'l'rnll'h. (,,\10\\'(',1 hI' ,I '1,0 .It 5an Diej:o I't'l wel.'n I !l'in,'lIl, lIlll In "l·lIl11J.: "If <:1"'1' I" till' farg..:(, OIlh t ill'll' tIT 1\\ 0 rro\('l yf'l.'~ (" I1'l\n'.! Ih,u "HIl": h\' h,M. l )t1ll"ra"\",HlI"gl" Ib t".1 by C brh, l'kh lhcr. Th i' Ix-.:an'll' th ..: XT B21)- ] \\'l'rl' ,'r, \\ h Ilttl.J with ,lll ei/.:h t- hla,ll',1 C urti" Ell"l:tr;\ cllumcr·Tl llat in/.: r Tt II'<:[lcr ;m,1 , lllring IIll' ini li,ll "pI' r" d, h , ,I' h"lh \\'"uld lull-'riln 11<11" _( During tri,IL, III PH') tI'll' bc
,I
13
T h...· US Navy ~ t;\ l1Ja rll aith ,rrll' It 'fl'c, I,\ W;lS !lolor illu,ly unr chablc and , hi, fact ,lit l1W delayed ti ll' ,.J, '1" inn ofC !.l,k.. , \ new rccluuquc W ith t he sta nda rd low-leve l ;ll'rn1,Kh, f.ulurc rare were l'n, lrm" u,. mul till' di l l' attac], seemed hlO much ';'Tsuch ,1 tl'lIlrCf;l1lll'llta ll'k u: " I' ordnance. However, (fnCl' nup rove.. 1 acria] torr ed,..:s had r"" l'l1 developed nrn] perfec ted. It wa, deem...,l <1l'l' Tlll'rLllc to I"o k on Clarke's met h, lei utrc-h . T h is dl'd sit 11) was hasl" fwd by t1w ({' lIlbi m' d· r{ll...,le!>a t.... T Ill.' \'u lm'rahility ;1Il,1 mac c urucv of the hori xmt a] h cnvv h. ,mh...-r, ~ra l' h ic a l ly
illustrall', lry
C \ 'l' 111\ III
Euro pe, hall -luu-
ICTl,,11l1l' pre -war b" ast 'h,lt it \\';'-' I'll,siblc 1., 'drop a b' Jmb in a I'h.: kk bnrn-]', T h is \\"a, rL'i nl(' Tcl-d fO Ttill" t\rn~riCHl' III till' l',ldy month, llf t he Pacific \Var, when rhc USAA F R-17s h.ul m ,l ,l ~ c laim afll' r c1am1 "f dirl'o h irs on J,l P,lI1~'l' war,h ips: ICO re r (l' nt tmlll',1out to b~ illus,'ry! TIll' USAA F I1u,k' ' l'w n h it.:h-ll'n' l 'lI!il<:h on IIw Jar ,llle, ,' Il,,~t oli" 1\1idw" y 'Illd fail e,1 to ,Clln' singk h it, ,111.1 similar ;1It;Kks pff th e Ph ilipr ine, ,111.1 till' Dutch East 111 J i l'~ W~Te jus t a ~ futile, [n EmilI"', tlw RAF ' r ,'nI llh lllth, Iryi n).! hI h it thl' , ("tic ,Ll1,1,I" ti,'n;l ry ('l'rlTl,lll ha tIlc-cn li'~T' ~{'htlrnh'lnt ,llh l (;Il<'il,'llwl, whi dl weTl' III ,lllLl;1t Bn " I, wllhin l';IS)' r,mgl'; Ibl')' ,lch kl'nl n'ry IHlle. airn,llt with till' Nor,lell 1"1I11h sight l(IT po"iHl' allarks .lgOlin'f Lmd LITgl'I" dfl,<:tl\'l' l)' ;lh,ln,l, 'II~,I h Igh -Ien 'l l" 'Inhl n).! "l1llgl'tlkr as u'l,I..:" ,,).!aithl ,h lp' "t ',,:,1. [n't";l'l, il a,hlpt..:d t.:1i-k' h
,I
Scouting A, till' Illl'rgl'T"l' type' \\':1' h,' Il'lJ.! co n,id, l'rl'.1, till' ri,k, 'If Ihl' S("UI (VS li) COIll'll' inl" till' l'ljU,lIi" n, US N;l\"\, l'(1hc~' \\',,' til ' l'nd "lit ,lT1l1l'd S HIh frlllll Ihl' Sn'w Squa,IT"lh, ~;K h pLl111' t'l,h"l II' ,,';lflh;1ll OIlinGlll,.1 'l'o"r ;II ; 1 t.:i\",'n r'll1g" . in Ohler t" I" e lll' the l'lWIllY Ill'l'l. T1w SP,[), wou[, 1
.....
,
"" .~
~ l(.II.
WARTI ME PR()(i IlESSI01\ Of' THE. nln. RO.\IIlER
, A din erenl a pproa ch 10 Ihe dive·bomber co ncep t was Ihe Boe ing XF8B-1. which was powered by the 3.000hp Pratt a nd Whitne y Major e ngine. dr iving a six- bladed con tra- rolali ng propell er, This gave it an unprecede nted lOP speed lor a dive bomber 01432mph 1695km/hf dur ing tes t IIighls in 1944. II fealu red an internal bomb bay with a ca pac ily et 1,6OOI b, wilh as muc h ordnance wa ighl again carried under Ihe wi ngs. Des pile Ihis, il never wenl inlo produclion . US JIIavy oll,c'al pholOg'aph
The Kaisar Flee rwing XBTK-l was a c lee n, lighlwe ighl dive -bomber des ign. with the Pratt and Whilney R·2800 engi ne. II was c onceived lor operations 10 provide difec i close air Suppor110 landing lorc es in the Pac ilic Campaignlrom Ihe s mall 'Jeep'lEscorll ca rriers. w hich cou ld nOI handlalha larger divebomber Iypes . The a brupllamlina lion ot the wa r in 1945 an de d Ihe immed iale need lo r s uc h a n a irc raft an d il neve r gol beyond Ihe prolotype s lage . This is BuNo 44313, the lirsl s uch aircraft, al lhe Pal ullenl River Nava l Air 'rest Cenler in AugusI1945. US NaV)' off,c 'al phologruph
rq,, 'n 1Ill" ~plTd , c ll l1l l'0~ i t i pn nucll-canng pn-miw wa., tluu, I-:in 'n tlu- facr Ihal din' ot t hat vnvmv.and ~t I ll",,' th"l Ih,' N,,,'\ h" ,h I...,!",,,,,,, w;lr ;11'1'' ' l;lt:hed. l)n I 'j I)cccmber [<.)4 [, a I 'I ! I ,,,,,I I 'J!Ii. I:" , " !l"'" !Ill' '!""I:""""" "I \\",t'k ;lfter I'e,lrl Ha rbur had \I\(l\'cJ 1I11' VTSI\ "':" ~"n,,, I" 'I.J I" , , hI' t"I" ', bLO' """," i,~ul' ((( >1\1 lI' l' ;lc
14
Ilis vil'w W
New Designs On 1.1 and 1.2 [anu.trv 11)42 , a 111l'l'tlllg \\'a~ hekl hy the l"il-:hll'l'n lIll"lll"':rs llf tlll' Plann Ull-: an,1 Engml"l"ring Divisillll s Ill' the Burea u of Al'ronallties 10 thr;l.~h out thl'st.' I'rol'll)sals. A s it lurned "ilt, there wa, alrl\o~1 tnl,,1 h,lTlllllny among till' ;b....m· bk'd gru up, anJ M urph y's pr"I 'III"II, wer,' ;len' pll',1 in rrinci r ll". A~ a fiN 'Il'p, C urtis, Aircraft was in ' trucl eJ 10 ,l.'\"l'!"r il sin).:ll' -sc;\tl'r ,live h lmher, ca pahlc ,l Gn l)" mg ;\ l, lX1OIh hOlllh I~'r 1,600 1mb (2,600km), or t\\'lI 1,600 I'l lunders ;" ;I m
,.
." WARTIM E
P IW{ jlt~. S SIO i\;
01'
uu
0 1\' 1: UO\IIlHI
eeced cnntr.k:l No. 88707, fur XTRll1 -1. ~umdy, ..ksil.TfI of t he t win -cnuim....1 dln:r.llt \\"t~wilt(heJ to rhc G rumman \ 'r~,,·
ma non , ;mJ the aircmf, became rhe HB~ F· 1.
It haJ '\1,'0 R·2BOO-Zl l' n t.: im:s \lIl'i gh 45,('('(1''' .. 10..1
mJ \lo\lUlJ ( \' l;"n1l.l
rn.. .
1,10,1 h C:I\ 1' to OJ'Cr.I1 C even from the \l idMm cia ~ carriers that WI."Te rhen bein£ "'lilt In aJJiriun. few coulJ h..- cmr arh-J,
melr v nke capacitv \lo~b -rnall: ,I larj..~r her 01' ~m.II1I'1 a irer.llr wa, (:IT more t-enec nve . aoJ the XTB2 D.. l (o r
n
XTH~ F· I )
was rherefore -nllbom.
JI
ntmg .."...ice at P,uAcr w u-, t hat unlletunl-Com m.lnJt" j.G . C rom-
If
1m He ;lCh
.:J.J noI 20 tar ('nou!::h. and 'U~I"lo:J , h,11 rhc 1\ )lJ21a., XTR2[)-1 he m.IJc, mto a ..in arer arrcratt, anJ 'h ,1I Mu rrh ~' h.. "Cfll hllAlUl!lds IUhl·lr make the eh, lncc.. l"'o&)'. In' tcaJ o( ~:oi n ~ through the emal cham tI( com mand, Cnunmelm I stran..h l to Ihe A ~ i~l a nt C hid' ot rh.., & now, so. 'lhh'lU£h h i~ a nnnn ..-nt h'IJ h menr , If Ilia, nlll taken up, andt hc' -carer ~ iL'll was pu....ued . On 4 Feh11\' 19-12, Rear Admiral J.B . Towers, rh..' fl.un-au \ ( l uef, approved th.., origina l prouume and the Navy went on Itl order H SFI1l1·1s from nllu.l:la~ . b ('nT ll.l ll ~', Crommehn W;l ~ hI h: 1''' we...1 , llTt'\I,Nu llnly after muc h heartache and kN 1'1 \al lJ
Radar A~ III
tI\I.' Pacific W;lr 1Il11t...1on, IIU' intlucnce radu Wi l~ Illun.! to lv incrL'a~ i l1 gly impor-
tant . 1t'riJ d..,t,"t:li.'n .J! inn 'millg J, l P, I1lt'~l' r,lI.l~ nel:,111.J their early vi~lla l siglu illgs " f
lhe Amcncans and, in fhl'ory, l'llahll'd till' ,klcnJmlliighfl'rs til l.'I't in place in rune 1\1 mtl'f\"Cr' rhe aflackers, A t (iN , the svstcm JtJ lltl( wlIrl well: 'cluncr' Oil till' xr,'l'n~ between circling ,k (ending rbn,'S ;111,1 lfl(lIrlllnl/ rnl>lile conracts clln(u»(....1 " l'e r.lfi ll'!o, comrrumicanons be twee n ~h i "" ;In,1 ti£!,lm W,I!- J"'lor, and the Jilf"iIll""C.' dive ;lnJ r.-q",Jo tlo.lffibers .iten m.a rulJ.,....oJ fo l-n.'al thrt~ 10 mlllCt he'dvy J ,lmage, G raJu'll ly, ho.l'n'o\'r, rhc system imrtlln.J UIlli!, hr th.., lllIr lot tht' Batt le of thl' r h illrrinl' Se a, h..-.d.:. "Grumman He1lcab wou lJ int er · crf!l the lllComil\j:,' ];lp;m.., * aft;lCh ;IIlJ l!'I Illtally wire Ihem llUl h,-f" re th ..,y t\'tIl S;JW l~ Art\('rican Ill'l,t ." It was de-,It N, had t~ American J l\'e hllllh,-", lx, 'n ~ w'lIh 3 UR'Iffit' t:.l/J ar ilt Ih... flOlll..' 01 MiJI.'3\", d)t'), \\'(IlJ1J hwe found Iht' ...n,,·my
Allhough orde rs we re se ~e re ly c uI ba ck allhe end 01the Seco nd WOlld Waf, s ome Martin TBN Maular di~e bombers did sae se nlic e in the posl,waf fleel. Hera, e 100mat ion from VA·9A, comma nde d by Caplai n L.G. Traynor, USN. and ben d aboard Ihe aircraft ca rrier Philippine Sea ICV-471. is se e n iu Ju ne 1946. US Naval H,sloflC al Cenlle phologfBph
earn...rs earlier, not ~'arc h i n~ " i~u,l lly
w' l~t t...1 "aluable
ah ly han ' " m!.: r111'm m, 'T l' qUl,,!.: ly, I h ll~ 'l\"I\I.llIlg th... II ~' 01 Y.trkWtlTl lo d Ctllll1lt'r~t ri !.:e. " C urti", wa, Ih...rd "re in' ln Kll...1 h I aJ J raJar Glp;lh ilify to till' S R2C. Inten."i\·e t"" l in ~ wa~ 'lln'a. h ' lalin g I'I.Ke ,If N",wron, Rh ,,,"I,' 1 ~l. m.1. wll h n1'.'arJ til Ihl' 1I'rJ't....I' 1h' mh.:r ri,ll' ("r Ihi ~ mrcrai.. ' • In the l'n,!. h ' lw;:" ,'r, Ih l' ,Ii"l' h.lmher nl'\'e r J iJ m,lh' tOtJ"..J'1 .1I1.llls, olh;:r than III tHai, anJ I..'~ t~, , I llt lll~ thl' St.' olnJ \X'orIJ W,lr.
15
J U~I
limc
f,'r rh... rn an,1\\',,u l.l l'",h-
'II
a, rh r- G rum ma n I}'!'e mel ib end,
drd rhc, Cum,-, lyre" onuinatecl hy the
~ llltrh y id...,, - rhc XSR3 C - 1 ,1 1 Ih"'I' nJ I,f 194 2 ;lnJ th l' XBT C -I ~ i x mo nth~ btl'(. Tlll~ "'a,, main lr .lUI.' hi Ill<" r rohl l'm ~ the
co mpa ll}' w a~ enctlunI;:rin g wll h the S R2C 11;:IIJiwr. Th...y cont m u...J 10 .Indor the XBTC~ 2 in a limi l... J form , hllll'nCulinlercJ!>I1 rn;m y "itYi t:uh 1t,~ rh al, ,11 thl' ;:nJ 01 thl' war, thi... rr,ljecl , Ifll), wa~ 1..' rm ina teJ, In Ih ,,'I1l<"
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(_II.
CHA PTER TWO
False Start The Douglas Destroyer On 30 [unc 1941, Douulns at El s..-gun d'l W;J~ award<.',1 a cont ract In lunld two XSP,2D- I~, 111i~ seemed to lx' an assurance t~ 'r n oud as lh at the ~IlCCCSS t hey h,d achieved wi th the much -hived SBn D aun tless wuuld h.' repeated . TIll' startl ing vlc tone, ucb lcvcd hy till' D auntless d ur inl-: tha t vcar ga\'l' rill' companv a fundof goodwill, »nd rill' Navy ha.1 great fauh in it. TI \Cc hfficulrics h.'i nj.! cncounrerc...1h y th e riva l C url i"s '1Il.1 Bn-wstcr companies lln ly M..rvcd to l'mph;ls;:l' the smooth running 'l( n uughts.
TIll' Navy was Jl'~I,,-'r; lI t' Illr a replacement .Iivc htlllll,,-'r and eager ttl give 1\ luglas every asstsmnco. I( ever the lld lJ ivcr could I"" g"l into service then il sccmc...1ce rtai n lhal t hl' SB2 D would, in turn, replace the Hclldivcr. 111,11 ccrrainr v dtd 1101 become rea lil ~" Once again, t he Mtow facrot ca mc m ro I'b y, When the fi rst SR2 1) t\ll .k t\l lh l' a ir in A l'ril 194J, it was a lrl'ady 1,400lh ove r the "'I' wl'ighl limit , and it rook far toll ],1l1l-: III l-:l't .urbomc - in facr, irs mke-off .Ib lance p re -
eluded if (ft un earner "1"-'1';1[ ions altogether!
Flighttesled in 1944, the twa -seater XSB2D Destr0ver wa s the original Heinema nn des ign buill to the Navy's initial requirement lor a new di~e bomber, Powered by a s ingle Wrighl R3J50·14 en gine . w hich de~eloped 2.3OOb hp at s ea level. if had a top s pee d 01255 knots . The XSB2D-' coul d carry 4,OOOIb 01mixed ordnan c e in a large internal bomb bay and ha d two lOmm wing cann on. IIte ensee the tricycle landing gea r lirst tried out by He inemann with ona ex perimenta l BT·' d i~e bombar in 1938. Changes in the Na~v's requir ements le d 10 the c ance llation 01this design , and a re ·work as the s ingle-seate r XBTD·' . McDonnell Douglas. Long Beach
16
Speci ficatio n Till' lIrig ina l orde r W:-I.' accompanied by a ,la ulUinl-: Navy ~ recilk;l l illn. TIle engine \\ 'lI S sJX'cifil'J as till' 18 cvlindcr.jwm-row, Cu rtiss-Wright R-H50· 14 Cyclone aircooled radialcnmnc, dl'w l, ,pinl-: 2,JOO"hp ( 1,7 15K/w) al sea level. and d riv in g a thn..'<.'-hIaJed Hamilton propeller uf 12ft 7i n (}B4m) dtamcn-r. Ed Heinemann later ~ I Oltl'J that Ill' considered t his powerplan I to he excessive for rill' lil'sign with
F U n
"
fAl.S E STAIIT -
nu: ll tlUGl.,\S
IJESTIIOHR
whrch he had hoped to proceed from scrarch, but Douglas had to go with it .
Limitat ions o f Space
The armament was fa he revolu uona rv I, r It, time. consisting of a single 20m m cannon in each wing for forward strafin g. wnh 200 ronruls per gun ca rried . Fur air dctence, not one bur two flush-mounted turrets were to lit: carried. in the dorsal aod ventral positions aft rhe rea r coc kpit . each mounting 1I pair of O.sO-calihre machm.. . guns. These were III be remoteII controlled from the rear coc kpit hy a new device, the FarranJ telescopi c rcri.,wre'ighr. It these items were not revol ut ionary ( nJ he.l\'Y) enough, the spcc iflcanon conunued. The main landin g gear was 10 h.. ot the tricycle configuration with 0,1se wheel and two wing wheels. all rctractable. Alrh'lUgh so me writers han' -crcd that this (earure was not fln'v illusly t(lIlnd on naval aircraft , Hein eman n h imelt hold already fully rested such a desi!.:n II Ith an expcnmenra l BT- I with noseI' heel configuration in the laic 19 30s, Ill' h.ld not been favourably impressed. None the l~, thc Navy dl'CiJeJ that th is W,I" \\h:lr if wanl\'J. Tht rt'quireJ offensive loading po tl'nlui 11'<1_ also h igh for rhe t\l'W dive h mN'r: a m TOrredoes slun!.: e Xll'rn.lll\· lx'inw the central fusela!.:e, T hi s en,lttTltlU, increase in comhat loadi ng wa, r No ,KhieveJ hy Ihe adop tilln of Luni · nar-fluw aerofllil, and high -liit , lo tted !hl" filll,J ~Iow the rea r eJges of rill' mlJ·wmg S('( tinns. The intem al bom!:> -!:>ay requin'llIl'nr n,l ,'nlr made Ihe ai rcraft ilion ' clllllp li· ( tN \J.'. Curtiss werl' find ing to their ell"t \lIlh Ihe SBlCl. hut forceJ DOlll,.:l as I ~nLlrl!e the wing area. Sll th al llll' ma in I nJml: I:ear could fold !:>ack int o il IIb!eaJ of the fuselage. This, in rurn . led f J reJesi)..'!l of Ihe wings with a negati ve Jlhl\lrnl. the c1 a s.~ ic al ' in vert I,d !.:u ll11m!!' share Ihat typified d i\'c h' lml-ets ,u, h ,1\ the Junkers Ju. 87 St uka and Vull~r VenJ;:cancc, and was ],uer hi IJenlll\· ,hl' massi\'e C h anc e- VOU!.:IH HU tl!o:hlet·hombcr. T he adoptiu n o f rhl' te,IIUtl: cnahled the unJ ercarr ia!.:e III I'e .hortet an,l thus more easily aCCllmmllJ HI'll in the inne r-win!.: sl'ct ion whel'l b.!\. inlll which (he wheel s h ydraulica lly rctMCtN.
As de.,ign work proc eeded . th e Navv h it [)ou.l:las with ve t anot he r lirnita rion . T h e XSB2[)· 1, unlike Jill' SBI\ was to [caturc fullv t;IIJ in g wings, tbe I uncr seerions f"I,Iing upward s <'II1/cllCl'. compa red wit h 14 7ft 6 in (44.96m ) in the Encx and 136ft (41.4 5m) in the .\t iJlt'ay. Their fUll' nl'! tr unk illl,.: al" , elle n I:KIll',11 In IheSl' limir"d di nll'nsiun s. TIll' 1ll,lximum han gar width canll' down 10 ahout 60ft ( IHo 3m). "I. In llrd,' r li lr tw,I aircralt I" hl' ah lt· t, I Ill' mllvl'd past e,Kh utl ll'r. till' maxilllUIll willg-llllded Sp;ll1 h ;I,1 til he spl'c ilkd ;IS 26fl (7.91m). T his W;lS 10 CIUW I k'i lll" man n's Il'mn IW ln ' h l"IlL.,·lws. Thl' fina l win.l:Sp'l1l C,It1W " ut at 4 5ft ( I t72 m) . wh ich Tl,dIICl,d tu 2\,Vr -tin lin f"I,lin ~ . Tlltal wing area was ,7, sq fl (34 .H Sll Ill) , M,lxim ulil width of till' h' lri:ontal {
v-n
Fliglll lesling followed and appe ared to go well, eve n if the XSB2D· I W,IS nOI an ' Hlt.-l anJ ing pe rfor mer. I)uring te st s. m'IX· unum spl'l',1 (If 289 knor, at sea level was reache".I, and 310 kn"1S was ,KhieVl'd at 14.00l1ft (4 .250m ). These fi.l:un::s were respectable - with a spee,1 of 346mrh (55 7km/h ), rhe XSBlD- 1 was 6Smr h ( 105krn/h ) faster than the besr SBlC- I Hclkhvcr, with double tlu- bomb Illa,l ll the lat ter. It carried 22 3 gallons of fuel in its int e r nal ran ks, !.:ivin!.: ,I max imum r'lll!.:e of 960 nautical miles at a !lei!.:llI (If lO.ooofl (3 .050111 ). and a max imum cmlumnce at thl' s ame hcighr (If , \1 hours. li s sral l speed for deck landi ngs was 64 knots. which was nor had fllr such a hcavv machine. C limh rare was 11.3 minutes to 20,OOOft (6,100m ). wnh ,I service cci lin!.: \ li n ,420ft (8,360m) . T hese fi!.:lIres were in il i,llIy respectable en' lugh 10 persuade the Burl',lll of AI'Hl· naur ics 1" 1'1 ace ,I furr her produc t i, In orde r fur 345 SB2D- 1s ( BllNos 09048-0919 2 inclusive], on H A UgllSl 194 3.
,I
Weight Prob lems
In al'l'l'ar;l\lCe. rhe XSB2[)- 1 was unt que . T Ill' inn 'Tled gull-wing was mllunt ed mid way up the ftN'b!.:e, whi k' a ,loTsal fin l'x tl'n, ll,,1 frum Ihl' mai n \"e rt icil t,lil surfacl' ,\Ild ,'n d,',1 in a sharp verti cal cw·off t,I allow {hI' dursal H1 rrl·Il,.:U1l'i T< ",m to tr a· \·l·rse, lIw kinl,.: fur il ver y diffl'r" nt and read ily i,k'nt ifi;lhll' profile . TIle hTtl'I,I, tlat hl,e of till' filsda!.:l· relle el l'J the l,.: rl';l1 cal'"dly "I thl' internal humh hay an,1 lIll'se (e,,turl'S. cLlllpleJ with thl' In cycle und l'rGu riage, 1ll;1,le till' XS fJ,2 [) ·1 unm isl;lb hll·. If I, ~ ,b ,11"ne (ould deci,1c thl' fall' of ,lll aircr,lft, til<' Ill'W Doug!;ls din ' h" l!ll.....' r was well sct. lI uwl'\'<'r. till' u\'err kling l"llll(l'm was th,lI till' Cllllll' ll'tloJ XSIU[)- I was t'~l hea vy. TIlis W;l' llot .... nt i rd ~, Dou!.:las's fault hut. n" ne the Ie". weighrs callie 'llll a t Completion and Tes ting 12,4, 81!:> ( , .65I k!.:) III l'lIl rt ~· con d ltiun, It t, ,,lk 1\ HIl,.:laSa I' ln!.: Iinll' tIl ""l·mb k· all 16.17 )lh (7,38 Ikg) h l,k·d ami 19.HOlh a ircraft lOllIl'l'l lh is d l'llIl·nl,.:ing ' I'l'cifi.:a· (1i.6H1k.l:) maximum weil,.:ht. which, as tiun ;Ill,l i{ W;IS nUl until 17 ~b rch 194 3 Ikill<'lIl;lllll h im"t:!f II';IS tll confl''-'', 'was th ar th e first XS Bl l)- 1 (Se rial lZ07, BuN' 1 ;Ih lut 2, SOO I" 'un, ls, lVer the specs, We \\'t're 03,') 1) was c'f ml' ll·tl" I. A ntl tlll' r rh n'l' guilty I If rll<' sin I ha,1cr ilici:l·d in " tIl<'r (,rg;lwl'l'ks pa"edl'l'f, lrl' ils maidl'n 11 iglu, ,'n 8 ni:a{l" ns."" TIlis wl·i!.:h t penalty trans!.ltloJ Al'riI194\ , " lIlIe 1 1 Ilhllllh, aftn rill' ini · im'l a take-(,ff dislance inu n ,Icarril'r ,k'Ck in tia l or.!l'r h ,I,1h .'l'n plan 'd . Much h'l.! ha l' - Gllm waIn , If644ft ( 196m), or. with till' carpen l'd in Ih ;u int l'r\"al. bU I ;ill or,k'r f, lr rin ;11 25 kn'l ls int"win,1. 272lt (83m). th irtl'en SB 2[) · 1s (Bu N" s 04lJ')9-0497 I Iklll!.:I;ls and th l' BuAer en!.:llll'erS went indusivd wa.' I1Mde hy BuAn u n 9 A pril imo ,I huddle and var ious fllrmul ,ll' were 194 3, in th e exp,'eI ,u illl1 th ,ll th e a ircr att , k'\"i.sed to 1i ~ht e n till' 'Iircwfr. h W;IS wo ukl C\llll<' up tll scralc h. l'sli ma ted. hO\\'l'\'l'r. th ;lI Iil,.:hl,·ning till'
17
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~l(.II.
f ALSE START _ TIlE tlO l:m .AS llf.SlROH.R
struc t ura l nu-mbers would involve a C U lIl- I!llns ll1ld the rear scat from till' 5 B20, plc rc re,l.:.-ign of Iht.' c n t trc aircraft - ~ H fl'sull ing in n of pr"d uc ti,,n. l1ll' Farit \l"o ul,l l'\ 'n enter serv ice at all. Dra- t ic rand rcnr siJ.:h t am i con tro l a ppumtus a~ai n mva- urcs were ca lled f" r. A.- wuh t he proved cornplictuc...1and i l1 d1id ~~ nt in practice , ,111,1 its Illss W ~l S 01 no C'lll.'t:quellcc ~B2C . till' pr, .blcm ucm was C<'llside rl'd to he till' hc uvv p,lwer t urret huu sillJ,,: t he eit her. A fn-r conversion inu si ng k'-~,lIl' r Iwin remot e-controlled J,,: uns . The EIlII.'r - BTI )-] ~ , the rake-off problem wouhl I" sun 'dumI" ,' J.:U Il rurrcr, which wdJ,,:lwd ~" lve,1. 111is, in essence, was ret urn t" Mllrphy\ l,r iJ,,:in,ll 1.',mcvpr " f 194 1, a n,1 OI L"" ~OO Ir. 11.' '-'-, wa, c onsidered a, an ultcrnnlin', hu t it pron" l ull.-'ll isf'h:lory in " Iher a vindicuion (,t" Cronuuchn's ar~lll1ll' lll s . However. t wo Yl'ars ha l.l l-ccn wask d. Th is ways, ,mI.l was ,lr" I'"I.·,I. M urph y, III 'w pn am 'ted h I C Iuunumdc r. klca was a,l" pled nt once, hili I h ~ lI was nll[ wurh',1ch,ely with Dpllj..:b, in an ctfort II ' the e nd Ilf till' ,Iitl icu ltil's. imp rove till' airc rutt 's rake-off pl.·rf, -rrnaucc. A rcvolunon.trv ,011l1i" n W ~l , 10 dr"p till' remote-c. 'Iltn ,lll'd afrc r turret ,1111 'J,,:t:thl' r, a, Conversions \\"1.,11 as the Sl'C' '11<1xcat. lnstc ucl, an aux ili,Hy In the mean tinu-, t he 'I.·c"n,] prulotypl' power unit , in till' l;,nll " I the W estin j..: h(lll'il' W E-IlJXa t url" ,jl' t, w" ukl lx , fill l....1 ( BuNo 01'552) was c" m pk,ted, and tll'w from /l. lim's Fiel d, hut otfici,ll CllKl'lb tinn UI\ l'xpl.'Timl·llt011 air crafl in t he TI.'.lesiJ,,:lw,1 ,11[l"f r art o t till' fu,elaj..:l'. 111is w"uld tum 1; ,lIllwed in JIlIll' 1944_ Doug!;ls n"w (\InTIll' ~A2\) illl" a sin).!k'-Sl,rw;lrJ was l'x Il·!l,!I.'d t" th e hplIlh ha ~' fl'r t ria l" 'l1lJ till' lIlrhllje r 1lll'rgl' with [he red ul,'d '[ ,'n gth wc kpi t a mI ibelf IllI,un [l.·d t" rIll' fl'a[ l, i the ha y. Itwas fairi llJ,,: 01 th e s i n~ le-s\·a l e r. This ).!'l\'\.' a fl'd hy a n Intake llt0l' the fuse LlJ,,: t: ht.-hind slnll<.l th ,il1d I'k'asing profil e , wh ich .-h"u ld [h e rilllt 's c,xkri t and \,t;' ntt;'d at ,I 10 - h ~l ve '1.l<.led to ~ t a h i 1i ty. T Ilt' rem,wal 01 su Illuc h wl'ight , with dl'gfl'l' ,1llJ,,:k' \'e ntmll y, 11 ll' Wc~ ti ll ~ how;c dewll' I,'d Sllmt.' I ,SOOlh(6 80kg) ,lI t hrusl . tilt' ah an dllnmelll llf Ihe I\\"U Hlrrl't s a nd (in'a t res ults \I'I.·Tl' expccll'J when le st ing till' rea r-St.'at man, ,' na hb l th e BDT-I 10 CllIll1111'11I.·l',] in /l.larch 1944 at till' L lS increase ils buill-in Iud ca pac ily, {TOm 223 J,,: a ll,ms It, 340 gallu llS. E Xtr;1 a rlllUllr " ro A n~~' l.:s /l.lu ni cil' al a irpo rt , amid hi gh Sl'cufity. l1,e firS! tl iJ,,:lu wil h this ,lJ d it ion tl'ctilm fo r th e pil"l co uld ,II" , lx' inswlll'li to th e rl'l ,lined m,lial took rLiCl' in Ma y with,nll ~ l d\"l.'rM' ly a tll'ct i n~ J'l' rl,'rnwncl.'. 1944 . It was ,Inlic ir, lll' d that a ,",,,,,,", [ Ilf Mu.-t 01 Ihl' ul ha fe,lt ures uf Ih e XS B2D'50rnr h (ROkm/h ) woulJ rt.'sult, hut th e rur- I wer e rl't a int'll in t he BT D-l : winJ.:span "Ojl't la ik'd III live ti l' h> Ih esl' expecl,l - a nd ,w e m ll k'ngth rl.'mained lI m.: h;I,l ing C'lllll'a ri",ns were 4 3.4Ih/s"-\ ft
,I
I"
18
(2 11.9kdsq Ill ) fo r th e XS B2D.I , compa red with 48.t%/sq fr ( l3 7.4kg/sq rn]. Maximum speed i ll ,ea level was reduced h~' 34 kn , ItS, and the ne w test (i).!l1res came "UI al 344mr h (55 4kmfhl a t 16,OOJft (4 ,90 '51l1) , wh ill' the service ceiling \\'3!I al", reduce d . ro 2l,OOOft <7,195m). Th e ne w .nrcraft, whi ch was gi\"t:'n the (,ffici,ll nam e , >f I\ lllJ.:LlSl \.'sttl,}W, made its maiden tli~h t on S March 1944. R igh1t~· in g, wh ich wa-, alTl.'lld y lx' lllg conducted wilh till' XSB2 D·\, conunucd inrensiwlv ""1\' wil h both tYl'e~. Th e rc~ t~ revealed a h ,,~ t lll other pr"h ll·l1ls. 11l<: XSR2D-] suf· fl'rl,d from I"-I<. 'r sla bi lilY {('r earner-deck bn,linj..:_" and. when I'UI 111[" the steepdive, elK(>l lille rl.,d severe huffl,ting with the Jive hra kt:, extended. Whe n tl1l'firs. " f thec cevetted BT D- I s W,IS put tlHll1l~h its ('OCt'S. tl1l'S<.' prol-lcru-, were I~ '1m.! III hare inc fl·a'c d rat her rhan d imi nished.
Rede sign and Further Modifications Oncl.· 'I).!ain, the 1\ 'llJ.:bstl'l lill went hackto tl1l' ,lmwi llJ,,: "'''lrd, ,Illd Ix'ga n ,mo therJ ra... lic Tl'-wurkini.: "r till' ,k'sigll. Thl' dihcJrJI III 111l' a;r([
•
•
•
~ m
v·n
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At
tlll
FALSE START -
nn: 1l0 l'GI.AS
IlI'STROY!.R
......... d1a.ld hlIve been the new Douglas rep la ce ment lor the Dallnll e ss w as lhe BTD-l , a s ;llgll'"5eal re o warllillQ 01 the XSB2D·l Oe$lroyer des ign. This is the fina l version on the la mp at EI S egundo, Califom ia . 0111 Deeemberl!I4J. It featured Ihe invert ed gull· w ing form and tric ycl e und erc arri age. but the atter part 01 at cockpit WI I Il ired inlo thafu sel ege an d the angle 01 the fa iring was exte nded. Alt hough orde rs w e re ,t.:tlI tOf d1 il lircrlft by the Navy alle r tes l ing. Ihe co ntract was ca nce lla d in Jul y 1944. a nd only a few lIIt~illn were linin, complete d, w hich Ilever saw act ive service. McOonnell Oougl as, l ong Beach
EJ Hcmcmanns menuun, rec al l
th...• trials:
Ir.. f'd!<-nlyulkkmanJ.,hl". if n,~ trcsrr.umu . """ f'I~Il.' lal'olll'l..J on.: " r more .urn "ft !1' ,~II(I U'"' Ul'l"T olhl'l'\. In the "viall "11 \l",,t, tt.r W!r.f<m'.... thur ",occ"..J r rtli.", ,~' rill" 0;"11\1'' '' ch.lt", r...., 5<,"", t1\....1'; I" ;ln rn",.".! '" o,,,,m, othrrs IowaN Voullht, ,,,11 " th"", ,, 'ltl [\~Ias. '""""" a"mr",", h"..,J , h" ;f c"n· til
"'Vtlltl Ih;o[ Ihr BTI) .I,d lIo[ )I<.·t ('Hr tn· ;}I· r .r l\\en[......, w ", "IF\.' ",,,It'I1'l wmll'n~ , "
lDnU.u
In oct. m re-tesnng the Dest ro yer, till' ~ II re-t r ilnts h ad fou nd •.. . rh..· same,,1.1 Jct'u..·nci...'S - toll 1111\1: take-off ma rgin,l l 'l~~lhl\' lind ktffe tin g - pe rsisted. ' " This is In ,hdrp c"lII m t ttl H e in em ann 's (\wn \11.'1\'. which IlhA~ th:lt th is p lanc 'had muc h t-ctlcr flYing cruu actl'r ist ics th,1Il its p r....d ...•• cr r'. Thi;; view was endo rsed by CUlllm.rnder J.A. Thom as fro m the RllA ...· r Anock Jc~i!-'1l hran ch.19 Tht"'iC cnlll inu....J p ro"lclOs ca m...· nl a umc IIhen the C urtiss S B2C I lcll.. li w r
h:l, 1 finallv overcome its shoTlc,uninj.,:s , .md was ....nter itlj.,: Ih e ounbur ' '
n
04961 -04971. 09114H.Q()062 mul 04951.) were Ct ItlIl' le ll" llx,tw""l'n ~ 1:1rch [9·+4 ,1ll,1 oS O t:tub...-r II.)H. (5cri:1 1 NlI . [I'Nl, till' num ber u rij.,: I1l:l11y ,dlo"::ltl·..1 tu rlw first prodocnou SB21). 1, wn, now written tiff.) In Oetoh...-r II.)H, till' N avy iitM lly t...-nninur...-d rh...· con tract . The aircraft never saw ...·u m h,11 ,m,1 1\'I.·fl· 1lS\.,,1 mai n ly :IS r.. ·st Ill:lchilll's. Al k a ~ t on,' llf t111'lll has sur · vin·.. ! tulh...· p rl'SI'nt . . by.
New Playe rs C"lluncln,!l'r Murphy \\"a.s Ill,wcd (rPlll BuA ....r, :m.l his "1:1C.... W:1S ta k""11 hy C" m-
19
mandcr E,E. Fawkes, who had t h c addeJ a,[vantaj.(l· of combat ex pe rience in t he South Pa ci fic. II..., hacked M ll'l'h y's id"'''ls. and under h is ' Iir.. -crion rh c· singl...··s...-arcr
combined
JIVC-
and rorrcdo-bomlcr con-
nTI OllHiIl UC'! t(l he cham pioned. On 5 J ,m u
,If,
The BTD-1 assembly line in full swing at EI Seg undo on 1 J an uary 1944. Despite the Navy's order s and the bus ine ss 01 this sce ne, all eur e handf ul 01these airc rah had been ca nce lle d s ix months laler. By Ihe n, Hei ne ma nn had sol d the Bureau of Aeronau tic s on an enli re ly new ce nc ept. McDonnellOouglas, Long Beach
J
This is a very rare bird! The Douglas BTD w as intended to be Heinemann 's s ucc essor to the faithful SBD Dauntle ss . II was co nceiv ed in J une 1941. two prololypes we re ordered {as the XSB2D -1J. and the IirSI prOIOlype flew on 8 April 1942, The US Navy's ne w requirement. lor il to combine bOlh dive - and forpedo -bombing eapabumes. led 10 it being re -des ignaled as a s ingle-sea te r, w ith bo.ub ca pac ily increased 10 1,451kg, Ihe 2,399bhp Wright R-3350-14 Cyclon e 18 engi ne , and dive brak es tak en Irom the Vullee Vengean ce, installed abo ve and be low the wings , Ordel'$ for 358 an eraft Icllo w e d by Auyust 1943, and prod uction Destroyers (as they were na med ) began to le ave EI Segu ndo in J une 1944, A disap pointi ng pe rforma nce , a nd, principally, a long take -oNrequ ireme nt, led 10 Ihe can cellation ef tue project alter only 28ai rc. alt had been ac cepted, Many of Ihe Destroyer 's be stl ealu res , howe ver, re-emerg ed in Ihe AD Skyraider, This par1icula r s urvivor, photog raphed al the fl ore nce Ai, and Missile Museum , South Carolina in 1992, is in fairly good co ndition. Peler C Srnllh IIIIl SlanleV Vaughn III
20
T h e Fk'l' t win g ,k'sil,:ll W;lS 1, lr a sm a lle r, lighter din' hOlllhl' f, rill' XHK- [, built ~ I'l'c ilically to cq-cratc fnun t he small I'SCOH or 'jn'r' c.u rtcr-, in .suPl'o rt of ,lmp hihi'HIS Ian ,li n gs, l t -, main parnmcters wen' a 1.0l"O1" ho m" Cill';lCity .nu] a cornh,ll r;dius o f 365 rnill' ~ (5H7km ), A CI'Iltract was ;1\\'ar.ll'd l'arly in March 19 44, T Ill' a irer;lft was Sup rosl'd I" he h 'l'l ;IS li!.:h l a s po sslh k' b ut when 1111' I' rllt "I ~' re (BuNu 44 31l) l'\'l' nt ually flew, ill Apnl 194';, powered bv a Prall & Whitlll'Y RlROO l'nl-:inl" it carne out nt a ma-otve 14 ,/'I 50 1h (corn p.mxl wnh till' 10 ,7001l> of t hc SI-\[)-; then "pl'r;lIi nl-: in this role]. Tl'~l i n!.: cunrimrccl ut 1':lt llXl'll t River Nava l Air Tl'.S t GTlIU11d, hUI the l' n,l "I' the wa r Il,d [, I Ihe cl nH,lb t hIII I,f this I' r,,)l'( (_ A , irni lar fare befell anothe r contender, till' (\ 'I' in!.: XFi'l R-1. Tl u- machuu- w~ s 1'< 1\\w l',1by a ~,Ol,(,hl' l'rau & \V h lllll'Y R4 ~60 fill l',1wi th a unique ammucuu-nr teatllfin !.: the six -b b,k,l, coutra-nuaring !'ro pcllcr. Otherwise, it was "rth'''!'lx ,' nollch, "'tainilll': an interna l """mh hay !~ 'r c nhcr a I'OIi l "f 1,('L'Cllb h ,mhs, ,r a t ( '1I'l'd" , ,11,, 1al'l l [\\ ,'lurthn l,tiNlh l-omb-, (,II undcrwma r.1.-b , It 1""kl', 1 till' m"sl I'r' lllIisi11C .Ii\'\' h »nl-cr c,f rhcm all Irom till'S\' fi!.:Hrl's, cspcr i ;l ll ~' \\'1ll'11 it adlll'\'l',l l'X(d ll'lll 'IX'l',l, of 411m['h under tt.',t in 19 44. H U\' I' \'l'r, it, 10" , \\';ls cancclh-du r Ih" I'11,1 "th"st .litil" , C u rt ls.s t ried a!.:'UI1, wnh a n Impron',1 ve rsion "I till' l Iclldi vcr - 1l11' ~ l( "l d 1i4G, XSH2C. A sindt.' .nrcrnft, HlIN(l n;2H6, WOlS mOl,k over ;lIh l":Ollll' k·t".! in Fd'TU;lI)' 194 ;, p" l\w c, 1 hy rbc 1\-2600·20 cuume, with a t,,1' Spl·".! 0 1 (lnly 260 mr h (4IKklll/h), It 1I'00S 01 !\\' (l-SI'01!l'r;l1 01 ume 11'111"11 ' IKh h,'1ll1",rs h ,d CI >lll" HII t,j \'( lL!lIl'. It W"', rhu-, .["mlll"1. TIll' Martin ~ l ;l\lkr 11'; " kl'l'r in producnon, ;111.....11 al a rcducccllcvc], a s t he AM I. Evctuuullv, this hrutc ( ,'u k l l';lrry no lcs, 111,1[) thrl'l' ;I,'TI;l 1 t"'1" "!'''''s, in a,l-liti nn III tll'I,I\'I' ull,krwin !..: homhs ;1[I,I Ill';I\'y r unnun I" r 'tTalin!.: ;ll t,ll k" T h e",' " IIll' T urrcrutr " fll'fl,,1 snh lll' n ,m l'l,t it i" n to till' I )l"lroyl'r, :m,1 [he wm in ).,: \\';" l' Il';lrl r " 11 the \\';111 , A SI'TI,', " f mccnn u-, bdwn'n th e \ 'Oln 'lIl' onnpames \\'Ol' , d ll'd ull', 1 with the Bll.'\l-r III W;lshmut on , I X ~ in .I11l11' 1944 , It \\';1 ' \W ~' clear that t h l' p lIln ' ll\ l' 1'1' t he-e- corucrcnces wP111.1 dn·dl' nor , ," ly 1111' tuturc "I the N;I\')'\ d l\'I,-h"lllhl'r p r,,!.:ralllllll', but also t ill' lutll'" \,11\ 'll gLI' 's l' a T! icir:lt](,n in ,my ,ul' h l'n'!.:rot1l111ll' "'Ke ,1lI,1 Ipr "II. EJ I k illl"lllilnn himsdf th " ut.: h t, Tic htl \' Ilr wr"n l,:ly, l ha t il was 'lll;lkl' -PI-b"'a k',
CHAPTER Tll REF:
Last Chance A New Concept is Born Even l-etofe the re-une " f 111<.> X ~f\ !I ) ha ,1 l-qun. a~ earlv as (\'-cemh..r 11)4'. I\. .u d a' NJ beecn further m ·ho'N' ,1"'11.:11 , n " lle' rrbullK 10 Jiw·h. 'Illh.·r ,1'·~ I).!I1. The-e
II... r, rrin(lr;ll1 ~ Oll'1I1g 10 a -, I, 'n l:: 1.lh·-ott
rr:li~;ll
11( .. of Iht.· aircraft c"u ld inJi cll.. Ih al
connnced Ihruu!.:hoUl lh ,· flr~l ~ I ' monrh-, " I~ (" U,n"m/.: y,';II. re-ult IIl I.: III .m .rccumuLmJ store (,f frc-h I.lcr" ..1.11 .1;1Il'! 101,,1" ItIdllon. Later, EJ Hem... mann W .I~ II " Ir;lw ~lf\ (hi' f'l 1I11 of new kn"ld,·,h.:'·' 10 I.:"' ,J
unv mrcnn. 'n 1'1c. lIKdlllll-: Iill' BTU- I . :111,1 l" Uh lll~ rca... 'n~ I~,r lll.lllll .lll\llll-: lh,' rrol'"\:1 wer e .h-cu-, -c, 1. TIll'''' ,. ere .1' I, ,1I.l\'·~:
mJ vnaleffecr .
C ITTI,' r 11-c·.
Scrvic v "," :llll.Il l
Conference in June 1944 lhe-comr ;lny rcprocnt.urvc- , were " h...d . uled III meet wnh RuA"r 111 \V;j,hlllt.:l on . OCthat summer: Hcuwuumn W :I ~ .KllIdy dllale' Ih
1m
a 'l't,1l1l L" I) 1\.·\ ,1l1l ; ('... Il<' R ' ~ 'I , A,·r." ly. n,lmin ; ;\n,1 Rl·I.1 1 ~'l.::lrt, BT l) 1' I" i.... 1 EnCTlleeT. ·tll llll.: Ih,· I\l lr" :lll ;Ul.1 11,... Na1i ' wa, Ihe Chalrm:lIl, A"hLllIl (:hid ul Ihe fiurl,<m. R,'011 A. lilllf:11 LI\\T"I ll'" B. Rl( h,lrJ" .n, USN; L,',I1l' C. ~I"\'l'lh,
FI h ' , US ~-1;1T i ll" l :"rr': ( ::lJ'I .lin 1':lul II . Run....." frllm the l'alllXl'nl N,l\" ll T~·\t
r...I'·'II-:I1"'.1 fll,l"! . IJ..:~· ,Ill'! " I l w r dcr.ul lillI''' 1\','l1WIlI' . ,h,1\\'l·,1 I' r. 'm I ~.' .11'I'rola d llllg th:1t ,,1 , 1'·~ IJ..: tl' tlwn 1...·Illl! , 1,·vd " I',·.! I" r till' fllllJr~· . 'i T Ill' r,·qui,,·.1 i1l11''' '\ ''·11ll"llt ~ . 1,,11,,\. ill l! r~',k'~i).!n, mid ll I" , .ll Llin ,·,1 1ll 1", ,,llIv ti"n :L1 ll'; 1l 1"l l h... I ll'\\' , 1 ~· ' I t.: Il " h , S\lbJ~'~' 1 I" ~' ,·[t.11ll Im l'r"I'l"m"nl' In Ilit.:ht -h'llldllll l.: d Ur:l' t"n'tl ( ~ , :1t,,1 ~1IJ,J,· .. t 1<1 ~;l II, I :I'- l"r\' I PllIl'k l lllll "t "tlll"1 [,·nJalll lll t.: 11I ght -t~"1 Itl'1l1 ~ , 1Ill' I),·~ tl" y,·r
11':\,
u ' lh l. I,· [ ~·. 1 " lt i, t,I(l,' ry
t; 'I Lma-f'lllo:a " l,,· r.l t h'l\' III II.. ,' X 1,1 ill t.: I ' '1l1il.! ' lra l h Ill .
i, TIll' " nl\, dl1ni ~tl (
' 11"" h l r~· h W.I ~ II",
Iln',l ri,tl.-r, ' f)' ,·h .lr·
('..efllc r; C'mnl.lnd,'r j .A. Th "m :l ~ , U~~; CI J'\'.lin Walte r S . 1)1,'h l, U S N an": ~ Illlam '1\111' Fri,I>ll' , llll' (i vi Il:lll , ·nl-.: 11ll','r
II ( ~ Wl·rt." ~uhl ''''1 h ' Im lll,..!r.lI,· r'·I1It'.h
"[
So rhc l'll·'lrl'\,·r wa- , n "l It 11.,lIy writt en o ti" a l rill" Iq44 contcrcnce. EJ Hcuicm.mn r,'..:or,I...,I. howe ver, Ih,i1 hi' Ii'll rh.n t1 1'l:Ll __ oou-, we-n- C" lIll:: nowh...re. ;11\,1 Ihal he dcn-muncdto lalt.· ;l raJlt.:oIl ' tLT. F, II' .... nne momh-, Ill' IMJ h....·n Workllll-: on " 101,111),
drncrcnr con..... pt, ho......·,1 lin rill' R-2 'XI ,·n).!IIW: 11' '\l, , " III.f th e f-hl ~· . h.. ,nm, 'Ull(,·J 10 C" I"nd F i,h· rhar Ill' h.d an l,k·.1 I", \\'I IlII .llik~·
h ' rut I~ .rward. Arter ,I l-n-nk , I",
w.e- urvvn Ih ... 01'1"" Tl Utlll'l·. H,· " ,1.1 tli,' cont crcn cc Iha l h~· lI"all!~·.l I\I\ I t.:Lt , t, 'I...· 1....·nlluh·,1 Itl l'lllel"! Illl' l' XI~r l1ll-: u lntl,lll 1"1 Ilw BTl), :111,1u ...... Whll r"l1l:l111 l'l1"I t Ill' t'un, I, aV:IILlbl.. f"r tlw r "'w" l I" d,'H·I,'1' :1 Ill'W ,!iv... ·I... lInl.....·r Cl'Ill" ~' I'I, I I,' ",h·.! " '1 lhl ll~' , Lt~'~ , " 1''''l'an ' Ih~' n ~·\I· '!~· ~lgn . (\ , lm lr.ll RKh.lr.!"'1l granl,·.1 h llll IIi, I h 'l1l1 ". bill "n ly ' Ill tIll' C"lld llit'll' Ih ,11 l lll' ,,,"' It.:n ,lll'1l1.1b,· 1":l,I~' h~' Q9 i..\.l l h e l< ,11"'\'111)..: .1:1)", and tl ldl It .. 1","I.II,~· h:l'~' ,1 till' R ..\i :;O ~'nl-: ifll" H p i' l h y hi , ll \. n 1',·l.lrd , I klll~'l1l :IIHl ,-, ,"1,1 "nly . II:: [~·~· a n, 1 h" I'" th aI It" (0 111.1 t:a ll\' " 111 hl ~ I'r"rnl ~~· . :1Il' !. ,11\, I, thaI h,' l llUI,1( a rr\, 1\ '11t.:!a, \I'll It hlln LIn 'u (h a I-::nn h k . In ' uh....... II I~· 1lI t~·krh , .n'· ("I l\",· r~. I I ",n~, I kll wll\;lnn t:, 11\\' IlK t...J I" .11i (, ,ml'a ll\" I'n'~ I,kllt 1\0[1.11.1 l \ luJ.:1.I ~ ;11".1 \'l ..:....pr'... I,ll·11I
tI"
The 2-] Junf 19« BuAHConIHence - C1'Ioiefl lOfthe BTD·' Propeller
S Ie
,.
I
ho
'll"I
"'"
,he,. ffil"elln!.: J t, ll-:l-.:,·d o n th roudl
xJ're'",.J I 'll Ihe 1\ ,ud .l ~ I \."~lr"\'l"r. TIll' Buredu', (lWll n"t,·~ un Ih,' COl1 lt'rt'lIt:,· nlKdle Ih
Curl'SS4 bladl!
]]I180n
1»]
Curl,s.s 4·bladE'
11!t 60n
Aefo prop 4·btade
1l!1 Z'~
Aefo prop 4,btade
11ft 1m
2500 2500 2500
2100 21100 21100
-'"
CtJrl1bar '.Jd0u5
1'.II'I X,·lll .
In tll~ m,·1Tlt Ii,..,. 11,·m'·lIl.l1111 rd.u,·,!
nu""
ccrt.un r..m.untng J...·flCI,·rKlt."-' were n"t ' 11.....lu.,M)'mg. (F"r J"1 ;1I1~ III Ih,' 1,ll e..ott .Ii'lancc I" .... ~if-lllIlt.." I~ If I h......x l'l tnl-: air' c ran. h.L.......J on tl uehr te-rs rb.u h.... l l-ccn (Ollti U(t,..J. ~e th e laHe h.·I"w).
IlllrrO\ 'ill).! the .urc r.ut . TIl... eo>nl... rcnt:l· ,11,1nor , h "w" \ "r, hav ...
I. ~-r\" it:l· I,·~I 01 IrlCH·I,· 1.m,lm g 1.:'·.Ir l ur
01 rhe." ucneral Ilil.:hl ch.lrall,·ri,-
5J6
52tl
".
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331 331
112 !tess 12D--gallon "" 1lQ 1af'1;)
21
.....
,
" ".~
~l(_II.
LASl
Art Raym, 'n ,I,,f the righrness , l(his rn 'I'" ISH~' ,lllJ h b ream tlu-n worked throuuh the n ighT in hb room at The Statler Hotel. By 0 l OO the next m, ,ming, l [unc. IIll'Y h;ld all th e n~,(,~""II)' (igur~..~, Glk u!ati" m, ilnd rough ,Imwings tu cover till' overall spt"i.:ification cha ngc s, gl'lll' ral nrrmun-mcn ts, a... r odynamics, performance w e iuhr nnd sfrl'ng ths. They h,l,1 them t:0l,il" l a m i were aHe 1" present th c m TO a n ,lstu n isheJ BuAer team II'h e n rhe mec Ting re-convened l.ucr that m, 'ming. Re prl'sl'nting Douglas at this secon.l Illl'l,t ing, held on l j une 1944 , were I Iernem.mn him,dt', alllng wirh " ,I"uhtt'u l Reid I'..lgar!. TIlL' BllA l'r te am , Illhl "r Capta in Thomas. comprised Capram C. W, Wil·lll'r. Capr.un D5 , Corn wa ll, Capt.un l .S. Rus,..I I. Capt.un W.s. l hchl. Commande r llW. Sluuuwav, Commander j .A . Tluuua-, ,IllJ Licurcn.uu W.S. Baj,lby, all of th e BuAcr. Cornm.mck-r A. S mith . I)(;NO (Air), O p-l 1. C, 'm tll,HI,k r r.H. IbtHS\' Y, C:,'ml1lOln,k r C.T I\ " ,th an,1 U l"lt etlant · ('...'rn lll;J Il,ler J.A . F~'rj,lllS"n r...p resentl,d the FliglH Test Sect ion N AS Pat uxl'nt Ri ver. II TI ll' tnl'e ting c\ lmidl'r"d I k inc man n's pla ns wit hll llt ":, HlJtll,' llt and. aft ,'r further ,Iis..:ussillll. tIll' (,,lit,wing , l l t~' m;l t iH' ,Kt i" lh W,·l"l.' agn,~...I:
al.
I. A cc"pl cldi\'\'ri es ,IS pe r W- IOsc he,lu lc "f a irr la tll' lIlpresent cOl1 (i~ura r i
r,,,,I,,ell"" ,'"ntr,KI, 1";'" r" Il , ~ hl I'''K,I "I fh,· ,'x\,,,:nnlt'nlal a,uek' w,lI""'an l"n~,· , rh.m ,,,, ,. nul ,'sf'l'Cled ,1.·1"1' III 1'" "I"Cl"'" "I rll<' Inl"'''
'"1'':''''' n" "ld ,,,,,,,,t,. O l",i" usly, n ' l illllm,d iale dl,,'i si"ll Ct'ukl h" tah'n umil till' plan s an,1 s t a t i~ T ics, wh ich had , alter all, b,'e n h ast i l ~' co bhled hlg ethl'r, h ,,,.! I->l" 'n Ill ' ' rl' ca rl'(ully amll ysnl and a~ rl'l'J I->y m,' r,' S\'n i,'r H·I'H'S\-llt 'i1ive s.
nL"' l'W~:
_ A NI'\\'
( O:-; Cl' f'l IS
Cllm miLl k ll'r Thomas's therd~ ,re concluded:
ll()R~
memorandum
1\''':1' 1<,1\, ,,,~ar,hnl: ,h'I""IlI"n ,,( rll<' ATI)·1 1''' 'f''':1 and 'ebrc.! "",lI,·n. ,~ l'",d"<:lh'O al I',,,~I. ,, 1:1 ~,'~"nd" w,"" "';rh h,-I,l, 1":ll,I"11: a n", f",,,"n' ,n rh" l"""-'K" " I rh" Chid >If II",
fI""'.,,, ,,,,.I "11.", "",·,."",,I parr"". TI1C agrl'l'llIent reaclll' J in th at hUI uffice room in Washin..:ron, DC simply ~\ve Donglas brei1th in~ sl'ace - no lilt In' - in whic h tcI tT)' ro prove themsclvcs aga in . The 11.'g,·nJ rbat the Skvraulc r W;l S Jl'si":lll...1 ovc m urht in ,I room at till.' Statler Hotel is a rom.umc on e, which is gh'e n c redence l-v constant repe tition in l-ooks am] mOlga: ines. In (act . rbcrc was a urc.u deal of hard work , swea t a nd compn 'm ise ahead before rhc new din ' lxuul-cr wllulJ fin ally he Sil-'llC.!, scale...1 ;llld sctt led us a viable aircraft. The gD-a!Jea.! f' lr Ih,· ne w .l in, I"" mlx'c was, tl1('rd~ ' rL' , nut giv" n inHlIl·,lbtd y. In july 1944, th e N av~' fin ally c.mc cl k'd Ihe co nt rac t (,Ir tlll' RTD-I nestr' ly ~'r,
thi s powcrplant, hu t it was Jl·layl'll in produ ction, b tl' in rcaching th e producnon lines. a nd , ulnrnatclv. proved troublesome in service . A Llrgl' muul-er o( l'ng in,' cur" UIS we re e xpe rienced o n all 1 ~1"" ~ lit' airc nl(t lll ili: ing till' mo d el. MDT" ,k'mancls we re made ,'n the hardrTL'~S\.J team, ind u,ling a sh"rtl'r take-off di sran c,', ~o Ihat t he airnaft m ight h", 1Is(.J on e'COTl earners. ex tra a rmour protec tion, to deal with th e in([e;lsing sculc of AA firepowe r heing met as th e N: 1V~' Task Forces el'lSe,1in on J" r a n" home islands, extended range, nftcr t he a ppa lling Ill" l'S m rho Bartl c \ ,f th e Pluhpplm- Sl'a, when ,lir(w(t ran o ut ll( fuel after stnkc, ,11 rhe lmut o( thei r endurance. TIl ~' arr ival ,,( till' KWJ1ikim' lL.J tn anot her new requiremen t - air l-orne carlv wa rn mg. radar.eljuip[X'd arrcr afr, wh ich would ~ ive grea ter prorccrum than till' pic ket dl' s rru~" ' h were "hie to. A ll rhesc Tl'ljUirl'Ill,' nts had sllnll' hnw tn Ix, a(Clllll' m'l<.hucd, ,Illd nU llglas did t heir 1....,, (.
Th e Powerplant Demands a nd Req uireme n ts T Ill' o riginal agrel'd Jail' III prllduce a tn, x l -lip :11 EI S...gun,I" ha d been 24 Jul r 11)44 . At till' timc, This had se,' me d (lpt i. mistic, an,1 il4 11ickl y pHl\"l.'J tll he till" case. A lmosT imnll"J ialcl y Dou gla., h,kl tll a,k RuA,'r (llr :m l.'xtc n silln, This wa' gnm l...d , an d a t\('W, ratlwT mll re r,'alisr ie .lal" ll( 14 A u~t1., t \\'Ol S agrecd . Thc I\',m.l ll( Inspl.·c, lion ga\'l' this till' th um hs,ur, ins ist ing a t thl' salllc Time Oil il (~'W mi nllr 'lltl'Tatillns. O n 14 A ugust 1944 , (llllllwing th e inspl'ction ,md ;lpr rov;11 o( t hl' XHT 2[)·\ , Ihl.' N av y (OTlll
22
TI ll' Navy h "t! imp"scd th e Wr idu RII SOeyc l, Hll' 24 " ng im' as lIS JesiTl'J f'<' werl' la tll, Sll, wh at" n 'r Ed I lei lwmann m igh t f~'..! ahoul 1I1l' lTI' l<.ll'l, rill' Ill' W Du u· gLls co nc e pt woulJ hilVl' In fit a r" unJ it. T Ill' size llt' tIll' ,'n j!f1ll' tll sume l'Xlent Ji c1;1I ed t he fin ,11 layout o ( t he XRT 1 D·1. The W righ t Cydt'ne R- l 1S0 W;l ~a twin · ro w, Sl I[X'rc hOl rged . air·cll"led, II:l-q linJeT e n~ i lll', wit h a Jisplacellll' nt l' ( 3,lSO cu hic in. TI ll' h p ll( th,' va ril>!ls ma rks vilTied from 2,200 III 2,800, TIll' first t('st nm fllr thi ~ mo n 'I ,'r was in MOlY 19 H , and, (oll ll w in~ its g" Ill' ral ad,,pt i" Jl int o the US ar meJ serv ices with till' hc..:inni ng llf Ihe Second W ,,rl,1 W ,lr, 1Ill' R-l 3SO was I'r, ,gre",iwly d" \TI" l'l',1 via S\'\'l'ral illcr,'a , ingly ,""" r h islical..., 1 lll:lrks III the -26 WD. Th is Wf\.~ th u u..:hl f
LAn
n l ,\~ C F
_ A :-'EW ('o~n,PT IS
RO R ~
ThtI original Skyraider was 10 ha ve heen litred wilh exceptiona lly la rge s pinne rs, but the se fea lured on just • coupl ' ol u parimanlal a ircral1, of w hich this is one . The ide a was su bse que ntly a ba ndoned. San Diego At~e.
MU$eum
experience came t,l till' Skvr.udcr, ,1Il,1t h i ~ olJ Shlf)' went th e roun ds on ce more. The first Hg conrrac t lo r , h i:; t"ul-:h am] relabk engine was !~ lr rhc R.ll'ill j! H-2\) Sllrerfnnre,,~ , and sub-cquc nr mark- weneed to powcr such fallltlu, .urcraf ~ " till'
C I19, the e - 121, llll' PZV Nerl llllL' und the P-5 Marlin. a, wd l ;1' t he HTD- I l\'Slrllyer, the A L) Skyrai,ll'Tandnumcn lll~ commercial airc raft. n"'~l' i l" u s fl·lbhlll( Y. however, the engilw later " cc umv known iut ItS unstoppable nil I...ak-, wh ich Idr lhcil markon eve ry 5 kyrakk' r\ undcrl-cllv
First-Hand Obs ervations Tbe enhghrcned po licy II the US N a vy ut this lime was to eu courngc ilS airl w lt des igners to go to sea, to all'llV rhcm to
appreciate first hand the viewpoin t of comhat pilots, ilnJ to ga in a led fllr rl~;ll comhal operations. Dl'sp ite dlllll e, ' ic rrot>lems, Hcinl'lmm n aj!fl'ed tll pa rt ielrale, amI, in Oc tn hr-r !944, h e went ahoarJ the carrief U SS TrC011l.J<;'f/lRd (C \! · l4l at Pearl Harbo r; she saill"! ttl t he we ~t · l'1Tl Pad (ic Wa r Zo ne o n 19 CK tll hl'r.~ l Heinemann was ~O
Hctucmnnn ,li.1 nu l ! ur~l'l till' inl'i,ll'n t and till' cffcct 01 r UWLT-0 l'l·ratnl brak e., and Ihl s Ic.1 t" h IS ad"l'th ln of ;1 dire-ct
hvdraulic bra ke svsn-m in till' P,[lT2lJ -1. f Icincuumn mad l' 111;lIly u,du ll" 'I'1ma l (lh"'rv' lti, ,n ,. I k s,ill", 11 11 example, t hat Ihl' rail-wheel axil- apcrurn- " 11 C:UTlIs, S B2C Helldiver-, t'~n N', I, l l'c k prol-lem-: a t scvcn -cix rccn r h-, l,f; 1ll inch ill cli.une tv r, it was 11, ' I Iar,e:l' cnouuh. SLT\" i ll~ o (fi,:n, lila,I" ot he r p oint s dir ccrlv til Heineman n. ;l1ld he d uly rook them I ' ll l-oard. Licutcnaut-Comm.mdcr E.L. An derson (II VB-I'll' ~avo: 70 d,',e:n'r's ~l ' ti ll' III -nnaldivc ,Ill,e:k' U'L' " in comlvu , wit h t he , live, C" m ll\l'lK ing fr' >111 !O-1 2,(\.)()t't ( 3,0 '50- 3,660 m ), bomb rt:k'a.'e al l ,500fl (700 m ), a nd pull-out at under I ,QOOft ( 100 m), a t wh ich I h l' ~' pullccl '5 ( ,. II... t hou j!ht rhc t rim tal» shuu U he marked with CllIOlll' to mak e th ei r late ral movemcnt iuuu ediatclv 'l lw iulIS, O tlll'r ri l' lts of the " lme J-1e lld ive r sq uadfu n " 11 ,e:~l" 1l...1 ,i sinj!le while ll'ol.c:n itiun ligh t IOC
23
The con rrthuuon llf VB·J '5 , which h'i.! been Illll'ra t lllj; frl lin till' earner E.~.~ " x (CV.
9 ), W
Muu
~ Ul!gl"ll'd
Ih,1\ the cowl-flap
,witc h should hl' posit io ned O il tlll' po rt , i,le ' If th e c. c kpn . This W I ,uld allow rnnn1l,1 1t' pl'n ing fllt enj! ine coo ling to hr' mad,' lllor l' easi ly whi lL' o n full power "' lIi n g~ , lL'a vill,e: Ih e: right ba n.! frcl' for th e co n tro l stil k. I ll' al~, l fl'comml'nd..J co nc e:lUraliun o n just O1\e l yi'C of a tt ,lCk ;lifcralt .li ve "' lInheTwith IOTI'e:J o d roppi ng poten lial a nd Ih l;' w n,e:e fllr "louting. A nothe r point (W ill till' t sst'X Hdklive r men lI'a , th at one " f the: a ircraft's g'l<xi po in " was its itlrwa rJ tirin g 20 m m can no n , hi gh ly r "ru lar a, a ' !r;lfing insuulIll'IH after t h.. main hOlllhin ,e: attack . Fau lts Itl he progra mmcd tlut of an y 1l,!,lace llll' nt includeJ wea k (ail -hook
,I
..
, ..... ...d
~I'. ". CIlA~CE
l. ,\ .n
A
~ "W
CONtTI'T
IS
1l0R~
h" IJ - ,I" wll ~ , wh ich GllI" ,,1 frequent
cable bounce <111,1. rhcrctorc. dcck -bamc r damal.:" , and ,I ll'~~ than n-hablc lwclrauhc sy~ tern . If nl-,o e nwr ucd rh.u rhc uuro-prlot was diftrcult t<11I1.11 11t;ll n ;lIl,1 WiI' Ih " fl·f, Irl' Vl'P; lIlfr"qu"ntl y 1I....·,1in , '~· riil i, 'n, . The con mb un, ,n ~ trom VB-I I. w"rkil1l.: from th,· carrier Hunk'! (C V. I2). were 1ll;I,k· "'y Air Officer. Commande r R"y [olm-on . C.. 'mlll;l",kl \VE. (J'lillarJ ,10,1 till' ..... Uil'Ir"ll\ Ex...'cunve Otlk..-r, Lrcutenant E.M. )'",Jet. Tla-, thuJ "'lllaJron connrmcd II\\.' " r ll lllllm ;1ll~1 l' I~ lr Jin' h 'lll"'in~ 10 ........ 70 .!q.. 'T....,~. wuh the SB2C.. ott cn rulhn~ !IX, . ahh' H.Il.:h rh...,}" were ulliciallv r...<mer 1 h l 7(J rUll -Olib. Lik e th e ot h...·~ Ulllh, rh ·}" ha,I .>I....... reed Ih.lt lle aircr.llt·, mhcrenr lun l.:lIu.lm;ll m,ta"'lhlyJiffit:Ult l...", Ifl"<.lll,·ntly 1'... UII......1 in ..km-wnnkhn l.: on the wm~" TIl l' V B- I I men a-keel I~ ' r iI Jiglu IIlJI..:;Il{}/" in th ...· I..'1m·~ igh l, hi help them i,I...·nr ih correct bomh rdea ....· I \\.' i~lu f"- '11ll whik' o ln...-...'nrr.lIl1l~ u n rhcn rurect , AJml r;11 A .\V. Radford. llle 1;I,k {,' IC,' comma nder, ...·I1lI,ll.I, i:t-J t t ..il-:lliflC;ltlIl ...·,lIur...· of Ih e
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1...,lU
DES IGN FO R A..'Ii AI RPlANE ..
t.- J
R. H
11.. t...
Anp Cd r . a.sate'Mn to DotIpq .tl.rentt CempuJ. tee, Sa a ta )loaka. C&I:II.
A pptk.U.n J
T
--..y
le. lIU .
~l No, 111.1'1$
.t ... ~1 ',.......
lao 071_1 1 T O..n 1Dh0"l u: "'0, ~ .' Be II Ir.rt. ..... that ...., h ... Nt H , H... .... mana &nd Leo J . IJt'l'lln , both dU2ns or the United SUtn and resi den ts or ~ A ~"", In t~ countr ot Los Anlleles &rIc15tale o r C &1I l oml&. bue lIIotll~' eel a ~." or1Fn&l. &rid omammtal DKip t or U AiTpIa lle . o r whi ch t he tol lo'll1nc 15 .. aped_ ret........ c.- .....1... h . d to n . . .
n".,_. in.- dnwlhp, ronrun.- a Put &henGr.
«OCtl-..,_
Pl&ure t b .. lop penped.lot 1'1"", of an &I",lane III fturht
show1J>a O\i f II"" dPslI n.
PItrun 2 II a &Ide . . .. u--.I '1.-w llf IJIoo ",b. J«I airplane deplctH la ..... we 1 With l be u · ~ l&adtnl ~at ahown 1n doUec1 l1na. Pl ~
3 b 0 teIp p~ ..... 0 ' Ut. ~ d._
"I'U~ 4 II a tl'ODt eln'Ulona1 'I'1e.. of &he a' f. p t.,a deplck
landlnl leU the not MlnI 5hown In the Utmde:1 IIOOItlan b, dotted linn. P'lc1In S 15 a bottom ptan Vie.. 0 1 the &lrpla.ne
lll l'Urbt , "Tbe Ul&n.<:lntsUe r~IIUQ Of OUf d~n _1'9 . ........ ..,. me""" Of ' Ull line. In 'he d... wt .... . Wecl&im : The ornameo:>tAt CkSlCtl for all .lrpb,ne, .ub ....ntl &11' ... abowa and ~bed. £[)WARI> K. HE1N£NANN,
u:o
J, DI:VLIN.
vktiPd. tn P\aUlM 1 and 2.
"
FtlI . 2
,.,-,.. "
!f { "',
.' '.. : i
~
24
,..
." l. AST rtlAr'oTI' _ A ...; ~:W ('ONCI: I'T IS BORN
.
'
Skvraidcr. They
a l~o a~h·J
for
cu-rs. Ho weve r, t hey warned ;ll-:"ins t to" ruanv ext ra gacll,!t,lS,
wluch would \\'l'igh
Ih e airc raft d" wn [,'II much. An in c Te -l'>t',1 rate of dim!'. was always a priorttv. Visi ts In shore hases indicated t he e ffect
of coudensanon o n .urcratr: it became clear rhar ma nv more llrilin:l~t· h. lIes m iulu ,lll,'\'j;!t" t h is prol-lcm. whic h W,IS virtuullv unk nown either in rhc Unncd States ()T in ElITll!'C.
Coral ,lust :, ISlI led III 1Ill" need fur
Just-shickl cxpcriuu-nts
ZOmm
III
protect th e
!-:lll\S.
Fo llo win g the gadwring of t hese pract i-
cal suggt'stillllS, the Nnvv added further .lcmand-, following acrion off tilt" Philirpines :In,1 Okinawa. In vic w of what the~' h<1.1 come up ilgalll~ t there, e~l~cially the
KamOunI,' "Heat, detai led ,t lldil'~ we re for ()o tlgb s ro a.bp, its ru-w d ive bt uubcr for or her vi ta l rilles, inc lud ing AirhOrlll" Early Warni ng (to be gi\'l'll a W sufordcrccl
fix), Night Attac k (N ), Electronic Connrcrmcasurcs (Q), a m i Ph u, o gr;lr h k (I') va ria n ts, All rhcscles-on-, an.l o hse Tviltillns were ahsorlx'd and taken l-ack III EI Segulldo fur fun h e r stully a nd cv aluat ion.
..
Deadlines a nd Prototypes
'"
Wor k continued a t hi gh inte ns it y to meet the deadline an d the tota l co-ope rarion llr t he wor kforce was enlisted to achieve wh at was thou ght hy SU1I1l' to he im pnssihl e, In March 1945 the team uclue vcd StlCCl'SS, wit h the initia l roll-o ut of the XBT2D-1. ln order til l-:ivc Ihl' alrcndv hard-pressed co mpany en uugh leeway (0 produce these new types, lilt' N avy .uuhorced tha t rhc numbe r o( PTll" ,lyf'l' he inc reased from 15 to 25 ( BuNos09100-09 I09). T los W;lS to result in the r n lt!llypt'S listed in the table \1 11 1'.26. At t h is time, the new div e bom ber was prov isiona lly gin'n till' name of Daun t less- [I. T Ill" ne xt majo r mil e-tone came o n It! March 1945, when, a fo rtn ight ah ead of sc he d ule, the first tlight of t he XBT2 D- I rook place. T he a ircraft was ptlor cd hy l)\lugl a ~ Test Pi I", LaVernl' Brown , 1-11,' return ed from tho.' h up and reponed al-solutelv no prohlems or troubles, no elrama - just a good, clean !ligh t. It was a wonderful sta rt and this trouble-free in it iation continued unnbatcd: nvcr the follo wing th ree-wee k period , this ai rcra ft complctcd no less tha n} I successful fest !liJ,:h rs.
Pk',I"l...1 wnh Ih 'l\:hi en·,m·lll", 1\ 1I.'l-:I.,.. kit rl',,,h'l; 'r tlu- N'I\'y It l give il.. w rJKI. O n i Arrll 1\)4'> , till' fiN r WlI'tYr": W,I" d uly ,ldi\" "rl',1 h I t he Navv rro\"lng ground at Patuxent River. There 1; ,lI "wl~d an mtcu"IH' fin ·-\n"l'" ev alua tion rr' Ij.,'rarnllle; thi s (, unpnrut i H'I~' hrief peri ,ll! W'I, '" ,nll't hi ng, ,f ,I reco r,l, ,Ill,! Wil." ,h:h ie",:,1 dl'''l' itl" vilriou .. l'ndl1l' pn ,hll'm .., whil:h, o n " Ill' ,,,-T' l..inll , Illelll'!l'd l'\T n th e 1;li[ur" of a lll'l..ler wd . Thl' N a\"~"\ th t·r.. \\"l·n' l'llth u..i'l"li c [\.·..I'lte Il ellll'lllann\ t'arlil'r ,!'l Ui'> r.. ,IS t.1 IIll'U !--I'IS, thl· re \H' re uni versall y in f,,\'our of till· tll"W ;mcf;lfl. 1111:ir r,Hin g.. cou lJ Ix!--ndly "ulll llla ri:...J Ih lb :
\. Addmonal coc kp u and attc r-compartmcnt liglning.
FtlllowinJ.: t he out conu- Ilf rh c-c fir "l ma ls, on '> 1\\;1)' 1\)4'> . till' N;I\'Y Depa rt mcnt _sign l'J :1 Le tt er 1,1 In te nt fo r Douglas II I produc e .m inu!al ur.lcr o( '> 4S BTZ !) -l [) i1ul\1 les.s -ll s, Il l' itll'IlI:ll111 ,111.1 lib tl'a m ha,1 co nw u]' trum p... ! Thl' "rdl'r wa s a filfi ng rew ,lr,1 f"r an olll ..t;m .ling tl'am cff" n. :111,1 ,ll'''lTH',lly "l"c un~, l th l' firm's future.
the P,Klt"i.: Ocean, events wen- unfolJ ini: t ha t wuulJ thwart an)' premat ure t."Xf'l"Ct,lnons 1'1' h.llgmi: lA.lugla" order h. ,h. M,~t f'l"l.pll' h,IJ expec ted rh.., wa r W CI -rmnuc at It·:bt mto 1\)46, anJ r rohpcr. (""·rallon 'Olvrnpic' wa, ht.'ing gl';Ifl.J III' tor, and a [anat ical anJ dcr crnnnc...1resi, · ranee hy till' Jal"l1lt:st· of rhcir horne i..bn.l.. was expected. However, the ,!r" r r ing of rill' atomic h Imh .. o n the cuic of 11 if< l'-hiIll:l ,md N 'lka"ak i, t he dl,..pcrutc "ul'r 1y I'u "itio n of the Jap:l!leS\·. Whll "l' flld supI'lies ha d been ( UI off 0)' suhl1l:lfIne sinkin g.. 01 tlu-ir rankers, a nd th e fnc t Iha t rhc S,"'il't U n ion had iJ.:n"n"t.i ib treat )' ,,1,1i}!arion.. an.l launched huge land atmc ks ..e re"".. II " Fa r Ea..le rn h -rdc r-, - allll ll"st· f..cror.. ..:.'m!--II11" ! h' "'ring about a -uddcn and unexpt"(w,1 e'l rly e n,1 In rbc PaCIfic War. Pn 14 A UI",'u, t 1\)·Fi. the hi\".. -tancd to come home. Wekome Ihi .. rum, ,f even ts W,I.., II'> etn-ct on uuhturv fl'-!Ultl·ml·n b ,lnJ '''rrll.'rv w ' 1.. r n 'lIl..:lahll'. Almo-t immcdi. Ud~·. lh,· Na\"- not ifit.J [).lUgl.l-' Ih ,lI It w.e rv...lu( UlI: II.. 111111:11 order hi \77 ;urc r.lfl. In a ,horl lulc. vvvn Ih l' rcqurrcmcm wcm by th e h lrJ, :m.l t he order w, . .. further
,I..
reduced. to a mere 277 aucran.
The AD- I a nd the AD-I Q \~/ith ti ll" ,!d k re nt prioruic " I till' I'" , t· wa r Iwr i, ..1 [lint' \\'a ~ a slowill j.,' duwn , ;mJ tI\l' llrgl'IKY and hard w" rk (If I ll'llle1l1,llm 's Il':llll n' l..... ,el'med to ha n · hee n a w,l,tl',l dl ~ ,rt . [I w.... a time l~ 'r re\' aluation ,m .! ..h..nge . A .. ra n o ( thai prO':l'S', in
RIcin dl.l ra.:tl'rNic.. - V~' ~Jf,J Pl·rt",'rmanCt' - \ '~ good \'(.'a n ' -I,II c1l.1r.lC reri ..lLcs - Excdkllf ~ lml'ltnfY uf mamtt:"nan c t:" - Excdlmr On'r" l1- Tfw ~s r dit'l~ bomn..'T .:n'T resll'" (.It rh..' c,'nfTe N\, tl'\"l· r;· lIl1 n~ w;. .. """11.. . ( 1. "'ut tilt: all e rall,lIl .. (, .lk J jo r \\"l·re minllna l. Till" f" I· 1,'Wlllg Challl.!l'" \Wrl' rl'C' ,"ll1ll·nde J :
I . A .ld irl,'nal, 'xygen f'l r tbe I'il "t , 2, A dd iti"n:ll heali ng j"r the ril,,1.
ear ly Skytaider XBT20·1 IBuNo09109) on the ramp al El Segundo. Sin O'i go AerGspace M useum
26
.••
~
Ftt.ruary 1946. the Nay" announce l rh.n tht Daumless-H was to Ix· rcnanu 1 rho BTlD SkyraiJ cr, This was an ot her ~l a.l:l· in
an l'\'olving pr ocess: the earlier rccom eeodancoe and studie-, (in-Illy J.:dlloJ inltl scceprance for the combirung of ,hl' .1In--
and rcqedo-boml-er rblt'S. hastcnc...l "'"the nMJ for economy as m uch a, " y war CX!X" renee. The new J esi!-rn;u ion wa-, 'A' l~ 'r Ansck. in [me with the A mw A ir Force . and thus, in Arril1946. rhc IH Zt)·' \\"a_'
redesignated "''1' the Navy Departmen t ;1" thtA[).1 anJrhcA D- IQ. The following month , Mar 1946 , saw a few XBT2D· 1s in thei r n vw gUi'l' 1'I.·gin· rung inlensified service tr ials at Nnva l Ai r Station, Alameda. C ahfomia. till' I'm:ific Aa-( Air Headq uart er s. 11 11." ll " "l,:l' was more ru ~eJ than ;II Patux ent River, and rhissoon shOWN up the Ilcgali n- a" \\'l'll as the poIiitive aSf't:cb uf lh .... clllph ;l, b o n h~hlCM in rhe SkyraiJ n \ dl.·,i s:n . A ll hol~ crurof pote n tially J ;lm.ls:illS: un Jcr· CiU1iage and wing:-skin failure' we r\.· 11<.11.....1 . ~ iin r lli~oht oi lhe r roJuc lhln model A[). I Shnider (eln 1938, Bu Nn (9 110) look rlact' on 5 NO\'em l--er 194 6. A further :·41 (BuNos 09 111-09 35 1) w....re ....ventual· h: to follow, wilh the la't he ms: ;KCer ll..J m AugLN 1949. Hllwe\,er, Ih .· ea r l~' r rtllluc· non allerait SoJl. >n sh'lweJ up fauhs sinuLn to thost seen in the PWIOIHlC." . N
me
smkmJ: ~ of 14ft/Sl'C (4.17m/sc.'C ), Wt ' fl' tarn cMkJ in a consiJ t'mhie r,,:rn ·(lt'lt.:e l.f the IanJmgs. There W ;ll> onl)' on e !M ,lUI i"n lhe AD-I mU!-t l--e made ~I mn"'t' r, h' 'f'l'"full ~' 'Ilthout sacrifICing an~' ti ilS rll1~ ["
order hi all'lw the r110t Il I .kvl 'I ~' h i~ aucnnon h I tl\'ins: anJ excc unng control drrecti,'n., Ihn.ut.:h the remainder l,f t he arrHl<.Ich p atte rn , Powt'r
re-ul ran r report ' lah.. J rhat, ;lltllllUgh the tl'stins: was cond ucted rh n 'ut.:h, 'u l wnh th e XBT 2D·1 airc ratt, II W.IS 'expec ts.. J rh.u the mforrnanon cont.uncd herem will arply equally ro Ihe A D· I ilin:ra(I'. Some 32 hour.. tlf Ills:hl I l'~lI ng were involved. incl u.hns: f'>llr hou rs of nig ht fl ving. From a t"I,11 of 2 1 GCA controlled ap proaches, ;\ number we re mad e under simulated hlill\I· II)·tng condmons. with rhe r il'lt under a h,,,....1. ril' ll ~ with Ol lhiJ · erah le tleet l'x re ri\.·IlCC in fi ghrer~ and d tve h" m h..'rs wer e -clcc tcd (or the r w jl'C1 . and rhe clucf r ro jel'l " fficcr was a q ualifil·.1 n igh t-figh ler pilot, The ma in cmphusi-, W ;l ~ plac ed ' 1I1 n' ll ing .kficicn cic s 'If ins tnnncutauon ,11,,1 in strument l1id lt charac tcri-aics " f rill' I t' ~ l uircraft . The XBT 1 L)·1 wa, provided wit h a lowfrc4111' nc y ran t.:e n 'cd\'l'r (R . 23jAR C -5) anJ PBX n '(l'iVl'r (A N/AR R-2J) fo r r<1d i" navi gat io n . VI IF·D F, when
A.
"""""G (:OCkfIIII
8
...-.g (:OCkfIIII
.,.,..,_ . _
"'*'" 100 01 110_ ........
~
C begin _1M
o
I . TIlat lhe XBT 2[). I airc raft, WIt h exisl' inl.: lmtru menr arion an d Iwn Jlint.: ch aracll'ristics, was, 'llnsali ..fac((lry (,Ir illstr Ullll'1H fligh t, parr icularl y for till' instrulIlen l l1 ight relluired ti' r G C A ol....·rati,lIl, ·. Exc"'rt al st;llIing spl.'eds, aik'n .n (" nl llli ("rce ,> \w rt· Sll lit.:h t that Iht· y f;lill.J 10 giw the pi!.ll
--.c. speed 10
~
U?W'III __
_
100 knOtSl
_
"'ll
----..... _
pnor '" e
M119l""'pnorkl'"
-r----
_
10,",,- _
-
-
-
-
-- -- - -
Recommend lld sllIndnrd GCA pllllllrn lor XBT2D and AO-1 airplllnIl1l.
27
..
...... .. . d ~If.".
"fl"d'. The report Ih'lUl.:hl tha t rhis Jd'icwncv wa- ~· r ious. 'fur th e plane is ex tremelv sens EI In ' III small aile ron move ments. Thl" I.h.1.. of aileron f"d makes larl"rallrimminl.: of rhc XBT2 DI ,I troublesome and con nnuous r.ek .' TIll" l" n l.:illl,lin,.1 Irimm inl.: was ,.1..... 1 tound 1, 1 h.' 'awk ward', T his was , ICC" IIlplisluxl hy ch,II1ging the angle of incid....1Ke of till' lu mzoutal slah ilizl·r. An ....lecrnc mot or con trolled bv a th reewa ~' switch 1ll'll"l...1 till' surface as desired The ui mm in ~ rnoror co nt rol W,Ls 100 coarse 1,1 perm it r;tri,I ,mJ acc ururc truu rrun g of the rlane: l'lunn~ ~ ITImm,"!: ' ..........." .." " ,. n<"\:~~ t" 'dn c".",••mth· ,,, It...· Inm ..n!:lc 11l..!lCdh",
TIll' ,,·ptlrl fd t th,ll Ihe ,l"O\'\' dl'fiCil'llC il'S
The sec ond prolotype is chec ke d out at Ihe Douglas plant. The Dougl.. e ngine er is wo rking on the starbOllrd lusel age dive breke, llnd this pictulfl gives an indication ollhe s il e of this lululfl. San O,,9'l A••ospacll Musfltlm
Jel.'Tl"es. 'Since the GCA m-num...-nt llit-:hl requires Il~,Itll.: h eaJlIll.... to t he ne arest Jel.:re...-, thr s indrcut or 's ma.I e q uare for the r"rptlM-·.' On rhc c rcdu ' i.k·. rbcv ~r; lIl.J th.u the exist ing ur-trument rand lighl in l.: and instrument arrungcuu-n t in till' XBT2()- 1 ....Wl· 'excellen t tor mstrume rit tl iuht hy .lay or niglu '. 2. T h at the st' l1Idard GCA par tem ( .~ l'l' the d iagra m, .n I'agl' 27 ) was S<1I isf,ll"lllty tor han d ling the XBT 2D- 1. 3. T har the Jdk i" IKies in the XBT2D- 1 instrument t1igh l -h anJ l i n~ cha mcrcnsnc s w ou lJ Ix· 'less ol-jl"Cl iunahll' If th e plane were '''tIUsl:nrali lln . }. Imr n ,v,' 11ll" i n~lnllll Cnr -h ;\n.lll1l g ch ;lmClerislics on rh ls aircmfl ('I';JTlicularl)' Ihe A D· IN Vl'f"inn' ) in Ih...· folh l.....illJ,: r aTlk ulaf":
28
a ) -rvvrv n aile ron co nt rol force ~raJl etu ncar th e ne utra l ~ l « k [""'n i'ln in rhc c nil~ LOg ~pt.,,-J r,m,,:e (c lean cond uion} anJ in the approac h -reed ranee , in the lanJIIlL: C\ Imln It,n: b} pro vide more refinement in co nt rol ,If I,lIll.:il11<1in aI trimillinL:: c ) rc locate slal-ilizl"r trun ,md ," indicator In main instr umcn t panel . where II can IX' seen l"a~il~' hy ,b y .,r nighr. 4. Furnish opcrati nl.: unit s with
Il< "
CHA PTER FOUR
A Stroke of Genius Developm ent of the Dauntless-II 4 . G reater lo.IJ -c.nrpn.l: a hili ry. 5. G reate r stahililY anJ con t rol .
The Concept The thinlinl': be·hinJ rhe Daunrle-s-Il. lIrhich was late r ro become the Sk\'I'Il,k· r. was described a l 1I1l' tunc hy EJ l l ehumann in a de ta iled rrc~~ re le a se. II j_ a pri"ikge to he ahl c to understand rh c
desgner's thinking and ideas. suaiJ.:IH from
the horse's mouth, SlI II I speak: " lhr Jrbur " f a nr w ""T'lan,' " , ,,,,Ill n..."I!. 111 " ..........". of inq""'.... trt>m rhe ,,,,i,llion I'" H,,·
rq.aU1Illl 1l. Jr,.,~'fl arr.ml....·m'·nt. The "T2 1)· 1 ~\II"A",lUC~l<"", ~mr..crm
00 bb ba,-!
A ll uf rhis ad Jl.J up 1t1 th.. fund.uucntal Jesi,gn requir e me n ts of mor e 11ft a nJ Il';,s weiuh t. It had al..., bec ome t-lw iuus from re ports, mairuenancc record- and. l.ucr, from hi-, own ,,1lS\:Tval iuns at sea wuh rh c tleet that 1111' 01.1 J'l'acl·t imc-,ll'sil-:Ill·.1 ai rcraf suftcre...I bad l ~· d ue h) poo r ul ility and maintenance. FOT wha tever reason, t hey spe nt 'too ma n y ho uTs o n rhe gr')lllld and not t:no ut.:h in th e atr'.
3. Im p rove ul ilit ~· hy l eJuc in!: fllcllln~. arnurut. and main tena nce lime hr "0 po:1 cent. 4. Complete anJ fly iiN article in nine mo nths. H , JW
to " lIisfy all t hese vur.. lt l~ rl.'qUlre-
mems ocCUr l....l rhc minds tlf Het nernann and hi s br illiant learn fur a mnulw r of arduo us rnomhs. In h is d iscus.s itlllS with the Bureau of Ae ronauti cs, hasin!.: the ne w design lin t he elim inati on of till' inte rn al homh h ly a nd Ihe substu unon (If a convcn-
TIm miJZht he cOl\siJ a l-J a tritlc J isinl-:l'n uous, for the hulk IIf Ihe Jesij.,rn pcno d l~ 'r tht BID actually to ok place J un nl-: till" wa r sears, However. Heinemann\ subseque nt ccamen rs were certamlv m O;,1 pt'"lnl· nl . T1w BID. hk", nun" "1:1",, r,,,,,,,,"nK" ..k.-.,I.'I" mmn. JoJ 1'10II c",",,,, m ,""" m"n,' j"",,,,<", (' >f" Il'~- lhe ....",.
He liMed the new mtlimrv rcq urrcmcms e rabhshed for l in ' BT2n :IS cotup.rrcd with the BTD:
The very lirst oft til, line. This prOIOtyp, XBTlD·1 D.tllrtle n -Il (UuNo 0908SJ is seen . irborn, on ,.rly flight leSlS trom EISegundo on 13 Jun , 1945. No" Ih.e. II-merel linish . nd 11'<, meni.e hinges on Iheluse l.g, di,,·br.k, doofl. ~.~al ","clwes. College Plfk . totO
! [cmcuumn therefore J ,'ci.k'.1 rhu t h, s mow and r;ld ic;rll}' .hffcrcnr ,Ii\"<' h 'l1\fx'r would h :ln ' til ~ htlw improvcnu-nt s nvr-r till' ill-Luccl ,llId ,ll' p,Lrl'nr ly .I, It Iltwd BTl ). H ., listed tl ll'1lI :IS Ihe f,)lIow in!.::
wciuht (film IS.OLX' lh to 16,500lh. Z. h Krl'a -e m;rxi mum lifl codfKII'nr fro m 1,8 hi 2.0. I. Rl-JUCl'
I. Shorter rak.e-tllf J ista nce. ? I nc~o;eJ COmN t ("
29
nonal tm l wheel in place (II the nt N.' wheel of rill' RTI1, a n all-up guar.mtcecl wl.'ijlht of 16,SOOlh (7 ,4IJOk.l:) was deemed rea~"nahl.· . Hcincnumn dd ihl'w td y -hav ... 1 u funhcr 7S(llh otf th e turzet fijlun..' :11I,1 ;ls~ il-:lll'J til each l'll!.:inn' rinjl !.:TtllJr - inv, ,In.J with t he .lesi~'1) (.f t he winL'S, fu;.elal..~ an d ~. on - its 'rr"l'"rtitlnal unJelwcil-:hr h'l..'(.·Y fil..'Ure'. As a rl"suh of his tlwn l'xpt." nence~ wllh rill' RTD. anJ awa re of Ihl' prtlhll'ms
..
...... .. . d ~If.".
A STlI. OKI,
encounte red hy C um -, w nh th e SAle , which h ad co nn nuallv ex ceeded suc ces~ I \'t· w t·lgh t lurnrs. J t'~rl tt' mit ial pronuvt·~ . Heinemann w a" de termine d tn enforc e a stric t rcumu- o n the 1 \ ,uJ,:l.l ~ t eam. lit' later rec orded his cardinal rul es ,\ ~ I, lllows:
I. N" part cou ld l-c over w eiJ,:ht unlessan equivalent wt'iJ,:ht was .~ ; l ved elsewhere.
2. Any indcrcnu in.nc structure or r ml thaI could no t he ,ks iJ,:llt"d ttl minimum w ciJ,:ht rcq urrcmcnts w uu lJ lx- s!re ll!.:th tt"Stt'\l rather than ,..,IJ an arl-n mry s; l fe l ~' I,Kt.'!.
or nexu-s
l.ll \1: 10 1'\l 1:,\ T m TIll:
...w in!.: p' ,licy were extrernc lv gr,m lymg when the fmal wt·ll.:hin,g in.heated rbc \wight 10 h.. h .. t rcr than 1,l\.1O\" (4;(\kd IIn..lt·t Iht· con tr,KI l.:lIara n l...e. nlU ~ III...· normal IIUIIllt' to h .. added III mak e t he ai rp lane more u-cful without '1 III'd illJ,.: sl rl'n gth an d pcrfonnancc . llc inc uuum illusmu cd thest' achievemerits in another ta" k· (see below, n-pro..[uc.....1her... l~l r lilt'litst time in it. en uref)') . Weight "vings. in BT2D ov., Bm Simplihed fuel syslenl
A C <:t ,rJ IIl~
10 Heinemann. 'In o l h...r w otJ ~. the old aJ.I!.:l· 01 "A c ha m IS nll ~mlll!.:l· r rb an u s w t·ah ·sl hnk" wa s ar p lie<1 ,IIlJ all ran s w e-re J t·slJ,.:nt.J 10 a urufo rm po su rvc mar utn.' The vita l need tll reduce .....eil.:ht was t·mph;lsict·J h~' tilt" I' uttin !.: out of bullet ins , wh ich illusr ratcd in rhc must bas ic terms j u~ t what cnul<1 " t' achieved "y pulllnl.: wcurh r reduction abo ve all else. In o ne cx .uupl... gin'n " r I kint'mann in hi s I't ...ss rclea'C, a ta " le stalt...l l hat . lnr ea ch 100lh (4 ;kg) of wei ght SOl'·t...t the take-olftli ..ta nee fro m a ca rr it.>r·s J t...:k cllulJ h.. rcJ uct.J l-y 8ft (2 .,H m ); th is w(lulJ aJ J an extr.1 22 naul ical mil l's I,;I"': ' How mllch ,Iddilional cost is Justi fit·d to save ,I ['('llll J in \\'I'il.:lu!' Ht'int'm,iIln I;; \H' them an 'lIlsw...r: A I,~...r.. of $]0-00 J"." 1"""'.1....n ,,~ .....J a> a r'·,ho'l.l"k E:Ukk.l..........J un lL",l Ul!: fo' d qu;ollU· 1\ ' , . x"X:' '''rrLno.-.., Tho.....~mrr"'" J"'lw ..... h ' .........1'\ R'a"''l\;IH.. I~ " Ih,. "," leul." ['1•.,..: ' .,nJ. ,I dnl, h", ,:. ,,,, lhe' I,,,,' . ,...... It I' ...."'. I..h .. 1'1:''''' , .. 515.((',.". .20.00 J'<'f l"",nJ ml ~>hl h: " n!l ,d \, " T ", h.·, rl'J'<'~ .mJ m ,>T he, rlanr' .",.1 e
.,11
r ruJ"C!;.
A ll h(lugh !{eim'm an ll was spe'lkinl.: in the miut . im['( lna llll~·. a r rlnc ir l... was es tal->Iislm.l. Thl' tl'slllt!' \\'I'tt' sol l1 ~f;)c tnry for . as h... also recorJl-J al Ihat 11 m.... Ihe resu lt.. t,f thi. \"i!.:orous wc il.:hl -
ll H~ \T1.I: S S · 11
Short camurellor and od cooler ducts inslead 01 cowlleadll19-edgl! type
svstem
BI'
"If' ;10.1 , 11<' ""II,In ,en " n
m .lbn~ m.In~' !;'V..
"i ·'·'·r.,1m".. k-uI"'.. m . l rT;t n~",· nli'nr
11'
...... hn.,[ •
I.IIl.....l l h,,, f't'nn ll ,~J '''IT'p' In~ .,lIl m"",,,l
Iud III "r..' "'Ilk 1n" "aJ .. ~ h\'~ " .....J ont he BTU. Th" .011" u " m ..I<...... I'nUh ...J In l,.J"Unl: Ilk IUd .\·.,..m \'"'·I~'''' ' I,' 270 1"",nJ, .InJ .0' l ~ >.I I..... IIIll<' n.Juc..J ' ~nk ''1' I""rmem " Ill<' h> a """,,lIt'oKI""' ... l hal
,t.., BTI)"nJ ~ R1"- A
50'
"l1llk 1U<'ll.. nL . , ~ e"
""'.I'''''' lhe I"~OI ,.. Ilk
7l>' ~aulie
Then ' w ,I~ ,Ill. IIher factor III wh ich the Ou ullLas ream rook i::re,u pn..[c , and wh ich allow ed them Itl make further wt·i!.:ht "<1\'ings. Hcrucmaun It'nnt-J till. 'fun..lamcn[ill sunphc uv'. lit' illu. tratt·..! h l ~ ['(" nl us follows:
ZI'"
FuselagedM! brakes
3.lXXI PS I lMll' 1.500 PS I Elimination of bomb ba~
Fundamen ta l Simplicity
50' 1000' 40lb
Bubble-typecoa pnenclosure
401b Powder displaclllg gear 1115tearl of mechamcal Continuouscentre WIIIQ msteec of twe-pece l00lb ConlinuOUS IlOl'llootal tall Instead of lWO-piece 1010 7401b" Total
n"'I","-"I-,IiI\"~ ,JlIllln!: I"nk. dnJ ....'.OIJIl~ 10 ftXC'nl ''I''' ' dl'' '''d l-t" rl-tlo 11 ,11 r "·"'·l\l man\, 1"'11'''' 1.011"..·• dlln NlIeJ hI ,.IOk. "'1'n U'1: .11)'. (Su the ,h. '~'T.lln .'1'1.... " .... )
Th is 'fund.uncnta] simplic ity' principle ....xt ...nd n l Ihrou ghout the cruirc pro!.:ramme . <1 11..1 f I...in...mann l.:a\'l· ;I J l'IaileJ breakd..swn (.\<.'e the table 11.'11 ).
, II> 1tJ6!<Jfl r/lI!fI! _1IW'l' otlI:)
In an ...flo n 10 imrw \'t' Ih e m axim um 1111, Ih e DuuJ,.:IOIs J t'~i lo:n It'city ..IUt' 11< 11thl' win g airfl'll "I.·cliun amoul\Is 1< 1 le"-" th 'iIl l.:ains tha t wete ma..le l-y imrl< Wt·J dt'(a il J t.>sil." ' .' He iIJ JeJ, ·It is tx·ht·\·t:J rh e BT ZD 11ft wl'lfi c il'm of lx-tt et tlMn 2.0 is all ril->ut;ll->le tll Ihe excd lem 1.'W-~pt·l.,j llyin l.: c ha r.lC l l· n~ II( S wh ich renmt rt.>a!i; in g the full p" te n t ialitics Ilf Iht· win i:: ..... ilh sa lt' I ~'.' ( Fo r Ih .... o\'emll ImprO\'t'l1lt'llIs III lilt , ~ee h.·low ). Summary of lift improvl ml nlS M a~l mum lift coeff!clent of 810 Improvement due to ehange trom65 to24Ol)--4400 a111011 Improvement due to Improved stability
and eootrol
nearl~
']
oearl~
']
a!lP'oJ I
B12D m.nUTlUrtllift eoelhelent
30
better than 2
External Bomb Carrying Hein t'mann Ih c:n weill on 10 ex r lam the: o rJ n.m(c lift i lll l'!O\,...mellls ;1..1. A 2,()(x)lh h'mh Ilr 10rpe..I., .....as eonsiJerctl as an altt'm ,l!I\'e or maXimu m o\"er!u;IJ. A s the rt'sult of lhe: Sk~T.li dt'r 's unJl'rwe iJ;:h l. incr eil"C.-J ilft aM im rlO\'t:J . 1'1l-IIIlY anJ eu lll w i ;11 low ~f'Ct..,j , Ihc normal h lm l-> loa..l is now coosiJ etcJ ' b one 2,0001h l'llmh oT torpedo wilh a ...If... altl·m ,ui\·e tl\"er!. ,aJ . ,f 6,(0010, whi ch ca n h.. In Ihe lorm oll h rn' 2,COOlh hlllli'-s, lIT, if J t'sireJ , threc torpcllo\.'S. H t· jusllfit-J hi s J ec bi on fully. c b lrninji thai rill' d('ci ~i un to rt'M,n to carrying oHemin' or..l n'IllCt' cxte m all~', inslc ad of in ; 111 int ...rna l l'o mh ha y, pr' l\'t-J 'very desirahl...•. The rTe"t'm arran~cml·nt .J! l'x temal ho ml-> racks rerm lls ca rT)·inl.: h ,mi'-s. ltlrpeJ .leS ,IIlJ II in r..>ckt.>b or Jror r ahlt' fud tanks 11\ m. lSt any bic) cll mhinatiorn,
A Sn OKE OF GE!\Il'S _ n!,\' U .OI'\ l F.!\T OF r m : IIAlINTl .l'SS -1l
EItn-1y simplitied fuel . yslt m im::orpor8ting only one fuel18nk for nOlm8tlo8d m,de pasible byc,nilul bin consider' lions ol ,irp l,n 8 arre nqement. COmp8fBS witll 6 18nks ..sao , nd5 ofSTD.
Q
»>:
. /
/
--- - ~ -
31
.
. ...."". d ~."".
" STROId : 01'
Wt'ight diff.......cn in Douglas div.
bo~
GE~IU <;
_ IJE\ 'I:LOI"'I:;-;r m TIlE
..
D ~l ' :-;TLI; _S <;
II
P,IC!(il' COlllhal Zone, when - lon ~ and titIll ~ ove r......u cr 111 ~hlS, l-orh ~(orl' anJ aflt't mt e n -c CO l11h l{ .K lit·iIY, w e re !,run ne 16,500 Gross welQhllltJl B.2S0 18.lDJ ,ullu.lu, anJ t'x h'lU_'ll nl! III aircrcw. Dunne Alrhme wetgtll lib) B.... 6295 ' .3ll1 lilt' Sk~ r'II,lt' r's J't'nlxl Ill' J l'\'t,lo!'mt'nr, 2m 2.381 Numbef 01 eng'neeJ'ng df1rwmgs '.2JS -mkc- ,1l!,lIn ' l tilt' vn vm v we-re h.-collllne lon l!t'r ,mJ IOI1l!\"I. [Th i-, wa-, due, In part . DIE-FABRICATED PARTS It I lilt' I't IIicy I,f " llllt' carrier 01,1111 11.' 1-. Cl Ill ' ~,nfUftl alloy lorgll1Q$ d1awmgs 59 56 t"t' r1lt'J nu ,rr with r lt11...-ct ing: 11lt'lr earn...·n Alumln'\IITl a!1ov lorgmg peces ". 359 56 than lilt' ,ur o,l(l Ih ..-y ea rned. TIlt' j.rp.mS1eel torgmg d1aW1nqs 82 '82 l·sc· h,I,1 a I,m!!l'r rench. s oAmcnc an l,lCIKS 62 82 Steel 101"9""'9 peces '82 at the B.lItll· of Iht' Phihpptm- ~' , I were ro Aluminium and magnes,um sandcasllngs 118 "0 ' lay O U I " f Ih al reach : a, a rc- uh. an vn orAlumInium and magnesium sandcasllng pieces 117 74 "9 Il\. l\b number uf Am eri GIll C;I' U,llt lt" were cnu-c d ,, ~. mrcmf runn in g OUI Ill' (lid and fUEL SYSTEM IJl11.1 expect Oil sYS'em welQhlllb per gall '64 It I be ,1.1Il1.ll!t'J (tt"'jut'n1ly hy t'm'm ~' ,Klwn; earner-borne a trcrntt in t un c III .....ar are WelQht 01 engwe tIICUIt arw;l rowlmg Icrward ot lire walt lib per hpl 0119 0164 017' rlt 'nt' It>, IKh J ,lmal!t' more than ,m~' 1.lher 1 ~ J't· , wllh j.:rt',lle r demand- h.'IIll! mu (2.~ 11.~J 12.~ uf't -n I hem. In order Itl rn,url" 'f't-· r.ui'lllal "1 (l' I ~' ursl reduce ril' ll fali l.JUr, t he ()' >lIl!Il ,he :-b T.lkk-, Ill\' C'>fll.....l Iy nn'ant Ih e crowJrJ CrUt'rlll j.: ' r aces ] a.~ well ;IS ~Ifl'ty anJ "'>In......,,,,mml: "'om"' ...., J,,~ ,,1Yn ."'N al'>(l apr lied 10 a irc n'w CI UH('I r!, wh ich haJ ,il!h l inj.: vi,ion in cu mNt, a ("rwarJ anJ Ih.-"" I:<'I _A "'"nt> ....." ...."' IJ h......,::'n·n _1,..·lll· nt'\'(:r h."t' n a sil!m ficalll (,I("lo r with 111\""1 J llwnw arJ vi, ion anj.:le of fifll't'n J q,en, h' ..",· ·t -rn.J m "f'f',,_hl11j!lhe 1..1l...·I. ......, Ih.. rr m .•IT.ml. nlrm "'11,",,"11 " ",,",I> I\<'( I' m,lIlu(aclurt:rs. At-C. 'rJIIll.: "I Ih ..,
,m
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"
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POW"",AN'
32
'"
.,.., "SlIW H OF (;Io~H - S
IJI-VIL OI'\tl- '\T 01- TIlE D.\l'l' TLI:.SS 11
SKYRAIDER MEN - Richard Grant Smith
.......
Wt1 . !hI AD was...... tthDoJl a doubt. Ed Heinemann's maslllfPl9Ce. QUIet men tle~ hilIl lD lIIlli:e II the soccess SIOfV that II came to be One 01 the mall'l contributors was FIdIInI Gtint 5mItl'l AJ1houl1J his chtef and II'lOSt Iastll'l{l !and desefwdJ claim to lam!! .... M l!I hisI),rtstatOng paltltmgs of Douglas and orhe!' aecratt, he wasalsoa hIgIItv Itdilld conl~lion etlglfQll', It was !his expen,se thai Srrum t.ought 10 IN! sq.r.lIr lUJnII iU most cruciallNse
trUSla'1lS at EI $epldo'. and paI(IlJlbute to 1IIssuper!) IfllUllM! sense oIlIlf~ocaI
'R G•palnledmoreltIana ItJousand belluIlltA arG ledncally correct penns 01.· ean. shtps and other subjects HIsworks In so 8flIll'lated Ihat they tale the breath 1f>IRo(. they are exhOled 111 lte lbted States al the Naval A'tIllliOf1 Musel.m. ..... sacola;!he N
_ Ill 0iIk~. Cablarma, RIChard Srn.th gtadualed trom Htg/l School III 1931 aQldyd!termined to becomeananoalt deS9*'. inspired trytile exploits 01hlS boyhOod 180 QIarIes l~ Hewent to the l'oIylectwlic College ot Engllle'8l'lIlQ ,1'1 hiS hoIlIt Clt'/ and;aIred anengtllet!nng clegres He earned Il'lOllllY to pay!of Ili$ IUltlOO by -*, 1\Illl gralt. even worting fO/ a lime In tile OOflhem Cali/Ollua gold mires WI1ll hI$ e~pertlse ron/umed. '1'1 1936he won 8 roD at the burgeoning Douglas All' craft Company at EI Segundo. as a Iowlv bluopllnl ilimmer. earningthe IIl10cetVSum of e,\hol $1 pe r ~. plusroom andboard. or $1 8 a weer. ilCCOfdmgtovarious siones He wor'loo aSSIduously, com bining the maklf\Q 01 de!ail
aim" hlst(l('f - divebombers and drve bomblA'II ·R Ii.' IS certainly one o! myown Insp!· ralional neoes. and deserves lhe many lributes lhat have been paidto him
drlWlngS pan lime wllh his main dulles. Within s i ~ mornhl hiSsk,lIs had come to the attention of Ed Herne1IlInn, wtIo was Impressed try his techmcill drawing WI dItiI,1ed 1a",:HJ1S Within lWO years. Smith had become pan of the Douglas deSign team. and cuI hiS -91 leeth on the lamous Oall1lless Hlf,fhly
sao
IY8IIlI (as weill all lhose 011 the
Hetnemann team
ttw llltllrlSe waf yea'sl. Slrll!tl WOI'ked for long toprr.QJcedetailed and pret!SIO'l o-awlI19S aetll· nl on \JIIIe HIS 'ep.ltallOllgrew Sllladlly. as did eslS - In pllInllfl9. h WIldlife and Iaodscape 01 Wnlllmdesllrt stales . inIlhe h'Slory of 1'- Amer·
...
'kG ma-ned. a'ld fatt.!fed a soo and I dilllIhlllf _. he contrued hIS work, but his P
_
WIth tItll same passion lurrJed gradually Into a lInlId'op, anda lew reerstater Smllhbecen to attend l\'ll IJfId an classes taughl by Beaumonl al long . . . He Illaml good t6Chmqlle, and good thlll";ng IIbout la>,wl and comPOSItion, and combined tlus Wi th h I own oulstaooi ng skills of draughtsmanshlp and 5lllr111on to 0013 11, 10 develop one of the most Widely I:tlallllEld styles In hisfield StMtl OOIlt,1llllld working at the la kes,de planl for ¥IBl, starting ea,1y and leavmg late. well past I1fQII rellfement age Irdeed. he conllnued 10be ..., desq1er there, is well as painhngollitlBl alMdbnlII,Oouglasaortl'alt , Inll) lhe 1911ls IMtl 1960s. he went out to the combat rone, tis ~·s latest prodllct$ ~ undergoing III thIor IllOS'I seme tests 01 hre As 111 oUIt",1 US IrtlIL hll.,."tness8dh1 actlOll frO'll I'lehcoptlll'S, . ..ud camet' JIllS, inI hO'll coastallJl¥lboats lJIIb ;nt !pies of South Vretnarn Asalways. tImIeIIltltally m this new l)JIy, often al ID Iv$ CM'lllde. aid brouljll a wf10Ie new PIlf-
Sk",lide, lINIn - R,G. S",itlI ([.11l with U H.tn..... nn.
in . 1952 pon,. it, McDonnell DouglIS, Long Beach
An " , " ... mpl. III R. G. S", ilh·, woril - fr om the I!MI
Skyrl 'd ..- prIU ..I. . ..
!oJ his paKlt'"ll was WMldated WIlli honours hO'llbothlhe ar1 !hi MOan woAd. but orce confessed thaI hiS kd was 11 becOOling the lenlh HonoraryNaval A \01.. rewlllll lorall hllllad done over the vears In tlIPItlIY as both artist and deSlI,jfler Hi s old Inaod ..,.,..,lorEd Hetnemann calledSm;th 'oneof OUl real
33
!
.....
,
"".~
~l(.II.
A H IWKE OF { ;E, ~ l lJS
hy Dougl'l' tl'St pd"b, such ,IS L1Vl'r!ll' Brown, Van ce BT~'CSl' and B"h Ruhn, a_, well ,b hy Nilv y pi llll S Wild had Jllst returned fnuu th e Pacific, incilieling C "I't.uu L~·s li l· Sll' \Tll S, tu en-ure till' correc t 'tccl' was l-uilt in . lle lnemunn ucluuttcd ut rhc rune thnt ·Iin· mo c k-up s S'lllll~l s cX\'l'n sin', hilt in the I"ng run it is hdl l·n... l cconomic.r] ,IS cvrdcnccd hy till" rclut i n' I~' ' 1ll,,11nurnlwr llf c h ,mgl' rl'qul'sts Tl'cl·in·d d uruuz ek' I1\' lllsi r.u i. '11 .' (.)f Ihl' N a vy ri ll'(s, C, uumandcr T, '1I1llly Thoma- w"s ,II till" hca.l 01 ,1 lbt of t.tvountc-. Heinemann l.ucr mcnuonc.l Ih ;lIl11' had even hllih ; 1 d g,IT ,h lltr;ly into the S kyrai,ln\ coc kpit cSl'l'l-i,llly I(>r him !
Div e Brakes T he \'ex~'el '-JlIl'sti u n tlf tIll" di yc h rak e~ fur Ill\' Ill'\\' ,lin' h.'lllhl·T,'C..:u pke l a grc a t ek',ll tillll', 'll"I..:" n tCre·IKl'S IWlwcen n "lI gLIs ,lIIel till' nllTe'a tl pf Al' ro na lltio Wl'rl' prutr ,lc tl·d un Ihi s iSSlll·. A cc llr,ling 10 Ll'l' l'a rM llh:
il b , Ioul-tl u l 1I"1ll't1ll'r E,l I-k inl'ma n n \\'\>ulel han' Sl'l' ll it q uit l' likl' 111;1\ , "lrhllllgh hl' p,li,1 a ful ""llll' trihut l' II I tIll' hl'lp j,l l\"l'n '" him hy tn,lIly BlIAl'r " m cc rs: ~I .." "f
,,11. r1l<"
~C"ntk", ..n
lw ", II"A"T ,I......" .•. " Iwtt\ r"l " n lh" [,,,<:l. Th "I' ~"ve 'IS tl", '-\,,111...· ,,-Iwn II l,~ ,kt·, l ",
t!>" ud, w-,- ,!I,),,'l h,,,'"
,'n,', n,,·\, "11'1"'[\",1 'IS l hr"u~h"u t ,11\,1).:,,,',, 'IS '·"Il,id,·,,,[,k I.....·,!.>'" t" mn " ,'.U,·:
N,l Ie,s" than lour ,Iitt"l'rl'nt fY\'l'S 01 dive br,lkl's \\'('rl' cllllsi d l·ro.: d hy thl' l1.'ltglas ;1I1d BliAer en ginl'l'rs, ,h f"Il"I1".": I. 2. 3. 4.
TIll' rl'vt.·rsihll' pWlw lll'TI'\,fion w\luld IM\'(· 1.....· 1·11 highly laVI'llTl'1, a., il IMd nil Iwighl or drag dt"n:1 '1l1 llll' airlr;IllW. 11l<' idea wa"
~
Il" VEI.OI'MEI'T OF r us
nxovn.ess .n
not new, Till' ,,1,1 Vou ghl ~ HU- I Vindicator ,IiYI' lvunbcr, wluch served aboard till' US Naq ' e a rne rs ill 1<.) 40-2, wnh 1I1l' US /l.larine C nrl's ut Mi elw;IY (an. l also wilh Ill<' Roval N' I V~'. ,b t he' C lll'.,al'e'lh', an,1 till' Fr,'n c h Navy, a_, t he V- I '56, ,luri ng till' l',ld y Yl'a rs l.f IIll' war] had l-eon Inrcd wnh rhi-, device. III liuut eli\' ing ' pl"l'els. Re vcr sihle propcllcr-, were fined I II hlllh th e SHU- [ a nd -2, hUI till' opriun could ru-vcr I'll· m.nlc I" work st' had til glidl' homh in'l l·a,1 of ..:arryillg ,UII trill' ,live' h"mhing, tJ,ing rhe ' tl' llll'"rolry' expcdil:nt of l"\\'l'ri ng Illl'iT tlllel"rC; lrri'lgl' wlll"d , III sl,lw till' ai r(f,111 , lown! " Ex] .....·rimcnting c, mt lnuci] ill till' N' l\·y l-ur no satisl;t<.:t ' ll)' production I'Tlll.....-llcr h ,l,1 l-eon ,Iev cl0l'c d tluu g,I\"l' ;1 ~ tJ {ficil' n tly rapid rate of pitch l ha nge I, ,r the j, ,h n 'quircd ,,{ it. TIll're wa.~ cl ~',lrl y 110 li n1\' " lleran cc in th l' t ~ ,tr(lye r, II 's l igh t ,rlwd ule 10 w,lil f" r ,I s"ltll i,' n 1<1 <1 l'l'l' ar, ,md Ih is ele'simbk' " pl i' " 1 W,IS I h l' rd~ >n' a ha lld"lll'.Il·arly "11. \Xlilll-:-m"tllll l\! , LlIIl'.1 hrak l's Wllllki ""l'm r" 11,1\"(' I-xTlI t hl' IlU l"t llh\'io\l' her , I\.lUgloJs h'l\'inl-:had widl' l·xlx·rience I"JlIl ul the \",l ri" lIs , k·~ igl1s, a nd of lI11'ir '1>-."".:iate.J proHem , . TIl l' lalll"u_, 'chl"l'sc-gr,ltl'r' h, lk·~ of the s l\ n J);ltllldl'SS ha ell'l'\:llllll' iI.' [',Irti<.:ubr idl'llIil;"ing IC'lIurl·. TI ll' , Lltled IHx·. Vl·ngl';IIKl.. o rigin'ltl·d hy the VlIltn' and tl SL...l til, "' I .. uccl·_,..ftllly. ' 11 tliar ;ftl\:T"fr tl1 BUrllJ;l. ;!nd i11" 1 (d l"pitl' I',:rsi_'r l'nt and in;Il:\:tIT;l!l' I" "t -w,lr n "" '0, t" till' <.:" nlr;try) hy till' N I'Tlh Anwricill A- 16 A r a<.: l1l'in tIll' ~1edill'IT<mean , was al" l ava iLlhle_ Il", 'l h Wl·rl'rejecll·e!. Ill·im·llI'lI111 stltlllll:lri:l·d till' rl',ls"n~ t~ 'r this a, fllll"w..:
von
I. It h ,d ['wn ·n illll" " ., ihk·, Wilh wingm
34
h ,ld lwcn mirrored hy lh " se ut" o ther Cllllll',ltlil"s (lor example. til<.' s n u- I Vin,lical< ir from V'lIlghl , and Ihe SA2e Hclldivcr from C ur riss). T h is " '\'CTe ., ha king (If the ,lirc ra ll when th e brakes were exten ded had rl',ulled in much poorer cont rol ,,{ Ih e ai rcruf in the clive. I , l~s of 'Ia h i lt l~" ,11),1 «unv l-ombing inacc urac y. t Pam chure rl·I,lrd in g 1\' ", lIn l\" hr i ctl~' U llls i,k' red as an op tion a nd was quick-
lv di-cardcd a, unpracucal-lc . 4. In tensive design cxpcruncumtion with t he RTI ) -I h ,ld xlurwn that ll wSl· hc avIIlg
The refore, 11\l' IUSl· bgl·-llI' llllltl·c1 clive bra kl' morl' o r ic" ,dl-<.:red ilsl·lt. Th e rc ~u lr s in rrac ticl' \\'t' re Il 'un.ll l' be J!rill ify-
ing , ,, Ihl.: 11.,ug!a, ' c a lli. I kinemann ([,limed Ih e 1"II" wing: V;',lh lh"
ft"d,~<--t\'I"" l'r.I~'·
it w,o- I, "on.! tl,,·,,·
""t,,,,tI<: .IUI' "" ."In'"" dk<:l
lite' BT21)
,·nl:a~,·me·l"'. Ir"l11
,hn·.
"n
nW . . m~
II... ~"lu,,,1
,i
litt " ,,1ltlrd\' "n"t1,,(!,-.1 ,,,,,I Hlln dl'ill).:'· h;" I,,·,-n t""n,1 w ",. ""d,~,hlt: . TIw,,, ["ak", \....1'· ,,">" h,,,,,J I" h:",· lh" ".1,1".1 ,.,kltlU~,· "I h,:'n~ '·~t<·III·nl m.Ul,,,·,,,'ri,,~ [" .•~,., j'", 'N' ,t"",,~ ,'''1ll1>-''1 In .,
h'nn.'t'""
Il \ ", ~ .ill,1 l..t·,~'w",
.lhlll"!.·.
Ag'lin, Ihl'n' W a., Inlllh ,Iiscu"it H1 al",ut Ihe ;t':ll·pl;lhk· 'l l' l inm m .Jive
Sta bility a nd Cont ro l TIl<' ahlndnnment of Ihl' Iricyclc lanJing gea r, Sl.l faVllured hy L\ 'uglas in ' llch <Jircrait as Ihl' A -20 I la \"oc (known in Brit;lin ,\lilhe 11.."1' Ill), Ihl' IX::-42 S k yma~tl'r an J the A26 In vacle r, as wdl as I h~· ilI-t:u ccl BlD,
·..
SlIrMInI brN dsidll {top' . nd sla rboard thfllll-qu'r1 erlron1l1 fborrom/ yi. w ol lh. Dwglas AD·' Sk,,,idllf 18IIIIe 1I!1021III VA·l 76. now IOCil ed allh, lront galll 01 NA$ Oceana. Vi1lilini . Beach. VA.- K..... R Smrth
35
.. .., . ,...""
• 11. 11.
\ SlWOH 0 1- GU, Il'S
heartache at the tunc. It W ;\ , till' , >\'~'rrl, 1 1Il l,: de sire III '\OIH' w~' il,:llI Ih at flll"Uy '1\·t1lll,: th e Jl....ign ;lg,un' l ;l Ill .....' wheel, even t hl)(l~h Ih i, W ;I ' 0 'nl rary tothe "H·r.11I concept 01 1H~ '\"1n l,: a, uunh \H'Il,:llI ", 1't l'..'lhk· h' Ihe I~ 'rward elll.l 1,1rill' .urc ratr. A rrKrc ll' U1l1.l..-rcarr uurc w' lu ],1 h,IH' hdl'l'\l rlu-. Ace. 'r-llIlg to Hcmemann. c.tu .......III1I1(h
h ,. ,,, II.1I1I...uh 10' ....."'rm""· ,t..· ,·,.,, 1 "'nl1h, •1'11<"',·.,.:,· "".,,,.,....., ,h.: ,,,-,, ' H":" ~ 11'·''''; h"w. vvvr. m.,l llll1 dl<' ""." I"",.,f-k ,'11"....'11« " I. " h"nf- f-,'I' .,tI,1" -11' 1: , h.mh":' II , . h.·lll·IT,I., ",., II.' 'II " I "1' I 'r, ' ~ Illl.n,·tv•"I<' 1" ", ,1.. ·,11"'1",,1. '. 11'11111 .:.111 1,,: It ..·.l 'l..-J h ' Ih~ {;\ll ...h~·cl l1~ " r,
Th.., Hvc·,I h ' I';Kk till" maximum 11II,k rwinJ,: 'Jl LK k ordnance into t he .uva 1 1<'..:t· ~ ' i t: , t~·d a rearward /;,IJinl,: mcchan icm tor t he m.un LmJ ing J.:ca r. The-e (,!l"(ll'" wer e lied in wnh till' q lll'~ ti"" 01 "I" hilit)' ; 11\..1 cont rol, al wa r~ snore relevant I~ ,r earn..-r-basc-J .urcnur than tor l.uul-ba-e...1mac h ines . TI lt' , ma llamllullI u ( -pacc ..1't",rJ ,I carrier irn['< N.'\1 , UlllCl'llf hmnanon-, which ca u.......1.urc r.ur ..I..·..i j..'11" 1""i e xt ra problem... One case af(,'(Il-J h}' rhi-, wa.. Ihal . ,j Ihe Cun i!<;, SR1C lidldn ·er . in Idll( h MKh con~ IJ"' r.l I1. 'n, .m~1 N :l\' r rl'qu lr~'m~' llt ~ 1.....110 a l mo~1 lamin.ll desicn r r.,h k'm, . M n:ltn ~ ' lleh ..Il· IlMn,IIIlC spl.'C i· fic.III.'n, h..d . h ilhl·n." ;I ]W;I }" r'·'1l1IH·,1 C" lIlr r" Il11:-t' I' ll h'l h si.les. A lt htlll~ h till· ~ k}'r
Ii "'I .um-J Ihe J~~I R-...I d~'I' ;J " 'r com ro l f"r(l h" IlIlIn l,: ,Ill d ..'Ctricler "y'I"'IIl. III o,..In hi " " la in s,Ui' (,KII'ry "ti..-k t~ lT(e, . With rill' aJ'll' tioll of h"m 'ly!," a,' r,...lyn.uni ..· h" l;l1l(e;" cOlllhin..'\1 wilh a , h"rl l'!l-\':'1I1r d l'lr,l. Ir"c-co nlro l l"nJ.:ltu.lin..1, r:lhility \\'a~ illlr rllH·d.
lcm-, .'1 lateral .Illd , lin'( lI" na l ..tahilll \'. and the .., .......- i.II..,,1H'llI n , I I~ I( tllr"••1<. a ' Ill '
h:I\·..· been ,1..· n·I" I"-'.1 fo r tlw ~hr;ll dl· r, wlnch .rre .ld u.llI)' lit.:hln III \\"I g:h l th.rn
g: k· l' f<)hl ~' m
!Ill' 1,l h ri c ·nl\"e r~J -urtaccs u't.·J o n rhc
when d'·'I J.:nlll l,: dl \ e h 'mh.·T-". \\'.1<. ,j<, 1"II" w..:
HI , explananon
TIll' RTD we n t .1 1,,111-: " '.1)' h ,w.lrJ. l ui· flll.1l1: Hc mcmann's I. ,fl ~· a, p"alh >nS; ~' xa(( l )' h. iw l~" ca n he 111JJ,:l'l.1 h ~' .1com r. m ...in .,1 n o ug!.... war time ,lin' h llnh..'r tn"·' ( _~ t't' the la" ll' he llI W ) . In a n y ( ........ he \\..... ahl e I" poinr to a c"n ' l.k·ra" le me re.......· in ma ximum hornh 1"....1 . whi le [hi , I' Md, in te nus 01 r"n/m l'h, \\,:1 ' c-norllh lll,ly inu ea,,·J ove r rhc «urn ..' " ireral" Take-off, d im" anJ lor -pccd.. were :11\11 improved nvvr bn h Ilu ' S Bn an d the
TI ll' aim wa, I" a..lucvc till' opt imum wint::· a nJ tail-surface pr"hle' .hat wtlulJ result In pt .... mvc ..1..hl l l1 ~· ;I1lJ cont rol a hltJl all axes. ;\l1ll thruul-:h'l uI till' whole spec t ru m 0 1 'J"l·l,\l.. [ Irom ter minal ve loc tt }· J in' h i ~I ;J I I I. A ~: ri ,~ I umtcn sivc windtlln nd I t."~h ""a.. co n, I,tt:I,-...I ;1/ h lth IilC C alrl.'Ch faC1 l l1~' ;IIlJ al !llC NACA AlllC" L lh 'ra wl)' , illl:lll·..! ;II M"tti.." FielJ. l1u' ;I(h i..' H' llll'nI " I .\..' n ,J)'na m ic hal· ;111( ..' o n all " ' nl r" I,. an..1 Ih l' litrln!! " f "r rinJ.: tah, Iii Ih e ru,I.I..·r~ an,1 aileron" 1l'~lllt ..'\1 in 'm'IIl'>l'lIvmhllily a nJ co nt r,, ] h"rl1l"")' e' lui\',,!l-n1 ttl 1Il 1...1..· rn fighr..-r·. ,,( cllr,lin g ttl II..·in l·III.IIlIl\ pR·." rde........ I I,' al~" ~ (;l [ed Ih"l . ill " r.ln 10 'c1im in" tl' Ill..- un.k',i r;lhk· v" rial i,'n.• in cl' n tH,1 ;\1,, 1 Irim , ,'x l'l' ri ~'nn'd wit h r,'r,·tll h iJ.:h-"l'cl'd :lirpt lneS lIsin J-: ("h rlc n'ntrt ll "llrt"' K..,
TI ll' ' lat '·IlI"'n\ mi l-:ht he c" n"IJ eTl-J toJ.;!y Iu h.. hYpl.·rh .k wrin ,'n h)" !Ill' ;me r.I(t's pro".1 o riglll;u " r. Hmn ·\"l'r. III duo lonl: I,'rm (fil,:h l" r ,H trl hur l:~ al';lTt), Ihl ' early .k,ni pr i"" 01 rhl' Sky r.li.!c r\ c h id n ll'f1l~ rfl J\'~'d time ,Illd li me ag;lin 10 N: ,J(c ur;llr. T he S pa. 1wIllIld c' , ,'n Itl J, ll1....,ful \\'. ,rk in l" nJ.: y..-ar, uf (runt · lin e w r\"il:,·. ;IllJ its "t
5BtH XSB1D-I diY~'~bom 5~"' ~E''':==~~~;-----=~rg;====~~=--=== AD< 1266 1009
rhc !.ult'r Ijnal l ~' sh ir l't-'ll the Pratt & Wh iln,'y Jt. \ l SO-4 C vcb lilt' . Sul......rfioally tht.-sc rival., 1'1\<.11,.'1.1up rh ~·,k all ~· -un-
Head-Or'! por1r.it 01 SkYlllidel EAIE In-ADSWI 135152 (N65164) al · Sun 'II' Fun", L. kel and. Florid . , on 20 April, 1998. Fltn. A. HudlOfl
ratl- plarw was lUI Xin (4 .6401), 1<1 rhc lip III the propeller, 15it ~i n (4 .76m ),
Dimensions
Weights
~XBT2[)·1 was N it Sill (15. 2510 ) I II weratllenerh, h.l,1 ,. Will J.:,p.iIl t ,f 50f, Y.in
09L185) wcichL.J in CrtM ,n
m.~5m ) anJ a lWIJ.:I\I III 15ft 7Yin Iti6m). Th... WlllJ.: an-a ""',1' ·K'O.l} ...., it
07.19 So.I
10 ) .
Hl"IJ.:hl
hi
the tip of the
Th e fiN rrot o'H"-' (cfn 191 1. RuN.. 16. 17.:!1l'> (7..~ n k d . 1,62~ 1 ,", (7 \Hke ) lIn.Jt'r rhc contracr c....1,iL's i~'l1 w c iell! . 11lL" n..suh .. ,I I k-rmm.mn 's \" i~" *'lISrcgunc. The-c " c ures \\'L'rL'
37
"" co• ...I th ,u rh...·)" ur SCI rre.Jic tL'J S I
roward-, rhc n.......... The eml'l~· wdell! o f rh e su~~u"'n1 p n ."Jln-e'S ca me u ut a t 10,0") \11-> (4,578ke ), 1. ~ I,iL...I \H'lCh t ,II I \ .500Il'> (6, IZ4kg).• 11\..1 maximum wt'iehl at 175 001l'> <7,9\8ke).
Wings The new dIn' bomber ic,lturt.J iI Slr' IlCht , low-mo unted wine... ,I the NACA 2417
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(.II.
maxi mum lift -cnes, ,, ( t:lpl'ri n J.: section. wit h ,I ()·.k'~rn' dihed ral and a 6·.1l'J.:rl't' ,'II't'cr-h,cl. Tht, r;I!'t'riJJK .' I'n i r 'H t"t'al vT!,d 4.1 d"J.:T""S of l "w- sI'''' l',I 'w; l ~h -''lft ' , while a 4 -dcJ.: rl'" iIKi,k'IKI' "f wing T''''! made (' lr unproved ra kl,·" tf ahi lilY. \Ving l'''lding \\'a, 7Ih/s\] It ( 16-1. 7 k0~11l1) and P, l\WT Illad in~ was S.Slh/hl' (2.7 kgjhp),
SI',:cificalion - XBT2D-1
R-B50-I 4W
Powcrplant: We i gh l ~ :
Emptv 4.576lg (IO.CN1lh); loaJeJ 6. 124kg (I l,500]h ); full 7,918kl:
(17,SOOlh); \\·ing l.Mdltll! 33.7lhlSll ft; I"-'\\'e r loa,lrng 2.7kldhr (;.81hlhr)
l"
Length II .Ol m (Nft ; in); height 4.76m ( 15(1 j '5Oft V. in ); \\'inll area 37.19"'1 III (4OO.11"l (1 )
7 ~i n);
wing'ran 1'5,25m
1.iOOhr
Performance:
MOlX. ~J'I-...,d 604kmJh
07'irnrh); at "huuJ,· 4.14'5m (1l,6(X)(r )
erni", ~ I.,..,-J 264lml/h ( l64mrhl Ratl' ,'I climb 1,152kmth ( 1.68OftJrnin l c.:',rltng7,925 m (26.COOttl Range 2,'500klll ( 1,554rmb) Accert a nce in service: lila
Breakdown 01the ma ior components of a Skyraidll r illustrates its simplicily 01st ructula .
38
TIll: Sti:YI< Al1lHI IlI 'S('I!IIiU)
Wilt-ftWilg IIMCheniSllldel ei' 011 the Roy.1 Navy AEW·1 IAD·4W! Wi 121$kY'aidet.1 the fl e, 1Air Arm RNAS y_i llon. Pet" C. Sm~1l
wnh tI'k.' w i ll)..~ filII}' f,II.It\.! mward towarJ, rbc firsd
mum hc i/...fll all, ",, ",11\.,;1",; Ifh,II\!:,tr.....k·<1 clear"oct" Juri~ f' IIJmg when Ih,: wml." wctv
39
Il'nl J'< Ifan l ~' p;l...,in!.: thn>UJ:h ,II tXJ Jt.,.'Tt'l~ wuc 19ft 4 i(in (5.9Zm), When Ih,: win~ we re
unf lkk-J anJ srn:aJ , rc-Adr f'lf t;lh·... >tf, Im'r I..,:kl-J mto place ...,' 1m' ri1o(. whu
were
..
. ,...""
..,
• 11. .. .
TlI l: S KYR Allll:k n!'SC k lllf:!J
This ru r·vie w s hOI 01pre se rved fr en ch $kyr..ide r F·AZDP (below/ shows tI1 . win g jury , lruts th•• SUpPO" tI1. lolded wing a nd ("ghf/ cioH up of c.. nopr . r. ... M HlSCoo.:k
c h ~'l l;\ h:llh lk· that n:lrd<:l ~\II, .· .,:k il1l.: r",.I"
which wvrc locarcdon l-oth \\"It\l.."i , pnmrcd red , 1l\,l ll l~l na rlll·,I' h..·.,: r can.". TI\l' .rilcron-, were mounu-cl " nly I'll rbc outer Wllll.: I'.llll'k Fowler : Ir~·.l·llltfl'a'm.l: 11I p' \n' H' {1Ih..'l1 on tlw hr",IJ ccm rc-sccI i. 'II in I,r,I~' r It, enha nce I.'1I""r":~', I, qvraI ioth. TIw 'l;m,larJ n;l\"l~;lI io n liehh were nncd on till' le.I.line e...Iec-, "f tlw omcrwlnc cxtrvuurrcs.
Empennage TIw t.1I 1 J r;'l.:C~·f ,l...., it:n uf the XBT!()·J ";1' ;m,-rlu-r ,li' l in~ui,h inc fc arurc. which, ;11 fi r't
cl.ince•• 1J'J".';jr~.J in.I,Il'l.J1I.11'· I~,r a
r l.Hll' "f 'IKh
Th. m.lSsive a nd solid Ilap s and aClua lors on the Royal Navy AM· 1 (AO·4W) WT 121 Skyraider a t the f leet Air Arm Museu m, RNA S Yeovilton. Peler C. Smnh
40
;1 -uc. A ta ll. Il.I rrUW, ve rncal , I,lhilb·r. which j"illl·.I l hl· 1IJ'['l'f rear fll....· I,le~· \' 1;1 ;1 c urved fillet, wa, cotnp]...· mcnt cd bv I W' l 9t l I I in (J.02 m l lan-ralr.ul ,t ilh,lb'I' plan ·,1 well f' lfw ;!r.! . In' le;l.I of co n\TIlI IOIlOl I fix..:.! 'I ;lhili:n'. tlw 'ys t~' rn
,,, .i,., 1Ill:
~ K Y IlAlII H( I JI : ~ C Il I I II Il
wa ~ powe r-boosted hy mean - "f an clccmcullv ope rated s ta l-o i l i ~c r con trol, mourned al rbc h;l~c of the tail section nhcad of the
rudclt.·r. which made f".l,," ihll· the....· smaller-c••lc elevators. SIUel les 1,1the ettcct .llhigh "f".·l·J on till" tra,li li, llla l fabnc -covcrcd cont rol 'U rf,I(C~ of con n-mporary a1TU,11t 4 1l IW t..J rhat "ll, h ryf'l-" sut(t·lt.J incon..is(cncil" In nun lev cl.. anJ cont rol. To eliminate t he....• (.K l o", a.. far as pos-rblc, rh e Dou!!la, team ul lh:l.J all-mcral control surfaces. An U1U· Xf".,( l t.J h>nu s from this rnodificanon wac rh al lht·....· wen: ..Ii~hdr li,e:hllT rh.m t he convenuonal tvpe . Co ntrol.. ,mJ ' r n n.c: 1<1.....
on rhc mJJcr anJ rhe aileron- ft ',lI u rl,..J .wrod vnarruc balance.
(BlI /ow! Unde rwi flg d~.jl . nd tUt cockpit 't" ol Sk.,...i de t 13268318u No N391U I in natura r finislt on oUl'$idestorege pad at Itlll Pla nes 01Fame Munum. Ctlino. 15 Mar ctll99B.
ltMiRg , dg• • nd wing -tip p'olil e . P,"" C SnwrIl
".......R S'f04tl
4'
.....
,
-
" ".~
~ l(.II.
Por1 si de 'amids hips' detail and w ing lIaps 01the Dougln AD·4NA, s upplied to tha US Marine Corps durin g the Korea n Wa r lind wh ich was ove rhaule d a nd then tra nsferr ed to the Fre nch Air Forc e in 1960, They use d il in strikes aglli nsl Gue rrilla force s in the ir Afric a n lerri tories prior to Indepe nde nce . In 1916 this mac hine was hand ed over to the Gabo ne se Air Force . When the y ha d finished wi th her s hit WllS put up lor n le lind fina lly arrived at me Imperi al War Mus eum airfield of Dudord, neer Cilmbridglt in 1991 w he re she is ope rated , strangltly e nough lor a divlt bombe r, by The Fighter ce uee uc e . Shit nes been repa inted to re semble the USS Intrepid's VA-116 unit Peter C SmIth
Closlt ,up Itnginlt det ail of the US Mari nes AD,4N {BuNo 1269351coded HB, Re gd NX2088G. at Aero Trad er 1998. KeVIn R. Smith
42
,
." TIlE SKYIlAmF R flF. SrRIIl ED
Powerplant The R·)350·2 4W dght ~en.cy l indl'r, dc vcl-
coing2,SOOhp. was due t t l become avai lable only in April 1945. Studies wen: made into rhe 5uitahiliry o f th e I'rau & W h itney R·
28CO engine as a back-up, but the first four rrototype
XBT2D-1s
ro ok to t he ai r w ith
the 2,300hp Wright R·3350-8 Cvclonc 18 cnanc installed il1.'tC l2,SOOkm). T tl TL...[uce tri mming tl S,tgl" th e ff1j!ine itself W,Ls mounted wi th 4 .1 l k' gn Ts
l1fJownw;lrd thruct ,The l'nginl' W;IS nu HUll -
ed on a s[X'Cial, sin mg, hu t much-srmpliflcd mounting, als l ,Io,:sh.: nnl h~' ! Ieincmurm. This compri sed ;1 sing l\' -olid I;,tgin g with jour profiled .rrrn-, whidll'l<,h\'J dlrl'ct ly 1111 the main fUSl'bgl' a n,i COlllh ilw d n-l.uive 1i~>!lInl'SS wnh inherent stt\,nglh , The rr(lll 'I~'l'l'S wen- fitt\'c1 with a hol11)1\' alumi niu m Al'[lll' ro, lu(\s A 64Z·
GS04/M20A2- 16Zhvdraultcallvactu.uccl, variable-pitch. c' ln st;m l- sl,\' \',l propelle r with ,1 diameter of I Wft (·U lm} . This J'fllp was IUm \',1 hy a si llglt'.stagt" twospeed supercharg er. T h is un it wa s t ll g in' nse to governor 1)\'e r-'''I'I'e,l l' rohll'lIh earl y Oil in the h's t ing l' ru gr;l1l11lll', hdllj.: prone to vtbrancm. a m' of th \' pn It, 'types (BuN, I 09088) was an:llrd illj.:ly fitted with un enlarged propeller spinner in an ;)ltl'IIl!'1 to alleviate rhi-, vibratmn problem. Behind the NACA nose rin g, rhc engine was ent.:ast',1 inan clong.ncd cowlm~, the Ironr alpart I,f which W;lS hin j.:..:d on a narrow ceut rul top pane l. Two LiTg..: access flap' ope ned upwards for l';lSY maintcnancc sive oil cooler, whic h W~IS prllll'C!I'd \>elnw and air hy Slfl"llulin..:d !a ir illj.:s ,
Fronlal view of Iha massive propell er of the Douglas AD·! Skyraider, 09102, er the Ironl gale 01NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA. KeVin R. Smith
which rh c rcnrw ard-facurg l!u ll Ul-:h l'x h; ltlsl stac ks p ro jl'c ll'd . Bo th rhcsc fit l in gs produced tlwir own pr ohle nu, d llri ng l'a rly tes li ng, a lo tl ~ wi t h I-.ac k firl" an d cr ack s in t he sralls rhcmsclvcs, .uul rhcsc led to una voidable ,!<.- Llys.
A D-l 10 340 ga!ln ns ) ancl was ,df.sealinj.:. T he fuel-tank selec tor valve , IUI,1 srmincr and a ux iliary fud pump wen' located lorwar d , be low the firewall, wit h th e 1'Ill-:inl" driven fue l pump forwanl o f t hat , ~Io\\'
the car bun-t tor. F" r ..d ,liti'>n a l ran ge. rhc main fuel tank could l-c sllPl'll'mentl'..! I-.y ,Isinj.:k, Mdrk 12
Fuel Sys te m T Ill' ma in fuscl a g" flld M11'I'h' was conl a in ed in a Illzengl' -sbapl'd l;ln k 1,'Ca ll'd ;lhlft th..: p il,'I's s\'a t. T hi s I;mk h a,l a 223· l-:all"n ca pacit y ( la ll'r incr..:asl'd in tl1l'
43
\,xt l'rnal luel tan k , with a ..:a r aci ty " f an ad,li rh.na l 150 ~a llllll.s, which cll ulJ he (;1[t ied lin till' cl'll l ra l, l:l'n t rl' -Iusl'!agt' harJ pllinl , and h y two r.,tnk 8 w in~-mount ed \,xt l'rna l fud tanks, tlf 300 j.:allll1l Cllp;lCiry, 1lI0lJllt..:J lln tl1l' tllldl'r\vin g st al ion s.
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(.II.
rill:
.~
t..: YIlAIll I.W IlI.~OWll:l )
(Left) l ooking forwa rd a long the sta rboard lus elage s how ing engine exhau st dela il on the Royal Navy AEW-t IAD-4WI WT 121 Skyraide r at the Fleet Air Arm Mus e um, RNAS Yeovilton. Pate, C Sm,th {Abo ve} Undersid e detail on th e Royal Na vy AEW-t lAD-4W) WT t21 Skyraider al lhe Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovillon . Pate, C Smnh
Undercarria ge A, anot her pl" y I" ' I" Td producuun. till' tir, ' IWll I'rp'''l y!,,'' 1I','r,' tilt ",l wnh till' main llI1
covers, till' trulll ;ll !,a rt, pf wh i.:h \I'lT\' {u red with Ian. hll j.! lij.!h t" TIll' r.u l wlwd W:I ' 011" , lully rl'l r;I.:la hl,', f,,ldinj.!
l<\II,II" II1j.! on lan,li n!! w ith un fortunate rq ':llbfll y, FI ,r ;l curr ier airc nut t h is 11';1, J l' a, HullS, 0l1l.1 h Ol ' I ~' 1I1," Nl r<"' hod rll be .t.I"I' I,·,1 til r,·rt it\- th is problem. T Ill' I'ro tllt yl" " , alo llj.! wnh rhc fu-r 'WII-',",' U' " I' tIll' 1'" "I IKti.'1l A\)- I" IWTC ,h ll']'" ..1 l-ack 10 EI ~"J.: lInd". Here. Ihey \\...n- ' frenj.!thl"Ill,,1 ;lll,1 th.. .nrfnnuc il"clf W;I' ,,1 ,, \ tlllld iti" J to 1-:I I'l';t much -rur..lier wil1!!-,ul'l'l'n "'(I II'n, Till' 1;l!1.1illj.!-gl'ar I'i\-"I \\'01' ;11,,1 r..r-ea- r. and it was h" I,,,'d t hat !ll," " Ill' " ilfiral ion-, ha ,1 ",h-t'J fill' problcru: Ihl ' ]'ruI' n l 110 1 III " ,' t he CIS,'. FIIrt hen 11' m-, , Ill" l' ;1 \t cnu t, His rc-ulrcd III :lll IlKr,"I',' in IIT il-:hf , ,( ",11\,' 4 1Sih.
"" x
Close -up del ail 01arresto r hook on the Royal Navy AEW-1 lAD-4W I WT 121 Skyraider at the Flee t Air Arm Museu m, RNAS Yeovilton. Peter C. Sm.th
44
.,, rHE SI\YR ,\IIlHlllISCIIIllHI
Close -up ollhe underc arria ge e quipment 01the Douglas AO·4 NA no w at Ihe Imperia l War Museum airfie ld 01 OuKford. near Cambri dg e. via the US Marin e Corps, me French Air fol ce. and Ihe Gabone se Air Force . Pete, C SmIth
IBelow leftl Close-up ctth e starboard whee l.
w hee l-we ll and landin g geB' ollh e Douglas AD-' Skyraider 8uN o 09102 01 VA116, at the Ironl gale 01
NAS Oceana. Virginia Beach. VA. Kevm R SmIth IBelow} Close -u p del ail 01 ta il w he el on th e Royal
Navy AEW·l (AD·4WI WT121 Skyraider 01the Fleel Air Ann Museu m. RNAS \'eo vill oo. Pele' C Sm,th
45
..
, ..... ...d
~l'. ".
rue
Coc kpit Layou t The rit"l
1>;1[
in ,I hlll·ke l scut wu h an
armourccl Iwa-lresr. IIn.ln ;. clear-blown
'bubble' ca n.. py, which
~l i, 1
back
rear-
ward, (.If 'K":l'" ; I n,l l't.:re ~,. The arm, .urnl wm,l,hldJ h;I.1 the M,lrk 20 MuJ. .. a,IJII,t;ll--k' rdlt'l'II' r I.:un .sit.:lu IIh 'lInfl·,1 ce n trallv on 'I ,rr"nl.: 'IIrr"n .mu , which W,I' h ,ltl'J '!t"r Ih\' main inurumenr p ane l. TIll' I:tll'L.l' il ~ 1 1. k· W,h dl't:tr iC;lII\' " re r,' ll,J 1--,. tIlean, (If cnhcr au inn-rna] handle m.. llnh..J o n the port , i.It, 01 rho ril..t'- c•..:krlt . wlnch ;II ..., I' Kh·,1 it . , 'r from " 111' 1,11" hy mc.m-, .. I ,. ' tnlr ll" t " ,,:n/CI · , WHl·h on the port "I,ll'. A, ,~ rv ult .. t lu.. own cvcwuuc..... ol~'rvauou-, wllh IIw tll't.'! III rill' war zorw, H"lIll'lIl,i1111 h,JJ 1ll~1'l l'll lln;\ ~ l l1l l'b l l l'll ;1Ilt.! ":!I'.1ll1.J-Ur olCL. r il. wllh l'lHl'h,N" rl.tn.J ,
,,'"..w..,.
.._~
pCJl '.
1*'I'I
8.
_1Irt'IQ CClr'l._ 8Cl...... ",o_cr>
"
0•
..-_""'9'...... _ _
~-
on r il,.! o'lll rarl hi l i !~'. A IS dl't.:n'l' ;mt.:!c " t pilot vision. both (i-onl
Dive Brakes \'(,'ith rhc rt.' jl'\:l i. -n••f ",,·inl.: ,ltn' brake and ,hl' ,w" r t io n of till' h ll.h'-moullI l·,1 n 'r" 'Lon. 1\1I1t.:1.1~ Jive h'II1I""r' tooL. on ;I
whole new prottlc as Ihq hurtled 101>,"lr.l, their mr gc t. Th ree hvdrauhcallv Orx'n111,J drvc brake, wert' ftucd. one lin cuhc r side of rill' re ar fllS~:tICt.', anJ o ne unde rn eath rill" tu..d'ICI' ah,lft th e coc kpn. All th ree d ive " rake s we re meta l pancl-, St'1 mro recesses in rhc fU'l'bce -rruc rurc it....·I! nod h in t.:l.J at the tronral end. The ur~:f,lt inl.: con trol was located on Ihl' lctrhand sIJ l' of the r il')I'~ conso le and, when ocuv.ued. the three dive ha k l'~' urera1mt.: q lin ,It'rs 1\"(lrh.J sim ult .m eo c...I". hut mdcJ''l:n ,It'nfl)·. There wa .. no actual linkat.:l' between them. When Ihey were h,'Jr.lulic ally actuated, II r, •• k UM't three SeCtlfM, f.If alllh\' hr,lh... It l IIf".'n t ....lt ....~ l rJ I,· h i a maximum ,mt.:!.'.,f ~ ' 111.'11"'.... Ahll
.
The dive brak e mounled on Ihe IInder·hlselOlge, seen he re lIllly opened . US Navy olht.al ph OlOgra ph
(Be/owl An aerial ,iew 01three US Nuy ADs peeling off into their di" atta c b wilh fllselage ·mounted din brake s deployed . The SkyrOlider wa s one oflhe best ·loved close ,slIpport ililclaft " ", held in ttle sa me alteclion by h~"d ·pl8n.d Ametiun inlanlfymen in KOI" I nd VietnOlm as w as the Junhrs Ju .11 Sluk. b, German ground 1I00PS in ttle Second World WI!. Both co uld COllnl on .ceurlc y 01 deli.." a nd reliability when i1 was need ed. US 0"11:,,1 pholOQ"jI/>. W,sl'Il"9IOtl. DC
"',V)'
{Bonom} Re.1 view ol1tle Uniled Slain MOlrilltl Corps DOlllllas AD·4B Skyr.ide l. BIINo 132261 01 VMA·111. being restored 11 USMCAil-Ground Musellm. DIIOlnlico. CA. July 19!1lThis pictllre sh~ ee rna" i" recu s tor ttle lusel a ge ·mounled dive brak es , k...... R $moth
\"Cr)- , Ii~h t
control- In ....I..IIII"n...nlv
tmn
a1teT.I1 It"'-' were nt -cT""lry . 'WII) , an Ihn-c•
n-Jh", cxtcnck..I, Jlnnl: '1":1,:...1 ""';1, CUI fnsm "'\ .'mph ttl k\."tnr " (, "lS---4HOkm/h l. ~l'n cxccpuonallv I;lTl.!l' h, 'lllh. or other ~ tl'Tr..o~ wen: cnrru..-J I'll th e central ventral po- u urn. which 11I1 ~11I IInrm~l' I 'll the t'f":r. llh ,n. >f I he un,I,·f,.,Ic din' l-r,lh''', a manu.d [, ...:kinl: ,';lln' prevented lh,tl Jiw "'rake: from lum-lI
the din : hrah'" whIle on IIw earner deck Ilf runway ..,hurl', I he ~k }T;l i . ll"r .....i'h ;\ ~Il l' n,l id ',If,"'" lo..-k .
\\' ;1'
[me...1
\Vhl'll III an an.«k ,lin' with ;.11 hrah·.. fully exten ded, I'd , 'I' wen- caunoncd ' " leave ,h,'111 111 dll' lull'''"1 1'"..mon , Im in l-:
ICn'lIm l: 11111, :In,1 l), II I" retract them urn i] the aircrntr \\' :1' tlyin l-: almo-,t , U:lil-:!H and true . It had IX'l'l) 1~1l11l,1 l hal, ,I l h~ .I iVl' brake, \\'l'H' n-tr.utvd hd; ,rl' the ai rnaft h,IJ I'ulll'd ILl', till' d in ' ' 1'1'1'.1 irK Il':!'l'd raridl r and there wav a 11<>' I·· , I, )WII tri m ahcnutou th.u could !'ro n ' terminal. Further a,kil'l' W:I' lh:ll till' m,,\'ahk· 'laJ,, 1i: ·
ers were never III 1,<: u-ccl In Ill'll' recover
from such ,!In ', , :1' Ihis \\'<>111.1 C llI' I'I' XI"I'Ssin' I,l it -, 1;,il lIfl' ,
Armament
Wilh Ihl' clunmanon till' Iu tc rnn l bomb "':IY, lln , I,' rw ill l-: ,loWa l.:l' wa, Pf
J..c i- ron, which
.'a11eJ ver-aulu v.
Il' ~ ll lt l' ,1
III
unri-
111:11 W." ,l l' ~ l i nl'J to
give the Skvnudcr 1I ~ I
The IlfhIU <>"..J coulJ " 'II' more
i, ld ,IMI
the Skvraidcr
WI' ,II ""IH)'
Ihan rhe four-
47
.
. ...."". d ~I'.".
l' n~IIll" ,1 (\ ,,:inl: B· li Flyill J.: F"rtrl's, hl"I\'\' ho mh.' r, W", Ih ..., ,im r l.... mnh . A, " Ill' U S A F .unuan wrot , 'T he A ·1E, C,lrr,' Ill, 'r..., w" 1/.:11I o n on , \\ 1111: Ih 'lI l Iii ..., F-Il 1.. ,' n h 'l h: Al lh oudt rh e ILN 1'1\'It>tH"'.... were '...lllll'l.....-J wnh )1I, t thr........ h lllih rack-, I~ 'r carlv IIL,II" r l\ >J.:rl....- ion II'a, 'o("'n m,I.I..., It. 1I1l:l",' ,I.....• rill' nl''''' ai r, Tal, \ w 'lr " n....:.IIl'·,in/.: C. II',Klt". Evcnt u.illv, no I , than t im-en ,'xI,'nu l hanl point -, \H'rl' cnq-l.sccd. (,111<." Lire...' A",'r,. 1A ordnance r ylo l1 , wuh a ~,(>l\.~ I h ( I.t> lCkd IH'ight lim it , was 1l11 11Jl\I · "",1, 11t 11ll' ccmrc-luu- under tlu- fll"",·b J.:'· '111..1 Ib nl ,·,I,,lith >;11\1 , '11 t he iruwr-wmu,c' , 1ion by t wo ML :; I slaliuns, which l'a, h had ;1 2,1(\1Ih (l ,l1oli,1kJ.:} w"" il!h l lim it with 10l in lLl.c" or ~ ,C\)()lh (I , ~()(lk J.:) lim it......1wilh 1O1ll Ill)..'" TItl' " llw r IIH'IH' A"Il ' 14 .• lal h 'IlS \ITr,' pLIl·l·,I, . ix 'I sid,·, out hoard 01 tlll' .....·, ;md Hllml"" r",1 1 I.. 12 (fr"lIll'ort " lIth>;lId t" 1"" 1t in h >;lr.I, anJ , mlh.a rJ in h >;ll.! It , '1,lrh>;lr,1 "ut h >;lI,I). Thl''''''' tlu th >;lr.l st
The other linulIll/.: tac tor f,' r rh o outerwin }! s' at ions w", th e .li.lllll·r -r of rheord11;Inu ' earned. wlnch , lI d .ill 1till" reale-ric ho m" I' >;IJ an,1. m vttcc t, r""'lric t~ it [ot her than th e thr c....· 1.0001h Mt> ; bomb-, il· wa.. h..'Cllm in/.: Ill' " .... and nll'"' " 1I1rn lc.1 (,\I Ihl' In.....· of o r.ln.lnc .... !x·m~ c,u ril 1 ;1ll,l l hl· ml'l h, ,,1 " f ," I'lcL !x'ing ul ili:l-J . Il l' inl'Il\,ulI\ h.IJ J.:1\· ....n Ih ., pro J-.!t..' tIl muc h II1" 'I /.:hl ;mJ II\<' r.... ' 1I1! W;l_ Ihl' n,'w ,I...· v i c ~ . Hl' lat,'r d...""'(: ri!x,.1 II ;h t~ ,l1"ws:
Inlllrn.l l elJ.l ngelnllnt.
-48
b ...·nu.'l1"..,n d ..... rn~ .l l1 '· .KIU.U.....J.•·x l'~ .."'.· . h."l.'<" In rhc r.,, ~ pu-h...J ,h., " .. n· .1". ', rn~n , h... J ,,·,nl.! r l.tll<" 1m " It.., ..,r--lT.",m. 1\...., R.•hn
Th L' J l·\·Kl· W.IS a J.:rt..'a l ' tl'r !o rw,.rJ . W ith"ul It . ccmre-lmc r :lyl,J;.J, .l" J'l·"::!'IIIy ....lIlrl y tucl nmks. woulJ It e, ju...·llI ly 1111 Ill<.' und...· r' IJ l· ul th e IU.....·!:tCl· whe n released . TI l<.' ....xr l,...ive l.:: hafJ,:"'· .1 1m' ....' "' l a ll~' cluniuat cd lh e 1 ""llJl' I K ~' f" r th e Skvmldcr 10 no-,c-ov c r when til<" I.lrgo: cent re-line •mlu.rnce wa-, )<.'1 11.. 'lll' .I. On til<.' l'arly I'Tlllotn'''''' (HuN" , 090HS· 01) 109 ). un.ll·rwill/.: 1",1 .1, could bl' combin.nions 0 1 hOlllhs, ro c kets, l"Ip'·.I,...·" , m" kl' ca n b tl'r" .Ir,,1' tanks or napalm, up II' a max inulrn I,r 8,00011'1 ( 3 ,6 2I}k ~) . T Ill' in -huih ,m ll:Lllll' n l i ll i t i ,I II ~' CO il ' ' 1,1<'.101 l WO M ~ 2(l-rnm can o"n muuntl·J III ""Ih thl' WLIlJ.: , Iuhs. Th i, Wl·.II">Il firl·J a ; .; Ih rn'J"'"C l L!t..· ;tnJ h,l.1 a 1ll1l::1.... \'l·I.,, il y ,.1 1. ~ KIf,!....·..:: (71 Om/sr:c) ;1Il,1a 1;11 " .>1 fir.... of -h"\"'rrm. TIt.......... 2M · 3 c lonon Ll......J pc:rcu"" lt,n· r " ll\...-...I a mm unl1 l' 'noTIl<.' m,IC:l: inl'" wl·r.... Illl.\.mtl-J m~iJ.... Ihe Wine.
T Hl-..\KYIt AIIlI,,1t
h onzonrullv cuu board "I' 11K' « HU h ' n itself. Thev could bold ZOO rounds e,u;h am] were loaded from : KC l'~ ' pand s a tlip tilt' wing. The guns were fitt ed wit h .m ARM/SAFE sclcc non switch. Tht -, arnuemerit \\',h inlTl'a'l,d t il four win u-mouutcd cannon when tl u- ADA came in , wuh Ih l' extra pair of gu n~ IX'i n g mounted in th e (luter-wing panels.
,'ll .h.l "'-I LI",I'"n ,,,m~ tilt" ...1"'1·1, "'xt"'n,bl JLO' brak..·" In J" I\· 19';;. till" f 4U wa, "' 1'1.1 ",1 "'lIh Ih..· n " , ~ b, A11·4 (;,1",Ih" .; ,m.! th /Il. 1 11..-... lh,·,,· until N",,'·mh.... l'Ifll . 111<-... II,... ~ I\ II 1\.Hmtl"" ,mtll ",km"'ll1~ to ,h" ~1I2( :. l I", ;nlr,,,I"dl,,n 1" 1T~,,·r·tl' I"· .",.
,ll"'~
Comparisons um1rari,,,n with con tcrupornrv an,1 rival dire h.' mhcrs i, illum inat ing; see rh c table I"-,,t -war claims that rh c Skyr.tiJer wns h)' far an d "wa ~' ' t h,' h"._l drvc bomber eve r tes ted a t Patuxent River'. analysi._ of rhc fil-:u rn ~hnw, Ih ,L!, in 1I101 tl y areas. o the r dive l-ombcrs outclus-cd it. The Mart in f\-hll!l'r wa., nWf\:in:llly f,l~t "'r, the Vl'ngea n..:l' I];I.! [ar gr,',H,,'r r...a..:h, whilethe Buccaneer W,I' till' light,'sl , an ,1 had the sr nullcsr win g,pa n l( lr c a rrie r operarkms. However. wluu tIll' Skvruulcr h,lll in enormous abundance 11'01, h a Lllin g c a paci t y. II wa, th t, factor, r lu, its P\ -eral l vcrsat iii I y, which finally WI 'Il th,' ,by. The reasons wh y the Doug h , S k yra i.!l·r \\<15 S1l wclconn- in t he fleet nil iI' :lrriv:1! were man y and vaned. T Ill' al rer:l!"t ,1t:1I ir replaced wa, the C urti-, S R1C llclldtvcr, while it.- main nvalshould ha ve l-eon th e Martin A M f\-bu!l' r, O m' Nav y pilot wh o De'ril l'
legenda ry S RD Dau nt k',~ earlier, W ,lS Charles R. Sh uford. l ib wid,' l'xl',-,rie nc,' makes his account nf tlu- ,!ifti.'n ·lle'·'between the ma c hi lle, partivulntlv valua~lc a, a histor tca l rccc.rd. II
n,...
Compari$On 01 us ~ ive·bombe r types c - - - MARTIN DOUGLAS AM·I 'TO DESTROYER MAUL ER
.,"'"' """
"'T$ WIN{; CONFIGURATIO N POWERPlA NT IAAX SPEED MAXMNGE C[I1JNG IAAX TAKE·OFF WE IGHT {MAAll LENGTH OVERAI.L HEIGHT OVERALL SPA N I\RMAMENT ORDNANCE
Til,' Skvruidcr's normal c ru i, ing ' 1""',1wns a sed.uc 140 kno b indicated atr-pccd, o r three mil l" a 1111l111!l' over rhc ground, at an ahitudc Ilf nbout 10,(XX'lft (3,OSOm). A,,, I:~nl'f"l ru]..• ("",,,·;lll,...r 1'l·tll\l!tltll:lw..· II'LI.,II\' al'l"'IO...h~,1 .• l atl:~ t "r ;It\ "ltIl"..! ..· ,~ 1I:1,I.\.'-'1t ,,·ak. 1-"''''''1: th~ 'tln-m the J,,'i'hll" "",,,I.I rOlh' th,'i, intl'rval "n till" le....1," ", to 1"Cl'Cnt " ...... r-nmnllll: .m'! "'.1> rn acn'll\l'li,h a "'n,I~,,"'''' "1,,,, 1',,11','11,. T1,... F4U C"r-,ur ""'.1'.' 1")' t" j1y- ,mn' It "'.1' hl:lu .m,1i,.,!. A,., ,Ii..'" \-..,mh.·t II "'." n,,( llll' "'·,t ,;n..-,· II h",1 n" .Ill'" hrah·,. W..· ..·xl..·n.l.....1 th,· wlll'd, I" cutllrol uur 'I"-...,J III II", div..,. TIll' 1
VULTEE A·358 VE NGEANCE
" n,'''' 1\·."1",,,,, l \: b lh A,Il"'''. " "."ml'· ""'"nl 1..... rlnv 1" Jun,· 11,l'i'l, "'c' wen- Ihlll!: rmerlv A I).(" an.lthc.....· ",,,,,. ,.,h·" a"'al' '" ht "....·,1 III Vi,'m;n". TIwI<,.•lk' Wc' h"d :\ I).'j" TIlt'''' ",',,'. , 1'1.-.",,,,, h ' Ill" Y,·.n, !'u... J ",<,~"..... " m."llll g trom TIIlll"·Llk I, •.h rl"l:l:Ul~ lh~i, on Vi,·r""" •. l"lr,,· III'NI.ui"n ,1"" .....1 an A IVj d'''ll'rnl( ""p"Ir,,. "nd u r"rrw.l ,..,I h' be IIIl" "n,· I tiN "t Atlam .• on 1/\J"nc I%O!
. . .,,,.<
I"",,,
[The
II""·'I" n"I1\I"'I> "" ,h,· r.nl I1"'T,dl"I1~",.1
C h' l r lL'~
':'> huf" rd addL',1 oru- more pcrnncn t rema rk , L'tlIph asi: inJ.: chat, no matter how J.:' '' 1<.1 (o r h,ld ) an .urcratt, tl 1tima t d~·.
much resrcd nil tilt' r il"t. Atl'" ,," ",, "'\. ,","'''' "I 11""'1( " II""~ ''''''''it,1 rhc co"d"",," rh'lI ,·""h rl~~ ,k'''cl" I'< h " own ,,'vl~· "I rn,, ~ ml: h" ,It"c m "",r
h...... "O"lC h'
rill' "'....'m"m """Ir. A lrer , Ill' '''' ITl.ll'''U h'eak. I"" " ,,",m r "n l(" [.,' "I'k ,.,h'< ' ''"er, A l r,·r,~· '1l '''1( III " "1"a ,I,,,,, 1'", ., 1"" " >cJ of rime. l'lJU bcconu- f.llTllh,,, W ill, each fdl,>", l'i h., ,,"J ~"'....
n"<"!h' ",hal
No.2 Formalion of AO·4s over Alla nla GA, September 1958. Chartes A, Shu!lIId
50
rlw y " 'ill
.I" '" "I:,,,,'n ' lluari
, -,
CHAPT ER SIX
The Skyraider Joins the Fleet
THhperimenla l Unit. VX -l . bu ed at KeV We st, Flor ida. w as l he l est squadron 101 all new Navy a irc ra ft. IIert, an AD·1a (BuNo 093661 i s seen on 6 January 1949. equipped w ith the AN/APS·4 radar pod under its a.r!Hlanl wi ng. Although somew hat temp eramental , Ihi s AEW radar w as 10 be oue of the l ongest -serv in g ~rlIOlne rad ar Sills in the US Navy. and w a s also utilil ed by the Royul Na vy l or many yea n . Nalton.1 "'chives. College Park, MO
Thc Skvr.udcr firsr l-cc.nuc ''['IT, lll.lll:1 1 with a USN<J\")"S"l1l;ldnll1 "11 61~«('11l1'l'r 1")46, Ilihl-n it joinnl VA-19A. F\.ur nu In l h s later, In Arril 1947, C arner QUitlifi..:atilitl Tl'.'[S
kg,ill with VA- U\ and VA·4B. TIl" SkyrJilln ...-ou l-cuan ,'quir other Navy «eck S<.llI:ldnlllS, gra,lu:llly rl'l' lacinj! llw Curres SAle-.:; l h-lldrvcr, which hadbeen
'
their mainstay. A stll,I~' uf lhe wurkillj!s of IWo Sk~·r.lidl'r uu u-, PI' the lime j!iw~ 'I tl:d u how the new ,1in:"lft h:j!:m 10 ~ Ilk' in. VA ·SR, with the Ar lanuc Plccr . alh l based at Ea.\! Fit-I,I, Norfolk, Vifj!inia, received to (iN A D- I lin 22 Se rtl'lIlhn 1947. TI' b W;IS followed hy IW,l more 1I1L' next day and four on 26 Scprcml-cr." O n 5 January 1945, iO Pl'f cent of all the lo.luaul\lI1\ enlisted personnel rl'r"rll',1 aboard the hij! new cu rr ier Coral ~l'll (CV P,4J) f"T prelunina rv tm illin j!, in prcp.rrat icIn for rhe ~hir's PTOPOSI,,1 shake-down cruise. Allhe same liml' , '11m AD· 1 ;lin.: ral"1 ,111,1 foor rilo lSwere Sl' nt al"1
c1lallj!l'd places on 9 j ;IllIl:lry. ;llon j! wilh four rdiednj! l'ilPh. Front i [uuuarv I" 17 [.rnuarv, 1he sh'lr,'·h'1S\,,1 Sk yraidl'(s ' 'Pl' rat . l',1 with I IlL' ( :t,wl ~,'a , "" Ihal 22 ril, lIs wen' lillalifil'd rn ddy carrtvr 101ll'';llj!S.
Repeated Accid ent s
a nd Damage Tlu- qualifications were not a..:hit:'\'ed wuhour ,Iil"fiurlty, Ltkc all nvw .urc raft, wit h new pilolS, tilL' Skym i,ll'r h"d uv f.ur share (II' tn'lhinj! rrphk llls and a,:l"i,II'nl s inl'\'i lahly rl'su hnl. On 7 jallu;rry 1945, Ensign T hor K. Slrorn,tl'd, 'H t acl H~ .l t, l VA -6B, was l'i l'ltinj! A I) ·1 BuN" 092Hl assij!lll'd t,l VA ·SIt En-iun Strolll.sll" lw'lS 1l1akillJ! Ilis carrier ' llI,llific:rti,'n Ian, linJ!s ;lh" ,ltJ the Coral Seo when his .urc ruft n il.,he,1 into till' h,rrril'r, The r iloll'l11<.'rj!ed U1lSf.:a tlll'd, hut Illl' .brn'lJ!l' suttl'rl'J hy Ih l' AI1-1 b ltll if., Il'lln,(n II ' A&R. On tl1l' s:unL' , lay, r..-t idsh iprn'l1\ Rex R. Bl'rJ!lund ,
5'
I
I" VA-6B and tl yin~ an A I)· (Bl1N n O<)~O<)) asSil..'11l,d ro VA .iB,lll;l,le
:I
h,lrd ca rrier Lmdin j!. whic h resulted in
al" , .utachcd
'wrinkled winJ!s nnd fusela).!l', Damaj!c In air craft W;lS sw•.: h :I.' 10 require a lrafl.>;(l'r of air cr ,lft to A&R ."· I[ wllllid seem rhnr the Sk~'r,li,kt's tl' rut;lli, In f,'r r, IUJ!hm'" j!lltl lif I" ,I \"el)' sh'lly eta rt ; dive l-ombcr-, weft' ex pected ro he ,Ihk' 1<' take thi, S.Ir! o( thill /.: in their Mri,ll' . Other Wl',.knl'sSl'S snun hl'J!an ro show Ill'. On 12 ) ,lI)\[;II)', EnsiJ!n Richard L. Robin-on , ll~'inJ! A D- ! BuN " 0927') durin).! carrier quulific .uions, m;J.!\, a 'normal ca rrier lanclinJ!'. I\.'sl' ill' this, t he ,-trrl',tinJ! hook broke, fl'sultin;.: in or barr ier crash. ami tlri-, aircraft joined the mclnncholv IhronJ! in A&R , It was qu ick ly jnincd hy a fourth Skvnodcr, BuN n 09260 , which was flown l-v Lieuten ant (j'J!') Edwi n J WalaSl,'k. He made a hard lan,Jing, which cause d wnnkl<.'s in ],,'t h winJ!s ,,( till' airc raft. On 17 J a n t1 a r~' 1948, till' cnlirl' "llhl,lwll rl'pllneJ ahoa rJ lht:' carril'f anJ
..
, .....".d ~ l(. II .
nn. SI\nlAltJloH
,Ill' ~"ill'.1 [rotu Nl ,ft', -Ik on IIll' Il}lh I; 'I h r-r sh:lh'·,l, '11'11 cnu ....· ill rlu- C 'lt il-h,' ;ln . I'n ,b· lellls wit h till' ., h it' s<" 111 d l,l1lg", 1rh;11 1'1.111 , Oi l h) J;lIlllilry, th .. cal'l a in l't' the C' If(l1:\ <.'11 oTlk r,'d till' Skyraick·r., a-hon- 10 l-c tctur nr:ml y h,N,,1 al }'kCa lb Fid ,1N 'l\'a l Air ~Llli."I, Guunt.m.uuo H;I\", Cuha. T Ill')' Ill'\\" 1',1(k a h, l" r,1IIll' carrtcr , 'II 6 Febnmrv, ara], utter ,I ,h"" I'I'rit,,1 .u Crisr"hl l, l';lIl;lln;l, rl''lIIllL,,1 " J'IT;u i" n s III rhc Canl-bcnn. T Ill S c"nt lnlll'd wuh jpi nt o]'l'r;lt i" n, with T;Kt k',,1 Air Control ~'llIadr,'n 2 trom Carrier Ib tl ll'-l ' Tllul' 1, Th..,,· c.ulv Skyr,II,I v r " p,'r;lli"II' lo" k till' torm " f 'imlllal ,..1 a u- ground 'lIpI"'rl nu-vnuu-, lI,int.: til<' imr,1(1 urea on CII[l" br.r, Virl.: IIl l-land-, a, IIll' A [)·I 's h'llIl-illl.: ran uv. Thcv turned "Ill han' l-eon cxc rllcnt pn-p.rr.nnm f" r the bulk llf the A () \ ,~ lllllhll llIj"i"n~ nn'r till' ne xt qllat· 11'1 'If a century ~ Ihi ~ ,lirc ra(t, which \\';I~ ,!L-, iglll',1 f,' (TlI,h ,'IWIIlY " irc rat"t c n ri,'rs ;lnclw;lr~hil'~, 111 faLl 'I'l'm ib L'llIirl' C" 111h;ll (; In ',' 1 l1~inJ.: ;lJ.:;t1Il't bn,1, r;l\],a th ;\ll '1';1, (,lrl.:,'h . The w"rryln c l'nginl' 1'r<,hll'IlL' Cl,n lin· ul·d. l)n 12 Fd'mlr)' 1941'1. A I)·1 BIIN" ('92; 1, l'il"t~',1 by En , ij!n ~ITIlh'ah', ,"fIl'n',1 , ,, mrlet .. ,'nl.:in .. I:.illlrl' _ TIn- I'il", lll;Ill;lgcd h I ,li tLh '"Lll's,t"ully ;1I1l1 go t dl'at.blll tlw ;lirLr,llt quickly "Hlk ;Ill,l w,h a Illt"II"", A l.:ilin, th,- C;IIN' of till' failure W,h 111l,!L-t<:rmine,1. Exa dl~ ' flw sanw thing hal'J'I'nnl t" En.';ll.:n Ridlil r.1 F. J"hn,I"ll, while Ihing HuN" 0'1264 Oil 2 1 ~ Iard l , Inl-l·,ric;lli,'n, in'" 1111' C
'0
)01:\ \
lft~.
11,101 1
On I Ap nl [94~, VA- 1 B, '· llnl ll1 ;l!l.k d th i, w;" ("II'lIH'd hy f,ull1ll;lrI :;III<'n on the Lll'llll' Il;IIlI-C"lI1111;11l,1\T J lIl W ~ l~ . ~k)T, ",kr ,111,1 qllalifi<':OlII"n III FeLl' (Fleet Hedrick, ag;lin ,,,,,k it, Skvr.udcr-, I" ~,' il , ( :
hy
52
.•, nn ,
SKYlL~HlUI I OI~ S
rm.ttur
n 1lI.11,'1I.11 ,I.UlI"J,:l' wa-, hdi"V<...l to l-c . Iu,· I,, ;L I' H'f.:r""I\·" \I"l'a h'lltllt! c.ru-cd l-v I'H'"lI"I ;lIllin)..: Cia .... '1)' IIMll'nal , 1. 1I11. I)..:l· ,h II \' h'L I" har..1 bn,IIllC'i, .m, 1 not I--y tlu, 1.1Il,1 · On 19 J,llll ldry I <)..Hi, rill" .... llI;1.lr"l) ,11, 1.... '. The attl,I"1ll W,I' ,hll' I" Ilw n, mn.r] m l: in P,IIII':lIl.lr.' embarkc...1 ;.h ',IT,1 11K" COld '\"11 ' liT till" h,I: ;lr,l, ot earner opcr.mon-, .1' W.I' 1Ill' Further f,... ,,1 f"r Ih "lI ghl W,I' rr" q ,I,... 1 ,Juh·...1. ' \. 11 ' TUI',· .. 1.....· IIll.: a I.... , l>ol" '.l .11.1 \\', 1' 1'1 the mgl.Jualill l ,llh '11 1.IIl,III1t.:, ,II >;.T.lt lll" (. I Tn' It h 1",li,'n ,,1 Ih ,ll Ill' len ,I hnk- Ihrou h-«n " 1'1I11,'n that 'the plane 1Il,1\ h,IV<' I-o..... n er.wh.. . n hi- ~lH.lld.·r ·'1... 11 1til' r1w ,lnJ an,1 liu ' , coml-mccl wnh tlw t.n t th.u II<" wv..kenc,,1 h' r H'\-L"ll" I.lnJmc, ,m, 1 rhat anJ ..nc.lel,,1 runul' vr 1, '11 w in". TIl\' WITe ,11,1 n, '1 no-c-over , " III( I<'nll\, '·. 111.....·,1 h im lilt" lllll!ll'l'r " t' -uml.n t.u Iurc-, Illdl' ,lI,·' ,I raiJ llUl ,' Iwltch In ,"nC.IC,' 11ll" barncr, bUI ' 011" .11 " nul' Ih ,' , I,~k mt o rh c h ,n l,'r'.11 w,',lln,'" of de-am'. no 't m,Ill,I,,!.1 I'H'''ur,' 1\'.1' 1I"t 11ll" L.:-i .( 1..1n.1 ,I,.\ ,. I, 'r Ill\' . 1", l . Tlll' I,lLI 1t'1I1t\' ltllUOlllll: Ill' All· I, ,1Il,1 ,m .1.1.1 1' t'fklU1.oh Irl I--rl".l il I, ........... An ,1,!.lil j, ,",II :;in h, ... ,k "nl'al" '" Ilum h :r " Ill' Il lr,', hUI li,m ,'l l h r"" Il', III , ,'nJu n' lIo n wu h h"I ,IIIldnllj,IJ rH""IIT" \1 ,1' ;11'1'11l',I. III,I, ,II IIll" i Ibl":t::I lI '11 .Llf,'r 11ll' 1.111,11111: ,hi \\1",1. 1h.lll · Ill!: tilt" It'll I--fah" r"' lIltl'..J III Ih,· aUd.11f 11ffil', Ihl' , h II' r,,11,...11 I , ' 1.Irl" >'I f' l. Tlll' m.:h wrlllkl.. It1 h 'lh 11ll" :-ilH.u, k r\ \l 1llt.: r, ,,lme l"rw.lrJ anJ th ,· rr"I" '1I,'r "I" kmc I \1I·ht~1 (, 1111,' I,.........· ' l"ll~'1I 1\, ,llIo\\'lllJ,: r, ,,,'h . A ':l.. r,lme r" 11\l' r"I" 'Il , 'Tll " C I.I" rill' ,k d. .~ In.· n..." 1«1 1' ~l
:\11·1 .11"'.,11 ,,,,,I eh." I"" "t ,h" 1' '' '-
the mrcr.ut t"Il' '',·...I\"t·r
then ""-nlc "at k 1" .1
.•U"r,kJ I.., ., " ·.11 ·....·.'. ~''''''.·r
11I"IlWIlI ,lrl l y
,111.1
IIH~'~"1'''1ll1 '1II IIU,k·,
.1"'....
""""Ill
'''"ll'
53
.....
,
"" .~
~ l(.II.
THE SKVIl "I DEII. JOINS THE R EEl
Duri ng till" (iN ron of Mar ch , th e squadron and air g-rlllll' resumed Int en sive tmming in pn-paranon for till" " l'l' r,lriona l readiness inspection. sche duled fllr I he b ie r r ,m o( the mon th. Glide boml-ing, rocket t"irin g an d srl
c ng agnl n llm hc r two win' and pu lled o ut approxuuarvlv fifteen (n 'l of cable . AI this p oint, th e ,ITT,'sring hook part ed at ,I point 3in from till' swivel and rh c plane con nnlied into th e harrie rs, slIsrilin ing C lass C mntcrmldamaec. O m' fin a l inc fdcru occurrcd. -n 17 Mar th 1948. Mkishipnum Rex R. IX'rglund rook l ,ff I In a rou t inc di n ' ·h, Imhing h I II' from the Cural &a. Once air borne, Ill' retrac ted hi s S kyrai, ll'r's Lmding gt'ar, nor icing thar the geilr hnndlc would no t g,l coruplctclv in to
Bcrghmd's Skvraidcr's hydraulic pressure read 2,750 p.s.i., and Ill' was instructed
III
hre ak rhc hydraulic lin e in th e cockpit, wh ic h 11'..1 III the ca nopy closure nccumulator, thus relievi ng a ll pressure on the S~'S· rem . He was then tol d ru t urn th e selec tor hi ' ma in [;mJing ge;1T on ly' and pump the wh ec ls down with th e emergency handrum p svstcm. Th is a l"'l fatlcd 10 lower t he gl',U and Bcral und was then instruc ted 10 ma ke a 'whee ls-up' lan di ng aboard, which he d id 'in a verv cotumcndable manner'.
An AD-1 IBuNo (19286) in tile ll iglll marki ngs of Ille Nal iona l Air I e st Ce nler w illi rad a r con ligur alion in Iliglil on 6 Dec ember 1949. National ArchIves, College Park, MD
particular uircratt hall P"I'I'c,1 rin'ts un prcvious Lm, lings, und it was ti ll' op nuon lIt" till' su hsel lllcnt ly convened acc ident hMr,1 tha t 'rill' C lass C man-rial ,I
'u
its 'up' pos il ion. J lc trie,1 lower till' ge:lr, h ut it WlHII, llllJI ...xII·nll.l le completed 1111' m ission ancl rhc u, prior til la nd ing, tr ie,l ,1g,lin til lower tl1l' gear hy tlyi ng at a SIIIW speed. an d then ex,'cul ing hig h 'G' pullO UIs, illl,1 hy 0 r,' ra l ing var uuu, hvclraulic mechanisms toloo-cn a stuck va lve in cnxe Ihar was th e cnusc of rhe problem . /\ 11 h i.s all,'Ill!," to s!isl' l<.lg,' th e 1,IIldi ng ge, lT(ailt'd.
54
1111' AD-I ._ufferl'll Chs, C m.ucnuldamilgl' an ,l sllhse
." 11\1'.SK'I R,\ lll EIl. IOIS S "fill: l'LEH
it was tIl Jwit il\' ,h... Navv', hopes f,lT it as the premier ca rrier hi ,mh ,.'T(, lr the po-t-war em, Various basic ' Y1't's were uuroducccl, ami suhs(''llllcm ly Improved and further dcvcloped In th ...' immed iate' post -war period.
XBT2[).I
1.17S("i,
of ln spccrion an d S urvvv, ill Wa~hin~"'n (X: tl' con duc t produc rion und inspec tion I r i: I [ ~ o n
the model A D· ! ,lin: r:lh ': l~ m:l~' Iwcc~~a r y. In view " f till' ex tensi ve te.' li nJ..t " f rlu- l1I,,,ld XBT 2D - 1 nirplnncs, il is s ll J.:J.:e~ t l'd tluu fill' tr i al ~ ~~ bncf in -copc.' He a l ~
r~'-lunr ...1
"., I~r 10'
,h,u ,uh j"(l lrh,l, Ix·
,·x r,<:,lll~.1
' " rll<' Fleer.
cons idc recl
Sinn.. rl", j, l'! ' ''' ''nl y All·1 "irr!.""" h,,\'~ r,-" . .1';"'1:'-' (" "' l'a,,·J h' I h ~ """,' n XIIT111·1 ,,,I· !,bn", II<, N", ll') I~")1(,6 n"", un, k'r~"",~ s..-rv,n· AcHorr" ","- T" "I" ,,,,,I "n,,· ,h" ! I,r ;11,,1 ,,,h""'I""n! .'\ 1),1 ''''1'1;11,,'' ,,'rll ('''1 ,'h:l11~n, II h .I,·'ij.!ll\·,1 rll", rll<" ,,,k )<"l'l rri,ll,1'1' (" n.l".,<\1 wir h "Il" "I tlu- l.ucr ,,,r· !'L", ..,. lr ""mil,!,;,t...1 that """ ""II ",. a";,,I· ,,1,1,· til J,lllltar}' 1<J4 7.
fiuA.·r Re prcsc nt at tve
I"'''
"url,mc' I" r "II 1'liId Kal I' ml" ""-'
IT will "~f"... Iuethc ,,,n.lu"',"" ,,1 ,,, ,,1 _,r rh" s..-".,." Ac"" l't,II1«" a"c1l'r,~ht(llolll Tri" I, '''I' (, 'n'!""I,-,1 ""n,IT_""~IU,ly, all'
h k·nt,~,,1.
Tlu s was aerccd. I'r"r"n TEl) N."" RIS ! In ,..,,! ms 21<)2 Ct>\"· cr ..! I h ~ It',ronl: ",- ,Il\' M,...I,-I XRT21l·1 ;",,1 AI1·1 ,,,,n,,ll ",,!l'Il,,1Im,l"r ,h,· ,,,,~,,,al ,,,,,.
In
"\I'W
" I rl", Ufl:,-nr ",·,..1 on rl", Fl""r
r~"
"'!,I"n''''~nl' It" ~R2(; ,,,,,I T Blll,"rrl,.."·,, \I "
Il; ••l', N,,(,) i·n an,1 o5N, h,d """'UIIlI'to""
tn" "'-Il· I,n,·r cann·n,\l. ",,6 lUll<" PHil.
ActiVity
..., ..., 0009' 0009' 0009'
1 I I
""" The rr i a l ~ air(raft were rl,..,lrich..d tIl 400rnrh (644km/h ) ,Ill.! iCi (at 1i,600lh/ 7,075kg). L\ , uJ.: la ~ advi~l'd Ihal RuN n 09087 had thl' iull reqllin...1cHI,lpulling and aTTestin g strenglh. u Md ing C\lncHt i,IllS up III those incl ud ing " Ill' I:is \\'l'ight Ilf 18.0IXl1b ,m el a maximulTl pcrm bs ihk'
on
re''''u ~"rl\' ,,"il:rrnwnt ", TIl\" atrrl.l!l~
O n -I Ma rch 1947 , Commander R.H. Prick ett . USN, was ,lhk' to advise- the
son , USN. requested the Prcshlent, Board CUll -
firmed rh.u th e mrcrnf was an e xcelle n t prod uct, hu t till')' we-re far (rum un iform ly good. T he impression gin 'n hy l1l,lllY I'''st \\,-af his tori ...,s of rh ...· Sk vruiclcr b th ,.! the aircraft wus dcsil,:l1l'd on..r n il-Zh l , uncl was perfec t from then on. The I'atuxvnt River report s 0( 1I1l' pl·fiul.! 1945- S 'l sh"w clearIr t ha t t h is was nul rh c case, und ,hill " number of unprovcmc ur s h all to be made . Carrier Lm.li ng Icst s with XBT21 ). [ RuN.}09087 aboard the escort earner USS Char!!('T (CV- 30) l1a,1( um i-.Il,'ll "i al'pwx , iruutelv Hfl Y LmdillJ,;s, with vnriou- exu-rnal Cl'niiJ,;lIrat iulls, and ,H 1',lriuliS gro~~ weights 'up to till' maximum (l'ns i,llTed practicul'. This aircr aft was fitted wirh complete instrumcnrauon III obtain dat :l on arrested l:mdi nJ,; and catnpulnnu loadv and accclcrat ton s. O n 18 July 194 5, rill' Chid of AuAer infllrmt.'J th e Presiden t of the Huard uf InS['l'l:lillil :lnd SlIrn' y tl1
...,
catapult ucccler.nion of 2,lKJ (fu r aircraft cOll,ick'red a, a .1.·a,lIoad ), 2, A rrest ing - maximum gru~~ wl'ight of 14 .54 51h and linutcd acceleration of
On 2 1 November 1946. d ll' l hn-ctor of the C hid of HuAl'r, C a ptain c.A. Nichol-
Tests a nd Tr ials The service tr iab uf tilt' Skyr,tl.ler
a\' e rag~'
A Sky raide r w il h a lull ordna nce load buzzes lhe lower 01 the NAS San Diego, J une 1949. San Diago Aamsll8,a Museum
55
.....
,
"".~
~l(.II.
Tll~
SKYRAHJUI
J O I ~S
TIll ,
ruer
A prchminarv e valuat ion hl,1 So me interest in l.: results canuI'll XBT2D·1 IIUt Ilf this rest pnurramnu-. T Ilt' BuN u 0'}0 Wi,I'1l 19r-.I"y 1945. aircrrur failed to mee t Ih pc rforTIlt' cxh.ru-a-tlanu- \·i,ihi1it~· mance gua ralllel's in fh e ful IC'b had rccomnn-n.lccl that I" wing resl' l'..:ts: IbmI' dampeners l-c provi.Iccl for till' BT 21)-1 in, ,r,II'T III meet I . Ma ximum ' l'I'l'd at l'ng inl' ' r l'c ifkal i,' n requm-mcrus. A military rated power at airdct.ulccl l'lI1l.:ilu,linal sTahiliTy platu- hil.:h blowe r cntical alruudc, l\laJ ed ;IS a b omber, mvcsr 1l.:'1l II III W,IS made of W,\S l SI.) knors. while t he XBn D-I BliN n 09 100, und un-v mmctrtcu! I,,:lc!lnl.: Il'sts gua ran tee d - pccd wa ~ 2BO a nJ Iatl'ml st, lhility Tl'StSfur ca rknots. ncr tah'- utf~ ,m,l land ings were 2, Max imum spe ed a t eng ine military r ated p ower ;IT sea co nd uc ted on AD-I BuN n 09 155. Pt,d, mnanc v characterlevel, I,1adl\.1as a bo, unl-et, wa, iSlks l,f the A I)- ] Q wer e mad e 246 kn ots, wlulc the guaranllsing both BliN n 09352 and teed speed W :I_' 264 knots. 093';4 , an,1 thl'sl' same airc raft t Maximum speed :11 l'nl.:ine we-n- a].;o unhccd for ca rrier mil itary rated power al st'a slIit;lbilit y trials, level, loaded as a sco ut, W,lS The purpose of the Service 272, 5 k not s, whil e t he guarAcc cpraucv ,lIh l Product i, III «m eed speed was 2SI} knot s. ln spccnon Tri lll, was 10 de ter mill e whethe r till' A D- ] was In rhc ' I;lhil it y t e~ IS , 11ll' fIlii,ll\'_ acceptabl,' for service and ing ft"lIItS'Ipr lil'.!: whether it mel rerfonnancc uua ranrccs sl't'ci fied in C o nl. L onguudinnl sta bi lllY was rr.rcr No(s ) 6')39, signe, l o n 18 s" tisfano ry ex cept fur th e A view ollhlt quartel 01 AD s en echelon flighl on 2J April 1!l5O. each ca rrying A pril 19 4 5. TIlt' C omluncd twelve HVARs. Neerestthe camera is BuNo 123814 and. next 10it BuNo sr.uic suc k-free and stic kS,' rvict' Accepra ncc a nd Pro- 123821. NaucnalArch'ves, Co lle ge Pa,k. MD fixI'd s t'l h il i t~· in co n figuraJuc tion In spec t ion Tnals were tion PA, which were 1l1'1llr.11 conduc te d o n AD·I BuN o for displacements below th e 09 155, whi ch h :l.l been
l-cen conducted
iI ""
56
nil:
2. TIlt' hll:h ·'r....-ed Jlrt-c!lon.•l , 1.lh llll\' cha mcrcn-uc- were ,,11I,1,,(Ior\' exc ept that the rudde r-tree thn-cllt'll.Il ' Ia hlli· I)' wa-, \n\lk, .m,1 aileron a,l n ·r.....· Yaw Ill"'" un,I."" lr.lhh· IUl.:h. 3. The hlch·' I'<-·t.J lateral _Uhllll\ ...h.•r.rc ten-rio, were ,all~I:.([ ,,'1 exc ep t Ih,1I aileron i. 'rn ·, were ••hwc ll< .nahl \, Ilc111 . On rht' 11r~1 hl.c:h-,I'<-·......I ,lin' an ,ninon llw rh..LlIlc l· oc c u rr...·.1 OIL 240 knor - V I,II 24.lX\."tl (7. \I ;1Il ) III :1 \(I-.Iecr.. -c ",m.c:' .I...·n ·1 drvc-. In n ·' " I:.II I" n d l' clo"':.! Ih :1I :l c ha ll;':" II1lh,· prv-ourv ,11" mbuuon c.ru-v...1hr dcnt -, in rill' under~ iJ l' of b,,111 ,lilt-ro n , w.r-, tlu- .... ' urn· "t Ihl.' on·rbaLl1Ict:'. TIll' d" I1l~ Wl'n' call,,·.I),r rill.' II"l1il'l'il1l: :1l 11" 11 "I n ...k CI picl;lil, h ll1"wi1\1: rnckl'l hnnl: " ·,r ,,.
TW' H HT
f-l."...l. ln .111 c"n fig:llrallOll' 1""1" ,1 , till' -rall accotup.tmc·.1h ,I 11l kr.lI...· r..l1 .1Il.! downward puch 01 11ll' n ·. In till' cle.m t"n fiCIlr< lI h'". ti ll' ' Ia ll w.unme C\)Il, i ~I ,·J ot .1 ,Iil.:hl
1.1 OI n aim. h I tull :Itl Ill. -vcuwn t •'I rb c nfi~u r, 11 h 'no I" ' \\"l" r • ,It. C, mt n II t",lrll" an,l control '·th-.. . uv cncv- wlcr...· 'hle·
StaIL'IH're UW...·'IIJ,:
~ ti."K AfJlIK H ll " ~
SllrJiders tine up lor lake·oll on lhe 10IWard deck ollh e USS Anuelam 1CV-36l on 15 Octob er 1951. Two ere IIrttdy in posilion on the cetapults. w ith thre e more moving up in readines s. San Diego Ae'ospace Museum
57
I.. ,~~. t: kl' " and their arrall J!,'Il1"1l1 '1' ••, ~ .III ~I: l\ I, 'ry. T.lh dl..-cr rvvn ...· " 11'.1' I" "i t 1\ '" all ,1 " I\l~ t. l d"ry III a ll l\·~ l'l·c " . T;,h "l'l'CI11"11 11":1' , ';I"y. :lit h,' lIJ,:h I Ill' It, 'r1:1 111 1:11 , Ia· l'I!I: ,'r ...'o n l lol W; I~ IP" ,,'n'lun' Ill'ar till' tr im ~ I'l'\' d. Tab ,eHi ll C:' IH·rl·I'U'III H ·. nil" ol'l ical <..I lla l ll il.'~ of till.' WIll ,I~l l1l·kl \H' rl' ~; Il I~I.lC IIII\' wlfh n,l 1IIl1NI.II .Ii 'I , 'r · I h '11 all.lll' ' 111.11''r ••h~ln JcI I. 'n, II' l' l~lt '11 1'" rill' ,,111"1''' o r "· lI d~h l ....l.1. l1le rt·.lr-\' ll·W
..
, ........d
~I'.".
THE Sk: \' kAIIlUt JOI:';S TIll II rr.r
mirro r \\",1' '1,1" '1U, II." ,111,1.·"u l.l l'e mo'·t,.' ,1 the W' I~' 10 cnh.mcc I~ 'r\\"ard vi-ion. W hen a Mk. 'i ex ternal ' Iux illa ry Iud tan ], W,l' Ill, runt.... I , ' n Ih.' ricin hOIll" rac k, un,It,."lr'lhlt,.· .llr'lx·t,.·d 111,I K,U. ,r Iluo..: t u'lt i' llb were o".....-r....·,1 in level , rr.lIg:hl Illglu a l ,po.·....I, under I'li) knoh. a n,1 m th e mo.·.I,,·,1.K<:d,·ral l"n .111,1,lIlgl,· o j .u mck re , " lt llll.: from l-ankcd rum - .,t" l0 ,Iq~rt..·,·, or more ,11 'f""d, 1x·I,lw l'i'i k n"". TIll.'.....· 11IKIII;III"I1' wvrc :h J,: r" ,11 a-, 20 kn"", and \vcrc .:.111.....·,1 by ,I I-rt..·,lhl,mn 0' ,llrtl' l\1 " \ T I lill.' t.rnk, wlucb rc-ulrc....1 III prcv-urv ..:h,ml.:....' ,II till.' lot;lll'n·"urt..· -onrcelocareJ under the nulu WlIlL:. The 'l.lr ..... ttlllL: \\" . 1' full ,I" w11 I.'r ,III takc-ottc. Vart.mou- ••1 din....· l h ,IMI tr im WIt h r'<,\\,' r ,1Il, 1,1'1.·....1II ere 11,'1 t.umd 1<' Ix· <;'X..:'·"I vc·. TIll.' Ix"t rud.lcr t..h .....· ltll\g I" r 1.lh·-"II \\',1' .I,·I,·rnHlll.',1 I" I,,· 0 ,I.'grt,.'t,.·, nlN' riL:hl. TIll.' Il'n,I"nq .If till.' t ,lt! III Tl'l.· limll •...J Ih,' r'<'Wl"r tll " I'l'r" x ll n. lI d ~· lJ" ~ l:\r , ' n lurn-up w llh li lt' h,l k...., hdJ. l~rtHllld-h,lll,lIl1lL: n l.l ll....·u\"r'·, on a J ry ..:onn,·I,' runw,l~ \\'ll h a w.. " J ,1".11 l in i,h ..:on"'I•...J .,1 'I .....'fl,... 1'1 lo('-,I.·L:r.'.... Iunl' , 1\ hlc h \1t,.'I,· ,·xl·cul t,.,1 ,,It I, I,KI
,'tlf I"
I"...·'lll....· I ~ l h.· ,.·",I'·fl' \.•,1 II", r.ul 1<. n....' n ". 1' n"r .1,-I,·tn,,,...,1 "Iwrl"" II... I". ,~." ",",1.11,,· ' ·"1'.,1-1.. " I h"l.t",~ II,,· ''''1'1.1Ill' "~,,rn'. l..l ,··nll
1'''''''''
TIIl'Tl' " Tn' n ' l !.:T" lln d- I''' 'l'in!.: 1"lhl,' n..:iL" ,llITin!.: bll,lin /.:. TI l<' l"l'IK lu" i" ll n ·"dll'd {r"m 1Ill',e tr io ;I I, ,,'a, Ih,ll rill' AD- I W;I'
,I,..." r" 1m", '1"-"',1, 1. N" 1"·rl'·I,,,I,I.· , •.,11 "·"m,n~ 1'\1'" "I II,,· I."..t rn ~ t:"nlr~""",,,n. I ~ '''''I
..n,
Thl' rl"J" "rr ,1,1,leJ Ihal ti ll' A D- I J i,1 n,,1 nll'et rill' j'l'rf"rm;lnn' gl1;lT;l n! I"" with re , po.x t ,,, 11ll" loll' lwmc:
J.
~laxlll \lnn ' JX·,·,I , l!
l.·n L: me mililM', ral l...J f".l\\"t'r ,If ,Iirrl. lil'· h l!.:h ...I" ....e r CTll lGll " lut u, I,·, l"a,It,,1 a, a h. ,mlx·r. ") ~l.lxi mull\ 'JX......J a l e nJ,:lne lllllltaT)' r;lIl....J l....l....t,.·r ;l1 .....a Il·H·I.I, ,,...I,·,.1 a' a h. 'll\ h:r. 3. M a ximum 'JX'l...1,If ,·ngml.· I1Uli t,II)' r,lll....J f" l\\'er .11 "C;I len·l, In",It...J ,a- a >oCou l.
The 1~ ,II , .winc mndc:
n-conuncnd.monv we-re
I. Acc vpt rill" m.. del ,\ D· I .urpl.uu- a, a " ll b fach 'l)· ......rvlcc In x·. Z. Improve t ill" e lt·", H"r cou rrol ju rn' c h.rracn-n-, t i..:, 1,1 11" " '11 till' hiliI.I-u l' uf com rolforcc wnh '1'1'1·,1. I. Pr,,\"i.le ,.. It"'I",Il'· 'Ian W;l mlll L: I~ lf 111l' Lm, linJ,: Ct11...linou, , 'Wl'r. -n. 4. Improve the ." 1' 1'1'1 1'\" 11'11\ ..h.uacrcrrv!o- to pn-vcm rill' ,uT,j't·I,.ll1l,IKilll'l tl uc t u.u ion-,. A ~'ra ratl' temperature 'UT\'e\' on the vnzmc 1Il-'1,IIIaII<'n .·1 XIlTZ!)-1 lluN'1
n W;I' o..:"n,IIlCfl-J .11 1'.lluXt·nl R1H'r between W (\:t"h:r )947 ,I1lJ II (\:I..bcr 1l) 4~. Two '·ncm e ' - W· I 5 11'\0Z ,1Il,1 \V· 4 74 74 1 - were 11IIl...J to rhr- machine dur1IlJ.: rho pen•.,J. 111l' ilN t,.'ncIlll' Iud 17. I h"u'" 1('l-:cl.....l l" II, bUI afll' r "nh 19,~ Ii.·'1 h "UT:<' tly inL: 1I h.ld Ix, l" h,IIlL:l'd whl'n Ih ,' 'l1rcrc ha rL:l' r (('ukl nOli.....· , hilh·,I IrI'1lI til\' hi J,:h "I,'wl·r. SI.....·..:I;l!I Il'l ru llwntall<.n lu 11,,1 in d ud,·d ; 1 Rro wn Rl'l' ur,ll'r-l h ,'l m ,lCI'lIl' le in' lalL n ilm '( ' r t l·IllJ't'r
('IlA....
and ,lu ri ng L:ro u n J 1t" I\. C~· li ndl' r- het' En L:lnt,.' In 'I
0'
I. Tht,.· rcccrcer-tr.m-mu rcr. AN /ARC- I, l
l. 4.
'i. 6.
Heads
Bases
Take-ell powef 15 mmutesl 260"C 163"C M,lllaryraled power 130 mmulesl l6ll"C 163"C Normal rated power 10 10 pe' cent no,mal raled power (cont,nuous operallOn) 246"C 163°C 10 percent normal rated power and below
232"C
lconllnuous operatlonl
163"C
7.
.....· r. no. 38681. T Ill' c,'mmunicall"n, rI.Xl· lh' r R2l/ARC-5, .....· r. nu. 4 HlJS I. TIl,' l""mmun it:;tli,'Il' Tl'-Cl'ln'r ROZ6. ARC-'i, .....' r. no. 173 1. TI ll' UHF h uminc r~cei H'r ..\ N/ARR· Z, .....· r. n o . !6'n. 111l' X· ha n d .....·a rc h ra,tl r, AN/A I'S·4. .....·r. flU. IZl 84. 1111' AN/A I'X-2 IFF 1" ll1irml' IlI, ~:r. no. 11 N I. TIll' A lrh.lrnl' Ibdiu A lr imelt'l AN/A PN-l. 'l·r. IIU . 191'l'n ,
Tlw
r,' ," h ~ \\'l' re a lm.. "t UlllfuT1ll ly h'l.1
w", .. o n d u.ll'd
Ih a l th~ d ~t:lr ica l anJ d "dr"ni c ~ in , t 'llla l i,ln s in thi~ a ir(Tafl JiJ it
n. 't ll\l'l'! Ihe rl'quirl' l1ll'llb, a n. 11I' ;ll r;rJ in Inll'r1l·rt,.·IK.... "I.... ,\,l· the " al"kgTOu llJ llo he Il'vl,llI'a, p re,l'm tlllI~ ;
ert,.·'11 ,litHc u ll Y \\';]' l·xJ't'ril·lll' I...1 in !.:l·lling t h l' "nl-:inl" IIIJ "\"l'I, 'I' I h ,' il 1,111..11" l\wr ,111,1 al~ l in oblai ni nL: and lI1ail1l 'lilllllL: ,:lInl'Cl Iud 11.1w, in Ih e ca rhm l·t l< ' r. 11w c; lrhur l·tIt 'r had 10 he ..:alih Till,...1'1ll,1;),I)u,1I....1hy A EL r h il....td l' h ia fom lin ws , lu rinJ,: liw Il-Sh . C ylindl.·l· h L';...t II·llIl.....'f;llmt,.·' \\we ex n ·..., ive I~ lr h.'lh the le wl·tliL:lu Il-StS at...llhl' HuH1llT)' TiUI..J powl'T di mh h i ......r\"ic,· c d linc:. Sh ift inl-: from ,lirl.'Cl to " h l' m a le c
58
Equ,pmeflllif>r1er lest
Inrerletence from
AN/ARC·llgroulld lestl AN/ARC· I 1!ltghllestl R·23/ARC·5 (grOO'ld tesll
AN/APS-4 AN/APS,4
R·261ARC·5 (!I'oLn! tesll
AN/APS-4 AN/APS-4 and fuel booster mo{OI JkIt'CI AN/APS·4
It w.., t1ll'Tt'folt' rt..-cpmlllt'n,k...J Ihat BuNo 0909Z h: ·rl·-\\w lt,...J in eun l' lfTll it r with tnt rl'll u lrem en b l1l N AVA ER in~I ;tl tili'JIl 'f'KIli";ui ' ln " 1(1mloct Ihe Tl.'llulrcme",s ..,(Srec· It"K;lri'lfl AN- I-H anJ d l;U p;.micubr altenIii JIl h.: ~1\"Cn 1\ ) Ih e ['1"l>\'isi'>n'i . J!NAVAER r u" hclllon N AVA ER 15-50-517 , Elrminatitm vf RMio Inr..-rf<'Trnct' in AiTl.,.a{I:
Ct l APTE R SEV EN
Experiments, Modifications and Improvements A~ the 1\ [l !' r0l.:ramllle ,le\'l'l, 'I'e,!, till' vcrsatiliry ,,( till' h"sic n"ul-: bs ,k, i,L:1l was proven nmc an d ag,lin, It lent it""l l Itl a ll kinds 01 sl'ec ialbl adaptat ipns [rum rill' basic divc -l.....unbcr tvpc. T his, Ihe h ,y t" the Skymider\ lung lif",p,1l1, It,d ",Irly on In a wid,' v'lrkt~· or cxpcruncntul lyrcs; some were srillborn aft,'r jllst one machine. while lltlll' rs lnl I" -ub-cqucnt ,I,'vdllpmen" and. ulnuuuclv, tll " "" within TIll'
lIcct.
XBT2D-l In an cnrlv trial. ,I brg,· spinner \\";IS fill ",1 10 Pnuorvpc No. 090SR, one of tlw first four .urcraft '" l-e fitt,',1 wit h the R· 11'i0 S engine. in an aTt emp t t<> improve thai engTn,'\ pcrtorm.uicc Ilowcvcr, till' -14 I\-:!'; soon g,',wrall~' ;lvai bhk, l~c"llIll1g the standard powcrplant tor 11lL' ear ly A I l_ ls and A ll.IQs, t land ta rg,'h mt h,'r Ih ;m navill t;tr· gelS, In''tt',lelof firinJ,; tlll'1lI in ~:l h-", a., W,IS tht' no rm, a no\"<,1 mct h,,,l of m. Hm Tlng was uieJ OUI, with ,inJ,;le roc k"ts fjrine in sequence, Th... adapt,'d
We,ll'"ns C\'IllH'. C,llilllrni a, in till' _' 1111\ mer of 194R, hilt Wil~ not tah'll illlY furrlll' r. Firin J,; roc ket- Sl'LJlwnti;llly lM,1 k'ss impac t than dd in- rin J,; them siml lltal1l"'II"ly en ll\ll,~\l.', when rhc dd ivn in J,; aiKr,lft c'HIl,1 h it with Olll' hc uvv pun ch an,l then quick I)' be d C;lr ,,( the return fire. U nd"m'ine Sin HVA I\. Sin I\I\ :-'I"r 11.75 'Ti n)' Tim' rock,'h then-tore r,' llI;lille, 1 till' norm fur such usage, " II the Skvruiclcr a" on otln-r a ircr aft, A third hask .uruck " r,lt" ' YI'" (B lIN" 090 18) WilS complcrcd as a hcuvv-utruck vcrsum, with extra ,1rIl1UUT protec tion <\11.1 gUlls. II was eiv,'11 ;1 more 1'''\\','rful ''l1,L:illl' in the sha l'" of the 2,700hl' Wrieht R· B'iO-26W, It W;h redc, ienat,'d u-, t h e XAl).2,
' 1;lr],,,ar.l wing, ,lis" moun ted in an nero-
dvu.untc !",,1. Flash _,h i" I,I, well' liue.! to till' 2(1m l1l caunou muz:les. In c. unpcnsation I~,r this a,klit i" nal \\'l'i,e:bt, and l-ccau-c , h,'y w,'re ,!t'em"d redundant in [h is configuranon. th e side-mounted fu-c!age din' brake, 1I",'r,' ornirtcd from thc'c two aircraft and the rec esses were t;lired over. Tcsting \\',I~ conducted at Patuxent Ri\','r in I "''lB.
XBT2D-1Q
[)"UeLh litl e,1 out Pr'l t"ty!", BuN" 091196 a sillJ.:k-s"'11 r h,'t'l·r"C,'nl1;li"';IIll" rolc, wit h I lu- AN/A PT- 16 E C ~ I jammer in a 1'"..l un dcr till' port wing, an,l a \Vil),1,11\' ;llllllliniulll I~ li l .liSI','llst'r in a ,IIS1','llSl'r ,..... ,,1 un,ln till' 'I;lrh",ln l willJ.:.
The cxrvrinwutrhnthccamc th e must n-levant later in the Skvraidcr's I" ne career 11',)\ the fittine' Il l! of BuN " 09109, rhc la't •,f t 11(' 2i pn uc,tyJX'S l-utlt, ,h 111(' fiN 1'1111(' ,·!t·,-tronic countcrmca-urcs (EC~I ) air na(t. Extra accomrnodaunu, II srarl-oardslde :KCl'SS door wit h ;1l1 lll[egr,ll window, ;1Il,1
XBT2D-IN
AD-1Q
!'r nto tVI'" RuN" s 0909K ,1[,,1 09099 1" '(; 1111,' h'st-h,'ds l~ l r till' thr,','-,cat. n igh t· all,l(k variant. This ill\'ll ln,d till' 111" " [ ex t,' llsin' I'h y,i c li ll1o.lificatiull, with a sl,,'d,ll clOck pit he in J.: huill intn Ih ,' (Ust'Llg" f"r I1ll' hul ky ra,la r ,,'Is and fllr IW" rada r " I'er, l['lr" i m l1l ,', l i ; l t e l ~' ;Ihalt ;111,1 belllW the I'il" r's cuc k" it, wit h a lare..' acCt'.ss ,I.,,'r on 1Ill' ~t ar bo
TI ll' I,',IS ,,( th ,' EC M I' f( ,t, Itypt.' r~'\l h e,l in l'i A !)· IQ a ircr,lft (RuNos 09li2-O'-H86) heing hllllt. Thcy r,'ptl''''l1t ed the ha lance ,If the oneillal BT1 !),1 order, which tuta lled 277 mach ines, an ,1 [hey ""ned j"inine the tlcl,t in 1947. T h,'y emi,'d ,lll AN/A PR·I Sc,lrch Ih'cci\'l'r. , I ll ANI AI'A ·I I I'll Is..' A na ly>t'r. ,t[lJ ,1\1 AN/A PA18 ra n" ramic A,Ia"Ia. A n arTilY of ,l"wnwarcl-I""int lne aeria l~ was m" lIl1te,1 hel,lw the after fuse b,e:e, with a small EC M h]j,1t'r "rom inent ,ll) t1w IOll'cr !"'rl ,i de, Ti, r ro· dele ;1 11011' of cool air for [he ECM eq uil'm,'n t, a .,ma ll f'lrwa rJ.fad ng air ,;cOllI' WilS built in tll th,· tu r of Ih e rear fll."ClaJ.:e
XBT2D- IP t~lr
'0
59
..
, ..... ...d ~ I r. ".
EXI'F RI\ lE~TS . \tOnIFlro\TIO~ ~ ,, ~ n I M t' II.O \" I', \1 r ~ TS
XBT2D- l W - Air bo rn e Ea rly Warnin g
In JWll' [1J44, tilt' Ma ;..-hIN·Il' In..n" f Tech n. ,I,'Cy \\';1' unu-d rh... 1.I,k .,i
la.l.lr .md " r'l:rarnl ;1 \"l' t'i hh:h larinc. TI'II' f.Il.: t"l, \:,," ('k-J wirh rhc 1"1;IJ.,:ik' ; 1 '~ l1I kly tlf ,I... vd"pin!-: rill' r\EW .ur c rutt -. T Ill' work- t1w canulevcrcd cathode, which ,lid nor TIll' •'1l ).!1Il' • ,f I he A ir,,". mu- Earl y Warnine inJ.,: r111-,i, wa, ru d'·\"l·lor radar "' llllpl1ll"1H -tan d III' well hi the hard U', I t.:~' "f earner" , I,'1ll can I", traced b.sck III a Rrili,h , Iali" with en" u~h l"lwe r r,' J,'I"CI ;1..1,',1 n 'y..·1 ;I[ deck bn,llIll.:' and " ['CI;lIh'lh , ITl'q ll" n1I ~' r...... utrcmcnt • ,f I\ ''':''Illlx'r 1\)4 \ . TIw in'I,II· 200 nule., .mdr hc ahillt y '" ,1..0 1\'" I, ,w-Ih- call.......1 rh,· ,,:h ttl I"dll rhluuch J ;U11.1C'" A ine ;lirClal, I" Ilw m.rxunum r.uuzc CoII'.I" le ....-..:" n,1 h iccup resulted (rum rhc hnrh1.11 1"11 .,1" an ..<;lr'" wurninu sv-n-rn W,b re..... II\· ,r'·' 1. "lit, ,III<' roa 1.I\:k " I tund-, ,1Il,1'11 wuhin the f'I,wl'r oll[rtll .1,'I... nmnc...1 h ~' power ''f'<:ratml: mode, which meant that ' "l1a"I" r;...J.ll" .11\,1 ,urcrutt , noth1l1!-: wn-, t he lir,1 r,'<..(ultCm,·nt . In adclutou, t he 1;IUlls ctlulJ not h: chec ked out on rh,' car"'lIle ah ... 11 It. lr " ... ,\.. the -ucce, III 19++- S raJoU picture had Co Ix· rcla~'~-J h ' the air ncr ,It-\:b . hut haJ III wait unul rhc ;lIterail . >t' rhc Jal'a!ll·'l.· KlImkd ~'·. til<" , uiciJ ,'- con trol , h iI''' A lr.:r.lll 1)ltl·ct l. l1l Ra-l.u wa-, .arborue. which J,"by,-J .lnJ comph,iliac\" .urcr.ur . ;l~.IIIl'l Alh..-J war,hll"" (ADRI . cated fau!r.lmJlIlc. The mu-nnon l,f th e AIll,,·rK.m, w.e, th .1I ;1Il ..1 the hUllling pi rh..· Anu-nc.m D...fence In J;ltluary 194"5. eiglll monlh, atn-r the ""...II..,<-·t It l C,'I ,I tvl.ncd projcct under way. the crew . Ii- Ihe AEW w.... II,1 rb~' an emu..·• protect h:gan. rbc Ilf"'t AEW .Ilrer.lit - a In IQH. the An cln· US Sc l,·nt ific PI,l- I)' passive role. TIle,· wtlulJ 11)- the .nrcratt Ucncral M,)( o~ TBM An-nger - tlew. In j,'CI c.. 'mmlltl·'· revive...l lh," Bnn-h inter- on the allolt~.,J barrier. ....vuch on .mJ ' 'f'<·r· addmon to rhc rilot . a ., incle r;IJar operae-t III Ihl' ~uhJ''CI . Even wnh rhc hu ge ate the equrpmcut a, ordered, bUI rill" pe r- tor wu-, earned. The r....l.ir mlonnaritl" re...'urc,·s al Ih"11 ( o mman,1 III r1w fmal ",mnd in the c ont rol ,hll''s APR w.. uIJ ptckcd up wa, J,lta·hnh-J hack . vta un AT· JII \"eI'll Ihe P"clfi.; III 1·.)4i . Ih,' Am ...riea n intl'rrrci the rcl.l\".J Tll1l1''t.1. III r ,llr, (l~ ' r lIlull MI M1rpPlr) . far oul ir,11ll Ihe 1l\;,in Il,·cls. tn !-:I\'C ra,far ......[ hi he utili :,...1 in this r"I..· w,a. war wprk CPnf llHIt'J llll rill' radio rclay .1,1\';l!l':,· n, '1K..· " f mn '1I1 lnc " Il,'my Il id ll . , I~·\"..·I,If'l.·'! h ~' [Ill" I /;1:..·11 ill<' {:.'rr" 'lOll u 'no prol'I~'lJI' al ;1 Illure It·i,ur..ly I';ll"l·. ;Hld II A, \\'..11'" "l'IIlC ,',h r 1; lrj.:,'I', ; m, ! l l w I~'I, 'r~' and 11",1, rlll'n I'rIl (llf niO m...nb. anJ Iha..· w,'''' ,'n'n I"," n'r of theX" c;l\" il,< lllal..'11erron . ;1Il,1 ~·a.: h ""'I w"'lclwJ ,. la,l.u ,,['CraWI'> ..... <1, huih inh llh,· l"u~laJ;,'e. t\'f"', ;1\·,1.1 1.11,1.... TIll' ,le\"c1"l'melll .If an h ln anJ C'1'<1a milluln US ..!..1I,1!' '·'Kh . TIlt" ,Ih.llt anJ helow lhl' rilol \ CIIC kr ll. undtr maj..'1lerron cau........1 many oj till' ",lrly rroh, t"unrdiahili'r . II h....J I"....n ,....,·d. "....-J lolle..' w arch r....lar,.;cl.lhe AN /APR ·I . ...-as from an exmnrll' ilft,,,,1 to a grou nJ.h l"-,,,1 mounr,,,,! m a .....·conJ btJ,:e lalrrnc h.ulr n ~"C "" 'lI y f.,t th ..· Brni ,h. I UI~'
'0
60
E.\ I'f :ItL\lENTS. \ lOIlIHCIITIOl'S
into tlw t1nclersi. le Ih e fusl'!a l.!e. To c oni pens,lIe t~ Ir t he e x t ra wciuht, nu unnamcnt was fill ed . Rc...le, ign 'He,1 a.. the XA D-IW, this ai rcraft continued to l-c rested, k'aclinJ.: to till' development " f till' circular ventrally mounted Racl, lml'. Tlu.. \ \ ';1" later ;lIs" {lIT· ther (eslt'd, m a sillJ.:leA I)·2 aircraft ( HuN'1 121226 ), which W;lS sim ila rly nd.tptc.l. These expc runcno It'e1I' I rlu- c onst ruct ion of three version- " I tile 'W' Iyf't-' - rhc A I)· 3W, A D·4W and AD·5W) - Iula lli ng 4 17 aircrafl (sec r'1ges 66-7, 72, l OS). Aftl'T rhc W ,lT, till' Americans ret urned n I eolarioni-an, an de ven ,,{ft'rt'cl TO ..ell bark to rhc I\mi,h their ow n iclea hu an AEW system ! TIll' co-operation of war t ime was over, ,0 till' R\lyal Navy dcu-nnincd t(l Jevclnr ils o wn AEW c.lr, lhility, whic h it fIll\\' .'\iIW as essenl bl. I"\o lh the Admiraltv and the Ai r Min istry had I'lit l~ ,rw a rd AEW rcquirenu-nrs at till' t'n ,1 of rln- war, hut there had in itIa lly becu a dearth of scionuss ro go alwacl with the I'TOl.!WmnlO.', which was t 'ft ttl tilt.' Americans. In addinon, I" l:'l l ·w'lr I\rilbh defence hUllget s weneven l ij,[hler tha n before. I'hms to ,k vl'!o r an AEW )',ITi'l1\1 of till' new Fairt'y Spearfish t'ITJX',I,l-h 11111't:r carn e to n ,1IIghl , and the project was cancelled.
AD-I Some 217 A D- b in Ihe sl 'lll'lol".1 a l(;Kk fonn wert' linally CtllTll' lell', I, wilh tilt' firsl le/n 1918, BuN " (\9 110 ) makinJ,: its maid en !lighl lin :; N 'l\T1I11'1.,t 1l}46,
M'; Il I ~ l P ,«) n. ~ l E N TS
2,5OOhr Max. ~l'e ..J 5HYkm/h (366m!'h); al altltuJ e 4,l15m (13,SOOf,) C nuse ~I'ced 1211km/h (204ml'h) RaIL' <>1 climb Ll ICkm/h (3,492iI/minl Ce llinI-: 10,06Om (H,OOOfrl R,I1lJ,:l' 3,0 511km (1,900 miles)
Acceptance m '....r vice :
1946
ex haust smcks protrudm u lrum till' ex haus t !la ps clumgcd to two gr" lII'S " f three , and rhc mr SUlO P wa, changed. II had incorporated a series 01 adjusta hll' !la ps, h ut now it was liPl't·d an d rn.rre I'Hunmcnt , with twc I cockpi t a ir ducts out l-ourd il centra l in ta ke ap erture.
AD-2 F' III' lwinJ.: the earne r-landing accidents cxpcncncr..d when the first AD· Is had joined the th-ct , an improved vers ion was needed. After Il'StS, this need resulted in the A D-2. TI ll' AD-2 a r pe ared ill 19 4H, anJ a total Il 156 were hlli lt ( BuN ,1S 122 2 10122 J6'5). T Ill' l'0werplalll was t he R -~ J'50 Z6W c ng tllc of 1,020 hl" A rl'-wm h 'd l'ngille (owlinJ.: incorl'o r,lIed a llew -styk' l'x h.lI l." ( o llt'c t ur ring; Ih .., rel'bCellll' nt Ilf
Ih e top grUlll' of three sl ac ks py u twin allowed external idcnr ificanon. O th er cx tcrua] :llt t'rations included a rl'llcsil.!I1l'd hlad,' ae rial, rerlac ing til<' forward-lcamna 1'01e type of the AD-I with a shorter ar-ria] wire, wh ich Tan down III th e tor urthe fusdaJ.:l'. A pitot rube was addeJ 10 till' Iro lll tor oi the vcmcul sta hili:e r, For I'lngrange scout missiulls an ex t ra SOO J.:,,1l01l' (If fuel wer e embarked. giv ing- tilt' AD-2 <J range of I, 1H6 nautical miles. TIll' c oc kpu canopy was altered sligh tly m l-oth forward an d after en ds. with a strcnerhcnccl ,m.!cxn-ndcd head -resl with n tll'xihk· pivot att , '; Ir mon- co mfo rt. Other pilot ai,ll'.' were con rro!- IbOlI wenTl'Jl'siglll' ll. with symho ls of till' fUllctinn s tht,~, (lll1lT<11Il...1 hcing inC(lTp
SPt'eifk alion - AD-Z r .)W,'rpla nf:
R·] 350· 26W
Weighls,
Empry 4.7841.: g (10.546Ih); loadeJ 7,379kl:" ( 16,2681"'); full 8,284kl.: ( 18,263Ih), wi nl.: I.lading 4O.61h/sq h , !'Ower 1",,,JinK 2.7kWhr (61h!11p)
e. II The port-side pilot's ins'rumenl panol and side pllnellllVoul. b. The pilot's inSlrumttnl panel. e. Th. , I. rboa, d-sid. pilofs inslrumttnl p.n.1 I nd si d., pl neillyolll. w ilh r.serve contro l st ick . nd floor conllols w ilh console. d. Th. lower pori-sid. pilofs inSlrumttnl p.nell nd si d.-p. nell.yout. w ilh COlllrol $lick .nd 11001conll ols wilh eonsol• . e. The pOri-side 1100'conl, ols wilh consol• .
63
..
. ,..."". " • 11. .. .
A bus, sce ne . bon d Ihe USS LeVIe tCV-321 in M., 1949 fn Ihe foreground, rwo AO·2:s 0' VA-34 . re held down on the pitching deck whil e Iheir powerful l.nd unusu iJl) ordn.nce 'oiJd. • mi. 01 Ihree .eri.llorpedoes .nd rwe' "e roehls. is checked Olrl prior to .n uerc ise . N,IIor,.1 Archives. CoIe9- PI'~ MO
1,St'-'hr M.,,,, -reeJ ;1~"",mJh I H 1rnrh): ,II ..11L1l""" 5.5&1m (It', mil en" ..... ,""'t.oJ i ~l<.mJh (10;mrh) R.n... of chml- 7!Nlm/h (Z.'i911fl/rnm) Ct'llme 8,110m (!6,/l(\'lftl R.m.:e 2,.fIClm 1I,4<,l 7md", j
rlu-
\H·1).:11I' ~·d).:.....1 Ill' !II
105"611-0 (4.i~"kd ~'1l11'1\', .1!l,IItUb\l1-o (~, !1'i..kd maxunum. wluh- WIIll-! Ill'I,l m ).: went trom ~ \.ill-o/....l ll\ ( 16-1. 7k0...... Ill) ro ..0.6Ih/.... 11I1 ( I lJS...kd....1 Ill ). ~ I't:t'd 11'<1, reduced from lli llll' h (6l1-1 km/h ) t o ~2 111II'h ( i I 7kl1l/hl. hili rill' -crvtcc Ct· i1 Il1J.: i lll l' tll\' e~ 1 Irom Z6,OCrl1(t (7,9~ i m) to ,Z,700l'r (9,,s6'5l1ll . S ta ll ' ['t'n l W,I, 6 ; klllll" Fr"l11 tlu- hall:h , I'lli' .unr.ut (BIi N.. 122! 26 ) lI'a, 'l·kdl·,! I" ma l ,11\ 11Jl l'tlln'd
l·ll).:llll',,,,,", lin).: -v-t cru. whic h 11" 1' unde r .k-vct.q-mcm. .uu l W.I' b l ~'r {itt l"! t" the AI)· '- O n .... ' n.:!L N,'n 1'1' tl u -....· I ~·, h , the ',Ullt' .un r.rtt \\. 1' tntc...1 wnh dl~' cxpcn1l1~'11l_11
vcrur.rlR.I.I,'Illc· I. ,r t1w c.nlv warn-
IIll-! v.m.mt (\t'e I',IJ:'"
6(,).
In .. lllllIllOIl with all Sk}LII.I,,·r ' H 't'" .1 number
I"
or h..' r cxpcnuwntal
1ll .... h-l-,
In n c. uumu.u i. '11. ,t rlu- l'l,'.:t r'1l1 1~' C\ um It'Tl1Ie:NI"',
r« 'l-::t' llll lllt·, ZI . urc raf (RuN",
11H6tl--- I1117.2,
.md
1 2 n 7-l -1 n l ~ 7 )
com!'lt·lt...1 1ll lilt' IW"·~,,:'U van.mt between St-r tt·mh..'r 144-" and Arri119,,9 ", the AD·~Q. Fin'llh , one An·~Q (RuN., 111 17 w.e, ;lti.Jl't nl on tilt' Fr.....IuCII,'11 hue 1<1:1 I~Hl-!~of-loWlllll' lTi,11 1ll0Khlllt·. 11\1, Skyraidt'T wa-, \'c nlr.tlly tlllt...1 wuh a ~l.l rL. \H' T<°
n
n
dr'·'h. T n.rl, we re e
C,,'1" A ir St a l ion El To rti in 1<)')4, wnh ~I. I J "r Wa nt' n Sc h roe der ri l"tin!.: til... aner, I'-f m a "'rk, " f tt',l run-. A lthOll£!l li lt' '''', lTi,ll, r r"\'iJt',1
rtl.' Tlall,lrl.:tOI cour.uncr a, t he An·~QU
were It·,lt...1 m Ihe imnwJ I,tlt.' ", ...t-war 'II EI Sc!-.'1J1ltl. •. T he th''''f'l \\'.1' ,Iuh tt',lt,,1 r,:null Two we re l-cliev..·.! 10 have been Ill, ....t -ucce--fullv, wlueh It...1 10 01 J.:,'llt·ro ll nn.....1 out 01' I' llo rlt,.., r.who-con rrollc...1 "Ja r lall.ln 1<1C.UT)' tlu, t" llllrnlt' lU. In a, ld ll i,.n 1.1 Iltlrm.ll mihl arl 1I,.I).:t dron.." . r,ld,..·.! wi rh cl..-c t rotuc IHt',Nlrml-: lIl'lrunw nt'. Th..·y l\"l'rc 10 I~: IIx ...l l ll 11y \\'lI h Ih c N a\'y' ,lIl,1 ~brllle ('. urp,. in an d H,,").:h t1w ,lir I,n'r Illlcll:,H ft', 1 Silt', in dl~ 'rl h I ex lt'Il,1 Ih J't' ft'llIi a [ l~ lT e i\'i lu n IIll' dltt' rmdt h of a\t 'm le I~ , rn h .I ~o l (l na · dUlies, a U ll ift·,1 ::-1;1 t,', Mallllt' Corr, A I)fI Oll ' , III "rd c r t.l t:~1t Ill" r radlll;ll:lin' . 1..1;1 1 1-'/;1, iiflc.! . Hlt wll h ZSOl-:;lll. >n (<)461LITt' ) !; IT aJl 'll y ~i ~ . Th>.: y· IH·tt' l-: In' n I h t' un , 'Ilie ial lla r a lm I;lnl., ml " li fi l'd t" c a rry fiTl' ·rtOI 'lr· .1<',i).:l1'll I.'n A I) -11) (' I)' t'. IT ,tlla) . ,b n l dlt' mi ca ls ' l' my in ).: "n I"rl',t -Ilrt· O
f."
64
AD-3 The nex t IIlU\'l' wn-, In \I ..or III' Ilk- red... m 'l!lu ' I.l l ht' AD·2. Tht' 1Illlial I'll III 19" 7, wa,'" fll Ih t.' 5 k}· rai.lc r WIth a fur " 1I1e t· Il J,.: lIle . Fi n ' a llt· m,l u\'.... wefe 1:1\'CIlI CllIls I,!t'LlIi" n - ntlll ~Ia~\ o wn twin-Iur " lilt' rr"jt'n , lht' Iwin A lli,oll ; OOenKIne, (It'llt'rd] Elet'lrie\ TG· IOO, ,m.1fwn Wt'>! illdl' '' N ' rtoJet'l." Ih l' tWin H e anJ Ihr
.. rwm 19XB. The r w pl ..... devem u..llv Il.J ,.. the dcveloprn... nt ,.f lin- XAZD- I
Sk~"
-harL TIm UUIll.' 19-45) r w jc d ~ 1;lrtCJ \lUI a' ;1 ~lmrl.: rc....I,-~icn of rill' S kyrai,k' r airframe h i tak e ,hl' IWW p owcrplom . l-u t rJri,lly' evol ved
m l n ;j
com plete new
W.:I, n·, uhin J.! in u 2l,%(ll h
1',,,.
(J 0.4 1il g)
anac k r brw P< ,\\w.,.l hy th e 5, 100..... hl' XT40· A -6 l'llg illl'. T his gaw ;l .,ign ilk; lllt increase III pcrtorm.uu'c over ,he Shr,li,k'r, l-ut ti l l' ,' l1c ilW \\,,\, ..:on tin ua lly !,t'lll-ll·Ill'llic. a n.! till' I'ro jl'C( wax linall y ahoUlJ, 'm" I. The A()·l J C<' I.:n .l lltln counn ucd II I lx· Ii.'ol.-J. ,hi' nrnc Itl l,kntlly' the AI).Z lilll',1 eillh the Wr ich l R-11:;O-,!6W enumc. Till' ~ic .11.-...110..'11 w ..' ..:knw..l up . wuh a srenmhcnc...1 IU...:I.IL.....• .mJ IInJ~·n:a rr i,I)..'I.·.
wuh th e ole..,
lu vlI\J,: l-lrn (~').sUll) mOHOmovemen t. A h.· Il ~· r pWf,,:lk'r w,., Iu ted anJ the ne w t·IlJ,:IIll'·t:lll.,ll11J! ~\'S It' 11l W,I\ a&'f'lt...[, a, we ll :h a r~·de " J,: Il ~·~ll'il , II\ headres t, h~ad ltlg 10 a , liJ!lll d l; IIl J!~' ill t:o~' k p i l canopy r rn(ik'. TIll' A I ).\ h 'pl Ihe ': 11I1l' 11','0 201ll1l1 win g c umuli :m n:UlIellt :h d ll' AD-2. nl~' t'liJ·wlwd d~',iJ!n w:t, a ht·H.... l. anJ illllli l >nl.:~' r full)' r,' l r,K' I~-J illltl ils I, '\\ 't'f fuse l,l).."'· "'ell. TIll' rlt lll wl x' was Tl'lIlu n ...1 in>m Ih~· lail. whik' 11ll' n' ,1T r an .,f Illl' 0 1\1In Ilia' J::in'n " ,mall \·cm ....1 cxt~·n'lon . TOfal rn....lut:ti,.n,'t th__ tn x' W,b I.!') an · J,:~';lr
furthe r m"Jifi~-c 1. wuh an unp roved ta ,1 AfJ.]S ho"k anda n...-w-stvlc wm J"cro......-n . This arrcraft was a l~, f llh....1 with the P·I uut. .-pilt u. The ni).!lu arrac k varian t wa, a rlueeand. with t h ~'''''' .dteranons, became rill' ....-arcr built h.·lln....·n September 1949 and r r" t"trre l~ ,r til\' t\ ()· 4 . Al lh"ugh till' May 19 50. O n ly 15 (BuN, ... 122908aut ,.-p ilt'l wa' a boon, care had It I .....: I••ken 1219 22 ) w rc constr uc ted, gC Ilt'ra l l~' (" IIat.. -r, wh en Skrr,l idl' ~ tl yin J,: wit h tlw l" win g rh...· a rli...· r version..,
USAFand VNA F in St'U1 h· Ea" Asi,l II.....rc
ftnc...1 with the (]-Z LUlIl p" ". Ih ·.,rtl lllg AD-3Q t hi s inst rument wlulc t he 1'- 1 w"', in 11''' ' r au't· d 'ubrupt ,lIhl \' i,) I~'TlI rudder forcc-,', whi ch c xcl'l·,k...l rhc Skyraidl'r's ~Il's ign 11111II.' and could r rllve (,!l'II." A, alwav-, th ere were van.uron- on rill' h l'ic rh....m...-.
O rd.. 'r~·d .., thl' A D· ~Q U t
machmc unde r rh... Jt~si gn ,Hi lOn of AD · ~Q. The tlr...:r,"llr's c..hin wa, mo,hlil·J t~ 'r
Sp«ifie,lIion _ AD· I N
ro..·t.'" rrl.m"
R· J l ;(l -Z6\t' ElTll' l ~'
WCll:llIS:
5.ZCNll: (I I,"1m,,); 1",l
(21.1&%) ; w i nll l)imcn.,i"n~:
47t>lm,lh (296mrh); al alwu.k 5,'.i8£\m ( 18.'IC(lttl lIilun,lh (l97mr h) Rate of l:hmb 6Il9lmlh (Z.Zf,(lft/mml Cc ilin!;l8.075flI1l6500fr) R" f1k~ Z.405lm ( 1.4%m;l...,.) Cnme~
mil (BuN,,,,, 12272lJ- I2185l). Of th~......·• AD·3 (RuN,) I 2285 l) W:I' flll eJ wllh tht 2.7lX'h r R· HN·,!hWA l·l\J,:im·. :mJ
_AD-lN (BliND122922) s ee n . ' ttle Paln e nt River Air Test Ce nler on 21 November 1949. Na1lGNl1 ArclwK. ,,",MD
65
15.25m
..
.,..." "." • 11.11.
EXI'I;IUM~.' TS . MIIIlIHC"110~~ M
W IMPROVEME' TS
CTl'
f"nlll"IIIl!u 11ichrs uf tour .urc rutt tor carncr work , a n,I" r'l:r
Atrcr -uccc..tul trial, wuh th e XA [)- IW,
An AD·3N Skyraider IBuNo 122914) ada plad lor nighl-atta ck ope rations, one 01only fifteen s o converted. This one is pictUled on IS Merc h 1951, et the Naval Air I a st Celller, Patuxe nt River, during an e lectronics lUI programme , NII'Dnal Archrves, College Park, MO
Th. ap pBB t.ncl 01 the 'Guppy' was mem orab le, but uni ns piring' Howeve l. it did a n excelle nt a nd . ital job. This iS lhe Nav. 1Air TeS! Cente r's AD·3W IBuNo 12281'B) see n over NAS Patuxa nl River on 9 November 1950. w ilh the Ele ctronics Test Flight. In the BB rly 1!l8Os, a lac k 01s uch AEW a irc ralt dutt lOgover nment poticy an d CUlba ch. c ost the Royal Na vy man y s hips and live s in Ihe Fal klan ds Wa r. NaHonal ArchIVes, Cpl lega P ~ rk. MO
66
llrdt."r, were placed f,'r II rhr cc-scarer AEW \'ari,m ls uf the A[)·; (HuN,,!, 122H77-1 2N Oi ), kno w n <1 _ dw liltl'!'Y'o (~tl1lY war-built submarines (.f the (Jaw cb .. were h :illl.: , u lo,lluli lwJ at rln-, lime , and till"
E.XPERI\ IE S TS. \t OD IFIC fit. TID'S '\ 'D I\l PRO\ [ \ 1f.STS
aircratt were Ct uuplcr ednunus tlu -I;mding-
gear ("iring s in un
fl'f the weight "I the Ib,lom ..· and e'-luip"I rhe IW., operators "l.'alt....1side l,' _I,ll' in th crr cal-i n. Tn hdr further wuh the acrodvnanuc I'rnhlem~ tha t were cause...1 l->y "11 ~ \';b! carbunc le. ;1 p.ur of ~m,1 1I vcmcal ~t ;l hil i:l'f fins were fille,1 to th..· h"ri:o n l al_ t a hill:l~ l'i . Twn .urcraft of the '>l'ries (BIINm lI N N) and 12190 7 ) were ;KllllI!,II ....· down a pr.. d Kl,·,1axi s in>m known ,· rl<." m~· aifl id d_, or l--l rtlcing b 1:1 AE\'('s c!'to.l"f in to rhc .1 vv r 'IIlJ acc~ 1I1~ Ih,· n-k-, ITt'IIl 1" w-I1yin l.: mr rud ers. The APS-ZO h aJ I'Tt'n-,1 IN :II mea(\It-Ie tlf J l'tl'rminlllg lilt: he igh , " f till' mwatd-bound inlt:'rn-pI' lr,,; rhi-, nwnm Ihallh.. ADR ha,1,rill t, •.!' l lhl' jt ,\-. ,f \",,,,'wrin~ inrefCe r ll nl.: (lchl,'r' . Wh,'n the A n- .'! \V~ fir_I ,mh·..... 1 III the Na\) ill the ..'nd of 194:-1, ,lIll'f tr l.•I_ wll h the An DeH'lnr m..· nt U Ol t (VX-Il. Ihey' 'iC It' fllmleJ int ., lWI' ~r"'t: i a ! I' 1 '>lllla,ITt >ns; VAW-! (1'1' till' Pal'ili,' FIn'1 ;Inti VAW-'! IIII' lhe Ad ,lIllie FI....t. In 19 50 , r1 1t: ~l' IWII unll ~ wert: fl.'n'llllC,1 as VC- I I ;Ill.! VC - 12 tivell· The aircraft Wl'rl' ,Id in'r.:d from EI nJ.) to Nort~,l k :'1;1\';11 Ai r Slallo n. \ 'll'J:lnia, wh..' r,· Ihdr c!l'Clrtlllk "q m r1Ilt.'Tl1 was in ~lall,·d an,1 ground 1'· ~l l·'1. men t , ,m J
The cramp ed condi lions ollhlllwO reder operati ves 8boa rd e n AD-JW h rly-We rning Skyraidllr. This lest 8itc l8h was phol ogllphed on J May 1951. Nar,on.! Atch,vlS, ClIl1egl hrk.MD
Thcv "T il' then tr.m-fcrrcd to culu-r rllt'
"ollll'ml' larl',1 in a -4W, or III ,IIW oth er squ1\a] ' pin! Wil h a St.·a- I,·n· l ma ximu111 sr"·,·,1nl ~0 5 QUI'llS"1 I'I,inl { ' f ALUlled.. N;I\'a l Ai r S la11.>I1S. 11" re , th ey w,'re .."-il.:n,' d ;i1l,,1 kn , '" :lnd a ~" r " icc (clli ng of ~6,(l(Xlfl 1~ ,rnlt.'J lo ur-p!.tm: ,1,,·(;l(hlll,·nr_. (1CI,97Om). till' ;Ii rcr~lll h;I,1 a r..mcc of At't,' r h:i nc lr.lim..1ur, Ihl")' ",,'f,' ,h_il.:IWJ 1.150 n;lllt ieal mll..·~ ;1",1 an "Il.!ur.me,' III 7.S Iwllts. It, Gl rri" r~ i, ,r 'Ir"' rl h: ClllSt.' 0 1 till' lragilil)' 11l<." Iwo AD-1W, eornr k l..'t.1 ,I_ A P-~E." " l lh"'if vlI'lll'quir m"1l1. Pl h'~ ;tn, l lichl l'r· (St.·a rch) Wt're join..J h~' twn mo n° .lltU'11t In'" ma nOt.'lI\n ... W'·fl.' oUI "j lIll' '1".....1i.'11, (RuN,,, 121910 an.1 1229 11), et,m-..rt,.J allhou gh \'t'n ical tu rns ,lnJ wing-on '''' fit 1111 AD-1Ns int o Th,' A I)- b hall, ,i the WtTl' '1I1nw,..1. Sr'l.'t: lhGllIy hann,,1. .11- two- r l,Jllt.' HlIIIIl'r·!..:: ilk t Il'a m, I" he , hough I' i_ h,lfd 10 il1J;lgin,' rhdl il ""I~ ,'v,' r ,·mploy,·.! ;t gain ~l till' gr"winl.: Sovil'l E"_l o r
W" ~l C"a ~t
Ill'"
67
...
.,... " ". ~ ~ .t1.
EXPI'RIMI:. 'l.:TS.
M l ")I~I <: ATl O 'l.: S
.It
Wrth I Ilrg_ selrc hlighl c l rried ill ullderwillg pod,lll e AD -3S lo""ed part of . HUlTler-Killer lelm I ble to trIck Sowiels ubml rines I nd s urfl ce wesse ls b, dly I nd night This . ircrltt is s ee n undergoing chech at the Bocl ChicI NawI I Air Station , Floridl , on 13 J une 1951. NallOn.1 A,ch.. es, College Park. MO
IBelow/ The Hunter-Killer Team. pictu red if! I ction on 31 Jan uary 1950. w ith I n AD·3f (BuNo 1229llli1in Ille lore ground . nd I n AD-3S in Ille bl ck ground. TlIis lIew melhod oll nti·submarine wl rflre w as bei ng Inted by YX· I I t Nl wll Air Slltion Boce ChicI, Floridl . NIllOnall'Jclwes.College Park. MO
/8ottom}lhe AD·3S (BuNo 122910) on 31 January 1950. This a ircr. h WaS one ct e pair of AD·3Ns a da ple d to an IIIcl usive ly I nti-submerine w arfare role. The, were assigned 10 the Exper imenta l Tria ls Unit 1 1VX·1111Key Wesl NAS, flori dl . NelHlnl l Arclw.u. Col"",. Part. MD
submannc th reat . Alrhouch Ih\.· h lsic Ct 11\(Cr l was sound l·nOIl.L:h when teste...1 hy VX·1 at Boca Ch il::1N'I\,,1 1A ir Slat illll ill 1949- 50. such a combtnanon would prove heavy lin earner space and LKlinl:: in tlcx il>ilir~'. Not surpri~i n.L:lv, plan- were s"OIl bein~ rut ti'n\'ar,1 hv l-oth 1 \ 'lId .l~ and Ill\.' Na\'v r" combine h.'lh rt,k·s mto un .. .ur -
AI'S IIJA r.l>.br, which rt."-Illirt'J a rc lt·~il.'tl . .'J rime, il was al"" expected 1,1 han' been msrrumcnt l'alll'l. Tlu-v were "I... , t luir J"i....1 tilt' lasr! Th .., convcnuonnl Wri,L:hl R·
with 1'·1 aUl
-,
All AO-4NA. BuNo 126!141. coded AI(. ' larboard quart e, Ironl view. laken on 4 Dece mber 19511-
69
H50·25WA eng ine dl'n- Ioring 1,020hr .L:;I\'l' a hlp Spt.·I'.Illf J 15 knots an,1offered a lean er use r Ilf l':;\S
AlJ...IN TIlo.: dun., ·...."lIn (t~ ,r 1'11,,1, EC~1 , ,!,...o r,lI,,r .11,,1 "ttLlr rl "n..' r) nil..fu all,iLl \"analll ..... I~ .11" , pnllluc....1in Cl >n~ i.k' r;\ ll· numh..,,; \(Ii \\Wl' or,ll·Tl..1 in (i\"l' 11I,:lll'S (f\IN,'" 124128----124156,124725-124760,1 21707IH 7M , lUlt"i76-127 0 IK, 127tlHO- I27(2 0). All fin;llly ;\,I"l'll·,1 till' AN/AT'S. H and Al'I< l lA Sl',lrchli,L:ht I" ... 1,I; 'r Illl'ir S (KIIll'r) mh.~l"n . Durin!: thl' K"n:.1Il W,lr, nl;lll~· of th.......· \\"\.'n: funlll'r moJllll"J.
..
. ,... " " . ~
• h. lI.
EXI'HlI MEl'TS.
M(lllll -ICATIO~S
," I) 1\tl'1l0\'EMI:!"TS
Delails ollhe AD -4NA lAD -1D1 Skylaider BuNo 126922, (Above left/ The non-slip wing-Iool w llkwlY I nd the reer 01 bubble-typ. cockpil cenopy _ lAbove/ In its dly -en eck conligurelion. the s/lem., thailloused the original radar consoles remai_ Not. the inner lvse lage w alls. with im.mal belJlll plnels lor lightness I nd stren gth.
In order 10 cool the eleclronicsequipm, nl clowlld inlo the red" operl lor. compartment, Ihe AD'" had a lorwefd -Ilcinglil scoop buill inlO the 10' " the fuselagl spine in a sla lk-type Il iling_NOIl llle blld e aerial lbeh the l ir scoo p. The rod i• • stl rbOlrd loreglound is th.lolding wing pnIII,
AD-l W SOllW 168 rhr..·e·,..-atc r A E\X' Sk)' r
AIJ-4() T he IWo -....·,II..· r EeM \'anall! " I I1w AD-4 IOlalhllu'l N a irer-ill (Bu N, ,, 1240li12-107 ')), t'qll irp,,',l wirh Ih ..· lIl",Mic,1
72
AN/A PT- 16 EC~t svcrcm. TIll.' ;lJ d lllllll ot rhc an ..cOl'r ,H,'p II\<.' [u -cI
AD-18
Th ..· US Nnvv l-ccarnc• !och·d m .. l-iner wftl~ W
,,,
•• I'XPEIl. IME"'rs. ~I O f) I H C A TI () "' !i A"'O I M PRO" fM E"' rs
Slyr.u.ll·r. \\' h"~l' Ilft ill l: I"'\\'\"T wa~ ]c!-:endarv. '''''l'lm:,..1 rhc ["I.:I..:a1 d 1ok ...' ';. r a
make-hut "" ,kh"T'c. Twcnt Y-l'iJ,:h l A p·4, {J\uN.... I 17Hi+117&iO.1271'66, llil'il..s-lliHil. 12I'ilJ 37128941 .1Ilt.ll!I'N71 -11H978l were further ,>(k'l\l.'1lwlll.J III ,Ill' m.nn fll......lot l.~ ,I Tt',1 t~,r
AD--lR. A new .Idln"'" I1ldh,)j h;kl ill h..- dc\"i -c.J - II h.....:aml· ln"wll .1' 'hI>-' hl1nhlll).:', wnh
the weapon bo.'m!.: 1,-1,h....1"UI ;In,1over the aircraft, u~inl: the ... 'mhlll'lIh'n ot rhc A,'r<)
ISC Armament Cunu"l
n.
:-I\'~lem
III
con -
juncnou wuh til,· ~ I,...14 '1Ilt-1Ill: I)m..'Ch' T. Thb 'ovcr-rh c- ch, 'ul,ln' nw ll},...I., mcc J'I.·fleered. all,l\n-J -l, 'w ,Iir,'rall ". dchvcr thcir ordnance '-lldr, .11'1..1 1:,1",' th em a rea ...m aNt" cb.mcc "j j.!,'lI llll: clear " ll hc ~lIh....'qcenr ..k·... n'lt u'Il an,1 r.1,11,11h '11.
Followma Ihl' pn ~ramlll'·' ;1 furt her 165 AD-4fi.. (BuN,,,, I H l 27-l l l NI ) wen-
I-uih from -..: r.II..: I1. l ) l\\, ot Ih...", .urcraft (BuNII 1121( 1), prlotcd b\' Lrcurcnaur Cm n lll;lIl,I"r J.s. N." -nan, b n lllj.!hl wnlcr famr I,. II\\' ~ kr r; II,I" f " r ....·l1illj.! a new llil"lghl-lifllng r,'( urd f, 'r , illl-!l",,·ng:in,· air craft. O n 2 1 ~1.I\· 19 'i l , Ih is aircraft was loaded wnh l4 ,lJ411h (6 ,77kd 01 ordnance
M6S r.coon- l-omb- six 1>.1177 7S01h b omb, and six 1\1 64 SOl' lh h"mhs \\'l'T1" mounted. I'lus cxrru fuel, rt·sHhill!.: in 11 total rake-off \\'l·i).!hl " f 16,719lh 111,11Skd .
Srrcific~t ion
Starboard sta bilizer lins on the Royal Navy AEW· ' (AD·4NI 'NT 121 Skyraider at tha Heet Air AIm Museum, RNAS Yeovillon, Peter C, Sml1h
AD-5
- AO-·m
r""""rrl.m l :
R· H 50-26WA
W"id1I~:
Empt y U 4SlJol ( 11.78.111» ; loaJ•..J 8A6tll l! ( 1!'l,669It-.); full 1O,986 llt (14 .22 111»; winl! Im,llne 46.61h/...... ft: r" )..-er 1,>aJill~ llllll'hr (6.9It-./h rl l.c.·ol{l h 11.96m ( J9tr l in ); height 4.78m ( I Sh 8 ~-;i n); ( 5011 Yo m ); .. 'me area J7 .192...... m (400.JJ"'-lli )
By the I" n J (,I rhc 1940-;, it appeared Ihat th e Skyf;li,ler. with its a,brlahi lir\· and vc rsanluv, would continue ro be the mam wor khorse ",f the Ile,' ! fo r se-vc rul m ore years, hut rhar It S actual pro duc non hI',' was ne arin.!: th e end . In ,10 e ra ot Na,·y Jel airc raft, the Skvrmder W ;IS Juokin.!: incrcac-
in,ely OUlm,l,J,-J. o.lU,Ctl' rn;I,11" an eft.. n 10 brearhe ne w Iii", mt orhe J l:'si ~'1l hy r r,"f'< "" 1Il).!, a t Ihl" I" nJ Ilf 1948, thl' fium,C Oi ;l lIuho -eomrounJ R-H 50 for ext ra r 0 \loW a nJ lift, c reat ml: t he AD- ;. ~l1ll1 'H)· N IJ · gelS were li ght a n J Iht' rr''f'<''CJ ne w ,' ng inc "·a.~ bUlh hea v ier anJ hlKl.:l'r t han Iht:' t'x i'l in).! rU Wl"r rlam . AcCt l1nm",J a llllj.!
..
. ,...""." • 11. .. .
woulde m ai l a comple te n-..Il·si ~n of t he i" rw 'lh l .urfrarnc. After c xunu narion and JI ......uo ion, rhc Bun:;lu of Ac ronauncs rell·ctl-..l tht.· iJca. Unde terred. l \'.u,gla" tri ed al-:a in . T he firsl radical i,lc;1 .....as JroppeJ . and ;1 new r'.It.' was pr 0r"lSt.- J. utili:ing Iht.· R-H SO!6\VA enume. In l\:ct."m h :r 19-+9. Dou£::las a ppwac h eJ the N avy wilh rhc AD-, If
purelv as a n anu-submanne warfare aircrafl . Such a machmc wo u ld com bine rhe two separate n ,1t.·s of Hunter anJ Killer, as md rcar ed 1-)' till' S und E ca r al-ilit i.·s, This Jispl ayt.',1 g......d 1' lJ!1C uud. in pnnct plc, rh c N avv was in I,tt'our of Ih t.' idea.
Once aeam. howe ver. a considerable rt.-Jesign woulJ h: eswnna], inc1uJmg widemnu tilt' (orwarJ fusd.lg.· I" allo w fur
sl,le-l-.y-si\lt· '
Dewelopm.nts 10 1950
R..
Noles
AD·l
"""'''''''
Anack
AD·1D
[C M
35
09352---{19386
AD-2
Attack
156
122210-122365
AD-2D
Drones
1
Nf'
AD 20
'CM
21
122366----1 m n, l m 74-1223l11
rOlal
1191 11J-09351
A03
,_
AD,"
Noght aneo
rs
121!m- 1l2':JZl
AOJO
'CM
2'J
1118S4-122816
ADm
AEW
31
121811- 1~1
AD·3E
H~ ,
1
11200&---122907
AD·3S
Kill
1
122910- 122911
AD-4
Anack
AD·lOU
We.1menzed
'""0
'CM
AD·4Nt
weanenzeo
I to AD-4 122lfi3
'"
2roAD-lS 122910--122911
Ex-AD·3W
t to AD-S 124006, 36 foAD·4/ 124125-124760.1 27844 - 127879, 18 fO AD-48 1211354 -121B61J. 121866. 121008-127812, 128931-128943
Combat Over Korea The US Navy Experience I C llll lll U I1l~1
Nonh
';,rccs
f"RT'. ( ' T, ';lI Bnr.un -, ill ruanuniucd a rcu'''ll ,!hl...'·,i:,'d ,In 'l ;11 Ihi, tim,', ;Illd " Il ly Brit ish
th.u
, tr ik illJ,: (, 'TCl' was ha' lll y ;lssl'l1lbll,d from
a l.:l.:rl" -
1111'iT sh ips t1llTd ;,r,-, ,1Il,1 dl' N' avaiL,hk' in rhc ;11,';1 ,a il,'" I " Intervene.
invacion o ( ;HI,I sue-
l(' lH.''' \
<ll h K , ' T, ' ;I W;IS
ccs-Inl. I t nation , '
wnv
d ear rh.n, un ril the Il'ad m l-:
p l"; H:l ' ll lIl l '
l.rml
air
, 1ll,1
could \'l' lIluhili:t·J. , h" u n ly
I'''\WT
the U N c\l llkl l:> r i n ~ to IX'a r
till'
~lr,
0 11
b y wn h rhc " \"l'r-Ill'xihl,'
m.mnnw
Ear ly Strik es S tr ikinl.: FOTl:e 77" W ;I~ "LI(\'d under lin' overall conuuun d l,f Vice Ad m iral A.I), S trllbl\', US N , a nd wa~ ha ~l...1 " 11 two .urearn ers - rh c Anw ricnn he;I\'}' cumcr USS Val!..')' FlIT£! (CV-4S ) an d tlw Bri l i ~h liJ.,:fll Ill'c1 earne r 11~ I S Tn um(lh. 111l'Ir In',I\'Y-J.,: un ~u r r" rt wa- r w\' i,k...1 h~' I"" cruiwrv - 1Il l' Bnn-h 6 11l-j.,:ullIwJ Eldfmr ( 1l~· inJ.: the IlaJ.: of Rear Ad nural W.{l , A nJ rcw~, RN), <11',,1 rh c b rl..l' .'f Amcncan S lI\·",'Un lll..J R(/,,"·he~ It..'f. T hen -crecn of ten d,:strOyl'f', compn-cd Ih\' Arncnc.m She/ron, Et'l.'rSiJic. Fklr.'M. Radfurd, .\ tadJO.l , U ;lft
Samud N. ,\I (/IIJ7"l~', Bru.Jt and Tau\~i.l: anJ till' Bill r-h CunSfnt and CO.\,'iQl-k. A IUr,.' \'l in j.,: held in Toh o on lq j un e Admi ral J"~ .md Uencml-, McA rthur ;mJ Srratcrncwr J \'(I ,ll,J upon Ihe Nonh Korean Ai r F, -rcc ,.' Ih l' c.uncr-, (ir'l 111,1/" 1 la T.l.'l' r. " It \\";1' l',wnall,d t ha i lhi, rO llll' ri'>l'd ')4 wa rp l;llll's, ;111 ' lIl'rlil'J hy till' ~o\" i \' t U nion, ~~ YA K (il.:ht\'r, und 21 Hvn-h m f"-llll!-x'rs. h-, main .ur ,,"" l" we re l"!n sl' (II rh c Cllln tll lJlIi, t Cill' ll:11 I'Y' \IlJ.:yallJ.,: , ,IIlJ Vice Al lm ira l Strtlh!t, """ in ' trlll"ll',1 h I tak e rh \', \, ,1 111. S\'l,;OIl,I.U) · la r~l' l~ ..lbc.ucd t, 1 Ih l' Allied n ,I\·;.1 arr lIa h were rai lw:I\' mal~hOl llill l.: ~' ,lr,I" whi..: h Wl"T\' c ha n nd lilll.: tT, 11.\1" . Illllllllh m-, ,111,1 'UI'rlll" -ourh ( 0 n-intorcc Ilw 11\\",.,1 · 1IlJ.,: .In n il". ,IIlJ the , 1~"I I( I,I I ,'d l>ri.lL:l's. T.1,l Force 77 ...nle....1 on I Juh' lor I!ll' \n"1 KO"',1Il C'Ia,t anJ rlu- ,Irl',. "It 1\,'1ll.:),IIll.:, (l'm(,,rcl,J h) ,1' 11.:11.111" lin the
be tween
CI ,mm,m,!\'1 N;l\':l! Force, Far E.l'I , which ,'Xll'lhk..J it-,
hid:
( '1 :-':,'}'1: ,'u,I>... ,;o.... \, ... V__ !nlm under the umer"1 foredK k, en AD illaunc hed from the USS Phlllppme Se. {cy..u~ oft Korea. 1951. AD-48s lrom VA·lI S and VA -65 ope rate d 'r om the PIlIIIPPIIle SA. Befofe sai hng from San Diego, Calilofnil , on 5 July 1950, s he hId emba rlt~ VA·U5 .. JIlIrl of her Air Group 11 IevG·11I. Betw een 26 March a nd 2 April 1951, s he IIiurNlallcltd evG ·11 in J apan . and emba llced in Iheir place three F4U-48 Corsai r ~s, IS w elt as tile VA-6S Skyraide rs, alt Irom CYG·2, w hich had previously operJtltd fro",!h e USS Valley Forge (CV-45I, Rola nd W Bah ' V18 Man,n Bowman
75
I" " """ll": ""l.
I"
t
'n \,........ . ~ 11..: ,.",,,111 "'·,.'n,",u ,,~ !..:••".lIl "t, '".. ,. l l,l:h...., T'f ""'''\ ", h: ~""n ,,' r,ul 1""lItr, In \",,,m ll (~ " u rn.!,,,,,. "" """"" th o.' , ,,,'
1.1,,\
""""lI" ,
.on,1
A I l1')4S o n ~ [ulv. Ill\' (i....' al lal'k, wenlaunched. TIll' R\'CI Air A nn ha..! IIll'
,,,
,,... ,, ,,. ~
~ l(.II.
COMBAT OVER KOREA - TIll ' US N"'i)' EXPERIENCE I
hunour of maki ng t he first str ike, wit h t welve Elirl'y Frrctlv a nd nine roc kcr- urrnc...1 Suj-crmannc s..'afirl'~ hl..'ing bunc hed. They h it han J.:ars anJ inst allat io ns on I b eju airfield, a nd 1I1l'n t urned to t he railways a nd hriclJ.:l'~ as th ei r sccc ,ndary tar get s. Many hit ~ wen- SCI ' rl.....1am] IIll' Yall returned 1\' t he Tn· Iltll{lh at 08 1S. WI ll'n th e V(ilk.') Fl1r~('\ tum tl' srrih' came, he r ~ lr i k i ng force - 16 CharKl,-Vllllght F4U Cors airs uf VF·';4, each wit h l~i ght Sm rockcrs, and t he 12 A I) Sk~' rai,ll'r~ "fVA -iS nnclcr th e command of Liel ltl..'l};]ll( ·("A,rnrn;Ill,ler N.!} Hodson W, I~ [aunched at (l61."lO, E
Enemy ai rna(t I'll ,hl' (idd were st ra(e,1
an d Sl't afire , an d the n- were no casualties uruong Hil y of till' Anu-ncan uircrnf from ret urn AA fire, whic h was Iigh l. ln t he afternoon, VA -5i we nt bac k fur a second di n ··homhing stri ke, thi ~ rime t
four mamlJ.:l'd to ret urn to the Valk"'l Fmge safdy, l-ut '1I1e (If th em had suffe red j,l rnage to il.s tlnp s-act uar ing gl'a r, ami if'; 11al'-' could not he lowered o n the la n,lin g "r rro' Kh. After 'a high a nd fast approach', it 'took a cur. landed wh eels firs' and bounced over rhc r m tl'Cling hamcrs into the pl.mcs parked foTv,:,ml. O m' AD ;mll two F4Us were t{,w lly de~tT'lYl.J wh ile three A L)" Ilnt' F4U andtwo F9Fs were ll.llmlJ.:eJ .''' The, high tate "f achievement agalll-'t NIm h K" Te.1continued rhn 'liglu lUI the first month. ar rhc l'n,1 of wh ich T:Isk Force 77's aircra ft claimed tu have dl·str
AD·4B from VA-115 a nd VA·65 - landing bac k aboa rd. Rola r1d W Baker v.a Man," Bowman
l-ornbs. Thcv were l..·.>;(I'rtl', 1 hy l..' ight F9F2 Gruuuu.tn Panther je t fiJ.: ht ns, whi c h \WTl' h.' ing lIS<.',1f('r t hl..· fiN lime in cornbat hy tl\l' U S N
c
T Ill' next ,by W:lS American ludcrcn -
all except two 'In the groun d. In knoc king
den ce Illy, ,mel AD·5 1's S kFailll'rs cc!c-
our Ilw North Korean Ai r Force r;J.:IlI at the h..' gin n ing of h' lSlilitit's, th e Skvraidcrs had
l-rated wit h t hei r own brand of fire wo rks ag,linst the sarue ,a rJ.:l..' ts. T h is IIl1l1', their NlInhs d roPI'I.,d ;1 spun of t he hrid J.:l'. Ten more loc omotives we re cl aimed as dc strovcd, an d attac ks we re abo mad e on Nort h K orean gu nh.lab I'll tlll' T,led" ng, a n,1 1<'f, burn ing, In tUI ,ll, dl'\'l..' n No rth K"ft',lIl w,lrpla lH's h;ld bn'n Ill'Stfllyl'd all li {IIH' d:lrnagl" 1. In re t urn , t he S kyrai,lers suffe red t1wl r first cu mha t c a.~ u' l l ,ies. A nt i-a irn aft fin' W,lS Ill';l\"in 111,111 " n the r t" Vi,'US d'ly. ,lIlll tiJ\lT A Ds were hit o w r Ihe Iilrgl..·t ;m~a . A ll
76
made a sign ificam Cllm rihuri, "1.
Th e Skyra ider as a Torpedo Bomber Om' unex r l..'cteJ o utcome o ( rill' Na ... ~"s
illvlI ln'llll'nl in Ih e Korea n War was the S kymidl..'r\ lIn ly c ha m:e to (unc lion in one of irs o rigi nal w les, as a ro rl'l.'J o h)mlJcr! Thl' l:Iack ,gHlunJ In t he story in volved all th rl..' <;' s<.'rvices.
,,'
....."
01,,", {'O.\lfI,n OVER KO REA - THf' US
On I November 19 50 , th e C hinese Conuuunists sent in the ir a rmies ,KT(I~S the Yalll Rive r to san' th e NOTth Koreans hum to tal , lefl'al. TI ll" Un ited Nat ions forces were quick ly beat en had hy \\'l'i~l u "j numbe rs, an d, by 4 JalUwTY 19 5 1, th e COl\lnHlllist~ re-took th e So ut h Kor ean capital "f Seoul. A l l ho\l~h a c ounteroffcnstvc jTl'l"! tlu- ci ty al.:ain by 18 Murch , ;I further Couuu urust coumcr-auack te rnI"lrar ily hal ted rhc Unncd Nations advan ce, T Ill" war s" tt kd down tIl a hl, ,,,,ly smlcrnutc-, rcmuusccur of tlw First World Wa r trench wurfan- ill Flanders. In the rncanrinu-, Gcncml
!\11lJ.,: 1a~
~1cATlh ur
~AVY
EXPERIENCE .
B:lY on the Yclluw Se a. The rivers' water level wus p.rrtl v controlled hy enrhtccn sluice gales built on top o f a massive CO il' c rete dam , wh ich hcl.l ba ck till' waters of the Hwacbon Rese rvoir. Th!s structure had l-ccn buill hy rl1l' Ja palll'se in till' e:lrly 194 0s, when Korea wns under their control, as a mea ns of pro vid in g fTl'~h warn fo r the ci ty, hu t, lying ,l~ il 1111\\· .Ii,! l-clund Comm unist lines, it rep resent ed more I,f ,I th reat tha n a salvam m to till' population. If the Comnuuuse, c.uurollcd till' sluic e ga !e~, th l')' could raise tlwui. or even
,k'.,troy rhc d.nn . and flo",[ S,'o ul. This wou]c ] also de ll)' the a nll ie~ of the United
Sal e l~
AD-4Bs from VA-115 and VA·55 - the batm an dir ect s • Skyraide r back on board afte r a mis s ion. Roland W Bakerv,a Mart,n Bowman
Hook dow n, und er c arria ge do wn , hea ds do w n! t hre e -pointe r, RolandW. Baker via Martin80wman
was summ;lrily sacked hy PTl' ~ kkTlt Tru man for prop, l~inJ.,: III hIunb Ch in" in n-tul-
Nattons :lIlY oppurtunity It , re-start an o nt:n~ivl', nn d advance north uf till' 11.",,!·
iatfon. TIll' commander of thl' US Eigh th AmlY, Gcner:ll l\-b"h..-w B, IUdgwHy, rook over as Commander, Far E;IS[. TIll' lint'S of th e two llrf"lsing armies stradJ leJ Ihe tlrij,linal jro nt icr :mJ, although Seou l wa~ in A lli,'<1hands , il was mrcalen e,l, m't on ly h\' Ihe Comm unis t armies, hut hy amllheT, mo rl' i n~ i. l io llS danger. T he S'l uth KOTl'an ca pit a l sta n.!s jllS! west of thl' ({ln lh ll'llcl' ,If tIl<' I lan and Pllkh~n Rin'rs, hd or ,'lhey Il l\\" into As:m
r- l~it illtb. On rhc otlu-r hnnd. the Comm unists cou ld close th e sluice gail'S to tally, muk mg till' riVl'r t:':lsily f, lrd;]hll' fOT tlw ir Ilwn il,h·anc ing hllrdl's, Either way, \\'h, "'\'l'T c, ,nttolll"J til\' gre at s l \lice~, 20ft (6.1011ll ill heighl ,1n,14OfI ( 12.20m ) in wi.h h, cll nt rolle.l till' ,Iestiny Ilf rill' h:ntl "fidJ in m i.!· l(nTe:l. No dnllht inlh ll'IK "d b), h i~ com"-ll l'x l'l' ri"IKl' in Cnlll,lll)" "1 the end of the Second \Vorl .l W;lr, when Ihe Germ:n b cd rivers ,lg:lin't Conmunusr
77
ha d 11no,!e,1the Ri ver Roer, Gene ra! RiJgway wa nted l';lTly nu to pre-e mpt :my such control, an.! h ad ca lled f" r thl' Hwachun Dam si llice~ to be ta ken nut tota lly. lle asked the USA F to rc pe at the RA F'~ damhllst ing ex ploi ts, a nd. :lccordi ng ly, attacks WCTl' made hy Bot: in g B-29 hcuvv bombers u"inj,l6 tun htllnh~. Their arrack was a total failure. TIll' US Eigh th Armv had, meanwhile. th rown p on toon hTidgl'" ,ICTUS" rhc Fukhan to conti nue its advance and, '10 9 April, till' Communists dllh' r,lbed rh c sluice gate~ and rdea'l'd tI", tloo.l water exuc tlv as pred icted. Two hridgt'~ weninuu ediutelv affected. one hl' ing totally
bac k a boar d. ev en if the lan ding is not a peTlect
wa-hcd awav, the orhcr wnhdrawn under "I' collapse. »n.l the ad vance gTtllmJ
t hreat
tu a halt. Exasperated. Ridgway again called on the US Ai r Force 10 dll some dli n J.,: , hu t his request w,,~ turned down : even its hi~eM ht llll h~ were I'0werles~ against ~lKh ;l ma,."ive ."tn Kture. Rislgway tr ied :mllllll'T tilCk, and twu attem l' l~ were 1ll:1dl' ( 0 "'"rm till' dam ll~i ng ~pecia[ a.sS<1l11r (Ilrl'l'~, B,Ith :11 tl'mr '" biles!. A gl'nera! oITl'n~ive (oll"wl~d an d I n K l l'~ Ilthe EiJ.,:ht h Ar my ~eizcd Ih e area :lTotlnJ the H W:lch on Rt:'Sl'r voir fur ;1
...
·< . " " . ~ ~ . t1.
CUMRU O\'Hl IW lt loA
TIlE I 'S "'AV'
f_Xrf_R I~'''Cf_
1
•
AD-4Bs hom VA · 115 . nd VA-i5 - . Iou,- pl. ne 101lTlilionIt ac ke d lip e ver ttle PhilipPine Sea. Roland W ... "' arM Bowm~n
8~l'"
A Navy Skyraider armed wilh th ree 1.lIOlllb bombs lak " ofl lrom Ihe c."i., USS Valley forge (CV·451fOI • s lrike on Communisl lillgets in Korea , on 26 April 1951, N.1I0fl~1 AfChlv ei. Co!le ~e Perk. MD
78
COMIIAT IlVEII t;OREA THE us
short pcnod. A reum of US Manne l~ n ~i ncc rs was rush ed forward to s;lhntagl' till' sluice gai l'S and lock them open pe nna ncn rlv. lloweve r, before t111' y co uld do an y more than mak e an inspe ct ion , on 22 April 19 S1, th e C om munis t unn v aga in th rew th l' Americans bac k and re -took the dam , Ridgway W :lS hack whe re he had sta rted!
~AV Y
E.\ I'ERIH';CE I
Wi thin thre e hours of receiving t he request for hell'. I'rinCC!n1l de-pa rched a
striking force o f six A D4 Skvraide rs, each nrmccl with two 2,COOlh homhs. TIll' Y h ad a fighrn I'SWrt of five F4U Co rsairflghrcrbombers of VF- 191, for tl
t;lrgcts. TIll' Soviet Union snl l had >;o. UIlI' old "'mlt'ships in full conuniss u In ,It thi s per iod , :mJ also haJ a t lr/..", »nd growing num be r of 1S,l\.T() n I II c ruisers I 11 thl' St'l'l"J/H[ clas.' built. Aga inst th ese. unri l guidlJ tactical ato mic weapons could he developed. the tllTJX',ln wns still the mn't dtect ivc c, nmrer-mcasurc. Thus it carne about tha t the Skvraidc r was fmullv seen, for th e only time in h istory,
An AD·1 ot VA·l95 unfold s ils w ings aboa rd the carrier USS Princet on lCV-31l oH Ihe Koreen eeest
preparatory to a strike mission.
The Ar my
[lO W
McDonnell Douglas, Long Beach
turned to the Navy for
help. A request was scm to th l' comrmmder of Task Force 77, Rear Admiral Ralp h A. Otsnc, f,lr h is .urcratt ro try and dest roy at least tW,1 of rb c vital sluice gntcs, to lessen rhc poten tia l da nge r of furt her flooding. O peratin g wit h th is task force was till;' attack carrier USS Princeloll (C V37 ), commanded hy Capta in W illia m 0, Gallery. Ah.l
holed the chun , hut all the sluice gatl's rcmam cd unscat hed. T here remained one final hupl'. Amo ng her ordnance in ven tory th e Pnnceron , like all attac k curriers, earne d a smal l complemcnt of th e Mark I ) ae rial toTJX'l1o. Despite the advent pf th,· air-b und led rocket . an d its sucu·s.,flll applic.atioll in the b sl two years of the Second W.)rl,l War against smaller all,l light ly armed ~ h i Pl' i ll g targets, it was still a fact th" t th is weapon was rclauvc lv ioeffec nv c against larger war-hip
79
fuliilling the combined rble of ,lin' ,111,1[orpt'd" bomber for which it ha,1 or ig i n;I Il~' l-eon ,Il'wlop.·t! ten yea rs earlier. Ca pta in G allery prop osed that the lorpcdoe s sho uld he utilized in a second arrack bv the Pnnceron'sSkvnudcrs agaim r the stub bor n sluice l:; lICS. H is Idea was taken up with alacti ty, even though w ry little train in g had been d,me in th is rtlle. Nei t he r was there any opport un ity for further prar nc c , as rhc missio n was sched uled for till' fnlluwing morn ing. The hazards
..
, ........d ~ Ir.".
(, O ~ lIJA T
OVUl KORb\
t tu.
us Nlln'
L \ f' LIl Il,N('L I
f;I": ~'d r y torpc ..lll homh..'r, In'fl.' 11"...11 known . and rh .., dam 11";1' well defended. with ,nui'
rbcrr farl.:~· h . No, ;111 t he lI"arhe;l<1 cxplo-ion-, lh ;1I r..'_lIlll·<1 were Oil lar j.!l·l. or I'rol...luccd rill.' de-n..' J r..· ".lb. bill "Ill.' ...[ m-et h l! pun c hed a hole 1011 ('111 ) in di.uncn'r Ih rtllll-:h one " I th e slurc.., l-:all'" whil..- " . hns l" uk " Ill , 'I1l.' ,l llk"' l-:;lIl' Cl 'Illr k ld y, T Ill.' ~k vrniders h ;ld done alll h,ll h.rdl-ccn ;1, h '<1ofrhcru , wilh" 111 1,1" . A , dll'Y k'fl d ll' ...'cnc , water IVa, l'''lIrinJ.: d lTlllll-:h till' l,!
Prince/on 's Skyraider Missions TI ll.' H .....iKhun R...,...."·uif all ,Kk. ah hll lll.:h Ih..' m."1 ' pt..'Clac ular. wa, ' lIlly, '11'" lIt' lIl an~· J.li ly , ni h'~ h..'IIlj.! mtlm)! ......1 .. ~. VA· 19's 'Ahle· [\'1!'· al Ihl' J't-'ri, iJ. Alm,)'o,1 el ' ll! Ill· u;d ly in aCllun . Ih t.' Skyr.li,I..' r w;" pruv inl.: il.'t.'lf.m in va luahl e \n'aron in Ihe U n ill-J Nation, arm"U f)', II wa, 1.11' .1j.!'.lln'l , uJ't-' ri· I'r num hcr,;; Ih .., "'n,,'m y', s"wi"',·sul'pll..-J T-l4 l;Inh \n' re l'I
Seen under Ihe wi ng ole Nevy AD·4 Skyre ide, trom VA ·195. under Commende r Herold G. eerl$On , USN, Ihe 10rpe do8$leu m,;hed III low level ex plode liS they hit t he sluic e gales ollhe Hwe ch on Dam, on 1 Me , 1951. This famous strike merke d Ihe lasl combel LIs e ollhe aerial to rped o a ga ins l a n en emy lar gel . Nalron. 1Archrves. College Parl;.MO
[ew American tnnk x, ;Hh l even till' A mcrkan 2.l6i n ha:, ,,,ka ;H\l i' l;lllk " " h ·" hUlinc ed ofl rh..-i r arm'Hlred hi.. I.." . ~ ix year,; e'lrli...r. Ih l.' G... rl1l;H\' h ;l..! 1; ,ull,1 rhal un ly r recbiull homhin j.! had ; 111~· d lce l ,'n tlll' , e munsler,;, anJ Ihe A IIIl.'riGl[\' Wl're no w di 'Cuvc rll\ J.: Ih ... 'i l1lll.'.On 11ll.' Ea'I..' rn Front, il wa, rill.' JUllk ..." Ju . 1'17 SlIIka Ihal h ;d Ih... acc uracy lU ddin 'f l h i, lH'l' ul allack; Ih .., l'i 'I
80
l;1f1.:..'1 area. On , Jl)l' rt' pl"'n i"h m"'lll (by thi' ioc (a,led all ,by and W;l' '>(J Ihi ck Ih in vi, · il-ilil y \\'a, , d d" lll grc,Hl'r Ih ;m 200 yards. In ;lur r,on of tht, 1I11-wllhd r;l.....ing UN flOOps were rruJe lr"m ::X""ll Itl Kow on. They ctllmeJ Iht-
CO\IIIAT OVI-ll KOllh\
s.,,,,,,,,
Ordnance ••ptnditur. Kore. - Prine.tOll April l9S1
2.lDJGP l.lDJGP
""GP 2SOGP
100GP "" 08 2llI Frag Napalm tanks
Thdeoor M. 13 rc peeoes Rockets 6 5 AlAR Rockets 5 0 HVAR Mk6 Rocke ts 5 0 ITlQlOl Rockets 3 5 headMk 8 Rockels 3 25 mo tor fuse rockelSMk 149 20mm carmon ammo ~calmg
.....'"'" No
3.883
•
4,54D
1.552 57.540 8 835 1.338 2.170 4 4
i.JJ8 165.592 m,750
Je,.tnlt.:ll,l1l " I tW,1 eucmv 1--;1IT;1I.:\'"" fll'U !:Un " mr l,Kc nw n h anJ GIU......J an e- nmated .k"'(t r l u~ c,N Mlt i,.... am lOnt: II,,· ...n"IIW\ ctr.unJ f..rce-. a ~ well u-, ,1..·~tro~· Illt: t~ ltlr "~' >In"llh''', \ ,Ol5 Wr",Kill·'!. Ih l'll' Wl'rl' simila r ~ rrikl" In Ihl' S;Hlchon a rl'a ;1Il,1 ,l1"n,L: rill" {r" nt 3hpw Sl·"UI. which ,k,tlo~'l',1 1\\''' m"n' enl'm~' ~un l'lIlI'Lh':"'lll...'H...;, a ~lI l'l' ly dlllllp IU hm' ah \\"l' Seoul. Twlllll. 'n· ...m·my artl ll~T)· ril'n...Wl'rl' "h.J flUI. ", well ;1' Iwdl"l' InICk- ;.. \0.1 Sln.1r). Sll\;ll1l'r \'l'hidl~, allli ;\ "'n ,ll.'t., n~h ~.J . Ph,ltl' lhj!hb ctln·Il.J rill' ;Ul'; l~ WCSl uf ~OWl>n an.! ntlfth of r)·llnL,\·;IIlC. After rerll'ni,hmg ;Ic-,lin, PTlnt't'flnl Il'h'\"l''ll furd'M:r no.lflh tll t~ ,1I"ll' IIr l >n Wh;ll thl' ph,,. 1q;r.qfL~ h;.J rl·wak.J an,llau!llhl...1a n", h · ('f 24 AD ~tri k('<; ag;linst Commu ni"t Ir;lIl' f\iIt ~ysfl' m~ al s"Hl,L:lin, Kik h u ;1ll,1 Smrunj.:ll i, clai mi ng thc ,k"nKli"n III Olll' gun f'tl1'itl\'n, tw" C('lllr ll'l... hrid,L:l·.~ , wh ilc
1111
rs
~ ,, \ , ' ~-'P~.llll: 1\ n
I
,-
No
,.1the enemv.
AN-M1DJAI AN-Ml39A1 AN-M14OA1
115
" 00
m
AN- MI68 AN-MIOOA2 AN-MID IA2
7.556 8.913 311
AN-MI02A2 AN-MI66
""
MI15 Mlt6 M11 7 M125A116 Hr l AN-M1JO
30
TIll' 1,1.';1 0 1 hlttin:.: 1ll' ;1\'I1\ ,ld l'n, ll.J ..., . me.m- 0 1 remorc-comrollcdarr.. l"T.111 r .ll"h.J with h l ch - l' x rl "'l n'~ h....1 1" IlI.: IIltri cu<.·J airme n,
ca mc r-ba -c.J Slyr;u Je r-, It ' rhl' lll.....-onuort
B20 B8 4
,
73
T4E 1
,
MIS7 M157
2.946 2.946
f lares MJ:. 6
102
kn..,,:kin c a "r a n t'u t tit .. th,r". a.." 'e11 ;l'" ....'C. I" ,n." l it" vitn] r.lilw.I\' 1r.1C1. On 5 ~t.I Y, an cvv n Crc,u er ...Il~ ln W ,l~ m, ...Ic anJ no Il·" th.ru 2'1 ~l ~-raiJl'r:- " ""l ran in mt ..rdu non ~I n h', ;I~;\ i n~' th e c n ..my "'" r r l" r"Ull" in th e Kowon
Guided Mis siles G.\IU-90 In Ih " "" Jl·~pt.'r;lll' ,tt )"', Ctllll"l' n li"Il;11 Ji v...-hllm l-in c al1,1 ,tr~ lnnc ;l\l ach II"l'Tl' no l Ihe o nl y COllllihlJl i"ns lll
81
l; l rl.·...r~
The Hcllcat -, were fured wnh a remote Ct'!ll r. llll·J tclcvrsum guid.mcc J,'..-ic..... mJ .UIlll'J wllh ;t ~ lIlc le 1,WI'" h' mh a tt'iXl·J l<' 1Ill' un,I......."k· III ,h... Cl·llIt. 11 II1...·b cl'. A Il';un . It IW\1 A!)·4N, 1lI0llLltlrl,J , h.. l;lk l··"t"! anJ ~u h""'411"' 1lI al'li;11 Id l'vi, i' 1I1 o mu .l l "I Ihc F6F· if..: . nil' l'qu1r"ll'lU wa, IIlUun tl,J in . h" a ll~r cabm, ;1Il,1 till' IWo1Il;1l1 "1"' r;lIin~ Il';lm cui,k'd till' airer;lll tll till' (;IICd ;Iro:" . ~ liI nJ in,L: " It {rum t h.. dan · Cl'r :1Hll' alld el lll t rl,IIi ng till' fill;11 .II"'l' Ill!(I lis " bjl'I:lin" A lth"ugh I....." I'r" ""'l l 'I'; il l h~" , an,1 not Cl'ry :ICC UI:ltl', 11 was dl'cidl'lilo comh lt -to:st thl' lll'vic... . C V·li W ; l ~ Sl'ker...J 1"1 thl' Jnh.
()fwrations of Boxer s G.\fUs F, III"wlllg Ih ... rionl't.'rinc wnrk III G~I U · & JXtT (CV-21) W;h J l'''I,arJ Ih ... tim",' AD,4Ws of VC · ll \ 1\..tac hml'lll 'A', c" mlll;llldl·d hy Liculcna nt J. WaJllel l. ;lIlll [\ :Iach ml'lll 'A' nl VC· 35, comlllandl·d hy Lil'L1Il'IMnt R. W. Ta ylo r, wilh lour A[)-4N L~ ;lll.l 011\' A I),ZQ.
"JV, till' ca rn ...r
..
.,... " ". ~
• h.lI.
The B(lx~'" r~'n,I":\"ou~'J wu h Ta-k FI' rH' 77, now commanded hy Rear Admrral A. Soucek rn Ih,' carrier Es'>l'x (CV.I}) on !6 Alll.·ll~{ 10:,1 ')1, A ir ur~: r.l{ ill n, co m1ll,'nH'd on rhc next ,lay, wuh a 101011of 86 com bat sornc- ( ')6 I,f them "'y the :; k~v i,le r~ ) I"-' in ~ laun ched "'y th e B' ':\''f A Ir G roup; rlu-ir tar.L:"b were in rhc vicin ity Ilf C h{l~,'n , Hllll inla nd ~t Or:J g" and ~ lI r plv ;m:a ~ ~oll t h' \\' ,'~ 1 of W(ln ~;ln . In :.11, (,6 t, ' 1" I ,f I -rd n. mce we-redropped un , ur l,li,', anJ Inl<'r urcas.
...~. th e ~ imul l;\tu,tlUl> bunc h of the cnn rrolIinJ;: A [)· 4N from th e 'larhomJ ealaruh ,W TIll' fiN Sk\T;\i d~:r ker l r an ' wnh Ih,' drone, wh ich was r.,Ji ,.-c,.nrn ,lleJ t1uolJj.!h ib laun ch an J inti } It , mlll,.1 climb 10 th e required altitude hy ti ll' ",'e ond com rolhng A D-')N (rillll",1hy Li"I1tenant Taylu rl , which wait,',1o n 1l11' dcc k. W h,'n till' drum' was '
.ur cratt lire•.1 'lJ;:nal was sent . Thl' con trolled Ihe Hd le'lt's aileron, and lIar", ..... nJm~ il JI\" inJ.: int o the tar ge t. Th e 1,OO.)Ih h.lmh C,IU'o(..J a brt,:" det on ation and nu .....-J c l..uJ, I,f earth. ..lIN and -rnoke over Ihe area 1,( imr .KI, "'UI it W:lS n,.{ unt il the photo-reconna issan c e .urcralr h;IJ over-flown till' tar get rhar n', ulb could be ascertained. TIll' pictures were returned to t he c arr ier, and ca re ful :m: l l y~ i~ of t hem
indicated 111<11 th e hridg" wa~ uo ] 'lIl ~cr ' lan,llIlt,: afln Ih l ~ fi'" a t tempt.
21 AugusI1 951. fOUl Sky"ide rs from the u niel USS BOl e r ICV-21l l1y over Ihe J llplln Sell on Iheil WilY 10 demolis h lin e ne my bridge wesl 01Wonsan , Korell. Thes e dive bombe rs . re u rrying e bomb 10lld e qullt 10 lhllt 0111 Sec ond World Will Army B-11. f lying !he Skyreiders lire Nn el Rese n e pilolS lorme rly ba sed al HAS Dlltla s. Te u s. McDonnei DougI.s.long B.lCh
On the next ,by, 28 AUJ;:usl 1<)11. 11ll' wc.nher was J'll<'r. Smkcs d i,1 " 01 commence until I when a further ,n cumh it sort ies, inchnlirur 27 hy th,' A [)." wenlaun ched again ' l 1,lrJ,:" " in till' S"nJ,:jillKilchu an'a. TIl"\' ,ld in 'n'..!2 3 t,'n, 1,( l'r, lnance illln th,' No 2 hy,lm-t'ieclri c I'lanl at C h,,,, m and M'ulhl,1Ih,' A mI-FlO n '",,'rVlllr, TIw 'h:n ificanet' II( Ihi , dar w,,, lilt' (:1<:1 Ihal II marlt'll tilt' fiN Ci MU all:u.: k. O ne \If Ihe six F6F-Sk ..!rtltw~ wa~ Iallnch,'ll (wm BoxeT's J'I.n c
no,
a" lIltle..1 control ,10,1rlac..J tilt' ..!ro ll" on a Iwa Jing lowarJ s th e '...-lecrcd larJ,:el - Ihe llummnm hri,IJ,:,', a strateuic u,~sillg that hall SII far .I,{it-d repe ated USAF all ,'m p" al us ,It'~ t [lln i"Il, T he C; lll \t' n i in Ihe B d lr al's cllck l' it " 'Ill a fuzz\' hut c l"'1f,'n'ltlgh r icl Hr" 1,1th e cI,n trnllinj.! A IJ-4N \ lll11nitor fll " Il,,!>le l:1 ~' lor\ cre w III cont rollhc drOll" wilh a re,IMlIla"'le J ,'g-n.:e III .lCcuracy, II W,l' "et·R'll III fh,' "'ridJ,:" anJ Ihen , fll' m a <;;If.. Ji'la nn' IItI"i,I" lh,' ::l In,' of h,'a\'\' ant i·
82
Followmg Ih b success.
ve-J S connn-
ucd upt:ral iol" a J.:;Ii ll~1 u tlw r worlh ",h.k taructs. mainly ra il "'rid.l:es and tu nnels, which could on ly be dcmolohcd b"
hea vy ordnance de livered with great acc u ra c ~' ,
TIlt' ~'c(\nd F6F-')K Jrlll'" :ltI:lCk ....'35 made on Ihe foll'lwing J ay, 29 Aul.~, as r an of som,' 11 2 Clllllhat [,tJni,... ll" "TI ftooJ th e B()x~.,.. TIw hulk uf liltOX' S\lm,~ (i8 in I\lIal) wIn' ,""...Ie ""', Ih,' SraJ. "The Ia rgtU .....ert' a Iaf).'t:' rul-oh.:-r f,Klllry, millt
,.. ."
.. ,
..,I
("O MR,t,T O \' H t KO k h\
SkyrIiMn oper.ting from Itl. Bon Homme R'chard ltv-J I) ott Korea ,
anJ t/'I " f' h. ItU( \..' ;11 p\,. '1l1..');IIl).:; MI I, 'Ii" ,f otJll.al1.u .' were ,-k'p.~ih.'\1.
Ort.'r,lIi,'n s were curtailed ,!unl1).: dw next two d,IYS due h' n n -l'ss;l[l ' rq ' kmsh-
ffil"flt, and ha,! wearlwr, hut 1'l' g;11l ;lg; l i ll " n
f\(ln
TIn . l'S
~ ,t,\' y
F. XH k IH i C F I
McMul ..,
I :-;.:rtl·ml.....-r.l.)n this d.rv. In unl'4 'I(I,;l I, 'r,,1 "".'r \..', h..rr
83
..
. ,... " " . ~
• h. lI.
1'0\lllAT U\' 1'1< ti.OI
TIlt: I'S " A\' Y I', Xnl
actuall j- ;l~a i n\ l u lficial r uliq . L.", ,mJ J ;tma,l.:l' ran- became so h,k.I I hat the BuA t'r c-nrn.ued III lat e 19 50 Ihal .u mnon "",'>uIJ U'l' up their whole ' I,oc k "f A Ds wu h nine rn onrh- ! In rhc 1II.:hl nt Ih i_~ cr isi-, pcunt , and wuh rhc AD-4 produc uon line .Ill'" III fina ll~' Clll"" in 19SI, Lil'U1 cn.uu -C omnumdcr H ank S Ut'rstl', II, tilt' BuAl'r AD ('r" Jl'c I O flin'r. Maruu- CUfT'S Major Ken Reusser, of rhc Butl',111Armament ,Ii\' isi, III (wlu I had been Ihl' Jri \"inl! force in J.!1·1l1111.: an extra IWO 2(1m lll cannon mro till' Spf th e lL· 2 wen- l..'IK;\'1.J in an aruuarred- tcc l h IX ,If t'n, 'rmt >us sfTl·nl!l h. TIll' Amerrcan rcchmc ulexpert s concluded. howe\'er. Ih al Ihl' a..I"t'lll. n of "UCh rrllll'Cli. >T1I~ll l~ :-kyr.uJ ,' r W.I" '1.11t,t" the que...l lt'n; rhc extra wdell! wou lJ h.I\"t' 1,,,,, .k.lwlX' an t'fti.'C1 uf't -n till' A D's performance. S.lt.'Nl.JI's mr1l.11 re... /ue'l 11".1' therefore rell"l:l l.J 'Il lt m ..ht ancl Ill' W,I' 101.1 I" mmd his o-vn bu-mess, In 1;1(1, hi , leu...r was Wilt h n.:k l·nd"N.'J 'Zal'lltCllJ.\ II 114.~ ~a{llllu~', wh ich tr'llb1.lll"$;I.' 'Cob bler, ' Iiel lo YOUT la't ' ! Un.h-tcrrc....I, rhc (),1I1J.!1a, (I ' m ran~' Illa.!l· ,I .It·I'lik,d 'llIJy o{ ih own . The "'Xpt'Th can·fully 'lIlal.,.""J th ... hulk of lhe Skyra i,ln\ l!T" unJ-fiTt.' hn " ;1lI.! cdm.. . up wnh ;l r .llll'm Ilf the mO, f Ct'mml,n In"'" 01 'I mclUral .1,1111;11.:1'. Thl.')· mad " a ,m"U muJd of Iht' S k~-raiJe r anJ r. I' ......J Lucilt TOJS Ih wudl 1111.' ' "nu la!fil 1l,lk entr.tllct anJ l'x il htlll'~ hi illu 'ltale Ih... co nel' nTTalion . B .n ·in l.: cu nn' nt r.lI'.J t' n Ihe mam rrllhlelll art';ts, Ihe O<.IUJ.! \;1s It'am Ihm ealllt' UI' wirh ;1 rrllf't)x'J ,,,llIlIon. Tht \'ulner,lhll' ;ITl',I, ;1_' in,lieall,,1 h~' till' mrJlkl ell ukl h... (,,\"n l', 1hy , h" l'ts 01 ,I nl'lI" male· rial. ,I cUllll'"und t,f ,It·d ,Illd duralum inum, wh ich lI"a, SlTUllg hlJl co mrarali\'... l~· lil!lu wd d )! ; this w,luld l' I",'i.l1.' lhe: 1l1'Ct'" aTy I'Wfl·(t iun. E
*'
Rann'lo go! ASk,,,id" w' lh p.op spinning . nd • very lIli.ed load 01 ordn.nee Sl. nds re.d, lor lake -e" Oil lile deck of ils e. rrie' olt rhe Ko,,, " eUSl A Ch.lllee·Voughl F4U Corsair, wings folded. i. s poned on lIle side olrhe deck . 5.n Olego A_ 59'"
""-
whic h wert: l.'u kl~',1 III h)' the A D-4Ns 1<1 m.rkc excellen t .macks. T he tiuul tIl'" FtoF-i K ,lrt'Ill's were !olUndll,,1 dl~' I\lll,m'inl! ,by, l Scptcmlwr, makml! ;l lu fal Iff six such SUnil'S. T1w'l' ..ix IllhSj,llh h~' F6F-i K dtl lm', \WH' ah "" IUfd y Ilniqll~' III Ill\.' hi s!"Ty I,f h 'lh IIw U S 1':,I\'y an,1 IIll" S kyraid\"T, ,111,1 \nTl' nl' \'~'r H'f'l°;1I1..J in (I'TIlh,n. LiloUll'n :lIl1 Ta,·I" r\ \'C-3 5 ha, ,I \', l l i~1 d.lim III a ' f'l'cI,ll r bc~' in !h~o ,m na l, "i n a\"al ;-I\' ia!iun. On ~ ~r l~·mh.'r, IIll" S ky r.l i~ll.'r' III VA6i 11ew ~' n' r;1 1 mis,i.'ns, wilh 71 c"ll1h,1t ... 'll I~'S h.° ln~ Ct 'ntr ihll t ~...1tt I 11ll' It Iia l l,I 84 conn'n tl"" al 'Inkl." 11"wn. Till.' w ealh~'r d,,~', 1 in un Ih ... 11I.'Xt .lay an ,I, Ill1 4 501,,1'I ~olll h.'r, I h~' c<Jlri\"T' /It! X~'r anJ E~ 'i':" , ~"~' un~'d hy rill' ,le'tr" Yl' r ('(Ilk. d"'panl°.! (t"m T,I, k F" n':l' 77 I" rl'l urn l u Yukusuka , FUTl~""'\' I'lI uf Hoxa 's airaafr nl'\\' ,lshu rl' In AhUl!i ai rha,~o un 4 SI'I' I ~'mhl· r. DUlln g this inl l'n si\'l' f'l..riIJt.l, till' Bt!xl'T G ruur 5k yr.li.koh h .lel Ilown 40 1 "-lTt iL-s, oltl'n'IH' ,m, 1 ,1 ~·ft' lb l \'l', ..... il h VA- 6 S 1"!.IlImJ.! 3,21 3 11Il!hl hotll ~ . Thh work t.J our ,11 4 .911i l!hl ~ f'l'r 1'11"1 anJ an ;tn' ral!l'
of 12.8 i 11i ~11I h' H IT~ per ptlot. VC· l l ha .1 c" llI rihull,,1 40 5 11il!11I htHIT' (6 .7 hour-, pvr r il", ;Jll,1 2.8 Ili~lll ' per t1\,1Il) , \\'hil l.' VC -3i's 'Hu-h-Hush' missi"lh l!a\"l" I'l l!urcs 1,162 .() hour-, I I \Iaillyi nl! I inll' , llr 10, S hou r, pe r rillll wil h ,Ill ; 1 \"l'T;j~I' "'l u il' rail' tlf (Iltll J'<.'r pil. 'I. S u..: h (h:url" Wl'rl l yri G11 fl'T Sk F ;li,ln ....lll;IJrolb ,lUring Ihe Kurt'an (;" n I1io. O
Ad d itional Armour Protection A, IIll.' t'm'm y llalllllt'lhified , ...l l he nn'J lor J.:rea h'r S k ~' r; lId" T :tiTe rcw rrol ~'eli . 'n 1"'(; I1I\<' tI\<' .1"m ltl' lllt (;Io"r in till' ,I"cj. si" n a, t" wl\<'lllt'r "r not liu'y eOnT lIlll", 1 CI'mha ! l'l....ral i, \lb . T his itlcrt',lSinl!.!'lll).:eT \\"as t'x,l(l' rhated h ~' th t' : l'a l and (( 'UT").:I' of tilt' Na\"y ,In,1 l\.! 'lr illl' Corp, ~p,I,1 l' il "l ~ IllI'llI""ln's. TIll'Y pt·"isle n tly 1'"'S"l'J ,lllwn low 10 t' nsUll' ,Iceuralt' ddl\-l°l)' of t1\<'ir pa~'IIl
84
,,, •
.,,"'"
the N av al Pro \' il1 ~ Ground-, IIi D,lhl",TCIl , Virglll i,l, l'ar uxent River. ~ l ary lan,1 ,mI.l
Quon-,..-t Poin t , Rho d cIsl.md. T Ill' j-crforman n' of the new armo ur W ,\ S uuprcs-ivc. tor, althoul.:h a .Sd-c ahb n- huller couk]
penetrate the Mm plate, ih \"d",.: ilY was '" rcrardcdrh.u It c.m......-dlinlc or n. ' dama!!l'.
A 20mm HE
l!\1."l 'n, IIOl')'
-hell [ut wac
found hI cause vxteustvc J l,hi nJ.: of the pl.uc ,m.! " IC T;K l l l. 1--111 rhc armour totally excludedt he .I.Ull:l l! Illl! Ira j!llwnt, . (\ Iug!..' rdlll......1 till" , IW ds "'. ,h,1I ,pt.,. (i'llly ti,mwJ ......-":11,,11.' cou!.1 h.. rrll,llKc., 1.
Th,-...: c\l1I1.1 h.. l.lll "h'·..! III III rn-..:i·,dy rhc erea-or
r h c
\'U IIkT,Il-k' .
,i rhc
~ ra.. l
r h . u
11w.....·
were Ctl'lN J '· T".J 1Il, r-t
W,' I,'
rh...·
U1'1lICf ......-cnon
m.un n 'll lra l Wille ,mJ IU",..1.1L'I.' .....'C.
tion. when-
Illl'
1'1101 ,m..! the 01,111\ fud cel l
nee...[e...i prorcc non: th e under .md ~ i.le ""-'C ' start ed. rhc l irst 01 fo ur SIK h rc -smrt s Ih ro ugh the vcars; Hem... mann hall been ri"n~ aroundthe t'nl-:illl' anJ alo11l-: the ccntral fu",,-·laj.,'t,.·; Ih t' ri ll ,t" t\l'a.lrt'~t , an. 1 so on. -hrcwd cnouuh to keep th e machine h lob The probl em 01 " ht.lin in l-: ~'n"ul-:h ;1111- and rl 'ln! In reserve u tt e r each ( 1.,'>(.··..1" ""'n. m inium [which w,., then -ca rcc I It , I1MnU There was a final foorruuc ro th h facture thb new C 01ll 1'<"' 1f ~· armour W;I' rem.uknble inui.uive, "" rcnuru-ccnt Ilf evcntuallv solved with t ill' ,llrn'l (if larl-:e. llememann's , 't iginal ri llYwith th, ' Ru A cr ly unl ,flicial) ((l ltl h .mt i" 11 l,f Licurvn.mt - bac k in II)H. which kcrl the Slq T;ud,' r Commander \Villiar.1 Ny hurl-:, . 1 srt't i,11 tlvm e. fromcallv. Lieutenant -Commander ;I,~ bt a nt f,lr m ilitary I'rt"lm: ti on in rh c S Ut;" NcJ I. "",h.) h,,,II'I;ln·J such a , icll lfi. ()Ilice Ili l he ~~'cre l;lr~' III I \ .. ten -c. W .I,h· calli r .nl in th i-, ac hievement , W 'I ' illl-:ft\n . re , Th e M.nint' G,rJ" W ,I' W OIl ,lr r OItlI' .J G,mma nJ mg O ftk t'r of N;lv~' O VeT all,1 1), lud a, 11~' w ou t thl' arm'lI.lrt·J :S k~T'l iJer St.juaJ w ll YF·54. rehevme Lien. . .x non- III Korea It l fid,I-llt tht'm on t IlI-'ir te nant-Com mander Paul G ra)'. H~' w••' A D". Loarh hi lx· -ccn hi lx· rl.l~· llll-: .....'C - ....wm leaJing hi, "IlIa,lron Into low-level 0 11..1 fi,I,lle 10 t ill' ~l aTlne , . lilt' Nan' I~ ,I · com":!t uctu -n in Korea. ihu-, 1Il'·I'lrhon1,1weJ cuit, and the .1,1, 'I'll' '11 " f Iht' a rmour ca lh' rUlltng h i ~ mon ev where hi, mout h h..,1h ..,'n! ' r r...aJ. Th e l), llll-:I.I' All-4 lim' wa' rc
SKYRAIOER MEN - Ron McM asters. USN
The Korean W.. saw the hrsllull ·sc:ale IIl'YOIvemenI of tte 'Spad" on a OOfl'Oat basis and sM fully proved her wontl Among the Amencan all'tfaft ca" '," operating off thecoast between May and 0ecembeI1951, Ilying _ agams1 Communisl targets ashore was the lbt /tmme Rtdwd (CV·Jll had embarked VA-92J eQ'JIPPIld Wltfl the Skytall:ler Ron had Ilown the CurtiS SB2C HeIIdIVSf both aboard camers. m the Medilerr.-.un and North AtlantIC dullng1947, and from shofe bases as a Naval RestlMl pilot In 1948. bul It was With tile ~yraldef, ahef once JTIOfe being called to lhe colours, that he flew his fllst combal mission Ronhalled from rlOf1'hern Caro lina.where hewas born on5 March 1924 He enhsted m lhe Na'l't m Seplember 1943, bul didnOI fma lly graduate from fllghl schooluntil ~iI1946 Alter servingWi th the HelldlV6r, he look dis· charye in November 1947, but the Berlin WSIS 01Ju ly
1948saw 1'1110 recalled10 SflMt:e lor the flf$f lime and rt was 0011,1'1111 June 1950that he WitS 8l)ain drscharged from dll1'; He remalfllld Itv>rllI Wltfl the Naw reseMI forteS and the illllitSlon at the f\eplAIflC at Korea IIlliIIO saw his.eturnto dll1'; v.tlen hewas recalledfor thesec· ond time ,nSep!embef 1950 Altef lTaimllQ on the AD, hiStour duty With VA·92J tollowed, where he Ilew fitly combat miSSions. On return he became an AD mS lJutlor at the fleet All Gunnel School. NAS EI CenlfO, CahtorOla, andhe was not again discharged untilJune 1953 Oncean aViator, alwars an aVlalor. and Ron conllnued to fly With the Naval Reserve until he retired In 1965 H,s naval career won him two A,( Medals as well as vallous Theatre medals These callson him nalurallyceused frequentinterrup· tions 10 hiSeducatiOll buthe persevered and fmally com·
85
p1eted college, 1IIlI,0nng al fresno State lJf1MlIsIty and emllfll'ng from College With I1onw1 111 CrvnllOogy. id\IlMtlIl botl18achelof anti MastllfS degrees. tI'Il959 Hep t>ed the CaillorniaHlgI1wav Patroland S8I'o'8d as a pauolmanbetween 1953and 1959, following Yotlictl he OfPllzed the Llw--Enfortemef11 Education prllll'iIITIlIe alllakllfSheld College 1l'I1959 FoIlowlflg mis Ron tTIlM!d mtoadmlfllsuallon and he was eventually 10retne as a Dean01Students in 1984 Resident now 111 Te!lachatJI, of! Highway 58 south-east of 8a~efSfield, Ron had meanwtule mel and n'lamed hiS Wife jessie. and they had two children. who, In tum. have presented them With 10Uf Qfandchiklren and one grealilrsndchild! Roo keeps himsell fully OCCUpied In several ways He plays golf, helps fnends bUild and remodel thell houses. r;ooks tor the Church Youlh Groups in thell Summer andWinterCamps
..
. ,... " " . ~
•h.lI. ("0 \l 8 " T OHII I;nllb\
TIll n
~ " V\
E\I'I,IlIU.n I
-kill and dcrcrrmnauon and J l·flINh..J W ton- of .... im ..... O:l( ~IC I1)' on all rhc tanrcrs. O ne Nav)' rilol , Comma nder ~ 1.K . The Hunter- Killer ' Ull l · ~Ur.m;l n nl· 1t.:";\111 III AIl-4:-.1 and AIl-4Q, wu h ib main ba-e ,II Denno of VA- 195 from Pnnno[rm. ""<-I' ~,Ul [)iq.:" NA~. provided tour-pl.uu- ~L' quo ned 10 rhc I'fl'~~;l S Silyin},:. ·w" dropped evo:rYlhinJ.: on them l-III the kitchen nou-, tor each "I the carriere on th e Yalu River . 1,·II,·r' . W", 1.1_h,-J firmh' 10 .1 1.(\'",(Hh .... unb IIlI1I1Il[,.J I'll th e cen tre-hue 1,1Lieu11\•..1,. IhL'1Il l' arn':III,lr'" «nrablc. Na vy ,ill,1 .1" '-1' 111 h"~1 ilL' tcmtor v. Three " ir(f,llt car r u-r-, - t he n OX<'T, I'hilipfHfle Sea ;1O, I I'TlTll't'· rcn.mr ( ' -l!.) Carl It AU'lIn\ A D and. Il r AD-4 AO-4N AD-4Q 1 Vallet ForgeICV·45) Dec·51 ""·52 VI" I ,l\.\.\(\,-1_.:allJ I" r tl\n- r ltul'~ It' illullli · VF-I94 &m(CVA-2 11 AO ~ May-53 Jul·53 n,lf,· (;lrt:l'" 1".-.lInl "11 Iiw ir ~C " '''-' ' TIl" ) ] VA3~ leyle (CVA 321 AD-2 lkt-5O Jan·51 rllL'n lu ilixd UI' h ' J,(\"l(lll- " r.ln ml':l· I'ayVA·45 la'e Cnampl,1mICVA·39l AD-4 Jun·53 Jul-53 In,d" wlrh i OOlh ,11,,1 250 lh hOlllh~, " r n,ll',ilm, ,I['llll-: wilh JlI,'ir 20111 111 .:an non PllnceI0llICVA·]71 AD· 4 Jan·51 VA-55 19 Aug·51 (-"" 11 lIl(fl·a .....·,1 in lHlIIl hl'r Ilolll IWO III VA-55 AD· 4 5 Vall/?¥ F01gt1ICV· 4!>1 Jun·55 NO'/·55 tnur l I" Jl'~lr"y :" wllh IIlTl'l' VA-!l5 Prmcell)'llCVA 311 19 0052 AD·' -, '\','Il-n -..:k.-I I',Kb un ,I,'r l·a.:h WillI! ,'nt 'r' VA-!l5 PhI/,ppneSeaICVA. 411 ...·53 Illt>ll-h 1Il(f,·.I....·d Ihl' hUllnc p" IH'I. AD·' ""'53 VA.-lI5 :-':i ch, .:omhll W,l~ I1d , in,'oJr,' in rh" ....· 11 Pflll'pplne SeillCVA 4~t Mar·51 AD·' ""SO Valley FOfge(CVA-451 AD-4 Maf-51 M,y-51 ,1.1\ '. T.lkl··' ,II~ an ,ll ,md lllJ.:' , '" '11IL'111ll,', in 11 VA·ll5 ;1 ,t llIUJ.:l'd ~ L ll l', 11','n' ""Ih lI1"rl' h ;I; ' PllIllppml! SeaICVA 4]1 Jul-52 VA-115 11 AD·4 Jan·52 ,'hl" lI' alt" r .Iark. TIll' Ess,'x c Lt,~ .: a l l i ,' r~ AD·4 VA 155 PrmcetonlCVA371 Mar-53 Jul-53 IH'r,' ,'qu il'rl'd wllh ,I , inJ.:k· rl,d lIl;h l -Iwad PrwlCetanICVA-3] ) Dec-50 May-51 VA-I95 19 AD·' liJ.:hl. E 'l bn,lil1J.: " 11. Iiw l.~O 11....·.1 ilill' VA-7m & .erlCVA-211 Mal·51 Ocr-51 AD· ' 10' 1ll1ll,1I",1h.1I' ro gUI.ll· till' al rcr,lh Ill, whil(' VA-702 14 K~rsalge l CVA 331 Sep-52 Feb-53 AD·' till' c.lrri,·r ,I.-cl '\'a_ hrwll y illulll in,ll''L1 VA ]28 Anllelil11l(CVA-361 Otl·51 ....·52 AD·' wllh , h,IJ ,.J 'J IN-I'an ' lil!hl' ~l l on J.: til\' AD] 800 Homme RiCh
Night Operations
1Il,earea. h ro.... IU IIl.J" gll'a l ,!L'al 01sLill .mJ to LIIlJ 11lL' Sr'IJ r.a.:l a....>;; lrJ a Iu_ ' ,n -in l-: earner dec k utier a mh 'lon over en em y rcm torv which lIli,ehl h"n' 1.1'll.J sc-vcral houe.. FOl rhc night h;II,I"llI"llI umt-, such ,l i lfic lJ h k~ became a fl·J.:lllar I"d "I lif". IlLT\'l'
"C-
, ,
,
,, , ,,
....."
""."
,
" "
......,
86
,.. ., • If_
CHAIJT F.R NINE
Combat Over Korea The US Marine Corps Experience Surpn'mdY, t U klfl ,l'
In
view uf the ~kyr. I i.,I.:r\ rt..1"I ~ 1f1' '" .urcran JUT
ibc dt ...... a ir
ucell..·ncc, anJ du' b el dl
W;I " '" >t 11l1lll
m.u rhc U~ ~ lC rcccrved
; Illy
1951
Skyrm..k,.., on
usmvcn« >n'.11 ;111,....nu- lin: vv....... ..ti.... r It h, ...1 jOtnl:J the N. I\')' "' IIL... I f\rn~ ('Io.'~. Ihl' I,.hll" N'I"w). TIll' K. 'n·"n War hwtll-:Ill ;.hlllll rhc U~~ Ie c"m· l·N . >11, wlu-n, .Illl' " uhe .Iirl'c ir· cum'fancl.... ,hl' n.....-rvc... h,iJ h i I...., lilt 1h111:l.. .l.
Marine Co rps Outfits Receive the Skyra id er Tht' liN 1\brilll' Co rp, . 'utlll It l n 'n'I\'t· ttll' Skyrdi.l,·r wa, Ih., R"'~"rn' Sq ll".ln 'l1 ul VMF·25 1, njulI'lx·,lwith t1w 111.1( :h,lI1(l" VOUl:lll F4U C"rs;ur fh:lll l·r.l,,'mlx·r ;lnd
G rumman F8F !\t..,U C th, A'-~ Il:nt...J t, 1 dd;''fC'llCe til the record h. lIlll- hlc.1~ th ..-v Marine Air Gwtlr I} (MAl; ,1 n, rh l'y ,!t.·r"Nh:J on the enemy, al'lJ never w ;l~ ,I were orde red Itl m"l-ili:l' on 1 M.Ul h 1951. l-en.."r cho ice made. \'I/ith the Sky"T;u.!t.·r encl were then l r.tIl~fl· rrt...J It) ~1.mnt.· f:. ''T'' Ihey' wert" H ' enhance their repuranon and, A ll" S l at iu n lra inmg
EI T.,nl r" und" 1l!1I c onvc....ron
on the A D· I.
we re, more
~ 1J~'1 l1l' nl l~",
arrn'pn,ud y,
t1wy rc...ll....ll-:n;lll·J a,
Manru- Arrack Squadron 2. S1 (V ~ IA-.!SI) lx'GIU~
of Ih i" lnas unil.rr numucr I I I V ~ I A·!;I, ~1..rilll· AlI;1l1.: Sq uad n Ifl 121, (VtlIA· 12 1) h l'l..J al NAS Glenview . l1I ino .., 1l1',,1.' r till' comlIl,tn.l .l Iq",'UI.,1 I,tfie"'r LI"'ut"'n;ll11 ~k,I1l ' wh ile, ltl [unc·, till' ....., :1,1....1r..·x·n 'c -quadron was mobilircd. VMA· 121 (f"mwrly V ~ I F 111 ) ;11 GIl·nl·I.."\\" Na\";I] A ll Siantln , 1111· nni ~ , Un.I.."1 the ctlmlllan.1 Ill" rq.:ular " Ii l, ,"r C,I,'nd I'. B. f',.b )'. U~ f',. lC. •• '11(,' a'....·ml-l......1 t hi. uni l \\"a~ al" , CI 'nn·r1,,·.l tl' tIll" ~ I.: y ra icl,,· r ilnd a h h " u gh t1wir r"nl' ~' r' [(ln .... mll' 1 ;l 1 ~·I. I h~'Y gil t illio Ih... ;[(li" ll ,,'''11.'1''. TIll'lr nil' l.: · name wa~ th ... 'Wo lf Rai, I.·....' hili ti ll' )' ,,~ln Ix"ca me known a~ Ihe ' I l"';l\"y I bul..' r' in
11lt.k.'t....J. ",I "'-iCcl....~full y, J iJ Ihq ' arrly rhcm-e lvc.... that their name w ,b hi ht.'C~ 'mt.· "1'1c til
rh..· ITl
I t-e l f!
In June 19') I. the squad ron W;I ' alert ed .md rh..· re....· r\·i ~1S we re ca lled f-;K I.: '0 till" c" I,"'IP>. O nce the pe rson nel had n-,....-ml-lcd. rh e whol c Il( VMA- I!l W;l' trunsfcrr....J to EI Till" a~ a complete unit ,m.1
ounmcnccd tr.urung on rh..· AD·!. Tlu-, Itll'l.: rh..· lx", t part Ilf the autumn and th en , " nct.' th ..· un u wa, r"';l.ly f"1 ell mf-'ll. th t· ....lu;I.lron wa, all"ca t...J 10 1\ l.mn..· A ir
Cirour H (MAG· H)" TI ll". >lfic,·rs a nJ men IlfV~ lA· 1 2 1. nl '\\" with t ill" A I )· } , arri\'t·d in Jap an ('11 1t' C\ :foh:r 1I) ') I . Tluet· .lar' Lltl'r, I hl' ~' 11..· \\, th eIr S k)Ta ide r. III Olll" uf MAl J' r, (,'rw;lr.l (llx'rathlnal a ir~ tr i p~ in KI'f,,·a. "". " ll·Il'lllW.l K- 3. near Poh an g. T h i, W ,h ~'qlli rrt...J
us MJrine Corp$ Skyrilid.r dePIOym~C"'~~=~~:::::::;;::::::::::::::;;_ Nores Urol From T~; FirSI Marine Skyraider squad ron VMA·t21 1951 1952 IJMA·151
1951
1957
IJMA·211 IJMA-212
1952 19':14
1957
VMA·2~
19S4
1957
VMA·2S1
1953
1957
VMA·J24 'JMA.3J\
1954
1958
1954 1954
1958 1956
1954 1952
1955 1956
VW\.3J2 M ·33J M·I
1957
vt,C·2
1953
1956
"'-&3 WAT·IO VMAT·20 'M:J.l
192 19S1 1!1Sl 1956
1956 1953 1957 1958
'N.,C·2
1956
1958
'I\l.C.J
1956
1958
u-VMF·251
last Manne Skyra,de!' squadron A US Ma rine Corps AO..N iBuNo 12Sn l h om VMC-J, bu ed al EI Toro Air SlIlion. California , ..en her. on 20 february 1950. Th. USMC came lale 10Ib, Spa d. a nd letl ea .ly. but. during Ibe Korean Wif period . opera ted most ...,iantl in IIIOsI co nfiguralions in bolb 'HoI' and 'Cold' ""'If scenarios. N.~on.1 AIelwe'!..
Became VMCJ-l Became VMX-2 Became VMJC-J
eoa.ge Perto.. MO
h-VM(-l
EJ--VM(·2 u-VM(-J
87
.....
,
" ".~
~l(.II.
CO\ l flATO VER KOREA
TIlE us
\l ,\R l ~T
CORPS EXPERIE!>< n :
tlw onlv air strip made (I ( 0'11I:fl't ... in TIl c, a r...a, ,111,1 t hu-, rlu- o n 1r one h .,lil' \'I.'d to 1'1.' c II'a bk' p( bl'arin g till" II.....ight ll{ rlu-hcavtlv l.ulen ~ kr r; l lek' r, a, 1hl.'}· tIl< ,k " If to j< 'in rh... gr im bart lc . ( Later, even g rcat c r Ill;I,ls Wl'fl' car ried hy tlw Manne C orp' AD, w"r king tnuu snip, o l l' il-rn·, I-stl,...-lplankin c clo-cr til till' front line, in n,:,ro n,,' tu till' m'''''els pi cPlllr;!J ...·, o n Ill... grt llllleL)
Sorties an d Loss es 1111.' fiN Marine COfJ'" ~k)T, l i d" r s" n i... was on 27 l\: t\,I'l.'r !CJSI. ;In,1from dWll o n til" in ;Ilm, lSI,', 'll tim l''II' act ic'no Irs r',I... dtr -ct cl,,,,,' S1 11'1,,- ,f( Ill U S Marim' s grolillel fore s, who \\....1\' t"ight11lg a tcrnl-lc war, Ill'a dl r oumuml-crcd and in al'I'a lllng G ,n,ht i,uu, that at t inn-s n':"-'ll lhlcd th e v.utc tnnch w;lff,lfl' of thl' FiN Workl \'1/ af r.ulwr than t he m, -n- 111< ,HI...· fidlling I ,f the' "'oc, '1,, 1ct' ntlici. Lih - fill' pill II S I ']x'ro lling trom t he' cnrncrs , ,tfsh, .n-, rill' ~1afill " ( ::. 'fJ'S ~l';[,l j'll:h'p f~ 'Il 11,1 rhcm-clvc mon- ;1ll,1 mon- tking intcrdlcnon mi....s l.u» aga in,1 stra tcj!lc tarr.:l'r s. tlyrng round till" cloc k in nul - und hrid :':l·-cUl missillll' ;Iga inst till: Iw avy n m ccntrur ionv ,It" C'1I111111I1ist an n;lir(f, I(t j.:lm, 1I1;!t gU;lre!c'd such vital targds, Tl wv wen- "I" , require...1 ttl talJ.:...t cucmv amrnunirion clllm!'s a nd rOod t nuu-port . If was ell'm
\ \';1,
was, as lN 1;11, 1111.'
An AO-2 1BuNo 1223101of VA-702, lIying l rom the c a rrie r USS Boxer (CVA-21). II ca rries the unit ma rkings and the neme 'J inx' under its coc kpil c ow ling. A wi ng pa nel is bein g re placed on a la nd a irstrip atler flak damag e ove r the ta rget. Note two Chance Vought F4U lighter -bombe rs in the ba ckg round. st ill in use by the Ma rines in Korea. Nenonal A' ch'ves, Col lege Park, MO
D uring rill' combat sortics, whe ther III wtnr c r o r snn un e r, tlak conrin u...,1to l-c the main ha za rd , ""r"c ia lly th... Soviet-supphcd 85 mm m"hi ]... cannon, whi ch t h rew a wall o ( 15 11, slll' lIs up h I
tac t ic Ill' U mccn r ratiun ( If UJl !I I 2,000 such \\'l'a rUllS nrouud till' main I;u g,'t a rcas, led '" ma ny S pad l os,,'~ . T h... ,it ua fi"n had """ Cllllll- Sll ....·ril 1 11~ hy nutumn 1952 that th ... C,'m lH,lIld ing O t"ficl'r of Na vy Task Force 7 7, Rear A dmiral A pollo Soucek. j.!a\" ,' il1stnlCti,lll s that ,Ii\"l'-h<. lln hinll a rrac k pull - put s mu-t 1'1.· mad ... a t l ,OOOfI.
Folding ils w ings a boa rd Ihe c erri er Leyte lCV-32) whil e oper aling in Kore an wa ters. this AD-J (BuNo 122799) was photogr aph lild on 12 November 1950. The eircratl , tail -cod ed K, ca rrying 503 on her nos e and w it h a IIrlilen s pinner. belonged to VA -3'5. Natlone l A,,:hlves. College Palk. MO
88
,..
·.. o-!r d
•1'. COMBAT OVER IW Rb\ - l'HE
T h b Il<'W ntfici,II pollcv woul <1 .~ l: r i " lI s l ~' atll'ci the accuracv 01 such attac ks. TIl<' Mar ines cntl! mucd ro barre l in I,iwer than Ill...· official height, ,l1l<1 ill urn- tyrical incident durin.c that summer, Second Lie utenant Edward (Tl'l.\) Uhh-mcvcr. Jr, took a h<'a\ 'y anti -airu,llt shell h it. It tore away a whole ccm rul ~e.cllW n[ otonc win;.:, ,l1l<1 [hl' impact Ill' th e dctonnnon was'" 1 str< 'I\g [h,II it coruplctclv Inverted the AI). km x:kl'l.I,ItJI mo-t "f h i ~ aileron con t mls and jnuuwcl hi , Iandin;.: ;.:e;lf shut. l\.'s!,ite his Ik'~I'l'''lfl' situarion, Uhlcmcvcr man
l' ~
\t ARIM ,
CO R I'~
EXPEII.IU' CE
Manne Co rps AD lifl...·,1 off with a I",ttlh 10a <1cOllll' risill;': rh rcc 2,OOOlh andtwelve 2 50lh Wl·;tpOn~ - [ural of 9,OOOlh uf ord-
cratt, from the infantf~' lIlan \ vicwpcunr in KOfl'a .' 1 It should
nancv paylna.!. TIl\' g re,ll l' ~ t , in;.:k--,b y
el) carrva 9, OOOlh I" Hd 01 .nnnumirion
,I
ordna nce dchvcrv made by ;Iny uni t in til\' Korean War - 156 I<1Il' on taf;.:et - wns achieved h ~' VMA ·J ll in june 19 ') 3. By the end 'l l its comluu perill,l, VMA - 12 1 h ;l,l heCc 1I1l<' rh c .o;,!u;l,ln .n that could h" 'l.'t till' heaviest weight (If " rdnancl' e1d in 'fl',1
(hl (c )
(d) k) (f)
confhct ,
Justifying the Skyraider's Pos ition Whal eli-I the troops on rlu- gn lll1l<1in Korea think of the ~kyra i dl'f! Their " pin ion W,I~ tlu- one th,Ll rl',llIy co utlIl·d if till' S pad wa, to ju,tily it, rcrcnnon in till' trout hue at a tillll' whl'n jl·t airn;!fl In'rl' i I Krl';h ingl ~' , l" m inant. It, I""it inn had 10 h<· l'amed, Arm y Cktll'm l 1I.brk W, Clark d<·sl:rih.', l \"cry rreci~d~' thl: ideal cl(l~l' -sltl'l'
(Above/ Impres sive line-up of the US Marine Corps Air Group Skyra iders. (c arrying Tail cod e AK l, al Osan Air Base, Korea, in 1952. Beyond Ihlt Spad s, lwit h WS codesl are Marine Corsa ir lighter-bombers_ J ames V e'o....
rockets, hulle." et c: have sufficien t arcurucv ;1ll, 1 sta hility 10 hit the tar;.:et; ban' ad equatl' c om municat ions wuh gro und otficcrs dirc ctuu; rbcir ~tr i k t:,; c a r r~' l' n" llgh tuclro ;.:ive it a t l ea~ t t \\'l l hour-, over rh c ha llie urea: ruke uff in 3,Oll Ofr (9 00m) ;
"1'''''''' in .my kind " f "CO"""'. d" y '" ni ght.
An
The wa, rcnllv the onlv ,llrd;lft fight ing in Korea ill rhar tunc which fulfilled al l th nsl' requirement s But Il l' CIl Uf ,e il was 11('1 ,lilly th e wron u tYl' l' (If aircraft that th e U SA F was depl (l~'i n J! , hut the wrllng [rJ'C ,,1' ;1 (( itudc. While the main I'ri,Iritr " f till' U ~A F was to , I,ly ali n ' in fill' ;tir, Iwnc<' dll'i r prcferl' ncl' fnr jl't (jghtl'r-hnml'l'r s, IIll' Lock lll' l'd F-80 ;lll, l th l' Rl' puhlican F84, rh e f( klt ~o kli e r in ,lesl'l'r,tll' I1l'ed fllr
(Below) US Marine Corps Air Group Skyraider disp laying a l ull wing load 01 roc kets . James V e,o....
•
89
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..
, .....". d ~I'. ".
CO.\I Il,-\T O v[ 1l KOIlEA
'UI'I" 'rt had ;1 rat h er .Iifti.·fl'lH view 01
clo-c-urr MII']" 'rt . T., ,I... .."".• ~, I I ... ..:r. "n"J II .l....' n·, ", .,l.· "u... h ,..." ..' h" .' ',du.·,-h"".....·,"" '""" ... uhm ., ,,'''' on , I.·, .~ u- I.u ......, .",11 " , "·,r,,,,,, ", .... ''''f, 1,. ...1 .""1...,, "I"'.'U' '" , ",1 ,,11 .," .n' .... kml: I,d".·, ,,,,,,._lln(~ '''mmll' 1,,, ., ,."k, '-'I ,t", ...... ", 1 11,,:n. ,h.· hd",'!"',1..",1.1"I< k ... nh It h ' II", ..,....
.m,· ,,·.•1... ,.,,1 l 'It,'", II.. ....· ~ I ."' ll'., Other Sky ra ide r Units ~ Llrilll' A rr ~ ky r' I ;, I" r , " ,tfll th.u ,,:ol1lh.11 .,(l i"n in K" n '" w.rv ~l ,lrilw C,'m l"'~ I I ., ]h ·..:,'ll n'lb " IIKl· Squ,•dron ] (V ~ lC· 1 l. II h",[ 1""'11 ,·quil'l',·,I I','r" -pe( i,llrsl rl,l.. wilh 11,,· A Il -! Q ,111,1 A[VIN van.uu- 0I1l,1 n-ach..,1till' l-curh- : lllll' on 1'5
TIl,' ,HIll"
Tlw linn ......In narncdus atr c ratt, ,md the ~bTl ne 'l Y" r, emh,:lIi.lwJ their 11I<1,hlll" S wuh 'I'll Tak e You Horne Al.:,un', · L.J~ 'ali To wn Iock' anJ '!'>: 'IIlq' 0', " Io nc wlIh ' Kit A n n C ur.....'. Th ey ...... >n
L'K k',
....,mw ,1 a Colonel May WOl' eruhu-aa-uc ,lh ' " 1 th e ::,kyroliJ,'r, , ran ne III a n mte rvrcw ,11 111,11
J., a J ." " n,·J th m ..: ....: llInJ h",' ~" rl .",,· rh.u ,'.'11 ,.,rT" ., f,'1: I" .,J .mJ ..:'" J " ... n ,. , Ih,· ..:,,,,, nJ ....J J,·Ir"", u . anJ h ,",'" "n'"'l:h ' I"",J "'.... m....o... un.,f"IUI· r" ":'" ."' , .•n,1 ("I1l( ...."k .'I:. IIn. Th " r l.m.. h." I h," ~ ,..",k , Y"u
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1:...1. 'Ill rhc n mwav- Iltt ~· - " X fll1l" ' ~ The\· h.I.1 a] .. , J. lIll.I~",·J " I her
li o n, . .. I much .. I rhar Sa nwon wa, later ab.m don...·J ,,~' till' Comrnun o».
Orde, 01 Battle US Marine Corp$ "quadron$ - Korw. tiM
T_
F,~
VMA·1Z1 VMA-2S1 VMCJ-l
AD·4N, AO· 4W
(kISt
AD-J. AO- 4B
Jun S3 SeptSZ
AD-Za, AO-JN
'.1\\ '
1<)'52 . Vr..-j{:' 1 \\,;1, 1.,,,,.. 1 a t ltbrill., A Ir S tn !' K-16 umh-r tlll' chrccr ("IlI111'ln.J ,,1 ~brt lll' Air ( :, 'nIH,1 2. I I ~ int r",I..r Illl"h Ill', '1" ·','h·,1ovr-r I Ill.' "n"I, ,.1 ~" l' t" l1l b" r
tlu-
Ir "111 where tlu- ( :" I11111 1111 1,t, h'I,1 'I ~Ir, 'nl-: md.u 11,'1. Till' ECM .u rcran dulv b[,... k,·.1,lid ..... 'n lll....·,1111<' " I ll' Il\~' while the
A D-01S .
went
III '"
,u111pl'· I...· Ihe lui-!
,1l-:,Un ' l .ldill,... l lar~'· h . ~ k.lIl wh,I ,· .
1<);2. 1I,,\\'\'\"\'r. II " nly 1~ ,lI ow .·J V ~ I A 121 " Il l I , . K.",,;, \-1.1J.I!'an .,n 4 JILn'· 1<>; 2, tl \" llll.: III Iw,1 ,·..:h..l"n, 10 M " rilll' A ir )\...... K.o, OIl !'""ncrad, . They am \'",l O il ') July .1' r .1rt " I ~ I At , -12. Th .· w;lr. how ,·" ...·, . W;L, ,(ullll-li n!! h i .111 Iln,.III,I.t(hll' · ,Ial" mal" .",,1till' ,11\11 " I \ ' \',' n ' Iittl.· .l(( i" n . In rill.' po.·rt. 1t.l J.IIlIl'lT'\· I" A r rll Ill;2 , \ '~ IA -121 w"" w." l tn!!.'UI " I K- 3 ,I.r, trtr ,
rcpuranon .
r"
attac k " MA - Il l on ~,lTi won .urf ,d J, the Il yinl! Lcuhcm ecks repo. 'rt.·J Ih;1l twcntv-nve l-omb, haJ .1( 10:llh I.lIld.,J on rh.. tan,:,", area . HQ w a-,nol con vinced; II haJ h" ; lr~1 l:tl." 11 kI.' that h.'{"n '. A r hOh1 reco n nal ".lnll' ;u fcralt 11"." ,1'·' r atel,,·J to Ji'rr<1\"1.' till. -ratcmcm. W he n II returne.J and the rh" to ..nl.IIlJ th.u rhe "I!!lu M.lrlll'· Cl,lrp, Skvnndcr- ha.l, In DUrln C ;1Il
O..e oltllell$l US M • • i... Corps Sk,r.id.rs. BuNo 13388S.I.om VMA·331. Hen in flight 0/1 4 Novembel 1!!iS. ~.-. ArCIlr¥eI. Coleta P.,~ IdO
90
-To - -June 52
Ju'v 53 July~
•
TheAEW Th e Royal Navy Experi ence On I Oc tol-er 1':) 51 , rhc Royal Navv h,l,1 l-," h . hil''' Ct'IIlm i"i, m, 11ll" AE\V"-llIa,lnsn set lip No. 778 ~'111adn lll. Flee Air Arm, n-m.uncd 1Il I'I.T I1I' lHl' ll1 CU1l1 I11 i.... ion. II' 'f'\''': ific
rhc American AEW
"f u..illJ.: !lw
S k~'r;l i, II'r rUTl,Iy iI, :1 I'a....in '
CO Il," I' r '
recepuon .m,IIT,mllllirt inj,l vehu-Ie, h.,I" mg t" - trctch i h hnut ,..J n- ...IUTCI·S l>y 11I ili:lIl g l h urrcrutt lI( t lu .. f ~'r~ uurr c d fi ctcrulv. 11 11' Plfll i..h jllt,'n.!",1 (. k' r ill' the
known technica l J itficu lt il''') hl ,...... rhe AE\V ,I .. nn auh.>n1l' T'l.l.U pl.utorm III ('1·C ....., "1.'11'1' of th..., word, wuh llle .uklinonnl car,.Hlilk, and dut it" (,f n mtrol \ ,t
Deliveries TIll' SO AD-4W Skvnudcr-, albcar ....,1 10 rill' F1 ~'l' l A u Arm unde r rhc tvrtu- uf rhl' MIlWr (Muru,11 1\ . f.... I\(I.· WC"",,"_ Pro· I!r:l l1lllll') 1~ 'rJ1ll",-1 ,wo . Ii~ ri n(f I!r"lI l'~.
the 1\>l.1c.1a, Aircr.dt Comr.IO\'. Fuur 1'( ,h~'''-' kIn iSH-t to 7Sfli. BuNo" l2-ti i-t124ii 1 we-re 1; Ike n ar the l·n.l " f 195I, 0111.1 l-cc.uuc \VT lJ-t-t-\(/T lJ4i. ~i ro.l 11"....."
h:r ..vcen [unc and AUI:I'" 19')1, thcv tr, uhfl·rrl·d 10 N"rl~, lk NAS. where Ih l"Y were 1:1\'l'" ,1 protccnve weat her cn:Ulllg III pr"' l'CI rhcm durinl: their '>l"a "'''Pl:t.·. On 26 Oc« .l-er, "II f"u r .....ere l'ml-a rked ah.l
rill" Unuccl Kmudom.
f
KiRg George V Doch , Glasgow - one ollhl in ilia l .-ar1tl1 01 Skyr.iders 10 .rri.... in lh. UK under lh.
Mutllal Defence Program is unloaded from the Irtighter American Clipper on 9 November 1951 . Pta,~V A r~ hlve.
,k·lin·n'd J irl'l:r1y' to the Roval Navy I-y
l't'eluTmg Hil l
,tnh·...1Il,1 Jl·!l'dllll.: ,urt!(e la rl:et ' ,\I extreme r.llll.:....'. A ttcr !,lIr( ha' lIll.: till" AD-4W. rhc Ro yal N,l\"~' l-yf\I'''l.J the n, .nu.. l pn In""',,fncccp(;UKl' trial, with Ihl' A&A EE ;l Il J rill" Scrvice Trial, U mr (No. 70~ Sq ua..lr"n ), con~i.ll'ri nl: lh al ib ln n l.: _"-·rv k l· with till" US Navy wa, l·nouc.h (0 have pmvvn rh.... airemfr'" C;l l';l"'i lll i~..... ,-\f\ln from C(A) trial. (,,'nll" t,f whl,h Wl'fl' l"On.!lICrl...1 wilh rhe pri\"all' ,nl11p;lny. ~llll i,h Av ialio n Ltd) . only' ,,-·ll'CIIH· (,ua!,1.111 trial. ill Elnl'" >h ,tid) Rop] Aircr.l/r E_I;I"'1i.hnll"1l1 In-rl' clrrk.J (JUl. "Ill....' (. 'mf\lll l-iI,I y. OtKl' till" fiN 1~ 'lI r AEW-], h;I,IIx.-cn put lhrol.ll:h Ihl' ir f\ 1(l·" N. '. 77H Squ.klH,n W,b, un i Jllly 1lJ')z. rl... I"" I ~'1); 1I 1.J ,I, a flllly ort: r.Ilional ,,-!u,I,lr'lIl, Ntl. H4<,). II w,lul,1h aH' an HQ R lc.hl. a nd d w rl' werl' ;tl", !,la n, t~.r (our ca rril'r-"a"l...l llil:hl' - ·A·. 'R'. 'C'. 'D' aoJ 'E' - onn' .ul.kil·1\t ;Iircmf, wcre hI ha",1. \Vhac,). olhl'r Al....·' AI r A ml ~lIa,! r"lh WI'rL' f~,rnll"d 1,1 join ~pt..ci fic c:lrne"', ,IllJ ' !I..h lll,I~.J ul't'n ".ml'll'l in n of
o\rlIIur
TWl'Il1\- brand- new arrcron were Jin'rtl.J from rh c EI Sl'l!ull, lll rrUd W': ll"n [me am]
bv
9/
..
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TIll: A£ \\' _
TIll' AD-4\Vs. 1l,'W d;b~IIII....1 l>y theR,.y,11 N;l\"~' .I~ AEW- I~. were ,.jtl"aJ~...1 l>~' n.IO~· ;\1 (' b~g.. w'; King (';,....I l:,. V J ",d, ~ on <) November, ;InJ rhc ioll"wmg ,I.'\' there "" I~;I h,lIl,lmg-tl\"I.'r ccrcmorw " 11 rbc qu.w-idc. Rear A Jrn iT;11 W.F. !'''''''ll' 01 ,hI' U~ N.n·\". I \..TuI ~· C.. . >null,mJ'·r-m .Chld ·. 5"1.'01 Atlannc. han ded over the tour ::-: l..~' f;I1,!.·r~ h. Rcnr Adnu ral \V.T. ( ':""1I."h11\.111. R" pl ~;I\'~'. Flag ()tl k .. r, Trauunu,
nu,
ROYAl 'IIA\' \ F.XI'f'R IE.M·[
Augu,1 1957 il arnved al C IIIJ nlS\.· ;\OJ N,•. H4tJ Squad ron', IIQ f-'ll.:hl, An e\TI1 I, mcef hil-emauon aw.uted 'X'T Q(;l. em I December 19S7. II w.o, .I1·-rTl·....-rvcd .lnJ J d IVCfc-J It. RNAS CIIIJTtN:. where If wa, Oil rh.. , ITI'nglh 01 1Ill' AIfj.:mh HoIJJllJ:: UnH (A lIU). On 11 ~ l.l rch 19Si'i . II wa-, tranef..rre...1 ro the N.I va] At rcrutt Ra,!t"
Fd'n1aty ItJ53, rogcrhcr with the fiN
h u..:h,,! rhc ncw AD-4Ws. Ncxt carne WV 177 I " 'X'V 180. wh ich we re fT;m'po. ,n e..! ah....rJ rhc ca rrier P f'TSt'US o n 11I."f ...:<:011..1 'Urrl)' t rip . in March 1951, 'ilonl! wllh the ....·o'n,1 b.nch ,>t' rhc n..w AD-.JW,. TIll.' fi N form..r US Navy AD-4W, \X.'T 0.,166, ;trrtn-J wuh a harch ,.1' ~lt, rl.·~,. n .... >;lrJ
TIll' tour .urcralt were th ..n tmn-portcd 10 R"y.11 N;t\",ll Ai r ~ I, H i "n ( RNAS) A I+"' f.~i nL h. whe re Ihey arrived "11 10 N,,\"'ml-" f tvst. There , till' rfllfl'cl in' l'l.a l lllg~ wen- <m ppcd a"';ly ;In,1 d ll' .ur-
cr.ur wi-re 1ll;1,!.· sefviLed!>I.·, Thcv rhcu Ih,\\, h om Rcntn-w airticlcl to IlM S :\.'11h,m'/';' fill' RN A S C U U f' ''~' in C oruwal], II" Ill' f~' tlll'y jo itll' d till' ..s ( a l- l i~h tl1 1' tlI , ,( N'l, i7~ Sqllad n'n, FI.·I·1 A ir Arm, till' Rlly.11 Navv's f i N AE\V squadron. TIll' Skvrakl"f Ix'cal m ' uruquc m rb.u il \\".1' h. be the L." r. ~,, 'n -e lll:i n,...1 ,ureroll, ("I!ll'r than hdicor'I'J") I" ....-rvc III c111' R,"'al N.I\"\'. AI 2S.l\'(Ilh. ,hI' ::-:kymd" f \\':\, .11.......nu 'Ilg till' Iw,IH,"'1 I\"I'C' ,f ;llrcr,III"\"r "1":T,tl,-J t-y the 1S.l\"\", and had " Ill' 01 till' Cll',lll"" ranee- ,.1 RTlu,h C•• mer .urcratt. F''11rln'n m,'r.' "'r.m,I-1l1'W ~k\-T;Il, ll'J" (..:/n 7%1,,, 7tJ74.l\IlN,,,,, 12N46-- 127~StJ). which hr-r tlcw h:lwl'l.'n (\:r"l~ f ItJS2 ,Ilkl Fl·I'n ufY ItJi1. were ,u~"'III"llI ly mm... tern...1 (127946 ;1Il,1 121949 \"1;1 0. .. ' 11 -t
P" IIl{ NA~) I" Norl~,l k NAS, whe-re Ihe\\1,'Tl' I: I\l'l1 1111.' 11'11;11 r Tt uccnvc ":'~ l l m)..... ,m,1 ~hi l'n1l.'nf tot hc UK. Thcv W, 'Tt: ~ll b"""'lll" n tly l'mhark,...1 in two bntche-, ,'11
1'1'''11,11''',11; ' f
26 J;J1lJ l;lry and 1, March 19S1, , lh~ n, l t l ll' Roy;d NOI\'Y ;lfJ IIw Irl' ld " " f .-\n'lt.'l4·,m \ 'I'1l1lfTC umil :~,:rrl'mlx'f I<)Sl. TIll.' 1..,r IlI.'W A,D-4'X' kIn 7976, nIlN,. I !7t)('I1) W.I~ liN 11,.wn "11 loS ~ t.m.:h 19) '. .1111\- 1T.ln'kITI...I ,,, N"rt~, ll NAS I~,r ,hlpnWn! rTl·'l·T\'.l1i,'n •• m,1 I·mt-.lfh·.! .•h~lrJ
.1ll,1 h"t h \\'l'll! ' Ir,lil:hl illl" 'I " fl' Oil ,\"'h"" II1, h. 0 1\ 7 S"J'le mh.· r Io.,lS6, \VT <.)6\ \I';'~ l!in'n inl,' Ilw h,ln,h " I th ,' R I.'I·l'i 1'1 'ltd [)e ~l'af..: h
Unil
(I~ [)U ) ;
un I
A pair 01AEW·l Skylaider s, WT 945 (3021and WT 94613031 dis play their lull earl y markings in Roya l Navy s e rvic e, Ar'lhu, PeercyArch,ve. hy CClUr'lUY CIt Audrey Pea'cy
,ldIWl)' in Iw,. hllCh.·, - lo.,llll lo.,l S2/51.and I I in 19H/SS, TIle\' IIU.. all Clwn a full "\'I.'rh,1II1 al NAS <.....\I"n....·1 !'''1Il1 .If NAS Al.ul1l·,b ;111,1 IIU,' flll' n 1~'TT1 1'l 1 hy Ve-11 anJ VC-12 ri l"htt' NAS N'l\1·"lk. ,ni<.l,hl'n I,I
Rura l N;]\"y 'X' V 102 I " WV 106
I I U ,'
rr
92
IiII.' !'..TM·UI ttl ~ loty 1o.,l) l. It \1"." nlll J' lm~ h' .IIlY m"rl' unl il,h.. next h.llch afTl\'•.J in ,hI' Lil': - lin ' rdurhi,h,-J ,Ilfu,lfl, \VT 112. \VT 121 ,1Il,1 \X'T %7 I .. I:J6tJ ,hl~ on till' trl' lchtl'T ('r..m :\l",mwm Suil.l.' in Scp. I"mlx'r Io.,lS 1. Ih....... T,·.• ..:hm~ NAS Ahh '1_1l1ch ollllll.' 251h. FI\'C.. x-US N'll) .IIT,r.•lt (Rul':.... I H l'tJ7. 12.J112. 12 412 1, 1247('11 anJ I 26S4tJ) ha,l lhm RitA.'r ~ri .1 1, Chant:l... II.·." lly f" Rrtll~h ....·Tl•• 1~ h\' lhe r'Tbc.. me lll " I Ihl ' fi r..1 I h n 'l '
"ll,lC;tl iol\."
'1 IT.·,.,ly 1x·lonJ,.: lIlg '" o, her RAF ,Ilrnaft! \VT121 w,, ~ an EnJ,.: ll,h Elec' nil' B. 2 C a n herra o n ordef (I"nun;ucly
" , IlIUllh...,r..
, . .If. ,,,
'\Il>~q lll· nt ly cancelled ). while wr 761 was
\;(.'T 761 nnd \VT % 4 ;In,1 96') - a mvc d al-oard Ill<.' Ir" jehf" r AIII.'Tl,'tlIl \ ','fllllfc;' till' same mum h. Two
)" '. I rs
d ,II..........t h.:l~ 'h.. a turthc r t wo
dehvcnc were uu,!l·. aC:UIl " , rcliJrl'- i. heJ
aircrufi. In November Il)S 5.l hc frd clm'( J. Rllhin'I
on.
Navy-supplied Skyr,l!,k'rs - WT 91'\4. \VT 986 and WV 1HZ til WV ISS - nrnvc...1in the UK cm"'arh·d ,II"1<11,1 till' Irl'i!.:hll'r Fraru.:ls .\ lcGmu', (s.:c II11' fa "" " t ,n r .ll.'C 74.)
Tra ining The CO Jl'~l~n a re 1'1 No . 7HH Squadron.
[.icutcnanr (later Lie urc n.m t-C omm.mdcr ) john Trench er. RN , alun g \\"lIh hI' alloned uirc rew and senior tl'C h01c<11 ~ r;lll
were sen t to th e USA In till" 19-)1 . h i unJl' rl!' 1 a three month f.mulianca non an .1 convcr-ton cour.....· .11 NAS Quon-er Pom r anJ N"r· f"IL.. TIll" r il"" flew wnh the Amcncan ve IIlUh, ;lIlJ 0rer.lft-J the ;lIrU; I(1 under lull .....-rvicc conJnions. The radar ,tAl j.... l l III know th e cara"'ililil'" ;IOJ the lunua nou-, of the one-ron AN!A~ 2l1A -cr. ,mJ I! ~ racnce l apphcauon-. which .111fcred quite 'u::nilic;mrly (rum th e R"\,,,I N.I\"Y requi re me nts. Admr ml Sir Joh n Trencher recalled w h ;11 rln-, cn r.ulcd .... gruu llJ
sununcr
IIi
Th.· ........\f\ I, or I"" R,,\-.•1~ '''' \' ,h._..... ,I!r" h, .. ,.
A be ~ lrli l u l , hoi 01 Royal Navy AEW·l Skyrllide r WT 966 (code d 411) 01 No. 849 Squadron. blinking over 51 Michael's Mount and Ihe Cornish shoreli ne. Arthur Peercy lI ch've. byCOur19SY01Audrey Peafcy
MIss tonn.lion Ilighllrom the Ra,al Navy', AEW·' Skyraiders. Ant..- Pearcy AfchMt. by COWl""01Aud<~ P... ty
93
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t ill'
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l't 'I "' H·" ~,, w,1
earner .11I, r.ru ." I ,I""I!'''''' hI' ltl<' k~'·lId.,,\ · Eo.! 1I""",,,,.II,,,.n I d,,,, I, nuorporur ...1 "II
I' il" t or a n o h"l·rn· r. W lw n uot em barked. t he llt glll s we-n- returned ' " S"" htnt·k tor con nnucd tr 'l in ill l-: ;m ,1 nuuntcuuncc. A lt ho ug h ti ll' in ir i,ll " irU l'W 11 " ,1 hlT n Imi lll',1in th \: U S A . ,11'I 0 l'n ;rtillna [ Tra in · in g Sl' h",,1 wa, ,,'I up a l tilt" I ka'! '1uarll·r.. Ib ,,·. \:o m m a n, le,l l,y 1Ill' ''1 ua, lr''l1 ,·x,·o.: u · l i\'\: o ffin' r. w il h ...ix o fl in' rs ,111, 1 n l1W " l-,,' rn ' rs u n, I.'r !.:o in c " a in in g iI.' rl·rLK.·. 11l1'nr ai rcr\:w. TIll' r il" l c ,' m .,.' ...." , o f 20 wn· b· , Im a l io n, wit h I HO h oms ' 111:,'11 tl yinc ,In.! l50 h o u r.. o n ~rou nd rn, Uul"!i" n . S i mi la rl ~·. Ihe (I'"''''' I\'I' r cour ...e wa, 2 1 \\'l'l'''' 1.1n!.:, w il h" hll ,,1" f I I I h . ,ur... ll ~· i ll~ ;10,1a -1-10 h ou r, " i !.:ru u n, 1 in ...!fm;lr on . Thl' . 'rh::in;ll s..,,!htlll·k 1.111 0.:, ..1\·" l,:in: n tn t l..... A EW- Is ....W l' CWo h UI Ilu, wa ... c h a n c.....l lo C U in ] .Ill11.lfl" 19') 1. (In 1l.J'io. u n ,!..·r
·II11: ", on". 1....1, I... ,,~,hl\· 1<' ~"' •••Ill\ I'..+'t,'• .urn.,It.' M", I,Of n, """"'l'- ,"",..~llln~ ,I.... ....,.,..,....... ,·,..,kI,..·..... d."",' " 1.".It\~ ..., ." ,I,,· .-\10\1(' """"~ I ....' ,nil,,, ,1'~'" .,11 lilt" [-.."" , h.lI·
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a,,,,,.
94
Ope ra tio ns and Exerci ses W hl'n tht")' retur ned horne and lir,r f, .nnl,1 II~ l S s...,!htlU k. Cul, lr" -c. on I O o.:ltl he r 19 5 I . t he re "w\: 1'1, 1 A EW· I s ou hand, andn w; 1, IW" monrh-, hr.'t~ ,re the fir-t III th e ..... atrcratt a rn ved ' II Al-h ,r...mc h . In Fcbruarv 11}52 , t he fiN i,,"r A EW- Is. (~\V/k1 1- lC4. undcrt.... i]; earner tfl. ,ls ,, 1"'~ lrJ th..· new earner. H~ I S Ea~. In ;k.!J iII' '1'1. a _r1--:m iica lll n um be r " I' -imul.ncd ''{'IT,lIi. Ins were undertaken 10 o.:" l'Ijlmctu '1'1
i i 8 5..Ju;l,lnm at
wuh rh..· jouu-Anu-Submannc :;'xh....,I. E~linr "n and the RN A irc rat r l'h recnon ::-I,tri"n. Kcrc. The y ,,1"' lOok p art 10 l" ml ...·I\·lce manoeuvre, dunnu ""'f<1I 10n CastlfTl.:u ar RA F 51 Eval, wnh Ihl' A EW" r rac. INnl! l-och t h e earlv-warru nu dcrcc non •.,( h ,th .ur ;tn.1 'oIlTfan' contac ts, a n.llhe veeI"rmg
In
~T ....nh:r.
II", "!u..Jr,,n eml-,,,h .J ,, 1111,-1".
"-I." h " " Ir..k-J ,I., ...: of '" ...1." h,iJ "'....n In the: USA. 111 E,..:/t' (" • .1Utum" d,·pl,,,,-,,...,,r...,1.,.,1. rn.-! Ild,·J ., nMr'" NATO m.m""... ~ ~.·'O . . · m ''''trlwrn .." II.·.. . Or': t''' '''1: hI' ,1.1\' .111,1 ll, ~h, .,,,.1 'n ...,·",h,·r til", \:"~ II\,k...1,,1I 1h.· ", h~, .11I"'.,Jr III ,Ilt" ~'''' '~ ' \:,'M 'r, ,I1\" 11,\:lu .1""'''''''1'.11' ",1 , hI' h,, ~,' ~ X I"n'l"n '" til<" " ·c,,nn."" ''''''''
lia ltenomt-C'...uumandcr Trl'.ll lll'r handed comm,mJ .,( till' "IIM,ln In • " 'n '" rhc l.He
Leu renam -Commandcr ~t.J . R UIIl!! .11
1M enJ Ilf July IllSI. A, till' AEW-I ~ conunucd hi amvc III 1Ill' UlUlt'd Ki n l.,J. lIll," I more tll l!h ( ~ ("nu"l Ix· l~'rnll'd ... ~, ~·N ~uaJnm . R\' l\: h,h.·r 19';\. t.·ll" U!!h ~hra iJef"<, (N) h,I,II.. . -cn .I,,,·mharh·d t" r
Roya l Na...., A[W ·l Sk'lu idal WT 954 IJ 101JI t. nding .bo.,d III, um., HMS Eagle in 1954. h cames the mill1lin g of 'A' Fliglll M' Squa dron. FI, .I Air Ann , Anh .. P,.rey Archrve. by courtesy 0/ Aud.Pj Purey Doug las AD....W Skytaid., ." Ro, al N• ...., A[W ·I WT 954 IJ101J I lakes ofl ll om llIe Iliglll de ck 01 the . irc ra h urne r HMS Eilgle in 1954. ta"ling th, id,nlific llion c odes of 'A' Flight on its e ngine c owli ng. Arthur Purey Arch.... by courtn y ot Audrey Purcy
95
.
. ...."". d ~ lf.".
HI E Al: \l, - Til t IlO Y.\I.
vxvv EXI'UUESCl:
ti l he hrou.l:hl ur ttl e\!<1"hshrncm . (51.'''' th e table o r roMle. )
the .... IIM.. lron
In the me a nnrne, the ct, n\l nll: ri,lllo{ tht n-- t of Ihl' ne..... ca rrie r; (Ark Rm al, AhJn,
BulullTk, Cenraur, H.'Tl11t's anJ the rch.1l1t \ 'it."lorlf1lt.'i) w ;1\ '>Criou\ly dcluved "'y lack ci fund-, ;m,I "'y th e aJ..lJ't it11l mtothcrr tk.1Wl "I" nc w earner feurure- , The-e haJ all t....l,lj· nated III G rt';11 Bri t,l in , ,m.l incl tAk.J an ,mt.:lt.J llit.:lu deck mirror bO Jlllt.: a.J.", -tvum " I!a pull.., and ....' t 1Il . TIll \ meant ihar , Ill' AE\V\ w e re readv well ....-fote there w ere earners III receive rbcm (t' llll'r than t he EII~I.· , an.I, :,.. a temporary measure , the lil.:lu Ill'l'! carrier Ocean ). TIll' A,lmiralry rheref -rc dcctdcd cur l- ack ,hl' 1l1l111ht.'ro(
'l'
tlit.:h l.. nn e], on S July 19S4, No, 849 S'Iu:k1r" n dr-l-andcd 'P,' Fhulu l'"rnrll'lcly, all' lCarl1lt.: two of its Sk ymi,ll'''' t" each of 'A' :1ll,I'C' Flit.:1u .. a.. Fronr-Lme 11Illlll.,Jit,'rYl' (FIRl .nrcrafr. and then re... ll~iJ;;tUt · io t.: ·C' Rl ).:hl ,h 'B' Ri ).:ht. anJ 'D' Flit.:h!:b
Roy.l Nn y AEW·' Skyr.ider WV 105 132OlZ11.kes the wire.s illands aboard ltIe .irera tr ca rrie ' HMS AlbIon in Ihe Me dlle rra n..n, 1954. Arthur Pel fey .....ell..... by e~esy ot Iwdrey p.,.ey
A line st udy of AEW,1 Skyra ide , WV 105 (32OIZ) "b oa rd lhe "i ,e " tr ca rrie. HMS Albion in the Medil" "anIlB n in 1954. Arthuf Palf cy Archive, bycourtesy of AudflY Pe..cy
96
'C' R it.:hr. <"In ly 'A' Ri l.:hr w ;1\ t herl'fore l'm"'arh ..c] (......lilrJ the £a.l:k) at Ih i-. ta ny f"..'n,>J,rill' remamder ' >per-li me InIfll, !lore h;l'l..~, E\"Cn "', Ih i\ J i,1 no, prevent a sen' ....1\ ..h, ,n,lgl' {It arrc ra tt • .Iuc to lack of 'f'd~ cnumc...; Ihi \ lmallr ll'Sult,.J 11\ 'A' ;)nJ 'B' Ri l.:h b h.'IIll.: Il.,JUCl..J had III f"ur i1l1lTdh
each. ,tIl.1 'E' AiI:hl h.-comlOl.: 'l)' AIJ.:lu.
••
.lO..Bs from VA·11S1M VA-65 - crew _mbers with AD·5W, tolled 4S. RoltndW Biker .... M. "",
B_.
Ift:6 .-ll".olL.;...._ " 'JE
(Abow} BuNo 134520 "IVing with VA-1SS on the
dKk perk 01 the urn... USS Intrepid. October 1966. JIIII SuINt " ... Wd Ohtnch erlll Nick WiIie ....
Doug'e, AO-6 Skyrlid.r, BuNo139169, at VA·l16, wingslollied. ,bolrd its urne,. Arthur P..,ey A't hivI , by cOIInesy o! Audrey Pet rey
..•1'.11.
. ,..."". d
Ase ri.. of .clion photogr.p hs 01 AD-4Bs Irom VA· 115 . nd VA--65 operllling fromtne USS Phil,ppine Sea ICV-4n 011 Je or.., 1951. Belore sa iling lrom51. Diego, Calilomi. on 5 Jul y 1950. she h.d emh rlted VA·115.. p.rt 01her Air Group II ICVG·IIJ.B8twHtI 26 Mlrch . nd 2 April 1951, lJhe disemhrked CVG·H illJ .p. n .nd . mh.... d in tneir pl.c, ttlr.. F4U-4B Corsair squ. drons." well .. the VA -i5 S1lyraidln Irom CVG·2. Ill: USSV.lley Forge. Rol.ncl W B. .... viI M. rtJn 8_
n
•
(Topl GoodSb I1lNrd broadside ..jew 0" US NftJ Skyr. id... " - V...·U i of the USS Intrepod ICY-IlL nose-cod'" 404. Arthur Pearty Are~. by tOVltnYIJ Aud•.., P U
t ty
{AoovsJ US Nuy Doogt" AD ol Sk'tf. id... IBuNo 139li651of VA-Itt. Arthur Pu rey Arctwve. by courwy 0' Aud'I'Y P" " V
US N. vy Doull'" Skyr.id.r in dl ep blll. 'inisll, non -tod " 515. Arthur Pn rey Arclwl. by counnyllf AlId
Doll;l" ....2HSk"lidll. tail-cod.d ...0 41S. As1IIuf Pu rt y Aft """'. by tOurtny of AlIdr"Y Pnr,y
ROYII Nl yY AEW·I Skytaide r 4151CVIII CuldrOSIit. Bob Turner
$kyrIiHr .... 1E. BuNolnaz. 01 the US"'F. h en hlltreI' Scotl ...FB. July 1•
. N"t W ........
•..""".d
•• .". •W
(Topl US N. ", AD-6 Sky"id.r {BuNo 132'591111 Chin. uk. Tn:! &lntre . Atthu< P..,q Arc"-, by COU"1tSY 01 Aud'1I'Y P.. ,q
(Above) A ClI moull. gd USAFA· l l BuNo 1324151.1 Hlnsc om AfB in Jul y 1968. Nick Williams
H' lVily I.d.n A-I E Skyr. id.r, BuNo 134990, ol lh. USAf, "'ick W"'ms
,
(AlHJve' Chacke rboard cowli ng on Ihis US NaYy Skyr.id'f, BuNo 135188, on . dUlfl .irstrip. 21 Ma rc h 1910. AtttIur Pu rcy ArchlY' . by COUr'l' SV of Audrey Pu rcy
{Above /eft} DoulIl.. AH-l (form. , AD-6l Skyr, id.r. BuNo 1397JZ. 01 VA -165. Arthur Pearcy ArchiYI . by COUr'luy 01 Audrey Pearcy {Above' A NaYy Skyrlidlr sho_ 0" har clean tin.. In d daap blul plint sc hema. US N. vy()tt,ci,1
Tw o IOmler Glboneu/french/Am.riCln AD'" Skyr.iders, slill btarinilihe co lours ollh.ir lI st unil e w a it new owners II lhis French ai r parll. SIAPA/EC PA Fort d'lvry
The AmicI" J .P. S,lis A·1DF·AlDPruting belwten shows ' I its hOlll' b,.. of I.e Ferti Al,is during th, , nnu, l,irshow ttl,r, in M. , 1998. M. Hiscoc,
Now oWlled b, the Fighter Collection It Dullford IS G·RAID, this A·1D wu prewiousl, bu ed in Fn nn IS F-AlED. 1I i1;..,n here Iinding It I.e Ferti All is in MI ' l!1!t1. M H,scock
Here is ont intlruting mt chint , tht Gt lt Gut~ II tht USAF MUII_ It t h t ' _ conversion I" tr.ining MH. Hurlbert Fit ld. ROfidl, honMl of tbI 'J ungl, Ji_'. Oft, of ttlt"W former AD·5Ns IA·l lil sUpjlli,lIlo the VNAF, sh, wlSllt" llsigned 10 tilt USAh llmous SPKil1Optrltions Wing wtten ... et rried IDcodt 51-59ll. She 'Nil broulJhtblc:It 10 tilt StIles in un I nd hi S been plletd on disp l. , thm ever si net. "'.." R. $mrth
WT097 was moonectly appli ed to W194J WIll 2 was Incorrectlyappliedto WT9B2 WT lll was iOCDlreclly applied to WT98J Ooginal senetshould llave been Wlll6
01 Del: 52 01 Jan 53 24 feb 53 01 Jan 53 09 feb 53 21 f eb 53
""""'
01 feb 53 18Mill 53 01 Dec 50 3OJ;m51 01 Mal 51 01 May 51 03 May 51 12Oct50 01Aug 52 01 OcI50 01 Sep 50 01 Aug 52 01 Jan 52 26Ap, 50 22 Mal 50 17 Nov50
Americall VerI/Ute
01 Mav50 19Ott 50 24 Aug 50 30 Oct 50 01 Del: 50 21 0ec5O 01 Aug52
""""' """"'
Green Moun/ain State
Americdfl VerltUTe Americdn Ventute Perseus G,eenMoufItam State G,eenMountam State G,een Mountam State Franc,s McGraw
US Navy US Navy US Na...... US Na...... US Na...... US Na...... US Navy US Navy US Na...... US Na...... US N"...... US Na...... US Na...... US Navv US Navv US Navy US Naw US Navy USNavy US Navv US Navy
00_
' AM".
A AlbIal llalerl
97
Clashed Cuktose 13 April 1957
OJ SeahiM* llaterl
Clashed CukllDSe 12Feb 1960
......" " . ~
••
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Till:
A ~_ \\'
TIl l: RO YAL ,",AV¥ EXI'I. IIII:\CE
wv
RoW .1 N• ..,. AEW-l $kwr. id., 10S132OlZ1 MitlI towed.1t by . trKtor . boIoni the urner HUS Albion in the Mediterr . ne . 1I illl!1!>4_ """'" P.~ A" h..... by COIl"".,01 Audrey P..rc.,
Th e Four Flights A part fro m l ak in l:: part in rhc normal pcacctutu- c xcrci-es ml,1 tr ;linrn l::, the ~krr. l i,ll' f'o l::;linl,J lillll h....1 ' IJ"I'-war anJ
comhat cxj-cneoce. In November 1956, 'A' Fhclu . -nll o(X'r.umc trom t he EagIt, r lt l\"idl.J Earlr Wa m ml::Il.r the 11l't:1Juri f12 0 r't:r.llh.n Mu-kcrcer, rh c Sue: Operanon TIll" "rt:ralll'n W;I' rn l( l~...lmc -.;ul,fauunIy untt] pohucal d.:cblon, ;lhortl.J i, h.-im it ;l( h ic vcd fin; l! -ucc ......' ( in muc h the same W;l ~· ;lS De -crt Storm would h.: tcnnmated I~ , rt r r,',11"!> la ter) . TIll" ,11':.ir al",) -c rvcd 10 coufmu both t he n- r', ll ilit y- of the Skvrnnh-r, a n,1 it , f't 'I' ular ily. Captain D.H. Frazer, RN , recalled rh.u . 'in ,1,IJ llion to t ill' radar equipment in Illl' A I)· 4W, ii one ••I.....-rver wa, left ('UI it wa, f"l'., iHe In slad 1.t\.X! can, of ~er in the cabin. This \l~ JO Ill' Ju n nc the Sue: Of'l-'T;lllllll III 1956 when rhc Hoo p" ;!-,h"fl' Wl"fl' t lll"!y!' ()Ulll'~ in Novembe r ! l,)'j4 mc luded a Jcl,u.:hllll'nI uf IW" :lIfer. .it '" Gil:oralur,
when- rbcv undertook mal- ,,' a new raJ..r rdll'(lOr huuy. Furt he r "l';I -crvicc '11:>o.uJ borh rhc Illodl'm i:ed EtJRk ,mil rhc small...r BlIl''''lrk t;,lIom•.J, '~ ' r ,I ,h"rl mrcrval, hd' ln ' ,. rerum 1" Clll-Ir,,"l' in reduced 'trl'IlJ,:l h, .uu] a fina l tr.m-tcr til rill' Faire'i Cia nlll'l III h-brua ry 1960 . ' IV H uihr ' l'Cnt till' tu-t t'in- m. mths lIf ib «1I'Tr ,h, 'rc,!'>a'l·J ut Ih l E. r RNAS, 1I.talra. w. ,rk IIlC wnh Iht' Med ttcrr.mc.m R l~1 , anJ wa-, tlwn rdll·n.J !'>y' 'C f-l1cht. ln january IQ').J, II ,"ml,,1 'A' 111cIJI ;.h~ uJ rhe ~ h.'I,'n' "':IIlC JIJ,;mJ...J :mJ re-formed ~ith 'C Flruht. The nt'w '1\' f-1lcht wa, aeam ~1'l'l.1 ,I,ht'rl' ,II ~Ltlt:l ;1I111 '1J""'-'4uen11r "l'I"\"l'l.l ,Ih \11,1 Ark R'':'I,J ,1Il..1th ...n \ 'a.:lonlllS h.·I~ 'n' tl'lI1nllnc IU Culdn .....· ;IIlJ rc....'\jurrr lll C wllh till' E. irq (j,mlll'l III 1960,
-
- .-;'~-
.-
=-- ~~
98
-
A Skyr. ider AEW,1. WV 117 a c Flight No. 1M9 Sqll.dron. ' . nding Ilbo.rd the .irtr. h u lTilf HMS AlbiOn. 1955. Arthur P..rcy Afclwt, bJ COUI1Ny aI AlI6rty hare.,
Sk,raider Men - Admiral Sir J ohn Treacher. KeD T.. ~ 0 1 No 849lAEWjSquadrontrorn 7 Jutv 1952 unt 120 JuIv 1!1flJ. John Treachef had a long and llngul5h8d ta!lIllf In tile Raval NaV'( Hi! was born in 0110 lIfI 23 September 1924. were his lijlher. Algen· "'t-bMl FtriCharlesJreecter, was thenworking , The '0 ..IctII retllflVld home afIl was edecated at St SctQll He 8Il1ered the Royal Navv in tile summer '.,.1 before tlSlIlljtteenth blrthdiIv M er IrachbMat HMS Frrbsher. h id. saw tonsldefable
Sea Haw*;s and Frerd1 Alll8 ASoN aircraft He was pr~ motedto lullIaptamon30 .II.nll962 HIS nexl appOIntment was as Naval sssetemrc the Thud Sea tDl'd and Conlrollor 01 theNavy, homCIcIobot' 1962 to December 1964, belOfe going bilclr. to sea as Commanding Officer 01thoIlJ9ale HMSLlMftSloft. tak· Iflg command of the vessel III December 1!164 If'I May 1!I66, he was 8PIJOIf1fed aI/ector, NoMJIIW WartiR. IloIcIing !hIS IlTIpOI1aflt post lor two ~ at a emal lme for the Navy Mewl sea tme lotlowed, ....,. IWI became the ComrnancIIno Ottoctll' 01 the earner HMS
at.,
VlUI!I offoctll', both aboard the battlelidS "*"- 1ft! the IIjlt CJ\Ilser HMS GlasgoW, ... IlIhe Medltananean and horne waters: ., sI"P lor 'lIlI'lI'Ie. earned out borntIafOOo8nls of the US Army at Omaha Beach dUflng the N; \¥ldy landtngs In 1944 He also served aboard sh,ps the old destrClyllI Keppel on RUSSia ten1d then aboard tho new sIoojJ MefmiJld, TteKI hid 'IIIUlteered foI aifaew durirlil the W03/'. IIll SIIIlIor training lJ'ltlll946 In 1947. he qJat· a IlMI PIlot and. iMllie setVIl'lg WIth IIXl
1M SeaM! "7m the c¥uer HMS TnI*t Illhe Korean W. OJIIIIfi1l1ons On return III tllIlWIFl8d 10 jets afIl bame serJio' ptIol ~ IlJIIdron. No, 703. llefDfl flying the basIC ,y,th!he US NNr In 1951. he was apptNnled 1lnII Otfar 01 No, 778 Squadron, wtlich was toI."," aews IOf tho lIBel. Ht s aceeuumeute rIrCI oommand tile Royal Navy's only trent-line SQuadron lallowed In Jut'!1952 aetw attended the Naval Stat! course in 1!bl and . . . lit !tie Naval Stall II WashingtOO, OC. ~ as the Executrve Otticer til HMS n.SouIftA!larltlCR Fill ~1sIand Guard 20 ~ 1~. ben;I prorroted to Com'1 DIc:8!Olf 1956 Me ~ on the stall ol f!yQ;j TrBnf"O at HMS Heron. the Royal 1111 Yl!OVllton, t«:m JuIv 1957 10 May
1959. before bIlcomlrtll Commander (ArrJaboard file cener I1MS Vicrof/lllls Irom Ma~ 1959 to October 1961 Silo had lust spentlllo:lOV vears beIng almost completely rebJilt and hadrecommissioned InJanuary 1958, WIth a hJlI·aogled deck IlIId statlHll·the-art radar ¥d llQUIp. ment She was able to operate the I8lest naval aircraft, benJ the IIflf to tan'V Ihe new ~ SCJm,tat Treads IfllrOdut:edcamer il'Aa11Cfl1o the IrOan Nav-, ashead 01 the teem that v.oted"" their 1lf'St camerothe INS V"lkrantttormertv HMS HeIwIesI WIth Blllish Hao.o.ter
Thr ll l~h l wa~ rl'nowl1l·d for Ib r rtlllli nml ln,
The Sky is k lllltl 'Jl bfJrh far (/luI wid.. . , U:·ilh S<jll4iJrlffl cypher~ lIU i/.\ sid..,
In849 uur Fb~hl did 111(1111 ; FUllr JLghts III sea, HQat h" IIl"' , FOIlI' flitJtu of {our. a k lf"'r Ir11" " IUIIlk' . ArItrok,cIl D. each one KWI1t'J fulTk' ; On cvu.t M e ll. W a l..'If.'T, 8' FL,Ju Iloenl just ant ~1 1t'1 ,
e.n.
PltJrnI ngllt rhc-re {or all rll .~ r, fu 1\ no ll. W p , it is (I BEE!
A '8' nighl Sk yrlllidll AM·'
showing its 'Bee' bldge in CIOSI' Up, Anhm PU fCy Archive, bycounesy of AudreyPut cy
99
E6g/6 frurnNcMinbr 1968 On IeiMng E6f1Ie.1WI wasprcwroted 10Aeaf Mlwat afIl apcllllflted Flag OfIicer CarTier and AA~lIb1ous Ships, Q1 7 JulV 1970, He served in thiS postlll1111June 1972. 1">tleo 110 was ijppolnted Flag OHlCer. Naval Air Command, This was toIlowed. on Octo 1973, l'f ilflpOtfltment as VICe OJIl!! 01 Naval StaH, On I December 1973, hewas promoled 10 VlC8 MrwaI. nl '" Ille Q1lll year was elected a FeIbN d ille fbvaI AertnIutal SlXIetv lie 'MIS ~ a lull Mr.a!Q1 150Iurnbef 1975. nl awardlld h KCB II It'e 8Irthdirv tbun list ollt'e same ~ Mnnl Treacher ccrnpIeted a ITlOiI successtul naval career 'Nlth his last appointment, as Convnantler'1I1Chlel F1eellall $hips 'Mlfld-wlde, mcludlfl\l S1b nannes andFAAatraaltl With thiscamehis NATO appointmerll as ACCHAN lWlth SACEUR ard SAClANT, one 011110 three IMJDI' NATO Commands), until he leuthe Navy on 30Marth. 1971. aged lilry·!WO Al1er leavirlil the Naoiv, Sir Jom jooned National Car
Pam. sermg as DlIllClorlol1tJlI9B5 lie IO'fWld the board 01 Westlan:t n 1978,1fld was Oepury ChaIrman be'-' lBi and 1!119 lie also ...-I as.... at the I'IQnilI'e$S II8TIbln of the Press ~ betMen 1978 afIll981 afIlas a dftctor at SBAC betMIen 19B3af1l1989 Cinently, SI( Jctn li¥es Ifl Bayswa,... london. afIl 8llJOVS travel. shoollng and phHograJt1y
TIll' ' lo ry "I 'C ' Flidu Llrl.:d ~' mirrl'r"kl' " h .arJ Ih l' Ell""'. ,h,'rl·· h l.....·J " ['o.'r.II\<,n, In llll ~1 ;\lt .l . in cluJing
...
" " .~
".M .lI .
Ri )::ht, ' D' F1il,:11l a l..... Join,.J rhc EaKk' III 19')1andr hcn undertoe lk Jd ;uk..J In.ls . ,f rill' AN /A~ · 20 radar at RNAS Eglin" m. ....-fore l-cconung rh c new 'C' Fltgh t , \'(llll'1\
' E' Ri l,:lu,
In
turn . became rhc new 'C
Ri ghi, 11 un,I,'rt.It.!.. de ck mal-, ,1h,>.:l rJ rh e
BlIluurk 1'I:t~ ,"' t'I.'ing lanJ -kl " '.1 at H;II Far, Maha , n-lievinz 'C Flight. In 19')f>,
embarked aboard the AlbulII, the !light cnu-cd hi the Far E.N ,mJ conducted excre t-es In rhe Indian Ocean, After interval- ;11 C uldrosc. IW,' com mis'lon, aboard rhc Bulu'(IT,k '~ l llow,-.J in 19 57 <mJ 1958. 'D' Fhehr , co m mand....1 hy LieutenantComm.mdcr r.G.w. Mprri" RN, at I hi~ pt.'ri o..! h.n] five c re ws, each n llllr risinl: a pi llIt and t\WI observers. T hcrr hack-up was a m.unu-n.mcc crew n( 17 ra ti n j!s; their duric \\W,' cquallv divided l-crwccn A&E and L&R, with (our " tt k,'(S' ste \~..a rds three ,urn afl handlcrv, " Ill' cook and one "dil"ly equipment rallnt:_ There were 00 rccbmc.rl tlffic,' rs, and tlu, work rested wuh the -c-ruor ra nrur- of the Ilij!hl _
Duties and Roles TIll' AEW-I , were e"I'I:·' ·h.,.1
(II
supple-
OJ,'m rhcrr pnm.trv (ull ct illll o( ~u :l tJ i ng ;I).:a ill' t luw -'lyi llj! attac kuur or , h:lduwing ;Iircrall hy ,' Itlll' r Tl'!"lrtillJ.: such contacts Iu till' ea rne r, or l'-y \"l'U UrillJ.: their own ;Iirl.... -rtu- fiJ,:hl" rs It I de al with tilt' threat. In servic e , however. th e)' \\ W ,' aive n the ,'''":1 rille, of A EW, ," ih , drr ecnon, surface -carch. mail dclrvcrv, aml'-uLlIlce• .mJ ......'n. In fac t, 'I) ' RighI renamed Itself the '\Vd l, El rgu ilnJ Anvpl.rcc Airline', anJ rr- comma nJ iIlj! nffin.'r 1ll',I ' m-pired to
WT 959 of 'C' Flight reVYing up I nd unfolding ihi wings prior to lah -off IfOlll l'he deck oltne l irerl ll elrr;er HMS AllMon, 1956. Arthur Pe.,cy Arc",". by Clltlltny 01 Auclr..Pet'cy
It AW SatleV feb 53 Lt-Idr GP Ssbm 01 Jan 54 It·Cdr R M Shave
It HG1 lIewellVn 01 Jun 53 It·Cdr 0 W Winterton 19Dc t53 It·Cdr H GL N.lsh
It-Cd r 01 Andrews
U,Cdr N Ovenden
Ja n 53 ltMWPBens D6 Jan 54 It-Cdr GP Sabin
OJ Sep 53 lI·Cdr N, Dvenden 15Dct54 It-edl A Ba,ll,e
01 Oec 53
18 Dec 54 It--edr 0 G FraIef
~Jul54
~Jul55
ltCdr CB Armstrong 31 Aug 54
It-Cdr RC Ashwrtth 01 May 55 It·Cllr RGG H!tJbard
lSJan 54 It·Cdr RM Shave 16»1 54
01 Mav56 It-Cdr F &<JTnlow
CO
1J Mav51 It-Cllr AGBPhIllip
f,~
09",,,
~O
It·Cllr G legg
.... . "
.... . ..
0".......
"om
05 Sep 56 ll·CU r 8J Williams
lI·Clt J W WICkham 01 Apr 51 U-Cdf 8 H Stod 23Jul58 [1·Cdr C R Mellor
h~
to Sep 56 ll -Cdr C R MeliOf
11 Aug 59 ll -Cdr 0 tew
29 feb 60
CO
17 Apt- 58 1I I( WC F\eadmgs
f,~
17Aug~
CO CO
CO f,~
It·Cdr A0 Iioopef It·Cd! RHS
Merl1>l~S
100
...... "
..... "
It·Cdr OA Fuller
It'CdrWl Shel:M"d 6 ..kn! 9156 l l-ta PGW Moms 07 Oct 51 It -Cdf TG_ Butler
""""
'""""
It-tdr 0 T ArUews
It-Cdr NG1 TaylOf 05Apr 51 It-Cdl PA WoolhllQs 18Aug59
E
':K,,,,..I ...1,""':110' III Jutflt: " ...."{'I.- h ,nl ..J lurn, ,,, m,mml:l"
I .........
fllol.. J'O"UIT
Onc 'D' AII:!ll ex periment
10
ex te rn] t he
A EW\ lan \:l.· of duties even furthe r ca me an a"ru pt end. The iJl'OI wa. rhar, with all th e radar equipment . lr il' I....·t1 out , ;lnJ the sca n ner an d Rudomc removed, t he 'Sky' wriuldmakc an excellen t I r,)o p t ranspon . ( A s n rur nc d OUI, B u lu ~lrk wa _o n he r b ~t cun umwion ,I' a car rier, a nJ wa,_ ult imatelv f il h:.1 0 111 for jus t suc h a n amph ibiOilS tr ,,,'p nun-port li,le.) Chw airua h wa-, ruoduicd: the -e ruor r ilo, rook he r up. hill vcrv rarl,II~' "rOI.l\:lll her " ;I(k down "1:".1111. The ~kYT;lI'!I' 1 tlcw 'no-c-d, ,wn t.ul-up' the whole I II1H: ,h.' was in the , III, n,1 matter ....-h.u rhc rilot JiJ. A _,cn,, 1 W;I_ Je'raldll'J til rhe (\.Iud a. pl.uu a' E! :-;"'\:lIn,!" ..:ek til \: an-wer- ro du-, ,t ",cn\lu~ conundrum, an .! tlu' rcplv was rhar , w it h till' A D- '. -4 a nd . S \'(1~. till' l'x t r" wl· i.c:h l 1 1Il1't "'~'d hy till' rad ar \'lj ui l' IllCllI an ,! IW" " pc r" '",, h.nl meant rill' r~' - l't " it i " tlin .c: ot t he w i n\:~ on till' tuselacc . in orde r 10 compcn s.uc. 1111. ha,1thrown till' " ilcraf, '~ "011uncc da ncernusly our of ktb cl . anJ tilt.' 'uood i,k'a' W,IS plom ptly ~ h d\"l"J! Btl/UUTk\ ~ i'ICI . hip, tilt.' earner H~tS CenW UT, then became 'D' Rtchl\ horne j~'r 10
OJ II 'B' Right No. 149 Squ.dron lifts on trom Ih, . ngled lIighl de ck allh••i' c, .tI
eem.r HMS V'CIOrlOUS in 1960. AtttIu. Pu' ey A'ehfve. by eOl/l1esyo' Aud"y Pu'ey
write the poem
(Wl'
I':ll-:l' 2) thai ~ 1 1l 11~ Ill'
Ihe Sky raiJcr '~ n illl'-yl',n r,,!l' in
tlu- R. wul
N,\\'y,
Will.
Lieurenanr-Comm.uul...r I'crcv Mom-,
haJ the f\)Uow in\: 11'( 0111'0: 11. 'IlS: \. TbrSl'T3...kr I,
rrnumwJ ,"
,,,,,·,~,, t ""' . r<'l'''1 "I ("'ll."·l' .",,1"'t"r"'I"",n,_ \Ve. dllfllll( ,~" ..."ri,1 tnll ....·, h,,,l lllllt- " ••,-....,
' d -r1.·n,J.,III- ....1..."1<- ....a.llI_ n ... Il,·mk
re.h.'I" . ", .•
",1.e. 1 _ ~ , .." .J II' Jed-L.....lmc , h.•rKttft5t1C$. It s" muo;:h mo....e ..as,' h ' I.m..! ,.... tt-1....r1a~ t f"...rh e',I_'1",,., u....1.1 • dw J.d, emIT.. 1m ", ,h.. t",,,1 .•l·rr h .Jmoor ~ .....11 a, In d 1"1 . Th.· IIn,I'·n;"tTMI...· " I . was'"CT'I robu I, Ilh lilt" A....n~,· •. AI"'r a I,..a\,\· Wtdlllg the Sky,,'i.l,·r ",,,"1,1 CKtell.l If, "It""'" ii'~ ll...lfa shah antitax, I;,r"'''1\1.....·h,·11 , Iidli ' Iv oIJc, !'>nu,h '"KMII ....·,..,1,1 I~ ",i hll- n...·.1 'Iuml--
rtb: 10"¥ abo a "'-...... y"... c "" a mar ..-II""'" h,;,.,flt:
r...nod. Sea Slu.c: ml"I Il.' lIi al ~ Itlo l.. till' Medncrrancan. wnh the Skyr,l l'!~' I~,
a ....ncf
plan'
III
ll u..., '"" h.II,J, lhe ",,1
'0 """J
~ yow korn In ""mr'f ,u r
TbrSbmJn JiJ.,.'I( Itlte h:m ll" c.....rulf,.J . Tbr muM. I,"" ""m, WOlLIJ h: a r...in I."h"" . t .,.,;J Ih... , 5lyrdlJer ..~ ....IJ h: "ml,....J .lIIl1 anJ J.. al ldh·....tt ..II<"T ,he 1"" h.tJ ~ CIII;l('UhrJ Tht a<:crM,",11f1 u( ",,,,,,h ,,( ,he r",br ''<.J U'I'" IIlnll "
A Oougln AO-4W Skyllidel in the guiM of Roy.1 N• ...,. AEW-1 WT . ' IU2N) lIkn on trom the .ngled deck 01HMS Viclorious ill 1960. Arthur PearcyAte",,",. by courtesy01 Aud,-. P••rcy
10 1
...... ".., '"Air. ...
TIl E MW - 11110 II.OYAI.
;1l,11IlJ,: till' u ial s ..1111' 1I ~ I S ('l'dL.. Ne ss, hl: l~ 're a (a._I crut..... ahl<.lrJ the AIbi'n!, wh ich pr,'n...1 hi he the vcrv Lt'r A EW commo...on t" till" Far [;1'1. On Ill l\:cl"mh:r 1960, ,Ifl\'r I" return. Ih.. Ri l.:h t WOl' J .,haIlJ\...I ;1I C ul,ln .....' an..! the AEW- I fin.llly Idi IIl\" R,,,v,,I N;I\'y', front-lim" "-11T;lt.lron.. alwr rune ...,11,1 vcar-, "I .....1'\. icc .
A Long Life Dur inl.: lilt" n ine vca r-, the ::- L:~'ra 'cle r had 1'\'J,: \l11 10 ..hOI\" it.. ilJ,:e, hilt it h :l,1h 'pt p,:r· l~ lfI11 ill J.: . C l\uahk\ over that I" n l.( pl'rilkl were rar e. T W lI ai rn ,ltl o:: r,lSll\",1 wit h li n n ' ".'~'\' ,t' eac h orhcr - \VT 1)6 1 in a fk l..l ll\·ilr EXl'I,'r o n 11 Fd -'nwry IWl0 , ,lIl,1 wv a ll .I,",,, ard Ill\" A/hion n il 9 Fl' hr ll
AEW·' KtidIonts Ddre 21.l1n! 1956
AFII
24 ~ 1 956
AFll
11 $eplewtler 1959
BFI, BFll HQ fit
20 November 1959 24 February t960
FigIlr
r"'r.lrily alleviated hy further "111<111 dchvcrI\"S from ti l\" USA in 1955 anJ 1956. TIlt" A EW· I ....-cnu-d , ll·..uncd r" ..utfcr the fate of all ~ L:\·r.Il.I\' r\ , h.'me a"icn\.,J hi a num h.·r o j "Ul'r l\'IHl'ntat)' ,IUIII"S (not all utiicia!!). A lrhouc h rhc dc rccu...n ... j I"'"'-lly inl.: mc...m inl.: 'h,"'lill"" r.... mamcd it.. prime role, It wa .. al..., c.•lk.,J upon to funcuon a" a J necli lll.( aircratt I~ 'r ann-sul-rnannc h ums and weather rcconn.u.....mce . Irs hulk enabled if t ... h:o::"nu,.. a jack -...f.a ll· rra,!e.. \\"hl'n req uired. with ,h' I'·",·..hon- tr.lIl, fer of "lIr r lk'" ,Ill..! storev ,IS wel l a\ rc r-on nc l ht'c llminJ.: a brJ,:l' pan " f iI,' cu m .... r J ul ie\." In , 'rd" r It' keep l'l1lllll.:h l ,j I he Skvratdcr» 1l 1'\ ..ranonul, rlu-n was il J,: r\'ar , I ,~a l "j'\h llf· 11inJ,:' ...f airo::rafr between tlid" " l" IX'\:i,llly in rill' latter yl·a rv. Several aircraft wen'cann ihali:cd' in rill" cud. in " r.l,·r to h ·\·1' or he r\ tl yinl.:. Ai rfr,ll11l'" were reiur hi, Ill'J at RNAS I\ llllhri, t l...., wh Ile Ih\· rl'''p'IIl\IHl iry lor l'nl.:lIlt.' lI\"I'rhalll , wa' han..!,.J " n'r to Ih\' ' J'I:t:iali'l Cl'nlrl' ;11 TTl·j"rt'S'. no rth Wl',1,,(C,lflllll "f Rrni,h On·p·...", A irw
-
Locaoon
Vlt"tor/l)U$
NorttlSea
V"lorlOllS
Medrleuaoean
SeiJhiJwk
Cliidrose
'.... ,,..
~AVY ~.X PER l f:~("/;
c" Tf't,r,u illn (ROAC. the ("Tl·nmru.·r Ii Bnn-h Ai lw<1Y~). The uJ'I.,'ra'! IIll.: anJ modl"m.:' llilln 1'( th e AE W- I\ r....LIt anJ. rddlO l'l.IU'l'lllefll remained the J ut~· of the Naval Al rcratt R•.J .u lr e-tallano n Vlllt (NARIU) <11Go-port anJ Lec -on -Solcnt . The SkYTaiJet'r> con ti nued to serve with rlw Ill,.·t umiI1959/60. hy which time dlelr replacement, rhc Fa itey AEW·} Gannet , ha,1 h.')::lIn til arrive. A J.:r,.,lualt ransllloli r":n",! 1~ ,I1""n...1. Two A EW- I SL:yr.li,kD were Tl·'>l"(\·I.,J ttl become pe rmane nt memonal- - WV 106/C U -427 ( RuN" 124086) was rl'l ailll'd ; 11 C uldnlSC, before hein!,: finalI.,. tran., ferre..! In Yeoviltnu; rill' other (\VT 121 /CU -4I S, Ru No 124121) went III the Fleet A ir Arm ~111Sl'1l 11l ar RNAS Y,·,wilt, Ill. Aft er m.mv Y~';l r' 110 .Ii' r layour, ,i de, it ha , now l-ecn broughr under cover 10 l.lh· us rl;H:l' in a rrol'" " ....l lww h..nl:'lr ;md d,'p"ly lunded hy till' Nat h lIlal Ultle1)'. Th" wa, n , 'I '-Iuite rill" ~'nd I ,f lhl~ ,lell\'!! 11k of .... 'me of Ihe AE\,('-Is. howl·\'cr. Fur a il'W, a fl-rrit:vl' wa.. at h .mJ .
Medrlerranean Medllerranean O" iurs a nd me n 01 No 14' Squad ron, Flee! Ai, Ann w ilh thei, AEW·l t lrlllll up at HMS Seahaw., with the Squidro" Badge . nd B.nl, Honoun . AntIur P ur ~y Af ~h ....e.
102
by
~ou nelY
01Audrt"/
P"f ~y
'.
CHA PTER ELEVEN
Further Diversification zs
On j une 1950. rhc North Korvan artuv, Wllhtlul provocation , a"..-cd t1w l HlIl
Farallel and in\,aJt.·J Stunh I\ or~a . T hi-, clear
TIll' US Na vy
tUIn '
:l\';.ilat-k'
\\';1'
till: o n ly ..[r"ng
l"ok IImTl' ,l l tr, l d l\'l' III Wa,hmg,on , IX-:. Fundinc IV,. , mcrca-,..'.! I tl .1,';11 with Ill<: ..it uali"n an.l. w ilh ,hi .... la.:h·nillJ.: o f the defence hllJg\' , pur ..r- , t rint-:... a Irc..h look w, rs taken at the I \,ugl'I'l'lan, As a re-uh till" AD-S W~I' '1I'I'rnn"1, funded and quk kly 1'11 1 in han d . 1\o'l'ill' ill..: rca'>l.·d !,rodlJdi"n iLllJ ;1
n-ncwalof tlu- curlu-r h 'l1l!' 1111 rh... line at El
the U N ; an :or,llIld Y,
Sl'J.:lIn dd a~ [)llll J.:b., h "I"' ln,ll'd ro rhis new
Amcncan :lIrlralt G l r r il' p; in till' vic uurv were . . 11..ru m
-nuanon, n, .nc I I( till: rc-ulr.uu .urcraftc- thc A D-j ;m,1 A D-6 .....-nvs - ", IW combat,
10
Changes Modilk .ui nll I~ ll rh... AD · j mvolvec] monthan ,. , im r ]l' rinkcnne wuh rill' ha'k , ln i ~tl;
a com plete rc -wolklll ~ resulted III
,1 l;ld ic a lly dilti.·len' maclunc. TIl\' , in dl''l';l! d l H ' l-ombcr ml·lam"rl'h,,,,,-·,I uuo a I WI 1 - ~I" 1l ,by-;III;Kk urrc rafrof J.: rl·;ll 1" ucu 11 '11. r.uhcr r1MIl the AS W nuulum- " riJ.:lnall ~' l· l1\·i~agl·'.1. A mock -up w.r, in·'l x·d nl ,m,l ,ll' l'lo \·l·,1 'h l'ilrly a, (\: Illh;r 1'1')O, a ll,1 ""UIJ... h:g,Ul.
All-5Sk.".ider IBuNo 132614) re.dy 10f Ihe oft. N,tk W",,-
',lIthKorean 1;I~C", ""Hh J,: le.11 cucc r. A~ lime went on, anJ II l-ccame ,,"" 1"11' Ih.u the- Ur-.: iOfe l" we ll' in 1,,1 a I"nJ,:, h,ud, ~~, and that th.. Skvnudcr wa' tu lh ll lllJ,:
I
iu duue, wnh more rh.m a,k'lJIMll' dfi neney, fre.h orders were "la..:l....1 1"1 tlu-
ahh....JJ,:h Illl 'y wen- 0'1111'1""1......1 in lime ,,, take r an III K"f",' a , wIWI...• fll,,: hlinl!. JI J nOI
"" I'tJ unnl 27 Juh' l~'i \. }" l.lIly Na\'y ~m. 1 }"bmll' CUIJ" 11Il1" III rhc rhc.ur...· h..'I!'1Il "I re -equip wnh Ihl' .urc ran from \ l.) j 2 u ll\\';m !-, h U I d ll' y .l1.ln"l 1;1k...· part in .m v
AI1·4. Th.. olJ rlan~ j"r a new \"a l ia m , ...... '
liJ.:h'ltlJ.:, TIll' Ill'\I' I~TI("
hn~"'l\lc ly rcjl'(ll.J a fl'w monlh, l'arlil'!
"" !l jny;l
ii '
a Wilsie of limill'd n 'S\llIrr l'S, nt lll' hq,::;lll III
1l\~ 1I1Y Wl·r...· I' I l', llIl l.m rd , III a Lll""r c, 'nllicl ,
103
TIll'
IWII
crew mc mbcr-, we-re
....... lll.J
' 1,1...·
..., ,J.I.. , f,ll h cr rhan m t.uuh-m: 1111, h i'll bd nw .,lvl-J l:h,lIll..""'" Itl t he ,urer,lll" ( II · •
Lll!."'·, o . . .kprt, m- rrum cnta non .m.1acn I,,n.u r uc "abIK l'. Th . .· rrololn....· I' lf du-, IIh ..Iuicauon W;lS a - t and.m] r fl,J ' ll'l h' n lull' A I )--1 (" uNu I 24Q"6), wil h , I 11I"l·LI l,!l · I}m \n.l.. . 1 Ihan llnnn
.. .., .,..."" • 11. .. .
1I1l' !r,ullnlo: l'lllo:l', hy l'x Il'nJln!: ,hl' hN:lalo:l' till' WlTllo: root . ,tOJ then hll'ndl-J 11 h,l..:lllUtl till' o rig-in,11c" mour. TIll' IU'l,t! J.:l' was al.... 1 strl.·IlJ.:lhl·nl-J •. md lcn crhcncd bv 1ft II in (58.·klll ). III co mr"l:n s,HI' for th e new c"n fi~u r; ll lon. whi ch h,l,1 dr.sm.urcnllv ,hilk,1 till' ~l ~' r;lldl'r\ cem re, ,f I: r, lvl l ~'. The IWI I dl\T hralcs \H'rC " 1111111.·,1comp lctclv from the twn sl,I,· fll'l" b \:l' I, ...:ao"ns. ,llrh"uJ.:h rh,· vcu rral ,lin' hr;lh· W ,h rl'I,I1l\,-J. The e nuruc wa, m,wcd 1~ ,rwar,1 by Sill, the vertical nul surfan ' ,lrt'a WllIlll.J !1.111ltl cannon l-c"Il11C the norm . TIll' new, hr,);IJ I'r anJ l' llllo:l·r. rl'arw .IT.I shJ ITlj! C,1Il0r" featured Iw,1 fl.n . forward sl' 'I' inlo: buller -re estant centre 'l"CIII'I". wnh .mclc...1,*,11' r ands. The ril"l ,1I1sl ro... ri llli \w rl' 'l'atl.J Ix-hind Ihi s. shou"II'r In , hou l,I,·r. wilh an ani i·glare T;l(l slu d,1fil' r",1 1I1 1I'rnall~ '. Thc ril"1 ha ,1 hIs 111~11I 1Il'lTurnclll l"l1leb on Ihl.' Idl ·han,1 si,ll' whili' 11ll' co -rilol aCII..J ,IS navica ltlr and al' n h 'I,llhl' ra,lar lxllnhlll~ in.slrun ll'll1ali'lll " 11 Ihl' r i ~h l -ha nd ~i,It, "I till' ..:,,,kri l. Tw,' ha nd -j!rip, anj!ll',1 cIJllIn,1 c' Jlllllln.' \\'l're I'rovid",1; Ihe n lN,'J Ihe IWO rada r 0f'l-'f<\Iurs. who wI'r c ,11.... 1 'l,.ueJ side h~' si,lc. ROlh u 'nln' and fl',IT j!la:l..J .....1.Tfl\enls Wl're tillll.J n.'I)' J arl hlul.'. 10 rrol"cl thc ......n sil ivc l.....U1r· menl Irllm sun glare ; to the re'lr. thl' Gml 'r~' was hla nh.J off with a ....lhJ. CUT\·I....I (;li nn/.:. The alllen n,l was ....." >IlII,I.ICI1",1,1I1'r Ihc a!lt."r lu.....:laJ.,.'e. Win/.: sr;m W
Sr«ifintiu... - AD_;
cm ptv, Itl,7lJYlh (8,5!t'Ilj! ) 1"...11-..1 wnh maximum all-up wl.'icht " I ! 5.c(\1f, (11.J4i.'lg) CI,ml"'lIl...1 wilh the XHT21)..! s I7500lb (7.':H,skC> ,I lew yt.'ar.- l-c(" r,'. WIIlj! 1'l
Co nve rsion Kits The r r,wen valul' 01 Ih i ~ airer"lft was IurIher increaSt.-. J hy tilt.' sur r h' " f var i,)us 'h)lr·o n· conversion I n , . which l'nahleJ Ihe l;lr~c fw,c1alo:c arca hol.lw Ihe much bij!J..'C r can, 'py to Ix- 4l1idl~ ' aJarlt..J (or a var iel Y01 r"le' , as follow~ :
I. Phllltl reconn!ll'ithl' r i,k " I Ihe in ner (u ~e1a gt" . in Ihis r{llc. a hobtin g rij! wilh r,!tchl.·t l" adill j! ho ist was carril'd, alunj! with
104
3.
4.
;, 6,
lunucd medica l equipment, il nccc...• "'lry, oXYJ.:I'n was rll't'J III from rhe rlg:hl-hanJ oc kpu co n.... slc. e m)..., transport, bv th e ;.JJItH >Il of a lIlt'c hal\ic,11 hoi...1 capable o( carrying a maximum 1'12,(\'"('llb (9C8ld 01milu al1' ...1,lrt..". Tr' '' 'r transport , with bench -.c,llln J: " '1';1...11," " f uccomrnod annu twelve (ull)' 1''1l1lrrlt-J '",IJ lers (Ih t" ' II- in· 1' ). T:nget lu/.:. with Ihl.' nunnal "'WillI:: l'qlllrmCn! anJ dr'lIle.... P,ls....nJ.:I·r lransp"lrt , wnh luut re;u ward -IaClng huckel St"I1S. t";JCh, II which \\'.1' e' luirlx'd wilh irs own in,lividual (lxyg"n rl'~u huor anJ s'lll'ty harne....... TIl i.. was mainly I'mrloycd t~ lr 1"1'hr,lss Imlls!'1 'rt ali,)n tI, and fTt lin airfields anJ rl.'ar-arl.·;t h,t...l'....
Such \"l'Kl1i lilY al",) leJ In a Navy rl....luire· nll'n1. in 19 SJ. lor thl' A D·; III h.' adarlN ,IS all in..l1ighl n'Iudling lanh'r, to fl'rlenish Navy it.'b such a~ th,' Co. IlIg<1T anJ Ihl' Panthl'r, and Ihll~ eXII, nJ Ih..ir rnis.sion rnn~. 1 '\ M.I~Ia.s h>keJ inlo lhis and fl'p",nt'J lhal ~ue h a n mvcT'> i' lIl was nOI rract icahlc a'i srt'cifit.J. TIlt' )' .IiJ w me ur wIth a ...."OTking ahl'm,ui\"C in the carryin j! ul a -.clf-collrallll."t1 eXIt"mal fuellinj! tank. Inc 'huJJy' SInT"C'. III conjunct ion with a traillllJ: ~l ho.'>4.· anJ no::I",. This WflCt"rl h."CaTTlt.' pmt and parcel uf Ihl.· AD-5's V,lsl rl'I"l(:nui~.
More Permanent Variants Thl' inrl.'TIlal kits sufficed f' lT till' numCWU:i anci llaf)' tasks Ihal came Ihl' SkyraiJcr's W,IV in Ihc 19 SOS hut, as hof"rc, thc hasic
l'l 'RTII I,R
I)lV IIt SI I 'IC A1 1 0 ~
I B7 S7- 1H 776, I Fil l 'J-1 3i 221 I Ni 56--- 1N 60'; ).
,1Il,1
AIHQ I \ M '~"I' ,,,,,k Olll' AD·iN (RUSl l 13i Qi4 l all,l m.llMI.....lu a, a I~M tr-""'·
AD-.i.' · A -mclc arrcran ( BI.I~u 1124i 'J). ""11..'Il'.J to rill' N.I\·a! Expenmcntul Tl'~1 unn \'X·I al Key \V," I, R "nJ .I, wa-, l'llulrpt.....1 .1' .m cxpenmcutul ASW It:,[ -N:J. ~1I11'[".'I1 wuh th e Mauncnc Anomaly l"lc tl·l.:!ur n..1 AJ) ) msmuncru.u ton . it llIl.ll·n" "k .1 -cnc ot' r ll al ~ III t hi s ,-"II i""", hut no producnon rcq um- me n t resul ted,
The All-Weather Squadro ns The amval u( , hl' all-we..t1ll' r ~l ll: .d ru [ h C,IVl' ti ll' Ih'l'! all cxrra dimc n..ion. O ril-:Illa l; n ~ w;d1 till' c ompocm- ~ Iu: ld ru n,
(Ve l , which ha,1a mixed h,lC "i aire rall in AIl·~ in clllH'up
ec he lon lormelion al 500tt I1SOm l over tbe Allanlic COIISI on 22 ...... 1955. "'tlt'OlII I AlchN's , ColI, ge Plfk. MD
muJd \I'a.~ H I~o adartl.J for furth er mh , i. lIl' 111 a sene... o( more perm.uwut van.nus.
.IDS.\' TIllS W"iI' a nil:hr at tack .urc r att , with rh o.' I extra compartment burlt in to the
cemral tu,d ;ll.'1: to htlU-e the I ...... ' 1)[".' r:111 ,r , omJ therr specialis t cqniprncnr , which l OOlrfl~ a -earchhght, a 11. r.... ,h'lx'n"l'r :uiJ a "'lOO- h.Jo~·. They earned borh rhc m:h radar and f'll.....crful illununauon in tlln n Ill:' an Aertl 3R elunC,lll,,1puJ ( ,.rUrt.Xr ,he \.,ing on ,hl' r yl. 'n. I\ MIJ,:I.., rJ one airci.lfl ( AuNtI 132477) l
AlJ..5 W
th eir cruuplcmcnt,
rhl' ~l'
,ll·\"l·I" I,\·,1 tn to
lu ll :11I·we a l h e: r at tack ,Ill.! t'il-:ht \' r umts (VFAW ). Fur :1 lu nc rniu,1. d wir main wu rkh"rst· W;I , the AD·i . T he "' llIa,lro ll t h a t o rigin,llt:d ,h VC·4 al NAS Atl:llll ic C ity, Nc-w Jt- rw ~", in J uly 1948, am] wa ~ r....,lo.'sign:ltl·d a ~ V FAW·4 .'11 2 Jul\ 19 ;1" whi..· h ..mvcd ar QU"Il "."1 in
The A EW \'o.' r' I" 11 01 th e A D·'; \1'''' '' 1"1Ir' l·ah.·r with rill' u, u••1 A N/A I'~ -20H 1'''..1 , M .I ~ I 'J5R, can he: raken as lypiGII. f\y I comnu lilly killswun-, rill" 'l l u l'l'~" It ld. un r-, J ul y 19 :;7, com man ded " y Comman der .....hieh wns mounted umjer Tin' iu,dac,· [ohu E. (\1.·11. [ r, USN. thi.. squad ron h-r. sect ion illllll",!ial d y :Ih lft rhc cmnnc. The cdn-, main func t ions :I' inll"w , ; rea r canopv w.. ~ rl'll,'" cnl'd , h; 1 '",];,1' ;111· 1Il1'l 0l1 r.;.'n..r inc, wuh , mall -cnu-c rrcula r T" "" "" ~r' .IUJ ,1'< '... e twm v.mn.," .I""nl: .,11 c ....,lu,."', ,,' ,"" ,uh"r ;mJ ,"" ,I-,h1\. rr. ,,'o.l...... 1ll,lllw" a hail th e il' rw:lr,1 1...... '·'l·;II'·r coc kpu. AI m".., .111 rhc IN ta! un,ll'rwIll C .,I1·"',·.,,h.:r .u r .lo:kn...· .1t lh..· ,;" rl<'l l."l t,,,.n ordna nce p"illl' were onu ncd troru rlu-, r" "·l.k .,II·\•.-" ." h.:r ~ n J,:l.'n...: hor ,>t h.·, ",fl.",· ' yr",", ..... ;' h l" , r "m.. r,lIr h.·LIlC fd allll'd l~, r I, or...... Ii.,,· · ~'l ·'A:' .m." l "'r.,I-,I", ,",,,hln :1,IJ it i"nal iuel J ror tan b. .'" ..lo:l...·h rn n h J,."f'I" n-J .•h .. rJ C\·~.. h. I\' 1Il1! Tht: n" rma l arran Cl·m.... nt w;" lor ,I Ih..· ~Il ·~ """" 1"'" c ~ra""I ,,\'. Jl·l,u.: h nll·nt 0 ' (. lur 'I..: h .Ufl r;.!1 I" h... ".., icnl-J r' l ....;lCh ~;l rr ll· r. A 1.' 1.11 "f l l~ .,1' O n t he "'-lu.l<.lrnn\ , m.· n1.'1 h ,11 Ih,lI .I'lIe: w,' re: h.:tw n '; 7 anJ 59 ril' lh , wll h l6A I). , h is ".ar;a n r " l're: t'1Il;11I\ r r"J uet:J, 1I\ i"ur h,lIc ht:~ (R uN I" 1127N - l l .?7lj2, ';" al.l nc ",h TWO TV-2.. an.l " ne S:-":B-:;.
105
.....
,
-
" ".~
~l(.II.
l'llRl'IlI'R Dl V I . R S [ ~ l r A T I O 'll
These Skvmidc rs,
3B 45 51 51
CarliN
uss
rarawa
16Aug -24 Oct 1957
ICVS·40) USS ESWK 16Aug-24 Oct 1957 (CVA·91 USS Leyte 29 Aug -28 Nov 1957 ICVS·32) USS Valley Fvrge 2flSepl ace 1957 ICVS·45)
De1<JChment
Camel
52
USS Valley Forge lCVS- 45)
1Jan-31 Mar 1956
51
USS I..e rte ICVS·32) USS rarilWil
27Jan-24 Feb 1958
BJan-3FebI95B
ICVS- 40)
nlt,y ra rt id r ln ed in thl' NATO EXl'rd~t' Sl1rifl~hoarJ (nw h..,twct' n 6 J,H1uary 'lIlel ) Fd 'rIl,lry, a ~ wdl a" int ..' r-sh ip eXt' rl:i~l'S , By [IlL' t'n.l "f Jllllt', lhe tr,msit i, 111 perilll.l frlllll all-\w allw r alt ,1C k III all-wl'a [h ..' r t'igl1rt'r S'I ll:l
Aooard tro»
Detachment
camer
36
USS Randolph
4 Jun1957- 4 Jan
J7
ICVA·151 USS Roosevelt
13 JlIo-6 MarI 95B
43
ICVA· 421 USS Saratoga
Aboard 110m
Each of the-e dcrac huu-nts c(lllsist~d of se ven (llficns, )0 cnloted nu-n an d [our AJ)- 5 ~. From 10 Oct ober, dct nchmeru 5 1 parlicipan."!ll1 the nnu-sul-mann.., r h,ls,,' pf two 1l1"H' NATO exerc ises, 'I b)'~lri h" 'H1.! 'Red EJ't'ch ', in c('n junclion wilh tilt' Six th Fket. O n S N' lwllllx'r, [he "-luadn ln Tl'ct'in'd Il F2H ,tircr,lft , and hegan rraining te , l1n~ on this lll,lC h irw in adJirion to if'; n,lTinal AI ) « (11l1Illi I IlWllt ~ , Sim ib r ,!t'ployments 1~ , ll o wl'J in till' fif"t quarter of 1958, although till' AD-5 u n i l~ had hl'l'n redtlCl'd 10 ni rll' 'lircnd·" wil h Ih l' fllll.l\'..in ~ dl'tad m lt'nts:
38
Pac k. USN , o n 12 July, It was l-ased ut NAS Atla nti c C i [~', NJ, il ~ part ,If th e A tlantic Fleet, anJ ih atrc raft su cnath consisted uf 42 AD - SN~, al"ng with tWII T F· IQ.." all A2F2 and nn SNB-S. T here were se v..-ral ac ti ve detachment s aboard cur rie rs at sea, as follows:
42 33
ICVA-501 USS Fonestal ICVA-591 USS Intlepld lCVA -l11
1958
Returned
22Oc11957 Re[umed
210C11957 Betumed
21 Del 1957
The-e de-tac hments [,I" k part in NATO Exerc ises 'Smkcbac k' and 'Pipcdown'. 1\.,tac lun ..-m l1 was uru ]..-r Licutcunru -Commandcr S, Takts as Otfio-r. m-C omm.md. with five " iluts, 41 mvrr and (UIIT A D-SN aircraft; dcmchmenr 41 had Lieutcnnm H ,T. Gower as O fficer-in-Command, with t'iglu r ilols, O lll' air im dligeTlct' "trin'r, 5 1 llll'n an d seH' n A D-5N ain·mft : d..·tac h· l1lelll 4) was und..'r C0I1I111;1I1,lt'r C.G. Th k,man n , with eight pil,lls, '11ll' ,Iir itllelligellce ,,fficc r, SO lllen an, 1Sl'\'l'n A[)-SN aircraft. All tlll'Sl' <1..' I,Khllll'nts rt'tIlnll-...1 to th e "-lua,ln 'n ,'n 21/22 C\:\I ,lx'r. nl is l'siahlis h llll'lll was lllainr,linl'd in early 195 R l~ha ngi n g slightly ,11 a Skyrai.!er S1fl'ngt h of l8 An-SN~ an'! '>111,' AD-5Q, i nn,'a~,'d [onine AD-5Qaircraft hy till' ~nd " I March , wh ile de[achllll'1lI -tS was dep luy.....l [0 till' US S Es_~"x (C VA -9) on ) J;lIlu,lry and ,letachnll'1U 4 3 [ 0 rht' US S StlT£lW,l;d (CVA -60) on '" Jam I;H)'. By April , thl' Slltla,lrun h 'l.! )7 A D-iNs an'! 11 A DSt...}.; I,n irs ~ [ re ng [ h , alld , Il'tach nll'lll ~ 31, 16 and 42 h;ld de ploY"',1[" till' carri..' r~ Imr"tlid, RtlluIo/111J Olnd FrnTcswl O[Kl' mOTl" un 20 ~by, 18 JUlll' ;md 2 \ A pril. rl's['t't.:tiwly. n l is was flll'ir p,lllenl ; fl,r full dl,t ;ti l ~ ,,f their ~ ll h~'q ' ll' n l ,k "h'ylllt'n1S, see A I'I"lCn, llx [II, By C' l lll~ l' 11f r, l\ i llg lilt' all-weal IICT ,Itlac k firl'p" w..' r in llne \Init, t'xp..' n isl' t:llul.l lx' hllil t up in thi.' sreciali~t ;lfl'a, and [raining of nl'W ai rcre\\' COIII.l I'll' ,lS~ imi la lClI, with .' ea eXl'l'rit' llCl' gainl' d hy till' per iod ic dl' lachmen ts h"m Ihe Sllua,lrun h i the att' IC).; ca rrier s ,>f till' fl..' et. Nllclt'ilr
106
AD-6 There was a counn utnu need for ual Mk 8 lOOgallon ( I, l6l-lmc) drop tan ks mount ed umle r till' w i ng~ when required. an c-xrra pa ir uf I S5-gal1lln (704 -lilfd fud ta nks were provicl..,.l in Ih t, aft er cockpi t co mpa rrm c nr and all ex t r a 12,S US gallons (9301h or 422k g) of o il could Ix- carr ied in a small tan k mounted ahoVl' this in a small ta nk, Oi l sur p ly was nlwavs tilt' lim iling fac tor with an y Skyra kler sorue. T hl' )H.S gallon o il slimp provl'd imufficil' nl , anJ 'lIlxili;lT)· oil t,lllb h;ld to he fitted f and with 18in or 36in '[),lby CUlter' fuse extt'mi
• IU lnllHl lll\UIS IFlCA TI(J~
wav dc-crtl-cd
$r«ifM:;Iliun - AO-6
r''''TTJ'I;mI;
R·3J;o·16WA
'I1'C'I~\I'"
Emptj-
[)lTnm».n~ :
5,-429I./Il( I 1.96ijlb); IoaJeJ 8.ZI3lJ,: (18.1061"1; full 11.14\.'k g IZ5,l,).X'lh); ,",'inK 1....J lltg H .2UVs.J (1; power 1•...Jmll: l1o.tu'hr 16.71tYhrl
J,02Chr Mall;. ~PC'<"J SISlm/h 02Zmph);.11altnu.k 5,48')10 (I 8.<XXlt1l C ruee ' r'l"'l.J H9lun/h (I98m ph) Rare " j c1iml-1'69lmill (Z,8S0ti/mrn ) ('..t· iling 8,M5 m (lll,'iOOfl) R;Ill j,,'l: 1, 115l rn {l, l ib n ufes)
The AD-6 thu-, Incorporated h'lh Im'..leve l anJ all-weather capacuv (0 become an all'HllJl\J arrack aircraft " I' ,-'f,',11 , ·t'NI li lity. A " II' ~rolm"'. a ll;K k rtll..• becanu-
more
~lCll1fical\l.
aJ...Imonal armour r Lu-
inl.: wa, worked in ar"unJ tbc I'll.,!. Flucxr ra rn ' It."<:tlon consivted "I ,1,1,' r ;lIlt" a"fl',,,1 th e forward canopv ext,'n..llO~ down III the W1l1~ roots, ;m J underneath
pnuccnon con'rin~ the cen tre .....cnon . wnh mouldc...1armo ur 1';ln " I, Il.';t.lllll.: III' t o Ih l' ,' ll~illl' firewall. TIll'''' nn... litk"tl.,n, d"~Il.:Il\:J til ~ iVI' inCt\:;I" ·..Il' r,,r cct ron front ).::tIlun.l tire . Onn' ;t~;l i n, add itiona l 'tfl·nl-: dll' nin ).:: 11"<1' irnn ...luccd. with 11" llh ll'· rh k kn l·" -kur a r"un.1 Ih\: wheel w..-ll-. TIll' Wllll.: structure wa-, mode more fl',rl l"1ll nround rill' tNhll tr, 'uh!t, .. ,i l in' la n,lllll.: l.:\:a t, with rcmforcemenr of rh... \.I'IIl).:: -km .•h ,,"c. TI\b h.IJ become nccc-o.rrv bcc.ru-c ..i Iht" '·\"l·r-IIlt."tt.';binl.: I"ad, h.:11\~ illlptl'o\.. J on rhc
Ant"rt'lIK.' III-crvice: 19 ; J
Sm LAU·IOA Zuni and LAU·"<.J nw.:kl'l ro.h; SUU·ll Am CIl!lt,l in ;nl.: dll' l ;AU · ! B dt"ClTil:all~' Jri\'\'ll. _lx· h lm,lh l i.6!mmGatling I!un , with I,SOO n>un,!, tIl euher l-;11I, tr,lel'r ,'r ;m n'lm- I'lac inl.: :unmtmnioll . aM with a r.llt.· 01 lin' "I C"llhel J,lXX' ur 6.(\X''l'm; an,! ~UU· 1 4 A dlJ.'I ~1 hlffil-,!l'ren,..: ", wll h ' IX 11Ih." hanJrJ In all iIlH'nt....1 !t1.lncul,n r donIROllnlN unit . Tht.""": flrt.' ,1""rll lw nt, "I CBU, Incl..... k:J Gr.m,:l. A, .....ell .l' f\LU· ! ( un 'l. l blll ~"'ll) ,II\,! \'l.U·2j ('tahill:.....!) lire hum'" 1'..... 1, C' l!lIAlnlllj! naralm anJ " Ih...r 11,1111111,11,[" !i 'l wJ~. ,lnlllh~r ~~J't-"<:i;llly I'".\wrllil ;1..1,1111< 111 ro ' nt.' Spi]J 's ann, >tIl)' in Vi"1 n;Ull W;I' Ilw BLU·76/B fu~1 air ~xrl'''ln' hlln" (FAE). TI ll S cam'lcr o f l(li n dia l1ldt.·r. n >111 ,lillln,e a high l ~' co mhu,tihl,' Ilqtlld. \\';]' Iltl t.'d ;Ift
with fill, and Tlin' 41in in ,!i;lt1 w t" r, I~ ,r ,t,lh ilit y in dt.·" :"Ill . ;1' wdl ,I.' with;l ra ra, h lll" I I' ,I, 'w it, f;lle , ,f , k"" Ill. It ' l.:i\"t.· 11ll.' Il,w-Ie\"...1 ,1,·h n· l"\· ;llt,· u ll t iml.' I,' Cd c k'a r. AI t h..· h'rw ,u.l t.· n.l. lht.' 'lIllI, lina 1.1IlL 11";1' 1111t..J wll h ,I 1.>IIl.:. 1.1J't-'tlllC,,'nt.'. \I ith ,lIll.' l"(I.lbk' nll~' II I Ir" llI . t.:I\"ln!.!.1Il ""'ef,III k'nt.:lh " I Iflilll 14.24 11\ 1. \\'u h I1ll.' \"a r· IOU' fill tnt.:' (II" hi,... l>. ,m m nc I .m~ .Ir,k ,m,1,u<,: h 1 .1 11·ur Wt.' IC h r .,1 11\1, ,1t.'\I(,· wa, 2,64..X'I" (l. lN.~ kt.:) . Jr, w"rklllc' \h· It.' <,: 01,1" t.'nnu ch lI11raCI c fllm" I"d rill' Ih1l1(, I' inc. rd",I'm!.! till' Ilqui ' !l1u" IIw ,ur. ,m.! ,I O,l~l·"...t." lll, 1 ftl....• H'tard,·..! till' tb ,h (" I11 ]->lI, rll 'n 1"l1c " I1" udl j'"r Iht.· n ',ult.lllt l.:;I' d "u,1 I" '1'II.'a,1. I~ >r maximlllll impau . T hl.' dll'CI' w,' rl.' d,·\'a'toit inl.:.I'"rr iul brly al.:
107
"11"
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(. II .
HIII. T1 I ~.1I.
T he Yankee roc ker it-elf W , IS spin-s tab ili:eJ ny t wo an gled n lld es. A l,ul-:l' ann-collision beacon was lat e r ad. It:J I II rill' t il' of th e tai l and rctr....' pee tivelv filled tl I ea rlie r 111' xlds 1 In an cxteu."i.In. Sta tic , li"dl,lrl-:l' I" x 1111.' '11s.1 apl' ear l'd in rai rs out boar d on th e e-levato rs llf the horcoru al stabdice rs. and in mples on thl' tra ilmg Ibl's of th e mai n wnurs. ln total, 71., A I)-6s were built , in four barchc-, (HuN..., I H-I66-1 H 6 >7, [ 3522 3I'IS-ll'6, I H -I92- 1376H and 139606139821). T b cv saw wi-Ie' prea,1 from -hn c an. 1cllm hal " lI t ~· with l-orh the US Na vy ;1Il.1 the US Marine CI1 r rS, and late r, wlu-n till' i"hs ah ruptly stop ped. wit h th e VNA F an .1 the USA F. Umquclv for the 'Ahll'-D"g', no sub .va na n rs of rlu-, mar k were l-utlt .
IJln.II.S IFIC ,\T10N
An AD -6 of VA·14S in lIighl over Ihe Philippines while operati ng from Ihe ca rrier USS Hornet lCVA·112) during the WesPac crui se. February 1951. National ArchIVes. College Palk. MD
An AD -6t llnker belonging 10 the US Navy's VA-104, fuelling a Chance ·Vought F-8U·l Crusader during exer cis es over the USA. 26 November 1951. NatIOnal Archlvas, Collega Palk, MD
AD-7
clclSt~ SUr l'( It! WI Irk, am] a 1" IICIll i:ll nuc lear capa ci ty. T hl' main d ilfcn:n cc was its
The
adop tton of ,h l' Wriglll R-3 1S9 -26 -W B cng uw . which required strengthened engine mounts. T his en gine gave rhc A D7 a max imum speed 'If H ,mph ( S52klll/h ) at a lll' ight uf 20,OOOf, (6,09 5m ), wit h a reduced service n'i1 ing , down to 25,-100(t
fina l mark uf th e remarkabl e to he huilt hy Dutl j.!las ur EI Sl'gun,1o was rill' A D-7. O utwa rdly, it was ulruost ideu t ical to th e A D-6, ."h:lrin l-: the same span, len gth, lll' ight und wing area. hcuvv armour r rot l'L1i" n fur low-le vel Sk ~"Ta idl'T
108
(7,740 m). Range was alsll s l ight l ~' re...luced, I, ~OO miles (2,OlJOk m) , alt h, ,ugh rate o( d imh improved. from 2.850fl pe r minute (869m per minute ) 10 3,nO(1 per minute (985m per minut e) . Furt her undercarriage ~[ rt' ngt he n i n~ " '
l'I 'k 1I11-k III VI-kSI I-lr ,.. Tl{)~
ih dUl ies had ex panded over Ilw Yl"lrs. The outer wm~ panel- an,1 linml.'" ;11.... ha,1 to CIlJ't" wrth l'H' r-inl:n:;I.smlo: 1,,;... lllllo: de1tlOlfIt1, M1Ch as the ex tra ran "I M1 20mm cannon that were nncd to rbc All-b. The unroducnon 01 the ~ tul llrk' EIl'I:It.r Racks (MER). which wen' ..1I1I....i ro rhc AD-6 and A0-7 and were G1r"Hl' "t cam' lillo: -rx bombs, confirmed r1w IWt..J I~ 'r 'lk:h rem meml'nl. The Nat'Y placed "r,lers I~,r 240 "I IIIlS version. (AmunJ Ihis ttme, rlu- ,lIToatl was N:~in n i n~ III fx· reta n,.1 to in rlu- Fll'd hy the affectionate nic k n .uuc of 'Spud': Ih is seems In have derived from its V illf;l~l', which II,J jd rilot s t" compare it III th e French FiN Wo rt,1 War stalwart " f rhc
urllllh Il.S4m (38ft 10m), hC'1 ..h, " .78m (I lit S\!ln); \l"l~n I S.2Sm (S<'tt ~ in ); \l"ml: area J7.192"l1 m HOO. l ~ ft)
Performance:
HI' n/if M.I". "f'C'.-J 552km/h (H 1mphl; at alllluJe 6.09Sm (20,OC(\ttl Cruee spl"C'
R'1J1/.:c 2,09Olm ( I, 100111l1..· .j
A<:c"r f,>!lCC in ...,{Vic,,: 19 56
same namc.]
Another .lUI)' Ih al GUill' dll' way " l lhis Spa..! varian! was thai of 11 ~' inlo: ranker. In this con"ij.,'Urat ion, a JnlJ.:lll· h, N' '1ll,lp"ytnj!"out winch was ftn,....[, an. l three streamlined tank - with 100-J.:..II,'n l·"r,"iI)' were earn ...J, om- under rhc tllsd.l~l· ,10,1 (-.M' on either win!:. on the IM!:I' M.lfk S 1 ventral pvlon-, ro port .111<1 sl;lrh..ar.1. TIlls eoquirm
Armist ice and 'Ceasefi re' The ...nJ "f ii!:lu inJ.: in "':"rl';I k,1 I" an amlt.suce in j u l ~' 19 S J; al ah"UI II1\' saml' Ilml" thl' l'xf'l'lteJ ,Irriv,tl 01 rill' Sp'I.I's Jd rep!:tcC:lnem , th e XA 41)-1 pr,'II'I H'I' "t thl' Skyhawl . h'tI'PI·IWd . (T h is 'tiru, tlt rl\l\'l'\l til be (If l'qual l.lllJ.:l'\·ity, lIl;lkillJ.: its fiN tliJ.:hl . Cllllr ll,d .....ith tlll' IlslI:ll l,r" lIla lute cul· Is;l(ks in 1Ill' ,1.-('·lIn' bud J.: l"l.) 1~1>f' lt c th is, l"xislinJ.:'.r.k·rs \wr,' Sll(h fha l fhe peak n{ Sl)"rai. k·r I'r u..lucl i' lll ,ll EI ~nJl.I .....;IS aClua lly rl"adwd III JUIll' 1954, ~'hl'n 59 m,lCh illl'~ \\'l'Tl' n'llIrll'te,1. Nnncrhd t.,,",s, thl" "riJ.:ina l A I) · 7 " r.l....r was se\~rd~· cut, anJ "nl\" 71. ,.1 Ihi .. I~'f'l' (PouNO!" 1410 10--1420tH ) Wl·a' hllil!. Tbe ce"d...clire in l\:"a'a f.lill...1 Il' hTlIlJ.: al:\1ll1a comr!l·te kilt 1<' C.,mOlunlSt I·Xr.m· >100 m the Fat Sm. As thl' u'llllllunists cmtlnued to layr lans ,i' r "unlwr ;tJ.:1,'rt.,,",SIl ' fl, the \t'l'S! coulJ nOIaffor,llt, I'lwt.·r 'f.s j.,'t].lr,1. mJ a sunog US S.:wnlh 1-11"(.·t W;Ls If.s m.tin ~rec oll h< conl in u ......1il" lel'l·n..ll·nce .,f such places IfN,lti,'ll;I!isl C h llll:S\' T'llw'lI\. Relll~ 'iCt'meJ to holJ lnll'nl;t1 Illl\,11 law 10 contempt . and han ' lin k' respt....:t l~ 'r hUlli
in lnr crnari, '11.11Air ~I-.;lt:l' Irver war...,,,, ".11'1cent to Ham.m. wa' ..ubject [0 an unproq,h...1 .urack h" two Rl',1 Chinl'X" fiJ.:htl'T .urcran. Thcv ""t I.nh- sh,'1 rhc rr-m-rort plane lOltI rill' ....~ I, hut .11... , rvrvarc... I1~ -tr.. 1l....1 1I on lis W,lr ,ltlwn , kllllll!! len of lis civihan crew .11,,1 ras....·nl..·i,-rc, A ...... arch W ;ts "r.lnl',II~'r any ..urvrvor-, from tht.· nC-4 and tilt.' .u rcrafr earner USS Philif'tltllt' ~""d (CV-47) wa-, "rJl'rl"l I" :1 Irolll ~tHlll.l I" C,ITt)· oul .m .u r 'we r 01 Ihl' .Ul"a. ~h .... h..J em!-sarled thr" ~l~rai,l,·r tlllIls ; Veil. .m AE\'(/ o " r(il t.·q uil'l'...d wllh An- 4\'i.'~, VC· H,
l'qlll rped wnh A I)-4N" and VF·-;4, ....'11111'1'>\-c1wuh AD-4s, andundcr lIlt.'CI.mlIland t,t Commander Chrlstl.1ll Fink . USN . A I"nc with Rrili..h ....·al' l.IO,·.. from li,.n!: KIln!! anJ A rncncan .uuplubt.m-
from lilt" Pluhppmc.... -ornc 16 ='k~·r 'lI"l"r' trotu lilt.' I'hllippine Sl!a ljll\·.ll Ihl'lr l·.lrlll·r m;tss.lcrc. TIle Skyr.lIJl"T'o lll"w 1n;1 .. 11·!'f'l...I-ur l'ehd"n of t"ur-rbnl' h'Xl.... " 'ilh l'.t(h .."X III
,~
-
¢:J
"'".
<9'" ,~
y
'r
"
++ +++ +t+ ++ +
The Hai nan Isla nd incid enl - 26 July 19!i4- batll tl lormalion.
109
.
. ...."". d ~l'.".
H : kT III, k
1.1(1 1,'.11 oll"Cl tormanon (h.,I"w) . TI ll' Y C"lbl,I,.J ,.1;1 ';,ur VF·5 4 lea,1, commandc·J h Licun-n.uu-C.. -mrn.indcr P;lUl W;lh l· -trom. With Llc'lllen;ml" (J.g.) Rich.u,1 RibH c' .m,1 J"hn Dam i;m, an,1 Elhil-:n John Z,lr,llI" Ihll\1:' ut il\."'fl ( 150m ) alnn ...lc. Ikhlll,I,lI\J .Ih l\"<· rhi-, .....-cnou. 'I;Kh.J ,II ~.(\\."'tl ("h.: 'm), 1~11I,)\n.J f"m mOTC ' A I)." 1,...1 h, Licurcuam-C omrn.mdcr \Villi.ulI A les;l!l,k· r. wnh Lieutenant - (H:.) RK h.l r,1 Kor-ercu .m,1 [oh n Rochford. ;In,1 EIl' IJ.:1\ Rlc h,lr,1 Ct
Oevelopmenl51950-7 Des gnar on R6!e AD 5 Attitt~
m vre su u-...Tl II:'S
n on-provocative In rh" lr conduc t. TIl l' cut no icc in 1\ .. iJlIlI.: anJ . while- th e AmcriC11l formanon \\", 1' m,lkin l-: a I ).,lcl-:rl·'· (urn ar thc north ern h ... m,lary II I it, sea rch :. .nc, (WtI Lavoclnkm LA -7 fil-:h le p, of rhc C hinc-c A ir Force .11'J"·.lrl·J "I"'''·e ;IllJ h.·hi nd till' IC;IJ lli~hl " ' VF· 54 al\J J iveJ down on them, m;lklll l-: fmll l-: run-. Three of the Sk~'tai,ler, wen' ' uhl"(!l·.! to a hall o j lirc·. TI \e C"m muni'l I'll" " had c onccntr.u.,,1 on till' hi che~1 Il il-:lu . anJ dl,'udu Ihe y I"," been I'rl'''Cnl c''' wrth tour »n m l-: d u cL ~ ; rlll' y hopl:" III I;ll ,' lh c-,, · 1I11 t, ,,11,1 th en ,lin' down ro .h-n l wnh 1Ill' " tlll' r -cc uon-, ill turn, t1,ill~ lIll' ir Ill' il-:h l a,!v;nu ag". Lrcutcn.uu T:u ham (a tonncr fighll'r in -truct or ] 1\' ;I ~ !l1l' lir~ t ' " , il-:llI till' Conimuni-l fiJ-.:hl c·r, d"" illj,,: ill, "fl"[ lhin kinl-: 1I,,,y mi~h l h..' rhc·1m' ( :.. 'r ' ;lir" hl' tl'.. !i:l',1 tlll'i r hn" ik InI,' 1lI ;11,,1, hol llc',1 ", a n\llll-:~ 10 hi ~ 'Ol11l'a1\1"ll', \\"h'l 1II1t1ll',li"It'h· "'rt,h· alld
till' .....·.1.
TIll' .....·c'.n.l LA -i IMIT"" ly llll,....·J Lll'w I,·n.HlI-C"ml1l.iIl, I,·r A 1,·s.IIl,I,· r. wh.. Jl,1 ,I harJ Idl lurn .m,1 t.:"1 d,·.IT. H i ~ WIIlCl1l.1n, Li.' ulen.ml (j.g.) R'l<.:hl;,r.l. l-:"I "" ...'rn " I IIll·,· tI,·m\' .11 ~,c\\'"ljI,I 'U I l.u ll-,llnhun hi, I.trt,:ct, \w\"illl-: I; ,rl-:" ll " n I" ,m il hi, gill". which WNe , rill "" r" ";ll," ! Fly Ih,· tllllC-
rOMI
BuNos
'"
13247B
NOh'S
132392-132476 132637 132767 133854- 133929
AD
~ ogh l
AOSW
AfW
2J9
alLll:k
"'
132400-13Z636 134974 135054
"AD'" AO<
Conver~
1& Anad
1
113
132479 1J4.l66-134631
\35123 13540l
139606- 139!12 \
AOI
"
al rhc Chim-e (l1:'hl"r, f"II"w,.J "')'. rill: (W,I Ctl r,;u r~ ilf the lor cover. T l n,-n, k·J the mutter, anJ rhc -econ d Lwocluk in ~ hortly afktW;lrJ , j" lm·J n- (;0111p.uuou .lr Ilw 1""1 1<'11\ ot lhe S" ulh Chm., St.-a o f( T,m k"n Point . TIm" till' ~ kyra iJe r notched ur IWO more fll-:Ill"r kill~ Ttl aJ,1 Itl u-, r,·m.lrk;lhk· [C'O 'rd. TIll'R' was rn llc'sl tnun eh III:t (;111.1 In ' Ill lcft -wuur supportc r-, in I Ill' \X'C'~1 l, bur tlu- "11 1I r,' action - ir"lll Illll'r" n,h'd ;1'''U I Ir r" ' llc ce,~ fu l ,ldc'llC", .m.l , hO"lltlg d' )\\ll " I' till' al-:l-:fl'~""r~ - ha,1 <\(l U;ll1y la!..l·n ,,1;1(" Ill, 're rhan 12 Ill ll e ~ Ir"11\ rhe R", j C h inn,' ,o,l,di n,·. It w", rlll'rd;.re .I"c-I11<:,lk'l-: illlll:lr,', ;n ,;.I)"
Th e Las t Skyrai de rs TIll' US I"r.:,·, leam,.J frolll tlu' 1I1(1,lenr (h.1l il W." vil ;llltlkl-':r III' Ih"lr I.:II,nd . anJ rill' ~r.I.1 ,ulUlllIK"I (o rl.I~· .1 lull r ,lt! III lhi,. TIll' Ilumr....r ..I ?' ;I\'\ ..... lll.I"ro n~ l·'llllr'....·J with Ihl> nc·w n'r'h'n~ <>1 Ih... ~k~r .u,I,·r colllIllU,·J In 1-,'1",'\\, J"·,lkllll.:. l-y S" I'lc'mh.·r 1 ~ i5 . al 29. To till' UIIIllI",II,'Il "\C', 1Ill' 'ldH "f rill' Skyr;Il.lc·T h.·IIll-: (;lr;I' pu!r"d " II rill' ,k·,·k of ;1 F,l(c~wll d.1~' c,lrrll"r \.Iric'.! lil lk· IH'lll till' lalln.:lll·' (r,lm rhc· Fr,mklill TJ ROI,s....''''r " .I,·c...k· c'arHer Al dl""ch tlll' [[,I,hli"ll;l l 1I\'l'rall .!l'C'r n:l\"Y hili,' ,,,I'HltIllJ.: " I till' ~I';I,I I \;l,1 I,,','n r"l, b, ,·,1, ,Ill 2 \ F,·brll ar~ 19 Si , h ~' rill' 11,'"' clIlIl-:tl·y ,lI\.. l l-: lo,~ wh ile I', CUTJ'" I r~ r' ,I,· W\'l't,'Iv ,utl.lik·,!. J'l';lked;l! I, ~I'.l..I ""'llIa.!r" m. h "lll l ~ i 6 "n ll',l r,I~ , il 1:'r,I,lu,llh d l'CarJ,..t (h" All, until. h\' 1 f.) 5 ~ . 11ll' ];.'1 "'Ill' haJ Idl I" r.lnk- wilh I" n'ln"ment Irum In ( :.1111, 'rnl.! , I )"llIc \." hd,1 ;1 ,,'n'm.my .1' rill' 11Il.lI 'sk, r:Il,ler (Ru:'<:" H!OSI ),(he U K0th . " .1' (011\I'''· t.-..1 .111.1 lunnitUy r, ,lk', 1 •'III .11 EI s...·l-:lIll,I" "1\ 11'\ Fl·hru.lr'l 1~5j .lt, ...·...·.·r l.lI\C'· Into IIll' N.l"\'·' VA· 2 1i Sqll .I,lr,.n, .1' rill' I.N J'i'h'n-'·l\I.:IOt..J ,11I ... 1.. .1Ircr,lll . m.lrkcJ rill' 1.'11.1 ol .m c·r.l. T Ill' alr.::r,lll ....·rn...J I" n l-: ;iIlJ l\.Ir,1 .mJ, In 1965, l'n,hl Ih J,I)'·' with rht, '~raJ S, h,Io,"', VA·ln al <.....\... 111......·[ I ' P H\! .
137492-137632 Anack
j-ut th e lower ....-cnon of ~tl,IJcnly arf'l.'.IR.J, "'b:in1:'
\ ·~l.-\ -HI
"'"''
hom AD 'iNs
Skyra i J" r~
132719 132792
\3955&---139fiOS
'CM
.unmunmon.
133757-133776 135139--135212
AD'"
R. ",ht,'rJ ~o ( (WII o f hi-, WlIll-: cannon tirinl-:. rhc t wo c nc rnv
142010-14208\
laSl S~~ l aflje, BuNo 14211111
110
'"
.<
CH APT ER TWELVE
Delivering the Goods No matt er how e xcellent its dl'sign .
ent ire raisoll d'rm: was the r[;Ki ng o f ordnance whe re it \\'''lIl.1 l-c mos t elfl'cti vc.
The J iw bom ber, and IIw Skvratder in particular. was ;.hle II ' do th is bec ause il was J csigneJ spec ifica lly (" T th e jn h; their aircrcw were trained. f\ 1<,1 , anddedicat ed ro the (ask. Th is was tilt' u:su h " f a , [d ih,'T
These forces, if not com pcucuccl for, resulted in errors of hor h ra nge
;l 1l,1 dcflcc .
uon. To mit igatl' t h is t he flllbwin .!! co rre c ttvc
measures wer e
ta ken
hy til l'
Skvr.uclcr pilot: l. Ill' .lcu-muncd Ifll111 ilewlogy th e wind vt' loc ity nnd direction ar till' o r,ln,ll\ <:l' firillj.l .dtuudc: and then 2. I\\.' den-rminc. l th c rclativc winJ ;llong the chosen divc-unuc k axis , The f"llllwin j.l method was t
tel till' wind ve locirv, a dot was placed 'lll'll.!! th e true in dex , and tlu- t rue index was returned (0 0 ,!l'gn'l's" A line WllS drawn hlIrb 'mally from till' dor to a pomr int erscc t uur II\\.' true index line. A nother line was drawn vcrnc allv from the dll t un ti l it intersect ed t he index lim' pcrpen chcular Ttl rhc true inde x line " TIll' kllj.lrh " f the lin t' from (en tre lIf till' h lar,1 tl I the Int ersec t ion lIf till' hori contullme with rhc true index was the 6 and 12 o'cloc k ur r'IIl.!!\.' win,1 CI 'lllptll\\.' n t. T I\\.' length ,,f till' line from the centre of till' board to thc vcmc nl lmc int ersl·crinj.l the ind ex lin e perpendicular to the true imlc x was th e 3 ro 9o'c!o".: k dcflccnon com roncm. TI ll' fn ll
--
The Firing Run l-
The first fundame nt al Cllllside ratiotl was to fly Ihe COITl'O .lin ' ;lllgll: (fligh t pat h ), The me" t commllil l'IT<'r - Il ying a Cl 'Il\,ex Ilight path to thl' hOlllh-rdl';IM-' I"- lint - cOllld J,.,: t.1d llri~ the Ji ve, and win,j c, lm:..:t ion , wh ich arrlil.J aftl'r rek'a",' , ,1ll,1 lh esl' ha d ttl hl' comrensated fot. TIll' hlltlw ing wind factors had to he taken int I I Cl Illsi,k " lti,HI:
V
•• "
V V
., " ~
V L--- V
"
V
j -
c;'I
f:::: "
-
ff- l-
f-
I. the winJ (or 1lI1l\·illj.l a ir mass) movin j.l me Sk ~' r,! id e r with Ihl' same \'L'lloc ity anJ in thl' SUlIl' d irt'dion as th e wind ; Z, Ihe motion imra rtt',llo the airnaft hy the winJ, wh ich was fllrth t'r imparted to the on.ln' lrK\.' as it was rde;!sed fr" m the Skyrai,ler;
h••n:.'n LlI hn c- from the ,1" 1 1,1 lin- IrII,' rudex .m, 1 mdcx lin,' r,,:rr~:n,li.:ul .lr I II II an d n-••d \\ IIlJ u 'mpt mcnr -, ; I~ I.,II"" ,: r,IIl l-:" cotu porwnt (l knot-, . •1",l,·(II"n CPIllJ"'Ill'n! 1i knor s. l ). \.:,.
th e
wmd
c umJ" 'Ill'IlI ~
w,'r,'
known , rill" I'n 'I" 'r ( urr,' U I" '" h,..1 I" ...... ,11'1'11".1 In • 'r.l,·r I ., tm- I Ill" ,r,!n.ln..~ "'I,·c• nvclv . TIll"~" we-re oll'r1k·,I ;h 1'. ,11,,\\·, : Altitude tOflKt ion table AII,rudt> II!! All'lude ClKrecllOfl lmllS,1
50 100 150
12 31 J8
100
"49
150 JOO
350
.. "" ' 50
1.
"ss 61
"
69
U'lllr"'Ill"1U mil.:. 'IT....:I n.n dcn-nnuwdfrom c.>1b IlII IIlC 11ll' \ \ I Il.1 corrccnon I ,I"'I,·~ ;I\',ll l.tbl,· III all IIll' R.Illl.:' "
Displ ll,i ng its unique ·bllr.. door' s ide· ope ning lusel ag e -mounled dive brllh s lind II lonnid a ble ana , of rocht Dfd"atlt e. II US N...., Sk,raider tDfllmlltltllS a sha llow dive. USNavyo/llC.a1p!>otOQf.pIl
....1u. I,lr"n\ rll"h. Tlu- m il r or rcc non
11",1' ,1,1.1",1or 'lI"'rrau~d r" or tnun rill" mil 1...' .1,1 II~~ J "'a~iC:l lly for 1Ill" 70,I,'cr",', i O·,lq":r",' til ~ O-d"l-:In' .Ii..., I" I",
lN',1.
I" »u U ' 11.
Tlu-, l-:,I\',' till'
(l ti l
12 tl'.-I".~
!. I \.,t1....·1il '11 n 'Ill!" 'IWill mil c -rtvc r i. '11 lIhlain.",1 h~' u, inc lin- ,;l 1l ' ~ method. 'I. TIll' corrccuon- wcn- ;11'1'11".1 by .....·lI ing tin- corr..ct 1111 1 k'a,11I1r" rill' glln-,ich l.
"'y
TI11~
W .. ~ ,1 " 1ll' rallnl-: tlu- h"1e mil 1.". I.lt"r ti ll' In '" run III l-e ~m pl'IY'·.1 ;1Il.!
till' .I ivc with the rll'f'l-'r I"'t:rl\.l,.... 70 mil, trom th e lal")....·1 ... l that , "'y liw link' rd,,,;l"-' .llfllllo.l" was r eached. rhc r'J'f't-'I' W.I~ 4; 11111, ,II YI I'dllCllnllll rhc r,II")....'1. Exp..:ri,'nn· ai,k-.J In cntennu rhe dl\ 't' "tt'.....·1 rbc r"'f'I-'r dr-t.mcc from rclca-e J't"ninn. ...' ,., hi ....... ,lntlo.o; J to the ri,::hl ~J't,r .ll r,"k,.\,,-' ;llriulo.k . 4. A further al.1 in dctcnmrnne corrcc l hlll' \\'a~ 10 ll'''' Ih
Tbe impress iwe bomb load ol lbe "Able-Dog' .48 . mounle d 10 I.OOOl b IJ.6JOkgl wo n b 01mind ·t ookies· . giving a" inc r"diblllll ll·up wlligbl ol211,OOOlb 19.070kg) glo ss . McDon lld Douglas. long BllIch
112
, it-:hl ;\, ;\ r ,llll:c,
IIll,ll'r. FI 'I ,·xa mpl , I 1m! l~ III ;11 1.(X\(Ifl ,'r I y:ud:ll 1,000 y;l r.,,- For JO· . Il·gll'"
,m,1 iO-d..gro.;',·
d in " .
Illl' ,hint
•
ranee I' l. lX\,' prJ, .uul I 11111 will ' lIhrend If, on rhc, l .U!.:, '! alo ll !! the :; !t , l} o'clock .IX I'. For ;. SO·dq.,:rn· dive, the slam r.uutc j_ 1.200 ~' ;lr, l , :111,1 I ,nil would _111-11'11,1 'l.6tl .11"111.: the 1 Ill\) o'clock ;IX i-. T hll'. it th., wind i.. «uh that i, fl"lIlt, In ,1 10 knot-, mll J.:l' n'1II' r"lncnl an,\ 19 kn or -, ddl" ll j, III C\ ' 111['11' nent, till.' w lIl,1 (:t -rrcc t i, ' 11 ",' rill' r;1I\)':l' compone nt need.. hi be m, I,I" ...)" -c·l fl ll!.: r 1u.' mil, utto t he I.:II Il0"1.:11I, ;I, a rrlll' pnare. F,'I the J dln"ulln componcm. rhc
inner c irri.' n( 7'if1 f;l,II\1_ .uul an circle IIf I SOh r;] ,I IlI ~ .
" 11I,'1
Release and Recovery The Slva l,l~' r hadto be III bal.mcc...lll 1c!U at the f'lInl 01 " IJml11(t' finn~ : 'Tnm till' atrctaft ;111,1,I" n .. 1 , Lm .l
npplicd lIll
rl·t·. l\·,· r ~'.
1000
.. ...""
940
""
866 819 /66
,,/
643
sn 500 413
'42
'" //4
w"
The firepower 01 the SkYTluder leg endary; here. a miaed load 01 rock et projecti'" q displayed " the a ireraft ban b a wa y Irom the camala . US ~ oIt>coal phcMograph
Com mon Er ro rs - Effects and Correct ions I. Incor rec t rclca -c a h ll llJ~· - Ihi s t "n,I~',1 It , be hiuh, wnh O'lrt'~ I,,'n, l llu: chon "n'I"" Pil
,
In correct dive ;lIlg l~' - gt'Ill' lally', rh c ,!In' ,mg ll" It·n,l..: " ,, ' be I,lli,'ll
Il ic!\! "11 IOIkl·.1 tar gl'" 11.1,1", I.....•UI ill:l·d ll' l·,1;1], 1t,h 0 lll,bt ,'nt ,lin' ;Itlgk·, u'mc rd~:r,,' n l ~' I'1l,lmg , ho" ,11"f"'. TIll' c.,ukl I....· cau.......1 !'>y IIK" rrl"C1 l'llI" a 1 11 1 u,l~ ;l!l,1! ..'I ;1I1'1"·l.J ,1Il,1 ~h;I Il.,w ,ltn' ; 1Il~k'S. -f. In( . 'rr~l"t mil k'a,l - g"Ill' I;llIy, WlI\J Ct, rr~(! h'l\' well' lI\CI ,rrl"Clly 1Il;I,k· .I'Il·\'iou, rim , h ;I.lI \I Ix- an ;llp l'd anJ dd-I ' nill' Cllnt'( 1i. 'IlS rn ;] d~ . T ill' pi].ll had I"
71 3
!'>l' aw.rn- Ih ;l! ,h all uw dl \"~' S rc-ultcd in
~I I rl'il·.I.....' ..'I rnulnpk- Ide,I.....· - .1(,1-ionallv, Ih", Sk ~' I;i1J~1 lI.....·lf would nll l J.... fun ct tOlllng correct ly, ~ I, 'I.....-trcn. however, II was rh.. . 1'1 1I" ch ,'l:k till' s\\' i l cl ll'~. U, mg th~' wru nc I'it:kk· i, n. 'I Ulll"' 'm in' In. !'> tli 1 ~ IIll·XCU"lbk·. Rl·nwm......·t. III c\1m!'>,11 pHI may not l-:l'l ;lIl
6. C:"rreCll
..
. ,... " " . ~
• h. lI.
llEII\'HtIMj
r ue Cl Oo US
NOYllmbllr 1910: 'h llse lh, t t Skyra iders in ec helon formati on s how c illally Ihe va ried payloads Iha l the Able ·Oog could Cl rry, McOannelt Oaug les, Lang Beech
Skr r.u J l·r ri l"" were lo lJ that 20 kn, '''' of -Iv-e.J, S ,It'j..'T'''·'''·' of dive .ln l!I..• <111.1 2('(' r.ITJ .. ,,f -rn 'r III .. lant romj.!t: relca-c alnn le can-e 1 II.' mil.... f impact error. A f I...It·er Jln· (ou lJ l-e c ompc n...l1 cd I~ .r hy rvlca-, IIll! hurh. Thi.. wn .. con ..i,lt:rt·J J ...,i r;IHt·, orhcrwisc· a I,,\\, poll" Ul could re-nl r. Only "n...· error (0111.1 ",·Xi..l - if .. ,lin· II·a. S d"'·J,:rt·...·.... hallow, even wit h a corr...'d . p......-d ,1Il,1aluuuh-, rill' f'lllnl:- wou l.1 snll (;1 11 sbort of rill'" mrgc t , B~' m.,vi lll,: till'" ri p]' c-r in thc 12 o'cloc k dtrccuon. it would Ix· I'"•.• ihk IU compensate fllr the ,!ivt'-a nJ,:lt· error. Tr.I1Ilt't· Sk,T'li,lt-r pil. ,t . h,l,1 rlll'"ir .lll ...· n'I on drawn 10 till'" r ht·nonl\,:non known ;1" ·r.lrl,:...· ' flxal ion·. Thi. wa' wdl kn ,'wn 10
l11<1n,' ;1 (
r.l,l.lr 1ll. lall. 11 i. 'Ib, -urclv m.mv combs ri1' lh 1!.'110rt-J tha t parncul.rr (. IIJ1 iunary m 'Ic, ,>I, I h...-rr war J. 1\\'11~ J \. Th.... re ..n il l-e a muumum W "C."ConJ mrerval bet ween .urc ran.
o n ITMIJ.:1f) (Of br~· o f m...-nta] 1~lCllill •...' Th...· f"lIowinl! 1--:1'1( . w..-rc b i.1 .1'1\1'0 durln J,: pe riod. on l ilt.'" Ifaminj.! ran J,:...,.:
Th e Div e
.111 d ive -born.....-r I,jlll"' . and Iht: c n .....· I.f
I. Do not ...·IlI...·r;1 d in: unlcs-, rh.. · ]•••.auon For !Ill' .....tual dive , till.' rudder trim ,,( till.'" ,lin: r;,fl " Ill·;" l h known . required ar 190 knots \1'''. verv nc,lrlycor2. A ircr.lfl l"a.I\·d wuh ordnanr c· ..h " 111.1 rect ,II rdl·a.,· air. pccd: 'Ma h· r crtuin yO\! n, 'I I.....· (".....-ran...l in p r oxirnirv I" 'HI!l·n ll' I' ..1,1 not exert pressure on Olll' rudder pedal (mdill Of r.lda r) .lilt: 10 the 1""",hillty " j h..:niti.'n "I certain In·'II'.m (t'm'.. . 'Ill.'n r.
h,' dl"CII\.nl;lj..'1wt lC r.1.liali'l\l j, .r(T' . IG >1l. id l·r illl-: Ih"'1 o nt: o f tlll.' prinCIpal S kym idt:r 1
114
at rel..·
·. Rudder tr im should occasional-
ly be c1u -kccldunn u pull-our.' Alth"uch ftI,I,It'r trim ""';1. f'l·rmllteJ 10 ...... aJJu'I ...-J durinj.! th.... Jiw. th... e]......·ator fnm ""',1. nul. Tht: Skyrai.ll·f ml'n \liCR
..•1'., IIH l \ t.KI,\(' Tilt: (; 001)\
advi-ed rh .lt dw rea -on j~ 'r fhi~ w,,~ \k·~ i l.:n anJ -truc turnl hrr ut.uion-, p lu-, the f"""I hilir}' of rhc tom nmn i lll: ;lll"a y '.
The 1I1ll'u rI:lIln' of l-:<:tt llll: du' ~ ky . raidcr onr« llw corrcc t uluh- " I ,lin' path as carlv a, J'""ihk' lI'a, " n·,,",'.!, in order that necessary corrcc non- coul.l h.: In;I,I,, In l ime. T he init ial poinr o f ntm \\",1' OIl (1 o'clock .mJ 101" rbc ..n ll,1 (00 mil, ,hurt fOf 30.J" I..'Tl·" I:li,k arrn l;l( h. ;10,1 -l(' mil,
for a 50-J'1 :rn' J,:liJd. For
.1 tr;IlIWC I'l l", ',
firsl JIH· ·h 'ml-mg: aH;Kb. cuhcr a reference 1'''1111 on rhc l-:'Ollll
SlqTdiJ"r ll,dt could bo.' u-c...I I"lwlr ," I Imare rhc ( " ' T,' ..:! r"Il -I1\ pOilU . On till' Skyraid"T, such I" 'llll '
I\"lT"
li,II:, 1 a, rill'
fn!lllwilll::
I. fUT JO-dq,.:rn' d iJc b.. llnl-lIll.: - between Inc mho .lrJ .md o u l ..... '.lr,1 J,:u n~;
2.
j(Jf ; C·.I q .!r...... diJ..· h 'lIl b llll,! -
th..· Mk
;1 h'mb rack:
l. I~)r 70 ·Jc·J,: rt· c· JIW ..... ' IIli-IllJ,: - a 1"" '11\1 h iM -w'l)" 1" ' IWt:"'1I t1w mh""lrJ !.OUII ;m J winJ,: roor .
II wa.' st.ucd t h; lI. atwr ,. lurlc practicv, ~ holl k l
1'1.' po, sihl t:
'11
I,,""" J.. Ii.... R'"dl T" d (.~,m "I I..' fl. 1J:.....
(,\OIl ,"
,h..' fl "... I' I...JJ"." '-r.•l ", .~". nu..k ., 1 1~"11 J,.....-n....uJ I"m ",~ ..... 1 m n ,ncJ h ,m h I " 111..1" 1'"'" " I 'T"Th"I,1 h... l ",,,,.,,J, II", 1.1"'...-r. h.•\' '''~. , ~ " Mil" .... ;lrr.,Il~ ....II" .,,1.0."'« '
without I h~·M.· crtuchc-.' II i~ ut ter..·, lllll,! 10 'o(.·c h OII' rlu-, cotupurcd w it h , lln·. h ' m " in l,! prac rtc..· III the s..·o 'n,1 \VI,rlJ \"(/ar an ,i tin' Korean \'('ar. N..·w' Zcal.mdcr Bob Brown 1Ill,!. who 11..-w rh... Vuht..~ Vcnecanc e .Il\"l;' h ,mh..·r ru Burm.t , n'l:all..-dthat rhcv w,ltll,1 linc up with a "...II. 'w lin..• p.II111 ..",-I.•lo n l,! Iht:
",,,,nll.11 ' " "' 11 1,- m lilt' ,1",( 11,,11I.....1,..,,·1\, ,,, all..", .... k\Ol: .•_ r..', 'hl.... I< H·'''''''·lh.II ,h" "OI" , ,r.dl "'.." " ~nl '.J J ,n"'lh lo ......j.. lhe ,.,fl....., ",.. ho..., .m, ,iiI' ur ..l.,J. 1h<'" f"l h "t the d!T(fn, h,;,J 1<> .01,1.... ",'uh II>.- 1,,...-/.'11 .'x" ,.. lhe (fafl
..' runnc cowlmu, whil..· au RAF V~·nl,!t:all <:"· pilot, AiJ,:llf St.T!.!~'; 1l11 I..R.M . 1I1,h1..-. r,,·callc.1 tlw I' rot:l,.l ur~' Ib ,'d h hi ., u n it in combat in IlJ·H , th us: \V" .'I'rt' .... I...,J Ih... !;" ......, tt,~n .',1"'.... 1~ ~1 " Ill, h
.,11,....,,1 .. ", I'.'" " 1"I.:t ,10,· "or' ""'': .,oJ.." II .,f1"'"n... . I .. l,.ofu I • II",· ,,,\0: •• lho.· 1"...·1 ...."'....·.'..... 1· ...J h ...,\- .10.""
AUS III...., N.AOTS (Nn al Aviilhon Ordnan ce Tesl Slilllon) Skytlider tBuNo 1238691 ~M canying fw O 1.000Ib bombs on its und erw;ng sl iltions . N lllOPIl lu~""""'s.
200 yalds sir etr(J( 100 ~Iow 132ft over lOll fill 126ft shorl 100 close 58lt ovel
Too la' 6Jlt shcw1 100dose 21It lM!l
Steep -131t aver
Too lar 1DIt0Yel Too dose 1011 oYet Toot.. 12ftshor1 Too close 5tt aver Too tar 511 shoI1
ShalbN 4711 shott Steep 3611 lMll' Shallow 4511 shot1 Steep 3511 aver Shallow 43h short
li S
(,"1 ,hI' r ,m o l l h l' " ,Hlln ' :-'k) r.II,lcr I'll ", '.. 11;'.I.m tlll,! <: u n ...., il \1.';1' l·m ph.l'l: l·J ,h,lI
"'n"'_I<'"'' ,. Ill\."
",.,'!'J
T1 \t, .. ,~],
I he
1'1." " ...
til
''''1:)'' ,.,I,f.r.II"1t\
"I-,I"l ." ,I"·,,
.11 .,
..
. ,... " " . ~
• h. lI.
[)H.I\HU!li G TIll, GOOll\
The h..11I W. I ~ h 'rt In the renrr..· .II\J till: winl-'S leve l wlulc Il)'lll).: the rirr..: r Ill' 10 the bull's-eve, ,lIld II wu- held on l~ ' I' -vvr;11 -c"'::"n.l, ('11"1'It. 1,·II"I,;c in . 'r.I,·r It tabr l"I<,.I 'Tlli~"h. l'f.",.... ,,"",1 J ".<,. Ibh a "u n1 S(:,·n'lri". wen- p rac t b-ed ';,r tIl\." 1....:1' .Irifl " II t,u g..· ! Ill . me ,iJ" or II", or hcr, I hr cc main angl,·. , ,f attac k, .· II,I-" " J Th... i,I"a w". Ii' m,ll ,·lh'·I1l."t r,lrl ,1 ".....,.ll! ...",I... ,lh.",J 1:"'" ,mJ 11>,· ".II·,n .1,,",1.1.""" ." II", t.,rCd 1".""" ,,,,,,I" r Ih.· I.·.~I"'c ,...k..· ,.t II... p""ihl,' IU C,'I hll~ 10 allllll,I" qUI(kly. rt<.J"'I~.J .I~k ('''''''10:1111\ ~, ..... ,,.,,,,....1. l:.WI\ .,]1IluJ...,. .IIlJ 'f't.... J.. ,,·k · dhlluJ..... .,n.! ,,,.... . 1•..'nJ ~< erece .1",..IOItI, c 1ffi!-11": ". ("..,.
JIN rridr t,1 rill' 90 -.k·!.:Il·" [urn, rill' I'd ,,[ 1'"11,,,1 IIHO rill' [, \\'l'r,' rr'··....·(. AI th,· roll 'lI1 po int . thc air," ·..·.! W'h Ilh.' kn "t,
J ur.l prIOr 10 180' pO$llIOn C"""k
.........
1810_ _I 1. F..t bOOB
,-, ~
Pilul . convcrtmu '1lf'.f'l" .J h i ultuude for th ..· lJuilh,.1 .ecc nt were ;Illm,'ni .h,oJ: :\ .h.,I1.... · .1,mb ..·,11 "" " I, In 11>.· "'-lu",·...... O. t<>, n" ,,<, 1".,...., h' ,<,,,,,I> I'"lt 'lfl\:m.,I.,I""oJo:-. 1\ . 1.1 1", r "n ul .""1".....1 " ..1,,,<,< to
Fur tlu- van.uionc I"r S()-,I,·).:r'·l· J.:lid,· "ulIlh lllCan.1 70 -Jt."gr,·e .II\'<' ho mhin,L:. set Ih,' diagram. " r f"l' il'·'
Nigh t Bomb ing The .,; 1I1ll· gen eral procedures could he (01II'w,.J li 'r h.mhlllJ.: at ni uht, hUI •'Ill: ,IJJcJ pn-caunon wa' th e uw uf the gyro hori:on " n pull -out. where rhcrc 11'. 1' no vuual horicon. On dark niJ.:h t" it w". mipottaut (or Ihe l' i1,'1 [. , turn h i, ;11 n-n Ii" 11 i 111 llll'di,lIeI" 1,1 hi. in.trll llll'nb. "n.- ,· til,' "rdnance ha,1 h....n nn·.!, an,1 [ll l·W..:utl· hi, ru l1" UI h\' mean, " f Ihe.e. \'(/Iwn h 'm"inl! wa. lO'n, lu.-I,·.! 'Ill a , in c1" liJ.:h l. , ,,.-h as a 'lll"L...· 11' \;11 m ,hc ....,11 '·1, wh"fl' therr w,'r,' n" o dw r rel,'r,'ne,' f"' inl', it was of ,,11,11 Im", 'rtal\Cl: Ih,,! co ntl nu"", refere nct." " ·,f' I1MJ,' 10 the gyro Ii"n:"n while: ,Klu,tlly in thl: run . It \\ ,h r. lrticularll· ea,y h I h:, olll,' .1 j..or i ,· n1~·,1 " \'l' r th ,· sea. '1Il,1
Climb 10 4 .SlXlrl bel",. comm.... ISO' lum
ni gh l , wilul.1 ,erioll,h' impa ir Ihe pilol \ n iuh t viston ar the crit ical momcru ofh l-, arrack und, ltl ;111 proh,lhilll~ ', nun th e attack com ple relv.
Rocket Fi ring
:J.COkt " .MlOll ~ 3 2OO1t
19ombl. '.2'OlJ'l"l-.c~ ..
...........
. . . . CIUIIlPf
'
l!aIIl. 1110'
poM>Dn
_
1 .0ll0lI~ .
.... or. 1I.OllOlI l !JOkl \rim
The I -ch mques crnpkwcd m rode! fin n!.: - rh...' nt r)" int o [he run, rh...· nlll u -clf, rhc pull-our anJ rh.. cl imh h ICk In alulu.I..: wert: all much rh e s am ...• ;b in h,ml-in!.:. Th...· dive ;lIlgl...-, however, It'nJ...oJ to he much -h..lIl1 w cr (30 J",'ctL>t.~ 1 tha n 11l bornbme. h wa." noted that variation m d ive ancl,..; gave I"", ra nee error w h en roc k....h .....ere ....mj-loved than w hen h"mh-. were frrcd . Th.. entrv .IIIUwe fllr rock er
2-2 • "'" 1-2 .... - . .
Clomt> to 8.SOOIl
~
,~
_.0.•
0(:11...
Flares A I _,'a {and,
later, o n ni uht mi "lon .. over Vit't n am l. l1are, for med a vcr v import an t p
TI...
This did 11' 'I imrly Ihal Ilare.. wrr c· tN'd . .n "" \'l' f)' niulu mis_ioll , ht·cau, ... the re IH'r,' 1lI,IIly ni ght., when rh cn- was sttll t'll llllgh natural Illumination. " ~I"'c ia l[r III linIropic ,. llowe vcr, 1111 il dark niuhr , "lIh. hunt ing in th c· cold and black wa _t~·~,,f the North Ad.umc , flare , were e...,ennal. TIll' tIl,"1 versatile Itlre ~ in uw ,II rill: tim e were rh c· Mark 6 , which wvr...· u.....d with a 5OOf[ J rllr .lclay. Thi.. dday I" 'f,,rt· i lluuun.mon was l'lllg enc'ugh [,I "II, l l~' th e Skvr aidcr .k pllly· in,!! rh e 11m' III clc.rr it an, 1 I.,.... in ",,,it illn III mak e ih allack 11ll1ll"" ,!ialdy afl er h:n i[i,In, vcr il was ... hl In cnouu h 10 r e rruu qutck and accur.nc illu-
mmanon where SkyraiJer rilnlS were the rctorc rcnun.Icd Ii the f(llln..... i n~;
" ,h"l, ." the hJ:hll nl: , ,,n, I ,, ,, ~ ,, d•....,,,·,,"', .. ,
..... ~l iJ In..· "'"cuk ,1I"rnm.•".",
~ 1:o.~1
The aetU:11 h.' n·' .,f illumin.u i"ll ..... <1_
_
"r.tainL-J l>,...... k"t:llng t he n:fi cuk wit h llll' lea",' pr",,*'nration of rm l-:_ 'IIlJ r~I~- ' l-y the pi lol exerci,in~ rr"JX'r CllnT rtll I,f Ih e , igh l rht..."'t' ll. TIlt' rilo' II', " , •• h+...:J "Iway' hi check th e rh ...... ",lal ......·llIng' rrior h' lumin g ",n Ih e ~ ig h l, h.:i,:au"C luming on a , igh t .....' 1 fur hh:h-I...·\"d illumin,lli "n, ,II
l",ulkJ I" ,ho.. AD r r' >\·w..... 01 J,n",",1 rT,,,,,l..., r,m!:,",: 'room th..
_ _ "Ilhll"ll: .1.. ,,,".~
.• r'rr<'r .mJ d J'd'llIIlIl,l nne lu . (tlmrk lc r 'rf'<". r••\', m,l n ll l: ~ "1Il- Sd«lItln I' o:a-lh' ""('~"rl"h,-J t..1 knob, ..'C_iN on rhe j/Un "I:hl . E.",,, pi!'>!
5 flare \\'a ~ aisil lI"CJ: ir would umuc afll'r 90 [ II 120 seconds which ;Irp;m'nt [~' cuu......·d ';111 uncomfortable J eby whil e awai[inl: illurmnanon'. S teh 5 k~Ta iJ ...'r haJ lim,' [ II 1:,'1 in ;11 1,' ,.'1 IWO well -illumin;lIeJ rum he (lln' ;I ......"CUIlJ Ibre Ilt'\.'\.Ie-J ' 0 he U'>loJ . Tht' Ie
.. .., . ,..."" • 11. .. .
lJ H .I\'~.Il IM;
'111 1, ( jll ClIlS
Among thal a'er ....e a pons tha' rile Spad edded '0 it s inwenlOry was Ihe PAVE PAT II, ltIe de.elopmenl 01Ihe BlU'16I8luel ' " e xplosive munilion. Here . a n A·1H is see n al Kirtland AF8 . H. .... Muico. in 1968. Ni~1 "' clWes. ColIegoe P.,k, MD
SIBlboard Ironl quarter view ola Skvraider. code d 4lI1 . IBden w ith a mi~ed range 01 ordnance on its underwing s llllians. marking the 20th annive lury 01 ih e ntrance inlO'h e Na vy. EI Segundo , 1961. McDonnell Douglas, PublIc RalaliDn s. Santa M onica
/18
,..
~lr .'
Df-Unll t!\(: TlII'_,,0(1)\
anJ
I ra n~m illin t.:
' Flare uwa~·. l5CII)tl. '
Wtt h rr;Kt io..· • it w.. ~ (ounJ ,h;ll a larl!~·1
(
cuulJ N: illu lIl lOOlh.'J aim..... t Ct '1lI I nUIIU~ I)' wnh a ma ximum economy of tlare-, (see rhe JI ;Ij:r.un). lh.: KhJc: artack run in '1..:h ca-e-, w.e, ma...k he!ow ,hI· flare a~ IIw candlc tl l
....
attacks. u~ i nl! ,I lonc-burrun u or Lnc-nm u i~ ca nJll·. Ct lUlJ he hd" w ,'T ,,1'l1ll!'ldl' th e
-
•
•
) o
l~)
flare. hll rhi-, tN l
•
11<111.' ttl one sid\' of till' ! :lTJ,:I'f. If lil\: [ ;I q': l'"l II',IS a wcll-dcfcndc...l, I'TI··hril'il-..l , ' Ill" [hkc a &wil.'t 1\re.\ tll C h"s cruiser] , it W
which would illurmn.uc t lu- I;.rgc l . . . nh. M.Jl n 'Vl'a linJ,: Ih l..' ;l1 l;Kki tlJ,: ~k ~' r: l i,l l·r.
Practice bombing pattern usinll llare illuminalion - 210 4 aircraft.
aJ optl...!,
Anorher -hlllg l'r fUT rill" ;lnadill J,: AI) was ovc rca-r: wh ich rctlcc«....l t h l· Ii...:lll and \ilhc.luelll.....1 Th e
.urcratr , "Iu iddy
m :llill"':
dr...p wit h, " r ll" rma l 10 , th e hnm Hng lme , in or.l,·r tn gin' silh" ul..' He illununanon In rhc target : ro
It was o "vi
'CIltttit·, . USAFA·1ESkyrl idlll, BuNo 132624. a, med wilh len SUU·l41A clusler bomb conlainefSen ,oule
IlIIhe IIfDel tOne in South Vietnllmon 2(1 J anUllry 1966. US Ai, Fort9 Otl't ,. 1
119
TIll' Skvruidcr ream technique wa fu r Ihe sccr jon It l arrrt l<1ch th e ' ;lrgl..'t wit h I,Ol\)yd sep arat ton gar and u 500ft ~ l l..'p·Ur be l w ccn rhe t wo AD... The fiN S kyr:li,ll..· r w ould rcl e ast: its Ilare JITI..· c l1 ~· ove r rhc \!arh· nt.."ll l 'U)..~t OIl 3,500ft III 11..' \'...1 Hldu . Nil anc mpr was mad e 10 mak e a llowanct..· f,' r w ind dnf on thi.. first d ro r , u n ll..·'" il wa, accurately kno wn. On release. thl..' fir-r r il"l rran -rmned 'fla re away. 3.,C\. . . fum 1t'lt ' [or ' riJ,:h l '. J e renJ in g on te rrai n], and im mt'Jl.ncly comme n ced a t urn to he III p""il i"n ("r ,1 lO-de)..'Tt..>t-' g1J.lt..'
n.
.....
,
-
" ".~
~ l(.II.
1l~ L1 n K I NG
1 111-: (;(lOllS
(Above ) Idea l Spad bait, this co nvoy 01Vietnam es e army truck s was loc ated proc eeding along Rout e l A, the key north to s outh artery 01s upply l or the invas ion farces. in the vic inity 01 Dong Hoi on 9 February. 1961. Thirte en empty vehic les we re headed north, s eve n loa de d vehicles w er e moving south and we re give n a good working over by the US Air Force Skyra ider s . Department 01 Oetense. WashIngton DC.• courtesy of Robe rt C. M,k esh North Vietnamese regular a rmy tanks and ve hicles ex plod ing an d burning under lcw-levet e ttac k by USAFSkyraid ers in April 1968. Ohen depi cle d in the we ste rn media as a popula r upris ing agllinsla corrupt regime. in la ct the Vietname se war wa s a n ac t 01 agg ression by a Communis t nenc n aga inst its democra tic neighbour an d lou ght wil h ruth less ness and in con trave ntion of all signe d treaties and United Nalions convllntions , For a time the Spad s help e d hot d the line. Department 01 Detense. Wash,ngton D,C.. courtesy 01 Robert C. Mikesh
att ,llk hy rr.msnuttuur, '[)i\"l' hea,lin l,: 270
rurc l~ 'r
d l').:rn' ~ ,
l-c l,:;Iino.: d
recover
tll
len'.
111l' H:1R' telllporarily des troyed till' pil"l 's rughr vision, Sll caution h:t,1 10 be IN',1 (,n recovery from the l,:lide under a hril hant tl.m- intothe h!ackrl\'ss. T h e pil'l t haJ to make filII u~· of hi , in -rruuwnt s on th e tum inl,: cluub-our, ;Illd th i> somcnmc, cnu-cd \"l' n il,:'1 h" C:IU" ', altl l"Il l,:h th e attack lI"a~ compk-n-lv \ ' iSIl;11, ti ll' lli.L:ht prlor had to "Call hi s .ur-pccdnulicator. ulttmctcr, ,111.1 ahuudc ind iGllll r fn-qucnrlv and qu ickl y. Til jll,ll,:e ahitudc ul-ovc -ca level t~ ,r th e pull -pu t ,lq'l.' n, k',l on a ~e
11 K pil" t\ ju, l.L:l't\ll'nt , whi ch must h~· pra(f ir ,' and e xperience.'
(T his could, o ( course, ,lIs<) l-c ar pli,·d t il drve- hllnhi nl,: tcchniquc.] A, a uc ncral rule for tb rl,·.lr" l' ri n l,:, no S kyr:ti,k r "i lll! ough t III have pfl'ssed hi , fir, 1 run in below I,OOlJfl wuh.'til excellent ni l,:l u vis ihilil Y. ,'sr eda lly \\'1ll'11 liL' \\'a, tor illl,: 11K lwuvv ltlllds the AI) w:lS capahk' ,>t" Iiflinl,:, 11lis \\'uu ld Invariabl v result in llIushi ng, or ma ke fu r cr it ica l .urspccd in till' clunl--out. A 1O.d"l,:Tl'l'l,:lid,' anl,: k' sufficed for acc urat e hlllllhi nl,: an. 1 .' tw t"i n l,: under SIKh circums tances, and yet env... a safd~' l1hll):in in spenl of a pproac h tp th c wavc· tups or rh c l,:rUtlll' l. A 40-dl'l,:n'l'
120
un ule III app roach was con~ ick' reJ to ill' the ah-..:,Iule maximum for ni ght attacks ,
5G-Degre e Plus Angle of Attack w ith Bombs and Rockets A 60 -del,:Tl'" to 90 -deg ree approach ....'a~ considered es-cut tal for 50..J el.'R'C runs; apa rt from tlurr , th e tec hniq ue was abon thl' same as fill 30-degree rum, Again, a down wind Ie.!:: was flown to a J"-" ition .rl-cam till' t,ll):l't , at all alt trudc of 8,sOOft, or cluul-inu 10 tha i Ill'i l,:h t. The target ....-as th en allowed til ras~ a point in line with the Mk 5 1 l-omb rac k, and erurv airspeed was
.
' •If., OI'L! VHIJ:\{i TH E GOO DS
190 knots at 8,01..10(1, TIlt' rippe r WH.~ plac ed 40 mils shon <1 1 rho 6 o'clock po sit ion ,md flown III' to rlw " 1111 (no wind). Rdc;lSl'
height was 3,301..1fl f ,r I",,mh, nnd 2,800ft t~ ' f rockets. with pull-out nlnrudcs of 1,500(, for bombs an,l I,QL"(lfr ('Ir rock ers.
Napalm This ordnance was ru '1 a wear" '11 , ,( M'a war fare, bur rhc technique lit" dd ivl'rinl-: it was taught t,1 N;l\s Skvraidcr ('ii, lIS. TIlis was because of th e US Na vy's lung Ira,liti on of surporting [n il'!', as ho re wuh dosc· a ir-Slip" pon opcranon-, whi ch started in the P,l<:itk
Campaigns of the St:con.! WorlJ War, and haJ been l·lnl'h,.si:cd hy irs nhtu 1St e xc lusive tasking in thi s n:sf't-'(( d urin).: th e Korean War. In LICl, tilt' training W ,IS III 'IT \T !I ll ' Navy well in its sul-scqucnr employment over South- East Asia, Tl w 1~ )II 11wi ng is un extract from the tmining m ;IIlII;II:
""i l-ling, thi s leve l high -speed drop permit [ l:<-l a gn';11 dea l of ICl' way, A s the napalm r unis n-r would proc eecl h onaonrallv, or ;\ lll1 U~r. l~ u cu n.si.lerahk· ..lislilllCl· ilit ~ r the ,Iw p, release anvwhcre wit h in a reasonable J isla nce wou ld norma lly fl'su h in a direc t hit. Liter, ad van ces in napalm l-ornb, pro,Iuet...l a non-nnul-hng bnnb fined with a proximity fuse,
,I
Stra fi ng T Ill" Skvroldcr was anm-d With four 20- m m can non . iir in g he]tl,d percussion round s. Al th ough rh c,c we re u j a n o ld type. th e method WilS st ill dcerncd ctfccuvc agai n_t cncmv illl;mt ry. S tf, lfing runs we re ll... uallv conduc ted at low angles of al' l' r'l ao:- h,
me ant an e ve n steeper di n ', l~ ;lc! in g t tl a vicious circle. This could be come dan ecr"US close to the ground ii Ihe Skvnudcr pilut conccnr ratcd 100 d osel y o n rhc targc t and go t too stee p and too low. T he o pe n ing rounds were squeezed o lf a t a l-ou r 1.100yd slant range, and , as th e f,lIlge shorte ned, the lead ,lIlgle reduc ed r. zero. A s rh c nillgl' app ruaclwd and t he n passed thfou gh rh e dis tanc e .u wh ich till' guns wer e ..... 'fe· siglu e,1 - 1,200 yd - rhc hit s crossed the t'lrge!. In other wo r,,!s, where th e sta rhn ard gun she lls were h it ling to th e left uj targe t when in side l-or es igh l range, th cv then hi t to th e right llf t ar get when outside hOfl'-siglu ra n ge . When iifinJ..: tr acer. it
an.,("C f
there
j,
wluch U c"n
~
d"I" ',",,,,1.
no J:lllt.:,,'r til th,' "i,,,,alt f",m
~IIKe
""",,I-
..t.". il C" n llk'aru;
h, ,lr"rl'...~ 1 [rom 'Illy .dnru.le. This that a 1'01,,1 can 11\, in I" ", .",.1 fa_'t a",1
TIl<' I",,"-.,Ill· II.J,· .Iell,""r\· l' "1,<'<:i"lIy d f,:.:tlve "l.:''' '' ' 1
J.I"""t the na palm "n th" ta't.:'·l. ooiMmll" (u, Ih,· .",,·raf, C'1ll ~
tI""",, JIl"n ly al
lhe smscrun "I h l!:h 'lx'c,l. level 11,gl\1. rcle.uc tht- ...>mb ;lI1J pull ""t , It " 1'",n'G,llv ml]'<"" " N.: t" mi"" the t'll!:,'t ",inl.: t hIS 111<"1I1S ,of ,1"'1" [" IllI. Alfd 'ru;l enemv' l " ~ 'I" . t he 1" ""·k ,,,·1 high· ~
Jd,,'ery i, d1'ec u",' al" , lx,,,,,,,,,,, " I the
tm.l~n, y ttl '1''''.I,llh,·
b"rnmg l\;traln' ,,,,," a
..'Ilk iI«'~ , GftlunJ cuntru lkr.' an- k,s rclurtat u ro .I",""t a n" I",lm aU;Kk d",,' h ' tncndlv lnws than they ,lie to <'I, ...... stro h· "'lIh fra~.
,,,11 m,,
mmtat ~m
"" mbs. T1wy know Ih"t fhe n"r"hn can be.IroN", ,1with .'xlrvtnv accurac v an, 1th"t
'f' ~ff''C15 will he Iimite,1 to " kn o,,"n ,ltV" , whcn-a.
,'llllm .omcllm" un]'rcJic!,,!>le.
",Iel lli"n to the bn that r.,[e"" nt.: at \,0001'1 "b.,,"e th v le rra m J!<- accuracy, III
Napalm could he relcast'<.l in a "lin' Jllst ,IS conventional homhs were, hut it was fo und that its accuracy hy such de livef)' was poor. The najl'Ctof)'oi the na palm .....Imhs t hen in use was unprt.J ictaNe, a nJ rhl' y ofte n tu mHe..-! in flighl. 11 wa.~ th erei'lre dl't' lT1l...1muc h more efficient to rd ease naralm uti lizing the IO\\'-Ievel techniquc, with ,m approac h . reed of 240 knols, a t a hd ght o i a.....lut 100ft, and u~ing 22 mi ls rll pl;lCe the o rdnance exactly a., requirl"'l. If the t<Jrget was a
An excellent view of Armee de rAir armnnrers loading cl ips ol2Omm ca nnnn rounds into a French Skyraider elt he 2ll'lh Escadre de Chasse 'Aurers· Nemenlchas', base d al l es Salaines. snulh nl 8 nne, Alger ia. 1963, SIRPAfECPA Fort d·I.'Y
hl·twl'e ll 20 a nd 45 dc gret's. T he guns wcr e hlll",'·sightcd
121
impac t o i (hc munds, yOIl have the o n ly accurate inio rmat illil o n sigh 1inl-: adjuSl tllenlS nl'ccssary.' It was rl'cotllmendcd that trace rs sho uld nOl he loa,lc,! Of used in rhe tlt'C[;
u""
o r t" ,cc" ,ll n, ~IH 1:" '''" , hv 1:"l1 n,'<\"n lh e 1:,,,,mJ ,m ,Jv.,] annm!: ,cfvrcnu ·. TIle "", ,,fIiE ilnJ HEI 11",,1- will f"ctlnau' ' 1",t1lrll: at n' l:h t ,mel .·n;,!>I., tI,,· rt10l II> .:o rrect hiS",m,
.....
,
-
"" .~
~ l(. lI .
1ll:L!VE Il I;.JG Til E GOO()S
'I
(Abovel Skyraider of the Gabonese Air Forc e ar ue revme airport. The former Fre nch co lony use d the se aircraft (se cretly flown by Frenc h pilolsl e n a nli·ins urge ncy s trikes and pa trols" SIRPAJECPA son d"l"ry Close -up 0111 Gabonese Air For ce Skyrai de r er umevure airport, s how ing in detail the sla rboa rd wi ng ca nnon a nd rocket loa d. with sta ndllrd wee pcns lor co unte r-insu rge ncy strikes a ga inst Libyan-ba cked guerr illa forces " SIRPAiECPA Fort d"lvry
122
,..
• If
I
lJEI.IVERING THIo GOOIlS
Nuclear Weapon s The \'aril,1 t'quil'l'ing of the vcrs.mlc
TIl\' act ualtes t bcdilY was
Fumam T.lrgl't
C e-ntre, jacksou villc, Florida. For Ihe firsr of Ihe lon g-dis tance. I,,\\'-
West 's intlatahlt., J,'sign I" preve n t colla r c hafing:, aJ eling: extra c u.sh illn ing f"r tlll" I'il'l!'s sl'aring:, and a new type oi light weight he lmet til lessen headaches, plus extra Aspi rin for rhc sa me pruhk'm - were ,Iuly made . It was nul just aircrcw o-mfon that h",1 t" lx' improved for 'uch mbsions, TIl\' S kvratdcr also nccdccl to lx, adal'tl'J it'it was ro ca rry o ut th ts rtlk' I'roficil-n tly. C onvcnt illna1 1)/F diJ n, It fun cri< 'n r r' lpc tly
Skvnudcr tllnll'lllhi~ al rl·i l, I~· irnprcssivc air - level fligh t [ri"ls, VX-3 had 25 l'i l'Its and craft info a serious conte nde r. Ro lli till' US [ivc .urcrcw on l'S1" hl i,h llu' llI and rhcv Na\'Ya nd till' US Manne Corps Skymidcn; look it in t urn s III tl y non-st op at IIn,!,'( wcrca""igm...1th,' lludc,lr ddin'q' [(,Il-. booth 200ft, UI' ;11l. 1 ,1'I\I'1l the- l';.,..tern c. la,1 of the utili:ing-thc low-k-veluavhnuion ;l I'I'Hl;K h United S t" t,'". T he 'l\'erage tligl l! time was Pt1 3Gs ... 2 seconcl. rellcr..J riwll, slngk'-" llgilll'd ,Iircr:lfl 1' 1 tells .\chcalef carry nuclear l\'\'al" lIlS aga inst a'" 'rhisli(: l1 roll and pilCh a lt,lude Info/ ~==:::==-====:_--, Lay down de!IVel<1 trials, ,IS r n Ileel Or/V219/X22, c,1l1,lucIl,J 2251< 1 , ." ll\ 1951 ny the eX\'I'rimClHal Irials uni t, VX-3. of the O pe rat i" n,,1 I)l,...c1" pl1ll' ll1 1,(10011 F,)rce, ba'>Cd ,11 NAS AIL11ltic Ci ty, TIll' aimllf Ihis hush-hush uni l W;lS I" ,'va luah' rhe loo-delivery sy~tetl1, ut ildng the AI)11511 ,. " 4 and AD-4Q, fim'd with thrl'e e xte rmll I t'uel tanks to gi\'e max imum hunkl'rage,
""'" '.-
,"'"
--
,---
".<
,-
It'?,lJQ.\ltl.Q
Nuclear bombing - low angle toh delive ry pattern.
>ctrnb
5" aigh l& .......
eQ!'.;I.!E' maln,,,,n same POW"
en $J>M(l '" all
commen<;e
chac ~-
723
smoolh
cl imb Ie 175 11
fl~ 51' '''!l1l' '" l.....eI
Ct' speed '" a~ ' poc~ le ' when popper
Cross&lll"'9"1
Q!J!!!!MoI.Q """ 5WI\CIl 'o w
.....
,
-
" ".~
~l(.II.
[)El.IVERrNG TIlE Go o n s
Nucl ailr bomb ing - mad ium ilngla loft dalive ry pattern .
mIX ncn -,~
2,lIOOrpm _ 45,n !!'!Il2lL~.l?
masler ann
~ ,-
0'
on speed" an cneck _ OFF htUCOfl1I>1,"e labs gym '''"''''9'''
1 ,8001'1"" - 28 ,n
"."
,n(! 'gIlt
2.00Cm
pcnermr c cnvmv air »pncv ami rake ndvan rag l' 1'(
till' }.:r,," nd con tour. In those pre -
Stealth d,lYS, ilwisibilit y mean t
~ lI T\' iv :J L
Such an ;lr prll'ld l path ';'r th l' SIllw A D could mean six " r .....-vcn hours' 11il.:ht rune ,
on ,In·r'lgl·. F. ,r Ilu-.....· practice 11 id1t.s ,
Iwil,: h" \'1 around 100lt'! ~I Tah::h l and
\H'Tl '
dll' norm.
level with IIIL' e n~ i ll l' m ix set
rich, an, ll" II X, { ,)11 10 giw 2,600 rplll, lur 225 knots 'lip'IX'l,,1 t" wit h in 7 ,CXlOtr of rh l' targl·1. 111is caused grl';l1 stra in , l-ut it wa, cc-vnt i,ll if t Ill' Skvr, kll'r W ,IS tc J survi vc I, JIlg enough III h.rvc ;Illy ctfl'C t. 11 1l' lung and
•
d llpres8 'pICkle'
\\l'a ri~ Hlll' llig h t~
th at were made in prac l i ~ i n g thi , "1'l'r"'Kh were nic knamed 'S an dbl, lIH' f:- ' h y
till' l-utt - wearv A I )
ind lio;lhl OFF li"""SlatlS
c rews .
ev COO'Ipjf!!1O
In au uc tunl uuuck ~c l' narill, n l"ng ;11'1 'wach would hl' m.rdc andt hen, ,h th <.' releas e I" ,sit i,.n was n curecl, till' Labs Gyr" Unease' ind ica tor light would gu'On' ,the ellgitw w
IBM IIId apply
8.!'lEASE
y_-'oU & ace
4.500 in 2 sec
'nd ~gn l OFF !Me OFF r_poc~le
U1bs
'""-:al,,..
roll" potcM
would g ll uut 'lnd the tuner countdown
would commence . T ill' A D wouldpop up ('h ighh
would go l-ock '(Ill', ac compan ied hy
till' warmng roue. 111e actual I"h W ,I S done hy Ill"king n three-quarter 1o,, 1' with an up tight rccovc rv o n tlu- ' 11'T'osi t l ' c ourse to I he ru n - i n ( ,1 " He- h ,,11 C uba n curlu. ni cknamed by the Skvraidcr pil"t s rhc 'Truman Eil.:ht' a lte r till' former prcsidcnt ). with th e ordnance t,lss<.',1 at the h i ~hl' s t peak. 111is was the yaw, roll am] acc ele rate ('{itA) seque nc e. which applied 4.50s in two seclln.!'" O n release, till" Indic ator l ig h t an , 1 ala rm tone l-orh went '0 1(' and the S kvraidc r, turning hack 180 dcurccs on its flJrlner CllHrSC , then e xec uted a sh arp 45 -Jl'grl' l' 111m clilllhi n g up To 1,00011 to tI <.' ar the imp 'lCt area :m J
~
ind hgnl ON lone ON
till" a lom-
ic hLlst wav e.
This I" rlll 01 n uck'ar-weapo n ddivcr y rract i<.'c Illctl wd i ~ hl'sl illuSlratl'd in
124
gr;lph ic form (see tlW d iagnuu \ I II pa,gt' IlJ anJ al",n'l. Ca rr),jng nuclear weapon s prcscrued som e proble ms, ,lUI' to th e ir ~ i:c, l en~th and w ~i g ht _ TIle Skvnudcr's I ()adin~ limit was set at 17.Sool h. ,10,1 I he si:e 01 the nuclear l-omb nc cessu arcd a special Skvraidc r modification. with rhc dis<,h ling 01 t1w undcr-fusehun- JtW brake. According to forme r US Navy pilot C h uck Mullaney: Onn' ,,~,"n thi, w,,, ",... I,'" r Ihin1<mll' Th~""dy n"h" (rlw\' "w... A-f""mhs rh"n) stretched 1'0",1< int" rh,· Jil',-I'uh·, anJ !h~ >I"f" Ii'III1: fill>
e""IJ f,., J'l!nag~J
f,j' ,h,' ~xI~IlJ~d I"w~r "",l e_ TIl<" ~t'"J h"d ,m ... nJunn~ c"r~~r. I red dlln
rill, w", l.ug,·I~· .Iu~ h' it, r.m~......Illd It . "f,i hl y .lchvcr a lluck·,,, "·~"r"n w 110 I"w-hillh-l"w 111\",1"... .1. 1 t" d (h;u ,urvlHllll lhr "1<"1 w." n'lnll!" In an\' Cd"'. In (h... ;(\"nJ 60s, " n~' n "d~ ;lf J,'I", ... ry ,..,•,. ,1~ ...rn...J "·,,tth..-hlk. III
,",,
.1'.
CHAPTER T HIRTEEN
Target Tug The Swed ish Experience
'" elpllsad perts flims ily cove red, forme r AEW·' Skyraide r. WV 185, sta nds forlornl y outs ide the ha ngars 01 Scanish Aviation at Pre st w ick a irfie ld in 1962. awa iting convers ion into 8 18'g e11u9. This airc raft nev er Mew operationa lly wi th a ny active seofce flight onc e il left the US Navy, a nd ended its days as SE-EBI
witll lbe Svansk Flygtjanst.belore being given 10the Swe dis h Air Museum. Arlh", Pearcy A'ch i~e, bvCOUrlUV 01 And,....Pearcy
In IIJ6I,
till'
three Swcdbh D..-fcncc
Fp , Cl 'S
fuund themselve s in urgcut Ill'ed of .urcruf versanlc enouuh to act as [ 'IT).:,,'1 tugs, :11\.1 suitahlc for their other require ments. TI l\: Swedish Defence Mnusuv cas l around {or arrrlJprialc aircratt capable (If
,I
Scottish Av ia tio n Ltd , hasl'd at Prcsr wick, ,m,1 with an earlier kn ' lwk'dt.:l' of rill.' S kvr.udcr trout Ro yal Navv service, W ;IS il\var,led the co nt ract to refurhish 12 \,f till' purcho-cd aircrau, an d con vert them to tar J.:d tu g~.11 1e y Iwre a wardl' J Cl.es R Rriti ~h rl'g i ~t ra li lln ~ f,lr t h eir tl'IHl'llr,ny British fL 'Sidcncv ,m,1this enable... l two of t he sd~'e ted A EW- Is, \VT 987 and W 9"5 I. to he flow n direct from RN A S C uldrosc up III Prestwick a~ G-.31 3 a nd G-31 2. The rest (01lowed m.m- sedin dy, co vering till' shortl' r distann ' from RN A S A hho tsind1 hy" road. TIl l' con version involved the rem oval of t he Ril,lol1lL', tlw vert leal fins, arr estor hook, win g slats and orhcr ruilitarv hard war e, inclu di ng radio equipment . O nn' th is was done. the aircraft were give n a t ho ro ugh overhaul a nd then fitt ed o ut lo r rh ct r new rtlle , This in volved the (itti ng Ilf
125
updated civ ilian radio an d electronics (V I IF/VOR/lLS glide-slof'C, marker h.'i!con. radio alumet er, Intercom systt' llls). TI ll' forme r observ er's cal-in was refu ted with a row ing winch and assoctnrcd cquirmcn t , a nd sca ting for the operator. Three rvpcs of tow ed ta rge t, were a t Ih al ti me he ing used hy Ihe Swedish A ir Force and the Skyraidcrs were fitted to dea l wit h th em all. The strut ta rgel was mainly u-ed (or ;ln ti-aircrail tra ini ng for Ihe Swedis h Arm y and N a vy's j..! r'l unJ- and sh i l'-ba~'d J.: uns as air-defence tra in ing. The win g target a nd till' a rrow target were mo re i"r ae rial combat practice hy t he Swedish Air Fo rce in air-to-ai r tra in ing. As always with rhc Skyr aidcr, othe r duties were found for the aircraft. bes ides target to win g. Elcctroruc countermeasures was added ro th e repertoire with till' iining of
..
, .... " •• d ~lr.".
TARGET Tl rC' _ Till,
(Top} The conversion proc e" Irom AEW10 larg allllg look place al me Prntwick hangars 01Sconish Avialion Limiled. prior 10 their sa le 10 the Swedi sh Air force in 1962.The conversion prolonged the active service lile of Ihe , irc r,h a nd led to m.JIny being sa ved lor posl erity. H,re. a lonn,r ·A· Flight veleran WT 9!19 (4241Al llnd. rgOtls thl1ransIOrmltlion. Arthur Pelrey Arclwe.by cOUf1ny IlA Aud•.,. Peltt y
~ W W I~ 1l
EXI'FR 1E"f"F
IAbOlfeJ Three ollhe twelve lonner Royll NaY)' AEW-1 Skyraide rs. ptt«:..... by me Swedish lovernmenllor lISe lISIIlrgllltllg s, IIndergoing con rsiol . the hanl'rs 01Scotti sh Avi ation II Prestwick dllring 1962. Arthur P cy At,*"", try courtelY 01 AIoICl '.,. PeI' cy
'26
.,'" TARGET nit; - TIlE SWEll lSIl
EX I'E R 1F.~ n
radar-janurun u 'Sunc' po d under the ron wing. This was late r lll' gr.ldc d WIlL'1l it W ,IS ~I'LlCt'J hy t he more :l, IVanCl'l.] ' Pel rus' po..[. The dark him.' (' MiJ n itl") paint lhal haJ been the A EW· [-, trademark all it , working life w<\, ,tri l' !,l-.! otf, an d the air craft wer e re -paint ed in h right yellow, wit h their British Class R C ivil rq.;:islTat ion" in
black. In this con dition ,
rh l'~'
were test
tlnwn and th en delivered hy a ir direct to
Sweden. I{ere. the)" \I't'H' n: -rcgisl l' Tl·d and alloucd their S..n-,li,,11 n...gisU' ll j, IllS, whilh replaced the f\ritbh markin gs, by $t'<'mk Flygrjan.~l AU (Swl.·,bir Luuit cd] at Brornmao TIlt' ,l d in' r~' ..b tl'S were as shown III the ruble, right .
7 September 1962 11 October 1962 6 November 1962 30 November 1967
13 Februa,.,.1963 7 March 1963 4 April 1963
1 May1963 28 July 1962' 20Jull962" • FellV rl.ghr f,omRNAS CuJd'()5e to PresfWld-
SE-EBA
14 September 1962
SE·EBB SE·EBC SHBO SE ·EBE SE·EBf SE·EBG SE-eBH
23 ncioter 1962 27 November 1962 15January1963 25 Janua,.,. 1963 1 March 1963
SE·EBI SE·EBK SE·EBL SE·EBM
26 March 1963 29AU9usl 1963 26 Apnl 1963 21 May 1963 19June 1963 9July 1963
IAbave! Cockpit layout 01 a Royal Navy AEW·l SkJfJidllf after conversion 10 , Swed ish target tug Arthur Pu reyArchIVe, bycounesv 01 Audrev Pearcy (Above nghf/ l ooking aft Irom the pilofs coc kpit
imo me lormer r,dar companment ola Swedish SkJflidlr convl ned 10 a ta rgel lug by Scon ish AnllionIt Prlstwick in 1962, showing winc hes and wi. .. Arthur PllrcyArch lve.llv courtesy 01 Audrev Pearcy
The spare arrcr.rtt (W T 849) \\'a~ ,,~' sea in \ l}j1 , ill it.. or igina l.
,hipped
unconvert ed sta te, an.l put ~'h~n
the fiN
ca"u:l l l~'
into ..tore .
occurred, with
till'
it"". by fue ,l SE-EAH ,II l.ulca 111 Scptcut1968, this aircraft wa .. a ..... igncd a .. ;t ~ replacement. Taken front ..toraJ,:l' in [9 69 , uwas given the full c.inver..inn trcurm cn t
ber
h
S\H~Ji,h
Ail\v" rb Limited al BlIllt" f!;I,
and registered ,H ::'E-EBN, However, it ,lid notlast long, heing d ,'s tfl'rc. 1 nt l\.1idb n. b
The winch e peretcr's obsernlion dome on Ihe port side 01 a converted lllrget·lowing Skyraide r 01 the Swe dish government. Arlhur PearcvArchIve, bvcourtesy ofAudley Pearcv
127
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(. lI .
TMHiF.T
ruo
THE SWE[lI.~H
~_ X H_RIF~CF.
(Above) Seple mber 1962. In the coluurs 01the Svensk Flyglansl AB. the tormer WV 185 nrries Th e lD cude ul Sf·fBAul its new uwners. lind is seen here It Presrw-ick airfield. Scutland. Artn ur Peilrcy Archive. bycourtesy ofAu drey Pearcy
MI Arne Holmgren (second righd IOlmally accapting delivary of tha lilsl SkYla idel lor the Swedish Ail Service from MI D. McConnell. Contracts Manager 01 ScottiSh Aviation l imited. Also in the picture lIeft to righl) are Ca ptains Olle Holger lind Richard Osabahr. Chief Pilols of Swedish Ail Services li mited. lind Mr H.G. Hart. Scottish Aviation's Assistant Sales Manager. Arthur PearcyArcnive. bycourtesy ofAudrey Pearcy
in 19 7 1. By thi s tim e, rbns were N:ing moor ed to repla ce the Skvmidcrs with the nL'W custom-built M itsllhish i MU·2F (r-.1U-2B-20 l, ,IS well a~ I WO Ll' ,U JeT 24s. H oweve r, these tWI\' ,lircw(t were just not capable of durlic atj n ~ th e Spad's overall ca rrying capaci tv anJ were unable to per(linn the ECM duty it had also carried out. Four ,If th e Skvratdcrs (SE-EBF, SE-EBK, S E-EBL and SE-EBM) had to he retained ;Jhl:'r 1974 to perform This rille. unti l suitahk replacements could he found . Th is prn illngcd rhc Swedis h Skyraiders' life for a furt her three yea rs, at <J tim e when most o( their equally venerable corupanillns Wl'H' broken up at Malmo as surplus to requirements, from 1974 onwards. This sec ond stay of execution was impormm, as it ulnmatelv led to the aircrafrs' preserveo
non and salvation. Th ree OThers, SE- EBB, SE-ERC an d SE-EBl, were allocated to Swedish A ir Museums and put int o store, re !ldin ~ restoration and J isplay.
,..
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CI IAIYfEH f()URTEf.N
Combat Over Vietnam The US Navy Exper ience II The End of the Skyra ider? By the 1'11,1 of the 19S(\, it
' l'e llll'.! " , it
til\"
,by ofthe ='kyr;li.k'r \\,;1.' aim, " I over ;1, b r ;1' the Unill'..! ~Llf ,'~ W;I, concerned. TIll' US ~brint' e'rl's l1a,1 t1"\\'11 Its fin.rlrn i", i"n, with the ='(';1.1 In 19S8 , till' N avy wu-, cnll
ttoomj;( ~ .......l cmpl.wmenr
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rhe ;lIK r;II'
III
~I~cia [ i~t
rhc A m,' ric
~ha rrly
ft.",l,'s, bill numbers hold d" CH';)"t."cl from till' hl·~·d .t y pf J9'}5. Further
1I'; lI,.
db1" " al, were fak-
TIll' . .ak· wvm rbrouuh. hut the Alll,'TKan,' g" I1,'r"...lt y W;IS n u l III hv rcctprocntcd when
ing phil':" , tIle tn"St , il-: ll ific m l Ix 'in g till' s ale "I ll ] AI }, l" Fr;llln ', under rlu- .Illsl' icc s " f the ~ IUltl'll l\.' Ii.'n ( l' A ir I'r' l)..:r,l1Imw. (T h is
" f tIll' aiTe rati h;Kk In "11 t ill' Frclh:h !) Un,I,'T till' rcrm, of ;1 w i,I\.'-ra ng in.l:
, k'al strl' h.:llI.,..I li ll' rn '!o: ralllllll' III rhc hrnu . ,I., the French wanted tlu- .un ran lIlT what
rcvn-w ", !Ill' military, which t.....k 1,1;lu ' in 1962, ;111'ur.". i\' m~ van.mrs t ,I the ~k ~'ral,l\'r
~\lrJ' llI~·t('-rl·qll;n·nlvnl ~
ASllpliMrtBIONo 1l!l6611of lh. VA -nlln ding . boald. Britisll.ircflft Clll ier. Th. 'He....y H. uler" 01 1111 from all mlnner 01c, " iel decks .nd jungle . ir$trips lor I lmost 30 yll8r$, mounting ri,tII« s!lih .gainSl Communist .ggressor$ in both KOlea ami Vietnam. long aftor pis lon-ongined IIIItIlft Ilsewhele hid bee n declared unlillor combal operations. lhe Skyraid l r's e normous ordnance_!'OWer. its .bility to stlike I I smlll targets ac curalely a nd. abovi all, ils abi lity to 'linger' over lhe ~ lon' 'Wlitinlllargets 01opponu nily al the req uest of the tlOO PS on Ihe ground, was everything ltfIi~ il' close-suppon airplane. US NIVY othe'il l pho lograph
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129
tlw V, in their turn, urgentlv rcqu c_,t,'tl ",'ml'
.. .., . ,..."" • 11. .. .
I'urcha......d . How e ver , no ·"ltlCi.•1' ..:omhal mi -ciou-, had I....-cn undertaken by A nW Tl ' can N;\\'Y p.:r""llIll'l. TI\l' a ll chanucd a hrurrl\ III A ugu,1 I\)(~, wuh Ihl' Tonkin I~ N.1H' ,,-!u.I.ITt,n, rcm.uncd " I"."ral1\,n.11 Gulf lIll:l,I~· llI . ()n 1 AIII.:IN , North Vk, · wuh till' ;lHU.lt'I, anJ the ~ k\ r.udcr W,I' nul nanu-,c lIl"lor r"'1.......lo I" 'al ' ('~ I TR,.· III Brn.u n. 'PT' h>dr, 11\ US 1'.1T1,1I\l:1') lll.l,k· a l'xf".'t-ll\.1 It, il~urc, 'n the 11" , . ,i rhc U~ 111 11 1I.1f' h lr..:~', j. 'r much loneer nuvwav. II.rwsen c, o( un rTtl\,,,h...1 .UI'Kk ru n, .IC.Il Il,1 till' Amcncan ,k,lToy~'r ;\l,LlJ ox InD1'\'l' I, ,I' "" .'II~· n before. till.' 1l 1l 1· XI" :..:t ~'>.! 71 1), ,'!,,-'r;lllIl"-: III ln rcmanonal \\'" r ~·r, . hal'l"."lw..l~ Two .1,1\-, 1.1I ~·r, on 4 A ucu, ,, ,i mdar :It1al:ks werc 1Il.I,k· ;Il-:a ll),f 111\' ,k's ll"y~' r Chlnge of Skyrilider dnigniltion$ 5-ptember 1962 Tll m~'T }o:, (Dl ).9') I ). TIll' Amcnc.m rrl" new deSlgl18{1OtI __ old deS.gfl81101l lderu ordered rl'rall :" " ry .ur -mkcs ;lg;lin ,I A-lO AD-4N the naval h,bes rhar housed t hl:Sl' units, A-IE AO·5lanad rorel ,111\ 1 rill: Amc rican-, were Ihu , I'r.)vo h ', [ A-1G AO·5N inr u ~' ll f~' r i llg IIw , h""l in,,-: war a ga in,1 rill' Al-H AO·6 C,'m llllln i, I, oncv mor e. A-1J AD·] Tl u- fi N US N avy Sly ra"k' r " l'eri tt i"I" [A-If AO,5W over Vic t n.un C lIlW Oil ') Aug u,1 IIJ6-t, €A,lf AD·5O with Op-muon 'Pierce A rrow'. TIll' camUAlE AD5 cr TinmJ''TuRtl (eVA · I·t) laund ll'J Ill'r lut'I1IVrllll' - targcl lugsl VA-52 SkYT;li,ln, ;IIlJ Ih ... Cumfdldll"n (CVA-6-t1 J.llll1\lwd VA -H), in 'ur['<'n, 1...,,11 un il, h.·IIll-: ~\.lul l'f'l\.1 wilh Ih~' A- Ill ,m,1 A-Il Thn 'lnl~-k ,n lin ' "-'j';lra le \\~' r~' l" nlMH\"
h~'
when a VA- I4; Spad (HuNo l 19i (0 ),
Ih~' U~ I\" rart nll·nt of 1\" k 'N ' (Sl'l' tlu1,IH d . At till' t une, tj u- ..:h;lIl~ ll1~ o j ~1~"'I~ 11.11 h,n ,11.ln." wctu It, h.. 11111" 'rl.nll - onlv
redc...i~n. l ll·d ;\' rlu- A- I
Sarhcr. W;I' 1" "'1 " I AAA lin ' ove r the tar-
Reta liato ry Air Str ikes ~llln' <. \.",h.·r I IJ04. Ihl' 1T.llnin,,-: . 1~'I ,Kh · Irom ,h~' :X.IH·'s VA · IS! "-1".I,In'n
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h.l,j h.·~·n w"rklll!! III til<.' U~A .m.1, I.lfl'r, III S."lfh Vkl ll;Ull, IrallllllC Vklll.llll...' 1·
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Nunh VI~·tIl,UlW"-· n.n·,11 h,I,,--' ;IIlJ;tn 011 'I"r;lt.:~' dl'l.... ,1 ,If Ninh, \\Ill..:h W.h Ih~· r"r· ['<....1, 1h >;lls' 111.1111 '" ,ur~ I" ,I Iud . II W.h ~"II 1ll ;1"..'>.! Iha ll 25 of till' ,:lll'llI\ ,lui'" \n'fl' ,unk o r """\'~'rd~ ,1 . ll n . II.:~...l lll Ihl"\' ;llt ,Kl-, hul Ih i, d.I~·\ o'.....ra l lo rh .11"" '. IW rh~' lir'l ~ kyr,lI.I~·r 1' .. ,".lh\' of 1Ill' Vil'mam Wilr,
Douglu AH ·1 11ormer AD·61Skyraid er, BuNo 139132, 01VA·165, Arthur Pearcy Ar ch,~e . bycOYrlesy ofAy(\rey Pea'cy
130
plloll:,1 "')' Lie ut enant (j.g .) HI( ha rJ C.
get ;lTC.I. A ......coral ~ l\"r,ll,jl' l 01 Ihl~ "'IIM,lr,," ill ....l rook hn-. hUI 1\-.1' ;l "' I~' In m.rke II back h i hom... h'I....·. Inmaliv. till' Navy's ~p; .. I, were re- merl'J I" ·I"·("r-I.I[' ac tions, III wh ll" h ,I Com. IIl UIll'1 atl.!l:l wou lJ rc-nh III .1 , 1.11' on the wrhl III the torm oj;1Il air -mkc. TIll' partern 0 1 r""l"lll,,-' "-'l'lll~'li "n[~' h I 11'aJ rhe ;Il.:/.: rl''''", ,r to mcrca-e h r-, a(li,'n,. US ['n d' Illrrlwr l:. l rr l~·r , rrik~',. nil I I Fl''''nl.ll)·, VA ·I!; j, 'In''>.! VA-95 ,1ll.1 VA·215 In ~k\"T.II.II·r 'Inkt:, launl:h~\.1 R·"f".'Ctl\·l'l)frllm thl' t:;lrn ...f'" Coral St.-a (CVA -43I, RallJ!t'T (CVA-6 1)• .tTl,1 "allt'ot:" (CV.'..19), "hKh h.IJ all JOlfll\.1 Ih l' St:\"l'1llh F11·~·1. TIll'''''' ,trikt:_ Wl·r... 11I.lde aJ.:illTbl ~"rth Vicllum........ am\~' ''',In .Kb;tnJ.-.ur['<'r1 1,h."l l llIl", l\h lCh tlw Sr.I,I, hl! ~UJrr ;lnd .... ,Ii,II),. w"h,'ul ,IllY AD I , ,, ,~.", .
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l-......-e-nd., Ed Gr•• lhous. 01YA-25 ludy 101 I.unch hom Ih. USS M,dway ICYA-41l in 1965, .... witII ..... ry1Iling h, could Clrry, including Ih. bllhtoom pillmbinll This w.s listed u YA·25·s se cret IfIINll'llI SaIlDoeto Aerospace Mllseum
By ~b y 1905. Ann-n..'un .urcruft earner.. were p'"r"l1ml.: on nix,,' (:-;'''lIlh) Slat h'll on SOUlh Victn.rm. 'lnkc .u th .... Vn-r Vemamc-c .....ur 111.I..:hll1<.-'. which .:b
Norrh Vu-uuun.........•
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..J.1ffil.'I.! with the ba.I)!c· " I 'Til..' Tonkm trolf Yacht Cluh' on tiu-ir rc.rr tu..d ag...·'. A, wellasstrikes ;Jl!;litN ' I"'·..· ifin l t;lrl!,·I'
r...,h .i rhe so-call.. . .11\:-~ li lll,lri:......1Z.. m..· nMZ), which was i ~'fl, ' r 1h, 111 · ConunuLN>., Slq'rakkr-; al , tl.-w f ·....:;lr nil'"
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r .llrol (O"'''f lor lCOf'lC1'o -<archinJ: ior ,ho,....I" .....o r ll"h. ml ' kin.., !at... r In,'wtl ,I' L'SAR ( 'CtIh;.1 !oe"drch aM n-..cllc).... " ' 11 inn ,ln ·d Ilk Sl\T.liJ...·1'" in hm..h..·, w lIh ho,h till' m.-my Jl.'l figh,..·" an.1 ;-; lI l1~ ...:....-I"-A lT rronJ m,ii: (omh.11 ,111'
Skyraiders Again st MiG-lis
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TIn' li" l Ill' un ..:...· I... ,k pla, . .· 20 JUIW I'J6i. W h i[..·, '11 a 1'''''''::'1' nu.... i, ,n, '\-cr N," ,h Vrctn.uu 11....·1t (0l"-'wrlulh over 1. 111,1 wvrc I n.,wtl ;1_ 'I~""'I , I....... ",hik· th ,,,,,-· "'l'r ...... ,1 \H·r...· ·f'....·l \"'-'1'). I" ur A -I ! {,. ,,-VA-2 i .• 'f't-·r,m ill! ffllm Ih ..· L lm ..·r ,\ li.J U\I:" (eVA-oi l) ,I,
·( ':'m:N. l· Ill!!hl. \wrc .....·.lr... hllll! Ill\' PI ...·11 " I...·n Phil r,'l!I" tl ';,r .1 ,hol ·duwn F-1 0i I' I[UI. TIl\' lllghl W
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131
Ltctucnnut (j .l!.) j.unc-, Lyn nc .... hi" tu.m,
and wuh the .....-cond
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( :h.lrI...... ll.mman . Each ~p.tJ earn...:J 1,"Jr I" "I... ,1 2. jim It -..:h·t... .111<.1 Ille-v W,,·fC Ih Inc ,II an ,Ih llu.k· ," l0.l\."\'il n .Oil'm). :lhllll 1.L\.\."'tt h .:l, ,w Ill\' c1,uJ level. \ 'I_lhllll~ \\".,_ 1.:' ".,3. ;l[,h'llll!h -tratu- lay...-r-, "f cl, uJ ur It. 15 1\.'fr-t111cl (-160m) H, w.: k.....l ''I.II th,· -un ;II-.. wv II w l1I. TI l<..' tWll .....·H ll 'II' IW I,' 11Yllll! a " ar,llld l"lll l l"'<.· ul-out SO nulc.. (K0km) non h-wc.., u ( TIMllh II , ~ I. 1)0 nul..... ( 14ilm) ... Illlh "~I Ib n" I, ;111,1 well wuhm ~ llC; ro m!!c " , Ill\' Conmunu-r ;11111.. 1.1t h....r e, S"mc I1H I,.....h c·.h..I 01 them . a torcc from VA ·I% W.I' I.llml! .1 '"111I.u ..:lllll......:.
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r.m.. "i A-lit, W...·f ...• 1Il j"mj;l-
l l"n. ah'1I1 IMIt ,I m il · " r .ln. wh ...·n Ih ...·\'· r"(Cln.J a ""'.Im llll! m ...· Il!'·tro m lh...· ra.l." (O\' ...·Utl)! d..·..lroy'·r ofi Ih..· ":0'1'1 ,h;1\ ,·tw my a irer " tl (' Ra n,llh') h .I,1 hc.. ·11 ri (h·d
...
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Till' \ 'S ,,-", ',' I'xrlllll."CT II
An AO-ticoded NE511J. BIiNo 142048. of VA -25 from lhe ca rrie r USS M'dway lev B"''' unle llshu IHtr CoI lgOol 'cookies' DYer Viel -Cong pos ilionl . MeDon..... Douglll, Long 8uell
III' attc r mkIll):: I ,IIIn llll' 'Ill"" [he ,llrl ll'l-1-. T h,",l' h"~l dl' 1'''nt 'ldS r, lpi-ll~' ,J.hl'.! Ih l' ~, IP hl' ll \"l'l'll ilu-ru and till' S ky ra i.!l·rs, whic h wcn- I'll ,I north-wc-tvr lv 11l', dlllg,
,m-l !Ill' comroller a htl' lr,1 IIll' ,Il."~t rl'rl'r 1-_\1l'..I .1 ....·H.nd w,lmmg ...... -n anerward-: 'Two f\ln.llh , f, (l',J"ck, t"ur miles ' . 1\"~rlll'lIw wanuue. 1111' ~k rra iJc", "Wl' 'urrn ........1h two ~IIG -1 7 ~ , which al'I"-";m, 1 In nnht echelon. ::k\."'tl ,11"" \"l' ,m,1 " Ill' nulc a-tern ,,11Ill' nuht-h.uul A-I ~ I [ Hartm.m]. I Iaruu.m de-en be.J the m a~ ' ;I ralr ., 1 -tl vcr maclunc-,','
"Uf
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til cornnuuu-
care thl> vu.tl tntortuunon tll h i' wlIlgmall (J. ,I IIN Ill), II'h. he ,'1111 .urc r.ur had su til'rl,d
The ,ICT I' -n now Jl"n,l. 'J'l',1verv 'luickly. TIll" Spa.!, execu ted d1l' -r.m.l.rrd split-S
r,ld ill hulurc. t ,rl';lt!l lltl'l' ,HI.! Lyn m ' hall ,II", ~1""1l1'.1 till' vncmv at 7,,'d,...:k, ,lIld, ;l~ thcv ' 1......1 bv, Ihl'\I)::hl Ihat till' ain:r,ll"l 1'1" VA· 146 win' tIll' ~liG: ar ,... -intcd vicum- . H owever, when thq' n·,ldll.J a ['INt .. 'n .... -me rwormlc-, alu,·;tJ "f till' :'k,·rai.!l' r forIlla t ion, till' vncmv Jl'l~ , warned bv thl'lr own !-'fI lIlll,1 CI ml r, l!t lul thl'Y h...I Il\·e",h,'I the Sr,l,I" .11.1 li)::lu rum. all,1 made he ..I· I'll utt.u], ru ns "'\\'ar,1 t11l'IlI , du~ illJ,:" ar a
rum,
u lIlI" im
o
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k l1 "I ~ .
,k'l k at " ,H,'illl: a hl tu,ko~, from 50
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ttl
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"allt'y 1<1 the ...lUth -ea,t al thcrr ht-Sl ot" 225 kn,,". On\;, ~ l1G now closed with I Iartm.m, who Jump'...J hrs IWIl loo.galloo Jror t.mk-; F""lJnald~' tor him , thrs maJe hb, Sky-r,ll,II' r rear up, WIth thl' result !lUI
rhc surpn......d MiG ptku. wh.., thinkinl:" Itt h,l,1a ~i "lIl):: .lUl l in h i. ' I)::ht-, haJ 1~rw:J
.
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fire , CI.mr k tdy mt- ........1. H.., then pullc....1Ill' h..,,,Jc-J, ,II to rhc north . t lUI " f lhe lvn tle, ,lrr. l f,·nI]\, I,," on fuel. TIlt" ......,:.'n,1 ~ l iG W;lt ru.rdc " I -temcr
altcr;.it can-ere...1 round In 1 idu drd ,'... ",hill.' each ",l.... ni,...1 '" c," .1 ,huT ,II the nlh,'f. Ctln l u ,,-.J , 11ll" Cl.lm m Un h l pil",
pulle.J up and nl;I,!o..· a J"I,'nlHIl"',1 ,hT,..,;1 ,II ( irc.u h uu", ,11,.1 LYllIw\ Iliehl , arr,ITl'llIl" f"rgl'lIl1\C rill" other III" Sra,I"
run
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now "11 c" lIi, inn CHil l " ,', T hi .. n\ll lah· COIn' Hart m.m ,1Il, 1 1"hl1,,,n rhvrr
oppomnurv. und d R')" I'l lllllx ·d "Ill tH I\l'I }" and fifly {Oll ll, l.
An",I,,·..
dh,l;IfJ lilt' ca rr ier USS (>ri,kdll)" (eVA H Im 19(,5. TI\b "'-Iu'I,Ir< \II \\';1, re-p 'Ib ih!.· [or rh.. rescue ot ,lhOUI ;I ,1,1:" 1\ "i l" t, ,h",
I".. r I~ ..I, Ih "I' .·.Ilh •. ,m ,·,!. I ",II.·d Ill, " (,';(\"11 .1Il,1 J h",I "., "I,·., " I...,,· ,I... ' 11,' ".", A, ,,"," ." I ",' , ,·".,I-I" h.-.IIII,I,..,I,,,,, I 1..1,., 1,,11
f",I\.m mc rhi-, action. 11<1" 111.10 .md Jt*,lb'lOJl"X'fn "l.Ur rcccrvcd till' ::'ilvc r ::'1.lf ft. thcrr ,ha t.oJ kill , Whlk· <.:;rc,llh' l\l'l.' an,1 l vn ne b, " h 1.... 11 DR:s. Anorhcr 1" l!I'n,1 W.I~ aJ.k.J toth.. ~\.: \Tai.k·r\ iIllI'Tl,""in ' h iSIl Il'\·.
Personal Acco unts O'lUek Mullancv
1965 cruise, VA-I52 \\': 1' ,Ill' uue-r l I1 J.: h l ~· &'''I'm{l'J pll'pella :-.<.IU'I,lf< II I ,ilK" Sl'O 111,1 WorlJ \Var, Its award, b rcdr t" r [l"Ull' wllrk. A.. MulLmey h ll n~,· 1t r,·llll·rnl'l'fl'.!:
rill'[lr.t..t.lu.•n".J Z,me \ ()l.IZI ,",,1 I ' '''I: 11,". .nJ IU' f ",alteJ I", "' ~ Ile"ne\ 1", l f" ,,,n , ~ ".
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nd l! •..., .1..· ", ,,=1,· ......n'· .m, h.." m h" d,,'.·, r,·rlMI" I hll ,he II.. l ,ore-. f'<m.f" , I"'" 1''' " 11lJ: h.•n..l J...-.-....-k... m ' ..... ,II .· ", ' 111....1"" I,h·h t..'" ""f'<'r""",-,,, IIh . h" II.tL ,II.' .. ." '''" .•mh "" "\·"-''I'.,n.·. In'!, ,,.... I n'''''''1! ,h .lt .m· ...,1, I....., hll . " l'<'" .I""" til I.""". " ·I",n II "
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Chuck ~ Iullancv recalled ,Ill, " I1<'f ml~'" '11. which hM,k place in late Junc, N l"lrly July. 19O5. 11 h...~:1Il in tl1<' Au I nr d l i L.~·n':l Bm·flllg R. M'1n "hoarJ the ()mlum:-- . TIll' fondu'l( "'... ",,'I.: ..1.'1...... 11 '· ,ItlJ .. " h >:1<"." '" "I,,·n,!..n,,· than """,,.,1. ." ,h" ..." e" l1ll: h' [-."' ,, 1Il.'I"r ,trll,· " n.' 1,,,,le" III N,,"h V" " I"''''. h w,,,'" h:;I I'\lm N.I<'I· ,,,,,I A" h " ,,· ,' " h. "-l1h,, "'''' iI0 ."" ",t1 ",,,,,1,,,·.1 , l hl" "" "I " 1~'\1 I ,,· . , n l ,h'"1: ,h,u 1 "'"w",h", . , I~~ " Ih.. fo",","'1: " ... ,h.1t til,· A, r F"r, ,, h...1 r "·I " " ,,,.,I'\' rho",.... hence " " ril l''''', ,h .lt .1 n.·" ,,,,,,,I..
"'."" '''" I!ln ...,.". lhm~lnc III " 'r",, , " I"" ,,' Itn II",,, ....., .,,1'. I drdn'r kd h , • • m.m. "',,lLmc In " ,,,, ,1.,\. I h,,,1 n" III til<' M,t; """ ••m' .·,..",,1 lit ., 1'. " " ... ,n ' f\" I,~ .· \',..In.,,". d JU" ~ " "..... h·m."k-,I'll
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\ mh h.d " ""'L1'~ .,N,. III" .Ill' I].,~ ...",m.1 II ..., I J...... kk.J ,,, "~'l/;' ,.,1 ,-. ,Il/;· m -\L-\ th.· ."'"...,m.'''' 1M.< ; \ m!> 11
~ lulb".·\"\ "111.:. 'um ."r wuh th. " ~liG W,I<; III ...... reJX\lh.. J on 1«he r Skyr.ll.k"r lnl"h tn , J.' tilt' ,1.1\" went bv, and culnun.u c.J , on ZO [ uru- 1%; . m th.. tir-t ~1L(J kIll bv the :-'r.I,I., III VA-'!;.
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k escan
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from Yall kt' t' SWlio/l
A " ...:"n,1 ~ t.tJ kill tollow....l on y t \ :lLtoer 1960. F. -ur A ·1I " from VA - 176, one Ilf twu ~k~·r:.ll,l..·r un lh worklllJ.: from rhc earner Imrc(lltJ (eVA . II). wert.' "'I'e ro ll lll g wuh a
hdln 'l'll'r lIll a rl·SC11' nu-e.ron from Yankee Stanon, ,I
A Dougl" A·1H. c onverte d 110m a lorme' French AD·4NA by Jack Spanich. indiuled by Ihe dorsal air sc oop a nd lar ge door in Ihe cen lra lluse lage . h is paint ed 10 ,esemb l. A·1H BuNo 1235326. fre m VA-1761rom the car rie . USS Intrepid (CV-1Il. w hic h. piloted by lie ulenant li·g.) Tom Pa no n. s hol down a MiG-l1 over Vieln am on 9 OClob ..r 1966. Ar'hul Pearcy Arch, .... bV courtesy of AudrevPearcy
134
"f H,IIU'1im. l
SI,l1 ldinJ.: hy h) pick II I' anv ca.,> u'llti.·s froma biJ.: t hrce-cumcr smkc int " N"rt h Vicmam. TIll' Il';I,I" r "f Ill<." (11).:11I wa, LieutenantC"lIllll.m, I,·r L....l Cook. VA -I 76\ "'1"!o lI{fi· ccr. wnh Lu-utcn.m r (j .).:.) Jam." 'PIAI' WIIl.1· .1' h.. Wtn).:II\;Ul, and rh.......~I\n'I .....~ t l( \f1 \I I•.J h · LIl'Ull' IMIlt Po:lo:r Ru-,.....-ll. wuh L,,:'Utl'/lant (I.J.:.) Thoma- Patton. Sun- cnounh , ;1 ~IcD\lnndl F-4 Nunrom fr.'l1llh.· -mke wa- , hi l ,m..! Wl'nl JcMTl ~ O uulc -, "" 'lIth- \n'" of Han ", . The heh. cop ter W.I' "rJ.'rl.J " ....'\.'I dry' I" -c,ech fur tI"" down•.J ril"l and VA-lib's ::'r;kh 1,-,1· 1. ,w.·J lurn In over rhc ( 11;1' 1. 1IlI\l'Il{\UN• • ' I"" covc nne I he hcltc, 'rler.1l ~,(('(\tt. lhe other s"me dr-t.ruce h:hin..l a, back-up. The "h, -le ,1"w-l1lu\'in).: group t1ew I"ward, II"" 1ll;1,,,"...1 AAA an,ISAM ~ilcs Wd lllll).: f" r them. Thcv made II thrLIl.t£h IIll' flak. with the rear p.ur making )U pI' rl'"i' lil "r,lfillc run s, all.1 n, ' ln l·"i l.,s ,,'ere
• ('0 \18"1 OH.R
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rs ''''
f \ I' ~ IIlI, 'q- f_
II
SKYRAIDER MEN - Captain Chuck Mullanev. USN. Rtd Qui I.UIaret serwd If! ttwl Umled Stales Nao.y lor eleven yeafS and spllflll\lsentire
tne WI ~ons HIs 8ll¥iable recordWitS a lolal 0/ .,050 military II'llhIS. II'ItIUlling 15lI eatneI'-iIBct laM,ngs. n . lor sheef mileage. his total 01some 3JJXllIyIng hours "II the Spadlakes some bealmgl Oluct Mullaney wasbom on11 NDvemller 1935, til BoslOn. Massachusetts. eooeducated at asscoec JumOl colleges around resas Hi! scent two years in colle{!£! at tile Uniwrslly at Conoecl,cul before graduating, and imood tbe Na"'V on 28 September 1955 as an officer cadet He mel arid manteo Ann lesue at Cofpus Ebnsu, Texas, on 21March 1957 The couple hadthreechildren - li rs! Rick, Cindy two year s tete, and. aliBI' ttJee more veers, Daniel Mullaney's Navallhght training was done on a vanety 01 aircraft. as witS usual In 1tI:Ise days. He spent IlXllIours Uylng 1-2& . w.Th a lurthef 2Sllhours on !he SNJ(the NI'f'Y Vlnion 01 the T-6 Te..an 01 Harvard), the SNB, and H3s. lMmg his Navy eatllef III aboflew the A30 iWld the F9F-8. Most 01 hiS lime III combat was spent tlytng the StvraIder. ir'I:lOOlllIl hIS dutyower Voetnam WlItJ VA·l52 from the carner ~ InthaI PlPld he was awarded !Nt DfC. • 1 Aif Medals, NavyCommendalion Medals aI'l(I ~ 6rOl4I utalions He ovtflew lM!r}OA8 In the.squadron as far as ~I hw's __ A se.ooJe oltar once loid 11Im that. WIth Ills rank and eIPel"I8'lCe, heWilS the IIIClSl usabIlI pilot Il'l u. SQUadl'on He coukllead ee IlIII1Ie squadron 01 fly wmg Il'l a
-"""'"
On IeaYmgtllll SllMCe . Mullaney IlNned Amencan Anlines, on 2 May1966, asa Pilot Inlhll next 30yllars. he clockedup a funhel 20,00)01 sohours flying su dlffareol air, I..,. f\'llE!s He rewed from commerci~1 flyll''Il on 10 November 1995, bul Slill flies hrs 0Wl 1'llht alrc/alt for fun Mollaneol confesses 10being 'ahopelessbne-eouar workaho lic', and, whenhishobby ofcarpe!ltry Slopped being enough fOl him, he look up farming: 'Staned fooling Wllh cattle!hi! 5ilffilllime I wenl wllh!he airline and I still farm 400 acres'He livesonhis rmne
Clld; .... '-'l ill "'"'
..... - . - , lor doe ·k ... spu..·......dfool. . .I I • • 011 ....i........ . . . " - doH _
D1lt1r1y of! Vi. ...."', Child MIIlll ney
135
..
. ,..." " ••1 • 11. .. .
CfJM14"r OVER
VIH~" M
THf I'S .. .\ \'Y EXPf RIES(T II
IITl'.1 ,II them . 11" ' \"l' n 'T. tilt' ,'Ilt'my h ,l
saf,·ly. '1IIh" II.ch tlw downc...1 Phantom
othe r rlunu-, up hi s ~k\'\'l' ,1Il,1 ,I w,lmi nc W,I~ ... ,0 11 Tl·ll'in...1rbat (our J- t.Ci· 17s haJ
c rew was ne...·r loc at ed.
FIII' the ir lll'r" I<: w"lk . wluch rl'su h ...J in -c r.uul-lcd ttoma Hanoi ai rfid.1. 'IIlJ we re one Mi G J,·s lrt,~".J andone h ea\" il ~' Ja mon rhcrr W,ly ...-orh. ill.:'.J in the WIIlC, for uu tncndlv 1.lS......... TIlt' tour v ncruv jcr-, we n- ... ,un sic h l,...1 Patton rec eive...1 ,he ~ i l""r ~ I;lr and hi, hy C:....,," ;111,1 Wilq·. ,\OJ till'\' went d" wl1 three companion- rill' PFe. "11 rill' ,1,'(k. The ene my jd~ I~ ,11""".1. '1Il.1 rhc :\[)·l [1.- were i mm,-Ji,lI d~' lit:h l mc l~'r thcrr hvc-; Three J-ht'is h"n w..1
III
on
Night-Harassment .\liss;ons
C. ... ," .111.1 oul v A~ m Kor ea. the Sr:lds ,,1... , tlcw niuhr(r.l:~ m.IIl' 1t:llninc a t I, 'w level si!\'l·d them h.uassmcnr m issi, '11 " III Vn-m.uu , wuh Sf'l" tor till' monu-m. \Vil,·y even m,IIl,lc", 1 1l1 cial metal ~h i d,ls fix" ,1 aho n ' Ih e l'x ha tlst Cd 11\ a slla l'sh"t al one ,, ( h is ronncnn.r-, ' tal'b to blo ck 0111 c b n·. and aid n i,eht ,111<1....·, m- hn- , which c llIs,·d it 1" break I ,If, vision. Chuck MlI lI.lllq · n-cull...,1 " IH' bill there were ,till two more j,·t, wirh ni ,eht misvion, e Xl'l.linin,e I·X " d l~· what twice h is ~ r.·.·. 1 in 10 \\'. T he lead pa ir's luck slIl'h an :ll"Ii"n ill\'ol\'n l:
\X'il", ,1ll.1 rill' ot her
O il
l'oll l,1 not b~1 much I"nc,'r ,m,1 tlll'y ra, h".·,II"r hdr. hUI no rr" I.'( linC Amcr tc.rn Jl' 1 ~ were ;lv;lil.lhl,· tu " Ii".'r 11ll' ~ r; I, I~ pron-cuon. Lu-uu-naur Ru-,....·11 Ih,'ref, 're slcna ll"d 10 h l ~ leader, ·\V,··n· Oil our wa~' with rwo :'i l'a,l~ ,!OJ;I Hdu ~ ' 1111' 'Tl'XlI,' partv dul~' arnvcd I >n 11ll' .... enc .lnJ m.... k .1 head-on ;1I 1''' \.;. .IC;llnst two uf 11ll' ~lJGs. wit h Ru-,....·11 '«" rinc ln r-, this umc at ,','1"\ c ]......• rangv. TIll' other MiG W .I~ ,l.l\,·n on tlu- deck ;IIlJ. tornmatclv. til<' ,'n,'Ill,' 1'1 101 haJ n,ll ...........rn .J t he ......:o,lIl ~k\T. II,I,·r (1\.. :-':0 I liH H 1'11"1,-..1 1-0,' LI,' u1,·n.lIl! {J.c.) To"n Pa th 'n. which wa.~ "" IlI,' nllb asl,'m ,1Il..1 ~I i ll al '1.(\\"'11 t!.74\.'rn)
"IWI... k'. ~""llll! hl~ t,',lIn- mal,' in ,Iifl' IrllllH ,,, P , lll ' ll) Iln lll'~ l t .. tlTl,eI~· r ut his ~ 1'i1, 1 illl ll ;t 1" 'II" 'r .lln', " 'Ill,e h i' Iw ic ht ", I\",1I 11;1,e,' III htll l,1 III' '" a n' ~I"l"l:t :lhk' sl"·''l.I, ,f '1\,1 kll ' 'h. "n,1 .Iuly '1"'lIIK,... 1' till' ~Iit' . A~ Ill' e lml'
,I'lll·n. til l' "I1l·m ~· l' II" t l!lll ~ jch l " I him, hr.,l,' ''If h i~ ,1 W Il 'lll. ll'k al1,1 n,,,,·.. 11I1' III l!,lIll ""lIl,' " h llll,I" in oTlk r lu !,lIlli,h Ihi .. 11ll1"l'TlIIlI'nl'l'! 11"'\'\·\'e r. t he ~ I':I.I'" ~ I'C"'" h.I,1h"ill "I' slltlkklll l~' h~' Ih i ~ l inll' I" , I,"'. IIll' \:.11' 10 wuhm 5C'XYI (I 'i(lm l ol llll' '·Il,·nl\' Jl'1 ;111.1 P,i1 t,m h..):.1Il !'ullIrinJ.: otl l ! ,-'mm r, '"n,ls trllm hiS 1~lll r WInC c. mno n Ill"" ,hi~ ~lltlllC 1 . II1~e l . S lill llr1nc. h,' (,'n!mu,...1t,1(1,N ' h I wuhin I(\"'Ilt ( '(l-m) l'l lh,· ~ bt I. TW' " ,I P.Ut,.. C;lIl'" 'Il plmll.....l. Ih,· " r1ll' f 1'\" r.1Il ,"II "I "llllllUllitilln. hu t hll~ 11,'r,' 11.ll.mc.lit rill' rn...I.IlLlr. 1'.1111 'n tlll' n lIr,...l llls ZUlli cr'lllnJ·all.Kl ru,h·, .. a' Ih..· ~ 11(' .1' "lm,,1 j..'l.....t1lfl'. I'.llt"n W ,l~ r'·w..fd,....1 f"T h is .III,I...-ity. InT. "hh'l\lCh till" r.. , l'·I~ 1ll'.lr-ln,ss,...I. t h,· sl.lnl,...1 M il , · 17 hr., ke a W
n'"
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II,,·
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f,"~ ' I..:\.\.~['" h .m , ,hr Illh".J '1.ll k ' .mJ ,, ~ ;.,.\,"'... h ,m , lhe " ud...... J '1.11 ' ,"lIh,, ~ 2t>,11Ir.'l:m,..m .m"n h ..,.t.... h.·I"..·..·.....·... h x\"J"-",nJ.·r ...'I" ., I~ h"'f,1 " ..... I .I.\ '\ .' to~""l- ,~ 2l'm m, :-'<."',,1,,1 " II..· ,1"1.·m Ih.u ,h,· ~lll"'f"--"
Iill"!, ..",I wlwn I tlll"lh h..... "m· "",hI,· ~"'C'f\ 17mm " uhin r"nl!'" "f'I'"...J "r "n m~ . T1,,·l1.lk w." 1.'1),...". m ttl ,m,~ ""'. I tw Ill", rt· ~, t..n h;. w." Ih,I! ,Ill" cum"·.... h,oJ ..." "1..... 1,,, 'l",,1 Iylhr "1"..I.I....,·I,·f.",.J. A, ,I,.. ""'I:,nn,nl: '~ In.· rh-~o "'" 11",.1 ~ I e kllO " ~' k ' II 'ml\" I " ·••"",,,.J.II...'t .t..·f<.'
,~
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J, ", on I" 1+:1 k",(lo-
I ..... h.'\'f"'\ ... nh nil ",..n..lnJ I hl.'1 'r.-J ,hM Ik rho ~ .. F·I'\<. ".,1..1 ~, ,,,,", k .mJ I.,l"' :i ['K'un:. lho: '\',It ," "m"n" "..·n· .. ' IfIllt"'.J.
Sum ming up th e AD I )lInnl! tlun' .mJ ,I h.M ~'e, ln. ,,( imeft'< .m.1 ll
{"O\IIl ,\ TOV Ut \ ' 11:1\ ·\\'
N,I\'y ~\.;yr'IlJc r rH.llS p.ud t he- ulnmnr c pnce III (r.......I,II11. anJ JI J n, ,t rerum.
On 10 Apnl 1965. the U~ Navy con JOCll-J ,I tormal ceremony .11 Naval Ai r Sranon Le~I ""r.. when II", A·I W ,I~ 1111;\1· Iy rented. The N :I\'y ~r,I,I~ nll~llt be .. ffi ciall~' J ca,l. "Ill [h,·~' ~[I 11 fdu~nl l 'l lnJl,lwn.,tnJ the b~ 1 ncrual t:,' mh l [ l.umch "t rhe A·I w.r- by VAQ.H wuh an EA · IF
1111,"'11 on ! S I\.u·mlx·r 1 t}6~ . Til sum up t he N :lq'\ r'·~; IT.lI, 'r IIll" AI l. Chuck ~l u ll . IIl '·Y g::I W rill' 1; , lIow i ll ~ 1"'·Tl I·
The Navy A -1f 1 'll\,1A- I] Skvnudcr.. "WI' ahl.. ltl carry a couuu-rnu- a-un- in the form "t llw "I:I\\, b rd H :~ l l 'l ...l.llw AN/A LQ -~I, which wn-, Sl llt iCll' tl l III blo ck "Ill till' rud.u ctl1\lr" l, " I' the Norrh Victu.ruu-....· s'>\'i" lsupplied ~lI rlal,' - r ,,·A lr (~AM) ,m,1 Arm -
Apillllillostil.lorci operet ing d"p in , nolhe , nation's temlo...,. likl the Jep en e se in Burma or Ihl Red i'Kor... the Wesle, n l ilie s Ijuickl, lound Ihl! I s lla legic ' ole WIS dem.nded Irtlm their ctese lIIIIIlI"fI.ircr.1t: if they were to lend Otlltll invas ion 01 SOLlth Vietnam. a nd SlOp Ihe move menl 01s upplies. M" II lII.i,IiSlal prioritin . IS a lw a, s. WIS Ihe drapping 01 en emy-conlr olled bridges 10f road a nd rail ""'ic.llIis photograph dal ts Irom 13 J une 1961; US Nayy pilolS have dest royed Ihis highway b,i dge and CrIl..ecl iI, . pproach to a ler...,cro ss ing in a i' slrikes direc led al the importa nl Phu Qui crossing. 35 miles 1!Iil1l)lllHrIh·wes l 01Tha nh Hoa , US N~vv allle'l l phologr.ph
e-.s.
13 7
II
AlIcr; lh (AAA) r;tJ.u "C I ~. Tlu-, ",,J came complcu - WIth an in -lxnlr ram .nr lur" 1tw
r l.II.:'..J at [hl" fr om ti lT n-, clecmcal -v-tcm. The -v-tcm rltl~"l...t Ill. anJ .1 ~l1 \.1 1 1 EC~1 con",,1 .1Il..1 monuor "" ,\ wac , 1 ".~ h,..J I " Ilw '" on "I..k ,II the I'll, ,t·.. Ct 'n.... ,I,·. R.m!.:,· W,I~ al ap;1 problem ..1' e lm, \.; ~ 11111.nw y relate I: l '!Ill "l"'''!''~' .-,~,h~'Ur,...1 ,I...· "",·m.,1 hk·IM ~ -..: '-1:.,11,." I.ml ,." th.· '-'1"1t.., I" ·. n...· ,10. ... ". ,,,I<- ".1' ,I ,·,..lur.I ", I· ~ I "~II I ~ 1" ..,,.,,,, I I II...,,.,.n w"I"" I.·..,"'I,..t" ..·lIl1.:,,1' , ~ till" ,,,,,, Illh."lr'! ,....l , I,,,. I .",~·, 1..,,,,1,,,;,th.·, Ih,,,, h. '''IIl ~ )11' / "'l<' "''' ,Il<" "·I\I,,·ln,,·, II .,1.., h l',.,....·,I , Ill' ;1Il fud 1m,... Ih." ..w ,· 1n" .,Il,·,1 ,'", ,,,,1\1: I" "" tl lt' ",h.,,,.! 1"'1"1'" TII"I' '....1<" . '
( )I.: "u1" '·, no -uch rc-pn c came li lt' \\"
AD·I , AD·4NA, AD-4. AD'4l. A·1J, A·1J
AD· 40, AD·5, AD·6. AD·7 VA-1Z6
1958
1958
VA·135 VA,144
1961
1962
VA-145
195' 1951l
1968
AD·2. AD ·4, AD·4L.AD·40A lH. A·1J
VA·152
1959
A·1H.A·lJ
VA-l!>4
1948
1968 1948
1958 1966
AD-4. AD- 4L. AD-40
VA-ISS
1951
VA-165
1960
VA·174 VA 175 VA,176
"149 1048 1955
1959
AD-1H, AO-1J
1949 1957 1966
VA-194
104'
VA-I95
1947
VA-I96
1951
VA-215
1955
1049 1009 100' 100'
VA-ZI6
1955
1959
VAIAW)33 VAAW-35
1955
1960 1960
AD ·SW. AD-50, EA-1E. EA-1F. A-1E
e~-VC-33
1951l
AD -l , AD·2. AD-20. AD-3. AD-4. AD-4B. AD -4L. AD-4N. AD -5, AD-6
e~-VC·35
e~-VA·l9A
AO-l ,AO,4
e~-VA-2DA
AD -4NA. AO -4Q. A-1H, A-1J
e~·VF·I94
A-1H,A -1J
VAQ-33
1951l
19119
AO·4NL. fA· If
e~-VAAW·33
VAW-l 1
1949
AD·3, AD·4W AD20. fA-IF
e.vc.u
AD-4W. AD-5W
e~·VC -1 Z
fA· IF. AD, 4, AD·4L, A·1 H
VAW-12
1949
1960 1961
VAW· 13
1949
1968
VFIAWI4
1955
AD·5 1958'---_ '---'-'-
Irom 111<.' ,:. ,( kl' ll o f
==_ e~·VC-4
,..
."
CHA PT ER FIFTEEN
Combat Over Vietnam The USAF Experience TraininJ,: "I ;l 1 111()~1 vvvrv USAF pdp, III til' Sl'tN.' of h u mour, wh ill' u Tlll'rs Ii.uml thornthe Skrr,Jj,ll'r in (ll mbal bt.'!I\'lTIl ]964 ,In,1 sdvl's nn her f'l''l'll'xl'd to be a"sil-:lled tn it. 1972 lI'a~ clTric.1 nut hy ·H()()C\ unl-ar Crew TrJininj.! s..\ll11 fnuu jeb I ,f 7CX)'l'lll., "11 4 Novcmlwr, its ,Iirrmft cmryitll! VNAF mph ( 1,i2~klllJh), tel gnlund.stmfinf! pi,. ton-cngmcd Sky rak lers. il was a n-,Ie reversal for which m;lIlY volunn- c-rc.l with a wry
mark inus. Stl'p.by-Stl'l' Anwri.:an ,IIR'Ct p.mu-ipation in the comhat fi/.:hting I'ru/.:fl's,Sl,, 1 from IlyinJ.: as 'a,kis"rs' wit h
'Firebird' OYer Vietnam, a good air-to-a ir vie w nt a hea vily laden Spad on the prowl over the blltlleground. US ~1Vf Offici.t photograp h
139
Vil'tllallll'SI.' aircrcw, thn,ugh t]yin/.: mis,i, ,n... aCC\'lll p,m yin g VNAF CI'[l't>; -ull aw,liting their Sr, Hl'si, ll' Irai n ing, mil! tlyinJ.: m i"iolls in Cl11l\I'an~' with VNAF aircraft, I" in,ll" pendent c" tlIh;u sorties. The USAF Sk~'T
of t1w co ntrol panel. Convcrsclv, much ...xtra radio cquipmenr was emna rkl'd .
Am' lI1/.: other impn'wd navigarional instruments, thl',!, had UHF, VHF ;ClaJ.:l' ahaft tlH.' cockpu III !'I'rT wa, ;1Il FM
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(. II .
622 whi l' aute n nn fo r uir-to-g rouncl cornmuu icurionv, wh ill' tlH.' UHF antenna I'm jl'lll',1 til ~ta rl,,'a rd, /l.lulInte, 1 further l-uc k ,1IId ccntrnllv \\",S tlH.' St ll" hL"l e AN!A RC27 U HF uun-una. "Itholll.::h sOllH.'times tlu- ARC- I was fitt ed instc ud, wit h the T ACAN (AN!A RN-2 1) I'psitipm'd bl'hind it, ("II'I\n,,1hy till' ra,li. '-com pass 10. II' ;ll'ri "l hI-hind ;1 circular f01 irin).:, und 01 r;I.1i, ,("1111''''' sl·J1sin).: acnal , tllm).: to till' leac]. in,!.: l',lgl' of the \'l' ni,'a l sLlhili:n, T Ill' AN!ARA -lS U HF hum ing antenna W,1S
wh ile t he FM horner was I" bi tiulll'd under the re a r (lIsd a).:e , U~A F cquipnu-nt aho illc!ttd l·d a ll XM-·P mine dis l'l' llsc'r, whic h was not rd'·'I.'l'd III /I.·IA I' rec ipients of t he Spa.!. T he USAF Sk~rakkrs a ls" ,Iitfl'r,',1 (rum those sllpplit',1 to till' VNAF in t haI ml bt rl'l;l illn l tlw ir tai l hooks. For Air F,ITl"l' men. flyillJ,.: a Nnvv pl.uu011,1.1 k;,d t" lltl"Xpl'U,'d prol-lcms. Fl' r example, there nrc several C;N.'S on record PI' USAF pilllh startillj.: ro take olt whit" till' airer"t't" wings Wl'H' still in t hl' I;,l,bl
In dll' ca-,c of the two-scat AD-5 (A I E), some 1111 Illifil'a\ i, ' 11 totlu- c ont n ,Is 11',"
considcrcd l1l'(l'ssary hy t he U SAF. Thi, wav to give c rechbilitv Ip the 'Viem.rmcscIl nwn - Amcricau-advi-cd' role under whic h rhc tN' " f tIll' Skvnuclcr h;ld l-eon .'i;m rt i" lll'd h ~' Congr,'ss. T here was an ad.lili.l\l;ll (rem, wa hle) thronlc control lever fined at t he c e nt ra l con » rlc ro.,i l ion, dtrccdv connected to till' pilot 's tbrotr!e on Ihe lett-hand con-ole . Tlu-, ext ra co ntrol lac ked throt tle ,t"rs and merion loc k-, bur ,'nahle.1 the (o-r il" t III make lett-handed adjustme nt s. Lrkcwrsc. a 'spore' cont rol Slick grip, o.uuplctc With is •-wn g Ull t rij.:j.:er, bomh re leas e and trim tab con t rol , fc.atu re.1. while Ol tcw A -I E., "I",) had rud.lcr trim o, mH. ,I. which workcdon manual ,dec (i, -n •,f ;] t rim selector -wirch. !n IIll'o f)· 1I1l'1l , t he American in -t ruetllr!;,.h-isllr .' a t alon gside the Vrctnarnee prlot, III pracuce. t he maJunt y III combat opcrauons were conducted hy the Amenca ll pil. ,!. TI ll' Vicuunuc-c ;lSsistanh were r ruJ.:lessivc1y d"l\nj.: ta.!l"I , firsl t" rlu- rtlle of I'a."ive sl','(I;lt"r, rlwn . when rr.uned VNA F pi" ltS became I'Tl lfid l'tlt en ough ro work wilh their o wn Skvr.uclcr "'1llOl.1 rom, h,'ing sllhsfHUte J hy unrramcd ~ I"onnel jllst I" fill the -cnr , These untortunarcs wen- J.:in· n th e h umilialing nickname (If 'S ;l!l,lhaJ.:; by the Anu- ncan ,lIrnwn!
Increasing Interven tion
Combat over Vietn8m, An A-IEof the USAF. BuNo 132665. dropping 8 bomb on an enemy position. McDonnell Douglas, long Bucll
hllll" ...1 "t till' ,'xtn'mity llf tlll' ~tarhuOlrd willJ,.:. with till' AN!A RN - 12 nlOlrh'r hea con h..ing similoJrly lp..:atl·,l tn sta rh., ard, whik' till' AN!A PN -22 r;l,li.1 a lt imcl l' r h;,.! a simi la r position mid -wOl Y a lpnJ.: IIll' , ta rh",r,1hori:onta l sta hili:e r, Fro tll th e lu\\',' r starl'l 'a r.1skI.· ,,( Ih e rear fll~eL ' j.;e l'x t,' n,led the h u ri:. ll" ,,1 F/l.1 hll lllinJ.: a nt,'llll;l, with till' AN /A RC-44 VI IF-FM radill ah \lH' iT,
o,n figllr
140
The eSLlhlishment lIf I FiJ,.:l u ,' r Sq uadron (Commando) FS( C ) at Bien 11 0 ;1 ;lirfirIJ, \\"l.' a ., ign ific;llll escalation in American Intcrvcnuon in S"U1h-East A,i Ol, It was lI riJ,.:lllall~' planuccl 10 hOI\"(' th ree AmenGill Sk~'Tai, lt'r Sllua.lrllns in place, {(l provide th,· n ....:e'sou y 'stiffen ing' (If thl" VNA F uni ts and, in till' wor,ls llfOl'nnal J,),el'h . 1. ~ I,Xlfl' I If 2 A ir I livisi,m, {(l'lead hy ex amp le' . T he fiN l k to" h mem of ! FS( Cl was hased a l Bil'n lI \1a 0 11 8 Jlll)' 1963, as part Ill' 34 Ta(l i!:a l (JrllUr, hUI it5 (iN A- I Es ,Ikl n,)( ,lTTive (h e re unt il I May 1964. Th,· sqll;tdnln was Ctlmma nJcJ fiN hy Lietlt e n ant -C \lmma nd e r John ~l. Pon,'r, ,m,1 suhseq llently by Lieute nantC\ )ll\nla nd,' r Wil liam R. Eiche lherger. Origina lly ;lCti\';lIed on 17 JUTl l" 1963, tlll'redesil.:ll;lleJ 1 Ai r Clllllmanc!o SquadI' ,n, C).'m p,"ite, h:Gl11ll' r an l,f 62 5 I Taclica l FiJ.:h t,' r Winj.: on 8 Ju ly 1965, Oclrtj: switdll',1 1\1 , '[" tica l Figh ter Wing frum 2! N, '\ ·e1\lh....r 1965. Ry 8 Ma rch 1966, the un it had becollle p,Jrf lIf 14 Air ulOlmanOO
,..
." Wl'R' till' tra ining ufVNAF rill us. but I1K'St' s,xm l'xl';md".11
Win g. Its uriginal .lllf ks
InCOIl""T,lIl' mon- ucuvc 1'
the war. Thcv Ill'w rS~'l-h"l"g i cal wartanmu..sions . then phot o-r cconn.ussuncc mis-
sinns, ;m,!. (inall y, full h"mhi nc comba r missions.
On I:; August Iy6 7, now ,ollll1l;m,I,'d hy Licurcn.nu -Conuu.mdcr J:lIll n R. lhlJr.'rh, tlll' un it was fl',k',i cn;nl~,l ,I> I A ir Commando Squadron. FighkT, !-d oTe hc inl.: Tl'<,r C;llli:l,d as p.rrt " f ')6 A ir Commaud. \'Ving. on 20 Il"l ,'mlx'r 1967 . Tht-, wine W;I.' ;hdf rl'd" ,ig1\,Ik'd ,11 ';6 :-;1',', i,.1 Or'l:" lli\'n, Wing.l1n 1i Au gus' \ 46 7, rill' unit W;lS fl',ksh:n; lIl'll yr'! ilga in, hn :omin J.:
Rcvvcs, were assign" .1 III Au gust 1967. T heir initial dunes w\..rc t" 11 ~' AvlH AN I) A -Ij S k~-r'l iell'fs fro m their s[o r'lge fidel nt Davis-Mom han over to rbc US N,lV~' IRAN I;H: ilit y 'II Q UOIN'I Pouu . Rh....lc Island. (or r,'(ur f'.ish nwl1l , Hn,! then to flv [hem had fo Enul.mcl. Grad u'lll)', a fUrl her
14 pilulS a rr ived and, under the command ,,f Lieutenant -C, rmmamjer Rep!'. a pTlll'~'r Imining I'r,'gr,lmnw be ga n . Th is c.uutn1l\" I'Ill[il Feh nl 'U)' [9AS, when rhcv wentrun-fcr rcd by C- 14 1 via [Ill' S urvival S.:h' lol ut Clark A FR [ If I'leiku. Vietnam. U nde r III" ccuurnaml ot C ommande r W'll· I:K,' A, Ford, their ~'s t a h l i sl ll m' l1l slTl'ngth was 2'; pilot s with I Vi airmen . Three
moun ted over a [hr~" ' -elay pcnod bet ween IS ,md 20 Jalluary 19Ai. as ,I pre-empti ve str ike. priur to t he ,k,folia ti.ln run s hy Ranch Hand C- 12 3 Provider nun-p ort planes ~'quirl'cd wuh Aucnt O ra nge chcmicul SpTilYS. Some 3951OIls ofl.... 'mhs. incht.ling a brgc number fitted with dcluy-acuon (IN'S. were ddiwre,1 into ,1I1 area of IK,500 ac res, which cllIK,',lleel an ent ire en emy' n'gillll'lll and its cquirmcnI . Operationcon nn ucd rhroughour t he SI'T,I)'lng l'l'Ti,,,I, placing
AUSAF AD·6, BuNo 152243. in the usual camouflage paint scheme used in South·East Asia. McDonnell
Douvlas, LO"GBea ch
I Special O",' r;ltion s Squadrpn, a nd Lieutenam-Commandcr [ohn A . S A f,,!I. Jr. assumed command, in IO IJcccml-cr J 967, On 5 Janu a ry 1966, I A ir C"mma n,lu ~an olX'r,lt ing
trom Ple iku Air Basc. Meanwhile . a second U S A F S kvraidcr "'!ltlJron - 6 Ai r C,lmm.m.l,} squadro n \\'as hcin~ furnll',1 ,ll Enl.:bn. j A ir Forcc Ba~ il' pan of I Air (:o lllln
\\'~'\'b
l.u c r, in mkl ·~ I
20 .urc ruf wen- uIII"aek'.! ut C a m Ranh Bay from rill' c-con carrier trnnvpor t sh ip, an d rill' s
/4 /
As an ex t ension u ( [hi s operation. [he US A F Sp,tcls wer t' hac k over till' a rea again on 31 March , th is [ink' d rorping napalm to it.:nit,' [h e 1,200 ga llull' of .lk .,"1 (u"1 dllmrl'l l hy' C· 12h in 'l r.I,'r to vtnrt t; ,rest fir,'s, T h is proved a damp .....IUlh, il S [rorical th ullde rs(, lTlTI-'; st' lpr<-" I t h~' ClHltl,lgT
..
, ..... ...d ~ I r. ".
Clos e-Suppo rt Opera tio ns On the whole. mort,' convcnuonal eI, .....'· 'III" .... ,n "1'<:f;lll"'b r run-J to ...... I ~()S\ torte. C1"-'f;lllr\J.: el,,,,... to tho: l'nL'lIly nom '~,rwa rJ tlrl'r, lI i n~ locanon-, (R1L,I. rhcv were ,lblL' to ~i n' L'''',J and alm. "l in'lan! ' ur I" 'n h IAlIi..:J Cl'l>lmJ I~ ,rce" R,ullhl' C."I
hrch . In on e 'IKh 111'''1''''. earned ,>Ill 1WJ6. III rd ll'l o' .10 AIIIl.J ~I"""olJ with machine 1-,"-10 ;. In command uf till" 'Iriline 10K..:"" W,I'> MaJ"r 1\t: marJ F. Fisher, who Il,·w wnh winj.!nl.lll C apt.un Fr.HlCl'CO (paCtI) Va,qu..:·:. Bad weather, with vcrvlow d uuJ ;lnd dncrlc, had ';'TCl·J them ha.:k till' J"y As in KOle e. a lthough iel airc'a h were use d predo minantly lor ai, s lrikes, 10 good I"'-'I~ m-. TI,i, euuc. h"W"H'T. Fi, her h'Gtll.J a ettect, Ihere wes still a need lor en e ircreh Ihlll could ca rry large amounts 01 heewy h" k· in th..:· murk. end led hi' fl\'O: companordnan ce, a nd yel s lill hllvelhe ab ility to lnite r 'on· c all' in the tIlrget l one. The I"n, , I"wn thrllu).!h it to I1Mk..:· low-level ranc nale of Ihe Stuka lind Ihe Daun tless of Ihe Sec ond Wo,ld War wa s s ee n s h il io :tIl.11 b. TIll'Y I'mer).!..d hl'lwilth till' do..d be II valid e once pt, liven two decad es or more Iater, The Douglas Skyra ider wa S lhe L I~w ; 1I a lwidu t If al... HIt HL"'Oft . wuh the tops last of Ihe dive bombe rs in Ihis classic tradi tion, a nd leter ada pta tions 01the 'Able · of tlu- hill, llwi\ihlo: on either 'I,k· uf them. Dog' se ~ ed we ll in Ihis role, He lll, a USAF Spad, BuNo 132SSJ, he ads oul on a nolher mis s ion over South Vietnam in 1965, USAF oflrcr,1 phologr.ph T he lin:1 1 al'rToa.:h called t'''r a low1"n,1 ,;trait.:ht Il i ~h t . run runu Ill\' ~0( lin' Ir.•il" , !Ill' ":"lln·n, I I.U1k , h.I,1 t" h.. on which rlw l"ITiI.-hlll'· h.I.1 1.lill...l. 111.1,1.rd,·.......... 1,II not) I"w I,,:'\'d (In'lIl ')(\.... ! ')0!I). h,lrJ I.m.linL" ,HI,1 til<.' .1lI11lllln ltl"n t lll'~ I ,I till' A Ill"n':, lll r;l,li,'llll'n ;1I the I-a....., who whl.:h 1ll,h.I,· r1w ~ky r. II.l,·r . 1 ' 11I 1llt.: ,Iu..: \... \WTl' .:,LTT'.- itlt.: .Il'h'n.ltl-J .1Il,1 \ 1.1' W,I' ll-J, l.:'ln' rll'-'Ill ur-I< ,·,b lL' ,Id,u l, l>t' Ihl' Sllo-d rm· Ni cht illl l·r,I.l!I"n "" rl 1l" .11.... h.-..:.ll\ll· ltl l:: l'lll'Ill\,\ l' lC,ui "n al"nc thl' "'-ltJlhem T...... i.:, Iwr,' ":'\. ,In·J h\ 1~ )~ wh"rd,\ I'r,·· Imull.II\, ' tr.lllnl-: W.I',,,n, lud,...I. 11 , Ill' \" .1IlJ r ,lrl an.! r ;lr.:d ,,' till' I ~ )S\ ,llIl ll·" .1' I.lll' o' lhl' hi lk i\:"rill' Ih.,. tlll'Tl' Wa!o Intill' 'ul'I'lv .!n'I'J'l· - ,·.I.:h :\· 1 .:.>lJIJ u rr)" I ho:~' h.d I~ ,r Ih N.lvv C"Il11tl·rp.I"'. TI ll'U II.· lilt' ,IX rd"l ' ltlulJ ,I., h I imrrllH' tbelr Ill' t " "Idll " I t1w · ,:oll\\·n,...II.lIlb - 1,,1· un,la,I,ll" WL'fl' 1'NJh' hn. .lud , 1 III ~"no lllhtr 1966, 10 Iwlr 11lL' l';Ifrol k-J IIr an ,1 ,1" wl1 11ll' 110 C h i ~llIlh l ':II'I.lin 111lh.'n Kin!! h..J hi, WlnJ.« n:m In ,'nJ h I,",: ,,,, tlMI In' r,' '",·l ul'YIllC.1Il 'iTL'.1 tr;llilll .111 dfu" t" re'ITlCI Ill<.' 11"w 0 1' ur' , h.ull·n-J ,til.! "'''-' 1~ 'rc..:.J rll hr!;"ak .JIt' an.! \\1'" ," till,.' "",",..Ir",, ', .tlrild,l. AC-,Iln. rilL" ""in ~ Il·J d"wn t" t ill' VIl't.Cont.: ;m, 1 aa,h·l.mJ hll:l ,It rteiku , UnJ,ltmtl.J. thr ,tlth.lt lch th,· Ih..:,,'I"\' W,I' J.:I."1. n....ult ' ",,'fL' r-.: VA from n,'nh "I Ihl' ()~I Z. ro:m,IIIllIlC S"'...!~ (l) m1'k·r,...1 rhe liN 1Itnkcw ...,
I'n
142
h) ~l.lf\:h
...., a!h! IlJm~·,1 l-ac k into till' n IH ..' "f (in ' 10 makea ,,'['lIl,1 Tu n . On tlu- wayl-ack in, rhl'
Skymi-b ,,( :-.t.IJ"T' ");)1,;*1 W. ~ l~'as " ..,k ;l '<-'ti,,"S hit (r,'m ,I nllllll G lIlIlOIl, which Ln, ICh...1h is "Il.I.!1t1l' our and tilk·J h is cockpit with sliluke ,m, 1 h um-.., MYl'fs raducd.
'l'cc been h it and hn lia rd.' Fi-hcr 1\',Is in om.! (unlinlll"'] huk, 'R"J.(, you're I ' ll fin- .uul hu rn in J.: e IL';I T buck past your r.nl.' MYl'Ts' ;liTera ti w:u, (
c1,~ CI'Il!;K(
down
,I'
11l' had nil vh ihility forward. an d
the ,Iit sl rir , II till' ha-e was nndc r CI ,n t irun >IIS shdliol.: :.s hl' ll1;l,k· hb di,I., ;ll'l'ru'1Ch. Dt.~l'i ll· ,.11 dll' "•.lls. I\.lyl'rs malk' it ,llm, lst down lin tll l h,' tiny ~fri l', hut , at the 1a~1 moment. rt'ali:",I Ill' wOlll.l not he nl-k- ro
Douglas A· IE Skyra ider, No. 52·133905, 1 ACS. Arlhur PearcyAtc~lve. bycourtesy of Audle y Pearcy
btul' in nrnc. Aj.!'lIn l.!uick·d h~' Fe-lter, luretracted hb IIn,k'n:arri'l).!", t hen rriccl .uu l failedto r,'k'a~ hi-, l-cllv flld tan k; Ill' wtt led In\\TI ' \11 till' ~t rip ,111 yw,lr, th'·l.!a~ ,'xl,l, xlinl.! on contact and ,",l\·,'rin)..: h i, a in:rat"t in a sheet (If tl.unc. lncrcdil-lv. My,'rs ,ur\'i\'l~d borh thl' phlld Ix'lly lan, llIl).! ,111,1 till' fir,'. mana!.:e,I ," extract l' nmsclf ,m,1 t,~,k Ulv,' r at the ,oJ).!" of the' .nr-t np. -ull uudc r tlr". Ha\"i n)! \\"itrll'~s,',1 My,'rs' ,:''''':,11''', ~t l j ll r Fishcr r"ro rt",1 till' -nu.uion t" Ihe Co mmaud PI"', Wh'l jl,I\'i'l',1 t hat , I resc ue hcl icopte r w",,1.1 h,' -vnt fllr /l.-1~'er,. Fichcr dec ided that n woulcl arrivr- t<~, LH", ,1Il,1 would, ;mYW;IY, - r andhnlc ch.mcc of sur vival. H,' t1lt' rd~ 'rl' lml,le 1Ill' deci,inll III go in ;tn" get hi, sqlla,lrun mat,' h im,,·If. With ",n"r m, HiS hra n 'ry, Ill' 1,1Ild",1hi" l\\'n
Skvnuclcr under ,'tWIlIY fire and pluc ked M vc r-, from un de r the en em y's nose, while his four re ma ini ll)! o lln r;ldes - VaS<-ju,':, Captain J' In Lucas, Captain Denni- , Ib).!ue - cOllllucll',1 sl r;lfln.c: runs til c over h im, ev en utter th,'y ran out of un nnunirion. [)uritl).! th b I'ha Sl' , Capta in LUGls' A ·\ suff,'red hcnvv flak ,!;mw).!e. Fittin)!I}', Fishe r was Olle 'lf lln ly t wo S kyr a id,' r pi lols in Vic-mum III receive the Air Fo rn ' Medal Ill' Honor. H is uall.mt mount . BuNu ,264\), sllrv in',1 th is, a nd ntlll' r h 'lir·ra i., in)! Im S.'l nn s, :1 11,1 nnw rni,ks Oil disr by ill till' A ir For.-,' Mu selllll ,It W ri!.:ht ·I '
All Air Commando A·1E Skyraider lake s off. USAF Museum vIa Hugh V Morgan
143
6505 0 11 I A ugllsl 196H, 'Ptnlucr' was , Iror rll,.- d [rom 6 ACS's fit le (10 th e J lSgusl of tm lSt of rhc pil,lIS), an d it was tl,J esi)!nated a, 6 Special Opcrat ions Squadron as part of 6H Spccial Opcr nnons W ing . TI le y were S(~lll in Ill'a \'y cornbnt nnd, am
..
, ..... ...d
~l'. ".
/Abolfe} l oa ding ordna ncll on a USAF A-1f , USAF Museum."a HlIlIh V Morian
USAF A· IE dropp ing bombs on Villl-Cong posilions. USAF MuseumIfreHughV MOlg .n
J"rlll·d rhcm Oil 2l' December 1'J67 ~mJ dll'~' coutmued 0rt..rauon-, from there unu] P tTl'll\hl'r ItJ72. Their r" le flyinll ~"'lr(h .nul rescue (SA R) II1b~r"l1~ made t lu-m \\'t'll Lilt '\1'11, h UI thcv ,II" 1l"l'lldul"1l:d ll"~l'-'lrl'l'\l rt .ui d dircct-smkc combat 11\1"1"11', Tn ' ic ll :,kF'l idl'r ordn,rnn.' CU, rk.l on SAR lllr"i"n, over Sollth-E.I" A'I;1 coou-nscd four C BU-2'i c mi,tl:r; (ulllainrllj.l mulnplc H E ho mhl"h, two CHU-21 c.mi-tcrs with '1lI"k<.:' hllll H,,1S, two AN-t-. I·J7 wh it" pho-phomu: (WPI '111\ ,ke I"'lllh,. I In) LA U - ) pod-, each con1,1l1111lj.l 19 H E rockets, t\\'lI LAU-59/68 ["-,,-I, wuh -cvcn while rho'rll<'r"u~ markvr rh
suo.n
144
..
•• CO\IR \T on!! v II' r-, , \I
USAf Skyr,idef unitt - South-En! A"i ----
""
lACS
r""
"''''
11·6-63
A·I{
""" .~ "'"
CAI-"""
Te
Qu, NhDn
lSOS
l.f1·6710 15-11-72
A-1EIGIHIJ
19611'3
A·)EIG/H/J
Pieiku
ES
1968/lO 10·6910 1972
A·I ElH/H/J A-IH
NakilOn Ptanorn
TS
Oa Nang
rc
"'"
A-l!EIGIHlJ A-IIE/GIHIJ
P1e'ku lJdom
n n
NIMTrang
~ SOS
!01' CS !01SOS
N,,,, Became 150S h·! ACS
f'\e"u
Te
Nal
6505 22 505
THE t '\ H I, \l'lllll:.' n.
1970
Became 603 50S h · 6OJ ACS
II, ..""
""""'"
r...' lk·'II.'1\:lh:J 60l SOS. m O \ 'lIlt: I" Udorn ,urfld J anJ rhcn III Nakhon N 1.tn , »n, Th.nlanJ. Like rill" ul h...·r USAF SI"I,IIIllI". I" r il"" Ilcw -earch ,IIlJ r"'·'<."ll'" mb,i "n' [ known ", ·S.lndy·. ,l ~a lll .utcr a call-surn, and rill" Air Futce\ cq urval...·1lI 10 1Ill" N ,,\'~", rl" 'CII' lIli"iun , ) in "lI'ru n " I n "' ,,: m' hehcur l"" r" ott ~r ...-a t pt:r.;u n:11 ti,k . TIw j, ,h, l till" Skyrili,It,{ wa-, lu lOC H...· and r Lr t1W"" XOICt I" " iii,lI1 of any .;hlll .,J , II-\"n ;llrH"" II". and then III p n It...oc t suc h survive ,n. from "" (l\' l1\y ,1{loKk
603505 TIll: .. r1ll'r 1.llll" lI' USA F Shr.u,l..:r " llI,I,lrun ".1' W2 ACS. kn" wll .I' rill' ·h r...· Ill ·.;' ,Ifl...'r Ih... lr c IIl- .;1l,.'11. It ""rl..:d " u l , ,f 1'1 ·,l u In ' lll \\)(>-4 "n\l·,lrJ,.
dunc"
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wuh 1111' Srad'- "" IlilYtoloucr ,,,'vr an area f.'r man v h..urv cou ld combine ,u... h J ln'n>c dutl"'" ..... ,.;l ln·...·.;,{ully. ()ll t' "f rlw' "" S,md}' " Ix' ro t! i. Ill'. t1. .wu by flO), 1'r. "lun ·J rhc· .;...-cond A I, h ,r...,..., medal llI~n . l11l'ir Ct lln lll; Il1,! j ll~ " tji...T r. Llt' UICIl;lfl[-C!.,I"nc1 William A. jone' III, 11';1'; 11\ 1Il~ 01' 'S. ill,h·-I· " n I :X·rl",·mlx·r 1968, In ,I rw" -r1.lfl"'· l"nn 'lI iun - hi' 9~Ih c"mhu 1n1"lun n l tlw w,lr. Tn...· ""J"''Llin· " I hi.; ....·.Irch W,I,.hlnwnL.J Md \ .nnd l F-4 PhanJl'I 1l.,nh·"T't t,fllt.nt: 11,11 . A f.llllry from the F-4\ c n m p;tTllon , had k.J J" n ..... ,j, t ra \ . W.I'tlll~ I'r"''LIOU' lime and flld Ix' I.. r..." ,I N••nh A me{1t',1Il F·I OO Surlt:r Saha ' rl"-,lia·c IL..1hUll 10 til<' COrT.....:1 h1\:;lII"n. \V h ll.. · tlyinJ:: " loll' cr i,,-c Tl ".; r ol! · t""rn t" \' I';\I.llIy ll ) lilt" ril ul. JOII...· ' ;urcm ft 1"111
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1,11.1.' hun from ln-, c harrc...I .mJ Hackenc...1 Other Work cockpu ,10,1mI ll ho-puul. Fomma n-lv. rhc ;I1l,1 'lOr)" had t wo h,lrr\ ,·n,lmg., - the ril ..1 Anot he r r"l ,· f. 1 which
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Pall,'llIly eirehnl! over ~1l~f'l'd ,...1 cnemr u "" p conccntr.mons. or \\"u rkill g the skr uhc;I,1 of Allred I!r" un,1 l'au llls, the A·I pilol lwr umc l-oth ucnul "h~l'n'l'r and fireI'll\Wr SlJl'l",n CI ,m TlIJIt.·r. 11 ,' """1111.1 ~i~hl th e hicl,lt.·n vncm v and ("r,'s,,,11 h" amhll , I1l" ~ h ~' rad,,, wamllll.: Itl hi ~ col1,';\cll"S" 11 11ll' J,:rt 1\.mJ , anJ 11l" WtllllJ direct hcavv at r -mk c-,at
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A hen ily .nned USAF 'Sp.cr heads tKI1 on an-olher mission .
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_ _ _ _ ---"' SKY=R=A 'O "E"",,MEN- Major Be",m"'""d"',,,,R = 'h"."""",,SA,,''--The WOfthv holdet' 01 one of only twelve Air reee Medals of Honor, MajOf Bernard F Fisher was 110m in San Bernardino. CalifofO'3. 00 11 January 1927. Sooo alter his arrival. tllS famllv moved to Clearfield. Utah, where he was raised. attllOdlng lhe Clearlield and K1rvwJ11e 5CtlooIs On hisetghleeflthblnhday.lhe 'fOUIIliI Fi$Iw became subjecllo the VOO program oj the US Nao.v III Milch 1945. and was called up 1M wafseMC8 I'e served lInetlv011 ee end of the SetondWorld W~. RllOOllKs dtscharge in March 1946. !O resume his ItIdemIt ClII_ He atterJ:led Ibse .II.rlIOl College between 1!M7 and 1949. and then maped III Fine Arts Illtle lJniwnJf'/ 01Utah trom 1949 to 1951 Heserved WlttI the A~ Natlooal Guard from 1947-50. betOl'e vol· IIl1leering 1(If the Ail Force and commencing officer ltaiml'9 ln 1951 On 10 JanlH1ry 1953. Fisher received a US Au Forte FlOTC tomrnlSSlOfl and enrolled as a student Offlcef at MiJr.IniI. AnlORil. tor pnmary flYing 1J3U'1ing This was IoIot«I by IIasItFlying Schoollll1tructlOll at W,lltam$
AM reee Base. A/ll'llna.lhe Instll,nelll School al Moudy AEII. ~ nI the Dayf.ghtel' School a! T~N Mil. FbicII. """"" he flew IN F-II) On lI'ilduallOll. he
Illume • JM-I1!tlter pllot and steadily progressed 'IIJI:JuriI AirDefense Comm.Jnd On !he successful conclUSion of hiS tralfling. FIsher JOfIlld hiS hrSl operational squadron. as a pilot In 42 Fl!lhlerInterooptorSquadron IflSlbased at O·Harefieid. 0wear"J, where he Ilew f·86Ds Betweeo scuedrcn MotS. healsoaneoded the Squadton Officer School at MuweIl AfB. Alabama Heconllnued to serveW1Th lh,s . v.tJ1Ch, III August 19S5. hadbeen redesq1at ell IS 6J f1S. unul DecentIef 1955, when he was 10 1)9 AS. then based at Owtose ARl. Japan , hecompleIsd a 1uIl10l.l al dill\'
In the IIl8iII'1 tllTe IIemafd hadmet n mamed ReaNl Jane Johosoo The couple l'Iad h..e SOIl\$ - Bradford. Wilham. F\obtJln, T,molhv and Soon Bemald Fisher's IIBltllllM! was 10 The loteteeptorC0ntroller School 110m wha,e hewas asslQOBd to1lI1 AlTl:raf1 Control and Wall1l11g (AC&W) Squadron, then based at MalstromAFB, Montana In 1959. he aneoOed the USAF Instructor School at CoMoII'I MB. Iesas. before uanstenng to 29AllOI'liSlOll as a weapons contro/lel In FetJru. IJiIV 1961, Itwasbatt lOJE'IJldev. W111l his~ to 20 flS as fl9Jt Cmwnaoder. ......rwe he new !he f·101B Now' a CaptaIn. Fisher's nert 3AJOII1I1IIl!Ilt was 10 310 flS. wt\dl was ~ wrtIl tnatl'OlOOOuS plloHll1M
e....tftllllol. USAf. w ith hi, C' I'W chi-'_ USAf Mu, . um VII Hugh V Morgl n
147
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the f l ()4·Starl~ter, "Nhde Wllll 1t11, 0011. based at Homestead All Forte Base, flonda. fisher IWtal sur· vived complete engine lailures on thiS alreratt. Onboth occasions, it would have been sere. andquna proper. for mm to have baled out, but he hadtwice elected 10 slaywilh his arcratt and nurse It back to earth in safe COI'd,l1on lor eldIlIlRiItion For Ihne CClU'ageDU! eecI10flS he recerved f8tl9IltlQr1 /rom the Air forat in the form al the Air Medal He surmoed II III to make MaJor No!: Cl:I"lWlI W111'11hese rv.o fIlftallORS WIIh di!e1h. fisb. Ill" \IllUIteefed lor ~ SllMCll II VIetJwn III 1!IiS..., _ In! 01 the 1.00).plus Il'dtfI8l Yo4lo IIId IDIeam ID de.ll ...... tI1 ttte ~ther IIIOI"lI sedate. II mud! fIlOI"t! rellilb1e. prop--dnven Slcyri\lder On UJnPIetlOll 01 Ills COfIVeISIOfl tralOlng, and timeWIIt1 JW'lgle Jim, he wasaSSIgned to 1 All Commando: tetweeoJuly 1965 and Jure 1966. he flew a tolal of l'!'iO huodred ~t sores ......lh mat famousSQUadlon H<s tOle was 10 \lainViBmamese prlots, lkrt Map Fisher - U on to do I!lldI more !han lhirt On 19 Jin.-y 1!1i7, Presdenllyndon JoIvl:son preIIflted FI!hef WlIt1 !Illl Medal 01 Honor' at the 'MJrte Hwse. he was onIv the Iortv-eo/tllt f8DIlIIIl"II. and Ihe !If$! !MrY;l r8CJI)IIIlt 01 !hat a-d SIfnl the Secon:l World WIll!the fOl.lIWaldBd III the Koreen Wat belniI
-'
Aftllf hiS timeIf1 VIB!nam was up. F,sher wasassigled 85Flighl Commander 01 4$ flS,lhen basedat Hahn AFB. Germany. andllew F·ID2As Into RAF Alcoooory. England. In 1968 Acolleaguewhohelped re-fuel h,Salrtraft there describe!:l him as ''Il!IV lowkey' This earnest dedicated and modest man naN livesIIlJlIeI re\lremllf1l AsMIl as the MecIaI of HanoI. BemaId fisher earned the Sllvel Slar. the ~ Fty,og Cross lDllhe AllMimIWllll $I. 0It leal Clusters formen\OllOU$ ser· \'IC8 til the taaI of U. eremv
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CIO$e $110 Clmerl . USAf MU$lum \41 Hugh V Morgl n
C'rl.lin I\ .~t . .· C. Rutt.TIle\" <."I>u !.1"""C lIT," tr om the ""'fIlllle camp Ih n ll.lc h tile d ' II\1.I. lrom tillll" It> tllll<" , ;lnJ h..."al,1 Ill<" 1;I,li ....... 1 ;lrr't";II"I~', IIle...·1ll " " I ' l. m~ ...In'l1\ lilt.' h :II,II'f'·.......J 111 1'" g.lrr l'" '11" [ lc ' r il...• lile 1.1...t Ih. 11 11ll' mi n imulll :.lrllll, I,· b i.1 .1"wll III "Ildy ,Ir, 'p 200lh il;I)..: 1Il'·1I1i1111'1l h.mh. 1\ ', ,, I.OlX1i r (lOOm), "',Ih 1'11,,1••1...·.. i,I,·,1 ru gil in llnd...r rill' d " ll,1 a nd makc IIll' il :lILll'h wh ilc rh ..,,· w:" . Iili linw. Rcl yin l-: IULllIy " " r1 ll' ir in .I IlIllll·n ls, 1" 'lh ril' lls "llIllg...·,l dnw n in " l rill' el'M'rn ll.i ng till' b.. n lln l! 1.'11 :.. rh"" 11 .lllllll)l-: 1" '1111 . Th,·\· IH'''' nll'l hya 1i,1l1 101 ,mil-al icr:.il l Ilt' h " m ,II 1"";1.1 ~ ix :lUlomall.. can· " "", rill' !le h r WC;JI" "h, ur Ih n lllch Illl'
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fire;t« ' 1Il"I1ll' T the att acker- . 1{1 comr-lv would mean vxro-uu; rill' ( WI I
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wnh four A mcnc.m ;I,h- is"r', into a clea rillJ.: north o f t he town. The encm v in -ran t lv turn..,J 11-' fu ll ancnuou on [h is unn , an d pulve r i: •.J it wnh ou'rw lwlm llll.: nre an,1 I1l.1'~ a rrac k-; 1\" ' 1'11 ,' uucncvc clo-e-supJ'llTt 'i1I;K k,. which 0.:, '\"l' r<..J rbc ('bnt;i1 ion a rc a w it h .1",1,1 ve, the AlII'.J ouefir W;l~ laruelv ,le'l r,,~· ..d .
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c ha ng..-. H owever. on 26 February 1962, rhc Sky ra i.k r,' C'll'y b.l<.,k \\';\, somewhat blotted, whe n an att ack Wlh made hy IWO A D-6, ;ll.:a ins t TI\l' Presidcntin l Pala ce. lt wa, ;1 ~ ru clg" sm kc al-::l in_r the head ,,( the S..-cret Puli ce , the I'rcsnl..' m\ brother N~\l D in h Nh u, rat her than I I full-scale co up '1~; li nsr t'r..:,id":l1l Diem h ilml'll. ( )nc, of th e Skvnuders was ~hllt d o wn hy flak, while till' other nc.1 m Cambodia and c w,h- l,m.I....I. ft 'ur A· I H, 11·..:r..: strmlarlv used, more slTcce"fu Jly thiv rune, in a real COllI' a t rh e 1'l'J-:i n ning o( November 196 3; rlus run e, ir r...suhcd in Dl c m's overthrow .rm] cxcc uuon.
Reorgani zation of th e VNAF AI rh e start ,If 1 96 ~ , a , part ,l a more ~..:n
crnl reor ganuauon of ilu- VNA F, the two S kyr a l.ll'r-l'qu irl'cd ' Fiuhtcr' -qundrons
were tl,. k·'h.:n;llcd a-, )] 4 and 516 Squ: l.lro n" h"I·.1 at BIe n I lo a
;11 a 1.1rl.:~·1 on till' ;lirlid.1 ihdf. M llWll\' il k' .In'I'I'~·d hi_ hll mb, ;1ll.1 then b r"u~hl hi.1,·l1wn_\t<111<'1l I " a l ill in~ tin;lk·: ' I
flr~·d ,·ll.:hl 1'''.1_ full (If r(lth·lS, ;111. T Ill' Y<:< Im l,ll'I,' I~', ,h Iikt:llnl l lll' (;lr~.' l." · \'(/lw11 all ~ix aircmfr we-re airworrhv. dll'Y were tlown \'111 1,1 Bien H ll;l, when- lIll'i r I'il\lb l."a~,·r1~· aW;lil,·d l he m . (\1 (irq, till." rda ti\"\'h' ,m:l !1 llutl\h,'r, of pit. 'b C, .mr~·t,' nl 1\' ll y Ihc ,lirn'lll, I.:tlIllllJ 1~·,'ll1ll"lall_ "hI", III l1l"inl;lin r1W lIl , and _IIlLlhk, 'l'"r., 1';lrb ,Ill limi led till' va lli" of dll." ~1';1.1 in VNAF ' ,·n·in'. TI ll." S"ul h Vid11;lIlll"l' Army ;llwap rt'1.1 in ,'d fin; ll c"lllr,,1 "\"\'1" ai r '11','r;llh,n_ :1ll.1. be in l.: Ie", wdl \'l·r,,·.1 in CI. ".' ai r-'Il('I" ,rr l,'(hn iq u,·." 'l'lhkd r" lIlt-u-'\" till' VNA F ::;kyrai.k",. Al be"I, till' ul1111'kx ( h " ill .. I" (olm na nd Il'.ll, 1 "'ri,,u, ,ld;lp. rh ;ll rlll' 1,l<" ti,',ll '11ll;I[I"n h;ld Illvan ably al l..: r".1 fnll ll !Ill' 11l11l' till' ,liT ' Ul'l'llrl wa, Tl' ljuir.'. l, I" Ih e !lnll' wlll' 11 al ' I'f(l\·a l I; ' r i, Wl" Tl'C ,,· i l·~', 1. In "Ill' 1 ~'I' i C l 1 ill ci d"'lll , in 1961 , a ..:a ll f" r;1tl :\ il ,nih' dl!;lin s' l' n" my fllKl'" 0 l' po r1IlI1d ~· ,·x l'o",.1 ;11 ;1 \·iLll rin'r LTll." i l1~ in I'hUll( Th .mh , W:h h...J.I ul' Illr Ih n' l' ho ur, wh d..: tlll" I." al l.:"n'Tl111 r WllS ",ul.:h r, t . l
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~in' h is l'l'r Slln :ll ill'l'fll\":1 1 "I the mi"i"n . The .1.·1;IY r"· I1< I.' r~·. 1 thc ;l(lh,n truuk-c-. T h...,.· I',"ohll'm, we-n- l·x;lCl'rhatl'd I->y ot her im..' rn;II I",llricll considcr.nion-, a, !Ill" coup-wracked ::;"lllh Vktn:1ll1.,,,, 1.:"\"cnuucur, 1..:.1hy l lll' )lJ.'1 iti ab l~· IW t\·, nr- l'n-sid..:n l l ru-m. W; l' rdU(I,1l11 I" allow 'IKh I" 'll·n! W;lr l1l:l(hi l1l', r" o f;lt I'r" m tlWlt illlllWcli:lll' <:,'n ltl']. Al fir- l,l lll' unit.- 1I'.'rl· n's rriuc.I", Ri,' n l l
152
armed wnh a vancrv of h l':l\' ~' ordnance, were .' e ll l ag:llll .'t Vio.:r-C"nJ-: bases and lr""1' conccurranon-, ;1 1'lng till' Cambohan I" ,r. J.·r. Thcv ;\cCOIllHl·.1lu r ubour I ,!XXI of the vncmv. By 1964-, a third Spad ourfit h;d l-ccn ..·~tah li~hl'J a l Bien Hoa, rill" SW,h Squadron. wh ich replaced the 7 16, h C.11I1T""ile Reconnaissa nce Sljuadr" n tll I.: il"l' rhc VNAF more punch, 111(rl':Nng l'l""'S and ca-ual rres among the T-2H trainer .nrcmfr, which had been urili: l'.1 in rhe ~r(lu n.l ·a {faek r{,II;', were al.muiruz. Its vulncralulitv 11":1, ffi
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Hurlbnn Fid.l,;lf Eulin Ai r Force B,•.-c in Honda. III 1,IL" r
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and 90 h" ur~ "11 till' A - IE. Toenable the m t i l 1..... r]; more cl......... lv w ith t h e now {lIlh' in\'ulwd USAF cfton in Vn-m.un. puril, ,••ere a I...., rvqum...1 hI take pu tt in .1 1
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or nil Engh-h . Dllfiollu,'. III
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(f.llbllll\C ' 0 rlu- much larger ,!OJ h c.rvn-r ~l \T,u,I"r "Ttl' , 'nC, 'IIIl teted l>y m.m )' ,, ' ,h.' Vicrn.une....• r1lob. who "crt' rh Y'K,llly 111.:11I,·r. ;1Il,1 u....,,1 Itl <mall T- 28. wuh lb tncvclc bn.llIll,! ~dr. Tlw....· rr,."I"llb w,'re ur....· ..... ,I~ 516 . Mean.....hll..·. 11ll' Air F"rn' "·a ~ ~ I \· i nl.: rhe ~l ~"r.ll,k·r ;l d..·la il"',1 "·x.ll11lll;tri,,n ,II ~lin Air F. 'ret·R,........... lwTl·. 1.',lrly In 1964. 1"'0 A ·IE~ WN,' ptll Ihn 'u\:h . 1 .....ri..· ~ .,i I~I , h-,. Ih..· ~pt·<.:i 'll Air \X'.H1ar..· c..·,un:. AI Ihl' 11111..·. Un;:l'll1 cO" ' l,k'r;ll llln W 'b h:inJ,: J,:iwn I" liw :Ir(lllnl.: .'{ tlw VNAF 1I,IIh Jd ,uru afl, an,1 n..."", a lreraft W...Tl· t.ein\: d...,I\:m·d un, ln IIll' Coulll"'l In ' IJr' ~nq· (COIN) ,k.il.:ll.Iliutl t" 1;ll .." "wr frum Ih..· :;1'.1.1. l1w EIJ,:lll r"'~ull~ I' r" vt.'d I,I rhe Air F"r(..·\ 'all,la, tll'O Ihat. i n rlw "·orJ,, ,f Eug""lll' ~ l . Zult"rt. Air FIIR ..• S,'''"' relar". th..· Sl~-r,ll,l"'r\ \Ull ('lil'l IY "I " ('nation. n ·r"nilll)". 1llai ntain;thIIH~'. mini · mum T!lllW,l\" r"''1 l1lr'''Ill''n" ,111.1 uTlWl Cllr
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ta.b in SUlIlh VI..-m.un." Tlu- op iruon Continuing Supply and Action w ,\> ~ iv ... n powerful ..-ndor-cmcnt when Robe rt S. fl. kN:lIll:lr,l. US S"'u"'I;lry "f By thi, I true. Arncncan J.:TI 'un.l fo re..·, we re D,..{c n ee , d..,d;ITl,,1 rh.n rhc new COIN commit t..-..I hi Viet nam an d h..-l.:an '0 orcr,1l.':' I~n ' . de- pit..· :1 l! - III1W' innc a.....· in .ll ..-, ;11 (Ir'l d..·ft.' n. ivt'ly. th ...n, mer,,·a'ltll!h. ..:,)'01. ,Klu"l ly offvr.....1 little improvem..-nt on ottcn-ivc opt'rat inns. T here wa-, conover rhc• A- I. No r ..:oul,1 rlw~· m.•reb IIw IlnllOU, in tern.•1 turmoil. a, an arrav nl Sra,l"" t rump ca rd - the ilhlill y It , loH"'r , h" ky S,luth Vietnam esc· ,I.... wcmm..-n rover rh... l;lTl.:..' 1 a rea tor I.'nl-: pt·n' l<.I, a' a .IKC.....·,k·J ..- ach other, anJ :IJ,k.J I,. rh ..· l~ mn ot 'on-cull' thine arti llt.'T)". chao". Thi" wa ~ temporartl v ' r..-nun.....l Another COliI' f,III" we d III ~'.' r t ..· mh.·r when K\' took control. A Skvr.udcr rilul . 1964 . Wh"'n A - II-h tlown hy Colund K ~' h..· (,,·n,k·J 10 regarJ the chre 861h \X'ine ", h i, own part icular fiefJ om . and .pt...:i,llh W"'T\.' m-uurn..-ma l in <,; U·IIll.:. r.uh..-r than overthrowinc. the Govcmrncnr " ~I Pre...i- ....·1.., <.:1 .....1 rilo,,". "h.)<\,.' f't-·l"<.nal t"plty It) dent NJ,:uY"'n Khanh, rh c VI..'I-COnl-: him \\-a' nul in .lou"'t . form ...J a '['''':1,11 A · became h ,IJt'r 'lIl,1, Iml l ell.....·r .m,1cl........ r I thuht .n Tan So n Nhut , :.1_, much for hi, to rh c ccru r..• of South Vi..·ln.nn. 1111' nl'\\' ,Iwn l.:on·mmt'nt\ wdl-h..-mg ii' "g.lm' l Commun i'l hIIJn..,,,,, culmm.Il"" l m a ,I.n- th l.' ve. Ky wa, a"'I..· tn "'nn~ hi' r uw...rful inl.: attack un Bien H••.III _.....' \f on I Non'm - mllul.'ncl.' to .....ar. whl'l h"'r h... wa, 111 r ow...r Ix'r 1964. wh"'n , ix Sk~'r;li,I..·,.., w...r..· ,unun l-: " r (\,'1 . In lIl..:re" ..: the numh.·r, uf Sl ~" . man y Alli ..-..I ain:rah hl! hy mon,lr fin..' ,IIlJ rdiJl.'Th :-erving with the VNAF, 'IIlJ kllch · "'i lher .I.....lIl,y.....1 or J ;un'II:"-..I. In Jir.."C1 ..., "f AI)" cum imlt...J It l No n·aJIl.J III IIl1." re",li;nion. he"v~- .u r ,tnlt·. w,,·r..· maJe USA anJ J ..· .r'l[ch....J 10 Vi..·tn a m. "!!ilin'l klll lwn N" n h Vi..' l n'Hn.~ hi ....... all Th... Skymi,k'rs . urrlit.'J III Ih.., Vi..·t,'v~ r 1~'mU" r InJ.J.-C h ma. TIll' mo.l JilrinJ,: n;lIll..·S\., Ai r Forct" haJ COlm" IWIll th ..· US N'I\·y\ Air Shlmge l"lcJ'l}1 ;II l.il..:hfid J wa~ an atra<.:k on 2 M.lrch 1965 I-y Ill..· full .rrenl,'th of all ("ur VNAF SP;I.l"lu:wnlm. Park. near Phue n ix, ATi:ona. Hl.'r.... 'lCt'r..·s Il:'J ... ~. Bril-:a,lier General Nl:lly,,·n ·c,III.Ky. of opt'r;lI i" n,wt:ary AD-4N. h.ld h.·..·n agaimt Ill... No n h Vi..·lllallll'.....· Army "'ar· rl.'l irl.'.I. ~raJ lI:.I lI y n'rlaceJ "h"ard Ih.., ralb at I\.l\ll.: HUI. f:lr 10 Iiw nl,nh "I tIll' lront ·li nl.' carrier, ... ~. Du uJ.:!'I' A -4f\/C DMZ. Thl' t'l rl:"'l 11".1, wdl hil . bur W ,h Skyhawk anJ A ·6A hu n l,ler jl"f,. l1ll' rouh"'a vily PTolll·CI..·.I: i1 Iltllllh.·r III ~ r;\,k IIll..• fur ~llc h ['Cn, i(l nc r~ ,," arriv"l :1\ till" ind ud ing Ky\. " " lk t1:lk hI" 1ll n·mm . bill d"p ll wa, a f(lrlll 01 'mothhallinc' in eN' a ll r...Hlrm·.l ,aldy. A .....·.·Ull.1 11I1I ., u"·llJ,:tb ,If furIIrI' 11..·... .1: f..·w rl.'ali:e,", JlN hOIl" immiSkyraid..'r 'ITlll" 1;,II, m·l·.1 tlun' .l.lp 1:1Il'T. nent Ih:1I nl·..·J I\"uli id ari...... . 111ey werl' dur inJ.: which 1I1ll' A D 11";1' 1<>,.. ' Hir !,..·,1" I Illll..·h 01 the ir I.'q lliI'1Ill"1l1, an.1
'1M SIIItII Vi.lumen ,.Iied moll . nd mo•• Oil th. Skyflide' lor their Ieri.1support. . nd lh. VNAF "'Ily ltIIu ipped ib fillhie, squ. d,ons with Ihis . ircflfI" Ir.ined . ircfew bee .me .",il. bl• . Tho . -erwftIS. No 139629 .nd BuNo. 134484) Ir e frOIll Ihe VNAF 1 FillltterSqu.dron .nd c.rry Ih. n.lion.1 ........ 1hIi, lIils. • 10ngwilh Iheir own unique identification bands . cross lheir ' ell lusel 'ge_ US M 1IktIl1l"'*'9t1 ph
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bBttl!_:YNAF_"' Type :::'='~d'~O~"~'~~;::===~~;,-_....::=~~~....::='com
Order of SquddfO/l
514
A·IH
516
A lH
518
A,lH
520 522 524
A-1EIH A-1E/H
530
A-lEtH
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1-1-63 1-5-64 15. 1O-tiJ 16-6-64
1-6-65 15·9·65 1-12·]0
•
Licmcnam-Cokmcl john M. Porte r, USA F. TI ley were III action tlu- li ,llowing ,b y agarllS' Vil-,C ong r : lrg~'r s , !lying US combat m issio ns ill VN A F mark rncs. F< 'r th n-c Ill' 'nth, in 1'169 , G .mrnandcr S rvplwn J. Riordan. US N , wa, rill' accept.uuc clu-c k pilor mr hc N ,l\"al A ir Rework Fac ilil Y ( N A RFl. Quon-cr I'otnr . Rhode Islancl. T his was a leml', lrar y nppomrmcnr whil " hi s carrier, tlll' USS IIlITt'{lid (CVS[ 1). flllislll'd her refit at the I'hiln.Iclplua Navy Yard. His offic ial tit le, wa s A ircraft ln-pcct um Otficcr, and he was in charge of insl" 'C1i ng Illl' Skvraidcr-, rhat had been rework ed by NAR F Quon-cr for till' Viet, n.uucse Ai r Force. He recalled the f, ,11'l winc im:id,' nI. which 11 1\ ,k plac e wluk- I,'stin ~ I Int· such machine. 1'> 11' 1'r:1!1 "n,1 IX' hu nn ~ 1'i0 'H"11! hor, dark aM "lUlel at 10,(\'\.'11 over N" rrac an,-",n 1\;11'. The Sf'",l'> I:I,d,nl: <'1UI,Kll"Tl'II<·'
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ml' d ,d",!: ,k,lt- were ur 10' 're"lf,~"lh' lar~'l:l m~ II"ch..l", l'lfl",'" 1.,,),"lTl'·'" ",,+,,1 knc!>ro, I ,1,,1 "',e,,','" O'UHll"nJ"1 "'" t,'r Ih" J ilCh· Illl: ' BeL""" ,>r where I ,101,1,...1, rh",r",h cll.'W "';I' ,,1>1,. ,,, r"""",'r II,,· SI'",I Il'nlHn ,,,'~h'. h"ur" Th,· ,tIl. r"lt "a, '·IIlI'rl ,·J "I ,,-,v,'r~l
II",
An AI ·H Skyraider (BuNo 352981Di llie 522nd Figliler Squadron, Vielnamese Air Force . wh ic li normally w orked OUI 01Tan Son Nliut. se en here in No~ember, 1966_NOle m e s pec ia l ins ignia 01lite 83rd Spe c ial Oparalions group . 10 wlticlt tltey we re attac ltlld, a dra gon's Itllad in w ltile and li~e Sl an on a blue background. with lite ins cr iplion Thaii Pltang ('God 01Wind 'I, The lail c ode s a re UG, and the national Ilag is three red stripes on a yellow ba ckground on tlte upper rudder, T lo ve courtesy 01 Aobert C, Mikesh
rbcn ~""a!e~l with rr~'s~' r\';l t i\"l's, which. wuh rhe drv Ari:' lIla .ur, ensmnl tluu th ey wUll l.1 not dd ~' ri "ra h' 1\ 1< ' much , Illfi ll~ rlu-rr sCI\'. \Vir!l , ;l l~'s I" Victu.uu. rh is 1 ''' ll ~' SS ha ,1 to 1'<.' rever-ed, ma jllb rha r r ru \,." I I" t; l k~' ["l1~a tl um th e " , r~lIl'l l 't"r;l~". TI ll' pn--c-rvuttvc ,-uatint: hall rll b,' , rril'p"d ;l11-"\" :lld. In most ca,e" lIr -da l,'d ,'q llil'111<'l1r wa' firtl·,1 a nd ;111 w, 'r king 1':lrls wvr v !.:in'n ;1 fllll-sC;lk d ll'd hd~ ' Tl' ti ll' S ky mi,k rs I I"l'fl' Il-rrk,1tlllt eilher ru QlIl,n,,' r POilU ,'r A b llll',1. 1 N' l\" ll Ai r Sla t il' ns, Tha~' , tlll'Y 11lI,1,' rw" llr a rh "r"ugh , 6('1-,lav ,,\,~,t ha ll[ :1ll,1 l1I11,lificat i"ll I' r" gr;lllllll" . wh idl in du, k,l r~' lll " \" a l ,,( rill' rail h' k'l.:. Ir ahs" rhe c1 '),2'lll m:mllal w" rkin !.: h\1u" . ar ;1 Uh r in 1966 "I US$ 13 ),OL10 I','r ;lirl r;lfl. UrK" " I' I" '1" ""1, eadl r"l1<>\";H~'d
SI',d hncl 10 h" tlurht r", r"d by rhc Navy lx-ton- de-patch I " its ucw "WI1,'rs. Late-r ,ldi\','r k, iIK lu,I"d tlu- rwo-wntvr A- IE. T his va n.uir \\": 1> in lT' I,lu( e,1 hy rill' U~A F :ll1l'r a s,'(un,1 set "I' Cl,nlT,lls ha d 1'<." '11 lilted , I" ,'nahle them r.lll~· two-mnn ("mhal llIrs.,i,>n, wnh ;r Vicuuuucw 'pass" n!.:" r'. Th is was ; I I' I,,~' Itl complv wilh rill' rule- <>1' ounl-,u. wlu-n it \\" 1' rill' AlIll'rican re('hn ical :l,[vis", who uctuullv carried out rill' miss;"n. T h is ;Iirnaft ,lid n "l l'rr visihil ity. A f~'1I" A- [Js wer~' ,11,,, sh r l'l'~',1 mll( h !all'T. as r1 ll' ~' ru" hecallll' ' 1\"a i L 1 1, 1 ~' , In Ivl 'ly 1'164. :1 Cn' l l!, "I' ,0 A- IEs 'Ind l S A- I l ls \n'r~' I' r"I, ;r r~'d ;It A l: l llle~t 1 N AS. S ix of rh,'.'e were srag,'d I" Sa ig,' n hy US A ir Fllrce pil"ls . c,'mm,m, l,',! hy
154
f'<"",J, "r "'·",'r ,1,,"11>. de-",I;".""J, r"l'"d,r~ "n,ll',n I'"d III wrvtcc. I ,""rn,...11h" "c(lJ en! r"f'<,n !"r ",,,,,, m nil "u"",1 tll", _ Un l"n ,,· ""t..l, n w;" ,l..lde,l b, ,,,,,,.. N.l\·v 1"..r","11<:1 m,,,, wi", """""',1
IllI'
foie ",hen I rem,.J, ·
Phasin g out th e Sky rai der TIll' fin al batch of Skyrakk'" for the VNA F was trans l"'rtl'd i!C f{\S\ th e Pacihc from S ;1ll J)iec' l aho;rrd rhc t'SC" " carrier Curl' (CVE-Il) m January 1\.)66. T he US Scnan- l-:ra,lu;1 11y came ro a<:ce pr Ih ;lr Iunhcr rnodc rnuing the VNA F wnh je t ain.: raft Wd S JINifi.,J. The m-w N"rt hrul' F-SA Frn'd"m Fi,r.: ht,'r W~ f,'lind to l-c suit,lhl" f'lr Vict namc.....• piltltl. ,111..1 fur till' !.:ruIllld-;IIt'll"k ri,!t,. and l h~ arTcralr r h~' rdi'Tl' I,I(,ked SCI I" rer1a(clhf Spa,1. A ,,'(ond rUI ~'ll ti ; ll nt'wcomt'r lias rill' C essna A- 37A [)rag,'n lly, which al..., I'" wed l'''I'UL1T. A, t eaJ~' l' rugr<Jl11me t1 rt'pbn 'll\,'nl hy Ih es,' l yl" 'S saw the phasin g ,'ut I 'f Ih,' S pad hut . ;lS so llfh 'n before, ir r" ok :1 [d ill! time III lie d,,", n anJ Jie. By r1", en ,1 " f March 19 72, Ih e VNAF tuJ
,,, ...
., ~
taken ddiH''1'
!iN SL\'r'Il,I.:r~ of ;.11
III
fYr'-'. !-uI IM,! I,..., ntll.:~s than 217,,( them ,hrllul:h accident
and .I. IlIMgc·. On ~ r rcnl:l h .u rh.u dare wen' I I A- IE,," ic!u
A-IG" 12 A _IHs .mJ ;I ' 1111:1" A· IJ. R\
the (,'0,1 I,tlhe w;tr.WS ~ r.l,l, h,l.l been "'<Mt.:moJ hI rhc VNAF. mclu..IIll!.: -cvcral EA ·l .._which were Ct'nliNnt.:1r f".k
ed A·!<.i "n tran-fer. Fo the 1lII,I I number andmark .. ,,( t il<: 296Skn;II.I,'r< known It , IMn..' I'<.'en dcl!vcro:J t" the SOllth Vkm,llIw,,' Al l For.....z, Jet the [,.hl" !--t.·]"w. Am,, "l.: the WC: II'''I H~'
VNAF Sl'.d,
50011, .uu] (IN ..I III
\W T,'
1;I \'OU H ' . 1
~lk K 2 ; In .l
b ~' IIw ~ 1 .[1 7 ,
Z:;QIJ-, 1,,\\'·dr'll: l illl W,! homh" detonate .02') , ,-no ll. l, a ftl'f
ImI'Kl; I\. I IA2 cl u-rcr hlllll hs, III' 1<1
,' lg11l
e nU-lS, or C BU·5i.., ;In,1 .US Il VA R air-hl -l.:rulIll. 1 rllch'h. rhl' two :;(\)-Ih SU U-I I 11
VNAF SkyrliMrs listing A.1£ .UG 81 ~- I H412'J
Sq ua d ro ns a nd Operations O nt: ..f lilt' fiN not;lh l~· VNAF Skyr.li,I~·r 'Ir,.'r.lt i, 'Il~ tI",lk rlan' between 27 April anJ rhe cn..1 \,( ~by 1964. ""11t'1l tin')' ,KIt,J In "ur ron of lin' Anny ,ll:.l1 n"l Vi\'I-C'Ill.: "otlprly Jumps, a n..l u ,' ps In tin' 1>'1N'In~n.l:i' ln. TIlt' 17 Sk)Tai.t..:", were tlown trom Bu-n Hoa to th .., furwar..1 ;l1rfid,1. ,mJ a c..mhollT.... aJ m~...., " f 10 A -l i t.. W'I.. mau uamc....1durin).! Ihl.· l iH' . b~·" ..f nucu-tvc opcrauon... By <.:'lclolx·T I"JM. I h~' VNAF Skyr,u,ler "q uad'""ll' haJ n-eche.. . l their maxi mum -trerun h ..f "oil' (ully {l1''''r,lIi" na l llnlb lInd"'r th ..• ml"rin'" III till.' ~ l i l i ta ry A"bt: UK..• c.'lnmi m,1Vicuuuu (~ lACV). A~ till.' Hu m l-cr ,If A- III.. in tilt.' VNA F ).!T<.· w, ,1Il,1 tilt' eunfid..-nc e <1 n .l a hility of till.' Viet na mo:...... l' iLls ille ro:a,.,..." . IllI.' ir "'(lmhal "oort lO:~ a l:-<' l Ix'ca nll.' Ill ' ' 1"..' 1ll11lIl·Tt l' I" - 14S w..' r..• 11, w..n in JUlll' lWl4. , 111, 1 hy 1\'·n ·lI\l'C.'r ,,{ Ih... ";lIlll'
rhi-, fl).!uro: h ad more than '1.111"1......1. 10 J!4. TIll.' :-<.'n ll.'l>al.... l becam..· nklrl.· d k t:l ln ·. N idu .... lnIO:~ l'-)' A- I l l, h ,t..! al (IN been ro:~ N c-..I l-" Vl'o:AF Skvrardcr c"llImand,,· r~.
\,"-'<11"
h. 11 rhcv were 1,:T,t..!lJ; IIl~· mtroduc ~....1. and became hil..f1ly· rr,11Klt'm III rhl~ form l,f .rttack. TIl...l i,..,1 real ~1I1.c1.· ~ wac ,I rughr .... In l..• moun rcd on ti November 1964, when K\ 1..-..1 a force of \2 VNAF ~ril,l~al.:,li n'l ,I Viet-Conu hl-e o ITllr n'lnh Ilf S.l i).!'ln. Th..• '.'rn· cl. urnc... II'1 h,I\'I.' klll..·J :;(\1 ).!lInrill.I" w hu w..' re C,ItIl.:hl ,,~, 'U TJ'T1 .....•. Oil I Ap ril 196 :;. Colonel Nl.:uy,,·n -caoK)· ~·~ r ~ l hli~h~... 1 the -pc•.: i:tllr ...rc.u .....l S2! Skyrill.ln ::-;lJlla.lron. a n chr.., umr 1I'1l h him,l-rIC h ,,1 .ur c row druwn from ..-x t..nrur :--kyrilid"'r :-.lIUil.lrllm. Their hil.:h 'rn ,file 1",,1..• W'I" lL' .......:. 'r1 andsuppon Ii J ~fX'dil ll1x' ra" I j, '11'<. ~n 'UI' C-47 (;m.l. lar,,·r. C..·_,..nd IliS "T U17 ::-;k~·waJ.U.:oll a nd Fair...h iJ.1 C- Il m) ,mer, ltt 111 tlwIr .....-crl·lin~ m i,~i"n' on'r Nonh VI,,·Hum.......hn..· Ihq- In 'f'r'l:.I ,,-,ll.lll \" lIlelu,k·J Ih~· "1. '.. . . 1111.: IIr 0' ~rr.II ..,c"" Tu;,,1 ,mJ r,lil hTl,IL...·~ .m.1 . III. ll h " 11 rnwCTJ'lalll~ ,m.1 " II ~I OT.It:t· in~I .III .lll ' ln """IUIJ rnah· ('ITIh ..· ((l;h l and h.... e \·. I Cl \.l I ~ 1 h\ 'I.'a "')' the Vi~·ln.Il11 ..· 'I.· ~ .I \\". \X'h~'n thi~ oc c tln ,·,1. :;22 ,It'''''' .11 1 k It , Ihe ..;110:1 \- ,., C. l\,o: r I, II" th..· Woll"-'hlr~ h'lIl11' W,lll·I"-'. <.'lcGI~I'lnalh·, Ih ..• A ·l lh W'lll!.1 ..... 'rtl..· UIII on tht'l l own ~ ..·..-k -"nd.1 ~"' I TO)· m i", illns. to [,Ih ' OUI sJ't-'cl,II ...: nsili n ' ,111,1 vila l !
"r 0'
";t..
.....
,
-
" ".~
~l(.II.
igll"fl'd tilt" srnct rules ,1",IUI wh... n- ,mel when rlw~' could ,lr,,1' t h eir ordnance.
The 522nd
11',1" not thc "Illy VNAF rcuulurlv IU .utnck C"ml1lllru-t t r, I< II''' nort h ll( t hc I" »dcr, in r"'''!,nlh''
Sk~Taidl'r unit
to ilKfl·
till' north. With th,· inumrion .. I' till' American 'rLulllll).: I),Irt ' .ur . ,ff,·n"iv,·, I Ill' VNAr mounted .br"lwl Kv, t1ll'y dl'l'an"d from ,I for ware] air I-a,,' at ( b Na nc in "i x f"ur-I'LtIll' tli ch"" wuh aircraft Jraw n from all rhc A 11-1 u nit" and en-wed hy their bl,_", I'ilo l ' . Tlu-ir (,Ired II'''" Nort h Vil't nallll'''l' Army untr-. ;illli their '"l'l'ly ,ieI'll'" in rill' arcu
he never h.ul thi" in mind, bur Taicu tuo]; no chances and hud IB SlX~ broken up; 522 was n-nmu-clto normal VNAF ,taws. rrunsfcm-d II I Bien H"a und rloll"ed under 2 ~ T,Il"tka l Will).:. T I1\' 196H Tor O(("n"in-, which h,'~all lin k1 j.muurv. I'r
" f Vurh Lmh nnd Cltnp Lc. The SI': I,I" made ,1 I"w -I,'\'\'I outward kJ.: ' lilt ,.. , ...a 10 avoid r.rd.rr dcn-ction. After 12') mil" , ( 205km) , thq t urncd ill towani-, till" l'nl'l1I)' l·,';IS(. hd~ ' r,· hrc ,lkmg "I' nuo ,Ilt ae k in).: ).: r, 'III" an,1 then ,Iil·in ).: ,ll tlll'ir all llclll,d LlrJ.:l·"'. Thc "tr-'n).: /\AA ,I'·{'·IK l·" lI"l'rl' re
,.1
rc porr-, III the \'(h' st , who tl'nded toumore l h l' VC .urociuc ;\ll .l ,lde;lt" The America n pul-lic. weary ,,( a "'-'l'mi ll~l y l;' Il1.UI'''~ WOIr, wa" abk' fo rn.''''lIri:c th ,' US Gov. ...rnmcut into a w;thdraw,11 of American ("re,'_'" A d ...ci"iull wa" ma ,le til hand the war hack t, l the Victnnmc-,c: hy now, rhc VNAF IMd l-eon burh Ill' 1< l a p, uenr f, .rce, a n,1"hll lll,1 he ;Ih k' III handle f h i n~_, . A f t h i" lime , the VNAF 1\',1" rcnllv int o u-, smdc. An.. 'n l-: till' many "ueec""ful opcr,Ili" th in which u-, Skyr,li,lcr, pumcipared wilh thcir Amcuc.m alhc-, was Operation Sc ll t l;m, l. rhc defence. ]"..'t ween 2 2 J;rmwy an,1 31 March. b~' th ,' 26th US Marine "f Khc Sanh. II wa_" a re-run ,.(I )il'n BIen rhu. hut with :1 h.u-picr outcome. In thi s battle, till' overall mi-eion ).:i\"l'n III Allied Air Forces. 11I\.kr f he ,', «lc-namc ,I( Opcrnuon Ni'lg:lr'l. II'a, 11ll' dc "IIllCt;' rn , ,( NVA tilrCl~ 1"It-'sieg in g fill' haw, the interdict i,'11',( NVA srlrl'h' lin," and h"", ; l tl';I ". and till' rrll\'i,i"n o f maximum tactical a ir '1I1'1'" rl t,l (rkn. Uy I~,rce,,: ' l1lC Marine, ace Olml Ill'rhl ." har rll' gi\'~ a j.;, " ,,1 in"ic hf inr o th t' l1wlh"d., u"ed ; CI"...., ""·'"1'1''''' """'''", "'w,· ,,"Ir:,·J ..~,'in>l I' '''l''''nl !'''I:'''' on I'l" x" nnl' "j lr"·n.rh' Ir<x'!"....l,.nl: "'li t. r.,.I,,,·(.,,,, ,,,II,,.1 "'.",I-onl:, Ih" I\f't" ,.f "" 'I ro l., w", II... "" " I "" r""";\'<' h' Ih,' rt,~J. " I ,h" 1:,,,,,nJ n>lnm,IllJ.." ,lIlJ It." ''''''I "",cu · r,n", TIl<' .m'''l l'll"" .Il.,''',·...·I. "" I , ,,r~" \'l:"d' "" ""f,k I!'.,J ,,,,,,,, h.·, !n I,,· "H,' I" hll lhe" !,tr ll" h _
A Vietnamese Air Forc e A-1H Skyraider lnole cheque re d luse la ge bartd) dives dow n in a precis ion allack a rtd relea se s a 250lb bomb over a Viel-Cong ta rge t irt Sout h Vietna m, 27 Se plem be r 1967. USAF pho[09,aph cou"es y 01Robe" C, M.kesh
S k yr;li,I,' r" (r"l11 t he (Ollf "ur\"i\"il\~ unib. indu,lin).: Ih'lsl'
156
TIwr<' ,...' lt.' """,11\ todll"r·r...,m"""
"\"l·rh,·".] ,n " Ill" ::'"nh ."n""J 11.,· d'l<:k; of "'~. Ihn ...,,,1,1 I,,· 'l"" ll\' "'""nf,I,,J t!" nt h" t "'~ '" d'n·n,·J tWill "rlw. ",j"h'Il'. \VIlt"n 11..e I'll" I' ;lIn\'l·d "II '1,III"n, dl{"\' ( h~( hJ 11\ wllh Ill<" l \-\ ~( : '''1.] w"r" h.,nJ,·J " tt " ' " M,.tl!"'''' .... 11 h ,,(c T""(,,l ,-\tr c"nrrnlkr (Arrf,,,md wh" r"'r"" ""I1\- .hred.·" ,I.,. '!r,h·. I\ mnl:II....I.l\', Ill<' "" "r,'ul\.1 1<:11<" ~lllh ...... I ,ILl ....nh I he l" d ' -I'" ,h.,,1,I",,·k , ~. ),.[ertl:lrta.: ~ Loru 1<' . N :I\'Y ;tn.I Arr F"r, ,' F·" Phartl(>m5; :<1" " ,,,' ,,"J N ,l\'y A-6 Inl" ,.I,·..... A·-! ~k\" lldl,ls, ,m,I F-Il Cru""k ....; All F"rn' F-IllS Th"nJrr, dllt·h,Ill.1F·I {'I(I!'iul'er Saf,,,·,.]n ".I.]II". rt t",h. I"h, ti lt' ,o;."n h V"'!n,u"" ,,' l'r"p-" n \'~rt A·I Sht,,,.!,·!,,, rtll:j!,·.1 ,lll,.. k ,Hln "tl , 4 I<:,..~an War \',,It'' I:'' . w,,,1Il"";.I'·'K.,, A I lln ..." Ihe ,ky 0\'.,.. h",,,1 ,,,,,-,,,,h l,,,I ,, I:' ,llll !x·d ",'", \'(Ih"rt d tl'l:!ll ,m, n ,J "n ' l," ,,'n, II", KIll' Sanh [)ASC ...... nMlly .1""(1,,.1 n mIll" h"I.lml: r"lf~m unul l TC :\( A ) ,.r " 1" ''''-.1''] A ,r c. mrro,n,'r (FACloo
After the Paris Pea ce Treaty TIl\' ",k· r~" f" In , i l'i l i l \' "f I he Vicrn.nuc-e i,'T their o w n Jl..fl"!lll' 1\ -," o.::oniirnw,1 hy rhc l<>i ~ r ,ms PC ,KI' Tec.n v. The North V II' IIl,IIll," ,' n 'l.:,lhk·,1 rlu-, .1' a plov ttl J!d rhc Anwnc.m- ' " 'Illp h>luhlllJ.: them , willI,' 11\\'\ rebuilt rherr tore ....' III conun . uc the .1J.:cn..." j"Il . while the Amcncan-, h.•,1 till" I.KI· · ~an·r rlu- rul-lil ,1,'man,ln t. Th e ~"uth Vicmamc-, ...., who all alO Ill.: h.••1onh wanted th,' 1< 101, [., .111 ,hI" I"h, In-n' lWI\" k+I wrrh ;11111'1,· surp lies, hili con un ucd lUrl'"n would hI' fl'qUl rl,, 1 til m.unr.un rhein. Then torcc -n!l ind u. bl till' :-;kyr;lid,'r, wliich continucd to ti l,:lll d' \J!l.:l·, II ~· on rhr"lII.:h"lll 1<.) 7 ' . In .nr.u-k-, " 11 till' Com1111I11 i~! )!(l [)j\'i,j"n rh.u ~'l';lr, A -b tlcw mmu-rou- J,: n" IIl,I-;lI!;I..: l 11l1"1,'n~ fnun This A-' of Ihe YNAF il l een el De Ne ng in April 1968. II curiese modifie d US-type I'klll! . Now, till" A-I w.e, 11'" only vulncr- nel ione l inlign il . "lId Wlllllffll ,.I-Il' ". the Illll'I1~'\"l' lin' tnun fill" ,,"VA\ muln-l-arrcllcd 'Inml AAA Wl',I' '''lIlry ,111,1 !Ill' lI:"l,,1 :--A-7 -rrc-. "III l\.Ill,j ·hdJ hear...,....~ l l1ll! 1ll1"II,'~ m till' Vkl -Conl! ,m J nun ,ulltlymc 11ll' ~raJ With rhc VNAF lonl,:l'r any h"f'l' more rcj-Lccuwm-. S;VA , lnllOIH'\ ,,1,.., 1""'l.'J ;1 J,:U'oll threat. wa-, ., W Fieh tcr St.lll.ldron " 'a' .,~O Hehler NOI .....a' Iiu..n.' the 1"' ,lillcal will m \V.I~h 1\.'l \ll" '11 j .IIlIl,I"" 191 J and jllll" 1\.)7-1, finSquadron, r ,m " I Tacncal \'(ling under m gl"n, nc, 10 honour (hI' one-tor -one \ "NAF A-1H~ h.I.1 falk-n to r11l''\' \\l',II""I1·", 6 Air Pl\·I ..ion ill Plcrku. ' En ha nce replacement procrammc. ..... luch p,., [unc 19i4, h 'lh 514 .md SIK FiJ.:hl,'r P,y rhs-, tuuc, the S l'a.l~ 11;1,1 become h,ld been ae rec d In al the rrnu- of rhc s..lll.... lr"I1~ wen- ~llil ~l"r,IIJ,'r o"lllb, worn I sut h" ,ll m ' ...1 com llllk'lI~ " re ra t i. 'lb. ce ,I,\' l1 rl', ( )n h· !8 A-Is were ever ~ur w"rllllC a-, I'.ln " I ~\ T;\..:ll":,11 \'('II\ C tlll.I." \Vl1\'n France !eh l ~,1 10 ~II Ill'! " I'1'lu .. rh....1. Thl"Jl'ci,ion "';1' tlll'r..tore 111 ,1,1.' 10 J AIr I)..... ~h '11 ,II Bien II, ';1. The -nlv "I her -rock-, 10 rhc Amcncanc. there W ,b no ruI the Il'm."ninc A-I .. [now down It , 61)
0'
n
Hll d-on view ollwO A-I Skyreid er l reliVing up on the main lun w ay el Oa Nen g. Yielnem. Augusl l968 . NI'~
WillIam,
157
.....
,
" ".~
~l(.II.
CO\lII Af OVER VlETN,\ M
into 'lly,,"Ic ~ t"mg e ' an ,1con vert till' (inal three ..... IIl ;tdT
IlIE V)I; "" EXPERIENCE
Man-h 19 75,
uround-ro-atr OUI
mi ~ ~i k' ,
and rill' orhcr ran
otarnrnunnion.
O n till' l a ~ t da y of A pril. Pr<'siJ l'nt "'- li nh IV" S forced III surrende r S'lil!(111 and Sout h Vicm .un to tIll" cnemv. In May 19 75. till" lust ctg h t Vietnamese A ir Force A- Is fled to a irfields in T h ail:Hll!. h,'injt jll ine,1 sl'as lllud ica lly hy ll thl'r~ rescued from stor.u;c. with 2 3 TAW s at Bil'n Hoe. In th ,' cn cl, a roralof 1 J A- IE <11,,1 A-IG$ hall (ollll,1 rcfuJ.:" rhcrc . T I\l'Y were c1ai mc,1 bv rill" Nun h Vict numc-e as the 'puils "t vtc rorv.
SKYRAIDER MEN - Air Vice Marshal Nguyen-cao-Ky, VNAf The former CommandeHn-Chlef of the Vietnamese Nahooal Air Perce. and ooe-ume Prime Minlstel of the Republ icof Vietnam, Nguyen-cao·Ky occupies a unique place In the history both 01hiS country and of ItS Air Force, at one lime thefourth·largest In theworld. Today, liVing InQUlel retirement In Washington Stare. USA. an eule from hisnative land, Ky still refers 10 himself first and foremost simply asa pilot He was more than thaI - hewasa Skyraider man Kywas bom in thesmall township of Soo Tay. 15miles from Hanoi. on 8 Seplembe! t930 Vietnam was then under French colonial rule aspartof Flench Indo-China, and hegrew upspeaking bolhlanguages With the end 01 theSecond World Warin t945.theCommunist Guerrillas, spurred on by Stalin and aided by their Chinese cormterparlS, took advantage 01thehiatusbetween the departure of the OCCUPVlng Japanese, and lhe replace· ment of thi! collaborating Vidl',.·french officials by French colonial officers The formalion of theViet·Minh and, in 1950, lhe startof lhi!,r decade-long waragainst theFrench, their own people and. ultimately, thi! AIDerfcans, coincided with theyoung Ky l8i1chitlQ matulitv As an Idealislic teenager. he voluntet!l8d to enlist in the army to lighl againSI theAed inSUlgentS The young Ky d,dwell InhIS chosen career and rapidlv rose 10 command his own platoon, The lighting dUring this early period gave him unrivalled Insight Inlo the InSidious tactics of fanal lcal and indoctrinated guerrillas. and also ,ntothe French tactics againstlhem, which led to thlW Infamous deleal al Dlen-Blen·Phu, In May 1954 The key element Innegaling theCommUnists' conlrol of thejungles. and of thenigh!, seemed to be air power, If I[ was correctly used Ky volunteered to Iraln asa pilot HIS Initial fhght tralningwascorldocledat theMarrakech Ecole inFrench Morocco. some of II Inthe Douglas A-24 divebomber. representing KV's introduction to a Heinemilnn airplane Subsequently.he wastransferred to the Avord Eoole traIning school In France For the!lnal st3ge of hiS air training, lhe French Afmee de rAil sent Ky to 8lida Ail Base in Algeria aOO. in 1954, hequalifiedasa pliO! on both theSkylaider and lhe C-47 transport He
Gne. el Ntjuven ·C8o·lIlv, in e 1965 portreil.
Nelional Archives. Colletj. Perk.. MO then spent some lime In Algeria to line·tune hiS skills, WIth special emphasIs on close-support opet'allons With lhe French Withdrawal flomIndo-ChIMa. and tile separation in July 1954 of Vielllam inlo a Communisl dictalorship norlh 01 Ihe 17th parallel, and a fragi le demotlacy in lhe south, many Vietnamese fled to Saigon, Ky chose III selVe With the Soulh Vlelnamese lorces - lhe VNAF was formed independent of the
158
French 001July 1954. although most Vietnamese PI1Q!s were French- ramer than English-speaking. On hiS return toVietnam, Ky took panIna series ofcombat operations against lhe Viet·Cong. who were seeking to lake over Ihemdependent state Ky graduated hom me Ihu Due Aeserve Officer's SChool, and then upgraded htsskills attheAirCommand andStafl School in theUIIited Stares between t957 and 1959 HIS llfOQless COOlinued apace cnuf. InDecember 1963, at theage of jusl3J.hewas appo00. and he became IRSlrumentalln building thIS forte ~ Intoa formidable and wholly Villtnamese weapon During thistloubled period, thelewele twocoups, bllt Ky vehemently dellles any pan tn them. HismajOr concern was national unIty 39ainst the evel-increasing Communlsl threat, He was llfDmOted to lHlutenanl" Colonel, then to lUll Colonel. and fiMlly to Malar GerJ. eralln 1964, hereceived anhooorary lankingol AlrVice Marshal, but cont inued to fly He was duectly InstlU mental in placing me 23rd Tactical Wing A·TH Skyraiders al B,en Hoe onlull alert, thus foilinganDther coup by Army olflcers on t3/14 Septembel 1964 On 11 June 1965. Kywas appointed Plime Mlnistar, a POSlt'on heheld until3 September 1967 Even then. he contrived to fly when he coold. He later became Va Plesident of Vietnam. and served theGovelMmenl urrnl theAmelican Withdrawal arnl thefinal crash of !heViet Cong's Ol:tupation of Soulh Vietnam in Aprr11975, Ky and hisfamily wereglantedasylum in America fie sellied in Huntingdon Beach, CalifolMia, where hili helped other Vielnamese exiles wllh their problems. before moving nonhtohispresent home
,.. ••
CI IA PT EH SEVENT EEN
Small Wars Th e French Experience Algeri a Th c French Ann,'.. til' fA ir [irst rl'qlle~ tl',1 AD ~ ky m id l' rs umh-r the Mutual [)dl>IK l' Air Prllj.: ram llll' (lI. 1DA P), COlllll ll' llc ing in 19j1).'·-' A lth" ugh till' Un ucd S f; Hl'~ had always Ir"\\"I1<.',! on what if called 'colonia l wars' (de'rill" its t mil l~ ' muniuncurx in tluPhilil'l' illl'S. [\ II\;lI n ,l, ;Ind "['l'wlll.'fl'), ,II
this time A Il-!l'ri;1 W;h
inJ..' ly h in l'r ~ ln lgl",rll' I,,-'i nj.! wag......1 ;tg ,II 11Sr d ll' glll' rr ilIa (orc es, lrritiullv,
not (on,id,'T,'" ;1
colonv. but au iutcurul part ofFruncc ih" lf Algl'Ti;m riti:,'m had "X;!,,!y fill.' sallle ril:hts and pTl dl"!.:l-' as r l't'I'Il· lll'ing in the re-t 01 Flann'. TIll' So IVl"! Un i,1[1 h...,.!;lll III tncuc van, 111S rnalconn-nts wh,), ha\'i ng uhsl'T\'l'd events in Indo-China. n , lll" s
warfare. ~ l'l' i ng rhnt the US N:1V~' W: IS grad u:I lly ph :t ~i ng out th e Skvraldcr. th e French turuc.. l thci r attcnuon fO rh,' , 111'r im machtnc s. In il i;llly, 9J ex·U~ Na\'~' AJ)· 4N~ a nd five cx-Uf Navv A I)·4N, were obramcd hy Fr. UKl',
-- (\ , .
and th ese we re f, Ill,'wc d h y a further
20 ex-US Navy A D--k Thes e Skrra i.. [crs \\W,' rl'fill l'd hy the French finn SFERNA at M l;rignac airfid d m-ar B ord...-aux. lx'illl: l'qu ir ['t.'d wuh Frenc h radi,1und n:l\,ig
AD -4NA stand.rr.. ! and
10
mnkc them
(Above) Two French Skyrai del'$ of Ihe Armee de rAir practise lew-level st ra fing runs in 1962. Such u"ucks would be typi cal of their w ork during the Algerian upri sing . SIAPNECPA Fml d·lo","
Ma inte na nce work being cu rrie d oul on an Armee de r Alr Sky raider during epere ncns in Algeri a, 1962. SIAPNECPA Fon d'lv","
159
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(.II.
S~ 'ALL
WAII.S - rm ,
IIn:~nl
EXI'I:\l.IIoSCE
French Skyrai de r, BuNo 125121, 01the Armee de rAir, preparing lor e ngine tests on an Alge ria n a irfield, 1962. SIRPA,lECPA Fort d')vry
-uual-lc I~ 'r French service. B oth h,'1I1hs and T-IO air-ro-cround rockers were e lll l' l ll~'l'.1 by t he French a, ,Iandard onlnaucc. TIll' three-scat airc raft were re-converted back into ~i n~ le-,,'atl'r~ b~' rhc rcmova! ,l{ till' attcr cabin, 'llonl: wuh irs ra.lar cqurpmcnt an. l Ihe rwoupc runrr starions.
TIll' a m.'st<\1 hook W
ln A pnl 19()O, the iiN unit. Escuadron OU£lrsenis ZI20. 11<1"'.1 at Boufank Air Base in Alucna, received a hitc h ,1/ these rcc on.lit il lllL....1A I)-4" Further "'-Iu'ldnllh f~lll(l"'eJ in the same yea r, with A])-4N~ reilching £'S(IUwrOll Allres-Nememchm 1110 at Boufarik III [ulv 1960, and Escuadron Oramc 3/10,1[ t ill" '<11m' ",\'>t' III Octol-er, A ll Ih,', (, unib were ('ncal-:~J in the
Ahn-ri.rn fi~htilll-:, Ou,lN'nis scnJin~ dcr.uhmcnrs ll( AD-4N, I II uthcr bases in till" \"a-,t lan d, ind lld ml-: Ri,k r,l and, later, Tebcss. T bc squadron fimllly disbanded :11 Al~i l'rs Oil till" b-,r . b~· of 1963. AUfl'SNcmcutchns a lSt, ,k,ta(h~.l ,I l1i~h r !O Ront' (,lr, 'l'l'rati<ms, nud, in Sc l't~11lhl'r 1962, the II" h ()l ~ squndron moved III rhat airfield for 0 pl'rat ion" clctuclutur a four-aircruf unit ncross rhc African continent ttl the colons of Djil.... uni in March 1963 . In ~1ay ll{ that wnr. rill' bulk 0/ t h i, unit \\',h 1ll11\·eJ tx.cl to Rou{ari k a!-:'ll n, fina lly di,hanJing ilt the
en d of Sc-ptcrnl-cr. Mnnv of
It,
personnd
were n'a.,~ iJ..'Tlc.1 to a new SkymiJ~f outfit, EKIUu!flnl .I'A/l/lll! Ab-il'l1 lIZI. which W,6 c-'Iahlbhed in DJihoUli on IOctoht:rofdlill
vcur, re l'lad n ~ the IflO dcrac hrnem. Meanwhile, £'ICluuJrrm Oran il' haJ worked
of Poufan k. ,,'nding SkyraiJ<:r
11 i ~h lS towork fro m Oucd Zcnara an d al'lO
Mcchcria. l'l,f' ln' hei nl-: n-locnred itself at La Scnin airfield. ncar Oran, in Septem ber 1962. In NO,"l'Il1I'l'r 196 3, t he un it was r('des i~ lla tl'd '1-' C;mllp de Cltm.\e 3.20, hur
Mechanics work on a Douglas Skyra ide r 01 the 21Jth Escauee de Chass e 'Aue rsNementc has ', while four olhers sla nd rea dy. at Ies Sa la ines air base, so uth 01 Bone, Algeria. 1963. SIRPAJECPA Fort d·I.,y
160
·.If.' ,,'
SMALL ""'4RS - THf. fRE~CH EXPERIF.>.; n
cormnucd
to
fly rhc AD·4N until al't'r
AIJ;.,'t:ri'ln in,lq"..ndencc. w hich marked Ihe enJ llf the war. In March 19M. lilt' unu was de activated ; on }O june 1964 , man v of us personnel ,1Il,1 then a number
(>f us AD·4N .uul A D·4NA 5rad~ ....-crc form EKtu/.(lmn J.. March 2/2 1, at [vato airfield•'11 I he i..[all ,l ' l( ~ laJa J.:a M:ar.
§COl In
Rt.·\ks i ~n,u cd as EKlukJron d'APlJ1Ii Ahicn 1/21. rhis w the [" nlll's t-serv ing French Skvratder squadron. bdng ma inl y ha~·d
,1'
[vato airfield nea r Tan an a rive. It J iJ nor Jisr,mJ until Aug u.., 1 l) 7 ~ .
Other Skyrai der Locations The la« French Skyr,ud" r unit W forrn and be equipped ....-uh the AD....N wa .. Ai n
1121 In March. IQ69. Tlus llighl was r.a'>l.....1 at Fon Limy ;Iirf id d (n ow kno wn as N'J)
of Chad.
1, 1
relieve ;1 detachment of 1/11, which hadlx-cn sent
Sk~'r'li.l,·rs from
the re in Augusl l ')oK. Cha,1was iineli ng its new inJ c lX·nd l' nc t· under constant rhrcur from Libyan -back ed glll' rrilla s .md terror im , and even rhc threat o f it full-scale mva-ion I--y Libvan for cc-. Further Ihn..ah saw Ihi s -quadron sITl·ng t he n l·J anJ mld ll:l--J III iull 'Irength, anJ red...,.,lgn
~ron d'APPlli A.>ril'n 1/22. The cttccnvenc...., .. i the t'Sl,.o wdnm was
hmllN
III
rbe war . nol h...CUl.....ui an y f.ul-
mg ll( the Sk rrai,I,'r III'I.f ils French .urc rcw,
bn l-ccausc of Iim il;ui"n, on Ib
It ....•
.",' rhe alii hI'ritie', wh' l eli.! n"1 want 1'1 pn 1vokc the wrath "j (i,l,bjfi. Indeed. d uring IlfUns;1t Ihl" 1;'11<1 of till' 1960s an d III thc emly 1970" Illl' l·sl.'lll.ulrrlll W-;· AD-4N BlINll 116%5, I--~. which IIfI'If the Sp.-.l h;-.l d ,>t:h...1 ur 105.C\-Xl
"'- '1 -
fr ench Skyraider at the Chaleatldtln Air Depol. f rance. 1911 . fronllhnllH l!lerter port view. w ilhotlt whee l covel$ litted. SJRPA,lECPA FOri d'lvry
lh·inf.: nm,- in French service. The c'.~ouJJrml W;L' f..emally Jlshlll'l...J in Oc tober 1'17". A s the resl of the French Je J'CnJ.' nc i e~ and colonn-, 1.:'lIlll,J Ihei r inde pende nce, most of rhcrn inili 'lll ~· ret.uned strong hnks wuh Franc e ;IIlJ. III mnn v wap. con nnued III rcl ~· o n her help wuh rhctr defence. n l i, hl'lr was I::in' n , I-- r \·ario u, Illl'lh",!s. wit h th;lI lx·.u!i;lrh· G ;llli, l'1'1lIbrunt j"n I ,j ),.'Ill' '' ,, !.·nl'e ;md .' '''l'Tl'q', ;1ll,1 it pr\lVl·d v:lllla h!.· Wlll' Te sma ll n;lT illnS \\'l'Te Ih rl';ll" !Il',1 I-- y b rg....r hullil's, suc h ,IS lihy Fre nc h S, llll;llila nJ (Tl'rrilory of A i,lTsanJ I"as) . ~tleb lla ",-,;. r. Ih ..' C.'n l ra l A fnea n Rerul-- lic (UI--angl S ha ri), a n,1C h;I,1; 'Ihnn;u in·ly, Ih " ....• ;1Ife r.lf, th;1I h...·CllJll' surr lus In Fr.mce's IIllmeJmlt' nl't·J , Wl'fl' o(le ll r "' ....oJ u n 10
freneh Skyraider fqtladron$ N_
Un.! 2/20 1/20 3/20 1121 2121
1m
OtlilJSen lS Ames·Nementthas Orania
le Gattlo,s
.... 76 7
T"" AD,4N AD·4N AD·4N AD,4N AO-4N AO·4NA AD·4N
SIKh nauons Itl bec ome the kernel uf the ir own air defence . Six " j the A ()- 4 N~ l-a-c.J in C ha J were handed over hi rbar co u nt ry. Thc,y were tl own h'r till' Escadritk NarioMk Tchadi,-nJ1l' J Ullng 19i6 It } 1984. hy mercenaries, mainl y f"fllwt French Air For ce ril, ,1S w hll knew the ~ra J well. nw~,.. ~k yr.lidl·rs W('Tl'hasl',1 at N'djamena .urficld, and wen' t1\I..... n sl'asmllt.licalb,-' agamsl r., t usl illl rd'l"! (,)rel' s ;lIl l'llIl' l in g III oVl'fl hrow 1I1l' mainly Fbnl ll guvl' rnn wnl.ln a ,imi[;.t ma nner, iin' S k yrai..ll'Ts wert." gin' n (0 <. iaN lll . an",
Ta~ Code
F,~
20·Q. 20·h 2D-fJ lHJ: U
"'"
1960 1960 1963 1964
To 1963 1963 1964 1911 191J
no•
196'
191'
...
.,... " ". ~ ~ .t1.
{Above! Sk,,,id,r ell the GaboneM Air fo rce r. ""
up It librev ille airpofl SlRPAifCPA fort d'''''v Douglas Sk,raider ollhe Armee de rAn landillQ81 N'djamena airtreld in Ihe Ch.d Republic, 197~. The Sk, raiders opereled on anli-incursion palrols with French pilols during Ihe period ol lhe inv8sion Ihrnl lrom neighbouring li b,a. SIRPA,lECPA fori d'lv"l
4 N~,
(,,11,,\\,\,,1 by A()-4NA ..,
:lIrn" fl
i ll ;111 -
were
I O l a ll i ll ~
.L: IVl' l) I"
lO
Camh",Il;l
[ trow known ", Kallll' ud ll''' )' T h is pa n icular dcul wav ..pc ciul, bl.'C llN ' Ihl' USA, wnh i r-, lIll.L:0Ill~ commumcur in Vicm.un :11 the {lIIl1.', W,I" part Icul.ttlv ;IIlXi, Ill' I,. /:1.'1 the • arrc r att hac k trom Franl.·I.' tor il.. "\\"1\
u
Amcnc.m "flICk, h,I\'II\/: 1'0:1.'1\ alm''''1
exhalhll." l. Ft.mcc r oi nt l·,lIy -comcd rlu-,
request an d. .Il""rHt.' Amcnc.m r rOll""". a,..i~nl',1 tlw planes I" C:unh."h:1 ilhll.'a ,j . There, under rh c 1ll, lo k' nl mi l.' o f PrIIlt"I.' Non ...lom ::-; lh: II1"lIk, t heir I'tlll.' ll li :1 1 wn .. t"I :llIy w:ht ,'d ; t1w y com nb ut cd hnlc III
French $l/rv;vors Ffench Sftfld!
II 14 19 21
-'''''''e7609 7449 7114 7677
., '"
'''' "'"
38 41 42 45
1~
37
till'
51)
53
7779
54
7765
:'k\-r.lkl ,' ,"" III t he National k'hllll.'T At"l(ltilm ~ ,11hc~<1 n 1<, 11y .....'m" a nt i,~ul.' rr il1,1 mo, ..ion..,
holt with hnlc heart or "IK..-..'''''. TWl.'nt y forme r French ::-kyr,li,11.'1"S ..ur \-iH-J in ~lml.' form or othe r in to the )1.1&.1", .m. l rill' ma J"rily of the...... :!rl' , Iill an l\lIl,1 n nw (.\<'l' Ihl.' table ri/.:ht ).
12680l
''''''' tzssee 12691 2 1269'12 1269'XJ
711 2
1Il1:II11llU" k'h ll1 ''T-Rvll~("
fidll ; l~;l il)' 1 Com lllu n i,1 1'0 1.1\ .1\ It wa, un l\' whe n :'ihannu k wa .. 10l' rl ... J In 1\170 tha I till."
125716 114143 126924 126877 1241'XJ
77!11
77'12 JJ'XJ 77'J9
'"Nn''c-__ AO ·4N AD·4N AD-4NA AO-4NA
AD. N AD. N AD. NA AI>4NA AD--4NA
Frarce France
"'_ G."", USA
Cl'ashed Noget 1992
,,,,-
,,"'" G."", G."",
61 65
"'" "'"
I'l7Il88
AO-4NA AD·4 NA AO-4NA AD--4NA AD-4NA AI>4NA AI>4NA
,."
121894
AI>4NA
SoumAlnca
78
7797 7770
126997 126970
Crashed USA 4111/84
1","',,--_
12"'"
AD-4NA AD -MIlA AD·4NA
68 79
__"" '-
126%9
1269" ' 26965
121002
162
eM' fiance ",.,
,,USA
USA G."",
.. CHAPTE R EIGHTE EN
End of the Line for the Spad look place- - ril o,
Accid ent s The S k~' ra i.lc r was ,1111, mg t Ill' :-; lfl·~ t • ,f US Navv w;lrl'Lm,'s r-ver built, wuh an enviable record. Even "'1, n'etuu- accident-
l'TTIlT ,
l;lI ij!uc o f Ill,'
ing air(rilllll', an d euuim- failure d" Sril" the mo st ,;lri ng.' n t te et «, all look th eir toll and
..reaJily r....luccJ tlw I\IIIllN:r ,,' 11\',1"1., ~p:l"k Licurcn.uu-Commandcr l. WIlliam
SKYRAIDER MEN - li eutenant-Commander L William Dilts. US,-"N~.,,,,,-
_
!WI Dilts was aNavy carrltlf liflrter pdul from ue second World Will.He nev&r lIew a Skyraidet. but his tab was. like thaI oflhedesigners. constructors. engineers and
arnw::uen. a VItal onewith
regartlto tho AD's long life HIS fllOngs III ee invesl!QallOl\ ofSkyra. accidents
I!llIl.Iild that fewer Skyraiders were Iosl lf1 such nettIIra INn 0Iher Iypes. ard sao.'lld Skyr3lder Pilots' ~ DIlts wei born on 2!l July 1925 in Dallas Aft9f his peIImInary eo.r.allOR. .. anended !he GeorgIa Tech. JOIIl8d the Navy I cadet avialOf III December
n
as
100 N'neteen months 01 intensivetralnlllg followed, III wtHch he uew a Wide variety of aircraft. including f'tper Cubs. N·1SStearmans. N·1TTimms. Vullee SNVs .:I tbth Amel'ltiIn SNJ trainers He made his first deci: '-'dIngs aboard lhe old paddle c.arrllll" ~1IIe .IN Greall.akes. was CllIMIissiMed an ensign. and IICelV8d MIMI'g$ III .b'le 1944 (lpnt1Ollal traitq I1yInQ the Gnmman F6F-3 Hell13I f9tl1ll fallooMld lor Dilts. before he ;o.nedVF-97. a pilulpool lor the EaslCoast He served for a brief penad aboard the escort earner Croal<m lCVE·1SJ in lhe Nar1h All antlC. where his Air Group qualified for both IliII and nlghl carrier landmgs. before being assignedto Yf.9J as if fighter and photo-recoooaissance pilot tor _ _ depIoymenl aboard the carrier USS 8oM!f(cv71~ $ChIlUed lor the PacifIC and the ~ Iafld. . Willi the early surnnler of ..IiIp,yl. the 800' Ail ~ SIW ~ CUTbt. IlIt wasIfl Japan Illume ltw the ,.,... Cl!fllIIlOfIY. and laler prnvided Ilf coYIII" tor the ~ M.1fIIl 3rd Maline DivlslOllS lanchngs m northern 0wII in SIIplember and OCtober 1945 In all. DiltS lI1ded up WIIll 78 carner landlflgs, two 01 them night lnh ngs. and conducled 13 missions over China, hili" pho\O-l'llCOrIIlaissance SOIlies DIsret.Jned tothe US Ifl Jl!nJary 1946. an:!worked as if b' a ""'. asaniIIrilneplol: ltw TAtA. a Ceo0U!frI ~ DC3s. Avro AiIurI and loct:. "' lots. ~. t1earl1nled his ITIIIItary f\yI'lg n .. HMI AilIIeseMl. flying O1a"ce-VcuIrt F4U-l 0 Coran He II'amlld JeanMenly. !he dalqIteI 01a $co lll$h lilIw lnI an Ameocan mo!llef. In 1948 'Mule in British lbOsas The couple had lhree soos and a daughter ~ JlJle 1950, Dilts was recalled 10 service and ISSlI}lId 10 a 1J911-lighter trainer u"" at Key West FbG. ~ training In Ffjf.5N Hellcats and
ra.onv
• .-....an
Lodheed TV·ll. the Nao,yWlfsion of !heShool'"ll Slar Dilts continued flyinghghleu l)"llil1956. v.tllIn he was due to conveft to the Dougl as A·4 Skyhawk This order was subsequenllycancelled. andhe was sent10a lod: heed Super ConslellallOO sctJool Afler qualifying, he flew early waffling missions In WoJ·2s (now called ECll1J and ECll1-Ks). One 01 the mD$l intef8SllIIQ JObS he Inlertook was ftying if speciaI'Sc4--<:om.e' ltw the USNavy's HyO-ogrillhc Otflce lnow krmm as !he CIceanol1aphic Officel. IfI Pro,ect Mcqoet. SllIVII'f' lIIQ the earth·s magnetIC flfllds (isotome linesol lortel The 16-man crew flew all (MlIthe world. including the ArtlIC. durmg 1960-61 Bill Dilts finally retifed flom lhe service. as a lieu· tenanl·Commandllf. In JlJfIII 1967 He now lives at Marietta. Georglil. whefe he enjoys !J3rdening. building model airtrah and sI\lpS. hlrlhng and fishing
163
(B ill) Illh ~ w ,IS " ve teran pilllr who h.nl tlown G n uu mun F6F Hellc ats, C hillKl" Vllu~llI F4U Corsairs and Grumman FHF Bcurcats while 'l.'rving w nh VF-9J ahoarJ rh.... earner BOXI'1" (CV.21) In the s<"ocond WI.rlJ WilT. Between 19; 2 anJ 19; ; , he W;lS "t.'r,"in~ ill Corpu-, Chn-n. Tcx.e., NAS as an insr nK lur le,iCh in£ in... h ·f;ln .J r iluh in F6F·; s, North American T-1Ss and & 'l'chcr.llr SN R·;s. W h ik· ,II Ca h.lIli" Field he was ;II'PUintl,d ,I' lh e Aviurum Safl' ly Officer, and became in \"ul n '.1 in ,uliIlysinc all rhc ,ll:cide nrs that too]; pl.rce ,11 lhl' field. As" permanent mt'mh:rt'f the Ai rcraft Aceidem Board. he lllV~lllr.lll.J ,'n..r a hun..Ir,.J mcldcnts. " .liJ n OI fl~' rbc AD: saiJ Brll Drlr-, , 'bur was verv tamiliar wnh 11 ,mJ wuh ..11 till' rcchrucul Itl'ms conncc n...1 with it. I i ll\'l'Sli~ah.....1Ill'l'r fony Skymi.ll·r accid"l\h, 'r um ~rollnJ mcklcrus 10 lillal air (ril,hl's wnh the All TIu.. late Cllllm. m.kr M llr l W;llker wa.' nw si.ld,ie k anJ fellow accident h l;lrJ member. He holt! flown combat I ..un. in Korea wuh (he All Purh M,.n anJ Commander G lt'n W"r were St.fua.lrun m.n c, in VF.5 4, which h a.l slartl.J (lI I r ;ls,.n F4U S'I ua,ln, n that ~tl h"''1 ( I~'lll ly d wn ge.1 ove r tothe A D Skyrnidl·r. TIll' Nav y never .1,.1 ch;mj.:l' the Jesi ~rulti , >n from VF IFil,:llI. l'dlll VA IA n ackl - w hy 11" t I jusr do no r know MauSC.' all the m h,si , ln~ thl'y Ill"" ..... l·rt~ t:lIher h 'mhi n}: or wc h·( a\t;lC(.;..: ni lt~ rl"Call1.J ,me parlicular SkYf
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,",,"'n" ""IIh an In,,rum ..m f ...... rrnJ h' "', " 'U,'rr' You ",uld 1,,11..... ,t... JI\ '<" anJ 1:<" ,t....
/Above} hnpnlssive line -up 01A·' . ilnd A" s w ith BuNo 137616 clo U d to Ih, McDonnell Dougl'" Lang Bn ch
~.
OOllglu EA·1FSkyreider BuNo 132576. 01 VAW·1J. Arthur Pur cv Arch;ve, by courtesy of AudflV Pearcy
{lll h} Skyr. ider 516 01VA·45 milkes . unique 10111;:11-110_ . Mi, h. ps occur, . Yln with Ih. saftsl ol.ire,.tt. This undignified t errie, de ck Isnding fortunate ly led to no loss ol lile . San DIe go Aerospace Mu. oum
165
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On Ihe side lift ol lhe ca rrier USS Enterpr ise, ' Spa d IAF508) is broughl up 10 Ihe lIiglrl dec k 10 pre pare tor a nothe r sortie, willi a n es c orting deslr oy" in close a ne nd. nce . S. n O,.go A" os,",. , Museum
1'111 Dllr, aJJ"'l1 the t"llowinf.: ndcr to hi, account of th i-, tncidcnt:
Squad ron lllou nl , fur a num ber .. f l ,·,If';. TI ll:" usual pracnc c W,I,. for Ihe same aircraft t o h' tlown hl severa l J lffl" r,'I\' n u tfi h , borh Nnvv and Marin e, ;lnJ , hCl th erefore carrie...l rhc mark ings I ,f hOih scrvices . C 'lllm' llld.'r C h arles Sh ufl,rd "pd t I'll' Ihd r ri,ll' ,.f till' late 19 50s and 1960s: RI'''''''''' dllty 1l"" ,ln·d Innll.·d p.m"'!,.Il,,,n. "",,,Ih' 1<-..., ,11"11 "",,' ••·....-rvr-t p,d ,·"" I. Our "".;,,,11 ,",'1'1\' " ,1 tllll'c ,,·,,·kcn, l, ,·....1, .""mll ..... J ,lk"'nr "'lt~ l" .." , 11""·l"\'l"'. ,f;on mJ ,...J ""I n....mho·, 11' , ~ ..1 " ,..1 ...-.1 '" ",1lt,lulc Il,d", Junne "'-n'~J..~." ;In.! t..unh ,,·..... ~cn.h . aJ.h · ' ...""'111,....... ,,,...... (".. IJ ..... ;IC«""cJ. Ther", "c~
."""'rK'''''''. In ;UJlllt", to n1i:\lI". ",heJ..kJ 1l1ghts, rhm "'.,." " nll,y tl'Khh ..od tl(ca-.it>nall, ferry h.Jro '" .Ilt p'I.,,, ",1.., were ,,1'0 1.;, '<> ,,'~~ ~ tit Ih ,n, (\;(;0'1<",.,11,. "'" .... n' ",,,,:r..tl (urO&R In " Ih"r , 1,U t·' (.,,,,h ..... r " w"kno:e, RhoJdt 1, lomJ l, " r t", 1••n,Hnm slu' a.....· mthe dew" It LIl.I,( I<·I,ll'a,l., An"," ;>, Ann ual ,,,,,n,,,!: J"'ft.t...... anJ W IJ'C"II IM ,.l ,II.. M..n~' ,,, m, "'lUddr,,,, mo:mI>m -m ..ml'l.~' •..J ...... "hn<'" 1',1..... :.mJ " Wln ''-lI(" wrr r.:K ~ 'f1Il ur pl<'fl l\' ,, ; Il,dt, h"un ,n mulll
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uve
fOR TIlE WAD
lilllt.ldnl·Commandllf fred E. EI.rbee lcenlfe) obs. rving III. lo.ding 01p" ct ie. bombs on 10 his VA-613 Reserve Squidron AD-SN Skyrl ider, BuNo 132523. willi Commend., Chari• • Shuford (righi). RlIServ. a ircraft we re flown by bolh Navy and M arin e Reserve pitols. as iodie. led by Ihe dual markings on Ilte lun lage. Ch.,I,. R. Shutord
IBe/owl Res. lY. Squadron VA-673. besed at NAS Allenla on lh. Dobins AFB e nd 'o"ne, lock heed Ain:r lft Company s it. , on the Kenian at 111,1960 Act ive Duty eru;M . Commanding OffIcer Command.. Jo hn GUiD. is front left. with ExIlCllliwl Officer CommallClera..tles Shutord '""" ,ight
IGl w111 w n ollnp exu.etiOll, .ftd had me Shamrock ste nc illed on the squilhon h.I~.1 The AD·SN hIS 1m.1I prl ctic. bombs on most 01he r und.rwing ordn. ntt Slations. Ch.rl.1 R Shutord
167
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It'·...· r'"'' '"'' .. ""n' 'mro->rI....' ..... 1 Il<'"",,'f'\' r."1 '" ''' If "., "",,~I Jci..n...·, R " ! " n1 1< ~l of ·r·
TIl E U S I· HI lt 11110 SI'AD
Coral x a (C VA -411 , rhc earner rha r had flown the frrsr Sl.: r ra iJ ,·..... t went y r ca rs carlie r, h.. r pilot I,,:inc Licu rcnan r (j .e.) Thl"llJ,)re F. H ill. Jr. wuh 79 corn....at mi.....ions under h i, bch. On 20 Fe brua ry 1968, In its 219th corn bar nn ...»on. ir un J en ook a 4 ~~- huur rcscap tlichl f.lr ;I helicopte r
att cndmg rhc crash , Ill: of a USA F F-4 Ph an tom , whic h h,,,1 been , ho i J"...... n ove r the targe t . This wa-, followed bva ca ll f,' r clo se sur rorl from till' US Manne.... under enemy ,.!tiKI.: ;.lollc the n~ tZ ; BuN u
,ureraft haJ completed 769 .9 hours cornhat Ili ).:h t nrnc , and 4,400 tot a l f1 i~h l hou rs. When the C(I'ral xa ret urned Sr;lI~ iJe. VA-2S tlcw their aircraft ashore to Nava l A ir Seanon LeM ,.... ire and , O il 10 A pril 1968. ;l'I luaJTlIrni... Tw o rows t,f ,i Jehoys IinL..J th e run ....'av 13; lOO taxied through them wnh LieulenalU Hill aI the controls. The cc rcmorw was concluded bv C haplain j ohn W. Berecr, wlltl can ' Ihe Spad its epitaph :
,.nJ
Final Navy Operat ions
I l)JOO July rl"I,, 'n.k,1. The Ia, l Nav y w;" 11m, unique, in that it in vo lved ,",olh lilt' Ai r Fore.. and till' Marines. Hill l;lIl.led h i, Skyrai, k'r b;Kk ~l htJ; l rd CUT"(ll Sell ,II 07l 6; when u s valiant tllJ propci h-r fill.. ll ~· , lllp!,ed w rn inc. 111<'
The \'l'r~' I ;l,1 com bar uuscion tlown hy the :, kyra i,ll'l'!i of lIU' Navv look pliKl' on !O Fd'ruary 1968 . This hi -n mc ...ir t n- W'L.. 11..wl\"'Y ;1Il A -I H (BuN.. I JSlOO). wh ich h.'I,'nCl..J '" VA-2i . tl yinc from the USS
The olli cers I nd men 01 ReslrYe ATTCRON 613 on th e occlSion of the 1961 Annual Cruise. 4--17 July. I I NIVI I SI.lion M. yport. Aotidl . Comm. nde , J ohn GlVin. ConiInanding Officer. is on the right. with Exeeutive Officer Char' " Shuford " from left G.vi n WIfl1 on die ec hi..... Aeg Rink in lell r 'liB IS e" Admirel. Ch.Ns R Shtdord
.."md ,,'nfI1lU", h' "" ~ rt'''''''''' III k.,,·rtn!i:
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us
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168
Tll<' hOI",,,,, "" II h.- m" ... ""'rly ", fh.· i.lnult", i."l.... (r"", \"I<'W, h " ,h,· .1•.,..1, ,~ man .md ,h .... rt.",· w,ll T<'1llain " 11 lilt" r"I('" "f h,,· .",,,, a "'"'"" " I h" p<: ;l1lJ '''U'.'!:''.
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
Spad Survivors l ~ , 1111 wirh u-, !t ll.b y in [arl..t' ' numl-er-, (!.t:<: th e [al-ol... r1J,:h t) , m;l inl y tlWin ~ W the fac r that It ~·r\"t..J 1<11c-, aod survived in o JJ (I'm ...,,",I. 11-rhe In ,r1J ..s a fiJ,!hlinJ.: ai rcrall uuo tilt." 1 1:J~"",. hy which lime the
TIlt' ::'lyr..lIJ...·r
mlen..,t 1I\ warl-l rJ, wa." well c.."" ahli"hL'\..!. The ot he r fllll tlU" di ve -bomber ')lX'S a re ~ well rCrrt.~·llIl.J , anJ on ly a Il'W ex am-
ples remain: one American Vuul-:hr SBI U VmJ ic;tror. [WII Curti..., SRIC Helldivers. f\1,'O
[apancsc AIChi DJAI /l Vals. two
Bnri"h BI,.cll"'lm Simas, three Soviet Perlvskov Pc·Z I'e)hka. an..! JIIs' five III the ffill!; l (,lnl<'Uq,j th c-m ,,11. th e junkers ju. 87.
( /lOWI1 LocatJ()'lSolSoJf / 996
XAO-I
"112
XA().I
''''
AD-' A-H
9257 122811
"'"
123' " "'006
MW., AEWI A·lD A-lD
""'N
ronunatdy', mor e and more examples of all
AD4N
t)'fe' arc 1-'f;~ lI;l lly' C<' lll ing hi ligh t, Thanh
A-lD
to the "hallowlll...., of th.., waters of Lake M Khi~m . the 1)"'lIl-:la,, SBn [\llInlle",-~ sur-
A-lD A-lD A-lD A·1D A· 1D A-lD A-l0 A-lO A-l0
vIves in ......... ,J numbers, with more than 20 now 'k!\-c-J . TIll' ~I';ld survivors, however, outnumber all till' lyre'" in cn-!')' respect rby.'iI,r
flrlfiJa. and a w holl· h os t more, have kept thaI farmhar Sholre in the sky long after its Jay seeme-J to be ove r. 5,..,lIy. there h,ls b,-e·n a pnce to I"IYfl" these achievements - h.,th
H.my Dn'lIl and J;H:k Spamcb .lIl'll in a Sl~TaiJer (Do,1Il in a ....' rt >llllJ -loor al Tims-
\11k, AoriJa. Iln 4 Arrill992, anJ Spa n ich III. the moontalll.' (le ,11 C ulJ'l'r1'CI. Virgm ia. on 4 N.l\·l'mhcl 1984) , while a FIl'nch Sl)TaiJer was 1.J!'>t III a s;1IK..!s fo n n nl';l!' Aples, Nij..'t'r, un I A r liI 1992. Regrclfutl)·. theTl' is not l'nough sr ace: 10 illumatc ('\'1,.'1)' sot\'l\"I ng Sk)'raiJl·l. hUI the following 20 IlTll'Sl'1lI the m,llt;" illlt"l tstlng of th t;" 54 kn own cxam r ll's amuM the woriJ. Tht" I
124121 124143 124J56 125116 125139
A·lO A-lD A-lD AD-4N AEW-1 AO·4NA AO-4NA AfW-1 AEW·l AEW- l AEW-I AEWI AO -4B
'32261
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169
IN8 - c/lects shouldbe made beb e ""SMli!1 Oceana NAS Virg.noa Beach. VA.. USA Walter ~ta ColIEct01_ Nev.tuv_(]H. USA Oooglas W Wood. Dallas. TX. USA EM Musarn.~. WI. USA WIley C SarGn. Tilly, AL. USA HelS10n Aero Part. ComwaM. UK fAA Muset.m. Yeovllton RNAS. 5omefset.Ut:: A.male J-B$alis. La ferte. Ala,s, ffara WIley C Sar.lets. Troy. AL USA
J J Joyeuo;. AulIIilI. ffance New England AJf Muset.m. WindQr Locks. CT. USA Sherman AJrcraft. West Palm Beach. fl USA Elichon Aif Crane. 0111'10. CA. USA The flghlllf CoIlecIJon. Duxtord. Caml:ndge. UK VlIltage WIIlQS. Arlctiofa(le. AK. USA
RIChard Benea. Corona Del Mal. CA. USA AeroRerro. 51. Rambe!t·O·Albon. france Of MIke Schloss. eN, USA Efic Vormezeele, Brasschaat. Belgium MIfst¥J def A". saes-te Boorget. france Jack Speuch. Detron. MI. USA Cinema Ail. Carlsbad. CA. USA OidlerChable. Melun·Viliaroche. France Jean Sabs AVIation. La Ferte Alals. France USS Yorktown Museum. Charleston.SC. USA Entkson AirCrane. Medford. DR. USA KalamalOO A~l a tJon History Museum. KalamalOO. USA SouthAfr ica Air force Museum. vsrerotaat. Secth Africa NauonerWarplafle Museum. lieneseo. New York,NY. USA Cham S Gull. Chmo. CA. USA FJygvilfJ8flfflUseum.Llnkoplllg. Sweden lutrtansmuseel. Stockholm·ArIaoda. Sweden Svedmos &/ Och Flymvseum. Sloine. Sweden UMedStales Manne Corps AJr-Sea Museum. QuanllCa. VA. USA UMedSlates Naval AVlallOt\ Museum. Pensacola. Fl.USA SIIWed USS Ifdeperrdence. fl USA Uruled Slales All force Musarn. Hurlburt flekl . fL USA £AA Muset.n. Oshkosh. WI. USA lew All Museum. RIO Htmo. TX. USA liMed Slates Ail Forte Museum. ~len AfB. CA_USA
.. .., . ,...""
• 11. 11.
S"" I) s tl l(\' IH IRS
Sltyrlider survivws I~t~
r"" A·1E
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sse
A·1f A,lH
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9976
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10095
EA-IE fA-IE fA·1A A-1H A-1H A-IH
135152 135178 135188 137602 13_
10229 10255 10265 10678
N65164 N62466 NIB8BP
10838 111897
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IN 8 - chects shroIdbe m.id8 belor8 'MIfMlg/
UllIted Stales AIf FOfCe M.-.n. Wnght-Patlf!f$Ol'l MB. Dil'yton. OH. USA lJIllted States Aif FOfCe M~ . M.¥ch MB, CA. USA Roval Thill Alf FOfCe~ . Don Muang AB. Bangtot.. Tllalland Waller Soptatil CollecllOn. Newbury. 0", USA ljrated StatesNintal Al'lalioo Museum. Pensacola. flo USA DiMd C_reucter. 01lno. CA. USA United StatesAir Force Museum. Pima CoonI'{ All Museum Tucson. ta. USA Avery'sAntique Auplanes Inc. Morganton, NC. USA Taylor Energy Co, New Oueaos. LA. USA Arnlet Alrcrah Corp, SI Paut, MN_USA United States Naval Air Sretron Lemoore.CA USA Museumof FlYing. Santa Moolca. CA, USA Davtd C Iailchet, Yan kee Air Foce. 011110. CA, USA The Waf Reml'lilflls Museum. Ho ChI Minh C,ly, Vietnam
the rlm,1 XRT2 D- I, XAD-I r "'l t.tH'I:, j l .n tcn non. It W;I" fl'lainl"ll ,,~. the
,I.·.....·rn·'
Locaoons as oJI '998
Nava l Hh h 'rk a\ Center. W;bh in/.:I
Yard, DC:. III IlJilJ, ; 1Il.! ~ 1 ..re el a t th...•
U n ir.... J S I,i1l'" r.,Lmm· u 'rr:' ~I CA S Quanti..:" , Viri:m i,I, for m.IOY y ear~. before unJ l"rl,." .ini: resrorunon from 19Si ;10.1 h:ini: pur on Ji 'rtt ~· .11 rhc Oc ~·an;l Na\'al Air Sia l ion at Virgml" 1\.·,I.:h .
Sta rboard broad s ida view ollha Dougl n AD·' Skyrai de r. 09102, 01VA 176. lli lhe r re m Gate 01HAS Dellln l , Virginill Bllach. VA . Kev,n R Sm llh
170
It in it i all~' carried the .....-n ..1 numhcr H OI but thi s was later r eplaced I-}' rhc current 09IOZlAE500.
Bu No 124 086 Thb AEW surcraft mad.. . ih maid.. . n 11il:hl In ~ ld Y 1950. hUT only served for lWII } 'C',lf'j in the US Navy before beuur Imll, fertl"ll to NAS Q uonset Point for a major overh aul. FolI.lwing the, if was 1r.IO, ti:rted t tl NAS Norf••lk for prescrvanon rrc.nmcnt pendin g a tr;lIl ~fl' r 10 the United Kinl..J t'm. In junuurv I ~ S 3 . it was r art of a burch I";l,k-,! ;lh" arJ rhc aircraf carrier HMS 1',,: t _II' UI . ;Irrivint-: ill RNAS A bborsmch on
20 Fd .rtlilry. Afll'r trnJ~·rl-:.,in i: the u,u"\ RDU proc edurc, rhe .nrcra ft wa~ -.chl.JUI.......J 10 join rhe team a t RNAS Cu\J n N..', hUI Ihi , move \\"01' cance lled . Alter a ~'ea r \ enf -rced idlenc..... rh c vnumc wa vtaken ou t anJ th e arr(filfl w...-n r mto srorage In [\:n ·mhcr 1953. where II remained until Augu..t 1955, Irs ne at move W ;lS In RNA S Dlllllhrisrle. Wh""fl' it arnvcd on 13 A ugusr 1955 for recnfica non and slOrace; anot he r l.lOl: period of l'nf" rcl.J idlenc s.s f,.l1ow....J. On I l M,lrch 195$. rho ;l ircrafl 11<\\ 1.lh n 10
RNAS Cu\.Ir,,'>C
al
Inng LN . hll
,..
•11., S PAIJ SlKVIVO RS
Roy. 1NIYYAEW·' Skyt.i d.. WV 106 wh ile II die Col1lw.lI Aero P.n. IA.mb..... t
'
MI,. 19!11
Ccutesyol Bob T",~
did nlll
pun ' D' FIIJ,:llI o f No. S4 ~ Squ,IJ rllll ;h 427fC umrl ( \ :101'1.'[ 1'( rhar year. A ~'l';U Lm-r, III (.4.:llllx·r 19;t,l, if Id",
for NARIU ut l.cc-on -Solcnr hi have V I IF unns i n~T; ll k·d , ;\1l,1,1I1'n f,'l umcd " I( :. ' 01wall. joininJ,: tlu- ' 11Q ' FliJ,: lll a ~ 4 16 . On I I September 1960, ,hI' aircraft returned [,I AI IU CuI-InN', W; I ~ pl.ln·.! in long-term SlllT;I).:" , and four Yl'a rs lan-r W,!, declared sUTplu, [0 rcqum-mcnts am l readred f 'T (,11a1":1011'1'Inl-:. Al 1he la s' moment
it was J I"CiJI.J to retai n II o n permanent
,Iisrlay at NASU CulJ rtl'ol.' and, it rc mamcd In store un ulrhc 1970s. h.·in,g part 01 the d isplay in th e Cornwall Ann Park ,
Helston, hy 1976. On 21 March 1997, II was lIlllvl-J III rluca rl' I)f 849 NAS al Cul.lroS\.' III\Cl' more, III h,: refurbi shed for till" fiftil' l h .umivcrsa rv cclchrar ions of Ih al N ;lVal A il S talinn, Parked O llt i n IIw open, it sU{{l'll'd Iwa vy , 1.1I11al-:c {film J.:ak's, .md it w.rs taken ins ide
for repai rs to he made.fn October 1998, it was due 10 he re-spravcd. hy one Ilf rhc vultmrecrs of the Fleet A ir Museum . Cornet J l'ntall y, he was a forme r Royal Navy man , ami ,hI..' very same pe rson who J.:ave il lis lasl service rcsptav manv years hef,lre!
BuNo 132463 Th is ;lirc rah was nnl'of6S0 A D-5s burlr hy l)1l1lJ.:[;lS nt EI Sl'J.:undo, anJ W;IS ;ll:r l'P1l'd into Ihl' US Nuvv in Fd ' " mry 11.) 14, It served aho' lrd th l' aircraft earners USS SfwnWi-LlI, Franklin D, R(KJ5I'tdl , hltTl'11iJ and EIIll'l/n-i.\(', h ,:furl;" heing SUrplil'd th e VNA F, anJ the n h:inJ.: taken OWl hy rhc USAF ,Ill,l Flown as 51·S9H wuh the 1st Spt:c ial Operar ion-, Wing, Attl'r mnn v yl,:ars a,s an A -IE, it f-.l'C;I1nC ran l,fthe NAS~t aoJ W ;IS stored hy NAf Washingtnn , l'C, from 1974 n IlW;!r,"before h.'ing racked ahl:lrd a C· 5A ,tIl,1 delivered ' " the ~kClell,m Av i;lth.n Museum at McClellan Air Force RISC, G IIil~'mia , on 29 October 1985 , There, ,h I' museum slaff restored the atr cr.ttt , repaint 1Il~ II in rhe m ,lrkings Ilf I Sl't-'i:i
'0
0..'1$ AD·SO AlE SkY".id,r, BuNIl 132463, EC 463, AF J2, III McClelllln AFB, CIIi1eni. , Arthur PIII' CYAfelNw, by cOUO't.sy ot Auilfey Pu ' C'j'
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Oougl.. AD·. Sk)',.ider (VA 1251BuNo 127181 (Nll 92lJJ4101 tIHt K.1.malOO Avi"ioll History MUM ..... Michig.n. s lIlIn lter ll io. div. oVllrthe be.d,1IS 01 Uih Mich ig'lI. Buih . t EI Segundo IDougt....ri.1 19031llndllr Conlr. cl Noa(SO) 51 -Q20 s he w .. 'CUpled 011 ' DIIC....ber. 1952 . .d dllliver" 011 1' DK emOIl!, 1952. She WIISISsiglttld 10 FASRON i!1 lit NAS S.n Diego on JO Dec ember. 1952 .nd Ir.n$fened 10 FASRON 10" NAS Moffett Field III-Cf;mversioll from . -4N to . -4NA on 31 M.reh 1951 She WIIS IISsigll.d 10 VA-I25 Oil 21 Sepl....lIIIr. 195J . nd shi pped Il'I'lIrsellS wittl CAG -I02. She relu.ned 10 lh e US on 1 Oclobllr 1954 .1 NAS Millma,. C. lilorn i••nd If.nsle,red 10 NARJU (Nava l Air Reserve Tr.illing Unilt " NAS Gl.nvillW. Illinois an 28 Oclob., 1954. On 6 Ma)' 1955 s he WIS Ifl nsle ,red to O&R .I NAS Ouonset Point Rhode Isla nd and Ihlln to NATe P.. Rivllr, Vi'ginia on 9 Novemb.,. 1955 beloll going inlo slorage a l NAF Lilchfield Pa,k. ArilOnl on 1 Novllmbllr 1951 . She WIISrllc la imlld 10 NAS Norfolk on 10 M. )' 1960 . nd sold 10 Ihe Frllnch N•.,., on 31 Me)' 1960, seeing limil1ld c omb" ,clion in !hi Alg. ,i en Wer belor. being relurn.d 10 Ihe USA from fr ene e in 1916. She WIISec quired b, the leleln'loo Aviati on Hist ory MlISllum, from Mr T_ Auslin ii, Feb ru. ry 1913. Presenr p. int sehlllllll ~ th" 01 VA ·125 w hic h Ile w frOllllh. Clrrier Bo•., durin g the f1t oru o Wer. Thllle is . c hronol"" prob r.... wittl the '8' 0" the ta il."d the , .11_ stri p• . This li reratr WIS l irworthy but h.. 101 Me. !lown lor . nu...be r 01p.rs b. ClUM 01cost ol op"elions . Pholop Makam a ..... Ka~ A...1ICIn H,SlotV MUH um
.ft"
:,h, 'u l.l l.,..k "I Illn, llIlg force 11ll' cl,....m-
,.1the 1Il11....-um, rLms a rc in han,1 f" Ir;lIl,kr 111I' :'k\'l;II,I.·r (, I lilt' .ur mu-c-um ;1,1,;I(I'n l It, 11111 AIr Force (\;N·. d' ~' l o :':ah L lh· e ll)'.
BuNo 127888 l"lr,I... r,·J un,l...r N;I\'Y Comr.rc r ·No;I(:::\) AD-4N.c/n i90l, wa, ;l(HTI us Navy " ll oS P l'c,'mh:r 1<}Sl
SI -(\!O. I hl' ,..! lil t< . 11ll'
an.1 d.,!Jn·r,...1 ,' n \ \'a'
:-';Hl
I(l
D,·c...·mh..·r 1951. II
a"l gm.·..! 10 FASR<.) N 6<} 1 ;1 1 NAS Pi"go , Ca lifurn ia. on \0 1),.'H·mh..·r
(I N
1952, tr;m,t"rring 10 FA:,RO N 10 ;11 NA:-, ~",ff"I( Fi,·" 1 ;Iltl' r h.·in l-: r,·-c"!l\'\'rt ,·d fn 'lll a ·4N -4NA " ll I I r-. I.lrdl ]9 Sl .
'" ;I
In Ser ll.'lllh: r 1'>5 J. it w.e- a" ign ....! 10 VA- 12S an ,1 wa, , h ip!,...·,1 overs...;,, wnh C arri... r A ir G rullr 102 (CACi- 1(2). It -penr a y...-ur over.....a' l-... for e rc rurninu to NAS Miramar. Cal l1''mi.l. on I o.. loh.'r 19';4 . On loS (\: Ioh.'r. il W.I' lr.m , (c-rrcd to th e Naval A n Rc·....-rvv Truuunu Unil (NA RTU) ;11 NA~ (~I",·n" I",·w. IIII1l" i" bur it -, u m ...· there wn-, "rrd . ,1Il, 1 " was on ,t" ign c.J h I 0&.1". wuh NAS Q uon 1 r Olll t. Rh....Il' 1,lan,1. O il tl ~l a y 19 55. Ir-
n...·x l m o n ·. in tilt' ,,:.'m p,iIl~' IIf man ~' uf ih Ci l1lr" mJ'<,rari,". \\';1' h' 'TIlt' R.lI1e)',u d·, lhe ' tt'rag...· facilll Yil l NA F Lilch(icl,! P;lrk, Ari:ona; i" hr ief lit\· \\'; 1, ......·'· m ing ly o\'<.' r. TIlt' M DU ;liJ III ham:e hruu ght a r''I' ri,'\'''. ;1' Ih , · ;Iirrraft lI'a , n ·daimed (0
S k)T;l iJ~'r" it r...t ained Lis tln~ ind l Bu.t.W wn h I h t' addmon ,,1:65 a nd (arne..! rk
c....1...
!1-Z ~ 1. h saw somehmued combar Ah:",'n:1 Ju nn~ a penod "I -ervice lI'ilh Annie J.: l'AiT. A, l it,' l:n,1 o f rh ls pcnod, the ,un: rdit wa, .... l.I to ;I c ivilian ownc r -. Jack S ran it:h
III
- ,m J 1,.-.1, f lll; tl ir 1l'l um......! 1< 1 h i, lllllTll' e ln
Ilf
I ~ trulf Ir..m
C h,lt"';lIklun A ir ~ In 197i . h c ha n~e..! hands
Fr ;m..:...· u n 28 ~ la y
"'n'l;ll 11111,', ' u......qU l'nl 10 that, heln~ " pt:ratt·,1 hy Pt t·,l.. n Pflr i ~h , Kal;lmiC\.~ ~ lLd lLl.:a n. Ir" m 28 Ar ril 1977, ,11\..1 \l..ur~· ing lI11d<.'T U S A rmy TT Clllll r
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."." Sf'AIl SUI!V IVORS
r -----., .:7, : -
Port wiew of the A·1E (BuNo. 132649) Coded 2, on dis play al lhe United Siale s Air Force Mus eum I I Wright PlneB on Field. Ohio. This airc raft WIIS flown by Maior Bernard Fisher on 10 Motch 1966. when he res c ued a fellow pilol s llol down over Soul h Viet nam in the midst 01e ne my troops . a dee d 101 whic h he wn awarde d the Med al 01 Honor. This air cr aft whic h wa s lale r seve rely da maged in co mba t in Soulh Vietnam, was returned in 19611 01 preservation et the Air Force MllsBum. Courtesy 01 USAf Museum. Ohio
there in [9 78 . Hy A ugust [l)Hl , th e mrcmf was wi t h rhc S"utlwrn P'll:kinJ.: and Sn-r.
age compan v at Greenville. Ten nessee, ho.-fnrl' hl'ing finullv acquired hy rhc Kala· maaoo Avinrion H istory M U Sl'1I 111 , from Mr Tom Austin. in Fcbnm rv 198 1, Rn tlJrl·d hy till' museum, it wns It'r ;lint l',1 in fill' colour ~C I ll'1I1e IN,d hy VA-11 S tll'l'rat ing from the earner USS Boxer ,l llr i ll ~ 1I1l' Korean War [althouuh I!u' re i ~ ;l chronolt"lh')' prob lem wit h tlll' 'B' on the nu l ,111.1 the yd lnw strtpc) . It carries the US N ;IV)' serial I 27R88jR.
S;lfdy rrun-p orted ho rne, the air craft arr ived .u the Uni ted S t a t e~ Ai r Force }.1USl·UllI at Wright-I\ rttl'rson A ir BaSt: in 1967, where it wa~ I. -vuurl v patched up, und I'm on , l i~I'Ia~', in ih original co lours and carrying its orig inal sertal, 52-32649/IZ,
BuNo 124121 T h is aircraft made its maiden iliglu on 24 January 19')1, and served with VC - I I from Februnrv p( that year unt il A ugust 195 2, ht.- ing ra n o( U n it ' D' between August
BuNo 132649 This ;Iircraft \\Ia~ thl' fauions mount of Major Rcm ;lr,1Fisher, USAF. in wh ich Ill' won his Meda l of ll onor in Vu- tn.un, n n IO/o. h rch 1966 , This A-I E, former A D-S, not only survived h is .bring lan Jing umlcr (ire, but too k no k·ss th an 19 hus ill till' proc ess and sul l g"t lltf till' dec k aga in , Parched up atter th b ep isode , it suffered furt her hcavv damagl', when it wns forc ed to make
Royal Navy AEW·l WTl 2l {41S/CUl at Culdrose. ArthurPearcyArth,ve, by coullesy of AudfeyPeefty
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SPAn SURVIVOIIS
IlJ51 nnd ~by 19') 2, In Ot h,I",'T 19SZ, il rhc first Royal Navy's A EW l-orch, ;111,1W,IS wu t 10 Quons,'l I'oinr NAS 10 be refitted. II filla lly .trnvcd at Norfolk NAS, Vir~ini,t n il 16 Marth 19 5 ), nnd It,d th,' -ca-voyagc pn --crva non trcnnucn r al'plil'd lin 24 Ap ril. Althou~h nri~in;l lly rea.ly I;,r shi l' 1I1,'nt I,y I ~b~' .,l lh;l! ~"t'ar, LI h .ad roundcr~, 1 further m' l
1918, it was a ssign ,'d t o till' HQ Flieht: bd ; lre il joined. fun he r modcrruzat io '11 was curried 0 111, w hich was c llml' \.'I,'d on 5 june 19')9. It was re numbered vet
I-lcmm. In JUlle IlJ72 , Ihc Sk~'Tai.ler was plac ed o n J i s p la ~' o lltside the F l,'e t Air Arm Muse um, a l RNAS Yecw iltllll. S.lIners,'t , as WT I 2 I /C U ·41 5. Due tCl wea l he r .I"t,,ri" r:tti"n, it was hrou j.!ht imidc in 1996 an.J .'lored at t he h,ll"k o( 1111' mai ll hangar,
W h,'" thl' m-w h;ml.:'lr is const ruc t ed, (un.k'" h~' IIlllflq' from the N:Hiull al Lottc rv, Ih is pa rticula r a irer: I(1 will he gi.·t'n a more pronunent place of hon our, as befits its lon g service with the Ro ya l Navy,
BuNo 135300 DISplayed in till' main h:ml.:;Jr ;u Unit,...1 Stutes Naval Air Mu-a-um, Pensacola, Flo r ida , since 1976, rhi-, AD·6 (A -lin tanil's the paint schcnu- and Illarkinl.:~ of VA -2'i which 11,'", from the USSCom J .sea (CV-41), wi t h mil-code NL. T h is ai rc ra t'f wa, accepted into the US Nuvv on 2H jnn c 19'>4, >;l'n'illj.! hridl~' with FASRON 12 hef'IT,' mo\·in l.: III irs first opcrauona l unit, VA -55, rill' folluwing 1I111llt h. TIl" (oll'lwing ,prinl.: it was embarked ;th >;lr.l , h,' earner Phi/il,/,ine Sea (CVA-4 7) an .! in April sa ilcd fllr the Wesl ...-m I'acific I~ IT ;1 six-llIolll h cruise, returninl.: Snucsidc in Nll\"t'm!-x'r, A r..fit a t NAS A[;Hlleda, includllll,l a Tl'p;linr from :"lidn it,' Rill" tn Ligh l C1 rcy, ,mJ anot her pe riod wit h FA SR O N 12 foll(1weJ, Ixfore 115100 W:t, a ssij.!neJ h I VA - I')') in June 19')7 . Emh arbt illll ,Ih lar d th,' carril'r Shlln);li-La (e VA - J8) ("nov.d in /l.-brch 19')H, al.:ain (lIT t11l' Wcst,'m Pac ific. This c, lmmis..,i'ln was intt'rrul't"J hy the war scare hruught on hy the shelling of Nati.lllalisr Chinese QUl'Ill'I~' ,111<1 "'te l~u islands, and t he t h rl'atelled Cllmlll\llli~1 illvasillll .lfl:tiwa n it~l' I( i n Augtl~t 19 58,
NOI rare al all! Thereare 01 courlll a large number WlIriants in museums and tlyingall ovar Ihe world. This is understandable considering Ihe success, diversity 01 use and ownership and longevity ufthis vinlilge dive·bomberof World Wer IIdesign, bUI which lounda useful role in Ihe posl·war US " eel lrom Koree 10 Vietnam, and in the air lorces 01 many olher nalions in 8 whole variety of roles, tr(lm Airborne Radar Warning 10 Anti·Submarine and Close Air Transport missions. Not a bad record lor an aircrall that. legend has it. was skelched out oY&rnight byEd Heinemann and associates in a hotel roomoller Ihe lailure ol lhe BTD! This particular model is Ihe prisline stalic display at Pensecola which carries the markings for VA·25, which served aboard Ihe USS Coral Sea (CV-C) and was photographed at Ihe Nalional Museum(II Naval Avialion, on 3 April 1997. Pel.rC Smrth 01 Douglas Skyraiden 01 various
174
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when Shtlll~i-Ld was onl' of six US airc raft ca rrie rs wit h the Scvonrh Fleet t ha t gave Ikiji ng pause for th ought . Wi t h t he l'll,1of the crisis ,10,1return to S;lll Dkgo. I ~s 100 ""IS llIo\'l"d in to store at Litc hfield Pa rk's
'Boncvurd'. T hat was no t the e nd of the nrrcrnfr's
carver. however. Redesignated as :1Il A-IH, IlS 300 ret urned to :K:I ivc service with VA · 145 aboard the new G lTr iC T USS C om lclul(CVA-64) in Februa rv 196 3, agilin in rhc Pac ific, before \111(\' more I".:iog put
its first comba t mission in 12 vcurs o f
service lX'ing a H.'SCar son it', mad e o n 11 November 1966, It was connn uallv in nct lon for the next six 11l 1l11lh~ , 10J.:J.:i nt,: it h llal II I07 combat miss ion s over Vietnam and Laos . including ~f'oll i nt.: fllr wa rships' hcnvv t.:lI n~ J urin g Opcmnon Sea Draj.;on, T he airc raft was recomm issioned with the VA -25 aho arJ the carrier Coral Sea (CVA-4 3), and continued in aCI inn Ju ring 1967/68 in a wide variety of corn har r{Jle~, both nor th and so ut h uf the DMZ, wirh b orh 'fee t wet' an d 'fee t d ry' miss ions. It survived th em all. By th is time, the Spad-, wert' fina lly hd ng withdrawn fmm the US Navy's from -lin e ope rarton s as ar rack air craft. BuN.) 135300 had rhc honour of flying t1w fina l Navy com bat m ission,
T h e ai rcraft arrived at Pensacola on 12 Apri l 1968, an d was placed in ~ I orage. In 19 7 3, it was renovated, hdng painted in its existing live ry, and put o n d i~rl ay in t he new ma in huildi nj.;.
BuNo 126935 Th i ~
AD-4NA (A - I D) leJ a n eventful life, After earl y service in t he Un ited S ta tes . it was assigned to th e French Arm eeck "Air, an d , o n arri va l on II [ uriua rv 1961 , rece ived t he number '56' , O ne of th ose S kyra iJt'rs that were transferred (0 Chad. on 7 A pr il 1976, it was subscquent lv pur chased a~ surplus to requi re merits by Didier Chablc. in August 1988. It was I ran ~pllrt eJ hy road from N'djumcna to N iamey in Niger in Septem be r. whe re ir underwent so me rcstoranon wor k, It was finall y delivered to France on 7 Fe hr uary 1989, where it was ker r at
Mclun-Villaroche uirfleld. The aircraft rece ived rbc French civil rq~ istration of F-A ZR ) hut was then purchased by Richa rd Bcrtea, nf Co rona , it finally arrive...1 ill Chino on 9 September. received the United Stares re,t::i ~trat i,m Nl088G, and now l1ie~ as 'Marines/1 269 ,Sill [\..14' , TIll' aircraft is paint ed Midnuc BIlle, and carries the col. mrs ( If rIlt' US Marine Co rps, with tail -codtng H R, am i NX 208RG, with 11 14 carricJ un her forward wheel f;lirint.:", Frontal view 01US Marines AD -4N, BuNo 126935 (coded HB l BUNX2088G in the Ael o Trader hanger on 15 March 1998, having an oil change. Kevin A Sm;th
BuNo 132683
Slarboerd quarter view 01 Skyraider BliND 132683 (N39147l in nalllral linish on oUlside storage pad allhe Planes of Filme Musellm, Chino, 15 March 1998, KeVinASmith
175
This nircratt is one
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Sl'i\!l SUKVIVORS
The aircraft is currently in natura l fin ish , with (lil ly the eye-c atc hi ng propeller and t he blue-t int cd coc kpi t canopy a<.klinJ.: ,m)' colour. hut il i~ IarJ.:dy intac t .
BuNo 135332 TI \i~ sa,1Sk)'filider, wit h its 'Hltl'r.wi ng pan cl-, an,1 much more m i s.~inl.: , \\~ IS loc ated
at till" Aero Trader sill', C h ino A irp ort . California, in 1998. It is th oughl 1,1 lx' another l,f the l},l\'itl Tilllkhct Skvraiders. a
former AI)-6 (AOIH) brought back
(Will
TIl,ulan,llll 19HZ, an d was sn.rc d with Yestl'r,bys A ir Force at C hi n", (TI'1ll S<..ptcmlwr l,f rhar ~T
BuNo 126922 This A D-4N was Sl ll' r lil'd to till' US Marine Corps, 1111,1 used!'.y rhcm during the Korean War. It w,'S later over hauled and then rransfcrn..d to the French Annec dt: /'Air in 1960. TI le French used it (,IS No . 42) in stri kes ,lgllinst the F-N I.A G uerrilla forces in A lgeria an,1 the n it \H'n1 III Gabon. It W IIS handed over the Gabonese Air Force on 8 Febr uarv 19 76 an d flew with
Sta rboa rd forward ~ iew of BuNo 135332, ye llow -nos ed Skyraide r in storage at the Aero Tra der s ite, Chino Airport, California, 15 March 1998. Kevin A Smith
themas 126922rrR-K_ Wh en they had fin ishcd with it in 1985.l hey put it up for sale. 111e aircraft W,L~ recov cre....l by AeroRetTO. of Sr Raml-crt-d'Albon. France, in 1985, an d slup pcd to Le H avre, where it arnved on 17 A pril ,If that year. Regi,rcrcJ in France as F-A ZED , it was owned hy Auucalc Jean Bap liste Sa lis anJ [ can Francois Pl'TTi ct Part ners of Lc HavTC from 27 August 1% 6, until December 1991. when it was taken ove r hy TIlt' Prnlucr Clllect illll in England. O n arriva l at their h cadqunrters, nt t he Imp eri al War Museum ai rfield. Duxford, near Cam hndge, on C hnsrmas En' 199 1,
The EM Skyraider. BuNo 122811, wi th ta il markin gs NATTC Memphis , seen here at Os hkosh on 29 Ju ly 1998. Frenk A Husdon
176
[he aircraft carried th e regist rati on nurn her 26922/1S-9 37 until 199 3. Repa inted to resemble the USS Intrepid's VA · 176 aircraft, as Z6922/AK-402, with tail-c oding A K, it Flies un der [he c ivilian registration G- RAID.
BuNo 122811 This Skvnudcr, with the tail markings 'NATTC Memph is'. he longs to rbe Experimental Aircra h Associ ation (EAA). It is a forme r AD-3 (A- IE) cln 6933, which
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SPAD SURViVORS
A low-ln.1 PU $ by Ihis r Armee de r Alr $kyr ,ider AD-4 , BuNo 125116, with Mene h ,.giS1rllioll F-AZfN ...d c:od. d 12 DG. wtIic:h C:.rTies,.d boil.nd win g lips , SlflPA/ECPA Fr. nc:.
served
wuh thai
un it
before
h:in~
a<:'1UJrl.J " )' till" EAA Museum ar Oshkosh In 1975, ;1Il,1 ha- "I: n'l·J as a sranc Jisrla)' arrcratt there ever since.
BuNo 125716 Afrcr service 11\ till' Frenc h Ai r Force (as 'No. II ' ) this aircraft wa... later tra nsferred to e h;I,1 whe re. on I S Fcbru.uv 1977, ir was "old [0 nidi c·r Chablc. at Mc lun -
Vdlarochc. It was raken ")' land transporter from N'djamena "II base " CWM the Niamey in Niger, in Sep tember 1988, for restoration, and amved ,II Mdun a ufiekl in France on 9 November. Since 1993, it has been flown by J.J. [oveux of Aulnar . Th is French -owned former AD-4 Skvrajder has Annee dt' /'Air colours imd markings. CoJeJ ZZ tXJ, she carrie s red wing rips and rear railtip, has the civ ilian n:gistrarion F·AZfN , and Flies as 125716/22· 1£ .
l.MlIillg of us M. nn . Corps Skyr. id.r AD-4NA. BuNo 126956.lormerly 01 YMC-1. leil c:od,d RM. but w iTh Fre-=II reg ilUlItion f -AZDG. M HISC ock
' 77
BuN o 126956 This is a French-own e.-d anJ rq:i~leTl....t Skvratder. an AD·4NA (A. !D), which SI,.·f"\-·t....t wirh VMC-I in rhe Srares before h:inA transferred to France's Armie de fAiT on 4 November 1960.1r served as ' No. 45' for 16 years, before hcin~ transferred to Gabon on 8 February 19 76, where II flew '" I 26956{rR.KMP. In 1984, It was pu rchased hy Aero Rerro, of Sr Rambcn-d'Albon, took rill' French
.. .., . ,..."" • 11. .. .
c ivilia n tq.:i ~tr"ti"n of F-WZDQ , and wa, ,ld iw rl-..l l
'T'-' hverv.
BuNo 126965 th e Skvraidc r III Eric V.e mcaeclc. I,f Bruocha.u, Bclgunn, which Il il's in French Ann,:c J.. l'Aj,. colours. with a unit h,,,ll.:l' r n,u ,I1 ~· l'lIlh[,,: unc,1 on its nose, .nn] thc Frl'lll.:h ci vrh.m registrat io n (x)· FO R. 1t is au A I)·4N (A . I D ) thai wvut 10 Prance a ~ N" . 14 ,111<1 ~l' r vl'..J in North Africa fllr man y yl'ar, Ix'lllrt' J.:lIinl-: til C haJ. on 7 A r ri1 1976 . O n re tirement. It wns , t"n·.! a l C h.ucau.lun Ai r (l"h .... from 1\)79 hl ll)tB , (; IITylll\.: till' French ctvthan rl'gi, tr aliun FZVM M. \lnri l il bec am e rill' rr"l't:rty 01 M. V" rnll':l'l,ll' on Ti jun... 198 5. if n'n 't n ..1 ( \ 'ru(icarl' "r Airwort h mc-,v tin 26 N(}\"t·mh..·r 01 tluu vcat, an,1 i, Il· l,:t1 J. lrI ~· ......·n .11 arr JI ~r la y ' all ••vc r Europe. TI\I ~ t,
BuNo 132598
BuNo 134472
This tnt e r"'stin j.l machmc rs rh... g ate gua rJ at the USA F Mu....-um ;11 rh c {,Imolls conversion and lTai n inJ.: ;lirficlJ of Hurlburt Fid J. Honda, wh ich i, h om c of the 'Jungle ji ms'. One ,,1rh e lew form er A I) ·SNs (A - IG) :>ur r 1it.J to the VNAF, Ihi s a iTc mft wa-, hllcr a:..si!,'Ilt..J It' rhe USA F's famo us I Speci al Opcrauon-, Winl,:, whc re 11 cur r ied th e
TI1l' Royal TI\<11 Ai r Furce M u......um ,II [ \ >n M u, m l,: Ai r R",-', near Bangkok. is Ihl' homt.' of I h i~ A- IH (AD-6) Skyr.li,lt.'r, which -erved wnh the Vic-ma mee A ir For ce as 114462 until the Olffirnunisl takeover In 1972 forced it '" 11..' e. The Thli slrrvicc CI-.!e 14/Oil anJ lail-o llk FR in hlack, al'lTlj.lwilh rhe ",-!u'il.lrllfl haJ I.'t" rm rbe tai l. denote her st l t~.·'qI Jen r cmpk wmcnr.
1"
BuNo 139665 A I~ mncr AIl·6 (A . II I) , Ih l' i, 11ll"third lIf th e ll;l vi,1 Talhchcr Y;JOlt-'l' Ai r Force ~k y r.l i ,I,·r, .
cln 1O.s9i.
TIll' W,I, lint' "f rhl' VN A F Skyr.ll,I,·" Ih.lI lll.lnagl'.! to tlcc h l TII.lIbn,1 ahcr till' 1;,11 "t S'lIgl>l1 . C" nli-.c;lIl..1 h~' till' I { "~" I I Thai A ir FORl', it Telllailw,1 m th ,lI eounrry unnl 1979 , whcn Yc, tcr,bys A ir Force suen·" IL llly hill 1(lr il <\s r ,lrt 'l l"a p'Kkal-:C ,le'll in 1979 . It \\',lS hr"lll-:ht hack I' l lh ... USA ,111,1, trorn 19KC'. \\"; 1' ' It'TC.! ,11"lIg,idl' till' Mcl \ 1I11ld i [\ 'lIg l .l~ olanr al L 'Ilg I\-ad l for "" lIll' Illlll'. ;I\\"aitinl-: fl" rllr.ll ion . TI ll' aira'ilt W;l, tr.lll,Ii.' ITl..1 rll CIUllO n il Arnl 191H. ;lnJ .1"h.'Ill..l th... civilian fl·gi, lr.lti,'n N N 14<). 'Ill.! h;l' rl'm;llIll'J IIll're t.· n·r , inl.:l·.
BuNo 139674
A former AD·6 IA·1Hllhis is Ihe Ihird ollh e David C. Telli ch el Yenkee Air for ce Skyra iders. cln 10891. She is see n he re at Chino in lhe 1980s ca rrying the le il code ·NJ·, nose code '26]' e nd the merlli ngs 01 US Na vy Squedro n VA-122. Arthul PU,(y A,ch,vo, by ( Ou' losy ot Audroy POII(y
i.ll·ntit )· code '" S j -S98. It W,I' " r"ught hack It ' rhc SI'ltl" In !lJ7l OIn,1h'b !'Cl'n 'lll ,l i ~l'1ay
l!lL'rl' in c
c ll i lltl ~
a,
Suwc 1985. rhc aiTemft I M~ I.....'vn res tored II. ,t d t ic-d i 'l'b ~·
st atus. lis n.une 'PrnuJ A IlWriGIIl' i, ,1,' nc illt·J in wh ill·. with 1101: wllrd on l·uh ...r , i,le nllhe ..·ngllll' c" wlms:.
BuNo 13226 1
BuNo 1351 52
On ... xt... rnal JI 'l'b~· al C nu l' Ha nclt . l"!' \'>t.'
TIu, !. 'rml·r A D-5W (EA . I E). c/n 10229. .....TWJ with Ih t.' NATTC ,If Mrmrhil N,I\"al An SI,lIion.
Marinl' Corp' A ir Sta li"n Qu.m lien, TIll' A -I l l (A [)·6) ;1,11)' tn 'm Ihe we
178
..
•••"
,I
• IM,.
....AO Sl'It\" IvORS
Dougl" A-I Sky, .id" BuNo 139614, on displ l' I t thl W., Aemu nU MIIH unl. Ho Chi Minh City ISligonl ... 12 November 1991. The , ocket Ilu ncher pod hi S bi en mounted on thl IIndlf-flJSellge bomb pos ition. wllefl . hid it been relll, llsed . wo uld hi '" doni ttle plOp 110 good .. 1m SI_..u ........
!loyl l Thai Ail FOlc e Museum is Ihe home 01Ihis A-IH Sk, rl ide r, BuNo '34412, which serve d wilh Ihe Vi.tn lmese Air Force unlillorc ed 10ue e on lhl Communist la keowel. Thl Thl i se rvice code 141012 .nd la it eodl FR in bll e k I iong wilh Ihl squadron bldgl on the I.lil denole her s ubse quenl e mployment. Since HlIlS . . l1oi5 been restore d to Sl.llic displa y sl.llus . nd hi S Ibe 'Proud Ameri c l n' S1encille d w ilh one wo rd on tidier sicle 01her engine cowl illg in while. Somon Wilson
'79
..
. ,...""." • 11. 11.
S PAll S IIIlV IVO IlS
19<JS, wa, lx-m ~ 110wn hy An.·ry's An nque
,
A lrp b nl", lnc., of'Morgan ron, Nor th Ca rol ina, under the civilian fl'~ i'Ir.lti{ln N65 164.
BuNo 126959 'Na kc. 1 F.UlIW' wa, a former AI)· ...N (A.
wuh c iv ilian re~i 'lr;lfl(}n c/n 7759. h Sl'rYl'..I in Fr~IIlI: e'~ Anne... de /'Air trom 7 December 1960 as II)
Sr~l d,
N ~ 59A(),
'No, 50', before h,oinl-: tr;m,tl'rred t" C had 7 AI' ril 1976. In August 1".l8H, it was
on
r ;lft pI thl' hatch 01 Sk ymi,k'r~ r Urd 1;HoC..J hy () idil'r Chablc Oil Mclun-Villa roc he. France. an d W~IS transporte d hy ImY·I";l"I'r from N'djamen a III Naimcv, N iga , III Scp-
rcmbcr 1".lHH, and gin.'n rhc French Civilian Rc~ i stra l i nll F·AZFP.
Three ·qllarter starboard view of Skyrai der U lE lu AD·5WIB IiNo 135152 IN6S164J al 'SlIn 'n' fun ', lakeland, f lor ida, on 20 April 1998. F<.ntA H..cIson
/BelowlA nie. view of 'Nake d f a nny', BuNo 1269S9(a ller ego N'J59AD Skyr.ider AD· 4NA • • t a' 'Sun 'n' f un'. Lakel.nd. flofid . , on 19 April 1998. f1ant A Hudson
180
A ncr rl's!l lr ;lIi , m, il arnvcd in Fr ;ln cC '1ll 20 ~ {arch I".lS9, and from s"Ttl'mfx'r.Jf dut yea r wa, I.w nl....l l-~· Ch; mcd lor A\"ialllln cJ G ... ta ~ h.'r>; I, Cal iforn ia, who , hl~ II to L'ng 1\ . ach and rhcn to C hi no. In June: 1'}l}5, It became ran of rhe cnlll'C!lOI1 cJ \'('arhlrJ. As..... xiares . Inc.. I,f Wi lmmJ:!oo, I\.,I.IW;lfl·. anJ I' now rt.1:i'll'rl"l.l ;).' N2 V and 11" wl1 l-y P r Mike SChl....~.
..'."
•
..
~lf. " .
APPENDIX I
AD-l BuNo 09155 - Performance Data Gross weigh t Ib (bomberl
16, 15 1
Gross weight , Ib (scout! CG per cent M A C, gear extended (bomber)
13,978
STABILI TY CH ARACTERISTICS
21 9
Bomber condlflon Gro ss w e ig ht jib)
CG per cent M A C, gear retracted (bomber)
228 23.0
CG per cent M AC, gear e xte nded
219
CG per cent MAC, gear retracted (scout)
24,0
CG per cen t MAC, gear retracted
230
CG per cent M A C, gear e xtended (scout)
Ma ximum speed at normal rated power VT. kno ts Sea level
23 15
ACA , low blower (5.400ltl ACA. high blower (16,00Oftl
244 0
Ma ximum speed at military rated power, VT knots Sea level lbomber] Sea level (scout)
256.5
IKey to st
Longitudinal
Type 2725 257 ,0
Sta tic
ACA. low blower (4 ,50011) ACA. high blowe r 115,200ftl
2590
Dynamrc
Fre e Fixed Free Fixed
M axim um rere of climb at normal rated po wer, fpm Sea level
2,48 0 2,4 30 1,74 0
ACA, high b lower (14,80010
Comrols
246 0
ACA, low blower (3,300ftl
Sea level
3,030 3,000
Type
ACA, high blower 114.300 ltl
1,90 0
St atic
Comrols Free Fixed
Ovnermc
Fl ee Fixed
Service ceilmg Norm al rated power, ft
30,200
Mili tary rated power, ft
31,1 00
NRP
CR
G
PA
D
P P
P P
oN oN
PW PW
PW PW
P P P P
CR
G
PA
P P P P
P P P P
P P P P
PW PW
NRP
CR
G
PA
Climb P P P P
P P P P
P P P P
P P P P
P P
Controls
71.3
DrstanceIn aero Wind, knot s
725,0
Distance In 25 knot Wind, h Calibrated airspeed at the srall, knots
3210
Static
87 ,2
Clean cond ition, power ct f
9 10 72.0 767
Free Fixed
Dvnermc
Clean cond ition. power on
P P
D irec t io n a l
Type
Take-off data at military rared power (flap settmg. full)
Landing cond ition, power ot t
NRP Vmax P P P P
Climb
ACA, low blower 12,OOOfU
landing cond ition, power on
NR Climb P P P P
Lateral
M axim um rate of climb at m illtmy rated p ower, fp m
True airspeed at TO, knots
16,151
Free Fixed
High-Speed Longitudina l Stability Characteristic s
Dive No I
Dwe No , 2
loading
2,OOOIb bomber
2,OOO-lb bomber
Gross weight_ 10
16,151
16,151
AI/ltude ar Start of dive -H, v, kts
27,000
27.000
Trim lor zero control
150
V,Ma x, kts
345
355
Alt itude of V Max Ely Force, Ib
17,500 35 lor pull-ou t
17,000 80 push to hold
G
2.0
Re m arks
Acceptable
-n
Force In dive
In d ive
Unacceptable
"M aX imum allowable push force as ser IOrth In Pilra 0 -5 of NAVER Spec SR-l t9A, 7 Apfli 1945, was 60Ib
181
.....
,
"" .~
~ l(. II .
AD· I
lI u ~ " ()~
I ~.~ _ l' I'RI'OR \l A ~ C F. I) ATA
STALLING CHARACTERISTICS Bomber cond ition. gross weig ht Ilbl CG per cent M AC, gear extended CG per cent M AC, gear retracted
16.151 21.9
230
Conf lgurallon
G
CR
L
PA
rpm
600
2,170 19m
500
2170 24,n
1 ~ degrees NU 3 deg rees RWD 1 degree L
5 degrees NU 2 deg rees RW D
o
3 degr ees NU 10 degrees RWD 4 degr ees R
125
95
95
90
78
MAP Tab - elevator Tab - aileron Rudder Trim speed (knots, lAS) Warning speed [knots . lAS)
Power off
31. degrees NU 3:>; degrees AWD 3 degr ees A
125 93
Shake Stick movement Stalling speed (knots, CASl Roll Pitch
Mi ld Full af t 9 1,0 M ild M oderate Down
Altitude lost. It
700
Power olt
None None
M rld 6in aft
None 7in aft
872
767
720
Moderate M oderate Down
Moderate Moderate Down
Moderate Moderate Down
500
800
300
3rn aft
CARBON MONOXIDE SURVEY Service flight co nfig u rati ons
MRP
MR P level flighr, mo: AR
climb
Face level
006 '
0028 "
Knee level O xygen regulator level
055 " ,055 "
.003 ' 003 5 '
Camer approach m iX
AR ,0006 Canopy open o Canopy closed
• Read,ngs ta ken With coc kPIl ventilatOl turned 'O N' . arId where ma"mum ccncentrenons ob served
Taxiing (cano py op en )
Face level Knee level O xygen regulator level
Wmd from head-on ,003 ,003 ,0025
Wmd from starboard ,0025 00 25 ,0025
,,,
Wmd from
Wmd from pM
.003 .0035
0025 0025 .0025
.0035
TEST LOADINGS as H ig h·Per fo rm ance SCOUI Plane
Mam Loadmg Items Full mternal fuel, Ib Full oil. Ib Arnrouruuon ballast. Ib Pilot ballast. Ib Bomb mstallancn H·2.000lb bomb) Radar (drcppabtet Airplane take-ot t gross weigh t. Ib CG cceucn gear up, per cent M AC CG POSition, gear down. per cen t MAC
2,109
,88 288 200 2,030 143 16,15 1 23,0 21,9
M ain Loadmg Irems Fullmtemat fuel, Ib Full Oil, Ib Arnrnumuon ballast, Ib Pilot ballast, Ib A,rplane take-off gross weight. Ib CG cosmon. gear up, per cen t MAC CG posmcn. gear down, per cent MAC
182
2.109
'88 268 200 13,978 240 22 ,8
~. ,I
"-
"It. ,
Al' l'E NllIX II
Rescue Radio CommumcatlOfls w as the key to success Of l auure In most of the Skyfalders' mlSSI()flS over Voe!nam PreoSI()fl and speed were vItal ,f the $pad was to deltver her payload where ,t counted, and these depended Ofl good atr·to>gH)und and 91OUOO-to·...r eeoc contact At A Shau
Ir1
March 1966, one of the bravesl Skyradef ecro-rs evet' lool< place, eamrog Map Bernard F,shel' his Medal o f Honor JUSt after the oecseo
had been made to 90 If'l to rescue Myers, a C-123 crew ftYlllQ ... the vlCImty started to tape the <:onversatl()flS of the misSlOfl PIlots, unbe known 10 the par.
rcceers V\'twle nol every VOICe IS Unknown \IOICt!
ldent"~,
ttvs uaoscoot o f t he
tape presents a
graphIC and UlIQU6 lOSIght II1to Skyrader acoon
He's about 20 feet
OK, Jim, do
Second unknown VOICe
Il'l
the hell of VIetnam·
you read me'
MaIO' FIsher
Rage,
I hear va O K, babe, come Ofl down the valley As YQlJ come down the valley, YQlJ run over then eesno. pICk up a
Capta,n Lucas
\/Vt"ch way YQlJ goona IarxP I'm QOflna ma ke a l8O-degree, come In to the south-
down the east side of the runway
Understand he's 20 feet)
F,sher
head'ng of one fIve zero You can run the napalm fIght J,m:
Unoerstand, One-fifty down the eas t soe of the runway Okay, got that, Pete? [JIm's wtflgman!
to YQlJr heading
Pete
Roger dodger, J,m
O K, I' m rolhng In now Ma~ e II slow or yoo'lllose It
Lucas
You'" see
J,m
OK, I see an ancratt down there 10 the lef t , 'Nho's lhat? You?
eas t OK Well then, we'll
come In behlf'\d and stra fe parallel
I'm fight behind you, Berme I tcoe a hi t
In
my petct
ucee
system, and I'm smokIng a ume
ccnre a bot of
smoke
No, I'm COf'TlIng down the east SIde 01 Ih e runw ay
Ceprem Hague
O K, Lu ke, I'm ftgh t back at YQlJr Sl~ o'clock,
lucas Hague
Do you see any smoke? Ne qetwe You look p retty good
Un known:
OK, Ih ls IS Hobo 21 We're up here Luke
lucas:
O K, my atr speed's gone and m y hydrau lic p re ssure 's
fAC
Hobo 21, Bird d og 52
uuc tuatm q
Un known:
now Why don'l you come down one time and loo k It ever
Roger 52. We're orblllng the airf,eld 10 the north at
Hague.
AI! fight You wan t me t o stay With you ?
Lucas Unknown
Ewe-two (call,sIgnl th,s IS 8 1: ove r
Lucas Hague
FAC-
Eive-twc (call-Slgn l
lucas
Unkno wn
We' re o ver head your oos.uon for pylon lu rn at 1240 ,
OK. so am I. Let's ke ep ma kin g passes throug h M aybe t hey d on 't know It ,
W e're le n minutes lat e, W e have 500 GPs [eIght qen er-
Hague:
Roge r
et-oorpose bombs] and 20 mrk e-rruke lzo-mm cannon ]
lucas
f AC
Unknown
6,000 tee t
O K, Bernie, you gonna land on th IS pass ?
All fight, SU, hold high and dry At t he pr e sent tim e we
O K, let's hit e veryt h ing Denny, e xcem t he tort Roger, I qctcbe, but I'm WInches ter (out of ammunltlon1
OK, JIm, t he area's srn okm' pretty bad ly, and you'll see an aircraft b urn tng on th e runw ay Bernie's taktng of! 10
have A, I Es wcr kmq undernea t h, There 's an aircraf t
l he north
down In there and we'fe tryIng 10 ge t the p ilo t out
O K, understand 10 the north OK, I can see him Is he
t bs IS or-ttceu-scot. We're still orbl lm g up here at 20,000
now, SIr.
roilIng now? Hague
Roger- Roger
' ''''''
Roger, Babe
fAC
Roger, hold high and dry
Unknown Unkrl()wn
Roger
Hague
Now trve-two. ttus IS Crandall 56 w'th eIght napes Inapalm l and eoght bombs and 20 ml ke-m, ke
J,m
Where do you wem tno se trenches strafed. Jon'
'''''''
OK, you got us In Sight' We're brea klng a t! I'm com.
fAC
Roger, stand by The weather underneath IS nat too good lor napalm at the present tene Roger OK, Peco. are YQlJ In tra,1 WIth us now?
[No response - captain Vasquez was e _peneocing
recc
''''''' dllltcultles at
this tlmel
Jim'
Unknown
Zero three, uh, shoe shIne, zero t hree
t.ccas .11m:
Roger, go ahead, J,m [ttghter pIlotl Roger, whICh kind of help do you need' We're
rreies up the yalley
'''''''
J,m
nv ee
'''''''
J,m
183
OK, ge l tne east Side, Denny,
109 left Where do you w ant lhe strafe? RIgh t on lhe east end o f the runway? Yeah, put .t all down the east Side 01 t he runway, In lhe grass area Put a couple of bufsts In there and l hen get hold of Bafry Get hold of wtIQ? Correctl()fl, IfW be Hound Dog 12 II he's stlM up OK, "ghl, we'" be corrung l oght ,n We alleady got hlm out. Roger
now
..
· ,..."". ,1 • 11. .. .
APPENDIX III
All-Weather Skyraider VA(AW)-33 A seiecncn 01 dates showmg the detached work by uus uM'S Skyraloors between 1958 and 1963
CO
VA RIA NT AD ·SN
AD -SO
30
13
Captain RM BrUning, USN
DETACHMENT
CA RRIER OR BASE
PERIOD
Intrepid (CVA·11) Randolph (CVA15)
1 July-22 Aug 58 28 Jun-22 Aug 58
42
FranAlm D, Roosevelt ICVA-421 ForrestalICVA·59)
3 Sep-17 Oct 58 16Jul58-12 Mar 59
4' 4' 33 43
saratoga lCVA.Q01 Essex lCVA-9) Inrrepld (CVA-l1 J NA Roosevelt Roads, P A
30 Sep 58-1 Feb 59 Returned 19 Oct 58 1 Jan 59Feb-Mar S9
33 3. 37A
CaptaIn WW Jones. USN
21
20
9
17
7
7
I. 17
7
I
42 43 TF-I O
0
14
41 15 41
0
Commandel RC Coats, USN
12
42 41
Commander H l( Von Egger, USN
0
12 2
15 4 41
1
Commander H .H Dunkim, Jr
AD·SW
AD·SO
22
13
ecnve and passwe eiec trorucs coun termeasures
Active and pesswe electroocs coonteereescres
ActIve and pesswe eectrcocs countermeasures
NAS Guantanamo
Bay. Cuba
26 Apt-13 Jun 59
Acnve and oessrve electronics COUOt8fmea5U'es
NAS Jecescovrte, FLA
2&-29 May 59
ecnve eecncoc
NAS Oceana. VA
19-25 Jun 59
countermeasures tor 2nd Fleet ActIve eectrcec countermeasures l or 2nd Fleet
NA $ Oceana. VA Forrestal lCVA-59) Saratoga lCVA.QO) NAS Guamanamo Bay. Cuba NA 5 Oceana. VA Independence ICVA-61) NA $ Oceana. VA M AS Cherry POint, NC Forrestal lCVA·59) Independence lCVA--61) NAS Oceana. VA MAS Cherry POInt. NC Independence lCVA-611 Sperry Corporanon MAS Poen . NC CIC School at Glynco, GA
1-9 Jul 59 13 Jul-1 Sep59 I Aug 59- 1 Ma r 60
creev
s
ROLE
2 Aug- 5 Sep 59 13 Oct 27·0ct·59 13 Sep- I 1 Oct 3-7 Nov 59 2Jan60-15Feb61 1-15Jan60 13 Mar-t Apf60 23-31 Mar 60 I Oct 60-1 Mar 61 &-21 Dee 60 12-19Jan61 &-20Maf 61
see-n
Shakedown cnase To M ed iterranean ECM dut ies ECM dut ies ECM dune s ECM dunes To Meouenaoean
ECM dunes Deployed to MedI terranean EvaluatlQn 01 MP$·21 Radar ECM eutes Incorpor-atlOfl 01 actIve ECM Into CIC syllabus ASW functlOfl added to dutres utiliZIng AD-5Ws
42 48
ForreslaIICVA-591 Wasp ICVS·181
18 Feb-24 Aug 61 4 Ju0-2 sec 61
34
LaAe Champli1lr'l (CVS-39)
27Juo-l1 Aug6 1
45
Esse lf (CVA·9)
31 Jul-18 Aug 6 1
34
LaAe Champlam (CVS-39l
16 Aug - 3t Aug
184
transfer Irom VAW·12 to VAW-33 on 1 Aug 61 Transfer from VAW·12 10 VAW-33 on 1 Aug 61 Transfer from VAW· 12 to VAW-33 on 1 Aug 61
,,~ . d
,.
~lf. " .
CO
VARIANT
DETA CHM ENT
CARRIER OR BASE
PERIOD
Essex (e VA-91 Lake Champlam (CVS-39J
14 Sep-.-3 Oct 27 Sep-13 Oct
Independence (CVA..s 1) NAS Jackso nville, FLA NAS Oceana, VA NAS Oceana, VA Key West NORFOlK, VA Key West NAS Jacksonvrne. FLA Charleston, SC NAS Jecksonvrne. FLA Lake Champlain (CVS-39) Lake Champla in (CVS·39l Independence (CVA..s1) ForrestaliCVA-59) $<Jratoga (CVA·60) Essex (CVA-9) Wasp (CVS-18i Key West
1 Aug 6118-21 Apr 61 27~30 Apr 61 4- 7 M ay 61 19-27 May 61 17-23 Jul61 7-1 4 Aug 61 14-19Aug61 13-Sep 61 17-Sep 61 4- 27 Nov 61 8-22 M ar 62 14 ~23 Mar 62 5 Jan-9 Mar 62 1 Nov 61-31 Mar 62 16 OCI 61-22 Feb 62 20 Nov 6 1-31 Mar 62 29 Oct-4 Nov 6 1
Key West Key W est
26 nev-e Dec 61 26 nev-e Dec 61
FLTRACENNPT Roy O. Hale Berry M cCaff ert y Harwood
venous dates Dec 61 4 Dec 6 1 120ec 61 13-14Dec61 27 Dec 6 1
FLTRACENNPT M cDo nough Harwood Lawrence FLTRACENNPT $
Various dales Jan 62 4 Jan 62 17 Jan 62 25-26 Jan 62 Various dates Feb 62 1-2 Feb 62
DESOIV 51
6-7 Feb 62
Ware Boxer Key We SI
12 Feb 62 13 Feb 62 19-25 Feb 62
FLTRACENNPT Sampson
venous dales Mat 62 15 Mar 62
Key West
25-31 Ma r 62
Wamngton Sararoga (CVA·5O) Lake Champlain (CVS·39) Inr repld (CVA-11) Forres ral (CVA-59i Independence lCVA-61) Lake Champlam (CV5-391 Lake Champlain (CVS-39J Forrestal (CVA·59i Intrepid leVA-1!) Wasp (CVS-181 Lake Champlam lCV5-391 Lake Champlam KVS-39i Forrestal leVA -59) Wasp (CVS-18J Lake Champlam ICVS-39) Wasp (CVS-18J Lake Champlam ICVS-39l
30 Mar 62 1 Apr -l1 M ay 62 5-19 Apr 62 5 Apr-31 M ay 62 5 Apr -10 May 62 15 Apr-28 Aug 62 26 Apr-21 May 62 31 May-7 June 62 14 Jun-13 July 62 14 Jun--£ Aug 62 8-16 Jun 62 25 Jun-1 6 Ju ly 62 22 Ju!-12 Aug 62 31 Ju!-30 sec 62 5-22 Aug 62 28-31 Aug 62 6-2 4 Sep 62 24-30 Sep 62
ROLE
AD-5W AD -50
45 3'
" , , 6
,.
12
""e t
42
43 45
'. 2 1
2 2
Commander J B Black, USN
60 39 11 59 62 39 39 59 11
,.
39 39 59
,.
,.
39 39
185
OPNAV 4 evaluat ion ECM dulles 2nd Fleet ECM dunes 2nd Fleet Special ECM cones ECM dulles for fleet Spec ial ECM dulles OPNAV 8 evaluation ECM duties lor fleet OPNAV 8 evaiuancn
Special rmsaron ECM Key Wes t Special mission Special mission ECM Exercise. Key West Radar service dunes Radar service cones Radar service cutes Radar service cones Services for BUIlders AtlantiC CItY, NJ Radar service dunes Radar service dulles Radar service dunes Radar servce dunes Radar service dulles Radar services, Boston, M ass, Radar services, Charleston, NC Radar services Radar services Special roseoo . ECM exereses Key Wes t Radar services Radar services . Boston , Mass . Special rrusstcn. ECM exercises Key Wes t Radar services
roars
.....
,
" ".~
~ l(. II .
CO
VAR IA NT AD -5W
DETA CHM ENT
PERIOD
ROLE
FLTRACENNPT Sampson Warrlllgton Key West Key West FLTRACENNPT
Various dates Apr 62 7 Apr 62 7 Apr 62 12 Apr 62 23-28 Apr 62 VarIOUS dates May 62 8, 29 May 62 Various dates June 62 21-26 May 62 2,4.9 June 62 4 Jun 62 6 Jun 62 11 Jun62 11 Jun62 18-23 Jun 62
1
Sellers FLTRACENNPT Key We st
20 Jun 62 vanocs dates Jur 62 16-21 Jul62
FLTRACENNPT Special Mrssron
vanoos dates Aug 62 4 Aug 62
,
MI/schel Tench Key West
15Aug62 22 Aug 62 26--31 Aug 62
2
B,jll1bndge
30 Aug 62
Bijlnbfjdge Spece' MISSion FLTRACENNPT Gearlllg Bainbridge Becuna Key We st Balllb(l(1ge
Fones/a ! (CVA·59) Champlam (CVS-391 Independence (CVA-61l Wasp ICVS·181 Wasp ICV$·18l Lake Champ/aln (CVS-391 Saratoga ICVA--60J Wasp (CV$·18l La~e Champ/alll (CV$·391 In/repld (eVA- II) Wasp (CVS·18) Enteronse (CVAN-65) Lake Champ/am (CVS·391 Wasp (CV$-18) Lake Champ/am KV$·391 FTCNPT The Sullivans Hyman, Purdy, Bealtv Leahy Albany Johnston FTCNPT Albany Cone Ellison Sampson
1 Oct 62 -2 Mar 63 1-11 Oct 62 10 Oc t-23 Nov 62 11-160ct62 20 OCI-20 Nov 62 24 OCI-5 Dec 62 22 Nov-20 Dec 62 20-29 Dec 62 28 Dec 62-10 Jan 63 16 Jan-22 Mar 62 20 Jso-t 1 Feb 62 24 Jeo-at Mar 62 8-21 Feb 62 4- 3 1 Mar 62 4-23 M ar 62 venous dates OCI 62 90c t62 120ct62 15, 17, 22~2 4 OCl62 19 Oct 62 23 Oct 62 Various dates Nov 62 17,28Nov62 8. 18 Dec 62 10-11 Dec 62 110ac62
11 Dec 62 12 Dec 62 Various dates Dec 62 14-15Jan63 15 Jan 63 Various dates Jan 63 21 Jan 63 26 Jan 63 30 Jan 63 5-6 Feb 63 Various dates Feb 63 13-15 Feb 63 14 Feb 63 14 Feb 63 15Feb63 19,21 ,26Feb63 3, t1 Mar 63 venous dales Mar 63 27 Mar 63
Radar services ECM and radar services Radar services Radar services Radar services Radar services Radar services ECM and radar servrces ECM and radar services ECM services Radar services ECM service Radar trackrng Radar traCking Radar tracking Radar tracking ECM and radar services Radar services Radar services
Enterprrse lCVAN-65) Lake Champlam lCVS-39) Forresral (CVA-59] WasplCVS·18) Intrepid ICVS·11) WasplCVS·1B) Independence (CVA.£21 Intrepid ICVS·11) Wasp (CVS-18l Lake Champlam lCVS-39) Forresral (CVA-59)
1 Apr-3 Sep 63 4-5 Apr 63 16--22 Apr 63 22 Apr-19 May 63 10 May-15 Jul63 4 June-26 Jul 63 27 July-30 Sap 63 28Ju!-10Sep63 8-17 Aug 63 26 Aug-30 Sec 63 3-20 Sap 63
Wasp (CVS-18) Roosevelt RoadsEnterpflse (CVAN·65~ Wasp (CVS-18l Wasp (CVS-18) Bermuda Franklin D. Roosevelt lCVA-42) Roosevelt Roads Wasp (CVS·t 8) Bermuda Wasp (CVS-t 8) Wasp (CVS-18~ NAS Oceana, VA NAS Oceana, VA Wasp (CVS-181 NAS Jecksoovrue. FLA Wasp (CVS·181
6 cer-e Nov 65 20-27 OCI 65 30 Nov-20 Dec 65 14-18 Dec 65 24 Jan-1 0 Feb 66 24-31 Jan 66 24 Jan-12 Feb 66 4-10 Feb66 14-23 Mar 66 2-6 Apr 66 18-20 Apr 66 12-19 May 66 21-27 May 66 26 May-7 Jun 66
NAS Roosevelt Roads, PR Bermuda NAS Jacksonville. FLA
12-19Jun66 5--11 Jul66 28 Aug-13 Sep66
America (CVA-66) Amenca ICVA·661 America lCVA·561 Intrepid (CVS·j1 l
13-19 Nov 66 27 Nov-17 Dec 66 7 Jan-31 Mar 67 11-25 Mar 67
19 66
66 66 11
187
Participation in the Gemini 9 NASA Shot
.....
,
"" .~
~ l(. II .
Notes CHAPTER 1
CHA PTER 3
See Peter C Smilh. Douglas SBD Daunt less: Cur/JSS SB2C HeHdIOlfH; Jun l.ers Ju 87 Slu~a and Aid ll D3A 1/2 Vlli lCrowood Av,al,on Se"esl. Rams bu,y. 1997-99
2 Allhough the Blackb urn Skua dl(J acreeve the Inst Snt.Sh a" " rll of the wa'. when one snct down a Dorn,er flymg boat See Peler C SmIth. Blackburn Sj,ua Ilortheommg)
3 See Pelel C SmIth. Nor th Amencan A -36 Apache Ilortheomlngi 4 See Pete, C_ Sm.th. CloseAI/ Support. New Yo'k, and Sh,ewsbury. 1990
5 S"e Vengeance'
rhe Vultee Vengeance D,ve Bomber. Shlewsbu ry and Washington . DC. 1986
6
Ma~ lmu m
we,ght on rare-crt, according to Cayley
pune'ple The Only sour note relat lnglo th,s mtssron came from Allied lell,w ," g pohuctans, In both the US ccneess and tne Bnnsh Parliame nt. who 'epeatedly seemed to let the Communist agglessols oft the hook rh,s aDllfOach was repea ted ,n the V,emam wa r 8 l ee M ~ears,
20 See Com mar>da' J A Thomas. USN Navy Departmen t, Bureau of Aerooauncs , Washll1glOn. Merne; randum of a Conlele nce, Held In Bureau 01 AeronautICS. 2-3 June 1944, Aer-E-12·JAT. , ' 6715. dared I July 194 4. Gene,alCorfespondence 19J3..451Record Group 72). Nanonal Archoves< College Pa,k. Ma r,01and 21 Ib,d Th,s I'SI IS slight ly dlf fe,en! Irom the one on Heinem ann's mernorrs. lor example . F,ske ,s no t included on The Oll,c>al BI.JAe' document as be,ng prese nt on 3 June
23 Thrs sectIo n IS based on Edward H. Heinemann , Reporr On Trip To PacrllC Combaf Ared. dated 27 November 1944. Report No ES6712, EI Segundo D' VIS'On. Doug las A" crall _ 24A See In tenm Report 0 11 Prolect TED No PTR R·801. tovesnqsncn of InSfrument Fl,gll r TechwQuesand Procedures for Naval Combar Arlcra/t fOestablrsh suoaecas for use WIth GCA (XBT2D-11. 1 November, 1946 10 B May, 1947 Report dated 10 June. 1947, NATC RepOrt Senar No n-122, Commander W I M arM , US Navy, D
Parsons, The Arrae' Bomber - The War
Navael 1)(}-7!>-5oo. Ofhce of lhe Ch,el of Naval Ope, · at,ons and Bu'eau 01Ae rollaul lcs. Navy Department. Washrllgton . DC, August 1951 Also Lee M ParSOllS, Development of rhe Ar rdd COllcep t. Naval AvrdllDn Conf,dell/ral Bullet,n. CO-Naviler 00-75-500 . Olhce 01 the Ch,el 01 Naval Operenons and Burea u of Aeronaut,cs, WaShingTon, DC, August 1951 9 lee M Pal SOliS,
co c,t
CHAPTER 4
t I Sea Peter C Sm'lh, Curtrss SB:JC Hel/d lver. t2 Lea M Pa,sons.
24B Th,s chapter rs ma,nly based upon Pless Repart, 12 Novem ber 1948. DougliJs SOv'ardf>r. by E H He,nemann. Chief Englnee/. Doug las Alrcratl EI Segundo Englnee"ng. made avallal>le to the autl1O! by lhe Naval Hrstoncal Once. Wash",glon , DC 25 Nat.co ar Adv isOlY comrn.eee fa, Aeronaut'cs 26 See Peter C SmIth . Jun kers Ju B7 Slul.a. op ot
10 See Edward H He,nemann and Rosauo Rausa. Combat Arlerafl Desrgnm - The Ed Hell1ertldnn Srory, Annapolis, 1980
oo ClI
oo CIt
\3 see Pete, C Sm'th, Alehl D3AI/2 VIII. op CIt
28 HeInemann and Rausa, Combaf Arrerdft Desrgner,
op
ce
29 See Pete' C Sm,th, D,ve Bomberl. Ashbourne and AnnapoliS, 1982
oocn 17 He,nem ann and Rausa, Comba t AI/craft DeSlQner. Of} CIt 18 Lee M Pa'sons, opc, r 19 Heinema nn and Rausa, Comba t A rleraf! DeSIgner, oPC,t
CHA PTER 7 38 Now Kern COUII lV Alfport No 8 39 Fa, oetaus ct th,s. see Peter C Sm'lh. Archl DJA 112 Val, Crowood AVlall on Senes. 1999
' 966 30 Ronald L Grego' y, AI/man magal,ne, Was h,ngton .
16 Heillema nn and Rausa. Comba l Alfcra fr DeSigner.
37 Th,s secuc« 'S based upon US Naval A" Test Cenle r. Pa lu ~enl R,var, Maryla nd. RePO'T 01 the Flrgllt Test Di\fISKJrl on seo-ce Aceepranoo and PrOduct'on Insp«t'on Trrals of the M odel AD-I A,rplane - FrnBI Repol/. colldUCled tor The Beard 01 roscecuco and Survey. Project No . TED No. 81S 2191. Octcoer 29 194B. US Naval Atr Test Cenler , Pafu.ent Rive" Repo' t 01 Fllghl Test D""sK)fl, remwrafure Survey Phase of seo-ce Acceptance and Producllon InspectKJrl Trrals for tile Models XBT2D- 1 and AfJ.I aI/planes, F,nal RepOrt. Prolect No TED No SIS 2192 , November 30 1946; US Naval Ar' TeST Canler, Patuxent River, Report of ElectronICS Tesl D""s,on on Radro Imederence Tests on the Arroorne fleetromc EqUlptnem "'Sldlled If! file XBT2D- I A,tp liJne - BuNo 09092. Part 4, COnducted fOl Board 01 lnspectron and Survey, Projoct NO TED No BI$ 2177, 14 Novem be ' 1947, and Inte nm Report on InveSf,gallOn 01 InStrument Fl,ght TecllniQues and Procedu res for Naval Combat AI/craf r to ESlabirsh Srdndards fo' Use wltll GCA, INSURV. Naval A1f warte.e Center Anc,a ll D,vls,on, Palu'ent RlVa'
40 See Hrsroty of A E W" Adm"alty M emorandum CHA PTER 5
hUl St, 1996
15 See Peter C Smllh , Curl'Ss SB:JC Helldrve r. op CIt,
36 See Leutenarn-Coenmeode r Glen B BUller, USN,
27 Lee M . Persons. Development of tile Arrad Concep!. oPC,t
14 See Pete, C Sm'th. Tile Bailie 01 M rdw..y, Speld-
CHAPTER 2
35 Reports Attack SQuadronS" Baker. Sql.Jddron Hm oty. vallous dates from qUilrte, end,ng 31 September 1947 10 quarter end ing 31 March 1948 VA6S/AS3ISIJJM M/grp . venocs dales. Nat,onal Arch,ves. Co~ lege Park. M aryland
$aUildron Diary for quarte' end,ng 31 December 194 7. dated 1 January 1948 Op Cit
22 Ibid
N,m :.1 AVla"on Conf,dem/al B"lIetm, C,nC
34 Report. Un,te d Stal es Atlanhc Fleet. Attack SQuadron FIVe Saker, Sql.Jdd' on H,story fOl Quarter End,ng 31 March 1948, VA-5B/A9-3. 11IJGHnSN. Se"at 47-48, dated 1 Ap,,11948 Nanoner Archives, CoHege Park, M aryland
DC
4 1 See USAF, FlIght Manual, seoes A·I EIG/H/J Arr· cratt, TO lA-1E -l. dated 30 Ap"l 1971. USAF. W ash,ngton, DC. 1972
CHAPTER 6
42 In the 1960s, the Royal Navy fought, and lost. e.acl· Iy Ihe same benie jor ,tS carrie' S,mlla' batt les went against the Navy ,n lhe earty Thatcher yea' s, and only the Falklands Wa' broug ht belated ullde'stand ing TO Wh rl ehall Currently, new carroers 01a reesceetse sue are due to be bu,lt agam
33 Report, United Stares At lant oc Fleet. Attack Squadron FIve Baker, SqIJ
<1 3 'Str,k,ng Force' was the O"lI lnal term replaced by 'Fast Carner scree' on 25 Augu st. arxl tater by 'Tas/;. Force 77"
31 Helner"ann and Rausa, Con>baf Arreral / DesI{}ner, op CIt, 32 c neues R ShulollJ to Ihe au/ho', 26 January 1998
188
CHAPTER 8
Nons
44
S- Commandef Ma lcol m W e.gle, USN, & Com-
62
See Repon 01 Came' A:o< G'oup 5. USS
~
t'NIMIlf Fran k A Marlsoo. US Navy. ThB SN W8t '"
Sea ICV--451 on llCloonof 26 July 1954, Cornmandel'
KOltu. Anoapolos. 1957
George
Dunean. USN
Cenlfe
CH A PTEA 12 63
S- ~t8f C Sm ' ltI. S!"l' S"'l<e. Shrewsbury. Ocrc-
IS based upon the US Navy AD Tr...rng .\olMlu8I. OrdtlMtce t::!e*"tIrv S«IIOfl. StJl)(Iloed 10 the auttlor by the Navlll H'storlClll Cen t'e. WasIwlgton Navy Yard. DC Funr. reference should be made 10. NAVAEA 11·75-513 . MCTlih s.g"lmg DIl r" f()f AD Mer"fl. lhe ~ HiIndbooI< f()f AD-6lind ~7 Adcra ll IOPO EVfOA Report); the FIlliJIR8POfI on PrOf8Cr OPN2HliX22. and SpeciaJ Weapons 0e1tW1rY Hant:1booI< tor AD-6 and AO-7 A"craft
Thrs dllIIJlor
CHAPTER 16 82 fO# a more complete ~t of the VNAf see Robert C M'kesh. Flyong Dragons, The South Voet· fWfTllISe All
NflWS.
NilVf!1 A VIf!-
Decembe r 1952 issue
67 A lo ne th roug h l he bull"s-.ye pa'allel 10 the d,n~ct'on ofd've was e ~cee
56 Even
CHA PTER 9
53 Quoted .., COmbat FOlres .kxsftIN, WllShlngtOO. DC "" ,
56 CaPta,n 0 H Frazer. AN, to Anh", PearcY_ ANAS C"ld rose. 53OI6I1A . dated
71 Chud Mulaney 10 the llUtflOf. 18 SeptemDer 1996
n
ChUCk Mulldney to the lII,lltlor. 21 August 1998
60
S- Quonser Scour. 9 Marcb 1959
6t 'G'avt>l' was a parlocularty II'lSldIOUS weapon lnal was most etfe<:11W! agar'lSt guernlla forces. who generlll· ly moved around under ~, 01 darkness On the ground. lhe CBU dned OUI10 look hl.e small rOC kS or lafge mU<.i<:l>' SloneS. w heh were ve'y hard todetoc t
87 Fram Jov maJofMM iilfYA$s'SIarJC6. No 118,1972 Wash"'llIOO. DC 88 Some sources sta te that the lui
ot
89 SHUS M.one Corps, The B.Jtf!e for ( 1Ioa' 5.tnI\ ceOlIl llilXO\Jnl HIstory & M useu-ns 0r0M00ns ~. QUlrt8fs. US Mtr..... Corps. W&Shong1on. DC . 1975 CH A PTE A 17
90 Fra-at 1...:1 "'eady made WlIiesOrOlid . - at AmertC5'>b.oI1 ~ bombers. L'Arrn8e ae rAl '-"'iI flown the VuI_ A-35B Venge;tnc:e on North AlfIl;8 1$421$45 ISH Pel'" C Smth. ~', Stvewstvv and Wastwlgton. DC. 1ge6l. and also the 00ugIas ABanshee, the Armo,llQUIVBIent at lhe famous SBD, on North Afro and agaonst German fol'ClI$ '" nontlem France I'llllIf tba end 01the Second Work:I Will Its naval
73 SeeVA-176, Combat Report. dll1ll
me aUlltOf. 18 SeDtember
t996
air ",m the Aeronavale had ltSlld the Douglas SBO In a s,m,!ar eoreer rOle ,n North Ah a arod ma lnlafld France. 1944- 1945. as we ll as In Indo-Ch,na ahllllhe war l5f>e Perer C Sm' th, Douglas SBO Dauntless. Ramsbury, 1996) The ffench Navy had !ale! "'l(lOIled batches of CUl1,ssSB2C Helldrv8fS. which ,t flew tram both Cilrne's and lana eases during the f'na1 StlOgeS of lhe _ DglIIf'ISt the VII!I-Mrm. CI,lImonatrog on lhe eal· I le al o.enS"", Ptlu The~' OUIS\andlogcon\rI!)ut,(lflOS fully docur'11enl00on Peler C $moth Jungle 0.,." 8<:lrnbers '" W¥, London & WastwIgtoo DC. 1985. and ClIt4s 582C 1--leIc:Wer. Ramstuv, 1997
CH A PTER 15
58 'RemlOP' was the name g'ven 10 the ,ela y I,nk thai
CHAPTER 11
authol'. JOAugust 1998
CoIIege Pwk. MD
74 Chuck Mulianev 10
59 For mor e dl:ttaol ot the Royal Navy 's AEWs. down to 'lltfT1Ol l!'d ontl,V!Oua' a,rcraft h ,stor l8S. see the thor· ough fesearch of r-e Br,t>Sh A_liOn All'SO¥ch Gtoup'S Naval AVIolHon Resear ch Seo;toon. whoch ~Oduced lhe St4>e<-Monograp/'l booldet. Me 2 lSI A 1-i':J/(Jry ot me Oovgids SlyradM AEW 1 '" 1974
B6 Command.... St ephen J. R,ordan . US N, RId. to 'he
70 Chuck Mulaney 10 the authol'. 21 August 1998
57 l ,e ul enanl -Comma ncte' PG W Mor"s. RN. Rid, to lhe author, 6 Novembe' 1998
enabled th" Mera1t to pass Ihe radar p'e tur" d"eclIy 10 a eMplay In the car-er's ooerauon room. enabl"'g a qual,f led 'O"OCll()f1' cneer tc ccnucrtbe loghle' ,nlerceDt,on, Adm"'" T,eachll' recalled tha t. In prdCtlCt'l 'I proved lI~\femely d,lbcult 10 mamla
B!i See Eugene M l u . en. A orForce M agal lne. Augusl 1946. Wa sh,ngt on . DC
nus
53A F,.,.. C Kleagello the A<Jtr'oOf. 8 .Jaouary 1999
'" L., rlwffnec' ~ ' 1951
oea
6 5 See Pel er C, Sm'th. Impacrr The [),ve Bombe r P,IOIS Spea~. London and Annaoohs. 198 1 66 EmphasIS In the or,g lnal syllabus
52 See Gene'al M ark W Cla'k, US A rm y. Wh ar K,nd of A" SliPf/Ofr Does rhe Almy Wanr' A",ele ,n A" FOfCe< Mag,wnll. Wash,ngton. DC. oecemce. 1950 , Vol 33, No J
0sce0I1I and london. 1988
tor US Navy Personnel 10 polot ttlese SI-y'alders. unoffrcl&lIy. wh'le 'on !eaVfl·. on a SImilar manner 10 General CIa"e Chennault's much·hyPlld 'Fly,ng Tl(lers' oo l lt l ,n Burma and Ch,na on lhe ea'ly 1940s Howe ve r, IIlIS w as qUICkly d'opped
64 See Vengeance'. op C,I
See ltle art icle Includmga SmA. ppl0 o f
rcee.
83 lbod Robert M " esn Slatll$ that tt18 orlQonal ~ wn
50 11M
t",n
n..
SMART bombs 00 lhrs rittd. but there IS no otfo<:aal-
48 SH Peter C $mIltl. Peaesr4l. II>{O ~t"
51
AAl Force H,story Study. Wa$hongton . Raid
8 1 Some .... ,!>OrS cia." ~t the $O-yraoders earned
45 lbod
46 U SS Proncelon. ICV·3 n Comool Ae()Of1s. July 1951 . Nr.r.JI H,sl orlClll C8f1I..... WashongIOtl . DC 47
tor
DC. 1992 Afso 8(!1'lji1m1fl f Schemmer.
75 Some stones, p robfl bly apoerypha l, reu 01 Skyralders thaI aClual ly got airborne tOI a b ,,"f penod W,lh Ihe" w,ngs sull lo lded l One such 'ncldent '5 aHeged to have l al.en place al Charle':>IOWn. Rhode Island Naval Au "h"ry Statron's funway 22, ,n 1949. when an AO·2 's ,eputed to have atra,ned an all ,tude Of 2SOl1,n th ,s C!lOd'\Ion. before sta~ongand crastllng An A04N bitlonglng 10 VC·J5 ~ repuled to hoJ-.e 'lIlIChed the same helghl hom the 1'-18 ",rstrval K;lflOOIJfllI, KOIe. In bolh 'nodeOt':>, the aOfcr_ s.-vrved A Ih .d case OO"'9"'/Ited Irom tee Mannes, also dunng lhe K.orean WltI . and was 'e()Of1ed to have toi'ken IMce ~, lhe K-9 . str 'C)
CHA PTER 18 91
u-ce
L W Dolts. USN, RId , 10 the ilUtl>ol. 27 Septll'Y'tler 1998
76 Sadly. aller hrs _ly ,et _emenl from ee ser-....ce due to 1I'ljUf18S. W!I
92 L1-edr Dotts' emphasas to the ilUl t10r
77 Cunllnlly ~ nown lIS Ho Chi Monh C
93 Chafin A Shuford to auttlor, 11 November 1998
78 See Kennelh $ams. T«rlC4l Alr Support - EUJancmg rhe Scales Iff I!Ie ll'l,Wf. Al, FO#ce M<Jg;urne. Augu':>l
94
VIr""".
,,.,
On the East Coas l . VA·176st. 'lewa few SItY'illders ' or several weelts longer. so. o lfoalty. these wete the la$ t Sf;.yraoders on ~ operallOf\ll H
79 Ibid CHAPTER 19 80 For more deta il. see Ea'i H Word. Jr. Searcll and Rescue In Soutlle.lS I AS«!, Chap le, 5 Son T.IV ro Ceese Fore 1970-7.1. USAF In SoUlheast As, a,
189
9 5 Re prod uced ,n Popular Avral>Ol1, M aylJu"., 1961 ed l! lon
..
, ..... ...d ~. ,. ".
Index Ahr"..n, Cd r An,ly !4 A iclu IH A I V,II 9 A u; I1 I IH:\ 1/2 V;l1 In'J A/hoI!. H ~ l l i lo: ht Cl rrl,' r 96. 'JS. 100, I(l~
Aln;IIl,ll'r, LI-CJr \'(.'1111:1111 I lL' Aml'TiCdn Cli(llll'f, SS 9 1 Aml'flc,m \ .... nfllTt.'.
ss
'J2-\
An,I"·,,,' n. L, -Glr E.L. 2 \ Ark RlI:>al. II ~ I :Iirt r"l, earner 9(1.9S Au-nn. LI (H,:.) C arl It Kto Rich·. Ll \X'.S. ~2 fhll ml' ~, e .r' 'Slrl'h:h' 14\ fbnc~, L, 1... "ll~ L. 4"J Ih nh'r, LI 24 RiTln!.:. Ll-Glr M.J. 9; Rl rnh;lrt, LI(J,!.:.) R"h.·rt l 'i.Sl P'l'-l·o.: hn.llt SN Jl-S 16 1
Bdfl1'{' 11M lichl cnu-cr 7S IX·rc..-r, C h: ll'[;lIn [ohn W. I toi' f~: rclun,1. Mi,l ~h i l'm ; llI
Rex R. 51, 54
IX·Tll·:!, Rtchard 169 lkllll
c.
Jl' O\\'nllllo:, fl..'" IS JlnTllTlllo:, Car l R. ~ t. [('\6 Bm.~h, US , I..·,tr,,\w 7S BIIlll'drk, H~ t 11lo:ll1 c;m il'r 96, 9S----l), 100 , 101 Ruder. L, -Cdr Cill'n R. 52
C I,i11 l,K r rt >J,,' l;u lI m ..·, 6Cl C 1IJwd i. LI-('....!r D.C. 56 CanJ,IJ. l\·, Roh.·r' '1\ ....' S4 Carl_on. Ll-Glr IbmlJ G . 79
C I'UO, Fidd I so Ccnr... IIIT, HM liclu earn ...r 96,10 1 Ct.'...- na A- \ 7A 1'lr"Cllllll\' 154 C han.:e-Voul.: h l F4UCt,r-.;llr 17, 4'J, it>, 79-,. .8i. IW, 1M C h' lIlCl,-Voul.:h, TRU ~.. a \Vo ll 12 C1ulr£~'f, US cscort GIITll'r 'is C horcff LI Petc r 11 (' Clark. G..-n ~ b rl A. M~ ctlTl..:. Lt J.E. 11 Cll'WkIllJ, US licht cnu....·r 17 Cml-~rrt, H~ l d...... u,.\W 7'i Con-ran nnc, Wi lh;ull '1'111' 141 C~.no k, ("..Jr Ll'O I \4 , 116 Cor,11Sea, R..llk· of 9 Cmu St'a. US ;Ilrtnfr earner S1_ 1, I K\ 136, 168 COft'. Us ..-scort earner 114 Corn wall. e 'r l Il S. 2l Comu~ill . H ~ I Ill';I \, \" cnuwr 10 C(l.~.""lI.:k, H ~ 1 d~·' lro\" ..·r 7"
Co- ruin, Car t Ridwr.l Y. 141{- 1) Couchman, Rcar-Adm W.T. 9 2 Cotl'p..·n.~, US lilo:ht carrier 17 Crommclin , LI-Clr J.( J. I S, II{ C ro oks. Emil Ril- hard 110 C urtiss SB2C l Iclldiver 9, I I, I \, IS- 16, Iii - 10, 21- 1, \4 , ~6, 4" , "1, 16'J l buuum , Lr (j.g.) Jo hn 110 Dcums, G lr M.K. /i6 Ik SI: rt S I,mn, 0 l'l'-r,ll i, .n 91'
Devlin, Leo 21 lJiJlI, }lM huht vnu ....·r 60 Diehl , C II'I Wa lt...r S. 1 1, 22 Du-rn, F'rcsidcnr 1.,2 D ih.~, LI-G.lr William L. 10\-4 , IM nO;IIl, Harrv 169 U )f'i.t.'r.~hjn' , liM h,,·ol\·)' cnu ....·r 10 n"uclas A -20 Havoc ( R." rllll ) 14 D"lld:ls A -24 ll msh..' t' I \ D' IUJ,.: las A -26 In \'ad"'r \S n 'llll.:lasA -6A InlnlJt'r IS3 [),,)Uclas RT- I 16 D.lUglas BT n -1 [ ),.',lrll\·.... r 16--24, 21- \6 Dn uglas rC -4 109 DllUgla~ DC-41 SkYIll,I'lt'r 34
1\ 'uc!.I' T JlD Devastator 12 Douc!." XA D- I Skvhawk IN , I S3 1\ ,uJ,.: L" XSR2D- 1 16--24 I h .J.: I. I~ XT02D- ) Sky Pirate 1\ I\,ugl.", 1\ >n.lIJ 2I Duncan. Cdr Geo rct" 110 l'h••'nc- thil·u-Hunlo:, Ll-G.,I 156
EdXk. HM ,mcwlr earner 94. %, 'J8-9, 100 Ek hl·lhcrL....r, Lt-CJr William R. 140 Eu).:ll,h Elcc mc fl..!. Ca nl-ena 92 EIlI~-rpri'i.t.', US ,m erdlr carrier 49 E.~",x. US .urcratr ea rne r 17, 21, 82. 84, 1'6, 106 Eh'f~lIk. US dcs rrovcr 75
Fain',· All-aeon - I I Fo.in·,' !i'lfT'KU.l.1 II , 13 Fourl'Y Fucfl v 76 Fourl'}" (';JnIWI 98 Follrey T~R Swo rJ fish I I Farm Garc, 0 r.... ration I N Fawke' , Cd r Emers on 19, 21 F"'rcII\< 'n , Lr -Cdr john A. 21-2 FIji, 11 M ligh t cruisc·r 10 Ficlu-r, Mal Bcrn ar,1 E 142- 1 Fi,h ., Col C harlcs 2 I FIl't'!wing XBK -I 10 Fkll·hrr, Us de-trover 75 Furd. C lr W all ,l(t· A. 141, 143 FunJliJdhk , HM aircraft carrier 10 Fl u r..-vt , l lave 169 For rrs{,u, US aircratt ear n ...r 106, 110 Ff(Jllci~ '\kGmU', S5 93
Fmllklin D. ROIJSCl·e!I, US ilT rcrilt"t carrier 2~, 110 Fnccr, Ca pt D.H . 98 Fn- bic. W illi,lnl 21 (jaJ .I.lfi. Prt'~ iJ ent 161 n .illar,1. Glr w.E. 24 G..lIcry, Cart William O. 79 (;atu. US , uhmarin... 66 Ge neral M" loT-" T BM Avengl'r 60 Gt'm a, Lt-CJr J.L 56 GITJJ..:. Ness, JIM Irials ~h i r 102 GI'''h..r G.llIm lt·1 II liLJU,:esll'f. HM liJ;.:h, cnJiser 10 Gneik'Ml.I.. Ge nnan han lc-i:ruiscr 13
.,,,,"'''".d ~If. ".
INIW.X
C;" \\'l'r, Lt HT. 106 Grav, Lt-Cdr ['alii Wi Cif\'athllIN', Lr -Cdr Edward 11l - 3 ( ;r.'ell M01l1l tain Srau', SS 92 Gr nnunun AF-2\V G U'lrdi;ln 611 Grnmm.m F6F-i K 8 1- 2 Grmuman F6F I lcllcur I i. 16 3 G rumman FHF Bt';lrcat 1'17, I ii, 16 3 Gnuuru.m P)F2 Pan th er 76, BO G nuum.m T BI) A\"l~ngl'r 9. 12. I 3 I l.uruv. ( :'ll't I \~ l l1lb 143
) 1 " I ~L'y, Aclm William 'Bull' 10 H,U!cuck. U.s a irualt carrier 130 llarttuan, Lr (j.g.) Ch;l rb 131 - ) ) l.rckcr , F. 4 ) [unt er l) 3
Hawker H.'CI" r I I I I,mh'r 1 1 ,~ n l l' Y I I H 'l \l'~ , Capt j ohn 1·0 llc.nl . Cal't Richard I)_ 149
1I,'am , II. W_ i(l Hed rick, Lr-Cdr [umc-, O. 52 Hcuu-munn , Ed 12 , [ 3, [6, 17, Hl- IL), 20-36 H,·l1JW.I, 111\.1 aireraf! earner 10. 96 I Ilei, J; I I" lIl"~e hltt k'~ h i l' 10 Hildreth. Lr -Cdr [umcs R, [40 Hill. l.r (u.: .) Th eodore F. 16R 11" ,I" 'n , Lt-C, lr N.n. 76 11,,1111h.,: rg. Rcar-Achn Paul A. ll S /I"nwt. U.s .un-r.ut ea rner 24 lluv. C 11'1 151 I! w;ll,h " n Ih' ~l' r \' lli r ,1'1111, at tac k on 77, 79-1'10 11l11.>;tri('I 4.s. 1111. \ ;lirerat't earner )0 Ilyushi n IL-2 Shl1lnll(Jl'ik tl4
In.l<'IIt.·n.l"!U·l', US ligh t ea rner 17 "1,!mIll/tlN". 11M mrcraft car rier 10 IJHre/Jid, US .urcruf ear ne-r 11,)6, I H . 1\ 4 lvorv C
K"las. L, (j.f.:. ) A nt ho ny S. 5, Kin,klh,·rgl'r. J.l l. 'Dutch' II King. C"I rX'n jam in 139 K ing. C a pt Huber! 1-12- 3 Kinm')', Ensll 1)o n;1 ld E. 53 Kleagn , Frank C. H9 Ko n ig, L,-Clr Ruhin H. 52 KOlli.r:.s!lCr.r:, German c ru i~l" r 9, 10 Kor sgH'1l Lt (j.g.) RidM r,1 110 Kueh n , E n~1l Waltl'r J. S ~
L m gf, )rd, Lt jame s R. S, L m ochkin LA-71 1O 1....'xiIlRlrlJl, US ain-ratt carrie r 24 Lin,lsk'y. C. M. 5i L"ck hl'l',1F-HO H9 L rw, Ca pt Sandy 150 LUC;1S, Capt JI.n [4 ' '-yn lw , LI (j.J,:.) j 'Hl1l'S 131 - 3
O,'e£m, 11 M li;.:lu ca rrier 96 Ofsnc. Renr-Adm Rulph A, 79 O lyml'ic,Opt'r,llilln 26 Orisk..m)'. US ,lin:r;lft carrier 1, 1
,\ IIW.J(Jx, US dvsrrovcr 75, [ 10 Marrin AM-I Mauler I L). 27, 49. 50 Martin 1'2e V Nept un e 2, Marrln ['-5 Marli n 23 Mmn-rcr, Maj Oscar 149 M:lxl-\'t'l1. Ensu Rfchard C. 5, May, C,I r-n., US}..lC 87 McAnhur, Cil'll Dlll1gla.., 75,77 Mc lhum cll F-4 Phan tom 1 \4. 116, 145,
1\ 1Ck , Cdr W.L. 106 T'tlrk. US deslTlI~w oS4 Parson, Lee M. [2,34 Patton, Lt (j.g.) I H, 116 Pearl Hart-or, a t uu-k ou 9. 12, J4 !'a,lell,I, 11M fl'rry carrier 92 l\: t1 pk,,\' Pt·-2 I'esnlul 16l) l'luun -ph u-Qoc. Capt I ' I Ph ilippin e Sea. Baffle llf 15, 22
[68
Nonh A me rican T-28 16 3 Nort h rop F-5A Freedom Fidlt l'r [S4 Nyhurg, Lr-Cdr Williard H,
PhilitJ/liJle 5"'1, US uircrufr ca rrier 86, 109
McNamara, R,lhl'r! S. 153 Meeks, Capt Paul 1-16 Mer rell, Ensn C ha nd ler V. 'i 3 Merrick , Cdr R.C. 80 Mer-om, Lr R.A.J. 99 Mctsucr, L, A. B. 14 M i,IJ,:t'l !. Eron Sammk O. 52 Midwav, Bail ie llf 9. 12, I , '\\ i.lIl'1I)', US ai rcrnf carrier ) 5, 17, [ 11 - 1 M iU - [ 5 oS6 1I. !i0 -171 31- 3, l.36 M i ni , Cd r Jim 23- 4
Moore. Gcn J,).' eph H. 140 Moranvillc. L, Kenn eth E. 15 [ /l.-I,'rrb, Lr-Cdr Pe rcy 100 Mullaney, Chuck 124, I ,3-oS lI. \llrph y, Cdr j .N . 1.3, 14, 15, 17 MIISkl'!I'l'r, O pcrauou. SUI': lan,ling 98 Myn s, MaJ Dafford W. 14 ,
Porter, Col [ohn M. 154 Porter, Lr-Cdr j oh n M. 140 Prtckcrr, C Ir R.JI. 5'; Prjllce u[WIlb, 11 11.1 hattleship 10 Prince/I III. Us aircraft ca rrier 79, HO- I,
"6 Puccini . Ensn jO"l'r h E_ '; 3 Puckett, Lr Max 110
Radford, Adm A.W. Z4 Rruljlml, US de-trover 7S Rahn , B ob 34 Ram age, Lt-C..dr l.D. 49 Ramsey, Ca rt Paul l '!. 21.22 Randal. Lt-C jr Robe rt G. S2 Ulllwol/Jh, US aircraft carr ier 106 Ralll'({'t, US airc raft earner 1,0 Ravmond. Art 21 Reeves. [ames 'Jim' l41 rh 'Pp, Lr-Cdr 141 Republican F-tl4 89
N"kaj im;t B'iN Kale 9 Napier, Lt Charle s II. S2 Neubauer, Ensn Richard 11 0 N,,\'(u!a, US hall k , h ip 10 Ngo Dll\h Nhu 152 Ngllell-X\l,IIl- Vinh, Chid --, If-Staff VNA F
151 NglIYl'n-CI' l-K~', BriJ,:-(
,.'1\ (I'rt'sidl't u)
1'H-5 , [')6. ISH Ngllyt'n Khanh , I'residl'nt 151, 156 N gllyt'n -ngw -Bl'jn, 1st Lt [ , I Nglly.'n-q l1ang-Tri, C
I,
H N"rt h Americlll F- IOO SUl't'r Sabre 145 N un h A me rican P-51 Mllslan g I I
191
R clllll.~e , Il M h;lltll'.. cruiser [0 Reusser, Maj Ken , USMC 84 Rtl-blc. Lt (j. ~.) Richa rd 1)0 Richard-on, Rear..Adm L awrence It 21 Ridgewa }" Gen Mat thew B. 76 Rim,Jan, C lr Stc r lw n J. 154 RoHnslln , En sn Rich "r,1 L. 51 Rohinson. L! William r. 110 Rllt.·li"slcr, US h eavy cruiSl'r 7'; Rllchfurd, Lr (j .g.) john 110 Ruff. Ca l't ["\Jylt' C. 148-9 Russell, Ca l" J.5. 22 Russel1 . Lt Pcl er 134 , 136
S,ltfcl l, Jr, LI-CJr Jnhn A . 141 Sai/J(II1, US liJ..: ht carrier 17 Samuel N. Moore, US J estn lyt'r 75 SilrawKa, US aircraft carrit'r 106 Sa the r, Lt (J.J,:.) Richard C. 130 SdUlnlnorst, Germa n hatt ie -c ruise r 13
.
. ...."". d ~l'.".
~ h.,oc, l l· r, ~t "j
Warren 64
Sealkill. k. RNAS C ulJ n"t' 92.94 Sht·/IlJII. US de -trover 75 S huf'l rJ, C it C h;Irk's R. ·N -')O, 166. 16R Shumwav, C lr D avid W. 2 1,22 Sici/~. US c-cort ea rne r 26 Sihan"l.lk. l' rmc e N,1WJ.1II1 162 SII1I" I1'. Col Arth ur 'Bull' 1')0
Soucek, Rcar-Adm A pollo 82. &\ S"ltlhmn/,rull. HM li!-:hr c ruise r 10 5,'III Ill'rl.m,1, Cd r 24
SI',lIlK h. J;Kk l ot.) Srcvcn-, C ar l Le.lic C. Il, 2 J. 14 S U;l!" IIl"}'l'r, Gcn 75
Srrom-rcd. En-,n T hor K. 5 1 S UlIhll', Vicc -Adm A.D, 75 S Ullh"lke , Eu vn '}2 SlI,' rsll,.h, LI-Clr Han k 84-') Sui/i ,11<. 1 1~ l lll';\\" Y cruiser 10 Su r,: rll1
T;llliehelt , ();wiJ C. 169 Tar anto, R lltil' III 10
Tatham, Lt Roy 11 0 Talm i,l::, US J ''S' n>n 'r 7')
Vulrcc
Taylor, Lt R.W. 8 1-2 Tl'! Oti"l-n'IH' 156 Thomas. G lr lA. 19. 2 1, 22
Thomas, Cd r T OI1lIll} ' 34 Til'-l'-Ie, Fir SJ,:t L.R,M. 115 TICWw..'TfJ,l::il, US .nrcr.ut ear ne r 23. 130 Tidemann, Cd r cu. 1(16
Tirpil" Ge rman h;llrl.·,hir 13 Tower, Rcar.Adm J.J I 15 Trapnell, C ar r Frcdcnck 14 Trencher, LI-C d r Joh n 9l- 5.l)l) Triwn/,h, H ~l li!-:llI earner 75-6 TUnJa J"y, US ,1," lr"Y" r I W
14
v, 72 Vcnl:ca ncc II . 17, 18, 34,
49 Wa,l.Jd l, Lf J. 8 1 W.lhl ~l ro1l\ , LI-CJr Paul 110 Wab'<-'k. Lt (j,!-:,) EJwin
J.
51
W'a n pifl', 11M " )'o.l,'r, LI E,H
24
)'l ,h " ub () 4 )' f.)
Y,,.,kllltl11, US .urcratr earner 15
SI"'Tlllol. St'V Il" c ruiser 79
Vtlllc.'Y Furge, US " in.: r;lt', ca rrier 75---6 Va~ ut':, C lr t 14 l
l:Ikis. L,-Cd r S. 106
\-,jaorilll"~.
11M .urcr.ur curnvr 96,9S
192
Z.1( ..1 1I' . En-,n john 110 Zuken. Euge ne M . 15 3
