The Douglas A-1 Skyraider is an aircraft with origins from the World War II era; it first flew on March 18, 1945.
Originally referred to as the XBT2D-1 Dauntless II, the aircraft evolved from one of the most iconic aircraft of its kind ever made: the legendary Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber.
By December 1946 the aircraft was officially named the Skyraider, ending an illustrious run of service.
The Skyraider was versatile enough to be operated by representatives of any of the services that made it.
Said to have served such distinguished customers as the British Royal Navy and the French Air Force, aside from other clients in the United States, including the Navy and Air Force, as well as the Marine Corps, and having such a good, stiff design and flexibility.
It came in at 38 feet 10 inches in length and had a wingspan of 50 feet.
But it boasted only a single 2,700 horsepower Wright R-3350-26W engine, which gave it a top speed of 343 miles per hour.
Its armament was fearsome, made of four 20mm cannons and the ability to haul up to 8,000 pounds of bombs.
It was during the Korean War that Skyraider got its marks as an attack aircraft.
Dubbed endearingly as the “Able Dog” or “Spad,” it thrived in several missions such as industrial site targets down to close air support.
Its versatility further demonstrated it to play roles in electronic countermeasures as Its versatility further demonstrated it to play roles in electronic countermeasures as well as night attacks.
In the Vietnam War, the Skyraider took the iconically symbolic role of “Sandy” helicopter escort in search and rescue missions.
He entered legend when Major Bernard Fisher was awarded the Medal of Honor for his rescue under enemy fire in 1966.
The Skyraider would remain a part of history until 1973 when the Skyraider was withdrawn from U.S. military service, with production that totaled 3,180 units.
Though it is out of the military aviation service, it is one of the epitomes of flying excellence, with many examples preserved in museums and maintained airworthy across the United States.