a1skyraider

One of our NAF China Lake AD-5N/A-1G Skyraiders taken between August 1962 and August 1965, probably in the earlier part of that range. Armitage Field, NAF China Lake. Pilot is CDR Abele. Ordnance is two MK-8x iron bombs with Snakeye retarded fin assemblies.

The aircraft depicted in the clip above is a US Navy Douglas A-1H (AD-6) Skyraider, BuNo 134619 (c/n 9848), belonging to VA-152. This aircraft would be lost in combat to AAA fire near Son La Province, North Vietnam on August 29, 1965. Naval aviator Lieut. Edd David Taylor (USN) would perish in the crash of the aircraft. Taylor was flying as part of a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission seeking the rescue of F-105 pilot Captain Wesley D. Schierman, who was shot down on his 37th combat mission over North Vietnam on August 28, 1965. Lt. Taylor was on his third low-level pass trying to locate the source of an emergency radio beeper when his plane was struck by ground fire. Schierman was captured and would spend the rest of the war as a Prisoner of War. See: navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?c...

Very Nice

Interesting effect from the white tips on the propeller blades as the airplane moved forward. Hook is higher than the tail wheel so I assume this is take off roll.

Douglas AD-7 (A-1J) Skyraider, BuNo 142048 (c/n 11528), later transferred to the US Air Force and given the serial no. 52-142048. This aircraft would be shot down by Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) over Laos on April 25, 1968. See: www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1952.html