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Color picture of Douglas EA-1F Skyraider turning out of formation. In Light Gull Gray and Insignia White with squadron code GD of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirty-Three (VAW-33) on tail plus Modex number 809 on engine cowling. Below that are individual markings on nose, a chess game knight and possible black bird symbol plus some unreadable italic script across at a diagonal angle. Unfortunately the ‘last five’ of serial number on base of tail is entirely obscured. Image resolution is insufficient to read full serial number in shadow below horizontal tail This EA-1F was one of 53 AD-5Ns converted and redesignated AD-5Q as a four-seat electronic countermeasures aircraft fitted with search radar and under wing ECM pods . The two electronics operators were seated facing aft underneath a bulged aluminum rear canopy with small semi-circular window. APS-31 radar pod installed on the starboard underwing pylon. Other antenna protrude from the aft ventral fuselage and extreme tail. Auxiliary fuel tank on centerline station. All AD-5Qs were redesignated EA-1F from September 1962. Dedicated VA(AW)-33 / VAW-33 / VAQ-33 website: www.reenactor.net/vaq-33/vaq-33_history.html

Douglas AD-5 Skyraider in overall semi-gloss Sea Blue with white markings. MARINES on rear fuselage, code MP on tail and Modex 15 on engine cowling. The above picture may also be viewed here: 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VossJohn/7779.htm 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VossJohn/7779L.jpg "The aircraft is wearing the markings of USMC Marine Attack Squadron VMA-331, based at MCAS Miami, Florida. It eventually ended up with the South Vietnamese Air Force." [unfortunately serial number below horizontal stabilizer is indecipherable so further research is not possible] VMA-331 ‘Bumblebees’ flew AD-5 Skyraiders from 1954 to 1958 & AD-6 from 1959 until changeover to A4D Skyhawk. Codes used were MP and VL. skyraider.org/skyassn/skysqds.htm#anchor892644 a4skyhawk.org/4e/vma331/vma331.htm “I was in VMA 331 from Jul 57 until the spring of 62………. We flew AD-5's at Opa Locka until the summer of 59 and then deployed to West Pac for 14 months where we flew the AD-6. We were the last AD Squadron in the Marine Corps.”

The above aircraft is identified as Douglas AD-5 / A-1E Skyraider Bu No 133861 Seen here www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4556321938/ Douglas AD-5 Skyraider Bu No 133861 c/n 9551 VMA-331- tail code MP, side number 15. In overall Sea Blue Gloss scheme. Photograph from USMC, taken February 21, 1956 Aircraft wearing markings of USMC Marine Attack Squadron VMA-331, based at MCAS Miami, Florida. Eventually ended up with South Vietnamese Air Force.

My favorite single engine attack plane, and in its multi seat config. Thanks.

Got a lot of hours in the flight trainer as a kid. My dad ran trainer at North Island for three years. Great fun!!

Douglas AD-5 / A-1E Skyraider 133861 in light gull gray and insignia white. Side code 52 on engine cowl. Last five digits of six figure serial on base of tailplane while across center is US Navy aviation recognition code 7Y for NAS Grosse Ile, Michigan state during 1959. Forward part of underwing fuel tank is marked with small '7Y' and '52'. Only port mainwheel chocked. To right are what may be Douglas R-5D/C-54 transports. Prior to 1970, certain aircraft belonged to a Naval Air Station or Facility without connection to any squadron. Also before 1970, those aircraft that were part of a Naval Reserve Training Unit belonged to the station that they were based, not a squadron. Originally built as an AD-5, from 1962 the designation was changed to A-1E. 1956 picture of AD-5 Skyraider 133861 with the US Marine Corps: 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VossJohn/7779.htm 1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VossJohn/7779L.jpg www.aero-web.org/database/aircraft/getimage.htm?id=14722 Douglas AD-5 Skyraider Bu No 133861 c/n 9551 VMA-331- tail code MP, side number 15. In overall Sea Blue Gloss scheme. Photograph from USMC, taken February 21, 1956 Aircraft wearing markings of USMC Marine Attack Squadron VMA-331, based at MCAS Miami, Florida. Eventually ended up with South Vietnamese Air Force. Same picture of AD-5 Skyraider 133861 as 'flickr' pic above: groups.yahoo.com/group/NASGI/photos/album/765372865/pic/1... "133861 7Y/52 AD-5 VA-63E NAS Grosse Ile 1959" The above refers to AD-5 133861, Side code 52, tail code 7Y at NAS Grosse Ile, Michigan in 1959. NAS Grosse Ile period relevant info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Grosse_Ile In 1960s base was training over 2,000 Naval and Marine Reservists. Navy aircraft were A-1 Skyraider and S-2 Tracker, Marines converted to OV-10 Bronco. Many of the men stationed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile would serve in Vietnam. Base closed in fall of 1969, all being moved to newly-established Naval Air Facility Detroit, north of city of Detroit as tenant organization at what was then Selfridge Air Force Base, now Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Relevant info snippet taken from this great internet webpage: nasgi.net/ad4.htm By end of 1965, all NAS Grosse Iles AD-5N /A-1E were transferred to the Air Force, modified on West Coast then sent to Vietnam. -- Dick Johnson During the later 1960's the US Navy phased out the Skyraider. A-1E 133861 was flown to and stored at the then MASDC (via Davis Monthan AFB) near Tucson Arizona between 16 December 1970 & 29 October 1971, made airworthy again and flown on to McClellan AFB, California for overhaul, modification and painting, before being shipped with pneumatic tail wheels, tailhooks removed, and new radio and nav gear installed. During the majority of its lifetime, McClellan AFB California was an overhaul and maintenance base for a wide variety of military aircraft and known as the Sacramento Air Logistics Center. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McClellan_Air_Force_Base The Douglas Skyraider originally served with the US Navy from the 1950s and flew off aircraft carriers both in peace time and combat during the Vietnam War. After retirement from the US Navy many single and dual seat A-1 Skyraiders were acquired by the USAF, refurbished, overhauled, modified and repainted to go on to the theatre of war or kept back for use in a training capacity. Confusing 1969 reference and picture of A-1E 133861 being USAF 4407 CCTS Skyraider training squadron: (In USAF service the serial numbers were altered to suit Air Force taste) groups.yahoo.com/group/vinmilacus/message/440 groups.yahoo.com/group/vinmilacus/photos/album/543599846/... A-1E 52-0861 [Bu No 133861] 4407th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) 1st Special Operations Wing, unit tail code AD. Hurlburt Field Florida 1969 in Southeast Asia (SEA) camouflage scheme. 1971 inventory for 4407th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS): skyraider.org/hook/skytail.htm skyraider.org/hook/skytail.htm#anchor470101 4407th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) Hurlburt Field, Florida (Eglin AFB, Aux #9) (24 Total - 20 A-1E, 4 A-1H) A-1E serial number 133-861 was one of those included in inventory Under the Military Assistance Program there is a record that this aircraft went on to serve in the then Republic of Vietnam Air Force or VNAF in what was South Vietnam. As this airframe spent time assigned to a Naval Air Station and as USAF a trainer its flying hours and carrier arrest/launch tally may have been a low average so was a prime candidate as attrition replacement in a warzone. Unfortunately as yet there's no other known internet accessible info on the operational history or fate of A-1E 133861. Out of just under 290 Skyraider of all types supplied to the VNAF, at least three quarters were lost, and in fact most of those remaining were captured by the then North Vietnamese when South Vietnam was invaded and over run between 1973 & 1975.