ad6

Classic aircraft.

U.S. Navy Douglas A-1H Skyraider BuNo 135272 of VA-165 "Boomers" in flight VA-165 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 10 (CVW-10) aboard the CVS-11 USS Intrepid for a deployment to Vietnam from 4 April to 21 November 1966. A-1H 135272 was later transferred to the U.S. Air Force as s/n 52-135272. It served with the 6th Air Commando Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, and was shot down by ground fire near the Kham Duc Special Forces Camp, Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam on 12 May 1968. The pilot bailed out and was rescued by a U.S. Army helicopter.

Douglas AD-6/A-1H Skyraider 137587 VA-52 ‘Knightriders’ Modex 312 Tail code NF of Carrier Air Group / Wing Five (CVG-5 / CVW-5) The squadron was part of the air group/wing from 1960 to 1966. Wheels chocked on airfield ramp under cloudy skies Color profile of AD-6 137587from VA-145 when part of CVG-14 code A assigned to CVA-12 USS Hornet 1956-1957: wp.scn.ru/en/ww3/a/593/3/16#23 (click on picture alongside following text to view profile) AD-6 (A-1H) Unit: VA-145, US Navy Serial: 513/A (BuNo.137587) CVA-12 USS Hornet, circa 1956. A-1H Skyraider 137587 may have been transferred early on to the air force of South Vietnam (VNAF) There is reference that A-1H 137587 may have been used in an aerial attack on the South Vietnamese leadership; 26 February 1962 Two A-1 from the VNAF 1st FS attacked President Diems Palace in Saigon. The reason was a personal vendetta with one of the Presidents brothers. One A-1 was shot down by ground fire and the pilot captured, the other A-1 escaped to Cambodia and crash landed near Phnom Penh. Lt Pham Phu Quoc was shot down, Lt Nguyen Van Cu fled to Cambodia, possibly in A-1H 137587. forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=12393 Picture in text of two former VNAF A-1H in Cambodia: www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_410.shtml During the early 1960s Cambodia served as a safe heaven for a number of South Vietnamese defectors. The A-1H in the foreground was a former mount of the 518th Sqn Vietnam Air Force, and flown to Phnom Penh in 1964 by a pilot protesting against the persecution of Buddhists by the regime in Saigon. The Skyraider was put into Cambodian service alongside French-delivered A-1Ds. Interestingly, the A-1 in the rear of this photo is another ex-South Vietnamese example, and the one that crashed while landing in Pnom Penh on 26 February 1962, [134495] after a coup-attempt against President Diem. More information on the incident with pictures of actual aircraft in the raid vnafmamn.com/PhamPhuQuoc_AirRaid.html A-1H 137587 is not seen, however A-1H 137584 is pictured. There is however reference here to AD-6/A-1H 137587: www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries16.html (courtesy Professor Joe Baugher, Chicago, Illinois) That AD-6/A-1H 137587 “to Cambodian AF by 1972” So it may have been flown there ? The ultimate fate of this aircraft is as yet unknown.

Four Douglas AD-6 / A-1H Skyraiders in echelon right formation (from aircraft furthest away) all in Light Gull Gray and Insignia White. Bu No 139613 Modex 407 Bu No 139633 Modex 406 Bu No 139626 Modex 404 Bu No 139624 Modex 412 Wearing decorative Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) code NK in a lighter hue on tail, repeated black in normal manner on wing. Date of picture unknown, possibly late 1950s or early 1960s. All belonging to VA-145 ‘Swordsmen’. www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VA145.html As part of CVG-14 / CVW-14, VA-145 had the AD-6 / A-1H between 1958 & 1966. AD-6 / A-1H 139626 is recorded as being transferred to the Vietnam Air Force of the then Republic of South Vietnam. Unfortunately there is as yet no known internet accessible info on the history or fates of AD-6 / A-1H 139613, 139624 & 139633. Picture of same formation of above four aircraft with AD-6 / A-1H 139613 included as Modex 407 of VA-145 near NAS El Centro California: groups.yahoo.com/group/PropNavy/attachments/folder/185528... AD-6 / A-1H 139633 was chosen as the subject for a 1/48th scale set of model decals: www.squadron.com/ProfileDetails.asp?item=EP48006 Eagle Strike Douglas Skyraider Aircraft Decals EP48006 AD-6 / A-1H 139633, VA-145 Modex 407 NAS Fallon NV '50's,