r335026

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.

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

The aircraft escorting the AC-119K is a Douglas A-1H (AD-6) Skyraider, USAF Serial No. 52-139608 (ex- US Navy BuNo 139608), "Blood Sweat Tears," of the 1st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), 56th Special Operations Wing (SOW). It would later be transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF).