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The Douglas Skyraider was design ed as a repl acem ent for th e Dougl as SBD Dauntless and by the time it wa s int rodu...

Author: Smith P.C.

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The Douglas Skyraider was design ed as a repl acem ent for th e Dougl as SBD Dauntless and by the time it wa s int roduced it looked like an anachronism. Whilst mi lit ary aeroplanes were getting sleeker and faster and w ere powered by jet engi nes, the Skyraider was a large, propellor-driven monoplane that looked ungainly. Looks can be deceiving and the Skyraid er was to earn the affec tion of its crews and of many of t he people it supporte d in the g round wars in Korea and Vietn am and in so me sma ller conflicts. It went on to serve in ten different air fo rces and for mor e th an twenty-five years, undertak ing roles as diverse as div ebom bing, airborne early wa rni ng . air-to -air refu elling, nuclea r st rike and casualty evacuati on.

Peter C. Smith has worked as both bo ok and magaz ine edi to r but has been a full -time histo rian and w riter fo r many years. He is t he author of many magazine art icles. seven collections of short sto ries and a novel. but is better known for his meticulously researched factual history books on aviation. m ilitary and naval top ics. As well as being extensively published in th e United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Peter's books have been translated into Chinese . German. Japanese, Italian and Swedish. His expertise is also called upon as a consu ltant for television docu me nta ries . Peter is a member of th e Society of Authors, Lo ndon and he received the Royal Ma ri ne Histor ical Socie ty Aw ard for 1987/88. Origi nally fr om Norfolk. Peter now lives in Bedfor d shir e.

W hat ga ve th e Skyraide r its repu tati on and lon gev ity w as it s exce lle nt load -ear ry ing capability. its range and endurance. and its adaptabi lity. Pow ered by a single 2.700hp Wrig ht Cyclone. t he Sky raider could carry a larger weapon load than many World War Two bombers. It served with distinction in Korea an d Vietnam with the United States Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps , and was used as an airborne early warning aeroplane by the Royal Navy. The Skyraider was also used by France and some smaller nations. such as South Vietnam, Chad, Laos and Cam bo dia . Dive-bombing hi stori an Peter C. Smith tell s th e full story of th e design. d evelopment and long operational use of th is ofte n underrated aerop lane. Using archive material and fi rst-hand accou nts. th is new addit io n to th e range of Crowood Av iation book s w ill appeal to anyone w ith an int erest in m il it ary aviation.

For details o f our other aviation titles, and a cop y of ou r catalogue. w rite to: The Crowood Press Ram sbury Marlbo rough Wiltshire SN82HR Co ver des ign by Annette Findlay

£29.95

Printed in Great Britain

,..... . . ".,-

• 11. ...

LA UNCH A SKYRAllJER! W HERE IS TH E ENEMY, Admi ral wan ts (0 sec! Wh,u will the o rde r he! 'Launch a Skvraidc r!'

Deck pitching o ut uf sigh t. Seaha wks an: sin ing t ight , Venoms wo n't fly toni ght ; 'Launch a Skvraider!'

Oft co rnes the plainnvc wail. 'How ca n we get the mail !' Press on through ice and ha il'La unc h a Skvmider!'

Ship gets herself a clout how will they son it Oll(! You bet your life they' ll sho ut 'Launc h a Skvrai dcr!' W hat keeps them on th e hoil! Hard work and skilful roil; Tak es a lo t of midn igh t o il to 'Launc h a Skvra idc r!' O ff when it 's foul o r fine, pit chblack or brigh t suns hine; Three cheers for 849, whe n tllI..' Y'Launc h a Skvmtdcr.' (By kind 1l\'nni.~silJlllJf Lr Cdr P.G.W. Morris. RN, '0' Fli/{ht , HMS Bulwark, /958)

,....

••

Dougla, AD

rsu er

Peter C. Smith

The Crowood Press

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All n.:hu ~'rJ. N" I'd" ...1 Ih~ rut>IKa""n In.,,' ..... rq>l\,JucrJ .". Ir."''ffi'lIrJ ,n dn j' t<>rm ,,,- "', any ITW"d lU, elecre e uc '" m«ru.nKd\' ,nd..JlflJ: f'ho. Ol'..... 'f'~·. rt'C,,,.Jml<:. '''' ,onv ,ni",nulk'" .r,,,..~ dnJ "'1T..,v~1 ~~..r<'m , ""Ih"", f'l'1Tlll""k'" ,n "TII'f\K 1',, ,", rhor f'lIt>h..hcT-, Brili_h lib....'" C~ul...teuint·in. Put>lic~li<>n lb u A Cdl..k'l."""' r<'<;"rJ i", th" h....>l. ...." ..,bN.- in)fll lhor firm'" L,...... ry

!"h
T"I'<'(.K,·. "...·,1: (,,,",h' ('ncl. (:tic henh"m lhto,lJm,l/:ll.

Tn"·...·' .IIlJ , 1,·" .:n~....1t>v [) s, N l'u"l"hm.: Me",hll'i 1'''''IIl~''' I'arl, IIL",.:~'rt"r,l . p"'· rl,h",·,

L.,"'..... rrn W,...,Jb",I.

Dedi cation To the mem o ry of Arth ur Pcurcv - av iat io n hi storian anJ friend.

..,.

-"

Contents Introduction anJ A cknowl cJ gemcnts

WARTIME PROGRESSIO N O F T HE DIVE BOMBER

2

7 9

FALSE STA RT The Dou glas Dest royer

16

LAST C HANCE A Ne w Conce pt is Bom

21

A ST ROKE O F GENI US Development of the Daunrless-l l

29

5 T HE SKYRA IDER DESCRIBED

37

6

T H E SKYRA lD ER JOI NS T i lE FLEET

51

7

EXPERIMEN T S, MO DIFIC ATI O NS AND [MPRO VEMENTS

59

CO M BAT OVER KO REA T he US Navy Experie nce I

75

CO MBAT O VER KO REA T he US Marine Corps Experien ce

87

T HEAEW The Royal Navy Experien ce

91

3 4

8 9 10 I[

FURTHER DIVERS IFIC AT IO N

[ OJ

12

DELIVERING THE GOODS

III

13

TAR GET T UG The Swed ish Experien ce

125

COM BAT O VER VIETNAM The US Na vy Experien ce I!

129

14

,., ,...,,,,. d ~I'. ".

COMBAT OVER VIETNA M The USAF Experie nce

139

CO MBAT OV ER VIETNAM The YNA F Experience

151

SMA LL WARS The French Experience

159

18

EN D O F THE LI NE FOR THE SPAD

163

19

SPAD SU RVIVO RS

169

Append ix I

AD- I BuNo 09155 - Performance Data

181

A ppend ix II

Rescue Radio

183

15 16 17

Append ix III All -Weather Skvraider VA(AWl -33

184

Notes

188

Index

190

,.. • 11.

Introduction and Acknowledgements Th e ~ the story of a WI')' famou s aircratr, certamlv one of [he t..m,l;.'e'l ser\" in~ and bes IOH'J ci Its kind. Like (ffiln)" fam,Ill.' dive bombers, th e Ot.lll~b.S AD Skvratdcr _,., con.~iJt..reJ an anachrornsrn hy cnnc s . ho. m an al:t' ol screaming je ts, ctllllJ not N,\N us humely fca rures and rmpeller-dnven rnlf'Ul,ilm. What tho-c nitIC~ l'l IleJ tu see. in the Skymidl'r as well a~ m cder aIrcraft of it! tvpc , w as tha t it.'>

mhrn:nt eccurecv, its ability to lon er over me han kfu:1J ,tIlJ us ease of maintenance.

Brilish Ro yal Navv, the Vicrn.uuc....... A ir ATTrk.~ J... r Air. till' US Air Force, ,11ll1 the a ir forc es tlf C lInh. li.., G ,lhon and Chodl . hut alm ' ''''1 [rom II Itl jl...... ln 'klliti" n. rhc ~k~' ra i,k:t e..rncd more than its fair shan' of nickn..nw", over th e ye;m.: the 'Daunrles s-Il', in J...·!l·wnn· to ib (;1I1'k.II1.S f'n....k"\."l"~o r fwm the s ame ' Iahll'; [he · A hle, l \.~· hom It.'> fiN ,ll·S11.'1 l.ll ion AD; the ·Sp;....!·. I't.·GIII~· II wa.' .... . 01,1; ,11'1.1. I~ l" oJly. iJ,,'1 l11rinc u s I'n·t.:lshll\ ,1Il,l accuracv, [hl' ·A yin.c: DUlllp TnKk'.

F...ece, thl' French

, al\·,IIIlIO. In Ihl'li~ht u f rhc 'o\"ay In which the SlYTaiJ cr was con sidered bv the-e rt'U.. plc, th e critics' \' i C \I,S on Ji ve born....·rs c a n rca.. . . m ahl y Ix- Ji ,mi :...~. ~t y thanks, as always. ~o fiN ro thc nu-n wh, }actuallv flew the air cran . 1111'Us i, the real siory anJ t hei r op in ions are th e oru-, th.u count. Th..,y arc Admi ral ~i r j"ho

Treachcr , KCR; Chuck Mulbnl"Y. US

Navv, RIJ; Charles R. Shuford, US Non'y, RIll; Lreurenam -Cornrnander L Willi alll 1)11, .., USN. RIJ. l.icurenanr -Comm.mder (P) Pl'rcy G .W. ~1t 'rri " RN. RIJ ; fr.'lll C. Kll",I!.:,,' r. USMC; and Ron M c~b..t cr s U SN. I w'lUlJ hke

th..,

hI

e xpress my J,:ra llt u
' lU hl a n..l ll\~

~t l'rlwn

help of Cu mm,tn,I.." till" Pen valuable and un reser ved

J. Riordan IV, USN,;1t

ta l.:"n . Idl ll>C' as,i , lance was vital to my re -c arch . Sim ibrl ~', I ad n, ,"1t..J~t.· 1I\C" "ul ~lanJill~ ha..:k· Ill~ I rt.·o .'in·,l from Ma rk L. E v 'm ~, Ili'I" -

nan. ,IT the Naval Avuuum Il i ~ l
available 1I1t., EJ l lct ncmann Skyr ,li,ll'r l' rc s-, Ih·k·a'l· fllr

In)'

use: H ,E. ()o~ker, Jr.

Senior Member. A\' i,l1i"111 Rtlard oflnspccnon and Survey at Furuxent River NAS, tLLt r\'I'HlJ, fur man y va luahk· ,1''': lI ml' l1l~ All 'd).2 utTYi"1ltorp. don.two 500lb bombs e nd lw elve 5ill lOCke ts in IIighl ove r NATC Pal\lxl1ll Rivl', MD, ill September 1950, NOllonal Afch,Yes,Collelle Po'k, MD

~ It a rricelN a........, t mt.'rirs ;IIl..l ;comful of ilS c11J!it' ~rrt.ln rule:. w.:C' al1long-5er\'inli: anJ multi'ruk' mlllUI)' aircraft. lhe SkYr.liJl·r went lhrou.c:h ;) hr..11deri~ ra~ o( ~i~'IlilI1IJn", which (~ nol l>nly from l'lf'CTiilllr 1<111f'Cr:.({.r (the- US Na\"I'. the US 1-1.lI'1ne G.rl'''. lhe

,S,.llll<' (If lht.' nid.mullcs were r Ulllph, lllt.'ntary, .... 'me derugillt 'ry. rout aim . I" "II . fin" lIy, rdlec[t.'.1 ;) fl'Il.lm·~~ I,ll' Ih l' " ir( rafl. nc~ritt.' ""·l'm in.c: .. I..... ily, 10 lx· nUl I,f rLJce , the SkyTili,k' r won lhe hea rh Ilj mtlSt wh o fll'..... ii, . lr \\"hI IJq~n.ll·..I UJ'llil II 1~ l r tht.'ir S
7

conc cmc..l with the o riginal l c~t ing ,111.1 cvalu.mon III' the XBT2 D- 1 au cl AI)-I air nOlft; C Olw l A, Kn'll , FOIA Co-or.1 l1laIOr, Tl·..:hnical ru h1i ~h i n.c: Te,ulI, Na va l Air \'(l"rt"are Cenll' r Aircraft [)ivi~i(ln, P,IlU Xl'lll River, t\bl)'[im.1; the Archi \'i'l , US Pall'lll i1n.1 Tr.ldl'mark OfficI..', Wa~hio.c: too, LlC; C " m man. ler, Nal'al A ir Wa rfare C l'llfl'r Aircraft [livisiun. r ,IlIlXl·nt Riw r, !\la l)'lanJ . Thanh al",\ to Fr.m k H u.l~on . hi 'f OrlOlO ;mJ !rlcnJ; !\bnin Bowman. hi slOrian aoJ hil'n,l; L'Ik" (HC ) Pierre [\.IU' .......[ , Ch.-f du lA:p.:rrr~Jk'l1! . Gt.""tlon dl"" PrnJtKtiom. ECPA , F"n J ·h'I)'. Fr.m..:e; Lx Lil'Ulen,lIll· Colon el Au,s;I\" ~', Dira :!t."UT de ,. EwNisst· 1Th'fl1 Cin,fma!(~~te et Phlll' ~aph~ J..,s Annel;'s. Fun J 'h-I)'. Flann '; Kel'in R. Sm ith of Fredericbl-urg. Vir.c:inia. fl'r hi ~ rhllh ",,-'T,lrh~; Ra~' C, Stun in'm jor

,.

.,... " ". ~ ~ h. lI .

An AD-i IBuNo 1391311in Ih ght on 7 Oct ober 1955.

N.~

I'ho lll.l..'r'irhs " f till.' Royal Na vy A EWs; A ud rcv Pcarcv, widow uf my muc h .nuocd /.:"0" frien .j ;lIld fellow nurhor Arthur. fo r her many kindlwss"s and hospitalit y, and (or ~ i v i n.l.' rue her rlC.. muesjon (rt't'ly t,1 u......· A rt hu r's l.·xlt' n,iH· not es anJ r holl't.:rar hs ..,(the Royal N;lvy A EWs ; Keith Ferris, tlile .. '( the (nun.I l.·rs. " Iun/.: wuh R.G. S mit h, ..l( rhe A merican Socicrv of Av iat iun A rt i~lS; Ray \Y/aj..'nc..r an..1 Alex ] . Lutz, at th e Sa n Dll.'J.·..-.. Aero-pace ~t U,.t" lim. for rerm ission It. usc r hOltlJ,.'m r hs trom their collecnon: Kalhll't'n Klenholz, A rchi vist, Amcncan Ac a
Artlwes. CoIq, P, rt. MD

rane e in my Tl.'''I.·arch int o Roval Navv Skvraiders: Rol-en C. Mike sh. (or his expert advice 0 11 the So uth Vietnamese A ir Force Skvratdc rs, ami for his pcrmissit," to rcpn....lucc .....ime ,,( hi s " Ulsl;md in.l.' rhllltlj.'f'iph ,.; Stewart Lmh'1Il1. (or j-crrmssion 10 usc his specia l Vie lnamt'''I.' photogrdr h; Tom A. Br" ....-n. US M.ml W Corps Mar in e P,.... rnbcrs Newt, Km csron . Oluo. for hi s grea l hel p in ItlCilli nJ.: veter.m.. .md J....cumcnt..; and Alan o( Fmnk Smith Avrarion, Ne .....ca- rle-upon-Tvne. tor un ial lmg anJ unsliht.,J hel l' in tr.J.:king J " w n rure rc:(erencc.'s do w n th e yea rs. ~t y dl.'l.·pt."S1 gr.ltlt udc is alSl.I doc to Cluf &m yas. A rc h ive~ Reference Tc.uu , Smith· soru.m lnsntute, Wash ingh 'll, DC ; Gerard Pahl, E..Iucatiun Director of thl.' KaLulla:o" Aviat ion Histol)' Must'um, fllr ,ll.'lail., and rhoh lj.,'r
8

rhc r-.kCklbn Aviation MU'il.'lIm, Califor· nia , f,)r dl"tails and phol o",'1'<1rhs of thtir Skvr aldcr: Den ise A(lllin~t' r, and l). Menard of Ihl.' Unncd Stall's Air Force Museum Writ.:lu-Pmtl.'r'. o n Air Force 1\1-c, Oh io, fl. Jl'wi ls and rholOgr.irh., o( rbcir Sk}TaiJer. an J courtesv Jurin!: my research vrsir [herr: Lyt\lLl Sra lJ i n~ and Mam n Espen ci Thr FiJ;.:htt·r C ollccnon. 31 the lmpen al W. M u-c urn. Duxford A ufield, C lml>r.Jge. b Jt..t'll is of rhcrr Skvraidcr, "oJ r t..nni5.,ion rhoh....,:rar h II ; fk >b Turner, C Ui.Hor. Ccemander Da viJ Hob bs, RN, A:o.,blant Ontor, ' grarhic e xreni~ . Pd er C. Smidl Ri~Ie"

.••"

CHAPTER ONE

Wartime Progression of the Dive Bomber The t.m~· ~~MS {ilhe Secood WorlJ War lfItirmeJ tUlly rbe tmh rb,u the U01Tt..J :--r """ "~"

N

In lheir pre-war policy haJ

me-

dive bomber Ob ;I m.no r ln Eunl('e.lhe RO~<JI N,wy's Hun Slua JIve bomber haJ ach ic\'t..-J tht f tlJlf!' ci rbe jiM mljor ","aThhip. rhc In

(j 1lo....

.:ru:..et' K~. &'t\l'-,,~'fl 1939 anJ 19-11 , LutN. e'~ junkers ju . 87. in com bma-

[)aunrlo.' . haJ rb yc•.J the ll\'IJ.1f t. '1.. -. A~ til(' war in rbc Pao lic connnucd. rh..• Cu m" SR2C HdI JIH'r h..J finall y I,.h·!l over the fron t-line ro le tlf th e D.lt llll l...~~, anJ the

[ap an...' se N.u·y's )'"k"sllb

I '4)'

~lI i"""1

Comet (,JuJy') ..lIn.' hl.lmh.·r h..J rcp l...:c.J the Val. hJl th eir .! I\·e·h,mblll~ IIll1 lk'nc l.· rcrna mcd paramocmt.'

lm

1m .... [he Panzers, h.J Jcleared nar« In lttn natklfl in Iil:hlnin,g ca mf"l i,-'Il~ rhar aJ .1d~ ,mJ wt't"h rather rhan }"C. ~'hrn rhe PaCific Watl·Tuptt.J in Dece rnb,..r

1941. n Il. ..... rhe J a~nt.."'< Aichr Dl A 'Val' l bnmh.-r that spcarhceded the a tta ch n.ima.k II' marl al Pear l Harbor, r on [),tr · Ilin mJ In thl' InJi,m Oc ean . \Vlwn the t i!hr-h
Combining Rol es On land. the J I H ' htlll1h.'r~ wen- m 1 ..uct.:c!>...ful wh en Ihey w.. rkcd in do....: e ••'1'I:rauon with the I'arcco. wh ilt', ut -n, tlw Pau nl k'~~ ,mJ Illl' Val .lChll'n-J m....t whl'n work in l:: in a rl';11ll wirh Ih l' ir h 'I'J"l·· d' l-h ..mh<:r c. .. mp'lTl i.'n s. ,hl' (,rUUlIlla " TRD A\"l' n~t' r ,111,1 till" N,lbp l1la BSN K;II l', rl·~JX·e l i n· l r. 1I' ''\\'I.· \'l·r, ;h rill' W,II c. 'n! in lle.!, qlle~1 i" n.. h-,~an I... l'l' ,hkl.·J "..

n. ......... ao.,ln S8 Olllndin wu from !he $ame $fable I nd design er I S ltIe $ly!MIr. r... SSD·S belOll" 10 ItIe lolli Sllr flighl MU5ellm, I nd is slill f1yinglod lY. In

,1tJ7, ..... Resent II

Grlllll Chlmpioll -.: Oshkosh. lJ, Zilir. t.- Star flIghl MII_

9

wheth er rhc~ '11'\1 hnheno .....p arate, hili Illuru,llly dcpendcn r ri.. l..... might be eoml-lIwJ III ..ne arrcratr. At fir..t ... prorosal to me rge the t W\1 j;.. nus ..I arrack in one an er,lfl ....·I.·Illt..J absurd. »nce rhc method s were l"lally contra-t mg. The dive bomber n ,lll.J li ,r ih ..h.... lull' ~ure Tl<Jr lly over orhcr ' H~.· ~ III hun""" r ou rh.. ~urrr i -e anJ ,ICCIIT;"':y mhcrcnt m a st ee p dive attac]; from a ,l!real hl· l,I!ht. TIle torpc..J.I h . rnbcr. 'In rbc ",rht'r hand. made I b attac ks a lm, ....' fe'llhl·nnJ,: lilt" wave-tops, '0 ..n sure a srru"It'lh dr. 'p. "'.. Ih ,u ih hi!::hly -cns uivc ' OTJX.J ... weapon w o uIJ run a nd opera te correc tly. TIlt" Ct'IlI' hmall"n " f bor h mcrh ....I~ wa .. considered l'~~l' lUial hI sink Iaq.!.. \\·
e iall~' hll lle~hi r~.

Whll... ,m
. ,..."".., ,. all. lI .

WARTlMI ,

carriers (anJ e ven to the armoured decks ,'I F\ullsh curric rv, as in rill" Sruka ,1I1;Kks on th e lUu.mllJlu. FmmuL.ihk' and InJ.-IImltlhk·). u would rarelv sink rhcm o ut rurht . (T he Rrillsh 1-Icrmt'5 ,lO,1 rhc Iour J.lr ,l!ll'.....• earners al ~ti,lwa ~' wnl' l'Xl:\'Prlt'n".) l lcnvv cnn.....-r-, {rlu- Bnu-h ~ ljJl;,jIr.. l),rr"l'l.\hire an,1COJTlU".uI. ,InJ 11ll' J" I',!lll'''l' .\ l lkwrJd. l~l r e xam ple} rr" Vl"1.l l·ljU,llly vulncrablc, wh ile luzht cn uwr-, .md ,Il·"rroya" (suc h as the German J.:iil1i~ h..'1"~. and rhc Bnn-h SlIlllhwllrlfllJl, ( .1'11«.''''\1,'1" an,1 Fiji) were l'as)" t,l r~ets t~ 'r di vl' homl-.: r". llowever. II W,IS di'(I '\" 'rl',ll';Ir1 ~' O il lhal the

I'lto GR I: S S I (J ~ O ~ TlI ~.lJ I \' ~

1I0\l IlHC

fall' uf the Bisttlllrck, ,hl' Prince of \t'aks

rhc arnvalof the Kmlukaz.· sU iClJl' :Iliadvrs. which had to he sh" , J.'"'n to he stor JX-J. th e numbers of tij.lh ll'T!> earned by o mi' de grdJ.:e underwat er h ns of the . nher - A mer ica n earners !-.'ft",u l)' mcrea .....-J. Tlus wi.....· vulnerable lo r--tX·,lo bom ber . and in "" reduce...1thl'u \ .ffl·n~I \·e car'" II)' rhat , ~ Ihi, way IIw hulk ,,( Ih,· J,lr ;mese hall ie - I.llt· 194-" marw 'iC;I~

,!OJ till" R,'/,uIs.!. The tbk -surrll·"in f.! bomb hils of IIll" ,lin- bomber allow ed the

The Curtin SB2t HlIlldiver eve nlually look over the mantl e ol lhe Oaunlleu , . nd c. rried lhe lig hl righl inlOIhelmperill Ja panese Na....,·s bac kyard in 1945. h conlinued 10 be lh. main s irike . irc rl h oIlh. US N• ...., unlill941. when il wn supersede d by lh. Sk.,.ider. This SB2t ·5 was still ac tive wilh the R...,.,. Training Squadron It NAS Glenview, Illinois. in 19411. Emil 8U&h1er 1JtIrary. Plflu cola. Flooda

armoured Jt.-cks of ",ur1e~hips ma,lt' them In h..mhing h il ' alone. TI ll' surv iva l ,lt the Bnu-h \"'(lJ'~JlIIt' off C rl" h', anJ ,l Ihe Amt'r ic;1Il N ... \·t!tL.t al Pearl I l.lrho r. wa.' t.'\'i,lt·n ce ,,( rillS. as was the fat:! th;1t il rron...1 su Jllfkuh t" sink the ..11l·adr ha.ll rJ,nnaj.ll· dJar,lIll·.....· / Ii"'; OIl (Jua.l..lcm al. Thl" hallk'shir s' \'ullll'r"hili ty tll lur r l·dll all,Kk was dl"ar, though. a, shown hr l'\'l· nt s at Ta ran t", :md hy rill'

almo-t immune

~hJe

bombers). had 10 hi.:heldon h...lrJ lht' Iypical carrier ut Ihl' lim e . ~lIaJrtln .. of J...·ft"nJing fi~hll'TSaI Sl' had to be embarked , holh ro r r"ll-cr tilt' h.,mr....rs Jurin ~ th eir dl-:l-.'f~si \'e , tr ih's ..~a i nst the l·nl·my. ,tn,1to foil Ihl' l'lll' my hllllhl-I"'o' ,Ulaeks a~lin sl Ih d r own sh ll". T he altn was alwa ys t" ;Kh it'vl' tlu- rigl\! balance Ix·twl'l'n nffl"llsin: an..1 ,k·fl·nsin· ;liru;]11 l' mharkl'd. and r ri' lritil's 'ltil'n ch' lIlgl·d . For examrll', wllh

10

Role-Com bining Airc raft i bl.....· y\ voit;e may h;l\·l' I't"t:n lhe: l;un, )lISr.ll Sl.J In favour.i rill' rl'vulul conn' r l, h ll if was hy n,) ml~ ln\ tht- fiN. G re;u Rril;lin. in tht" 19 K'\, th .. Jt.'(ision Ix'l'n ma..ll" Itl adJ the r6k' of fightl't/inttto Cl'r lt'r Itl till' exbtinj.l rille 'I( till" !\l'W "urn ,Sku;! m' IIlOr 1anl' fha t was Ihen d,,·s i~m...1 t~ ' T Ihe tleer. Tl llS J t"(ision

,,,

." W ARTIME PIW (iR ESSION o l- TH E (J I VE RIJ\lR ER

more a result of the fact tha t co ntrol of

Gloster Gauntlet an,l Hawker Hec tor

R(~"al

Nnvv aircraft tested wirh th\' RAF, wborarhcr neglec ted it, than anythi ng else. The Air Minisnj' was totally or r oM'd to

biplanes as

dive bombmg. which W
New Requirem ents

wa-re hI civilian targets as the be st means ( If II"mnin~ all future wars. They resisrc...1 t h e A.lmir.llty's repeated requests for an accur,ue Jive-hllmhing sight, and a suitable airemil [.)C.lTTY it, and hoped inst ead roccon-

These l'x ,lll1pl~s ,,( divc-bornl-cr usc, u ll hulIgh .m imporranr part of till' sr"ry, resulted fn nn dl'ci sh lm that were mudc ', 1(1 rhc h oof", either ht'colusc of a lack "f interest . Lll.:k ,,( (lind s or vnal wnrt unc necc--it~'. O n l he o t he r ha nd , th e U S Naq'\ 1,,,1il:y pf ad dl11/.: « till' no,ll' "f rill' di vl' bomber, so tha t it J.: ra, [u'llIy l'\"oln'.! int o till' ,11 t ac k h, 11111' l·r, \\",1, till' rcsulr of a rnnrc th ,in HI /.:h and dd ailed ,,'ril', ,,f sl 11.1 ie, t hat loo k pl:lCl' ,Iurin/.: till' \1',1{ ~·ear s . TI ll' U S Navy's Bur cuu o f Ac ronauric-, ha ll paid much .un-nrion rll th e further clevclopun-n r Ill' rill" .l In ' l-orul-cr. B'I,i nJ.: t h ei r , [ensilllh "n till' EUrlll' l'a ll war e x!,eri en l" ~ ( nw ll1 ly u n till" British ), rhq illlr"dun·, 1'a,!v:lIKl'S' III 1I1l' dl·sign .' th,lt well' :drc",ly ulhll'r \\" ;I ~. li 'r the IWXt ge n· l' w t;' lll. Til l' ,Ii\·l· h, 'm lwr s;ll pr" J Ul" t i' lll ill rill" U S A ,Il lh e " ul hll·..k ,If the Padfic War wer e tilt' C urt i,s S n2C llt:lldin'r, Ill\' Brl'ws11'r S B1A BUl'l";ll)l'l'r a n, 1 till" VUltl''''' V-71 Vl~ tlge; ll1c e. O f tl ll' Sl', the I le[ ldi \"l' r \liOiS f, I f t hI' LJ~ Na vy, wil h ad,lililln:l1I1r/.:l'llt "r" ~ rs cO l11 i n~ in h om the British Ro y,ll N a vy an,[ rll\' Ro yal C; I1lOl,H,m N avy ; lh e Buccanl'er was for till" US N "vy, hUI there was ,llsll II1I1l"h ti 'r",' i ~n int ell'st , from rill" Briti sh Rural A ir Fur n ' (lI"ho klll'w it ,IS ti lt' Bt'r1l1u,b ), tlw Frell ch AnI1J~ dl' l'A ir ;Hl,1 lh e Ro val Dutc h Air Fnrl·t·: tl ll" Vl'ngl',llIl"l' \~'a , " ri ~illal1 y a Frl'IKh Aml(o(' de "Air "nlt-r, had I->n'll ha slily tak...'ll '1\"er hy thl' Britisll f"r lh l' Ro yal A ir For l"l' \Ill rill' bll l1f

1 ~n1 :e I'l}' givil1l: a .\u:11

rllk· ro rhc Skua. TIw Royal Navv stressed. bub at till" lime of design and afterwards, rhat l he num rlilc (If the Skua was Jin:- hom hing, "'It wartime and post-war pundib have n-reit1cJ1y jUJgloJ it so lelv as ,I figllla. Although it proved veT', good nt ,lin' hl.lm"ing, irs inaJ t.'\.ju'11l' powerplaut meant that II \\ -<1-' generally a failure as ;l li ~hter : , ,mJ Il lherl'fllrl" IH'IlI int (1ea rly relirl'mellt . A, a fl'sult, this CHrly eX{'l'riment in comhm m: rul l~ was .'iCcn as unsu ccessful. There lIdS a simila r silU,u io n in Ill\:' U S, v.lv:tl thl' P-S1 Muslang (ight er was rejl·ctaI e;ltly hy the USA A E hccause of a ,Iis,1rJ"llinting engine thai failed 10 proddt' ,utlicu.'nt pt"rfonnatlce ;If hi ~ h le\'t'k H.,wever, this situ,lti o n was Hlrnl'd 10 hi, aJI ;lntacc hy the aircra ft's dl'sigm'r, J.I I. 'Dutch' Kindelh.·rgt'r, who fin ed it with the Jive hrakl'S o( Ihe Vuhl'e VCllgl'anCt· ,md thus created a h ighly efll'c t ivl' di \'t' h lmhcr. lk'Signa tcJ thl' A -36 Ap,ld1l:, it C'llIIJ al~)aC I as a fightl'r ami a hi gh ·sl'l'cd ft( l1nnaissance aircraft, anJ was used in the,,-' r(lie' m comhat I->y hoth rill" US A A F anJ the RAF in Ihe MeJitl'rr;llll' ,lIl T he .mel . In th is case, opportunistic lllllt ives leJ til a succe;•.'.ful cllml->inat ion llf r{,les, (I·en if Ihe resultant aircmft W;IS suhse· quently nOI fully cxploited. Fur \-driOU_' reasons, ot her airerall In're ih.k'l'lcd in co mhinl'J rllil's, incluJinJ.: JI\'e.homl>ing, Thl' ohsoletl' Brit ish na val blr[ane torpeJo ho mhc r lyres, Ih e Fa;rt'y T~R S\\wJfish anJ A lhacore, had always , il/ll!>inl-J their hllmhcr nil l' with lhat of fe(llnnaiss;mee. Roth t n~s Wl'rl' ..b o used ,II JI\'e h.1mlx-rs, with scant Sllcel'S-'. TIll" Fd1l\"1" BarmcuJa was a no t hl'r dt' sign th,ll pWl1u",".,J much as a Jive hnmhl'r hut W,IS NJI}' Jelayed ;lnJ, finally, pro w d in :II!t'· 'lU,l1~ , By 1940, Ihl' RA F had Hltnmarily '1!>,mJom-J the excellent f-! ,lwkt'r Hl'o le y munur lane Ji \'t" bomber. When the hank · ruptc\' uf their pre·war r O[iC;l'S hl'catnl' ,lrrarent in Ihe aftennath of Dunkirk ,' they lounJ themse lves usin/.: till' We slland 1I\.,11l<Jt.r artillery spoUer and th e lll->slll<'lt'

llla k~' ,hifl

d ive 1.. . 'mhe rs.

France . and a lsn att ract ed th e at teunon 'l f t he US AA F. ' T Il\' le ssons of air fight ing over EUTl1{'l' called for rhc int roduct ion in ;111 these dtvc-l.. . nul.. . .· r types t,f what were considered Itl be th l' [atc st essent ial features: ;ml'gral homh hays ;nSlcold o( cx tcmnllv slunl,: h 'l1lhs, fllr great l'r aerodynamic I......-rtorutanc c ; ,t.'[f-st,..lilll,: fuel tan ks; flllly nutomane, p ower-operat ed J.:un turre ts (or dt'l l'n cl'; th t ing of arrbonu- md.rr -c ts. whkh involved a n clcc m mics Ch' lllL:l' fn 1111 1I1l' l Zcvoh 10 24'\·1l1t svstem: :1 chanee in t he " ti"l'Il_,;\"e gun nery, from machine gUllS 111 20111111 e mil! In ; Ill' a vy armour 1''' u rction li,r Ihe .urc rcw: nnd mu ch l,u J.:l'r h llnh an d Ilthc-r onlnunrc ca pac ity. TI le last two fcat urc- mc rea-, ·J weiglus cnonnou-lv, and much more ' ll\·l·rfull·nJ.:i1w W,IS therefore n-qurrcd. if th e arrcraft was to '1C h ien' till' increased ' I......·e..l' Ih at \wre now dl'el1led ,,, surdv' ll. necessary 1 These Ill'W rei["irt'll\ent s C'llllplica tl·J a ,Iesign, ("( lllstr uc ti!lll a nJ sUI'!,ly sitH
The main rivlli lo Ihe DOllglll5 des igns wa s the Martin AM-l Maula r, A big and powerful slr ike dive bombe r. it wa s equa l to the ea rly Skyraider in lerms 01the bardwa rBit c ould tote, as is cle ar Irom Ihis l 941 pholograp h. Evenillally, only ab out 100 we re complete d; Ihe y S8W limiled posl-w Br se rvic e in the US Fleet belore being phased oul. us Navyo!!lclal phOlograph

11

,I

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. II .

WA~lHl" l' it O{ ; it E S SI () ~

require men ts \H'Tl' not till" sam e ;IS th e Navy's. for cx.uuplc. an d th e vOl rinus torl'ign ordcr-, wcrc chffcrc nt 'Iga in . T Ill' man.ux-mcnt WR' nor alwav-, equa l to the divcr-c d"Ill,mds lI1,l,k' "1" 111 it. Eve n t u;llly, urueur 11,'( nsi ty kd tot he BUTt'a u brenk illl-: ;1 cnrdmal rule, and o r,k'ri ng airlTa l", ,t T;liJ.:ht I'lllin rh e d rawinJ.: '-"I; lr,l, '-'di ire anv tlight h" l ing h ",l taken place. I'r,',k t,lhl y, .-h'I"S and ,k lay rl'sHltl"1. T I1l' HuTt',llI's 1;l ith in th l' Illtq,:nty ( ,f these cornparucs t, . ,kltn'r, ,Il'~l'it" till' fOll'id l ~' l h,l llging -pccilk ;ll hlll' uncl rcquin-rncru-. was tlll'lll\·l';. '!:lllgl'[l 'u~ , if nl'll'S_',lTy, r rl·n "l l'n! .;

Dive Bo m bers to Car ry Torpedo es It \\',IS the muiul sho rta).:l' of turre,ln l"Iml,l'Ts t h;lt fi T~t b l, in 1<.)4 2, t,lthe lIllest h 'Il " f din' h 'm lx'rs ,,,:rf,'nn inj! 111l' rt, ll' ,If I",th t" f1'l'd" hn llll'l.'r ,Ill.! d ive 1" ,tIll-l'r, TIll' US N,I\ 'y 11,1..1 10l' 'l' l\li-"h~\l k,tl' I'\'u.1.: 1<1, T I~[) [)l' v ; N a t ur ~ " n ~t Tl'nJ.:th at t hl' tinll' of l' l'ar! H,lrI" ,r; 1'-' I'ro,llI lIiun h ,l, 1 ll',I,e,1 ,I \ l'i1r l',lrlil'r. Two fl'I,1
Of' TIll:

[)IV~

1I0 MIIH

Ilft~' r

the 1'l.:sl p'l( k'Ij.,:l' and performance, ha ving ,I higher -pccd. lonu cr ran~l' a nd ligh ter wci glu Iha n its compctitor. T his decision was ba-ed on th e Iw"c xpl~rill1 l' n 1;11 ai ru,lt't , t h e XRT F- J ;11\.1 t he XHTU- J. I II.wcvc r. hy 1l}42, wlll'1I the sirnat inn W,IS dCOI rly lk'sl't~ rOl tl' - tIll' I \.'va.st I'l.' I ,(\(I(llh heavier rlum prc.hcted. { Irunuuuu II',IS tiIrced « I Ill, II.lify till' nircr.lft hy mo l"i nl.: th e l'ngine (urwa rd lfr. in onjc r to te- ton - stahilllY, Till' Ill'ell lll gl'l 1, 'rp1:ll' l h \I nhl~ rs llrgl'nlIy 10 tlw 11l'l'1 led III the resurrection of the C hatllt:-V,.ugllt T BU (l'nn'I'I , T1w N,lvy pLlCl'l1I,n lns, hlll Ch:I IKl'·V,lll)!ht W;l~ (u11 r n'llIlllitll'cll" pn"luling tlw IWWF4U COT" ,ir figlltl'r, anll ll,ld n" '1',ITl' capa .. il~' t" fl' intnll. lul"l' till' Sl';l \x'-'"l( Il' 1I .~ pn "luetiun lilll's. [mll',kl, till' a ircra ti was suh-l"!Itl1r,ll1l'd III VlI l t~'l' , <1, Ihe TBY- l , I lo wl'w r, thai CI 'TllJ',my was als" l'xl'eril'llCing d irl' r rllbk'lTls wif h i t~ V-72 ,live I" ,mhe r.s, JUl' {, llhl' enunll"llS growt h ill RAF, RAA E Ind ian , ~oul h A frican ,1ll,1 U~ A rmy Air F"rl l' urder~, an,lllluid nUl ( lll'l.'.

Curtiss WIIS a lso in the fie ld for a naw Navy dive bomber. w ith a n improved a nd modified repla ceme nllor Ille He lldive r, The CIlrtissltBT2C ca rried a s pec ia l radar compartmant in the re ar fuse laga, and was fa r a head 01its time. This is one ol s everlll protolypes that w are lesled but. finally, tile model was never ordere d into prodllc lion, Slanlav I. Vaughn Arch ive

12

Tile Bureau cas t about d e sl'cm t cl ~' lilTa shon-rcrm rerucdv: a r " , slhll' solunon W;IS ll((ere, 1 in th e ide a of m,lki ng the SBD Da untl ex, int o nu in ter im torpedo l-ombcr.' Do ugla, was one c ompanv that WOIS n o t ex pc ncncmu di lfilulfie, In l'x ra m l in~ it, alrl'ady well-automated producnon factlincs. l\.' ~r i l l' many nndificaI I, 'IlS hl'ing made hI till' SBI), I)l llJg[;l~ was lll, ma~l1l~ to produce the aircraft ut a .ste 'ld ily increas ing ra te. BuAn ini u.ucdan urgen t ' l'lI.h' mt, the r rllhk'm , in volved in ",k in g tbl' J lalltltle~ 10 carrv 1" tJ'l'd" l''', which. ,lCc"r,lin~ lU I'a r.,oll-', ' ... rclle cte d I" ll h "ur desperate ShoTt;lj.,:l' "f' torpedo r blll's ;1ll,1 IIll' grllwilll.: conviction tb ,lt all ..lrvc b ombers sho uld hl' ahle til carrv torpedoes." A hh , ,u~h t he re is IiI t[., mc n n. In l,f the fact in Ed licinc ru.mn's menu urs ," th is as['l'l:1 II" fill' 11";1, stu..lil'd ' ,'\'e~ had " l'l'n ,uff,'rl'.! in t hl' DUlch ElsI ln.lic~,anJ Ih l' " i gg l'~ t I.:rirl' Arm" pil"" ha..1with the ,Iirn all wa' t bat it W,lS "". sl"1I" tl' 'lirv in, T Ill' Arm y aC ll v d ~' c" nsi.lefl,d a,kill~

sr.n

." I'. AR TI\I (: PRI )( ;llI,SSIO:O> O F TI lE HIVE 1I0 MHE.R

XT BZ() · I en count ered pr" l-ll'lIb wit h the propeller COTlITIlI, .md, wit h Ih..: uu c xpcctl,d ly ca rl ~' tcmunatnm of till' war, till' I' r' larrcratt\ overweight problem. jcct wa.' cuncclh-d.] It \\,1' soon established that, although Meanwhile, Ih l' Cu rt i ~, S A2e J Iclldrvth,· fanhfulhnl e Daun tless co uld ca rl)' n sh, IU 1,1 hl' p' lff· fill'll' t,,rl'c,I" h, '1I1 hl'r pil, 'I'. ml!ht )l'llfY,trJ i:{' thi s. rrll"k'rn, wil h Ihl- rq .:ar,li nt.: till' Iolll l'r ta-l :1' lIl';rr slli<:i,!a[!" Hd[JiI"I'T anJ thl' BUCGml'er 1l1l',llH Iha l th,' IIIc oj Ihe [}aunclcss W ,ts hl'ing (011 ,t.rntl" l'xtl'nde..l. 'llld Ihl' N ,l V ~' (ould nllt New Techniq ues ,dlllrJ In rb k du: MeaJy r rod u( t illll {II ib l1"h Jin' hllml't."r at th ,1I stOll,:l'l,f til\' w;ll h, rrtumr..1 !rom the Pacific cll mhat :"m' \\'hl'h. lll'"n ,hl' , ightinl! 01 tl\l' targl'l, lth ,I 'ImiLlr ft'\jUl" t. Follllwin).! a d iscu,- ,h,mgc,! til 01 ,II"" "I'l'rnll'h. (,,\10\\'(',1 hI' ,I '1,0 .It 5an Diej:o I't'l wel.'n I !l'in,'lIl, lIlll In "l·lIl11J.: "If <:1"'1' I" till' farg..:(, OIlh t ill'll' tIT 1\\ 0 rro\('l yf'l.'~ (" I1'l\n'.! Ih,u "HIl": h\' h,M. l )t1ll"ra"\",HlI"gl" Ib t".1 by C brh, l'kh lhcr. Th i' Ix-.:an'll' th ..: XT B21)- ] \\'l'rl' ,'r, \\ h Ilttl.J with ,lll ei/.:h t- hla,ll',1 C urti" Ell"l:tr;\ cllumcr·Tl llat in/.: r Tt II'<:[lcr ;m,1 , lllring IIll' ini li,ll "pI' r" d, h , ,I' h"lh \\'"uld lull-'riln 11<11" _( During tri,IL, III PH') tI'll' bc
,I

13

T h...· US Navy ~ t;\ l1Ja rll aith ,rrll' It 'fl'c, I,\ W;lS !lolor illu,ly unr chablc and , hi, fact ,lit l1W delayed ti ll' ,.J, '1" inn ofC !.l,k.. , \ new rccluuquc W ith t he sta nda rd low-leve l ;ll'rn1,Kh, f.ulurc rare were l'n, lrm" u,. mul till' di l l' attac], seemed hlO much ';'Tsuch ,1 tl'lIlrCf;l1lll'llta ll'k u: " I' ordnance. However, (fnCl' nup rove.. 1 acria] torr ed,..:s had r"" l'l1 developed nrn] perfec ted. It wa, deem...,l <1l'l' Tlll'rLllc to I"o k on Clarke's met h, lei utrc-h . T h is dl'd sit 11) was hasl" fwd by t1w ({' lIlbi m' d· r{ll...,le!>a t.... T Ill.' \'u lm'rahility ;1Il,1 mac c urucv of the hori xmt a] h cnvv h. ,mh...-r, ~ra l' h ic a l ly

illustrall', lry

C \ 'l' 111\ III

Euro pe, hall -luu-

ICTl,,11l1l' pre -war b" ast 'h,lt it \\';'-' I'll,siblc 1., 'drop a b' Jmb in a I'h.: kk bnrn-]', T h is \\"a, rL'i nl(' Tcl-d fO Ttill" t\rn~riCHl' III till' l',ldy month, llf t he Pacific \Var, when rhc USAA F R-17s h.ul m ,l ,l ~ c laim afll' r c1am1 "f dirl'o h irs on J,l P,lI1~'l' war,h ips: ICO re r (l' nt tmlll',1out to b~ illus,'ry! TIll' USAA F I1u,k' ' l'w n h it.:h-ll'n' l 'lI!il<:h on IIw Jar ,llle, ,' Il,,~t oli" 1\1idw" y 'Illd fail e,1 to ,Clln' singk h it, ,111.1 similar ;1It;Kks pff th e Ph ilipr ine, ,111.1 till' Dutch East 111 J i l'~ W~Te jus t a ~ futile, [n EmilI"', tlw RAF ' r ,'nI llh lllth, Iryi n).! hI h it thl' , ("tic ,Ll1,1,I" ti,'n;l ry ('l'rlTl,lll ha tIlc-cn li'~T' ~{'htlrnh'lnt ,llh l (;Il<'il,'llwl, whi dl weTl' III ,lllLl;1t Bn " I, wllhin l';IS)' r,mgl'; Ibl')' ,lch kl'nl n'ry IHlle. airn,llt with till' Nor,lell 1"1I11h sight l(IT po"iHl' allarks .lgOlin'f Lmd LITgl'I" dfl,<:tl\'l' l)' ;lh,ln,l, 'II~,I h Igh -Ien 'l l" 'Inhl n).! "l1llgl'tlkr as u'l,I..:" ,,).!aithl ,h lp' "t ',,:,1. [n't";l'l, il a,hlpt..:d t.:1i-k' h
,I

Scouting A, till' Illl'rgl'T"l' type' \\':1' h,' Il'lJ.! co n,id, l'rl'.1, till' ri,k, 'If Ihl' S("UI (VS li) COIll'll' inl" till' l'ljU,lIi" n, US N;l\"\, l'(1hc~' \\',,' til ' l'nd "lit ,lT1l1l'd S HIh frlllll Ihl' Sn'w Squa,IT"lh, ~;K h pLl111' t'l,h"l II' ,,';lflh;1ll OIlinGlll,.1 'l'o"r ;II ; 1 t.:i\",'n r'll1g" . in Ohler t" I" e lll' the l'lWIllY Ill'l'l. T1w SP,[), wou[, 1

.....

,

"" .~

~ l(.II.

WARTI ME PR()(i IlESSI01\ Of' THE. nln. RO.\IIlER

, A din erenl a pproa ch 10 Ihe dive·bomber co ncep t was Ihe Boe ing XF8B-1. which was powered by the 3.000hp Pratt a nd Whitne y Major e ngine. dr iving a six- bladed con tra- rolali ng propell er, This gave it an unprecede nted lOP speed lor a dive bomber 01432mph 1695km/hf dur ing tes t IIighls in 1944. II fealu red an internal bomb bay with a ca pac ily et 1,6OOI b, wilh as muc h ordnance wa ighl again carried under Ihe wi ngs. Des pile Ihis, il never wenl inlo produclion . US JIIavy oll,c'al pholOg'aph

The Kaisar Flee rwing XBTK-l was a c lee n, lighlwe ighl dive -bomber des ign. with the Pratt and Whilney R·2800 engi ne. II was c onceived lor operations 10 provide difec i close air Suppor110 landing lorc es in the Pac ilic Campaignlrom Ihe s mall 'Jeep'lEscorll ca rriers. w hich cou ld nOI handlalha larger divebomber Iypes . The a brupllamlina lion ot the wa r in 1945 an de d Ihe immed iale need lo r s uc h a n a irc raft an d il neve r gol beyond Ihe prolotype s lage . This is BuNo 44313, the lirsl s uch aircraft, al lhe Pal ullenl River Nava l Air 'rest Cenler in AugusI1945. US NaV)' off,c 'al phologruph

rq,, 'n 1Ill" ~plTd , c ll l1l l'0~ i t i pn nucll-canng pn-miw wa., tluu, I-:in 'n tlu- facr Ihal din' ot t hat vnvmv.and ~t I ll",,' th"l Ih,' N,,,'\ h" ,h I...,!",,,,,,, w;lr ;11'1'' ' l;lt:hed. l)n I 'j I)cccmber [<.)4 [, a I 'I ! I ,,,,,I I 'J!Ii. I:" , " !l"'" !Ill' '!""I:""""" "I \\",t'k ;lfter I'e,lrl Ha rbur had \I\(l\'cJ 1I11' VTSI\ "':" ~"n,,, I" 'I.J I" , , hI' t"I" ', bLO' """," i,~ul' ((( >1\1 lI' l' ;lc
14

Ilis vil'w W
New Designs On 1.1 and 1.2 [anu.trv 11)42 , a 111l'l'tlllg \\'a~ hekl hy the l"il-:hll'l'n lIll"lll"':rs llf tlll' Plann Ull-: an,1 Engml"l"ring Divisillll s Ill' the Burea u of Al'ronallties 10 thr;l.~h out thl'st.' I'rol'll)sals. A s it lurned "ilt, there wa, alrl\o~1 tnl,,1 h,lTlllllny among till' ;b....m· bk'd gru up, anJ M urph y's pr"I 'III"II, wer,' ;len' pll',1 in rrinci r ll". A~ a fiN 'Il'p, C urtis, Aircraft was in ' trucl eJ 10 ,l.'\"l'!"r il sin).:ll' -sc;\tl'r ,live h lmher, ca pahlc ,l Gn l)" mg ;\ l, lX1OIh hOlllh I~'r 1,600 1mb (2,600km), or t\\'lI 1,600 I'l lunders ;" ;I m
,.

." WARTIM E

P IW{ jlt~. S SIO i\;

01'

uu

0 1\' 1: UO\IIlHI

eeced cnntr.k:l No. 88707, fur XTRll1 -1. ~umdy, ..ksil.TfI of t he t win -cnuim....1 dln:r.llt \\"t~wilt(heJ to rhc G rumman \ 'r~,,·

ma non , ;mJ the aircmf, became rhe HB~ F· 1.

It haJ '\1,'0 R·2BOO-Zl l' n t.: im:s \lIl'i gh 45,('('(1''' .. 10..1

mJ \lo\lUlJ ( \' l;"n1l.l
rn.. .

1,10,1 h C:I\ 1' to OJ'Cr.I1 C even from the \l idMm cia ~ carriers that WI."Te rhen bein£ "'lilt In aJJiriun. few coulJ h..- cmr arh-J,

melr v nke capacitv \lo~b -rnall: ,I larj..~r her 01' ~m.II1I'1 a irer.llr wa, (:IT more t-enec nve . aoJ the XTB2 D.. l (o r

n

XTH~ F· I )

was rherefore -nllbom.

JI

ntmg .."...ice at P,uAcr w u-, t hat unlletunl-Com m.lnJt" j.G . C rom-

If

1m He ;lCh

.:J.J noI 20 tar ('nou!::h. and 'U~I"lo:J , h,11 rhc 1\ )lJ21a., XTR2[)-1 he m.IJc, mto a ..in arer arrcratt, anJ 'h ,1I Mu rrh ~' h.. "Cfll hllAlUl!lds IUhl·lr make the eh, lncc.. l"'o&)'. In' tcaJ o( ~:oi n ~ through the emal cham tI( com mand, Cnunmelm I stran..h l to Ihe A ~ i~l a nt C hid' ot rh.., & now, so. 'lhh'lU£h h i~ a nnnn ..-nt h'IJ h menr , If Ilia, nlll taken up, andt hc' -carer ~ iL'll was pu....ued . On 4 Feh11\' 19-12, Rear Admiral J.B . Towers, rh..' fl.un-au \ ( l uef, approved th.., origina l prouume and the Navy went on Itl order H SFI1l1·1s from nllu.l:la~ . b ('nT ll.l ll ~', Crommehn W;l ~ hI h: 1''' we...1 , llTt'\I,Nu llnly after muc h heartache and kN 1'1 \al lJ
Radar A~ III

tI\I.' Pacific W;lr 1Il11t...1on, IIU' intlucnce radu Wi l~ Illun.! to lv incrL'a~ i l1 gly impor-

tant . 1t'riJ d..,t,"t:li.'n .J! inn 'millg J, l P, I1lt'~l' r,lI.l~ nel:,111.J their early vi~lla l siglu illgs " f

lhe Amcncans and, in fhl'ory, l'llahll'd till' ,klcnJmlliighfl'rs til l.'I't in place in rune 1\1 mtl'f\"Cr' rhe aflackers, A t (iN , the svstcm JtJ lltl( wlIrl well: 'cluncr' Oil till' xr,'l'n~ between circling ,k (ending rbn,'S ;111,1 lfl(lIrlllnl/ rnl>lile conracts clln(u»(....1 " l'e r.lfi ll'!o, comrrumicanons be twee n ~h i "" ;In,1 ti£!,lm W,I!- J"'lor, and the Jilf"iIll""C.' dive ;lnJ r.-q",Jo tlo.lffibers .iten m.a rulJ.,....oJ fo l-n.'al thrt~ 10 mlllCt he'dvy J ,lmage, G raJu'll ly, ho.l'n'o\'r, rhc system imrtlln.J UIlli!, hr th.., lllIr lot tht' Batt le of thl' r h illrrinl' Se a, h..-.d.:. "Grumman He1lcab wou lJ int er · crf!l the lllComil\j:,' ];lp;m.., * aft;lCh ;IIlJ l!'I Illtally wire Ihem llUl h,-f" re th ..,y t\'tIl S;JW l~ Art\('rican Ill'l,t ." It was de-,It N, had t~ American J l\'e hllllh,-", lx, 'n ~ w'lIh 3 UR'Iffit' t:.l/J ar ilt Ih... flOlll..' 01 MiJI.'3\", d)t'), \\'(IlJ1J hwe found Iht' ...n,,·my

Allhough orde rs we re se ~e re ly c uI ba ck allhe end 01the Seco nd WOlld Waf, s ome Martin TBN Maular di~e bombers did sae se nlic e in the posl,waf fleel. Hera, e 100mat ion from VA·9A, comma nde d by Caplai n L.G. Traynor, USN. and ben d aboard Ihe aircraft ca rrier Philippine Sea ICV-471. is se e n iu Ju ne 1946. US Naval H,sloflC al Cenlle phologfBph

earn...rs earlier, not ~'arc h i n~ " i~u,l lly

w' l~t t...1 "aluable

ah ly han ' " m!.: r111'm m, 'T l' qUl,,!.: ly, I h ll~ 'l\"I\I.llIlg th... II ~' 01 Y.trkWtlTl lo d Ctllll1lt'r~t ri !.:e. " C urti", wa, Ih...rd "re in' ln Kll...1 h I aJ J raJar Glp;lh ilify to till' S R2C. Inten."i\·e t"" l in ~ wa~ 'lln'a. h ' lalin g I'I.Ke ,If N",wron, Rh ,,,"I,' 1 ~l. m.1. wll h n1'.'arJ til Ihl' 1I'rJ't....I' 1h' mh.:r ri,ll' ("r Ihi ~ mrcrai.. ' • In the l'n,!. h ' lw;:" ,'r, Ih l' ,Ii"l' h.lmher nl'\'e r J iJ m,lh' tOtJ"..J'1 .1I1.llls, olh;:r than III tHai, anJ I..'~ t~, , I llt lll~ thl' St.' olnJ \X'orIJ W,lr.

15

J U~I

limc

f,'r rh... rn an,1\\',,u l.l l'",h-

'II

a, rh r- G rum ma n I}'!'e mel ib end,

drd rhc, Cum,-, lyre" onuinatecl hy the

~ llltrh y id...,, - rhc XSR3 C - 1 ,1 1 Ih"'I' nJ I,f 194 2 ;lnJ th l' XBT C -I ~ i x mo nth~ btl'(. Tlll~ "'a,, main lr .lUI.' hi Ill<" r rohl l'm ~ the

co mpa ll}' w a~ enctlunI;:rin g wll h the S R2C 11;:IIJiwr. Th...y cont m u...J 10 .Indor the XBTC~ 2 in a limi l... J form , hllll'nCulinlercJ!>I1 rn;m y "itYi t:uh 1t,~ rh al, ,11 thl' ;:nJ 01 thl' war, thi... rr,ljecl , Ifll), wa~ 1..' rm ina teJ, In Ih ,,'I1l<"
.....

,

" ".~

~ l(_II.

CHA PTER TWO

False Start The Douglas Destroyer On 30 [unc 1941, Douulns at El s..-gun d'l W;J~ award<.',1 a cont ract In lunld two XSP,2D- I~, 111i~ seemed to lx' an assurance t~ 'r n oud as lh at the ~IlCCCSS t hey h,d achieved wi th the much -hived SBn D aun tless wuuld h.' repeated . TIll' startl ing vlc tone, ucb lcvcd hy till' D auntless d ur inl-: tha t vcar ga\'l' rill' companv a fundof goodwill, »nd rill' Navy ha.1 great fauh in it. TI \Cc hfficulrics h.'i nj.! cncounrerc...1h y th e riva l C url i"s '1Il.1 Bn-wstcr companies lln ly M..rvcd to l'mph;ls;:l' the smooth running 'l( n uughts.

TIll' Navy was Jl'~I,,-'r; lI t' Illr a replacement .Iivc htlllll,,-'r and eager ttl give 1\ luglas every asstsmnco. I( ever the lld lJ ivcr could I"" g"l into service then il sccmc...1ce rtai n lhal t hl' SB2 D would, in turn, replace the Hclldivcr. 111,11 ccrrainr v dtd 1101 become rea lil ~" Once again, t he Mtow facrot ca mc m ro I'b y, When the fi rst SR2 1) t\ll .k t\l lh l' a ir in A l'ril 194J, it was a lrl'ady 1,400lh ove r the "'I' wl'ighl limit , and it rook far toll ],1l1l-: III l-:l't .urbomc - in facr, irs mke-off .Ib lance p re -

eluded if (ft un earner "1"-'1';1[ ions altogether!

Flighttesled in 1944, the twa -seater XSB2D Destr0ver wa s the original Heinema nn des ign buill to the Navy's initial requirement lor a new di~e bomber, Powered by a s ingle Wrighl R3J50·14 en gine . w hich de~eloped 2.3OOb hp at s ea level. if had a top s pee d 01255 knots . The XSB2D-' coul d carry 4,OOOIb 01mixed ordnan c e in a large internal bomb bay and ha d two lOmm wing cann on. IIte ensee the tricycle landing gea r lirst tried out by He inemann with ona ex perimenta l BT·' d i~e bombar in 1938. Changes in the Na~v's requir ements le d 10 the c ance llation 01this design , and a re ·work as the s ingle-seate r XBTD·' . McDonnell Douglas. Long Beach

16

Speci ficatio n Till' lIrig ina l orde r W:-I.' accompanied by a ,la ulUinl-: Navy ~ recilk;l l illn. TIle engine \\ 'lI S sJX'cifil'J as till' 18 cvlindcr.jwm-row, Cu rtiss-Wright R-H50· 14 Cyclone aircooled radialcnmnc, dl'w l, ,pinl-: 2,JOO"hp ( 1,7 15K/w) al sea level. and d riv in g a thn..'<.'-hIaJed Hamilton propeller uf 12ft 7i n (}B4m) dtamcn-r. Ed Heinemann later ~ I Oltl'J that Ill' considered t his powerplan I to he excessive for rill' lil'sign with

F U n

"

fAl.S E STAIIT -

nu: ll tlUGl.,\S

IJESTIIOHR

whrch he had hoped to proceed from scrarch, but Douglas had to go with it .

Limitat ions o f Space

The armament was fa he revolu uona rv I, r It, time. consisting of a single 20m m cannon in each wing for forward strafin g. wnh 200 ronruls per gun ca rried . Fur air dctence, not one bur two flush-mounted turrets were to lit: carried. in the dorsal aod ventral positions aft rhe rea r coc kpit . each mounting 1I pair of O.sO-calihre machm.. . guns. These were III be remoteII controlled from the rear coc kpit hy a new device, the FarranJ telescopi c rcri.,wre'ighr. It these items were not revol ut ionary ( nJ he.l\'Y) enough, the spcc iflcanon conunued. The main landin g gear was 10 h.. ot the tricycle configuration with 0,1se wheel and two wing wheels. all rctractable. Alrh'lUgh so me writers han' -crcd that this (earure was not fln'v illusly t(lIlnd on naval aircraft , Hein eman n h imelt hold already fully rested such a desi!.:n II Ith an expcnmenra l BT- I with noseI' heel configuration in the laic 19 30s, Ill' h.ld not been favourably impressed. None the l~, thc Navy dl'CiJeJ that th is W,I" \\h:lr if wanl\'J. Tht rt'quireJ offensive loading po tl'nlui 11'<1_ also h igh for rhe t\l'W dive h mN'r: a m TOrredoes slun!.: e Xll'rn.lll\· lx'inw the central fusela!.:e, T hi s en,lttTltlU, increase in comhat loadi ng wa, r No ,KhieveJ hy Ihe adop tilln of Luni · nar-fluw aerofllil, and high -liit , lo tted !hl" filll,J ~Iow the rea r eJges of rill' mlJ·wmg S('( tinns. The intem al bom!:> -!:>ay requin'llIl'nr n,l ,'nlr made Ihe ai rcraft ilion ' clllllp li· ( tN \J.'. Curtiss werl' find ing to their ell"t \lIlh Ihe SBlCl. hut forceJ DOlll,.:l as I ~nLlrl!e the wing area. Sll th al llll' ma in I nJml: I:ear could fold !:>ack int o il IIb!eaJ of the fuselage. This, in rurn . led f J reJesi)..'!l of Ihe wings with a negati ve Jlhl\lrnl. the c1 a s.~ ic al ' in vert I,d !.:u ll11m!!' share Ihat typified d i\'c h' lml-ets ,u, h ,1\ the Junkers Ju. 87 St uka and Vull~r VenJ;:cancc, and was ],uer hi IJenlll\· ,hl' massi\'e C h anc e- VOU!.:IH HU tl!o:hlet·hombcr. T he adoptiu n o f rhl' te,IIUtl: cnahled the unJ ercarr ia!.:e III I'e .hortet an,l thus more easily aCCllmmllJ HI'll in the inne r-win!.: sl'ct ion whel'l b.!\. inlll which (he wheel s h ydraulica lly rctMCtN.

As de.,ign work proc eeded . th e Navv h it [)ou.l:las with ve t anot he r lirnita rion . T h e XSB2[)· 1, unlike Jill' SBI\ was to [caturc fullv t;IIJ in g wings, tbe I uncr seerions f"I,Iing upward s <'II1/cllCl'. compa red wit h 14 7ft 6 in (44.96m ) in the Encx and 136ft (41.4 5m) in the .\t iJlt'ay. Their fUll' nl'! tr unk illl,.: al" , elle n I:KIll',11 In IheSl' limir"d di nll'nsiun s. TIll' 1ll,lximum han gar width canll' down 10 ahout 60ft ( IHo 3m). "I. In llrd,' r li lr tw,I aircralt I" hl' ah lt· t, I Ill' mllvl'd past e,Kh utl ll'r. till' maxilllUIll willg-llllded Sp;ll1 h ;I,1 til he spl'c ilkd ;IS 26fl (7.91m). T his W;lS 10 CIUW I k'i lll" man n's Il'mn IW ln ' h l"IlL.,·lws. Thl' fina l win.l:Sp'l1l C,It1W " ut at 4 5ft ( I t72 m) . wh ich Tl,dIICl,d tu 2\,Vr -tin lin f"I,lin ~ . Tlltal wing area was ,7, sq fl (34 .H Sll Ill) , M,lxim ulil width of till' h' lri:ontal {
v-n

Fliglll lesling followed and appe ared to go well, eve n if the XSB2D· I W,IS nOI an ' Hlt.-l anJ ing pe rfor mer. I)uring te st s. m'IX· unum spl'l',1 (If 289 knor, at sea level was reache".I, and 310 kn"1S was ,KhieVl'd at 14.00l1ft (4 .250m ). These fi.l:un::s were respectable - with a spee,1 of 346mrh (55 7km/h ), rhe XSBlD- 1 was 6Smr h ( 105krn/h ) faster than the besr SBlC- I Hclkhvcr, with double tlu- bomb Illa,l ll the lat ter. It carried 22 3 gallons of fuel in its int e r nal ran ks, !.:ivin!.: ,I max imum r'lll!.:e of 960 nautical miles at a !lei!.:llI (If lO.ooofl (3 .050111 ). and a max imum cmlumnce at thl' s ame hcighr (If , \1 hours. li s sral l speed for deck landi ngs was 64 knots. which was nor had fllr such a hcavv machine. C limh rare was 11.3 minutes to 20,OOOft (6,100m ). wnh ,I service cci lin!.: \ li n ,420ft (8,360m) . T hese fi!.:lIres were in il i,llIy respectable en' lugh 10 persuade the Burl',lll of AI'Hl· naur ics 1" 1'1 ace ,I furr her produc t i, In orde r fur 345 SB2D- 1s ( BllNos 09048-0919 2 inclusive], on H A UgllSl 194 3.

,I

Weight Prob lems

In al'l'l'ar;l\lCe. rhe XSB2[)- 1 was unt que . T Ill' inn 'Tled gull-wing was mllunt ed mid way up the ftN'b!.:e, whi k' a ,loTsal fin l'x tl'n, ll,,1 frum Ihl' mai n \"e rt icil t,lil surfacl' ,\Ild ,'n d,',1 in a sharp verti cal cw·off t,I allow {hI' dursal H1 rrl·Il,.:U1l'i T< ",m to tr a· \·l·rse, lIw kinl,.: fur il ver y diffl'r" nt and read ily i,k'nt ifi;lhll' profile . TIle hTtl'I,I, tlat hl,e of till' filsda!.:l· relle el l'J the l,.: rl';l1 cal'"dly "I thl' internal humh hay an,1 lIll'se (e,,turl'S. cLlllpleJ with thl' In cycle und l'rGu riage, 1ll;1,le till' XS fJ,2 [) ·1 unm isl;lb hll·. If I, ~ ,b ,11"ne (ould deci,1c thl' fall' of ,lll aircr,lft, til<' Ill'W Doug!;ls din ' h" l!ll.....' r was well sct. lI uwl'\'<'r. till' u\'err kling l"llll(l'm was th,lI till' Cllllll' ll'tloJ XSIU[)- I was t'~l hea vy. TIlis W;l' llot .... nt i rd ~, Dou!.:las's fault hut. n" ne the Ie". weighrs callie 'llll a t Completion and Tes ting 12,4, 81!:> ( , .65I k!.:) III l'lIl rt ~· con d ltiun, It t, ,,lk 1\ HIl,.:laSa I' ln!.: Iinll' tIl ""l·mb k· all 16.17 )lh (7,38 Ikg) h l,k·d ami 19.HOlh a ircraft lOllIl'l'l lh is d l'llIl·nl,.:ing ' I'l'cifi.:a· (1i.6H1k.l:) maximum weil,.:ht. which, as tiun ;Ill,l i{ W;IS nUl until 17 ~b rch 194 3 Ikill<'lIl;lllll h im"t:!f II';IS tll confl''-'', 'was th ar th e first XS Bl l)- 1 (Se rial lZ07, BuN' 1 ;Ih lut 2, SOO I" 'un, ls, lVer the specs, We \\'t're 03,') 1) was c'f ml' ll·tl" I. A ntl tlll' r rh n'l' guilty I If rll<' sin I ha,1cr ilici:l·d in " tIl<'r (,rg;lwl'l'ks pa"edl'l'f, lrl' ils maidl'n 11 iglu, ,'n 8 ni:a{l" ns."" TIlis wl·i!.:h t penalty trans!.ltloJ Al'riI194\ , " lIlIe 1 1 Ilhllllh, aftn rill' ini · im'l a take-(,ff dislance inu n ,Icarril'r ,k'Ck in tia l or.!l'r h ,I,1h .'l'n plan 'd . Much h'l.! ha l' - Gllm waIn , If644ft ( 196m), or. with till' carpen l'd in Ih ;u int l'r\"al. bU I ;ill or,k'r f, lr rin ;11 25 kn'l ls int"win,1. 272lt (83m). th irtl'en SB 2[) · 1s (Bu N" s 04lJ')9-0497 I Iklll!.:I;ls and th l' BuAer en!.:llll'erS went indusivd wa.' I1Mde hy BuAn u n 9 A pril imo ,I huddle and var ious fllrmul ,ll' were 194 3, in th e exp,'eI ,u illl1 th ,ll th e a ircr att , k'\"i.sed to 1i ~ht e n till' 'Iircwfr. h W;IS wo ukl C\llll<' up tll scralc h. l'sli ma ted. hO\\'l'\'l'r. th ;lI Iil,.:hl,·ning till'

17

.....

,

" ".~

~l(.II.

f ALSE START _ TIlE tlO l:m .AS llf.SlROH.R

struc t ura l nu-mbers would involve a C U lIl- I!llns ll1ld the rear scat from till' 5 B20, plc rc re,l.:.-ign of Iht.' c n t trc aircraft - ~ H fl'sull ing in n of pr"d uc ti,,n. l1ll' Farit \l"o ul,l l'\ 'n enter serv ice at all. Dra- t ic rand rcnr siJ.:h t am i con tro l a ppumtus a~ai n mva- urcs were ca lled f" r. A.- wuh t he proved cornplictuc...1and i l1 d1id ~~ nt in practice , ,111,1 its Illss W ~l S 01 no C'lll.'t:quellcc ~B2C . till' pr, .blcm ucm was C<'llside rl'd to he till' hc uvv p,lwer t urret huu sillJ,,: t he eit her. A fn-r conversion inu si ng k'-~,lIl' r Iwin remot e-controlled J,,: uns . The EIlII.'r - BTI )-] ~ , the rake-off problem wouhl I" sun 'dumI" ,' J.:U Il rurrcr, which wdJ,,:lwd ~" lve,1. 111is, in essence, was ret urn t" Mllrphy\ l,r iJ,,:in,ll 1.',mcvpr " f 194 1, a n,1 OI L"" ~OO Ir. 11.' '-'-, wa, c onsidered a, an ultcrnnlin', hu t it pron" l ull.-'ll isf'h:lory in " Iher a vindicuion (,t" Cronuuchn's ar~lll1ll' lll s . However. t wo Yl'ars ha l.l l-ccn wask d. Th is ways, ,mI.l was ,lr" I'"I.·,I. M urph y, III 'w pn am 'ted h I C Iuunumdc r. klca was a,l" pled nt once, hili I h ~ lI was nll[ wurh',1ch,ely with Dpllj..:b, in an ctfort II ' the e nd Ilf till' ,Iitl icu ltil's. imp rove till' airc rutt 's rake-off pl.·rf, -rrnaucc. A rcvolunon.trv ,011l1i" n W ~l , 10 dr"p till' remote-c. 'Iltn ,lll'd afrc r turret ,1111 'J,,:t:thl' r, a, Conversions \\"1.,11 as the Sl'C' '11<1xcat. lnstc ucl, an aux ili,Hy In the mean tinu-, t he 'I.·c"n,] prulotypl' power unit , in till' l;,nll " I the W estin j..: h(lll'il' W E-IlJXa t url" ,jl' t, w" ukl lx , fill l....1 ( BuNo 01'552) was c" m pk,ted, and tll'w from /l. lim's Fiel d, hut otfici,ll CllKl'lb tinn UI\ l'xpl.'Timl·llt011 air crafl in t he TI.'.lesiJ,,:lw,1 ,11[l"f r art o t till' fu,elaj..:l'. 111is w"uld tum 1; ,lIllwed in JIlIll' 1944_ Doug!;ls n"w (\InTIll' ~A2\) illl" a sin).!k'-Sl,rw;lrJ was l'x Il·!l,!I.'d t" th e hplIlh ha ~' fl'r t ria l" 'l1lJ till' lIlrhllje r 1lll'rgl' with [he red ul,'d '[ ,'n gth wc kpi t a mI ibelf IllI,un [l.·d t" rIll' fl'a[ l, i the ha y. Itwas fairi llJ,,: 01 th e s i n~ le-s\·a l e r. This ).!'l\'\.' a fl'd hy a n Intake llt0l' the fuse LlJ,,: t: ht.-hind slnll<.l th ,il1d I'k'asing profil e , wh ich .-h"u ld [h e rilllt 's c,xkri t and \,t;' ntt;'d at ,I 10 - h ~l ve '1.l<.led to ~ t a h i 1i ty. T Ilt' rem,wal 01 su Illuc h wl'ight , with dl'gfl'l' ,1llJ,,:k' \'e ntmll y, 11 ll' Wc~ ti ll ~ how;c dewll' I,'d Sllmt.' I ,SOOlh(6 80kg) ,lI t hrusl . tilt' ah an dllnmelll llf Ihe I\\"U Hlrrl't s a nd (in'a t res ults \I'I.·Tl' expccll'J when le st ing till' rea r-St.'at man, ,' na hb l th e BDT-I 10 CllIll1111'11I.·l',] in /l.larch 1944 at till' L lS increase ils buill-in Iud ca pac ily, {TOm 223 J,,: a ll,ms It, 340 gallu llS. E Xtr;1 a rlllUllr " ro A n~~' l.:s /l.lu ni cil' al a irpo rt , amid hi gh Sl'cufity. l1,e firS! tl iJ,,:lu wil h this ,lJ d it ion tl'ctilm fo r th e pil"l co uld ,II" , lx' inswlll'li to th e rl'l ,lined m,lial took rLiCl' in Ma y with,nll ~ l d\"l.'rM' ly a tll'ct i n~ J'l' rl,'rnwncl.'. 1944 . It was ,Inlic ir, lll' d that a ,",,,,,,", [ Ilf Mu.-t 01 Ihl' ul ha fe,lt ures uf Ih e XS B2D'50rnr h (ROkm/h ) woulJ rt.'sult, hut th e rur- I wer e rl't a int'll in t he BT D-l : winJ.:span "Ojl't la ik'd III live ti l' h> Ih esl' expecl,l - a nd ,w e m ll k'ngth rl.'mained lI m.: h;I,l ing C'lllll'a ri",ns were 4 3.4Ih/s"-\ ft

,I

I"

18

(2 11.9kdsq Ill ) fo r th e XS B2D.I , compa red with 48.t%/sq fr ( l3 7.4kg/sq rn]. Maximum speed i ll ,ea level was reduced h~' 34 kn , ItS, and the ne w test (i).!l1res came "UI al 344mr h (55 4kmfhl a t 16,OOJft (4 ,90 '51l1) , wh ill' the service ceiling \\'3!I al", reduce d . ro 2l,OOOft <7,195m). Th e ne w .nrcraft, whi ch was gi\"t:'n the (,ffici,ll nam e , >f I\ lllJ.:LlSl \.'sttl,}W, made its maiden tli~h t on S March 1944. R igh1t~· in g, wh ich wa-, alTl.'lld y lx' lllg conducted wilh till' XSB2 D·\, conunucd inrensiwlv ""1\' wil h both tYl'e~. Th e rc~ t~ revealed a h ,,~ t lll other pr"h ll·l1ls. 11l<: XSR2D-] suf· fl'rl,d from I"-I<. 'r sla bi lilY {('r earner-deck bn,linj..:_" and. when I'UI 111[" the steepdive, elK(>l lille rl.,d severe huffl,ting with the Jive hra kt:, extended. Whe n tl1l'firs. " f thec cevetted BT D- I s W,IS put tlHll1l~h its ('OCt'S. tl1l'S<.' prol-lcru-, were I~ '1m.! III hare inc fl·a'c d rat her rhan d imi nished.

Rede sign and Further Modifications Oncl.· 'I).!ain, the 1\ 'llJ.:bstl'l lill went hackto tl1l' ,lmwi llJ,,: "'''lrd, ,Illd Ix'ga n ,mo therJ ra... lic Tl'-wurkini.: "r till' ,k'sigll. Thl' dihcJrJI III 111l' a;r([
•

•

•

~ m

v·n

"

"

At

tlll

FALSE START -

nn: 1l0 l'GI.AS

IlI'STROY!.R

......... d1a.ld hlIve been the new Douglas rep la ce ment lor the Dallnll e ss w as lhe BTD-l , a s ;llgll'"5eal re o warllillQ 01 the XSB2D·l Oe$lroyer des ign. This is the fina l version on the la mp at EI S egundo, Califom ia . 0111 Deeemberl!I4J. It featured Ihe invert ed gull· w ing form and tric ycl e und erc arri age. but the atter part 01 at cockpit WI I Il ired inlo thafu sel ege an d the angle 01 the fa iring was exte nded. Alt hough orde rs w e re ,t.:tlI tOf d1 il lircrlft by the Navy alle r tes l ing. Ihe co ntract was ca nce lla d in Jul y 1944. a nd only a few lIIt~illn were linin, complete d, w hich Ilever saw act ive service. McOonnell Oougl as, l ong Beach

EJ Hcmcmanns menuun, rec al l

th...• trials:

Ir.. f'd!<-nlyulkkmanJ.,hl". if n,~ trcsrr.umu . """ f'I~Il.' lal'olll'l..J on.: " r more .urn "ft !1' ,~II(I U'"' Ul'l"T olhl'l'\. In the "viall "11 \l",,t, tt.r W!r.f<m'.... thur ",occ"..J r rtli.", ,~' rill" 0;"11\1'' '' ch.lt", r...., 5<,"", t1\....1'; I" ;ln rn",.".! '" o,,,,m, othrrs IowaN Voullht, ,,,11 " th"", ,, 'ltl [\~Ias. '""""" a"mr",", h"..,J , h" ;f c"n· til

~ "nl.'xperiel\Cr ;onJ clUetl.,I l.'valu.llh 'tl , I'm

"'Vtlltl Ih;o[ Ihr BTI) .I,d lIo[ )I<.·t ('Hr tn· ;}I· r .r l\\en[......, w ", "IF\.' ",,,It'I1'l wmll'n~ , "

lDnU.u

In oct. m re-tesnng the Dest ro yer, till' ~ II re-t r ilnts h ad fou nd •.. . rh..· same,,1.1 Jct'u..·nci...'S - toll 1111\1: take-off ma rgin,l l 'l~~lhl\' lind ktffe tin g - pe rsisted. ' " This is In ,hdrp c"lII m t ttl H e in em ann 's (\wn \11.'1\'. which IlhA~ th:lt th is p lanc 'had muc h t-ctlcr flYing cruu actl'r ist ics th,1Il its p r....d ...•• cr r'. Thi;; view was endo rsed by CUlllm.rnder J.A. Thom as fro m the RllA ...· r Anock Jc~i!-'1l hran ch.19 Tht"'iC cnlll inu....J p ro"lclOs ca m...· nl a umc IIhen the C urtiss S B2C I lcll.. li w r

h:l, 1 finallv overcome its shoTlc,uninj.,:s , .md was ....nter itlj.,: Ih e ounbur ' '
n

04961 -04971. 09114H.Q()062 mul 04951.) were Ct ItlIl' le ll" llx,tw""l'n ~ 1:1rch [9·+4 ,1ll,1 oS O t:tub...-r II.)H. (5cri:1 1 NlI . [I'Nl, till' num ber u rij.,: I1l:l11y ,dlo"::ltl·..1 tu rlw first prodocnou SB21). 1, wn, now written tiff.) In Oetoh...-r II.)H, till' N avy iitM lly t...-nninur...-d rh...· con tract . The aircraft never saw ...·u m h,11 ,m,1 1\'I.·fl· 1lS\.,,1 mai n ly :IS r.. ·st Ill:lchilll's. Al k a ~ t on,' llf t111'lll has sur · vin·.. ! tulh...· p rl'SI'nt . . by.

New Playe rs C"lluncln,!l'r Murphy \\"a.s Ill,wcd (rPlll BuA ....r, :m.l his "1:1C.... W:1S ta k""11 hy C" m-

19

mandcr E,E. Fawkes, who had t h c addeJ a,[vantaj.(l· of combat ex pe rience in t he South Pa ci fic. II..., hacked M ll'l'h y's id"'''ls. and under h is ' Iir.. -crion rh c· singl...··s...-arcr

combined

JIVC-

and rorrcdo-bomlcr con-

nTI OllHiIl UC'! t(l he cham pioned. On 5 J ,m u
,If,

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. II .

FAl.SI: STAIn - lH l: IHll '(;I.AS IlESI IW y! , f{

The BTD-1 assembly line in full swing at EI Seg undo on 1 J an uary 1944. Despite the Navy's order s and the bus ine ss 01 this sce ne, all eur e handf ul 01these airc rah had been ca nce lle d s ix months laler. By Ihe n, Hei ne ma nn had sol d the Bureau of Aeronau tic s on an enli re ly new ce nc ept. McDonnellOouglas, Long Beach

J

This is a very rare bird! The Douglas BTD w as intended to be Heinemann 's s ucc essor to the faithful SBD Dauntle ss . II was co nceiv ed in J une 1941. two prololypes we re ordered {as the XSB2D -1J. and the IirSI prOIOlype flew on 8 April 1942, The US Navy's ne w requirement. lor il to combine bOlh dive - and forpedo -bombing eapabumes. led 10 it being re -des ignaled as a s ingle-sea te r, w ith bo.ub ca pac ily increased 10 1,451kg, Ihe 2,399bhp Wright R-3350-14 Cyclon e 18 engi ne , and dive brak es tak en Irom the Vullee Vengean ce, installed abo ve and be low the wings , Ordel'$ for 358 an eraft Icllo w e d by Auyust 1943, and prod uction Destroyers (as they were na med ) began to le ave EI Segu ndo in J une 1944, A disap pointi ng pe rforma nce , a nd, principally, a long take -oNrequ ireme nt, led 10 Ihe can cellation ef tue project alter only 28ai rc. alt had been ac cepted, Many of Ihe Destroyer 's be stl ealu res , howe ver, re-emerg ed in Ihe AD Skyraider, This par1icula r s urvivor, photog raphed al the fl ore nce Ai, and Missile Museum , South Carolina in 1992, is in fairly good co ndition. Peler C Srnllh IIIIl SlanleV Vaughn III

20

T h e Fk'l' t win g ,k'sil,:ll W;lS 1, lr a sm a lle r, lighter din' hOlllhl' f, rill' XHK- [, built ~ I'l'c ilically to cq-cratc fnun t he small I'SCOH or 'jn'r' c.u rtcr-, in .suPl'o rt of ,lmp hihi'HIS Ian ,li n gs, l t -, main parnmcters wen' a 1.0l"O1" ho m" Cill';lCity .nu] a cornh,ll r;dius o f 365 rnill' ~ (5H7km ), A CI'Iltract was ;1\\'ar.ll'd l'arly in March 19 44, T Ill' a irer;lft was Sup rosl'd I" he h 'l'l ;IS li!.:h l a s po sslh k' b ut when 1111' I' rllt "I ~' re (BuNu 44 31l) l'\'l' nt ually flew, ill Apnl 194';, powered bv a Prall & Whitlll'Y RlROO l'nl-:inl" it carne out nt a ma-otve 14 ,/'I 50 1h (corn p.mxl wnh till' 10 ,7001l> of t hc SI-\[)-; then "pl'r;lIi nl-: in this role]. Tl'~l i n!.: cunrimrccl ut 1':lt llXl'll t River Nava l Air Tl'.S t GTlIU11d, hUI the l' n,l "I' the wa r Il,d [, I Ihe cl nH,lb t hIII I,f this I' r,,)l'( (_ A , irni lar fare befell anothe r contender, till' (\ 'I' in!.: XFi'l R-1. Tl u- machuu- w~ s 1'< 1\\w l',1by a ~,Ol,(,hl' l'rau & \V h lllll'Y R4 ~60 fill l',1wi th a unique ammucuu-nr teatllfin !.: the six -b b,k,l, coutra-nuaring !'ro pcllcr. Otherwise, it was "rth'''!'lx ,' nollch, "'tainilll': an interna l """mh hay !~ 'r c nhcr a I'OIi l "f 1,('L'Cllb h ,mhs, ,r a t ( '1I'l'd" , ,11,, 1al'l l [\\ ,'lurthn l,tiNlh l-omb-, (,II undcrwma r.1.-b , It 1""kl', 1 till' m"sl I'r' lllIisi11C .Ii\'\' h »nl-cr c,f rhcm all Irom till'S\' fi!.:Hrl's, cspcr i ;l ll ~' \\'1ll'11 it adlll'\'l',l l'X(d ll'lll 'IX'l',l, of 411m['h under tt.',t in 19 44. H U\' I' \'l'r, it, 10" , \\';ls cancclh-du r Ih" I'11,1 "th"st .litil" , C u rt ls.s t ried a!.:'UI1, wnh a n Impron',1 ve rsion "I till' l Iclldi vcr - 1l11' ~ l( "l d 1i4G, XSH2C. A sindt.' .nrcrnft, HlIN(l n;2H6, WOlS mOl,k over ;lIh l":Ollll' k·t".! in Fd'TU;lI)' 194 ;, p" l\w c, 1 hy rbc 1\-2600·20 cuume, with a t,,1' Spl·".! 0 1 (lnly 260 mr h (4IKklll/h), It 1I'00S 01 !\\' (l-SI'01!l'r;l1 01 ume 11'111"11 ' IKh h,'1ll1",rs h ,d CI >lll" HII t,j \'( lL!lIl'. It W"', rhu-, .["mlll"1. TIll' Martin ~ l ;l\lkr 11'; " kl'l'r in producnon, ;111.....11 al a rcducccllcvc], a s t he AM I. Evctuuullv, this hrutc ( ,'u k l l';lrry no lcs, 111,1[) thrl'l' ;I,'TI;l 1 t"'1" "!'''''s, in a,l-liti nn III tll'I,I\'I' ull,krwin !..: homhs ;1[I,I Ill';I\'y r unnun I" r 'tTalin!.: ;ll t,ll k" T h e",' " IIll' T urrcrutr " fll'fl,,1 snh lll' n ,m l'l,t it i" n to till' I )l"lroyl'r, :m,1 [he wm in ).,: \\';" l' Il';lrl r " 11 the \\';111 , A SI'TI,', " f mccnn u-, bdwn'n th e \ 'Oln 'lIl' onnpames \\'Ol' , d ll'd ull', 1 with the Bll.'\l-r III W;lshmut on , I X ~ in .I11l11' 1944 , It \\';1 ' \W ~' clear that t h l' p lIln ' ll\ l' 1'1' t he-e- corucrcnces wP111.1 dn·dl' nor , ," ly 1111' tuturc "I the N;I\')'\ d l\'I,-h"lllhl'r p r,,!.:ralllllll', but also t ill' lutll'" \,11\ 'll gLI' 's l' a T! icir:lt](,n in ,my ,ul' h l'n'!.:rot1l111ll' "'Ke ,1lI,1 Ipr "II. EJ I k illl"lllilnn himsdf th " ut.: h t, Tic htl \' Ilr wr"n l,:ly, l ha t il was 'lll;lkl' -PI-b"'a k',

CHAPTER Tll REF:

Last Chance A New Concept is Born Even l-etofe the re-une " f 111<.> X ~f\ !I ) ha ,1 l-qun. a~ earlv as (\'-cemh..r 11)4'. I\. .u d a' NJ beecn further m ·ho'N' ,1"'11.:11 , n " lle' rrbullK 10 Jiw·h. 'Illh.·r ,1'·~ I).!I1. The-e

II... r, rrin(lr;ll1 ~ Oll'1I1g 10 a -, I, 'n l:: 1.lh·-ott

rr:li~;ll

11( .. of Iht.· aircraft c"u ld inJi cll.. Ih al

connnced Ihruu!.:hoUl lh ,· flr~l ~ I ' monrh-, " I~ (" U,n"m/.: y,';II. re-ult IIl I.: III .m .rccumuLmJ store (,f frc-h I.lcr" ..1.11 .1;1Il'! 101,,1" ItIdllon. Later, EJ Hem... mann W .I~ II " Ir;lw ~lf\ (hi' f'l 1I11 of new kn"ld,·,h.:'·' 10 I.:"' ,J

unv mrcnn. 'n 1'1c. lIKdlllll-: Iill' BTU- I . :111,1 l" Uh lll~ rca... 'n~ I~,r lll.lllll .lll\llll-: lh,' rrol'"\:1 wer e .h-cu-, -c, 1. TIll'''' ,. ere .1' I, ,1I.l\'·~:

mJ vnaleffecr .

C ITTI,' r 11-c·.

Scrvic v "," :llll.Il l
Conference in June 1944 lhe-comr ;lny rcprocnt.urvc- , were " h...d . uled III meet wnh RuA"r 111 \V;j,hlllt.:l on . OCthat summer: Hcuwuumn W :I ~ .KllIdy dllale' Ih
1m

a 'l't,1l1l L" I) 1\.·\ ,1l1l ; ('... Il<' R ' ~ 'I , A,·r." ly. n,lmin ; ;\n,1 Rl·I.1 1 ~'l.::lrt, BT l) 1' I" i.... 1 EnCTlleeT. ·tll llll.: Ih,· I\l lr" :lll ;Ul.1 11,... Na1i ' wa, Ihe Chalrm:lIl, A"hLllIl (:hid ul Ihe fiurl,<m. R,'011 A. lilllf:11 LI\\T"I ll'" B. Rl( h,lrJ" .n, USN; L,',I1l' C. ~I"\'l'lh,

R,·rh·.. .

H,·,IIi, R,"'C;m,:h .1ll,1 1\ ·H·I" I'll11'nl 1)II'i· 'UlIl ,

fillAI'r;

hh

dl'pul r ; ( ~, .I,'m·1 ( :I,:,rl.-,

FI h ' , US ~-1;1T i ll" l :"rr': ( ::lJ'I .lin 1':lul II . Run....." frllm the l'alllXl'nl N,l\" ll T~·\t

r...I'·'II-:I1"'.1 fll,l"! . IJ..:~· ,Ill'! " I l w r dcr.ul lillI''' 1\','l1WIlI' . ,h,1\\'l·,1 I' r. 'm I ~.' .11'I'rola d llllg th:1t ,,1 , 1'·~ IJ..: tl' tlwn 1...·Illl! , 1,·vd " I',·.! I" r till' fllllJr~· . 'i T Ill' r,·qui,,·.1 i1l11''' '\ ''·11ll"llt ~ . 1,,11,,\. ill l! r~',k'~i).!n, mid ll I" , .ll Llin ,·,1 1ll 1", ,,llIv ti"n :L1 ll'; 1l 1"l l h... I ll'\\' , 1 ~· ' I t.: Il " h , S\lbJ~'~' 1 I" ~' ,·[t.11ll Im l'r"I'l"m"nl' In Ilit.:ht -h'llldllll l.: d Ur:l' t"n'tl ( ~ , :1t,,1 ~1IJ,J,· .. t 1<1 ~;l II, I :I'- l"r\' I PllIl'k l lllll "t "tlll"1 [,·nJalll lll t.: 11I ght -t~"1 Itl'1l1 ~ , 1Ill' I),·~ tl" y,·r

11':\,

u ' lh l. I,· [ ~·. 1 " lt i, t,I(l,' ry

t; 'I Lma-f'lllo:a " l,,· r.l t h'l\' III II.. ,' X 1,1 ill t.: I ' '1l1il.! ' lra l h Ill .

i, TIll' " nl\, dl1ni ~tl (

' 11"" h l r~· h W.I ~ II",

Iln',l ri,tl.-r, ' f)' ,·h .lr·

('..efllc r; C'mnl.lnd,'r j .A. Th "m :l ~ , U~~; CI J'\'.lin Walte r S . 1)1,'h l, U S N an": ~ Illlam '1\111' Fri,I>ll' , llll' (i vi Il:lll , ·nl-.: 11ll','r

Llk" -oll .11,t,III"·' ("'I",r 1I1 b.111~t.111, 'n IIL)..: I" ..1t.1r.ll t,'TI __

lIt-nulwaJ t..J Ih,' E\·alu .lll "1\ Ikmth . ,1 ,lit' BureAU; Ct'mnl
11111'" l\',' m,·nt, I. , 111, ' ~' X I~' I\ I I Ii :tl .' 1', ' .11'''

L~ . '; COllllll,m.l,'r EUll'r...1l 1 End,,'" L~l\ ; ,mJ ll,·tI!"!l;lllI-( :'lIl1l11,Ill,I,·r J"hn

s,. Fcrcu.'IItl. <1 1,...11'11,,1 .11

lnr

II ( ~ Wl·rt." ~uhl ''''1 h ' Im lll,..!r.lI,· r'·I1It'.h

"[

So rhc l'll·'lrl'\,·r wa- , n "l It 11.,lIy writt en o ti" a l rill" Iq44 contcrcnce. EJ Hcuicm.mn r,'..:or,I...,I. howe ver, Ih,i1 hi' Ii'll rh.n t1 1'l:Ll __ oou-, we-n- C" lIll:: nowh...re. ;11\,1 Ihal he dcn-muncdto lalt.· ;l raJlt.:oIl ' tLT. F, II' .... nne momh-, Ill' IMJ h....·n Workllll-: on " 101,111),

drncrcnr con..... pt, ho......·,1 lin rill' R-2 'XI ,·n).!IIW: 11' '\l, , " III.f th e f-hl ~· . h.. ,nm, 'Ull(,·J 10 C" I"nd F i,h· rhar Ill' h.d an l,k·.1 I", \\'I IlII .llik~·

h ' rut I~ .rward. Arter ,I l-n-nk , I",

w.e- urvvn Ih ... 01'1"" Tl Utlll'l·. H,· " ,1.1 tli,' cont crcn cc Iha l h~· lI"all!~·.l I\I\ I t.:Lt , t, 'I...· 1....·nlluh·,1 Itl l'lllel"! Illl' l' XI~r l1ll-: u lntl,lll 1"1 Ilw BTl), :111,1u ...... Whll r"l1l:l111 l'l1"I t Ill' t'un, I, aV:IILlbl.. f"r tlw r "'w" l I" d,'H·I,'1' :1 Ill'W ,!iv... ·I... lInl.....·r Cl'Ill" ~' I'I, I I,' ",h·.! " '1 lhl ll~' , Lt~'~ , " 1''''l'an ' Ih~' n ~·\I· '!~· ~lgn . (\ , lm lr.ll RKh.lr.!"'1l granl,·.1 h llll IIi, I h 'l1l1 ". bill "n ly ' Ill tIll' C"lld llit'll' Ih ,11 l lll' ,,,"' It.:n ,lll'1l1.1b,· 1":l,I~' h~' Q9 i..\.l l h e l< ,11"'\'111)..: .1:1)", and tl ldl It .. 1","I.II,~· h:l'~' ,1 till' R ..\i :;O ~'nl-: ifll" H p i' l h y hi , ll \. n 1',·l.lrd , I klll~'l1l :IIHl ,-, ,"1,1 "nly . II:: [~·~· a n, 1 h" I'" th aI It" (0 111.1 t:a ll\' " 111 hl ~ I'r"rnl ~~· . :1Il' !. ,11\, I, thaI h,' l llUI,1( a rr\, 1\ '11t.:!a, \I'll It hlln LIn 'u (h a I-::nn h k . In ' uh....... II I~· 1lI t~·krh , .n'· ("I l\",· r~. I I ",n~, I kll wll\;lnn t:, 11\\' IlK t...J I" .11i (, ,ml'a ll\" I'n'~ I,kllt 1\0[1.11.1 l \ luJ.:1.I ~ ;11".1 \'l ..:....pr'... I,ll·11I

tI"

The 2-] Junf 19« BuAHConIHence - C1'Ioiefl lOfthe BTD·' Propeller

S Ie

,.

I

ho

'll"I

"'"

,he,. ffil"elln!.: J t, ll-:l-.:,·d o n th roudl
xJ're'",.J I 'll Ihe 1\ ,ud .l ~ I \."~lr"\'l"r. TIll' Buredu', (lWll n"t,·~ un Ih,' COl1 lt'rt'lIt:,· nlKdle Ih
Curl'SS4 bladl!

]]I180n

1»]

Curl,s.s 4·bladE'

11!t 60n

Aefo prop 4·btade

1l!1 Z'~

Aefo prop 4,btade

11ft 1m

2500 2500 2500

2100 21100 21100

-'"

CtJrl1bar '.Jd0u5

1'.II'I X,·lll .

In tll~ m,·1Tlt Ii,..,. 11,·m'·lIl.l1111 rd.u,·,!

nu""

ccrt.un r..m.untng J...·flCI,·rKlt."-' were n"t ' 11.....lu.,M)'mg. (F"r J"1 ;1I1~ III Ih,' 1,ll e..ott .Ii'lancc I" .... ~if-lllIlt.." I~ If I h......x l'l tnl-: air' c ran. h.L.......J on tl uehr te-rs rb.u h.... l l-ccn (Ollti U(t,..J. ~e th e laHe h.·I"w).

IlllrrO\ 'ill).! the .urc r.ut . TIl... eo>nl... rcnt:l· ,11,1nor , h "w" \ "r, hav ...

I. ~-r\" it:l· I,·~I 01 IrlCH·I,· 1.m,lm g 1.:'·.Ir l ur

01 rhe." ucneral Ilil.:hl ch.lrall,·ri,-

5J6

52tl

".

'"

331 331

112 !tess 12D--gallon "" 1lQ 1af'1;)

21

.....

,

" ".~

~l(_II.

LASl

Art Raym, 'n ,I,,f the righrness , l(his rn 'I'" ISH~' ,lllJ h b ream tlu-n worked throuuh the n ighT in hb room at The Statler Hotel. By 0 l OO the next m, ,ming, l [unc. IIll'Y h;ld all th e n~,(,~""II)' (igur~..~, Glk u!ati" m, ilnd rough ,Imwings tu cover till' overall spt"i.:ification cha ngc s, gl'lll' ral nrrmun-mcn ts, a... r odynamics, performance w e iuhr nnd sfrl'ng ths. They h,l,1 them t:0l,il" l a m i were aHe 1" present th c m TO a n ,lstu n isheJ BuAer team II'h e n rhe mec Ting re-convened l.ucr that m, 'ming. Re prl'sl'nting Douglas at this secon.l Illl'l,t ing, held on l j une 1944 , were I Iernem.mn him,dt', alllng wirh " ,I"uhtt'u l Reid I'..lgar!. TIlL' BllA l'r te am , Illhl "r Capta in Thomas. comprised Capram C. W, Wil·lll'r. Capr.un D5 , Corn wa ll, Capt.un l .S. Rus,..I I. Capt.un W.s. l hchl. Commande r llW. Sluuuwav, Commander j .A . Tluuua-, ,IllJ Licurcn.uu W.S. Baj,lby, all of th e BuAcr. Cornm.mck-r A. S mith . I)(;NO (Air), O p-l 1. C, 'm tll,HI,k r r.H. IbtHS\' Y, C:,'ml1lOln,k r C.T I\ " ,th an,1 U l"lt etlant · ('...'rn lll;J Il,ler J.A . F~'rj,lllS"n r...p resentl,d the FliglH Test Sect ion N AS Pat uxl'nt Ri ver. II TI ll' tnl'e ting c\ lmidl'r"d I k inc man n's pla ns wit hll llt ":, HlJtll,' llt and. aft ,'r further ,Iis..:ussillll. tIll' (,,lit,wing , l l t~' m;l t iH' ,Kt i" lh W,·l"l.' agn,~...I:

al.

I. A cc"pl cldi\'\'ri es ,IS pe r W- IOsc he,lu lc "f a irr la tll' lIlpresent cOl1 (i~ura r i
r,,,,I,,ell"" ,'"ntr,KI, 1";'" r" Il , ~ hl I'''K,I "I fh,· ,'x\,,,:nnlt'nlal a,uek' w,lI""'an l"n~,· , rh.m ,,,, ,. nul ,'sf'l'Cled ,1.·1"1' III 1'" "I"Cl"'" "I rll<' Inl"'''

'"1'':''''' n" "ld ,,,,,,,,t,. O l",i" usly, n ' l illllm,d iale dl,,'i si"ll Ct'ukl h" tah'n umil till' plan s an,1 s t a t i~ T ics, wh ich had , alter all, b,'e n h ast i l ~' co bhled hlg ethl'r, h ,,,.! I->l" 'n Ill ' ' rl' ca rl'(ully amll ysnl and a~ rl'l'J I->y m,' r,' S\'n i,'r H·I'H'S\-llt 'i1ive s.

nL"' l'W~:

_ A NI'\\'

( O:-; Cl' f'l IS

Cllm miLl k ll'r Thomas's therd~ ,re concluded:

ll()R~

memorandum

1\''':1' 1<,1\, ,,,~ar,hnl: ,h'I""IlI"n ,,( rll<' ATI)·1 1''' 'f''':1 and 'ebrc.! "",lI,·n. ,~ l'",d"<:lh'O al I',,,~I. ,, 1:1 ~,'~"nd" w,"" "';rh h,-I,l, 1":ll,I"11: a n", f",,,"n' ,n rh" l"""-'K" " I rh" Chid >If II",

fI""'.,,, ,,,,.I "11.", "",·,."",,I parr"". TI1C agrl'l'llIent reaclll' J in th at hUI uffice room in Washin..:ron, DC simply ~\ve Donglas brei1th in~ sl'ace - no lilt In' - in whic h tcI tT)' ro prove themsclvcs aga in . The 11.'g,·nJ rbat the Skvraulc r W;l S Jl'si":lll...1 ovc m urht in ,I room at till.' Statler Hotel is a rom.umc on e, which is gh'e n c redence l-v constant repe tition in l-ooks am] mOlga: ines. In (act . rbcrc was a urc.u deal of hard work , swea t a nd compn 'm ise ahead before rhc new din ' lxuul-cr wllulJ fin ally he Sil-'llC.!, scale...1 ;llld sctt led us a viable aircraft. The gD-a!Jea.! f' lr Ih,· ne w .l in, I"" mlx'c was, tl1('rd~ ' rL' , nut giv" n inHlIl·,lbtd y. In july 1944, th e N av~' fin ally c.mc cl k'd Ihe co nt rac t (,Ir tlll' RTD-I nestr' ly ~'r,

thi s powcrplant, hu t it was Jl·layl'll in produ ction, b tl' in rcaching th e producnon lines. a nd , ulnrnatclv. proved troublesome in service . A Llrgl' muul-er o( l'ng in,' cur" UIS we re e xpe rienced o n all 1 ~1"" ~ lit' airc nl(t lll ili: ing till' mo d el. MDT" ,k'mancls we re made ,'n the hardrTL'~S\.J team, ind u,ling a sh"rtl'r take-off di sran c,', ~o Ihat t he airnaft m ight h", 1Is(.J on e'COTl earners. ex tra a rmour protec tion, to deal with th e in([e;lsing sculc of AA firepowe r heing met as th e N: 1V~' Task Forces el'lSe,1in on J" r a n" home islands, extended range, nftcr t he a ppa lling Ill" l'S m rho Bartl c \ ,f th e Pluhpplm- Sl'a, when ,lir(w(t ran o ut ll( fuel after stnkc, ,11 rhe lmut o( thei r endurance. TIl ~' arr ival ,,( till' KWJ1ikim' lL.J tn anot her new requiremen t - air l-orne carlv wa rn mg. radar.eljuip[X'd arrcr afr, wh ich would ~ ive grea ter prorccrum than till' pic ket dl' s rru~" ' h were "hie to. A ll rhesc Tl'ljUirl'Ill,' nts had sllnll' hnw tn Ix, a(Clllll' m'l<.hucd, ,Illd nU llglas did t heir 1....,, (.

Th e Powerplant Demands a nd Req uireme n ts T Ill' o riginal agrel'd Jail' III prllduce a tn, x l -lip :11 EI S...gun,I" ha d been 24 Jul r 11)44 . At till' timc, This had se,' me d (lpt i. mistic, an,1 il4 11ickl y pHl\"l.'J tll he till" case. A lmosT imnll"J ialcl y Dou gla., h,kl tll a,k RuA,'r (llr :m l.'xtc n silln, This wa' gnm l...d , an d a t\('W, ratlwT mll re r,'alisr ie .lal" ll( 14 A u~t1., t \\'Ol S agrecd . Thc I\',m.l ll( Inspl.·c, lion ga\'l' this till' th um hs,ur, ins ist ing a t thl' salllc Time Oil il (~'W mi nllr 'lltl'Tatillns. O n 14 A ugust 1944 , (llllllwing th e inspl'ction ,md ;lpr rov;11 o( t hl' XHT 2[)·\ , Ihl.' N av y (OTlll
22

TI ll' Navy h "t! imp"scd th e Wr idu RII SOeyc l, Hll' 24 " ng im' as lIS JesiTl'J f'<' werl' la tll, Sll, wh at" n 'r Ed I lei lwmann m igh t f~'..! ahoul 1I1l' lTI' l<.ll'l, rill' Ill' W Du u· gLls co nc e pt woulJ hilVl' In fit a r" unJ it. T Ill' size llt' tIll' ,'n j!f1ll' tll sume l'Xlent Ji c1;1I ed t he fin ,11 layout o ( t he XRT 1 D·1. The W righ t Cydt'ne R- l 1S0 W;l ~a twin · ro w, Sl I[X'rc hOl rged . air·cll"led, II:l-q linJeT e n~ i lll', wit h a Jisplacellll' nt l' ( 3,lSO cu hic in. TI ll' h p ll( th,' va ril>!ls ma rks vilTied from 2,200 III 2,800, TIll' first t('st nm fllr thi ~ mo n 'I ,'r was in MOlY 19 H , and, (oll ll w in~ its g" Ill' ral ad,,pt i" Jl int o the US ar meJ serv ices with till' hc..:inni ng llf Ihe Second W ,,rl,1 W ,lr, 1Ill' R-l 3SO was I'r, ,gre",iwly d" \TI" l'l',1 via S\'\'l'ral illcr,'a , ingly ,""" r h islical..., 1 lll:lrks III the -26 WD. Th is Wf\.~ th u u..:hl f
LAn

n l ,\~ C F

_ A :-'EW ('o~n,PT IS

RO R ~

ThtI original Skyraider was 10 ha ve heen litred wilh exceptiona lly la rge s pinne rs, but the se fea lured on just • coupl ' ol u parimanlal a ircral1, of w hich this is one . The ide a was su bse que ntly a ba ndoned. San Diego At~e.

MU$eum

experience came t,l till' Skvr.udcr, ,1Il,1t h i ~ olJ Shlf)' went th e roun ds on ce more. The first Hg conrrac t lo r , h i:; t"ul-:h am] relabk engine was !~ lr rhc R.ll'ill j! H-2\) Sllrerfnnre,,~ , and sub-cquc nr mark- weneed to powcr such fallltlu, .urcraf ~ " till'

C I19, the e - 121, llll' PZV Nerl llllL' und the P-5 Marlin. a, wd l ;1' t he HTD- I l\'Slrllyer, the A L) Skyrai,ll'Tandnumcn lll~ commercial airc raft. n"'~l' i l" u s fl·lbhlll( Y. however, the engilw later " cc umv known iut ItS unstoppable nil I...ak-, wh ich Idr lhcil markon eve ry 5 kyrakk' r\ undcrl-cllv

First-Hand Obs ervations Tbe enhghrcned po licy II the US N a vy ut this lime was to eu courngc ilS airl w lt des igners to go to sea, to all'llV rhcm to

appreciate first hand the viewpoin t of comhat pilots, ilnJ to ga in a led fllr rl~;ll comhal operations. Dl'sp ite dlllll e, ' ic rrot>lems, Hcinl'lmm n aj!fl'ed tll pa rt ielrale, amI, in Oc tn hr-r !944, h e went ahoarJ the carrief U SS TrC011l.J<;'f/lRd (C \! · l4l at Pearl Harbo r; she saill"! ttl t he we ~t · l'1Tl Pad (ic Wa r Zo ne o n 19 CK tll hl'r.~ l Heinemann was ~O
Hctucmnnn ,li.1 nu l ! ur~l'l till' inl'i,ll'n t and till' cffcct 01 r UWLT-0 l'l·ratnl brak e., and Ihl s Ic.1 t" h IS ad"l'th ln of ;1 dire-ct

hvdraulic bra ke svsn-m in till' P,[lT2lJ -1. f Icincuumn mad l' 111;lIly u,du ll" 'I'1ma l (lh"'rv' lti, ,n ,. I k s,ill", 11 11 example, t hat Ihl' rail-wheel axil- apcrurn- " 11 C:UTlIs, S B2C Helldiver-, t'~n N', I, l l'c k prol-lem-: a t scvcn -cix rccn r h-, l,f; 1ll inch ill cli.une tv r, it was 11, ' I Iar,e:l' cnouuh. SLT\" i ll~ o (fi,:n, lila,I" ot he r p oint s dir ccrlv til Heineman n. ;l1ld he d uly rook them I ' ll l-oard. Licutcnaut-Comm.mdcr E.L. An derson (II VB-I'll' ~avo: 70 d,',e:n'r's ~l ' ti ll' III -nnaldivc ,Ill,e:k' U'L' " in comlvu , wit h t he , live, C" m ll\l'lK ing fr' >111 !O-1 2,(\.)()t't ( 3,0 '50- 3,660 m ), bomb rt:k'a.'e al l ,500fl (700 m ), a nd pull-out at under I ,QOOft ( 100 m), a t wh ich I h l' ~' pullccl '5 ( ,. II... t hou j!ht rhc t rim tal» shuu U he marked with CllIOlll' to mak e th ei r late ral movemcnt iuuu ediatclv 'l lw iulIS, O tlll'r ri l' lts of the " lme J-1e lld ive r sq uadfu n " 11 ,e:~l" 1l...1 ,i sinj!le while ll'ol.c:n itiun ligh t IOC
23

The con rrthuuon llf VB·J '5 , which h'i.! been Illll'ra t lllj; frl lin till' earner E.~.~ " x (CV.

9 ), W
Muu

~ Ul!gl"ll'd

Ih,1\ the cowl-flap

,witc h should hl' posit io ned O il tlll' po rt , i,le ' If th e c. c kpn . This W I ,uld allow rnnn1l,1 1t' pl'n ing fllt enj! ine coo ling to hr' mad,' lllor l' easi ly whi lL' o n full power "' lIi n g~ , lL'a vill,e: Ih e: right ba n.! frcl' for th e co n tro l stil k. I ll' al~, l fl'comml'nd..J co nc e:lUraliun o n just O1\e l yi'C of a tt ,lCk ;lifcralt .li ve "' lInheTwith IOTI'e:J o d roppi ng poten lial a nd Ih l;' w n,e:e fllr "louting. A nothe r point (W ill till' t sst'X Hdklive r men lI'a , th at one " f the: a ircraft's g'l<xi po in " was its itlrwa rJ tirin g 20 m m can no n , hi gh ly r "ru lar a, a ' !r;lfing insuulIll'IH after t h.. main hOlllhin ,e: attack . Fau lts Itl he progra mmcd tlut of an y 1l,!,lace llll' nt includeJ wea k (ail -hook

,I

..

, ..... ...d

~I'. ". CIlA~CE

l. ,\ .n

A

~ "W

CONtTI'T

IS

1l0R~

h" IJ - ,I" wll ~ , wh ich GllI" ,,1 frequent

cable bounce <111,1. rhcrctorc. dcck -bamc r damal.:" , and ,I ll'~~ than n-hablc lwclrauhc sy~ tern . If nl-,o e nwr ucd rh.u rhc uuro-prlot was diftrcult t<11I1.11 11t;ll n ;lIl,1 WiI' Ih " fl·f, Irl' Vl'P; lIlfr"qu"ntl y 1I....·,1in , '~· riil i, 'n, . The con mb un, ,n ~ trom VB-I I. w"rkil1l.: from th,· carrier Hunk'! (C V. I2). were 1ll;I,k· "'y Air Officer. Commande r R"y [olm-on . C.. 'mlll;l",kl \VE. (J'lillarJ ,10,1 till' ..... Uil'Ir"ll\ Ex...'cunve Otlk..-r, Lrcutenant E.M. )'",Jet. Tla-, thuJ "'lllaJron connrmcd II\\.' " r ll lllllm ;1ll~1 l' I~ lr Jin' h 'lll"'in~ 10 ........ 70 .!q.. 'T....,~. wuh the SB2C.. ott cn rulhn~ !IX, . ahh' H.Il.:h rh...,}" were ulliciallv r...<mer 1 h l 7(J rUll -Olib. Lik e th e ot h...·~ Ulllh, rh ·}" ha,I .>I....... reed Ih.lt lle aircr.llt·, mhcrenr lun l.:lIu.lm;ll m,ta"'lhlyJiffit:Ult l...", Ifl"<.lll,·ntly 1'... UII......1 in ..km-wnnkhn l.: on the wm~" TIl l' V B- I I men a-keel I~ ' r iI Jiglu IIlJI..:;Il{}/" in th ...· I..'1m·~ igh l, hi help them i,I...·nr ih correct bomh rdea ....· I \\.' i~lu f"- '11ll whik' o ln...-...'nrr.lIl1l~ u n rhcn rurect , AJml r;11 A .\V. Radford. llle 1;I,k {,' IC,' comma nder, ...·I1lI,ll.I, i:t-J t t ..il-:lliflC;ltlIl ...·,lIur...· of Ih e

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1...,lU

DES IGN FO R A..'Ii AI RPlANE ..

t.- J

R. H

11.. t...

Anp Cd r . a.sate'Mn to DotIpq .tl.rentt CempuJ. tee, Sa a ta )loaka. C&I:II.

A pptk.U.n J

T

--..y

le. lIU .

~l No, 111.1'1$

.t ... ~1 ',.......

lao 071_1 1 T O..n 1Dh0"l u: "'0, ~ .' Be II Ir.rt. ..... that ...., h ... Nt H , H... .... mana &nd Leo J . IJt'l'lln , both dU2ns or the United SUtn and resi den ts or ~ A ~"", In t~ countr ot Los Anlleles &rIc15tale o r C &1I l oml&. bue lIIotll~' eel a ~." or1Fn&l. &rid omammtal DKip t or U AiTpIa lle . o r whi ch t he tol lo'll1nc 15 .. aped_ ret........ c.- .....1... h . d to n . . .

n".,_. in.- dnwlhp, ronrun.- a Put &henGr.

«OCtl-..,_

Pl&ure t b .. lop penped.lot 1'1"", of an &I",lane III fturht

show1J>a O\i f II"" dPslI n.

PItrun 2 II a &Ide . . .. u--.I '1.-w llf IJIoo ",b. J«I airplane deplctH la ..... we 1 With l be u · ~ l&adtnl ~at ahown 1n doUec1 l1na. Pl ~

3 b 0 teIp p~ ..... 0 ' Ut. ~ d._

"I'U~ 4 II a tl'ODt eln'Ulona1 'I'1e.. of &he a' f. p t.,a deplck
landlnl leU the not MlnI 5hown In the Utmde:1 IIOOItlan b, dotted linn. P'lc1In S 15 a bottom ptan Vie.. 0 1 the &lrpla.ne

lll l'Urbt , "Tbe Ul&n.<:lntsUe r~IIUQ Of OUf d~n _1'9 . ........ ..,. me""" Of ' Ull line. In 'he d... wt .... . Wecl&im : The ornameo:>tAt CkSlCtl for all .lrpb,ne, .ub ....ntl &11' ... abowa and ~bed. £[)WARI> K. HE1N£NANN,

u:o

J, DI:VLIN.

vktiPd. tn P\aUlM 1 and 2.

"

FtlI . 2

,.,-,.. "

!f { "',

.' '.. : i

~

24

,..

." l. AST rtlAr'oTI' _ A ...; ~:W ('ONCI: I'T IS BORN

.

'

Skvraidcr. They

a l~o a~h·J

for

cu-rs. Ho weve r, t hey warned ;ll-:"ins t to" ruanv ext ra gacll,!t,lS,

wluch would \\'l'igh

Ih e airc raft d" wn [,'II much. An in c Te -l'>t',1 rate of dim!'. was always a priorttv. Visi ts In shore hases indicated t he e ffect

of coudensanon o n .urcratr: it became clear rhar ma nv more llrilin:l~t· h. lIes m iulu ,lll,'\'j;!t" t h is prol-lcm. whic h W,IS virtuullv unk nown either in rhc Unncd States ()T in ElITll!'C.

Coral ,lust :, ISlI led III 1Ill" need fur

Just-shickl cxpcriuu-nts

ZOmm

III

protect th e

!-:lll\S.

Fo llo win g the gadwring of t hese pract i-

cal suggt'stillllS, the Nnvv added further .lcmand-, following acrion off tilt" Philirpines :In,1 Okinawa. In vic w of what the~' h<1.1 come up ilgalll~ t there, e~l~cially the

KamOunI,' "Heat, detai led ,t lldil'~ we re for ()o tlgb s ro a.bp, its ru-w d ive bt uubcr for or her vi ta l rilles, inc lud ing AirhOrlll" Early Warni ng (to be gi\'l'll a W sufordcrccl

fix), Night Attac k (N ), Electronic Connrcrmcasurcs (Q), a m i Ph u, o gr;lr h k (I') va ria n ts, All rhcscles-on-, an.l o hse Tviltillns were ahsorlx'd and taken l-ack III EI Segulldo fur fun h e r stully a nd cv aluat ion.

..

Deadlines a nd Prototypes

'"

Wor k continued a t hi gh inte ns it y to meet the deadline an d the tota l co-ope rarion llr t he wor kforce was enlisted to achieve wh at was thou ght hy SU1I1l' to he im pnssihl e, In March 1945 the team uclue vcd StlCCl'SS, wit h the initia l roll-o ut of the XBT2D-1. ln order til l-:ivc Ihl' alrcndv hard-pressed co mpany en uugh leeway (0 produce these new types, lilt' N avy .uuhorced tha t rhc numbe r o( PTll" ,lyf'l' he inc reased from 15 to 25 ( BuNos09100-09 I09). T los W;lS to result in the r n lt!llypt'S listed in the table \1 11 1'.26. At t h is time, the new div e bom ber was prov isiona lly gin'n till' name of Daun t less- [I. T Ill" ne xt majo r mil e-tone came o n It! March 1945, when, a fo rtn ight ah ead of sc he d ule, the first tlight of t he XBT2 D- I rook place. T he a ircraft was ptlor cd hy l)\lugl a ~ Test Pi I", LaVernl' Brown , 1-11,' return ed from tho.' h up and reponed al-solutelv no prohlems or troubles, no elrama - just a good, clean !ligh t. It was a wonderful sta rt and this trouble-free in it iation continued unnbatcd: nvcr the follo wing th ree-wee k period , this ai rcra ft complctcd no less tha n} I successful fest !liJ,:h rs.

-

~.

,;':)

V

o 25

.

....." ". d ~" .".

LAST n lAN n

,..,

Prototypes and auignmenu

B"'o

""" """ """ """ ""' cseso" """ """

09J91

oscss

om;

osos

09098

osos 09100 09101

09101 09IOJ 0911" 0911l!> 09111;

Andl:k

A"", A"'" A"'" A"'" A"'" A"'" A"'"

Attack Anack Anacl:: Photo reconoarsserce Allack NIghl ,mack Night attack Attack Anack Anack Anack

A"'" A"'" A"'"

09101

Eartv w¥T1lfl9

ll!Il18

~ attae k

09109

'CM

De.s.gnalrOll XBTllH KBl20-1 KBl20-1 )(B12O·1 XBT2O·1 )(Bl20-1 XBTZO·l XBT:nJ·l X8TlO·1 X8 TlO·1 XB l20 ·1 XB12D-1P xBr20·1 XB120-1 N XB120·1N KB120 ·1 KBr20-1 X8120·1 K8120·1 XB120·1 XBl2D·' XBT2D·' XBTW-1W XBl2D-l XBl2D-1 Q

Pk',I"l...1 wnh Ih 'l\:hi en·,m·lll", 1\ 1I.'l-:I.,.. kit rl',,,h'l; 'r tlu- N'I\'y It l give il.. w rJKI. O n i Arrll 1\)4'> , till' fiN r WlI'tYr": W,I" d uly ,ldi\" "rl',1 h I t he Navv rro\"lng ground at Patuxent River. There 1; ,lI "wl~d an mtcu"IH' fin ·-\n"l'" ev alua tion rr' Ij.,'rarnllle; thi s (, unpnrut i H'I~' hrief peri ,ll! W'I, '" ,nll't hi ng, ,f ,I reco r,l, ,Ill,! Wil." ,h:h ie",:,1 dl'''l' itl" vilriou .. l'ndl1l' pn ,hll'm .., whil:h, o n " Ill' ,,,-T' l..inll , Illelll'!l'd l'\T n th e 1;li[ur" of a lll'l..ler wd . Thl' N a\"~"\ th t·r.. \\"l·n' l'llth u..i'l"li c [\.·..I'lte Il ellll'lllann\ t'arlil'r ,!'l Ui'> r.. ,IS t.1 IIll'U !--I'IS, thl· re \H' re uni versall y in f,,\'our of till· tll"W ;mcf;lfl. 1111:ir r,Hin g.. cou lJ Ix!--ndly "ulll llla ri:...J Ih lb :

- A

~ I,W

-,

r UM'E YT I S 1I0 k~

N'''",

T h e End o f the War

~3J501I

In [unc 194 '>, th e jirst rf\lh 'I ~'f'\-~ were

,.JJ5O.lI R-3J50.8 R·3J50·8 R-3J50-24W R-3350-24W R·J350 14W A-J350-14W A·3J50-24W R·3350-24W R-3350-24W R-JJ50 -24W R-JJ50·24W R-JJ50-24W R·JJ50·24W R-3J50-24W R-JJ50-24W R·J350·]4W R-3350-24W R·J3S0·24W R-J350.24W R-J350.24W R-3J50.24W R- J350-26W R-J350.24W

accepted mm the Navv. However, aero,

"'''''''' ')In «ceeuests

\. Addmonal coc kp u and attc r-compartmcnt liglning.

FtlllowinJ.: t he out conu- Ilf rh c-c fir "l ma ls, on '> 1\\;1)' 1\)4'> . till' N;I\'Y Depa rt mcnt _sign l'J :1 Le tt er 1,1 In te nt fo r Douglas II I produc e .m inu!al ur.lcr o( '> 4S BTZ !) -l [) i1ul\1 les.s -ll s, Il l' itll'IlI:ll111 ,111.1 lib tl'a m ha,1 co nw u]' trum p... ! Thl' "rdl'r wa s a filfi ng rew ,lr,1 f"r an olll ..t;m .ling tl'am cff" n. :111,1 ,ll'''lTH',lly "l"c un~, l th l' firm's future.

the P,Klt"i.: Ocean, events wen- unfolJ ini: t ha t wuulJ thwart an)' premat ure t."Xf'l"Ct,lnons 1'1' h.llgmi: lA.lugla" order h. ,h. M,~t f'l"l.pll' h,IJ expec ted rh.., wa r W CI -rmnuc at It·:bt mto 1\)46, anJ r rohpcr. (""·rallon 'Olvrnpic' wa, ht.'ing gl';Ifl.J III' tor, and a [anat ical anJ dcr crnnnc...1resi, · ranee hy till' Jal"l1lt:st· of rhcir horne i..bn.l.. was expected. However, the ,!r" r r ing of rill' atomic h Imh .. o n the cuic of 11 if< l'-hiIll:l ,md N 'lka"ak i, t he dl,..pcrutc "ul'r 1y I'u "itio n of the Jap:l!leS\·. Whll "l' flld supI'lies ha d been ( UI off 0)' suhl1l:lfIne sinkin g.. 01 tlu-ir rankers, a nd th e fnc t Iha t rhc S,"'il't U n ion had iJ.:n"n"t.i ib treat )' ,,1,1i}!arion.. an.l launched huge land atmc ks ..e re"".. II " Fa r Ea..le rn h -rdc r-, - allll ll"st· f..cror.. ..:.'m!--II11" ! h' "'ring about a -uddcn and unexpt"(w,1 e'l rly e n,1 In rbc PaCIfic War. Pn 14 A UI",'u, t 1\)·Fi. the hi\".. -tancd to come home. Wekome Ihi .. rum, ,f even ts W,I.., II'> etn-ct on uuhturv fl'-!Ultl·ml·n b ,lnJ '''rrll.'rv w ' 1.. r n 'lIl..:lahll'. Almo-t immcdi. Ud~·. lh,· Na\"- not ifit.J [).lUgl.l-' Ih ,lI It w.e rv...lu( UlI: II.. 111111:11 order hi \77 ;urc r.lfl. In a ,horl lulc. vvvn Ih l' rcqurrcmcm wcm by th e h lrJ, :m.l t he order w, . .. further

,I..

reduced. to a mere 277 aucran.

The AD- I a nd the AD-I Q \~/ith ti ll" ,!d k re nt prioruic " I till' I'" , t· wa r Iwr i, ..1 [lint' \\'a ~ a slowill j.,' duwn , ;mJ tI\l' llrgl'IKY and hard w" rk (If I ll'llle1l1,llm 's Il':llll n' l..... ,el'med to ha n · hee n a w,l,tl',l dl ~ ,rt . [I w.... a time l~ 'r re\' aluation ,m .! ..h..nge . A .. ra n o ( thai prO':l'S', in

RIcin dl.l ra.:tl'rNic.. - V~' ~Jf,J Pl·rt",'rmanCt' - \ '~ good \'(.'a n ' -I,II c1l.1r.lC reri ..lLcs - Excdkllf ~ lml'ltnfY uf mamtt:"nan c t:" - Excdlmr On'r" l1- Tfw ~s r dit'l~ bomn..'T .:n'T resll'" (.It rh..' c,'nfTe N\, tl'\"l· r;· lIl1 n~ w;. .. """11.. . ( 1. "'ut tilt: all e rall,lIl .. (, .lk J jo r \\"l·re minllna l. Till" f" I· 1,'Wlllg Challl.!l'" \Wrl' rl'C' ,"ll1ll·nde J :

I . A .ld irl,'nal, 'xygen f'l r tbe I'il "t , 2, A dd iti"n:ll heali ng j"r the ril,,1.

ear ly Skytaider XBT20·1 IBuNo09109) on the ramp al El Segundo. Sin O'i go AerGspace M useum

26

.••

~

Ftt.ruary 1946. the Nay" announce l rh.n tht Daumless-H was to Ix· rcnanu 1 rho BTlD SkyraiJ cr, This was an ot her ~l a.l:l· in

an l'\'olving pr ocess: the earlier rccom eeodancoe and studie-, (in-Illy J.:dlloJ inltl scceprance for the combirung of ,hl' .1In--

and rcqedo-boml-er rblt'S. hastcnc...l "'"the nMJ for economy as m uch a, " y war CX!X" renee. The new J esi!-rn;u ion wa-, 'A' l~ 'r Ansck. in [me with the A mw A ir Force . and thus, in Arril1946. rhc IH Zt)·' \\"a_'

redesignated "''1' the Navy Departmen t ;1" thtA[).1 anJrhcA D- IQ. The following month , Mar 1946 , saw a few XBT2D· 1s in thei r n vw gUi'l' 1'I.·gin· rung inlensified service tr ials at Nnva l Ai r Station, Alameda. C ahfomia. till' I'm:ific Aa-( Air Headq uart er s. 11 11." ll " "l,:l' was more ru ~eJ than ;II Patux ent River, and rhissoon shOWN up the Ilcgali n- a" \\'l'll as the poIiitive aSf't:cb uf lh .... clllph ;l, b o n h~hlCM in rhe SkyraiJ n \ dl.·,i s:n . A ll hol~ crurof pote n tially J ;lm.ls:illS: un Jcr· CiU1iage and wing:-skin failure' we r\.· 11<.11.....1 . ~ iin r lli~oht oi lhe r roJuc lhln model A[). I Shnider (eln 1938, Bu Nn (9 110) look rlact' on 5 NO\'em l--er 194 6. A further :·41 (BuNos 09 111-09 35 1) w....re ....ventual· h: to follow, wilh the la't he ms: ;KCer ll..J m AugLN 1949. Hllwe\,er, Ih .· ea r l~' r rtllluc· non allerait SoJl. >n sh'lweJ up fauhs sinuLn to thost seen in the PWIOIHlC." . N
me

smkmJ: ~ of 14ft/Sl'C (4.17m/sc.'C ), Wt ' fl' tarn cMkJ in a consiJ t'mhie r,,:rn ·(lt'lt.:e l.f the IanJmgs. There W ;ll> onl)' on e !M ,lUI i"n lhe AD-I mU!-t l--e made ~I mn"'t' r, h' 'f'l'"full ~' 'Ilthout sacrifICing an~' ti ilS rll1~ ["
order hi all'lw the r110t Il I .kvl 'I ~' h i~ aucnnon h I tl\'ins: anJ excc unng control drrecti,'n., Ihn.ut.:h the remainder l,f t he arrHl<.Ich p atte rn , Powt'r
re-ul ran r report ' lah.. J rhat, ;lltllllUgh the tl'stins: was cond ucted rh n 'ut.:h, 'u l wnh th e XBT 2D·1 airc ratt, II W.IS 'expec ts.. J rh.u the mforrnanon cont.uncd herem will arply equally ro Ihe A D· I ilin:ra(I'. Some 32 hour.. tlf Ills:hl I l'~lI ng were involved. incl u.hns: f'>llr hou rs of nig ht fl ving. From a t"I,11 of 2 1 GCA controlled ap proaches, ;\ number we re mad e under simulated hlill\I· II)·tng condmons. with rhe r il'lt under a h,,,....1. ril' ll ~ with Ol lhiJ · erah le tleet l'x re ri\.·IlCC in fi ghrer~ and d tve h" m h..'rs wer e -clcc tcd (or the r w jl'C1 . and rhe clucf r ro jel'l " fficcr was a q ualifil·.1 n igh t-figh ler pilot, The ma in cmphusi-, W ;l ~ plac ed ' 1I1 n' ll ing .kficicn cic s 'If ins tnnncutauon ,11,,1 in strument l1id lt charac tcri-aics " f rill' I t' ~ l uircraft . The XBT 1 L)·1 wa, provided wit h a lowfrc4111' nc y ran t.:e n 'cd\'l'r (R . 23jAR C -5) anJ PBX n '(l'iVl'r (A N/AR R-2J) fo r r<1d i" navi gat io n . VI IF·D F, when
A.

"""""G (:OCkfIIII

8

...-.g (:OCkfIIII

.,.,..,_ . _

"'*'" 100 01 110_ ........

~

C begin _1M

o

I . TIlat lhe XBT 2[). I airc raft, WIt h exisl' inl.: lmtru menr arion an d Iwn Jlint.: ch aracll'ristics, was, 'llnsali ..fac((lry (,Ir illstr Ullll'1H fligh t, parr icularl y for till' instrulIlen l l1 ight relluired ti' r G C A ol....·rati,lIl, ·. Exc"'rt al st;llIing spl.'eds, aik'n .n (" nl llli ("rce ,> \w rt· Sll lit.:h t that Iht· y f;lill.J 10 giw the pi!.ll
--.c. speed 10

~

U?W'III __

_

100 knOtSl

_

"'ll

----..... _

pnor '" e

M119l""'pnorkl'"

-r----

_

10,",,- _

-

-

-

-

-- -- - -

Recommend lld sllIndnrd GCA pllllllrn lor XBT2D and AO-1 airplllnIl1l.

27

..

...... .. . d ~If.".

"fl"d'. The report Ih'lUl.:hl tha t rhis Jd'icwncv wa- ~· r ious. 'fur th e plane is ex tremelv sens EI In ' III small aile ron move ments. Thl" I.h.1.. of aileron f"d makes larl"rallrimminl.: of rhc XBT2 DI ,I troublesome and con nnuous r.ek .' TIll" l" n l.:illl,lin,.1 Irimm inl.: was ,.1..... 1 tound 1, 1 h.' 'awk ward', T his was , ICC" IIlplisluxl hy ch,II1ging the angle of incid....1Ke of till' lu mzoutal slah ilizl·r. An ....lecrnc mot or con trolled bv a th reewa ~' switch 1ll'll"l...1 till' surface as desired The ui mm in ~ rnoror co nt rol W,Ls 100 coarse 1,1 perm it r;tri,I ,mJ acc ururc truu rrun g of the rlane: l'lunn~ ~ ITImm,"!: ' ..........." .." " ,. n<"\:~~ t" 'dn c".",••mth· ,,, It...· Inm ..n!:lc 11l..!lCdh",

.. hKh I> J"... "ll 1,...al'oJ ..oJ ,_ "''' ,11"""", " , ..J. Al mllht. r ,I.". ".-e'ef""..J ,., k,·t1' '' Il••h· I,~ohl hanJ I", ,lIun" n.'l"'Il,he InJ 'CO'h ".

;I'

TIll' ,,·ptlrl fd t th,ll Ihe ,l"O\'\' dl'fiCil'llC il'S
The sec ond prolotype is chec ke d out at Ihe Douglas plant. The Dougl.. e ngine er is wo rking on the starbOllrd lusel age dive breke, llnd this pictulfl gives an indication ollhe s il e of this lululfl. San O,,9'l A••ospacll Musfltlm

Jel.'Tl"es. 'Since the GCA m-num...-nt llit-:hl requires Il~,Itll.: h eaJlIll.... to t he ne arest Jel.:re...-, thr s indrcut or 's ma.I e q uare for the r"rptlM-·.' On rhc c rcdu ' i.k·. rbcv ~r; lIl.J th.u the exist ing ur-trument rand lighl in l.: and instrument arrungcuu-n t in till' XBT2()- 1 ....Wl· 'excellen t tor mstrume rit tl iuht hy .lay or niglu '. 2. T h at the st' l1Idard GCA par tem ( .~ l'l' the d iagra m, .n I'agl' 27 ) was S<1I isf,ll"lllty tor han d ling the XBT 2D- 1. 3. T har the Jdk i" IKies in the XBT2D- 1 instrument t1igh l -h anJ l i n~ cha mcrcnsnc s w ou lJ Ix· 'less ol-jl"Cl iunahll' If th e plane were '''tIUsl:nrali lln . }. Imr n ,v,' 11ll" i n~lnllll Cnr -h ;\n.lll1l g ch ;lmClerislics on rh ls aircmfl ('I';JTlicularl)' Ihe A D· IN Vl'f"inn' ) in Ih...· folh l.....illJ,: r aTlk ulaf":

28

a ) -rvvrv n aile ron co nt rol force ~raJl etu ncar th e ne utra l ~ l « k [""'n i'ln in rhc c nil~ LOg ~pt.,,-J r,m,,:e (c lean cond uion} anJ in the approac h -reed ranee , in the lanJIIlL: C\ Imln It,n: b} pro vide more refinement in co nt rol ,If I,lIll.:il11<1in aI trimillinL:: c ) rc locate slal-ilizl"r trun ,md ," indicator In main instr umcn t panel . where II can IX' seen l"a~il~' hy ,b y .,r nighr. 4. Furnish opcrati nl.: unit s with
Il< "

CHA PTER FOUR

A Stroke of Genius Developm ent of the Dauntless-II 4 . G reater lo.IJ -c.nrpn.l: a hili ry. 5. G reate r stahililY anJ con t rol .

The Concept The thinlinl': be·hinJ rhe Daunrle-s-Il. lIrhich was late r ro become the Sk\'I'Il,k· r. was described a l 1I1l' tunc hy EJ l l ehumann in a de ta iled rrc~~ re le a se. II j_ a pri"ikge to he ahl c to understand rh c

desgner's thinking and ideas. suaiJ.:IH from

the horse's mouth, SlI II I speak: " lhr Jrbur " f a nr w ""T'lan,' " , ,,,,Ill n..."I!. 111 " ..........". of inq""'.... trt>m rhe ,,,,i,llion I'" H,,·

rq.aU1Illl 1l. Jr,.,~'fl arr.ml....·m'·nt. The "T2 1)· 1 ~\II"A",lUC~l<"", ~mr..crm

00 bb ba,-!

A ll uf rhis ad Jl.J up 1t1 th.. fund.uucntal Jesi,gn requir e me n ts of mor e 11ft a nJ Il';,s weiuh t. It had al..., bec ome t-lw iuus from re ports, mairuenancc record- and. l.ucr, from hi-, own ,,1lS\:Tval iuns at sea wuh rh c tleet that 1111' 01.1 J'l'acl·t imc-,ll'sil-:Ill·.1 ai rcraf suftcre...I bad l ~· d ue h) poo r ul ility and maintenance. FOT wha tever reason, t hey spe nt 'too ma n y ho uTs o n rhe gr')lllld and not t:no ut.:h in th e atr'.

3. Im p rove ul ilit ~· hy l eJuc in!: fllcllln~. arnurut. and main tena nce lime hr "0 po:1 cent. 4. Complete anJ fly iiN article in nine mo nths. H , JW

to " lIisfy all t hese vur.. lt l~ rl.'qUlre-

mems ocCUr l....l rhc minds tlf Het nernann and hi s br illiant learn fur a mnulw r of arduo us rnomhs. In h is d iscus.s itlllS with the Bureau of Ae ronauti cs, hasin!.: the ne w design lin t he elim inati on of till' inte rn al homh h ly a nd Ihe substu unon (If a convcn-

Imllll.Jldld" "n,,.lI _

........I'l unl l",,-<...... rea,k..J , Wl'\ ~'h\' iu...l.l.'" J"-,, Iv.•k..... " Id

To 1Urt:ll: Ihr ~"'n1ni:. lhr :;l,-r...J..,. ...... awnvd mJuror 19+4. "-hm,, " '3' (..uoJ

...., rodew\o.'f'

I

mo......m "nli:k·rl....,".

0« -

~"'I:

,....hch-pn'f.lrrJ\Arw.:r JlI'C~ ,",om}",r <'If mUlh ..-rr om~illlt J"I""rT "" a rerl"""lll<"nl i,,,

lhet..'!llho.-n dwn on "':I"'U' Ih.u '"ftr ~ I>cf"'t" rbe .....(. An .... ;Irl..·' m...l,·1. ~ JI\'~

RTD Dive Rum"':' UnJ" f ,,,-"nl,,, . men' Junnll peace 11I1l.,. i'''1 ,,_. " ' """ 'rlan ' , Illm .ingl... -plac... "'(I'I"n,·. "';" .li" ·" nlln,,,',l 11\

lhe Douglas

1iI",.,noIlhc BTl[).

TIm miJZht he cOl\siJ a l-J a tritlc J isinl-:l'n uous, for the hulk IIf Ihe Jesij.,rn pcno d l~ 'r tht BID actually to ok place J un nl-: till" wa r sears, However. Heinemann\ subseque nt ccamen rs were certamlv m O;,1 pt'"lnl· nl . T1w BID. hk", nun" "1:1",, r,,,,,,,,"nK" ..k.-.,I.'I" mmn. JoJ 1'10II c",",,,, m ,""" m"n,' j"",,,,<", (' >f" Il'~- lhe ....",.

He liMed the new mtlimrv rcq urrcmcms e rabhshed for l in ' BT2n :IS cotup.rrcd with the BTD:

The very lirst oft til, line. This prOIOtyp, XBTlD·1 D.tllrtle n -Il (UuNo 0908SJ is seen . irborn, on ,.rly flight leSlS trom EISegundo on 13 Jun , 1945. No" Ih.e. II-merel linish . nd 11'<, meni.e hinges on Iheluse l.g, di,,·br.k, doofl. ~.~al ","clwes. College Plfk . totO

! [cmcuumn therefore J ,'ci.k'.1 rhu t h, s mow and r;ld ic;rll}' .hffcrcnr ,Ii\"<' h 'l1\fx'r would h :ln ' til ~ htlw improvcnu-nt s nvr-r till' ill-Luccl ,llId ,ll' p,Lrl'nr ly .I, It Iltwd BTl ). H ., listed tl ll'1lI :IS Ihe f,)lIow in!.::

wciuht (film IS.OLX' lh to 16,500lh. Z. h Krl'a -e m;rxi mum lifl codfKII'nr fro m 1,8 hi 2.0. I. Rl-JUCl'

I. Shorter rak.e-tllf J ista nce. ? I nc~o;eJ COmN t ("
29

nonal tm l wheel in place (II the nt N.' wheel of rill' RTI1, a n all-up guar.mtcecl wl.'ijlht of 16,SOOlh (7 ,4IJOk.l:) was deemed rea~"nahl.· . Hcincnumn dd ihl'w td y -hav ... 1 u funhcr 7S(llh otf th e turzet fijlun..' :11I,1 ;ls~ il-:lll'J til each l'll!.:inn' rinjl !.:TtllJr - inv, ,In.J with t he .lesi~'1) (.f t he winL'S, fu;.elal..~ an d ~. on - its 'rr"l'"rtitlnal unJelwcil-:hr h'l..'(.·Y fil..'Ure'. As a rl"suh of his tlwn l'xpt." nence~ wllh rill' RTD. anJ awa re of Ihl' prtlhll'ms

..

...... .. . d ~If.".

A STlI. OKI,

encounte red hy C um -, w nh th e SAle , which h ad co nn nuallv ex ceeded suc ces~ I \'t· w t·lgh t lurnrs. J t'~rl tt' mit ial pronuvt·~ . Heinemann w a" de termine d tn enforc e a stric t rcumu- o n the 1 \ ,uJ,:l.l ~ t eam. lit' later rec orded his cardinal rul es ,\ ~ I, lllows:

I. N" part cou ld l-c over w eiJ,:ht unlessan equivalent wt'iJ,:ht was .~ ; l ved elsewhere.

2. Any indcrcnu in.nc structure or r ml thaI could no t he ,ks iJ,:llt"d ttl minimum w ciJ,:ht rcq urrcmcnts w uu lJ lx- s!re ll!.:th tt"Stt'\l rather than ,..,IJ an arl-n mry s; l fe l ~' I,Kt.'!.

or nexu-s

l.ll \1: 10 1'\l 1:,\ T m TIll:

...w in!.: p' ,licy were extrernc lv gr,m lymg when the fmal wt·ll.:hin,g in.heated rbc \wight 10 h.. h .. t rcr than 1,l\.1O\" (4;(\kd IIn..lt·t Iht· con tr,KI l.:lIara n l...e. nlU ~ III...· normal IIUIIllt' to h .. added III mak e t he ai rp lane more u-cful without '1 III'd illJ,.: sl rl'n gth an d pcrfonnancc . llc inc uuum illusmu cd thest' achievemerits in another ta" k· (see below, n-pro..[uc.....1her... l~l r lilt'litst time in it. en uref)') . Weight "vings. in BT2D ov., Bm Simplihed fuel syslenl

A C <:t ,rJ IIl~

10 Heinemann. 'In o l h...r w otJ ~. the old aJ.I!.:l· 01 "A c ha m IS nll ~mlll!.:l· r rb an u s w t·ah ·sl hnk" wa s ar p lie<1 ,IIlJ all ran s w e-re J t·slJ,.:nt.J 10 a urufo rm po su rvc mar utn.' The vita l need tll reduce .....eil.:ht was t·mph;lsict·J h~' tilt" I' uttin !.: out of bullet ins , wh ich illusr ratcd in rhc must bas ic terms j u~ t what cnul<1 " t' achieved "y pulllnl.: wcurh r reduction abo ve all else. In o ne cx .uupl... gin'n " r I kint'mann in hi s I't ...ss rclea'C, a ta " le stalt...l l hat . lnr ea ch 100lh (4 ;kg) of wei ght SOl'·t...t the take-olftli ..ta nee fro m a ca rr it.>r·s J t...:k cllulJ h.. rcJ uct.J l-y 8ft (2 .,H m ); th is w(lulJ aJ J an extr.1 22 naul ical mil l's I,;I"': ' How mllch ,Iddilional cost is Justi fit·d to save ,I ['('llll J in \\'I'il.:lu!' Ht'int'm,iIln I;; \H' them an 'lIlsw...r: A I,~...r.. of $]0-00 J"." 1"""'.1....n ,,~ .....J a> a r'·,ho'l.l"k E:Ukk.l..........J un lL",l Ul!: fo' d qu;ollU· 1\ ' , . x"X:' '''rrLno.-.., Tho.....~mrr"'" J"'lw ..... h ' .........1'\ R'a"''l\;IH.. I~ " Ih,. "," leul." ['1•.,..: ' .,nJ. ,I dnl, h", ,:. ,,,, lhe' I,,,,' . ,...... It I' ...."'. I..h .. 1'1:''''' , .. 515.((',.". .20.00 J'<'f l"",nJ ml ~>hl h: " n!l ,d \, " T ", h.·, rl'J'<'~ .mJ m ,>T he, rlanr' .",.1 e
.,11

r ruJ"C!;.

A ll h(lugh !{eim'm an ll was spe'lkinl.: in the miut . im['( lna llll~·. a r rlnc ir l... was es tal->Iislm.l. Thl' tl'slllt!' \\'I'tt' sol l1 ~f;)c tnry for . as h... also recorJl-J al Ihat 11 m.... Ihe resu lt.. t,f thi. \"i!.:orous wc il.:hl -

ll H~ \T1.I: S S · 11

Short camurellor and od cooler ducts inslead 01 cowlleadll19-edgl! type

svstem

BI'

"If' ;10.1 , 11<' ""II,In ,en " n

m .lbn~ m.In~' !;'V..

"i ·'·'·r.,1m".. k-uI"'.. m . l rT;t n~",· nli'nr

11'

...... hn.,[ •

I.IIl.....l l h,,, f't'nn ll ,~J '''IT'p' In~ .,lIl m"",,,l

Iud III "r..' "'Ilk 1n" "aJ .. ~ h\'~ " .....J ont he BTU. Th" .011" u " m ..I<...... I'nUh ...J In l,.J"Unl: Ilk IUd .\·.,..m \'"'·I~'''' ' I,' 270 1"",nJ, .InJ .0' l ~ >.I I..... IIIll<' n.Juc..J ' ~nk ''1' I""rmem " Ill<' h> a """,,lIt'oKI""' ... l hal

,t.., BTI)"nJ ~ R1"- A

50'

"l1llk 1U<'ll.. nL . , ~ e"

""'.I'''''' lhe I"~OI ,.. Ilk

7l>' ~aulie

Then ' w ,I~ ,Ill. IIher factor III wh ich the Ou ullLas ream rook i::re,u pn..[c , and wh ich allow ed them Itl make further wt·i!.:ht "<1\'ings. Hcrucmaun It'nnt-J till. 'fun..lamcn[ill sunphc uv'. lit' illu. tratt·..! h l ~ ['(" nl us follows:

ZI'"

FuselagedM! brakes

3.lXXI PS I lMll' 1.500 PS I Elimination of bomb ba~

Fundamen ta l Simplicity

50' 1000' 40lb

Bubble-typecoa pnenclosure

401b Powder displaclllg gear 1115tearl of mechamcal Continuouscentre WIIIQ msteec of twe-pece l00lb ConlinuOUS IlOl'llootal tall Instead of lWO-piece 1010 7401b" Total

n"'I","-"I-,IiI\"~ ,JlIllln!: I"nk. dnJ ....'.OIJIl~ 10 ftXC'nl ''I''' ' dl'' '''d l-t" rl-tlo 11 ,11 r "·"'·l\l man\, 1"'11'''' 1.011"..·• dlln NlIeJ hI ,.IOk. "'1'n U'1: .11)'. (Su the ,h. '~'T.lln .'1'1.... " .... )

Th is 'fund.uncnta] simplic ity' principle ....xt ...nd n l Ihrou ghout the cruirc pro!.:ramme . <1 11..1 f I...in...mann l.:a\'l· ;I J l'IaileJ breakd..swn (.\<.'e the table 11.'11 ).

, II> 1tJ6!<Jfl r/lI!fI! _1IW'l' otlI:)
In an ...flo n 10 imrw \'t' Ih e m axim um 1111, Ih e DuuJ,.:IOIs J t'~i lo:n It'city ..IUt' 11< 11thl' win g airfl'll "I.·cliun amoul\Is 1< 1 le"-" th 'iIl l.:ains tha t wete ma..le l-y imrl< Wt·J dt'(a il J t.>sil." ' .' He iIJ JeJ, ·It is tx·ht·\·t:J rh e BT ZD 11ft wl'lfi c il'm of lx-tt et tlMn 2.0 is all ril->ut;ll->le tll Ihe excd lem 1.'W-~pt·l.,j llyin l.: c ha r.lC l l· n~ II( S wh ich renmt rt.>a!i; in g the full p" te n t ialitics Ilf Iht· win i:: ..... ilh sa lt' I ~'.' ( Fo r Ih .... o\'emll ImprO\'t'l1lt'llIs III lilt , ~ee h.·low ). Summary of lift improvl ml nlS M a~l mum lift coeff!clent of 810 Improvement due to ehange trom65 to24Ol)--4400 a111011 Improvement due to Improved stability

and eootrol

nearl~

']

oearl~

']

a!lP'oJ I

B12D m.nUTlUrtllift eoelhelent

30

better than 2

External Bomb Carrying Hein t'mann Ih c:n weill on 10 ex r lam the: o rJ n.m(c lift i lll l'!O\,...mellls ;1..1. A 2,()(x)lh h'mh Ilr 10rpe..I., .....as eonsiJerctl as an altt'm ,l!I\'e or maXimu m o\"er!u;IJ. A s the rt'sult of lhe: Sk~T.li dt'r 's unJl'rwe iJ;:h l. incr eil"C.-J ilft aM im rlO\'t:J . 1'1l-IIIlY anJ eu lll w i ;11 low ~f'Ct..,j , Ihc normal h lm l-> loa..l is now coosiJ etcJ ' b one 2,0001h l'llmh oT torpedo wilh a ...If... altl·m ,ui\·e tl\"er!. ,aJ . ,f 6,(0010, whi ch ca n h.. In Ihe lorm oll h rn' 2,COOlh hlllli'-s, lIT, if J t'sireJ , threc torpcllo\.'S. H t· jusllfit-J hi s J ec bi on fully. c b lrninji thai rill' d('ci ~i un to rt'M,n to carrying oHemin' or..l n'IllCt' cxte m all~', inslc ad of in ; 111 int ...rna l l'o mh ha y, pr' l\'t-J 'very desirahl...•. The rTe"t'm arran~cml·nt .J! l'x temal ho ml-> racks rerm lls ca rT)·inl.: h ,mi'-s. ltlrpeJ .leS ,IIlJ II in r..>ckt.>b or Jror r ahlt' fud tanks 11\ m. lSt any bic) cll mhinatiorn,

A Sn OKE OF GE!\Il'S _ n!,\' U .OI'\ l F.!\T OF r m : IIAlINTl .l'SS -1l

EItn-1y simplitied fuel . yslt m im::orpor8ting only one fuel18nk for nOlm8tlo8d m,de pasible byc,nilul bin consider' lions ol ,irp l,n 8 arre nqement. COmp8fBS witll 6 18nks ..sao , nd5 ofSTD.

Q

»>:

. /

/

--- - ~ -

31

.

. ...."". d ~."".

" STROId : 01'

Wt'ight diff.......cn in Douglas div.

bo~

GE~IU <;

_ IJE\ 'I:LOI"'I:;-;r m TIlE

..

D ~l ' :-;TLI; _S <;

II

P,IC!(il' COlllhal Zone, when - lon ~ and titIll ~ ove r......u cr 111 ~hlS, l-orh ~(orl' anJ aflt't mt e n -c CO l11h l{ .K lit·iIY, w e re !,run ne 16,500 Gross welQhllltJl B.2S0 18.lDJ ,ullu.lu, anJ t'x h'lU_'ll nl! III aircrcw. Dunne Alrhme wetgtll lib) B.... 6295 ' .3ll1 lilt' Sk~ r'II,lt' r's J't'nlxl Ill' J l'\'t,lo!'mt'nr, 2m 2.381 Numbef 01 eng'neeJ'ng df1rwmgs '.2JS -mkc- ,1l!,lIn ' l tilt' vn vm v we-re h.-collllne lon l!t'r ,mJ IOI1l!\"I. [Th i-, wa-, due, In part . DIE-FABRICATED PARTS It I lilt' I't IIicy I,f " llllt' carrier 01,1111 11.' 1-. Cl Ill ' ~,nfUftl alloy lorgll1Q$ d1awmgs 59 56 t"t' r1lt'J nu ,rr with r lt11...-ct ing: 11lt'lr earn...·n Alumln'\IITl a!1ov lorgmg peces ". 359 56 than lilt' ,ur o,l(l Ih ..-y ea rned. TIlt' j.rp.mS1eel torgmg d1aW1nqs 82 '82 l·sc· h,I,1 a I,m!!l'r rench. s oAmcnc an l,lCIKS 62 82 Steel 101"9""'9 peces '82 at the B.lItll· of Iht' Phihpptm- ~' , I were ro Aluminium and magnes,um sandcasllngs 118 "0 ' lay O U I " f Ih al reach : a, a rc- uh. an vn orAlumInium and magnesium sandcasllng pieces 117 74 "9 Il\. l\b number uf Am eri GIll C;I' U,llt lt" were cnu-c d ,, ~. mrcmf runn in g OUI Ill' (lid and fUEL SYSTEM IJl11.1 expect Oil sYS'em welQhlllb per gall '64 It I be ,1.1Il1.ll!t'J (tt"'jut'n1ly hy t'm'm ~' ,Klwn; earner-borne a trcrntt in t un c III .....ar are WelQht 01 engwe tIICUIt arw;l rowlmg Icrward ot lire walt lib per hpl 0119 0164 017' rlt 'nt' It>, IKh J ,lmal!t' more than ,m~' 1.lher 1 ~ J't· , wllh j.:rt',lle r demand- h.'IIll! mu (2.~ 11.~J 12.~ uf't -n I hem. In order Itl rn,url" 'f't-· r.ui'lllal "1 (l' I ~' ursl reduce ril' ll fali l.JUr, t he ()' >lIl!Il ,he :-b T.lkk-, Ill\' C'>fll.....l Iy nn'ant Ih e crowJrJ CrUt'rlll j.: ' r aces ] a.~ well ;IS ~Ifl'ty anJ "'>In......,,,,mml: "'om"' ...., J,,~ ,,1Yn ."'N al'>(l apr lied 10 a irc n'w CI UH('I r!, wh ich haJ ,il!h l inj.: vi,ion in cu mNt, a ("rwarJ anJ Ih.-"" I:<'I _A "'"nt> ....." ...."' IJ h......,::'n·n _1,..·lll· nt'\'(:r h."t' n a sil!m ficalll (,I("lo r with 111\""1 J llwnw arJ vi, ion anj.:le of fifll't'n J q,en, h' ..",· ·t -rn.J m "f'f',,_hl11j!lhe 1..1l...·I. ......, Ih.. rr m .•IT.ml. nlrm "'11,",,"11 " ",,",I> I\<'( I' m,lIlu(aclurt:rs. At-C. 'rJIIll.: "I Ih ..,
,m

Bf!f)

'"

"

" ,

'" " ,

"

''''

POW"",AN'

32

'"

.,.., "SlIW H OF (;Io~H - S

IJI-VIL OI'\tl- '\T 01- TIlE D.\l'l' TLI:.SS 11

SKYRAIDER MEN - Richard Grant Smith

.......

Wt1 . !hI AD was...... tthDoJl a doubt. Ed Heinemann's maslllfPl9Ce. QUIet men tle~ hilIl lD lIIlli:e II the soccess SIOfV that II came to be One 01 the mall'l contributors was FIdIInI Gtint 5mItl'l AJ1houl1J his chtef and II'lOSt Iastll'l{l !and desefwdJ claim to lam!! .... M l!I hisI),rtstatOng paltltmgs of Douglas and orhe!' aecratt, he wasalsoa hIgIItv Itdilld conl~lion etlglfQll', It was !his expen,se thai Srrum t.ought 10 IN! sq.r.lIr lUJnII iU most cruciallNse

trUSla'1lS at EI $epldo'. and paI(IlJlbute to 1IIssuper!) IfllUllM! sense oIlIlf~ocaI

'R G•palnledmoreltIana ItJousand belluIlltA arG ledncally correct penns 01.· ean. shtps and other subjects HIsworks In so 8flIll'lated Ihat they tale the breath 1f>IRo(. they are exhOled 111 lte lbted States al the Naval A'tIllliOf1 Musel.m. ..... sacola;!he N
_ Ill 0iIk~. Cablarma, RIChard Srn.th gtadualed trom Htg/l School III 1931 aQldyd!termined to becomeananoalt deS9*'. inspired trytile exploits 01hlS boyhOod 180 QIarIes l~ Hewent to the l'oIylectwlic College ot Engllle'8l'lIlQ ,1'1 hiS hoIlIt Clt'/ and;aIred anengtllet!nng clegres He earned Il'lOllllY to pay!of Ili$ IUltlOO by -*, 1\Illl gralt. even worting fO/ a lime In tile OOflhem Cali/Ollua gold mires WI1ll hI$ e~pertlse ron/umed. '1'1 1936he won 8 roD at the burgeoning Douglas All' craft Company at EI Segundo. as a Iowlv bluopllnl ilimmer. earningthe IIl10cetVSum of e,\hol $1 pe r ~. plusroom andboard. or $1 8 a weer. ilCCOfdmgtovarious siones He wor'loo aSSIduously, com bining the maklf\Q 01 de!ail

aim" hlst(l('f - divebombers and drve bomblA'II ·R Ii.' IS certainly one o! myown Insp!· ralional neoes. and deserves lhe many lributes lhat have been paidto him

drlWlngS pan lime wllh his main dulles. Within s i ~ mornhl hiSsk,lIs had come to the attention of Ed Herne1IlInn, wtIo was Impressed try his techmcill drawing WI dItiI,1ed 1a",:HJ1S Within lWO years. Smith had become pan of the Douglas deSign team. and cuI hiS -91 leeth on the lamous Oall1lless Hlf,fhly

sao

IY8IIlI (as weill all lhose 011 the

Hetnemann team

ttw llltllrlSe waf yea'sl. Slrll!tl WOI'ked for long toprr.QJcedetailed and pret!SIO'l o-awlI19S aetll· nl on \JIIIe HIS 'ep.ltallOllgrew Sllladlly. as did eslS - In pllInllfl9. h WIldlife and Iaodscape 01 Wnlllmdesllrt stales . inIlhe h'Slory of 1'- Amer·

...

'kG ma-ned. a'ld fatt.!fed a soo and I dilllIhlllf _. he contrued hIS work, but his P
_

WIth tItll same passion lurrJed gradually Into a lInlId'op, anda lew reerstater Smllhbecen to attend l\'ll IJfId an classes taughl by Beaumonl al long . . . He Illaml good t6Chmqlle, and good thlll";ng IIbout la>,wl and comPOSItion, and combined tlus Wi th h I own oulstaooi ng skills of draughtsmanshlp and 5lllr111on to 0013 11, 10 develop one of the most Widely I:tlallllEld styles In hisfield StMtl OOIlt,1llllld working at the la kes,de planl for ¥IBl, starting ea,1y and leavmg late. well past I1fQII rellfement age Irdeed. he conllnued 10be ..., desq1er there, is well as painhngollitlBl alMdbnlII,Oouglasaortl'alt , Inll) lhe 1911ls IMtl 1960s. he went out to the combat rone, tis ~·s latest prodllct$ ~ undergoing III thIor IllOS'I seme tests 01 hre As 111 oUIt",1 US IrtlIL hll.,."tness8dh1 actlOll frO'll I'lehcoptlll'S, . ..ud camet' JIllS, inI hO'll coastallJl¥lboats lJIIb ;nt !pies of South Vretnarn Asalways. tImIeIIltltally m this new l)JIy, often al ID Iv$ CM'lllde. aid brouljll a wf10Ie new PIlf-

Sk",lide, lINIn - R,G. S",itlI ([.11l with U H.tn..... nn.

in . 1952 pon,. it, McDonnell DouglIS, Long Beach

An " , " ... mpl. III R. G. S", ilh·, woril - fr om the I!MI

Skyrl 'd ..- prIU ..I. . ..

!oJ his paKlt'"ll was WMldated WIlli honours hO'llbothlhe ar1 !hi MOan woAd. but orce confessed thaI hiS kd was 11 becOOling the lenlh HonoraryNaval A \01.. rewlllll lorall hllllad done over the vears In tlIPItlIY as both artist and deSlI,jfler Hi s old Inaod ..,.,..,lorEd Hetnemann calledSm;th 'oneof OUl real

33

!

.....

,

"".~

~l(.II.

A H IWKE OF { ;E, ~ l lJS

hy Dougl'l' tl'St pd"b, such ,IS L1Vl'r!ll' Brown, Van ce BT~'CSl' and B"h Ruhn, a_, well ,b hy Nilv y pi llll S Wild had Jllst returned fnuu th e Pacific, incilieling C "I't.uu L~·s li l· Sll' \Tll S, tu en-ure till' correc t 'tccl' was l-uilt in . lle lnemunn ucluuttcd ut rhc rune thnt ·Iin· mo c k-up s S'lllll~l s cX\'l'n sin', hilt in the I"ng run it is hdl l·n... l cconomic.r] ,IS cvrdcnccd hy till" rclut i n' I~' ' 1ll,,11nurnlwr llf c h ,mgl' rl'qul'sts Tl'cl·in·d d uruuz ek' I1\' lllsi r.u i. '11 .' (.)f Ihl' N a vy ri ll'(s, C, uumandcr T, '1I1llly Thoma- w"s ,II till" hca.l 01 ,1 lbt of t.tvountc-. Heinemann l.ucr mcnuonc.l Ih ;lIl11' had even hllih ; 1 d g,IT ,h lltr;ly into the S kyrai,ln\ coc kpit cSl'l'l-i,llly I(>r him !

Div e Brakes T he \'ex~'el '-JlIl'sti u n tlf tIll" di yc h rak e~ fur Ill\' Ill'\\' ,lin' h.'lllhl·T,'C..:u pke l a grc a t ek',ll tillll', 'll"I..:" n tCre·IKl'S IWlwcen n "lI gLIs ,lIIel till' nllTe'a tl pf Al' ro na lltio Wl'rl' prutr ,lc tl·d un Ihi s iSSlll·. A cc llr,ling 10 Ll'l' l'a rM llh:

0'

l:h"C'llwd '" the')"

"'"ft· by th" 1.111",,, '>' 11ll'

w",,, .ms""" h> ",,,ic·n.,k,,,, ",'W de·"l:n.lhe· XHTf)- 1. ~ le"'llll~ Wilh HilA,·, '·ll).:"'e·,·t'. Ih,'\ ,,,,,th',1 "," 1Ill' ,1"1"']" ,,'m~ .•' " ,I.'tl'tll: 1"'Ill' lhc"i, 1'1."" j,".1 Ill,,,),,,,·,l BT ll. n,,· n,'''' ,nrd., tl. I,,'w....,·d 1'1' ~II=[)- I~T[). [',,,~b, e'n~in"e'"

lh,· 1\ _l l i L!

,·n).:"'e·. W·.I' ""Ie·",,,,dl\' III Ih:<1 1I 11,,:\,·, e'I1~IlW"t' ", "t llll"

W.I' ", ",,,..I,,, dl,I,1"t

I ',,,d.I' {~''''I''II1\'

il b , Ioul-tl u l 1I"1ll't1ll'r E,l I-k inl'ma n n \\'\>ulel han' Sl'l' ll it q uit l' likl' 111;1\ , "lrhllllgh hl' p,li,1 a ful ""llll' trihut l' II I tIll' hl'lp j,l l\"l'n '" him hy tn,lIly BlIAl'r " m cc rs: ~I .." "f

,,11. r1l<"

~C"ntk", ..n

lw ", II"A"T ,I......" .•. " Iwtt\ r"l " n lh" [,,,<:l. Th "I' ~"ve 'IS tl", '-\,,111...· ,,-Iwn II l,~ ,kt·, l ",

t!>" ud, w-,- ,!I,),,'l h,,,'"

,'n,', n,,·\, "11'1"'[\",1 'IS l hr"u~h"u t ,11\,1).:,,,',, 'IS '·"Il,id,·,,,[,k I.....·,!.>'" t" mn " ,'.U,·:

N,l Ie,s" than lour ,Iitt"l'rl'nt fY\'l'S 01 dive br,lkl's \\'('rl' cllllsi d l·ro.: d hy thl' l1.'ltglas ;1I1d BliAer en ginl'l'rs, ,h f"Il"I1".": I. 2. 3. 4.

rl'\'l'rsihll' I'H'I",lll'r; wing-m lluntl'd "LlIl l'el hr;lkes; lu"c1agl'-lllulInll'd hr,lkl's; raTolchull' gl·'lr.

TIll' rl'vt.·rsihll' pWlw lll'TI'\,fion w\luld IM\'(· 1.....· 1·11 highly laVI'llTl'1, a., il IMd nil Iwighl or drag dt"n:1 '1l1 llll' airlr;IllW. 11l<' idea wa"

~

Il" VEI.OI'MEI'T OF r us

nxovn.ess .n

not new, Till' ,,1,1 Vou ghl ~ HU- I Vindicator ,IiYI' lvunbcr, wluch served aboard till' US Naq ' e a rne rs ill 1<.) 40-2, wnh 1I1l' US /l.larine C nrl's ut Mi elw;IY (an. l also wilh Ill<' Roval N' I V~'. ,b t he' C lll'.,al'e'lh', an,1 till' Fr,'n c h Navy, a_, t he V- I '56, ,luri ng till' l',ld y Yl'a rs l.f IIll' war] had l-eon Inrcd wnh rhi-, device. III liuut eli\' ing ' pl"l'els. Re vcr sihle propcllcr-, were fined I II hlllh th e SHU- [ a nd -2, hUI till' opriun could ru-vcr I'll· m.nlc I" work st' had til glidl' homh in'l l·a,1 of ..:arryillg ,UII trill' ,live' h"mhing, tJ,ing rhe ' tl' llll'"rolry' expcdil:nt of l"\\'l'ri ng Illl'iT tlllel"rC; lrri'lgl' wlll"d , III sl,lw till' ai r(f,111 , lown! " Ex] .....·rimcnting c, mt lnuci] ill till' N' l\·y l-ur no satisl;t<.:t ' ll)' production I'Tlll.....-llcr h ,l,1 l-eon ,Iev cl0l'c d tluu g,I\"l' ;1 ~ tJ {ficil' n tly rapid rate of pitch l ha nge I, ,r the j, ,h n 'quircd ,,{ it. TIll're wa.~ cl ~',lrl y 110 li n1\' " lleran cc in th l' t ~ ,tr(lye r, II 's l igh t ,rlwd ule 10 w,lil f" r ,I s"ltll i,' n 1<1 <1 l'l'l' ar, ,md Ih is ele'simbk' " pl i' " 1 W,IS I h l' rd~ >n' a ha lld"lll'.Il·arly "11. \Xlilll-:-m"tllll l\! , LlIIl'.1 hrak l's Wllllki ""l'm r" 11,1\"(' I-xTlI t hl' IlU l"t llh\'io\l' her , I\.lUgloJs h'l\'inl-:had widl' l·xlx·rience I"JlIl ul the \",l ri" lIs , k·~ igl1s, a nd of lI11'ir '1>-."".:iate.J proHem , . TIl l' lalll"u_, 'chl"l'sc-gr,ltl'r' h, lk·~ of the s l\ n J);ltllldl'SS ha ell'l'\:llllll' iI.' [',Irti<.:ubr idl'llIil;"ing IC'lIurl·. TI ll' , Lltled IHx·. Vl·ngl';IIKl.. o rigin'ltl·d hy the VlIltn' and tl SL...l til, "' I .. uccl·_,..ftllly. ' 11 tliar ;ftl\:T"fr tl1 BUrllJ;l. ;!nd i11" 1 (d l"pitl' I',:rsi_'r l'nt and in;Il:\:tIT;l!l' I" "t -w,lr n "" '0, t" till' <.:" nlr;try) hy till' N I'Tlh Anwricill A- 16 A r a<.: l1l'in tIll' ~1edill'IT<mean , was al" l ava iLlhle_ Il", 'l h Wl·rl'rejecll·e!. Ill·im·llI'lI111 stltlllll:lri:l·d till' rl',ls"n~ t~ 'r this a, fllll"w..:

von

I. It h ,d ['wn ·n illll" " ., ihk·, Wilh wingm
34

h ,ld lwcn mirrored hy lh " se ut" o ther Cllllll',ltlil"s (lor example. til<.' s n u- I Vin,lical< ir from V'lIlghl , and Ihe SA2e Hclldivcr from C ur riss). T h is " '\'CTe ., ha king (If the ,lirc ra ll when th e brakes were exten ded had rl',ulled in much poorer cont rol ,,{ Ih e ai rcruf in the clive. I , l~s of 'Ia h i lt l~" ,11),1 «unv l-ombing inacc urac y. t Pam chure rl·I,lrd in g 1\' ", lIn l\" hr i ctl~' U llls i,k' red as an op tion a nd was quick-

lv di-cardcd a, unpracucal-lc . 4. In tensive design cxpcruncumtion with t he RTI ) -I h ,ld xlurwn that ll wSl· hc avIIlg
The refore, 11\l' IUSl· bgl·-llI' llllltl·c1 clive bra kl' morl' o r ic" ,dl-<.:red ilsl·lt. Th e rc ~u lr s in rrac ticl' \\'t' re Il 'un.ll l' be J!rill ify-

ing , ,, Ihl.: 11.,ug!a, ' c a lli. I kinemann ([,limed Ih e 1"II" wing: V;',lh lh"

ft"d,~<--t\'I"" l'r.I~'·

it w,o- I, "on.! tl,,·,,·

""t,,,,tI<: .IUI' "" ."In'"" dk<:l

lite' BT21)

,·nl:a~,·me·l"'. Ir"l11

,hn·.

"n

nW . . m~

II... ~"lu,,,1

,i

litt " ,,1ltlrd\' "n"t1,,(!,-.1 ,,,,,I Hlln dl'ill).:'· h;" I,,·,-n t""n,1 w ",. ""d,~,hlt: . TIw,,, ["ak", \....1'· ,,">" h,,,,,J I" h:",· lh" ".1,1".1 ,.,kltlU~,· "I h,:'n~ '·~t<·III·nl m.Ul,,,·,,,'ri,,~ [" .•~,., j'", 'N' ,t"",,~ ,'''1ll1>-''1 In .,

h'nn.'t'""

Il \ ", ~ .ill,1 l..t·,~'w",

.lhlll"!.·.

Ag'lin, Ihl'n' W a., Inlllh ,Iiscu"it H1 al",ut Ihe ;t':ll·pl;lhk· 'l l' l inm m .Jive
Sta bility a nd Cont ro l TIl<' ahlndnnment of Ihl' Iricyclc lanJing gea r, Sl.l faVllured hy L\ 'uglas in ' llch <Jircrait as Ihl' A -20 I la \"oc (known in Brit;lin ,\lilhe 11.."1' Ill), Ihl' IX::-42 S k yma~tl'r an J the A26 In vacle r, as wdl as I h~· ilI-t:u ccl BlD,

·..

SlIrMInI brN dsidll {top' . nd sla rboard thfllll-qu'r1 erlron1l1 fborrom/ yi. w ol lh. Dwglas AD·' Sk,,,idllf 18IIIIe 1I!1021III VA·l 76. now IOCil ed allh, lront galll 01 NA$ Oceana. Vi1lilini . Beach. VA.- K..... R Smrth

35

.. .., . ,...""

• 11. 11.

\ SlWOH 0 1- GU, Il'S

heartache at the tunc. It W ;\ , till' , >\'~'rrl, 1 1Il l,: de sire III '\OIH' w~' il,:llI Ih at flll"Uy '1\·t1lll,: th e Jl....ign ;lg,un' l ;l Ill .....' wheel, even t hl)(l~h Ih i, W ;I ' 0 'nl rary tothe "H·r.11I concept 01 1H~ '\"1n l,: a, uunh \H'Il,:llI ", 1't l'..'lhk· h' Ihe I~ 'rward elll.l 1,1rill' .urc ratr. A rrKrc ll' U1l1.l..-rcarr uurc w' lu ],1 h,IH' hdl'l'\l rlu-. Ace. 'r-llIlg to Hcmemann. c.tu .......III1I1(h

h ,. ,,, II.1I1I...uh 10' ....."'rm""· ,t..· ,·,.,, 1 "'nl1h, •1'11<"',·.,.:,· "".,,,.,....., ,h.: ,,,-,, ' H":" ~ 11'·''''; h"w. vvvr. m.,l llll1 dl<' ""." I"",.,f-k ,'11"....'11« " I. " h"nf- f-,'I' .,tI,1" -11' 1: , h.mh":' II , . h.·lll·IT,I., ",., II.' 'II " I "1' I 'r, ' ~ Illl.n,·tv•"I<' 1" ", ,1.. ·,11"'1",,1. '. 11'11111 .:.111 1,,: It ..·.l 'l..-J h ' Ih~ {;\ll ...h~·cl l1~ " r,

Th.., Hvc·,I h ' I';Kk till" maximum 11II,k rwinJ,: 'Jl LK k ordnance into t he .uva 1 1<'..:t· ~ ' i t: , t~·d a rearward /;,IJinl,: mcchan icm tor t he m.un LmJ ing J.:ca r. The-e (,!l"(ll'" wer e lied in wnh till' q lll'~ ti"" 01 "I" hilit)' ; 11\..1 cont rol, al wa r~ snore relevant I~ ,r earn..-r-basc-J .urcnur than tor l.uul-ba-e...1mac h ines . TI lt' , ma llamllullI u ( -pacc ..1't",rJ ,I carrier irn['< N.'\1 , UlllCl'llf hmnanon-, which ca u.......1.urc r.ur ..I..·..i j..'11" 1""i e xt ra problem... One case af(,'(Il-J h}' rhi-, wa.. Ihal . ,j Ihe Cun i!<;, SR1C lidldn ·er . in Idll( h MKh con~ IJ"' r.l I1. 'n, .m~1 N :l\' r rl'qu lr~'m~' llt ~ 1.....110 a l mo~1 lamin.ll desicn r r.,h k'm, . M n:ltn ~ ' lleh ..Il· IlMn,IIIlC spl.'C i· fic.III.'n, h..d . h ilhl·n." ;I ]W;I }" r'·'1l1IH·,1 C" lIlr r" Il11:-t' I' ll h'l h si.les. A lt htlll~ h till· ~ k}'r
Ii "'I .um-J Ihe J~~I R-...I d~'I' ;J " 'r com ro l f"r(l h" IlIlIn l,: ,Ill d ..'Ctricler "y'I"'IIl. III o,..In hi " " la in s,Ui' (,KII'ry "ti..-k t~ lT(e, . With rill' aJ'll' tioll of h"m 'ly!," a,' r,...lyn.uni ..· h" l;l1l(e;" cOlllhin..'\1 wilh a , h"rl l'!l-\':'1I1r d l'lr,l. Ir"c-co nlro l l"nJ.:ltu.lin..1, r:lhility \\'a~ illlr rllH·d.

III vr r III' ML\"T 0 1 TIlE IlM "Tl LSS-lI

Heinemann con..d '·R,.1 Ilw t win rn ,h.

cov..·UIlJ,:. 11Ic-ral-c ovc rcd comrol -urtacc....

lcm-, .'1 lateral .Illd , lin'( lI" na l ..tahilll \'. and the .., .......- i.II..,,1H'llI n , I I~ I( tllr"••1<. a ' Ill '

h:I\·..· been ,1..· n·I" I"-'.1 fo r tlw ~hr;ll dl· r, wlnch .rre .ld u.llI)' lit.:hln III \\"I g:h l th.rn

g: k· l' f<)hl ~' m

!Ill' 1,l h ri c ·nl\"e r~J -urtaccs u't.·J o n rhc

when d'·'I J.:nlll l,: dl \ e h 'mh.·T-". \\'.1<. ,j<, 1"II" w..:

HI , explananon

TIll' RTD we n t .1 1,,111-: " '.1)' h ,w.lrJ. l ui· flll.1l1: Hc mcmann's I. ,fl ~· a, p"alh >nS; ~' xa(( l )' h. iw l~" ca n he 111JJ,:l'l.1 h ~' .1com r. m ...in .,1 n o ug!.... war time ,lin' h llnh..'r tn"·' ( _~ t't' the la" ll' he llI W ) . In a n y ( ........ he \\..... ahl e I" poinr to a c"n ' l.k·ra" le me re.......· in ma ximum hornh 1"....1 . whi le [hi , I' Md, in te nus 01 r"n/m l'h, \\,:1 ' c-norllh lll,ly inu ea,,·J ove r rhc «urn ..' " ireral" Take-off, d im" anJ lor -pccd.. were :11\11 improved nvvr bn h Ilu ' S Bn an d the

11" , I"I~ -, I,."" ,I", '1I,.:p.".,H.· "'''UT<' ,>t 11>0.......• , h." ·"·",I... ' 111 h" I. , h.: 10. ·· , ['<..... 1 r · n.·' .,1'1" 1..",,1" ..... ·,>tl ~·,,, ..h,, ,mJ '" II... hll-...·,I'.,,-.l I,·,·,·1 Il,d u ...,,1""",,,.,1J,,'", <:l ... T" .,1-.1.1111 .... "·I'I.'f-1.- I""-" I",,-J Ihn'l1 '-l.~ , h , ,,,, . ..... ,·x."nrl,·. " "''',.:nll.,1 " , ""..,M,· '" I'" l "I ' .1 ,1" 'f'I"..1 "' ~ wtlil .·,,1,.., .lIl.-run_ " I' n..I,h:, .I""" ,,, ,I _,.,11_ TI... ,."1,,,,.',1 " 'U II1 ,I,h...I,.•1 " "I1 I~ ,,, ,,,-," II \I'II_h tI,,,, h""·~,,,·t. " 1I,u. dl~ "xn'" '''' I'" 11I~ h · '1'..,,·.1 .III '.,. wh.,,,, .,prIlL'· nou " I rud,l... ~i"'" "xn'"",''' ,,,II ...., ll ,IW, nil rhc ", her 1.,,,,.1, II Ill<" "'II1~ ,"h",lt,,] "1' ~ ' I" " . m't..f-,hll,·m·...l1 " ,II "" "it '" til<" t]"l.... "n,1 ~",lt·d"" "

"Til.'

irr n

A ':l"llrd l1ll,:

Compuisons 01 Douglll Wingspan jm)

Hc mc m.uin ,

TIl<' ~~H ...,I.,r', m,'" "m ,u".I"'I1I"·rt"",,.Itl,·,, ..h,","I ~t1 't1 .. " It > I: rc ;ll l'liIJ...." n 'llll: .,f-,ltllh , I · ""'I1.IIIJ I"........r I""j m~ , h,d , 1 1I...· '''I. " "1\- .""j u", ,1 11"" " ,I..· \Jo..J ...J\,.,." .•~••,.>t ,h,' m.'''' .-r~ ....l", ,~'., " dul"!"'.

L',,·,.

TI ll' aim wa, I" a..lucvc till' opt imum wint::· a nJ tail-surface pr"hle' .hat wtlulJ result In pt .... mvc ..1..hl l l1 ~· ;I1lJ cont rol a hltJl all axes. ;\l1ll thruul-:h'l uI till' whole spec t ru m 0 1 'J"l·l,\l.. [ Irom ter minal ve loc tt }· J in' h i ~I ;J I I I. A ~: ri ,~ I umtcn sivc windtlln nd I t."~h ""a.. co n, I,tt:I,-...I ;1/ h lth IilC C alrl.'Ch faC1 l l1~' ;IIlJ al !llC NACA AlllC" L lh 'ra wl)' , illl:lll·..! ;II M"tti.." FielJ. l1u' ;I(h i..' H' llll'nI " I .\..' n ,J)'na m ic hal· ;111( ..' o n all " ' nl r" I,. an..1 Ih l' litrln!! " f "r rinJ.: tah, Iii Ih e ru,I.I..·r~ an,1 aileron" 1l'~lllt ..'\1 in 'm'IIl'>l'lIvmhllily a nJ co nt r,, ] h"rl1l"")' e' lui\',,!l-n1 ttl 1Il 1...1..· rn fighr..-r·. ,,( cllr,lin g ttl II..·in l·III.IIlIl\ pR·." rde........ I I,' al~" ~ (;l [ed Ih"l . ill " r.ln 10 'c1im in" tl' Ill..- un.k',i r;lhk· v" rial i,'n.• in cl' n tH,1 ;\1,, 1 Irim , ,'x l'l' ri ~'nn'd wit h r,'r,·tll h iJ.:h-"l'cl'd :lirpt lneS lIsin J-: ("h rlc n'ntrt ll "llrt"' K..,

[I '

' h... " ... 0 J'I"<" ,XI " ",If .11:.""'" IId..,·",_ h. "f<·"~1 h, ..,.."'...,u\'l-...... I",- ...,J \',,"'" ..I", m.,h " r.IrIKIl I... I\ ,,·.-11 ""1t...J I", 1!T"llnJ m....·hllJ('· l!I'O "nJ I<"' ~",I a ll""b.

TI ll' ' lat '·IlI"'n\ mi l-:ht he c" n"IJ eTl-J toJ.;!y Iu h.. hYpl.·rh .k wrin ,'n h)" !Ill' ;me r.I(t's pro".1 o riglll;u " r. Hmn ·\"l'r. III duo lonl: I,'rm (fil,:h l" r ,H trl hur l:~ al';lTt), Ihl ' early .k,ni pr i"" 01 rhl' Sky r.li.!c r\ c h id n ll'f1l~ rfl J\'~'d time ,Illd li me ag;lin 10 N: ,J(c ur;llr. T he S pa. 1wIllIld c' , ,'n Itl J, ll1....,ful \\'. ,rk in l" nJ.: y..-ar, uf (runt · lin e w r\"il:,·. ;IllJ its "t
5BtH XSB1D-I diY~'~bom 5~"' ~E''':==~~~;-----=~rg;====~~=--=== AD< 1266 1009

.,.

1372 1176

1525

Length (ml HeqJI(ml EItCl!Y WeW1ll lkg) Looded WeogI1l (kgl

2."

516 5,651

4 78 !i429

4.145

7.381

MalIrT\ll11 Weoghl (kgl

'.853 '406

''''

8.213 11 .340

"

J2

WtngLoad,ng (kg/$Q m)

Power loadong lk!Jlll>l

410

MalllT\lJlTl Speed jkmlttl CUII$,ng Speed (kmftJl

'" '18

Rate01 Climb Im/mtnl Celling(m)

1.700

RarJge (kml Clew

2,52<J

2

36

211 9

,.,

557

'"

7.435 2.300 2

1184

"'8 3D "8 31' ,.,

8.665 2.115

,

.,..,

CHA PTER fi VE

The Skyraider Described

&xh the new DllH l,!las , k·siJ.:1land J~uc

ilS inuncrival, the Martin t-. j,,,ld 110. wh ich

MaITlC

the XRTM-I

,IS

well. "we dcvcl-

rhc !.ult'r Ijnal l ~' sh ir l't-'ll the Pratt & Wh iln,'y Jt. \ l SO-4 C vcb lilt' . Sul......rfioally tht.-sc rival., 1'1\<.11,.'1.1up rh ~·,k all ~· -un-

Head-Or'! por1r.it 01 SkYlllidel EAIE In-ADSWI 135152 (N65164) al · Sun 'II' Fun", L. kel and. Florid . , on 20 April, 1998. Fltn. A. HudlOfl

(~ald"' JUJ.:h

iLIt.l'\ll:h t-iJ.: ma..:hll\l's ("I earner am:rall.

ratl- plarw was lUI Xin (4 .6401), 1<1 rhc lip III the propeller, 15it ~i n (4 .76m ),

Dimensions

Weights

~XBT2[)·1 was N it Sill (15. 2510 ) I II weratllenerh, h.l,1 ,. Will J.:,p.iIl t ,f 50f, Y.in

09L185) wcichL.J in CrtM ,n

m.~5m ) anJ a lWIJ.:I\I III 15ft 7Yin Iti6m). Th... WlllJ.: an-a ""',1' ·K'O.l} ...., it

07.19 So.I

10 ) .

Hl"IJ.:hl

hi

the tip of the

Th e fiN rrot o'H"-' (cfn 191 1. RuN.. 16. 17.:!1l'> (7..~ n k d . 1,62~ 1 ,", (7 \Hke ) lIn.Jt'r rhc contracr c....1,iL's i~'l1 w c iell! . 11lL" n..suh .. ,I I k-rmm.mn 's \" i~" *'lISrcgunc. The-c " c ures \\'L'rL'

37

"" co• ...I th ,u rh...·)" ur SCI rre.Jic tL'J S I
roward-, rhc n.......... The eml'l~· wdell! o f rh e su~~u"'n1 p n ."Jln-e'S ca me u ut a t 10,0") \11-> (4,578ke ), 1. ~ I,iL...I \H'lCh t ,II I \ .500Il'> (6, IZ4kg).• 11\..1 maximum wt'iehl at 175 001l'> <7,9\8ke).

Wings The new dIn' bomber ic,lturt.J iI Slr' IlCht , low-mo unted wine... ,I the NACA 2417

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(.II.

maxi mum lift -cnes, ,, ( t:lpl'ri n J.: section. wit h ,I ()·.k'~rn' dihed ral and a 6·.1l'J.:rl't' ,'II't'cr-h,cl. Tht, r;I!'t'riJJK .' I'n i r 'H t"t'al vT!,d 4.1 d"J.:T""S of l "w- sI'''' l',I 'w; l ~h -''lft ' , while a 4 -dcJ.: rl'" iIKi,k'IKI' "f wing T''''! made (' lr unproved ra kl,·" tf ahi lilY. \Ving l'''lding \\'a, 7Ih/s\] It ( 16-1. 7 k0~11l1) and P, l\WT Illad in~ was S.Slh/hl' (2.7 kgjhp),

SI',:cificalion - XBT2D-1

R-B50-I 4W

Powcrplant: We i gh l ~ :

Emptv 4.576lg (IO.CN1lh); loaJeJ 6. 124kg (I l,500]h ); full 7,918kl:

(17,SOOlh); \\·ing l.Mdltll! 33.7lhlSll ft; I"-'\\'e r loa,lrng 2.7kldhr (;.81hlhr)

l"

Length II .Ol m (Nft ; in); height 4.76m ( 15(1 j '5Oft V. in ); \\'inll area 37.19"'1 III (4OO.11"l (1 )

7 ~i n);

wing'ran 1'5,25m

1.iOOhr

Performance:

MOlX. ~J'I-...,d 604kmJh

07'irnrh); at "huuJ,· 4.14'5m (1l,6(X)(r )

erni", ~ I.,..,-J 264lml/h ( l64mrhl Ratl' ,'I climb 1,152kmth ( 1.68OftJrnin l c.:',rltng7,925 m (26.COOttl Range 2,'500klll ( 1,554rmb) Accert a nce in service: lila

Breakdown 01the ma ior components of a Skyraidll r illustrates its simplicily 01st ructula .

38

TIll: Sti:YI< Al1lHI IlI 'S('I!IIiU)

Wilt-ftWilg IIMCheniSllldel ei' 011 the Roy.1 Navy AEW·1 IAD·4W! Wi 121$kY'aidet.1 the fl e, 1Air Arm RNAS y_i llon. Pet" C. Sm~1l

The oerer wm!.: l" md , ,; ,kk-J mwan] ically 'IllJ, wuh will)..... ';lkk-J, Ihl' lIIaXlIfIum wi..!!h \\ ',l' ntt ll km (7 .19m). f\iJeJ 11.1[1£ h...-l)...fll wa-, 16f1 7Xin (S.07m)

wnh tI'k.' w i ll)..~ filII}' f,II.It\.! mward towarJ, rbc firsd
mum hc i/...fll all, ",, ",11\.,;1",; Ifh,II\!:,tr.....k·<1 clear"oct" Juri~ f' IIJmg when Ih,: wml." wctv

39

Il'nl J'< Ifan l ~' p;l...,in!.: thn>UJ:h ,II tXJ Jt.,.'Tt'l~ wuc 19ft 4 i(in (5.9Zm), When Ih,: win~ we re

unf lkk-J anJ srn:aJ , rc-Adr f'lf t;lh·... >tf, Im'r I..,:kl-J mto place ...,' 1m' ri1o(. whu

were

..

. ,...""

..,

• 11. .. .

TlI l: S KYR Allll:k n!'SC k lllf:!J

This ru r·vie w s hOI 01pre se rved fr en ch $kyr..ide r F·AZDP (below/ shows tI1 . win g jury , lruts th•• SUpPO" tI1. lolded wing a nd ("ghf/ cioH up of c.. nopr . r. ... M HlSCoo.:k

c h ~'l l;\ h:llh lk· that n:lrd<:l ~\II, .· .,:k il1l.: r",.I"

which wvrc locarcdon l-oth \\"It\l.."i , pnmrcd red , 1l\,l ll l~l na rlll·,I' h..·.,: r can.". TI\l' .rilcron-, were mounu-cl " nly I'll rbc outer Wllll.: I'.llll'k Fowler : Ir~·.l·llltfl'a'm.l: 11I p' \n' H' {1Ih..'l1 on tlw hr",IJ ccm rc-sccI i. 'II in I,r,I~' r It, enha nce I.'1I""r":~', I, qvraI ioth. TIw 'l;m,larJ n;l\"l~;lI io n liehh were nncd on till' le.I.line e...Iec-, "f tlw omcrwlnc cxtrvuurrcs.

Empennage TIw t.1I 1 J r;'l.:C~·f ,l...., it:n uf the XBT!()·J ";1' ;m,-rlu-r ,li' l in~ui,h inc fc arurc. which, ;11 fi r't

cl.ince•• 1J'J".';jr~.J in.I,Il'l.J1I.11'· I~,r a

r l.Hll' "f 'IKh

Th. m.lSsive a nd solid Ilap s and aClua lors on the Royal Navy AM· 1 (AO·4W) WT 121 Skyraider a t the f leet Air Arm Museu m, RNA S Yeovilton. Peler C. Smnh

40

;1 -uc. A ta ll. Il.I rrUW, ve rncal , I,lhilb·r. which j"illl·.I l hl· 1IJ'['l'f rear fll....· I,le~· \' 1;1 ;1 c urved fillet, wa, cotnp]...· mcnt cd bv I W' l 9t l I I in (J.02 m l lan-ralr.ul ,t ilh,lb'I' plan ·,1 well f' lfw ;!r.! . In' le;l.I of co n\TIlI IOIlOl I fix..:.! 'I ;lhili:n'. tlw 'ys t~' rn

,,, .i,., 1Ill:

~ K Y IlAlII H( I JI : ~ C Il I I II Il

wa ~ powe r-boosted hy mean - "f an clccmcullv ope rated s ta l-o i l i ~c r con trol, mourned al rbc h;l~c of the tail section nhcad of the

rudclt.·r. which made f".l,," ihll· the....· smaller-c••lc elevators. SIUel les 1,1the ettcct .llhigh "f".·l·J on till" tra,li li, llla l fabnc -covcrcd cont rol 'U rf,I(C~ of con n-mporary a1TU,11t 4 1l IW t..J rhat "ll, h ryf'l-" sut(t·lt.J incon..is(cncil" In nun lev cl.. anJ cont rol. To eliminate t he....• (.K l o", a.. far as pos-rblc, rh e Dou!!la, team ul lh:l.J all-mcral control surfaces. An U1U· Xf".,( l t.J h>nu s from this rnodificanon wac rh al lht·....· wen: ..Ii~hdr li,e:hllT rh.m t he convenuonal tvpe . Co ntrol.. ,mJ ' r n n.c: 1<1.....

on rhc mJJcr anJ rhe aileron- ft ',lI u rl,..J .wrod vnarruc balance.

(BlI /ow! Unde rwi flg d~.jl . nd tUt cockpit 't" ol Sk.,...i de t 13268318u No N391U I in natura r finislt on oUl'$idestorege pad at Itlll Pla nes 01Fame Munum. Ctlino. 15 Mar ctll99B.

ltMiRg , dg• • nd wing -tip p'olil e . P,"" C SnwrIl

".......R S'f04tl

4'

.....

,

-

" ".~

~ l(.II.

Por1 si de 'amids hips' detail and w ing lIaps 01the Dougln AD·4NA, s upplied to tha US Marine Corps durin g the Korea n Wa r lind wh ich was ove rhaule d a nd then tra nsferr ed to the Fre nch Air Forc e in 1960, They use d il in strikes aglli nsl Gue rrilla force s in the ir Afric a n lerri tories prior to Indepe nde nce . In 1916 this mac hine was hand ed over to the Gabo ne se Air Force . When the y ha d finished wi th her s hit WllS put up lor n le lind fina lly arrived at me Imperi al War Mus eum airfield of Dudord, neer Cilmbridglt in 1991 w he re she is ope rated , strangltly e nough lor a divlt bombe r, by The Fighter ce uee uc e . Shit nes been repa inted to re semble the USS Intrepid's VA-116 unit Peter C SmIth

Closlt ,up Itnginlt det ail of the US Mari nes AD,4N {BuNo 1269351coded HB, Re gd NX2088G. at Aero Trad er 1998. KeVIn R. Smith

42

,

." TIlE SKYIlAmF R flF. SrRIIl ED

Powerplant The R·)350·2 4W dght ~en.cy l indl'r, dc vcl-

coing2,SOOhp. was due t t l become avai lable only in April 1945. Studies wen: made into rhe 5uitahiliry o f th e I'rau & W h itney R·

28CO engine as a back-up, but the first four rrototype

XBT2D-1s

ro ok to t he ai r w ith

the 2,300hp Wright R·3350-8 Cvclonc 18 cnanc installed il1.'tC l2,SOOkm). T tl TL...[uce tri mming tl S,tgl" th e ff1j!ine itself W,Ls mounted wi th 4 .1 l k' gn Ts

l1fJownw;lrd thruct ,The l'nginl' W;IS nu HUll -

ed on a s[X'Cial, sin mg, hu t much-srmpliflcd mounting, als l ,Io,:sh.: nnl h~' ! Ieincmurm. This compri sed ;1 sing l\' -olid I;,tgin g with jour profiled .rrrn-, whidll'l<,h\'J dlrl'ct ly 1111 the main fUSl'bgl' a n,i COlllh ilw d n-l.uive 1i~>!lInl'SS wnh inherent stt\,nglh , The rr(lll 'I~'l'l'S wen- fitt\'c1 with a hol11)1\' alumi niu m Al'[lll' ro, lu(\s A 64Z·

GS04/M20A2- 16Zhvdraultcallvactu.uccl, variable-pitch. c' ln st;m l- sl,\' \',l propelle r with ,1 diameter of I Wft (·U lm} . This J'fllp was IUm \',1 hy a si llglt'.stagt" twospeed supercharg er. T h is un it wa s t ll g in' nse to governor 1)\'e r-'''I'I'e,l l' rohll'lIh earl y Oil in the h's t ing l' ru gr;l1l11lll', hdllj.: prone to vtbrancm. a m' of th \' pn It, 'types (BuN, I 09088) was an:llrd illj.:ly fitted with un enlarged propeller spinner in an ;)ltl'IIl!'1 to alleviate rhi-, vibratmn problem. Behind the NACA nose rin g, rhc engine was ent.:ast',1 inan clong.ncd cowlm~, the Ironr alpart I,f which W;lS hin j.:..:d on a narrow ceut rul top pane l. Two LiTg..: access flap' ope ned upwards for l';lSY maintcnancc sive oil cooler, whic h W~IS prllll'C!I'd \>elnw and air hy Slfl"llulin..:d !a ir illj.:s ,

Fronlal view of Iha massive propell er of the Douglas AD·! Skyraider, 09102, er the Ironl gale 01NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA. KeVin R. Smith

which rh c rcnrw ard-facurg l!u ll Ul-:h l'x h; ltlsl stac ks p ro jl'c ll'd . Bo th rhcsc fit l in gs produced tlwir own pr ohle nu, d llri ng l'a rly tes li ng, a lo tl ~ wi t h I-.ac k firl" an d cr ack s in t he sralls rhcmsclvcs, .uul rhcsc led to una voidable ,!<.- Llys.

A D-l 10 340 ga!ln ns ) ancl was ,df.sealinj.:. T he fuel-tank selec tor valve , IUI,1 srmincr and a ux iliary fud pump wen' located lorwar d , be low the firewall, wit h th e 1'Ill-:inl" driven fue l pump forwanl o f t hat , ~Io\\'

the car bun-t tor. F" r ..d ,liti'>n a l ran ge. rhc main fuel tank could l-c sllPl'll'mentl'..! I-.y ,Isinj.:k, Mdrk 12

Fuel Sys te m T Ill' ma in fuscl a g" flld M11'I'h' was conl a in ed in a Illzengl' -sbapl'd l;ln k 1,'Ca ll'd ;lhlft th..: p il,'I's s\'a t. T hi s I;mk h a,l a 223· l-:all"n ca pacit y ( la ll'r incr..:asl'd in tl1l'

43

\,xt l'rnal luel tan k , with a ..:a r aci ty " f an ad,li rh.na l 150 ~a llllll.s, which cll ulJ he (;1[t ied lin till' cl'll l ra l, l:l'n t rl' -Iusl'!agt' harJ pllinl , and h y two r.,tnk 8 w in~-mount ed \,xt l'rna l fud tanks, tlf 300 j.:allll1l Cllp;lCiry, 1lI0lJllt..:J lln tl1l' tllldl'r\vin g st al ion s.

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(.II.

rill:

.~

t..: YIlAIll I.W IlI.~OWll:l )

(Left) l ooking forwa rd a long the sta rboard lus elage s how ing engine exhau st dela il on the Royal Navy AEW-t IAD-4WI WT 121 Skyraide r at the Fleet Air Arm Mus e um, RNAS Yeovilton. Pate, C Sm,th {Abo ve} Undersid e detail on th e Royal Na vy AEW-t lAD-4W) WT t21 Skyraider al lhe Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovillon . Pate, C Smnh

Undercarria ge A, anot her pl" y I" ' I" Td producuun. till' tir, ' IWll I'rp'''l y!,,'' 1I','r,' tilt ",l wnh till' main llI1
covers, till' trulll ;ll !,a rt, pf wh i.:h \I'lT\' {u red with Ian. hll j.! lij.!h t" TIll' r.u l wlwd W:I ' 011" , lully rl'l r;I.:la hl,', f,,ldinj.!
l<\II,II" II1j.! on lan,li n!! w ith un fortunate rq ':llbfll y, FI ,r ;l curr ier airc nut t h is 11';1, J l' a, HullS, 0l1l.1 h Ol ' I ~' 1I1," Nl r<"' hod rll be .t.I"I' I,·,1 til r,·rt it\- th is problem. T Ill' I'ro tllt yl" " , alo llj.! wnh rhc fu-r 'WII-',",' U' " I' tIll' 1'" "I IKti.'1l A\)- I" IWTC ,h ll']'" ..1 l-ack 10 EI ~"J.: lInd". Here. Ihey \\...n- ' frenj.!thl"Ill,,1 ;lll,1 th.. .nrfnnuc il"clf W;I' ,,1 ,, \ tlllld iti" J to 1-:I I'l';t much -rur..lier wil1!!-,ul'l'l'n "'(I II'n, Till' 1;l!1.1illj.!-gl'ar I'i\-"I \\'01' ;11,,1 r..r-ea- r. and it was h" I,,,'d t hat !ll," " Ill' " ilfiral ion-, ha ,1 ",h-t'J fill' problcru: Ihl ' ]'ruI' n l 110 1 III " ,' t he CIS,'. FIIrt hen 11' m-, , Ill" l' ;1 \t cnu t, His rc-ulrcd III :lll IlKr,"I',' in IIT il-:hf , ,( ",11\,' 4 1Sih.

"" x

Close -up del ail 01arresto r hook on the Royal Navy AEW-1 lAD-4W I WT 121 Skyraider at the Flee t Air Arm Museu m, RNAS Yeovilton. Peter C. Sm.th

44

.,, rHE SI\YR ,\IIlHlllISCIIIllHI

Close -up ollhe underc arria ge e quipment 01the Douglas AO·4 NA no w at Ihe Imperia l War Museum airfie ld 01 OuKford. near Cambri dg e. via the US Marin e Corps, me French Air fol ce. and Ihe Gabone se Air Force . Pete, C SmIth

IBelow leftl Close-up ctth e starboard whee l.

w hee l-we ll and landin g geB' ollh e Douglas AD-' Skyraider 8uN o 09102 01 VA116, at the Ironl gale 01

NAS Oceana. Virginia Beach. VA. Kevm R SmIth IBelow} Close -u p del ail 01 ta il w he el on th e Royal

Navy AEW·l (AD·4WI WT121 Skyraider 01the Fleel Air Ann Museu m. RNAS \'eo vill oo. Pele' C Sm,th

45

..

, ..... ...d

~l'. ".

rue

Coc kpit Layou t The rit"l

1>;1[

in ,I hlll·ke l scut wu h an

armourccl Iwa-lresr. IIn.ln ;. clear-blown

'bubble' ca n.. py, which

~l i, 1

back

rear-

ward, (.If 'K":l'" ; I n,l l't.:re ~,. The arm, .urnl wm,l,hldJ h;I.1 the M,lrk 20 MuJ. .. a,IJII,t;ll--k' rdlt'l'II' r I.:un .sit.:lu IIh 'lInfl·,1 ce n trallv on 'I ,rr"nl.: 'IIrr"n .mu , which W,I' h ,ltl'J '!t"r Ih\' main inurumenr p ane l. TIll' I:tll'L.l' il ~ 1 1. k· W,h dl't:tr iC;lII\' " re r,' ll,J 1--,. tIlean, (If cnhcr au inn-rna] handle m.. llnh..J o n the port , i.It, 01 rho ril..t'- c•..:krlt . wlnch ;II ..., I' Kh·,1 it . , 'r from " 111' 1,11" hy mc.m-, .. I ,. ' tnlr ll" t " ,,:n/CI · , WHl·h on the port "I,ll'. A, ,~ rv ult .. t lu.. own cvcwuuc..... ol~'rvauou-, wllh IIw tll't.'! III rill' war zorw, H"lIll'lIl,i1111 h,JJ 1ll~1'l l'll lln;\ ~ l l1l l'b l l l'll ;1Ilt.! ":!I'.1ll1.J-Ur olCL. r il. wllh l'lHl'h,N" rl.tn.J ,

,,'"..w..,.

.._~

pCJl '.

1*'I'I

8.

_1Irt'IQ CClr'l._ 8Cl...... ",o_cr>

"

0•

..-_""'9'...... _ _

~-

on r il,.! o'lll rarl hi l i !~'. A IS dl't.:n'l' ;mt.:!c " t pilot vision. both (i-onl
Dive Brakes \'(,'ith rhc rt.' jl'\:l i. -n••f ",,·inl.: ,ltn' brake and ,hl' ,w" r t io n of till' h ll.h'-moullI l·,1 n 'r" 'Lon. 1\1I1t.:1.1~ Jive h'II1I""r' tooL. on ;I

whole new prottlc as Ihq hurtled 101>,"lr.l, their mr gc t. Th ree hvdrauhcallv Orx'n111,J drvc brake, wert' ftucd. one lin cuhc r side of rill' re ar fllS~:tICt.', anJ o ne unde rn eath rill" tu..d'ICI' ah,lft th e coc kpn. All th ree d ive " rake s we re meta l pancl-, St'1 mro recesses in rhc fU'l'bce -rruc rurc it....·I! nod h in t.:l.J at the tronral end. The ur~:f,lt inl.: con trol was located on Ihl' lctrhand sIJ l' of the r il')I'~ conso le and, when ocuv.ued. the three dive ha k l'~' urera1mt.: q lin ,It'rs 1\"(lrh.J sim ult .m eo c...I". hut mdcJ''l:n ,It'nfl)·. There wa .. no actual linkat.:l' between them. When Ihey were h,'Jr.lulic ally actuated, II r, •• k UM't three SeCtlfM, f.If alllh\' hr,lh... It l IIf".'n t ....lt ....~ l rJ I,· h i a maximum ,mt.:!.'.,f ~ ' 111.'11"'.... Ahll
.

12 _-
e.'..." 191I~

'0 tud<W pedaIa

In,SClrlllElJ

G'1

1

9

SKYll.~ lllHI.

I~

~

O(lnln)l

slid<

16 c:oc:o.pl

-.g .-..::toa
17 1I<>donlI_ O(lnln)ll*'l'l

,,---

'8 ngtd ......... C
ro 2'

,,-~_

"-'-

n_

,I

(n \

_tw_

24 "".... '1lO'lO'" "'-'t1 ""'" prOVl_ 25 kIt be\l 2'6............ _

27 28

loch""

~

P*rI... _ I......

29 ash teeep(acle 30. con:urt tnaI<... panel 31 1P*l/Il11o&hl_"on """","*"....w. 32. ~_ gauge and " " " . 33. ....ag teIoIyan
,

. Cockpi1I. JOIl

46

•• 1 111'

SI\Y~Alll l'lt

IlI,S( "IIIIIl,11

The dive brak e mounled on Ihe IInder·hlselOlge, seen he re lIllly opened . US Navy olht.al ph OlOgra ph

(Be/owl An aerial ,iew 01three US Nuy ADs peeling off into their di" atta c b wilh fllselage ·mounted din brake s deployed . The SkyrOlider wa s one oflhe best ·loved close ,slIpport ililclaft " ", held in ttle sa me alteclion by h~"d ·pl8n.d Ametiun inlanlfymen in KOI" I nd VietnOlm as w as the Junhrs Ju .11 Sluk. b, German ground 1I00PS in ttle Second World WI!. Both co uld COllnl on .ceurlc y 01 deli.." a nd reliability when i1 was need ed. US 0"11:,,1 pholOQ"jI/>. W,sl'Il"9IOtl. DC

"',V)'

{Bonom} Re.1 view ol1tle Uniled Slain MOlrilltl Corps DOlllllas AD·4B Skyr.ide l. BIINo 132261 01 VMA·111. being restored 11 USMCAil-Ground Musellm. DIIOlnlico. CA. July 19!1lThis pictllre sh~ ee rna" i" recu s tor ttle lusel a ge ·mounled dive brak es , k...... R $moth

\"Cr)- , Ii~h t

control- In ....I..IIII"n...nlv

tmn

a1teT.I1 It"'-' were nt -cT""lry . 'WII) , an Ihn-c•

n-Jh", cxtcnck..I, Jlnnl: '1":1,:...1 ""';1, CUI fnsm "'\ .'mph ttl k\."tnr " (, "lS---4HOkm/h l. ~l'n cxccpuonallv I;lTl.!l' h, 'lllh. or other ~ tl'Tr..o~ wen: cnrru..-J I'll th e central ventral po- u urn. which 11I1 ~11I IInrm~l' I 'll the t'f":r. llh ,n. >f I he un,I,·f,.,Ic din' l-r,lh''', a manu.d [, ...:kinl: ,';lln' prevented lh,tl Jiw "'rake: from lum-lI
the din : hrah'" whIle on IIw earner deck Ilf runway ..,hurl', I he ~k }T;l i . ll"r .....i'h ;\ ~Il l' n,l id ',If,"'" lo..-k .

\\' ;1'

[me...1

\Vhl'll III an an.«k ,lin' with ;.11 hrah·.. fully exten ded, I'd , 'I' wen- caunoncd ' " leave ,h,'111 111 dll' lull'''"1 1'"..mon , Im in l-:

ICn'lIm l: 11111, :In,1 l), II I" retract them urn i] the aircrntr \\' :1' tlyin l-: almo-,t , U:lil-:!H and true . It had IX'l'l) 1~1l11l,1 l hal, ,I l h~ .I iVl' brake, \\'l'H' n-tr.utvd hd; ,rl' the ai rnaft h,IJ I'ulll'd ILl', till' d in ' ' 1'1'1'.1 irK Il':!'l'd raridl r and there wav a 11<>' I·· , I, )WII tri m ahcnutou th.u could !'ro n ' terminal. Further a,kil'l' W:I' lh:ll till' m,,\'ahk· 'laJ,, 1i: ·

ers were never III 1,<: u-ccl In Ill'll' recover

from such ,!In ', , :1' Ihis \\'<>111.1 C llI' I'I' XI"I'Ssin' I,l it -, 1;,il lIfl' ,

Armament

Wilh Ihl' clunmanon till' Iu tc rnn l bomb "':IY, lln , I,' rw ill l-: ,loWa l.:l' wa, Pf
J..c i- ron, which

.'a11eJ ver-aulu v.

Il' ~ ll lt l' ,1

III

unri-

111:11 W." ,l l' ~ l i nl'J to

give the Skvnudcr 1I ~ I
The IlfhIU <>"..J coulJ " 'II' more

i, ld ,IMI

the Skvraidcr

WI' ,II ""IH)'

Ihan rhe four-

47

.

. ...."". d ~I'.".

l' n~IIll" ,1 (\ ,,:inl: B· li Flyill J.: F"rtrl's, hl"I\'\' ho mh.' r, W", Ih ..., ,im r l.... mnh . A, " Ill' U S A F .unuan wrot , 'T he A ·1E, C,lrr,' Ill, 'r..., w" 1/.:11I o n on , \\ 1111: Ih 'lI l Iii ..., F-Il 1.. ,' n h 'l h: Al lh oudt rh e ILN 1'1\'It>tH"'.... were '...lllll'l.....-J wnh )1I, t thr........ h lllih rack-, I~ 'r carlv IIL,II" r l\ >J.:rl....- ion II'a, 'o("'n m,I.I..., It. 1I1l:l",' ,I.....• rill' nl''''' ai r, Tal, \ w 'lr " n....:.IIl'·,in/.: C. II',Klt". Evcnt u.illv, no I , than t im-en ,'xI,'nu l hanl point -, \H'rl' cnq-l.sccd. (,111<." Lire...' A",'r,. 1A ordnance r ylo l1 , wuh a ~,(>l\.~ I h ( I.t> lCkd IH'ight lim it , was 1l11 11Jl\I · "",1, 11t 11ll' ccmrc-luu- under tlu- fll"",·b J.:'· '111..1 Ib nl ,·,I,,lith >;11\1 , '11 t he iruwr-wmu,c' , 1ion by t wo ML :; I slaliuns, which l'a, h had ;1 2,1(\1Ih (l ,l1oli,1kJ.:} w"" il!h l lim it with 10l in lLl.c" or ~ ,C\)()lh (I , ~()(lk J.:) lim it......1wilh 1O1ll Ill)..'" TItl' " llw r IIH'IH' A"Il ' 14 .• lal h 'IlS \ITr,' pLIl·l·,I, . ix 'I sid,·, out hoard 01 tlll' .....·, ;md Hllml"" r",1 1 I.. 12 (fr"lIll'ort " lIth>;lId t" 1"" 1t in h >;lr.I, anJ , mlh.a rJ in h >;ll.! It , '1,lrh>;lr,1 "ut h >;lI,I). Thl''''''' tlu th >;lr.l st
The other linulIll/.: tac tor f,' r rh o outerwin }! s' at ions w", th e .li.lllll·r -r of rheord11;Inu ' earned. wlnch , lI d .ill 1till" reale-ric ho m" I' >;IJ an,1. m vttcc t, r""'lric t~ it [ot her than th e thr c....· 1.0001h Mt> ; bomb-, il· wa.. h..'Cllm in/.: Ill' " .... and nll'"' " 1I1rn lc.1 (,\I Ihl' In.....· of o r.ln.lnc .... !x·m~ c,u ril 1 ;1ll,l l hl· ml'l h, ,,1 " f ," I'lcL !x'ing ul ili:l-J . Il l' inl'Il\,ulI\ h.IJ J.:1\· ....n Ih ., pro J-.!t..' tIl muc h II1" 'I /.:hl ;mJ II\<' r.... ' 1I1! W;l_ Ihl' n,'w ,I...· v i c ~ . Hl' lat,'r d...""'(: ri!x,.1 II ;h t~ ,l1"ws:

Inlllrn.l l elJ.l ngelnllnt.

-48

b ...·nu.'l1"..,n d ..... rn~ .l l1 '· .KIU.U.....J.•·x l'~ .."'.· . h."l.'<" In rhc r.,, ~ pu-h...J ,h., " .. n· .1". ', rn~n , h... J ,,·,nl.! r l.tll<" 1m " It.., ..,r--lT.",m. 1\...., R.•hn

., 1 V.,""" fir........ 11.·.. m. on,' ,>t th..· 1..' 1,"'1 ho.,....

".<;" • •

1"....,.

"

Th L' J l·\·Kl· W.IS a J.:rt..'a l ' tl'r !o rw,.rJ . W ith"ul It . ccmre-lmc r :lyl,J;.J, .l" J'l·"::!'IIIy ....lIlrl y tucl nmks. woulJ It e, ju...·llI ly 1111 Ill<.' und...· r' IJ l· ul th e IU.....·!:tCl· whe n released . TI l<.' ....xr l,...ive l.:: hafJ,:"'· .1 1m' ....' "' l a ll~' cluniuat cd lh e 1 ""llJl' I K ~' f" r th e Skvmldcr 10 no-,c-ov c r when til<" I.lrgo: cent re-line •mlu.rnce wa-, )<.'1 11.. 'lll' .I. On til<.' l'arly I'Tlllotn'''''' (HuN" , 090HS· 01) 109 ). un.ll·rwill/.: 1",1 .1, could bl' combin.nions 0 1 hOlllhs, ro c kets, l"Ip'·.I,...·" , m" kl' ca n b tl'r" .Ir,,1' tanks or napalm, up II' a max inulrn I,r 8,00011'1 ( 3 ,6 2I}k ~) . T Ill' in -huih ,m ll:Lllll' n l i ll i t i ,I II ~' CO il ' ' 1,1<'.101 l WO M ~ 2(l-rnm can o"n muuntl·J III ""Ih thl' WLIlJ.: , Iuhs. Th i, Wl·.II">Il firl·J a ; .; Ih rn'J"'"C l L!t..· ;tnJ h,l.1 a 1ll1l::1.... \'l·I.,, il y ,.1 1. ~ KIf,!....·..:: (71 Om/sr:c) ;1Il,1a 1;11 " .>1 fir.... of -h"\"'rrm. TIt.......... 2M · 3 c lonon Ll......J pc:rcu"" lt,n· r " ll\...-...I a mm unl1 l' 'noTIl<.' m,IC:l: inl'" wl·r.... Illl.\.mtl-J m~iJ.... Ihe Wine.

T Hl-..\KYIt AIIlI,,1t

h onzonrullv cuu board "I' 11K' « HU h ' n itself. Thev could bold ZOO rounds e,u;h am] were loaded from : KC l'~ ' pand s a tlip tilt' wing. The guns were fitt ed wit h .m ARM/SAFE sclcc non switch. Tht -, arnuemerit \\',h inlTl'a'l,d t il four win u-mouutcd cannon when tl u- ADA came in , wuh Ih l' extra pair of gu n~ IX'i n g mounted in th e (luter-wing panels.

1)I ;SCltIIl ~.1l

0" ,.,tln' ,h'ly "'II" dll' N.,,'\,. Ilk" llll' ~R2C Il..·",t ln'lIl ~·l't ,·",l,,·r 1<)4-t .UlIII J.mu,'tl' 1l/4i . In July tvso. till' N:,,'\ td,·",,·J 11ll' AM·I 1\\."I]..,. I,,", ,"t mll" Ih~ ...·"·n"·' ,m,,,' lhl' plan~

W,,, n"t " If~ r;,h

"ltI'I.Kt"'~'

1
..."I:,·i......J !Ill" f 4U·( :"t,.,tt ("I", In,,"·n .l' the'lklll Winl: Wi,l" ", 1<1;Il,·r' ) .'n,1 th-...." .m

,'ll .h.l "'-I LI",I'"n ,,,m~ tilt" ...1"'1·1, "'xt"'n,bl JLO' brak..·" In J" I\· 19';;. till" f 4U wa, "' 1'1.1 ",1 "'lIh Ih..· n " , ~ b, A11·4 (;,1",Ih" .; ,m.! th /Il. 1 11..-... lh,·,,· until N",,'·mh.... l'Ifll . 111<-... II,... ~ I\ II 1\.Hmtl"" ,mtll ",km"'ll1~ to ,h" ~1I2( :. l I", ;nlr,,,I"dl,,n 1" 1T~,,·r·tl' I"· .",.

,ll"'~

Comparisons um1rari,,,n with con tcrupornrv an,1 rival dire h.' mhcrs i, illum inat ing; see rh c table I"-,,t -war claims that rh c Skyr.tiJer wns h)' far an d "wa ~' ' t h,' h"._l drvc bomber eve r tes ted a t Patuxent River'. analysi._ of rhc fil-:u rn ~hnw, Ih ,L!, in 1I101 tl y areas. o the r dive l-ombcrs outclus-cd it. The Mart in f\-hll!l'r wa., nWf\:in:llly f,l~t "'r, the Vl'ngea n..:l' I];I.! [ar gr,',H,,'r r...a..:h, whilethe Buccaneer W,I' till' light,'sl , an ,1 had the sr nullcsr win g,pa n l( lr c a rrie r operarkms. However. wluu tIll' Skvruulcr h,lll in enormous abundance 11'01, h a Lllin g c a paci t y. II wa, th t, factor, r lu, its P\ -eral l vcrsat iii I y, which finally WI 'Il th,' ,by. The reasons wh y the Doug h , S k yra i.!l·r \\<15 S1l wclconn- in t he fleet nil iI' :lrriv:1! were man y and vaned. T Ill' al rer:l!"t ,1t:1I ir replaced wa, the C urti-, S R1C llclldtvcr, while it.- main nvalshould ha ve l-eon th e Martin A M f\-bu!l' r, O m' Nav y pilot wh o De'ril l'

;l~

·,~ltl"'''·11 "lhll"",·nt'··I"'"

I'lan..·,. .,n..l .m "1'1"1Il'1Il1l\, I" 1:'" '' ~XI"·rI ..."n· ", .• "Ill.,dron k",I ..... W..· rrOld;".J 1,,,,..·,,,lu,,·' I,,, Ill;\ llll~ ..·nt,,, n~,, h' till' I .m..t lll ~ I"llt,·", j'", flll,,1 "1'1,,,,.,,,h t" I.md "I">:!HI " Clfrll'r. TIl<" 1l1. ,hn' '1ll~1,' "nd ...."..1...:..' "", ,'I n ·' 11>,· 1',,11·,'"t ~"I"' lIll<'d ",,·..'r.11 h,m, I,,·..1 !l"ur, ,,1 tlidu. S.'Ill..' "I 'lLlf l.,n,1 ' .•'~et' ",...". 1110,,'11.....1,,,.,, h' ervc '" drvc , ,,,~k, r.lIl~"· .m,1 ,ldl,·c tI"". W~ "'-. twr-]v..·

flew all three dive bom bers.

1" I I. 'rm.'th'" Ihllll: III ~""'I" " I

d .•I' ..."n"'t

below.

"I·

.IWI'I" ...I c. rron hOlm!>, ,1MI ront.uucd .111 "I''''~''1l', 1 , hot'I:'m ,1",11 '" till' pull ,,1 ,nu,h· """\11,1tn.,rk ,,"r .I,,,p. i\t thi- ,t"I:'" "" tl\·ltl~ Ih, · 1'1.11,,' " . I ','n, em,1 -rx I'l.lllt' ,!I\'i''''n', \\-,,, ""1'111\· I>."h· I,,,,,, .on ...... h ...l" n , L,,~, .....' ",,'1\1 I" tll''' pl..,,...

Wllh l"llT pl.lIl" ..! In,;"n,. II"un.( II", I" I",· n"",· ,1(".'1,,,1>1,·. "" 1"" ,.,lly Il,,·n tll:hl ttlm, "n.l,,·.' :N..',· a'th'n W,I' "·'IUI ·'J. W..· tm',l tn ",·rt..·... t I'm a<'(:u ,acy ,' I h.""h .1"'1" .m,1"hl. lIn., ,It..,~ "nl:l~ "I o; -i; ,k~r"..·, (" lih,'ul:h It i...ll .J' Ii w..· w"·r"· !"·ll,,·n,l,,ul. ,r) TIll' ~RI)'; w,' Ill'\\' h",1 tll..· ,,·k·....:"rl( 1'<11111, ';1:111 ....hi..h ",·,t rlt t<.J I"~ 'ur '1~1l! .1ll,1 ""Ill·t Itnl" rt'", lt~J In lolt..· .",.! 1,,,-.. pull ·""I' . ,dklt l"'" '<"(tl"ll'

\\'l'1I ;., the

legenda ry S RD Dau nt k',~ earlier, W ,lS Charles R. Sh uford. l ib wid,' l'xl',-,rie nc,' makes his account nf tlu- ,!ifti.'n ·lle'·'between the ma c hi lle, partivulntlv valua~lc a, a histor tca l rccc.rd. II

n,...

Compari$On 01 us ~ ive·bombe r types c - - - MARTIN DOUGLAS AM·I 'TO DESTROYER MAUL ER

.,"'"' """

"'T$ WIN{; CONFIGURATIO N POWERPlA NT IAAX SPEED MAXMNGE C[I1JNG IAAX TAKE·OFF WE IGHT {MAAll LENGTH OVERAI.L HEIGHT OVERALL SPA N I\RMAMENT ORDNANCE

CURTISS SB2C HELL DIVER

I

I

2

2

lOW

lOW

lOW

23.6llOtt 17.l95ml 19.000lb IB.618kg) 38ft7rn (11 ,16ml 13ft7rn(4,14ml 45ft11372ml 2 x 20mm

Til,' Skvruidcr's normal c ru i, ing ' 1""',1wns a sed.uc 140 kno b indicated atr-pccd, o r three mil l" a 1111l111!l' over rhc ground, at an ahitudc Ilf nbout 10,(XX'lft (3,OSOm). A,,, I:~nl'f"l ru]..• ("",,,·;lll,...r 1'l·tll\l!tltll:lw..· II'LI.,II\' al'l"'IO...h~,1 .• l atl:~ t "r ;It\ "ltIl"..! ..· ,~ 1I:1,I.\.'-'1t ,,·ak. 1-"''''''1: th~ 'tln-m the J,,'i'hll" "",,,I.I rOlh' th,'i, intl'rval "n till" le....1," ", to 1"Cl'Cnt " ...... r-nmnllll: .m'! "'.1> rn acn'll\l'li,h a "'n,I~,,"'''' "1,,,, 1',,11','11,. T1,... F4U C"r-,ur ""'.1'.' 1")' t" j1y- ,mn' It "'.1' hl:lu .m,1i,.,!. A,., ,Ii..'" \-..,mh.·t II "'." n,,( llll' "'·,t ,;n..-,· II h",1 n" .Ill'" hrah·,. W..· ..·xl..·n.l.....1 th,· wlll'd, I" cutllrol uur 'I"-...,J III II", div..,. TIll' 1
VULTEE A·358 VE NGEANCE

MID

2.300hp (1.715kwl 344mph (554 km/hl 1.480 miles12.382km)

,,1:1,1 W.I' a I:,~al 11ll1'''''"''''II\'''n! .mJ .11", ",r",.J ..'" l:"n·'LI:I". I n-ccrv....1" "k" t" ~. ,n n,..·~", C"lil"ml.•. 10' dll't l ,>Lit III till' ~1\2C. UI",n .ml\".,1 II' C"II. I,'m". I "''', "..nt '" l 1xn ,,,J. whlth w.•' n"lhlll~ hut ., m"I ..·1 "·Ilh " J.m,hn~ ,trip. WI' hOl,1 "n tH"" "I Ik"'1 .nrcrau tlu·t,·. ... tv t"llltll;m,l,nl: "flit..·, ll';l' l ...· llt ..·n.Hu L'>Lli, L I I. , " ~,. 'Tl·,h "tt th.., Enl"r/m,,', an, l 1~",,1'1Il~ T"·ll. n ", ....·ni,,' ...I hrer "n h"",d ",'", l"·ut,·n"m·( ;,'mm.lI1..b-r ).11. Ibm.•~". OIl", ...1 1~'lllhmc T,·n. I t "n, .~,· "",·ntu;lll, m."l,· Adml r"l, 1L.\";nl: ,w,tcll"J h' rh... 1\"",( j .. ,tIl th~ 1htlm l..· ". I 1,'"nJ th..· .I;,nah I" I", fllllth r" Ill" IIlllll: .1'.' ,It",· h.'mh.·, ~ I"q "r th..· I',,,hl..-,,,, h",1 h.·,,·n ",,,r l~ ..l ,HI! l,,·t;,r..· Ill\-' tn,t Illd u , I ""1"'(1.111\, 1iI,..-J Ih" 'dT..·x I(llll 'I~hl. Wnh rill' l'~d"r.lI"J IT..r' I ha.! I,,·tt~, c"ntr,,1 ;n .• J,l'~ . Wlih tmu' on r h~ OIIRr"tl I 1'",,1\,1 lh,lI !HI- ;,,:~u · r"q' til h... llIl>llll: 1I111'T<>...... J. Pull·"", ""l"I......J a hieh..-r "hu"J..· th"n .... uh till" SI\D.

BREWSTER SBN·l BUCCA NEER

DOUGLAS AD·l SKY RAIDER

2 MID

LOW

I

2.95lhp(2.218kwl

1.9OOhp 11 ,417kwl

l.loohp (1.268kwl

367mph1591 kmlh) 1.800 miles(2.897kml 30.50011 (9.295m) 233861b (10,608k!!) 4111 2in11255ml t61tlOin (513ml 5011 (1524ml 4 x 20mm

295mph 1475 km/lli 1.165 miles(1.875kml

279mph (449km/hl 2.300 m,les (3.70lkml

950hp (708kwl 2,400hp (1 ,79Okw) 254mph (409 krnlh) 366mph (589 km/hl 1.015 miles 11 ,633lc ml 1.9OJ mlles(3,058l<ml

29,100fll8.870m) 16,6161b (1.537kgl 36118in (1118rn)

22.30011 (6.800m) 16,40ll1b (1,439kgl 39119m (12 12m)

ZS.300tt (B.625m) 6.7591b (3.066kgl 27f1 Bin (843m)

33.lXXJlt (10.06llm1 l8 ,3301b 18.178kg) 381t 2in(1163ml

13ft2in(401ml 49119in (1 5 16ml 2 x20mm &2x(l3in 2.000lb1907kg)

1511 4in14 67ml 4Blt(1463ml 6 x 0 5in(12 7mml 2.000lb1901kgl

8ft l in(264ml 39tllll89m) 1 x 0 3in1762mml SOOlb(227 kg)

151t5in(470ml 5011 11524ml 2 x 2(\mm

4.500lb 12.04 ' kg)

49

6.000lb(2.mk~1

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. II .

H Il, St\ Ylli\ll) l',IlIJl,SCll lll l,1J

VA ·672 unfolding the ir w ings 10 dep ar1 Navy Atlant a , Chamb lee , GA. lor Ihe ir move 10 Dobbins AFB . Mar iett a , Charles R Shufo'd

l.(\\.~hl' h,ur & Wh " n.·~' W"'r ""'1'" ltl·qoll11· ,Ie". I"",·">,,, ,.,,1,.,1 "1l~1ll"." ""." I,,,, . TIlt· h"h. 1>1"';111"1'\ ['f< )\'c,k ,1c'xl'c1I"n! "",bol,,\, "",I,h,' ,Ion' b,ah·, Wer.· ",·r.,. ~, ", l. A",,,n,l 1(;0 ,,1 ,I"".. ., "w" ll"mul:" , "",,1. T h"I' ""'1<' "H' ,.Hi,· j",",,'r~' I", ,1", tl.',·, .Ill,1 rI"'rdH'" W"«'I:'\'<'11 t" the R,·",,,,,·,. :-;'""C "I Ill<" pl.IIl' ·' We' W"f<'

.''' '~1H'd "",,,, "<["iI'l",,1 ""I,h l '" n "" f.l""'I" 1,,,,[,,·llcr, .",, 1 ",,"'. ",,,h I b "" h,,,, :""",1.".1 l' '' 'f'l' I!,'' ' , 1<-11' """'H' "1"·"1,,,,, h"d f""" vxrvnvncc wah , h,· A M W,· h.,d " nll",b';1 ,,1 "''''' 1'1<-,,' "nl:"W 1',,,1,,,,·, . ~1,,,, " I' ,hem ,,,,,,1tc,1,,, I.nal.. '1,'<, TIl<" "ll gll'" h.,,1a h.,h, "I"''''l:h'''I:' "n ,h,'

.;1"lIb.,>", "lid , I,,· m'>lIWIll"I\' ,d,'",,· w'", "1,,,,I,,wll'l,,dllt,,1

H, .w did I Ill' S k~'ra i d,' r c, .mparc with these typcs! TIl<" I

'.,d."

.,tl.",l r!.lne'

A ll "'." 1',,>1-,,1-1.,. chc h':Il,·,,~ all [l'r,~,·lkr-dfl\',·nl,h."

111,·,,', Excel-

len' 1", J,,'c , '" gh,j.. h."nhn~, II "'." .,hl,· h' carrv .,1""",\ 1,. ,,1, It 1<'," """,I"n,.hlc·,,, 11\· auJ h.iJ a ~~~~I"tU" 'l',I"r , (K~ ~I t,,,. """,,,,,,.,,, l\.\:h,. F~"no. "y l'l~<).

0" 11

,Il<" U:' N'l\"\' ",o"a1

I""" N.,,'\· Ar!.""". Chlllll,Ic",. r" N,,"I' Arl"m ". ~ t.trldl." l'.' I I',hh.m AI·'H, h"nl<' orL .. ~ h~....,j· M.m ", A",r.,l ,l . \Xluh ,.." :\ 1), ",' ",,,,Ie , , 1-oi~

dc,.,1 ",,,

,~

rlw 1."1 rl'du I,,,,,, ( :h.",,1-o1,,·. "'I",,h

" n,'''' 1\·."1",,,,, l \: b lh A,Il"'''. " "."ml'· ""'"nl 1..... rlnv 1" Jun,· 11,l'i'l, "'c' wen- Ihlll!: rmerlv A I).(" an.lthc.....· ",,,,,. ,.,h·" a"'al' '" ht "....·,1 III Vi,'m;n". TIwI<,.•lk' Wc' h"d :\ I).'j" TIlt'''' ",',,'. , 1'1.-.",,,,, h ' Ill" Y,·.n, !'u... J ",<,~"..... " m."llll g trom TIIlll"·Llk I, •.h rl"l:l:Ul~ lh~i, on Vi,·r""" •. l"lr,,· III'NI.ui"n ,1"" .....1 an A IVj d'''ll'rnl( ""p"Ir,,. "nd u r"rrw.l ,..,I h' be IIIl" "n,· I tiN "t Atlam .• on 1/\J"nc I%O!

. . .,,,.<

I"",,,

[The

II""·'I" n"I1\I"'I> "" ,h,· r.nl I1"'T,dl"I1~",.1

C h' l r lL'~

':'> huf" rd addL',1 oru- more pcrnncn t rema rk , L'tlIph asi: inJ.: chat, no matter how J.:' '' 1<.1 (o r h,ld ) an .urcratt, tl 1tima t d~·.

much resrcd nil tilt' r il"t. Atl'" ,," ",, "'\. ,","'''' "I 11""'1( " II""~ ''''''''it,1 rhc co"d"",," rh'lI ,·""h rl~~ ,k'''cl" I'< h " own ,,'vl~· "I rn,, ~ ml: h" ,It"c m "",r

h...... "O"lC h'

rill' "'....'m"m """Ir. A lrer , Ill' '''' ITl.ll'''U h'eak. I"" " ,,",m r "n l(" [.,' "I'k ,.,h'< ' ''"er, A l r,·r,~· '1l '''1( III " "1"a ,I,,,,, 1'", ., 1"" " >cJ of rime. l'lJU bcconu- f.llTllh,,, W ill, each fdl,>", l'i h., ,,"J ~"'....

n"<"!h' ",hal

No.2 Formalion of AO·4s over Alla nla GA, September 1958. Chartes A, Shu!lIId

50

rlw y " 'ill

.I" '" "I:,,,,'n ' lluari
, -,

CHAPT ER SIX

The Skyraider Joins the Fleet

THhperimenla l Unit. VX -l . bu ed at KeV We st, Flor ida. w as l he l est squadron 101 all new Navy a irc ra ft. IIert, an AD·1a (BuNo 093661 i s seen on 6 January 1949. equipped w ith the AN/APS·4 radar pod under its a.r!Hlanl wi ng. Although somew hat temp eramental , Ihi s AEW radar w as 10 be oue of the l ongest -serv in g ~rlIOlne rad ar Sills in the US Navy. and w a s also utilil ed by the Royul Na vy l or many yea n . Nalton.1 "'chives. College Park, MO

Thc Skvr.udcr firsr l-cc.nuc ''['IT, lll.lll:1 1 with a USN<J\")"S"l1l;ldnll1 "11 61~«('11l1'l'r 1")46, Ilihl-n it joinnl VA-19A. F\.ur nu In l h s later, In Arril 1947, C arner QUitlifi..:atilitl Tl'.'[S

kg,ill with VA- U\ and VA·4B. TIl" SkyrJilln ...-ou l-cuan ,'quir other Navy «eck S<.llI:ldnlllS, gra,lu:llly rl'l' lacinj! llw Curres SAle-.:; l h-lldrvcr, which hadbeen

'
their mainstay. A stll,I~' uf lhe wurkillj!s of IWo Sk~·r.lidl'r uu u-, PI' the lime j!iw~ 'I tl:d u how the new ,1in:"lft h:j!:m 10 ~ Ilk' in. VA ·SR, with the Ar lanuc Plccr . alh l based at Ea.\! Fit-I,I, Norfolk, Vifj!inia, received to (iN A D- I lin 22 Se rtl'lIlhn 1947. TI' b W;IS followed hy IW,l more 1I1L' next day and four on 26 Scprcml-cr." O n 5 January 1945, iO Pl'f cent of all the lo.luaul\lI1\ enlisted personnel rl'r"rll',1 aboard the hij! new cu rr ier Coral ~l'll (CV P,4J) f"T prelunina rv tm illin j!, in prcp.rrat icIn for rhe ~hir's PTOPOSI,,1 shake-down cruise. Allhe same liml' , '11m AD· 1 ;lin.: ral"1 ,111,1 foor rilo lSwere Sl' nt al"1
c1lallj!l'd places on 9 j ;IllIl:lry. ;llon j! wilh four rdiednj! l'ilPh. Front i [uuuarv I" 17 [.rnuarv, 1he sh'lr,'·h'1S\,,1 Sk yraidl'(s ' 'Pl' rat . l',1 with I IlL' ( :t,wl ~,'a , "" Ihal 22 ril, lIs wen' lillalifil'd rn ddy carrtvr 101ll'';llj!S.

Repeated Accid ent s

a nd Damage Tlu- qualifications were not a..:hit:'\'ed wuhour ,Iil"fiurlty, Ltkc all nvw .urc raft, wit h new pilolS, tilL' Skym i,ll'r h"d uv f.ur share (II' tn'lhinj! rrphk llls and a,:l"i,II'nl s inl'\'i lahly rl'su hnl. On 7 jallu;rry 1945, Ensign T hor K. Slrorn,tl'd, 'H t acl H~ .l t, l VA -6B, was l'i l'ltinj! A I) ·1 BuN" 092Hl assij!lll'd t,l VA ·SIt En-iun Strolll.sll" lw'lS 1l1akillJ! Ilis carrier ' llI,llific:rti,'n Ian, linJ!s ;lh" ,ltJ the Coral Seo when his .urc ruft n il.,he,1 into till' h,rrril'r, The r iloll'l11<.'rj!ed U1lSf.:a tlll'd, hut Illl' .brn'lJ!l' suttl'rl'J hy Ih l' AI1-1 b ltll if., Il'lln,(n II ' A&R. On tl1l' s:unL' , lay, r..-t idsh iprn'l1\ Rex R. Bl'rJ!lund ,

5'

I

I" VA-6B and tl yin~ an A I)· (Bl1N n O<)~O<)) asSil..'11l,d ro VA .iB,lll;l,le

:I

h,lrd ca rrier Lmdin j!. whic h resulted in

al" , .utachcd

'wrinkled winJ!s nnd fusela).!l', Damaj!c In air craft W;lS sw•.: h :I.' 10 require a lrafl.>;(l'r of air cr ,lft to A&R ."· I[ wllllid seem rhnr the Sk~'r,li,kt's tl' rut;lli, In f,'r r, IUJ!hm'" j!lltl lif I" ,I \"el)' sh'lly eta rt ; dive l-ombcr-, weft' ex pected ro he ,Ihk' 1<' take thi, S.Ir! o( thill /.: in their Mri,ll' . Other Wl',.knl'sSl'S snun hl'J!an ro show Ill'. On 12 ) ,lI)\[;II)', EnsiJ!n Richard L. Robin-on , ll~'inJ! A D- ! BuN " 0927') durin).! carrier quulific .uions, m;J.!\, a 'normal ca rrier lanclinJ!'. I\.'sl' ill' this, t he ,-trrl',tinJ! hook broke, fl'sultin;.: in or barr ier crash. ami tlri-, aircraft joined the mclnncholv IhronJ! in A&R , It was qu ick ly jnincd hy a fourth Skvnodcr, BuN n 09260 , which was flown l-v Lieuten ant (j'J!') Edwi n J WalaSl,'k. He made a hard lan,Jing, which cause d wnnkl<.'s in ],,'t h winJ!s ,,( till' airc raft. On 17 J a n t1 a r~' 1948, till' cnlirl' "llhl,lwll rl'pllneJ ahoa rJ lht:' carril'f anJ

..

, .....".d ~ l(. II .

nn. SI\nlAltJloH

,Ill' ~"ill'.1 [rotu Nl ,ft', -Ik on IIll' Il}lh I; 'I h r-r sh:lh'·,l, '11'11 cnu ....· ill rlu- C 'lt il-h,' ;ln . I'n ,b· lellls wit h till' ., h it' s<" 111 d l,l1lg", 1rh;11 1'1.111 , Oi l h) J;lIlllilry, th .. cal'l a in l't' the C' If(l1:\ <.'11 oTlk r,'d till' Skyraick·r., a-hon- 10 l-c tctur nr:ml y h,N,,1 al }'kCa lb Fid ,1N 'l\'a l Air ~Llli."I, Guunt.m.uuo H;I\", Cuha. T Ill')' Ill'\\" 1',1(k a h, l" r,1IIll' carrtcr , 'II 6 Febnmrv, ara], utter ,I ,h"" I'I'rit,,1 .u Crisr"hl l, l';lIl;lln;l, rl''lIIllL,,1 " J'IT;u i" n s III rhc Canl-bcnn. T Ill S c"nt lnlll'd wuh jpi nt o]'l'r;lt i" n, with T;Kt k',,1 Air Control ~'llIadr,'n 2 trom Carrier Ib tl ll'-l ' Tllul' 1, Th..,,· c.ulv Skyr,II,I v r " p,'r;lli"II' lo" k till' torm " f 'imlllal ,..1 a u- ground 'lIpI"'rl nu-vnuu-, lI,int.: til<' imr,1(1 urea on CII[l" br.r, Virl.: IIl l-land-, a, IIll' A [)·I 's h'llIl-illl.: ran uv. Thcv turned "Ill han' l-eon cxc rllcnt pn-p.rr.nnm f" r the bulk llf the A () \ ,~ lllllhll llIj"i"n~ nn'r till' ne xt qllat· 11'1 'If a century ~ Ihi ~ ,lirc ra(t, which \\';I~ ,!L-, iglll',1 f,' (TlI,h ,'IWIIlY " irc rat"t c n ri,'rs ;lnclw;lr~hil'~, 111 faLl 'I'l'm ib L'llIirl' C" 111h;ll (; In ',' 1 l1~inJ.: ;lJ.:;t1Il't bn,1, r;l\],a th ;\ll '1';1, (,lrl.:,'h . The w"rryln c l'nginl' 1'r<,hll'IlL' Cl,n lin· ul·d. l)n 12 Fd'mlr)' 1941'1. A I)·1 BIIN" ('92; 1, l'il"t~',1 by En , ij!n ~ITIlh'ah', ,"fIl'n',1 , ,, mrlet .. ,'nl.:in .. I:.illlrl' _ TIn- I'il", lll;Ill;lgcd h I ,li tLh '"Lll's,t"ully ;1I1l1 go t dl'at.blll tlw ;lirLr,llt quickly "Hlk ;Ill,l w,h a Illt"II"", A l.:ilin, th,- C;IIN' of till' failure W,h 111l,!L-t<:rmine,1. Exa dl~ ' flw sanw thing hal'J'I'nnl t" En.';ll.:n Ridlil r.1 F. J"hn,I"ll, while Ihing HuN" 0'1264 Oil 2 1 ~ Iard l , Inl-l·,ric;lli,'n, in'" 1111' C
'0

)01:\ \

lft~.

11,101 1

On I Ap nl [94~, VA- 1 B, '· llnl ll1 ;l!l.k d th i, w;" ("II'lIH'd hy f,ull1ll;lrI :;III<'n on the Lll'llll' Il;IIlI-C"lI1111;11l,1\T J lIl W ~ l~ . ~k)T, ",kr ,111,1 qllalifi<':OlII"n III FeLl' (Fleet Hedrick, ag;lin ,,,,,k it, Skvr.udcr-, I" ~,' il , ( :
hy

52

.•, nn ,

SKYlL~HlUI I OI~ S

rm.ttur

n 1lI.11,'1I.11 ,I.UlI"J,:l' wa-, hdi"V<...l to l-c . Iu,· I,, ;L I' H'f.:r""I\·" \I"l'a h'lltllt! c.ru-cd l-v I'H'"lI"I ;lIllin)..: Cia .... '1)' IIMll'nal , 1. 1I11. I)..:l· ,h II \' h'L I" har..1 bn,IIllC'i, .m, 1 not I--y tlu, 1.1Il,1 · On 19 J,llll ldry I <)..Hi, rill" .... llI;1.lr"l) ,11, 1.... '. The attl,I"1ll W,I' ,hll' I" Ilw n, mn.r] m l: in P,IIII':lIl.lr.' embarkc...1 ;.h ',IT,1 11K" COld '\"11 ' liT till" h,I: ;lr,l, ot earner opcr.mon-, .1' W.I' 1Ill' Further f,... ,,1 f"r Ih "lI ghl W,I' rr" q ,I,... 1 ,Juh·...1. ' \. 11 ' TUI',· .. 1.....· IIll.: a I.... , l>ol" '.l .11.1 \\', 1' 1'1 the mgl.Jualill l ,llh '11 1.IIl,III1t.:, ,II >;.T.lt lll" (. I Tn' It h 1",li,'n ,,1 Ih ,ll Ill' len ,I hnk- Ihrou h-«n " 1'1I11,'n that 'the plane 1Il,1\ h,IV<' I-o..... n er.wh.. . n hi- ~lH.lld.·r ·'1... 11 1til' r1w ,lnJ an,1 liu ' , coml-mccl wnh tlw t.n t th.u II<" wv..kenc,,1 h' r H'\-L"ll" I.lnJmc, ,m, 1 rhat anJ ..nc.lel,,1 runul' vr 1, '11 w in". TIl\' WITe ,11,1 n, '1 no-c-over , " III( I<'nll\, '·. 111.....·,1 h im lilt" lllll!ll'l'r " t' -uml.n t.u Iurc-, Illdl' ,lI,·' ,I raiJ llUl ,' Iwltch In ,"nC.IC,' 11ll" barncr, bUI ' 011" .11 " nul' Ih ,' , I,~k mt o rh c h ,n l,'r'.11 w,',lln,'" of de-am'. no 't m,Ill,I,,!.1 I'H'''ur,' 1\'.1' 1I"t 11ll" L.:-i .( 1..1n.1 ,I,.\ ,. I, 'r Ill\' . 1", l . Tlll' I,lLI 1t'1I1t\' ltllUOlllll: Ill' All· I, ,1Il,1 ,m .1.1.1 1' t'fklU1.oh Irl I--rl".l il I, ........... An ,1,!.lil j, ,",II :;in h, ... ,k "nl'al" '" Ilum h :r " Ill' Il lr,', hUI li,m ,'l l h r"" Il', III , ,'nJu n' lIo n wu h h"I ,IIIldnllj,IJ rH""IIT" \1 ,1' ;11'1'11l',I. III,I, ,II IIll" i Ibl":t::I lI '11 .Llf,'r 11ll' 1.111,11111: ,hi \\1",1. 1h.lll · Ill!: tilt" It'll I--fah" r"' lIltl'..J III Ih,· aUd.11f 11ffil', Ihl' , h II' r,,11,...11 I , ' 1.Irl" >'I f' l. Tlll' m.:h wrlllkl.. It1 h 'lh 11ll" :-ilH.u, k r\ \l 1llt.: r, ,,lme l"rw.lrJ anJ th ,· rr"I" '1I,'r "I" kmc I \1I·ht~1 (, 1111,' I,.........· ' l"ll~'1I 1\, ,llIo\\'lllJ,: r, ,,,'h . A ':l.. r,lme r" 11\l' r"I" 'Il , 'Tll " C I.I" rill' ,k d. .~ In.· n..." 1«1 1' ~l

:\11·1 .11"'.,11 ,,,,,I eh." I"" "t ,h" 1' '' '-

the mrcr.ut t"Il' '',·...I\"t·r

then ""-nlc "at k 1" .1

.•U"r,kJ I.., ., " ·.11 ·....·.'. ~''''''.·r

11I"IlWIlI ,lrl l y

,111.1

IIH~'~"1'''1ll1 '1II IIU,k·,

.1"'....

""""Ill

'''"ll'

53

.....

,

"" .~

~ l(.II.

THE SKVIl "I DEII. JOINS THE R EEl

Duri ng till" (iN ron of Mar ch , th e squadron and air g-rlllll' resumed Int en sive tmming in pn-paranon for till" " l'l' r,lriona l readiness inspection. sche duled fllr I he b ie r r ,m o( the mon th. Glide boml-ing, rocket t"irin g an d srl
c ng agnl n llm hc r two win' and pu lled o ut approxuuarvlv fifteen (n 'l of cable . AI this p oint, th e ,ITT,'sring hook part ed at ,I point 3in from till' swivel and rh c plane con nnlied into th e harrie rs, slIsrilin ing C lass C mntcrmldamaec. O m' fin a l inc fdcru occurrcd. -n 17 Mar th 1948. Mkishipnum Rex R. IX'rglund rook l ,ff I In a rou t inc di n ' ·h, Imhing h I II' from the Cural &a. Once air borne, Ill' retrac ted hi s S kyrai, ll'r's Lmding gt'ar, nor icing thar the geilr hnndlc would no t g,l coruplctclv in to

Bcrghmd's Skvraidcr's hydraulic pressure read 2,750 p.s.i., and Ill' was instructed

III

hre ak rhc hydraulic lin e in th e cockpit, wh ic h 11'..1 III the ca nopy closure nccumulator, thus relievi ng a ll pressure on the S~'S· rem . He was then tol d ru t urn th e selec tor hi ' ma in [;mJing ge;1T on ly' and pump the wh ec ls down with th e emergency handrum p svstcm. Th is a l"'l fatlcd 10 lower t he gl',U and Bcral und was then instruc ted 10 ma ke a 'whee ls-up' lan di ng aboard, which he d id 'in a verv cotumcndable manner'.

An AD-1 IBuNo (19286) in tile ll iglll marki ngs of Ille Nal iona l Air I e st Ce nler w illi rad a r con ligur alion in Iliglil on 6 Dec ember 1949. National ArchIves, College Park, MD

particular uircratt hall P"I'I'c,1 rin'ts un prcvious Lm, lings, und it was ti ll' op nuon lIt" till' su hsel lllcnt ly convened acc ident hMr,1 tha t 'rill' C lass C man-rial ,I
'u

its 'up' pos il ion. J lc trie,1 lower till' ge:lr, h ut it WlHII, llllJI ...xII·nll.l le completed 1111' m ission ancl rhc u, prior til la nd ing, tr ie,l ,1g,lin til lower tl1l' gear hy tlyi ng at a SIIIW speed. an d then ex,'cul ing hig h 'G' pullO UIs, illl,1 hy 0 r,' ra l ing var uuu, hvclraulic mechanisms toloo-cn a stuck va lve in cnxe Ihar was th e cnusc of rhe problem . /\ 11 h i.s all,'Ill!," to s!isl' l<.lg,' th e 1,IIldi ng ge, lT(ailt'd.

54

1111' AD-I ._ufferl'll Chs, C m.ucnuldamilgl' an ,l sllhse
." 11\1'.SK'I R,\ lll EIl. IOIS S "fill: l'LEH

it was tIl Jwit il\' ,h... Navv', hopes f,lT it as the premier ca rrier hi ,mh ,.'T(, lr the po-t-war em, Various basic ' Y1't's were uuroducccl, ami suhs(''llllcm ly Improved and further dcvcloped In th ...' immed iate' post -war period.

XBT2[).I

1.17S("i,

of ln spccrion an d S urvvv, ill Wa~hin~"'n (X: tl' con duc t produc rion und inspec tion I r i: I [ ~ o n

the model A D· ! ,lin: r:lh ': l~ m:l~' Iwcc~~a r y. In view " f till' ex tensi ve te.' li nJ..t " f rlu- l1I,,,ld XBT 2D - 1 nirplnncs, il is s ll J.:J.:e~ t l'd tluu fill' tr i al ~ ~~ bncf in -copc.' He a l ~
r~'-lunr ...1

"., I~r 10'

,h,u ,uh j"(l lrh,l, Ix·

,·x r,<:,lll~.1

' " rll<' Fleer.

cons idc recl

Sinn.. rl", j, l'! ' ''' ''nl y All·1 "irr!.""" h,,\'~ r,-" . .1';"'1:'-' (" "' l'a,,·J h' I h ~ """,' n XIIT111·1 ,,,I· !,bn", II<, N", ll') I~")1(,6 n"", un, k'r~"",~ s..-rv,n· AcHorr" ","- T" "I" ,,,,,I "n,,· ,h" ! I,r ;11,,1 ,,,h""'I""n! .'\ 1),1 ''''1'1;11,,'' ,,'rll ('''1 ,'h:l11~n, II h .I,·'ij.!ll\·,1 rll", rll<" ,,,k )<"l'l rri,ll,1'1' (" n.l".,<\1 wir h "Il" "I tlu- l.ucr ,,,r· !'L", ..,. lr ""mil,!,;,t...1 that """ ""II ",. a";,,I· ,,1,1,· til J,lllltar}' 1<J4 7.

fiuA.·r Re prcsc nt at tve
I"'''

"url,mc' I" r "II 1'liId Kal I' ml" ""-'

IT will "~f"... Iuethc ,,,n.lu"',"" ,,1 ,,, ,,1 _,r rh" s..-".,." Ac"" l't,II1«" a"c1l'r,~ht(llolll Tri" I, '''I' (, 'n'!""I,-,1 ""n,IT_""~IU,ly, all'

h k·nt,~,,1.

Tlu s was aerccd. I'r"r"n TEl) N."" RIS ! In ,..,,! ms 21<)2 Ct>\"· cr ..! I h ~ It',ronl: ",- ,Il\' M,...I,-I XRT21l·1 ;",,1 AI1·1 ,,,,n,,ll ",,!l'Il,,1Im,l"r ,h,· ,,,,~,,,al ,,,,,.

In

"\I'W

" I rl", Ufl:,-nr ",·,..1 on rl", Fl""r

r~"

"'!,I"n''''~nl' It" ~R2(; ,,,,,I T Blll,"rrl,.."·,, \I "

Il; ••l', N,,(,) i·n an,1 o5N, h,d """'UIIlI'to""

tn" "'-Il· I,n,·r cann·n,\l. ",,6 lUll<" PHil.

ActiVity

..., ..., 0009' 0009' 0009'

1 I I

""" The rr i a l ~ air(raft were rl,..,lrich..d tIl 400rnrh (644km/h ) ,Ill.! iCi (at 1i,600lh/ 7,075kg). L\ , uJ.: la ~ advi~l'd Ihal RuN n 09087 had thl' iull reqllin...1cHI,lpulling and aTTestin g strenglh. u Md ing C\lncHt i,IllS up III those incl ud ing " Ill' I:is \\'l'ight Ilf 18.0IXl1b ,m el a maximulTl pcrm bs ihk'

on

re''''u ~"rl\' ,,"il:rrnwnt ", TIl\" atrrl.l!l~

O n -I Ma rch 1947 , Commander R.H. Prick ett . USN, was ,lhk' to advise- the

son , USN. requested the Prcshlent, Board CUll -

firmed rh.u th e mrcrnf was an e xcelle n t prod uct, hu t till')' we-re far (rum un iform ly good. T he impression gin 'n hy l1l,lllY I'''st \\,-af his tori ...,s of rh ...· Sk vruiclcr b th ,.! the aircraft wus dcsil,:l1l'd on..r n il-Zh l , uncl was perfec t from then on. The I'atuxvnt River report s 0( 1I1l' pl·fiul.! 1945- S 'l sh"w clearIr t ha t t h is was nul rh c case, und ,hill " number of unprovcmc ur s h all to be made . Carrier Lm.li ng Icst s with XBT21 ). [ RuN.}09087 aboard the escort earner USS Char!!('T (CV- 30) l1a,1( um i-.Il,'ll "i al'pwx , iruutelv Hfl Y LmdillJ,;s, with vnriou- exu-rnal Cl'niiJ,;lIrat iulls, and ,H 1',lriuliS gro~~ weights 'up to till' maximum (l'ns i,llTed practicul'. This aircr aft was fitted wirh complete instrumcnrauon III obtain dat :l on arrested l:mdi nJ,; and catnpulnnu loadv and accclcrat ton s. O n 18 July 194 5, rill' Chid of AuAer infllrmt.'J th e Presiden t of the Huard uf InS['l'l:lillil :lnd SlIrn' y tl1
...,

catapult ucccler.nion of 2,lKJ (fu r aircraft cOll,ick'red a, a .1.·a,lIoad ), 2, A rrest ing - maximum gru~~ wl'ight of 14 .54 51h and linutcd acceleration of

On 2 1 November 1946. d ll' l hn-ctor of the C hid of HuAl'r, C a ptain c.A. Nichol-

Tests a nd Tr ials The service tr iab uf tilt' Skyr,tl.ler

a\' e rag~'

A Sky raide r w il h a lull ordna nce load buzzes lhe lower 01 the NAS San Diego, J une 1949. San Diago Aamsll8,a Museum

55

.....

,

"".~

~l(.II.

Tll~

SKYRAHJUI

J O I ~S

TIll ,

ruer

A prchminarv e valuat ion hl,1 So me interest in l.: results canuI'll XBT2D·1 IIUt Ilf this rest pnurramnu-. T Ilt' BuN u 0'}0 Wi,I'1l 19r-.I"y 1945. aircrrur failed to mee t Ih pc rforTIlt' cxh.ru-a-tlanu- \·i,ihi1it~· mance gua ralllel's in fh e ful IC'b had rccomnn-n.lccl that I" wing resl' l'..:ts: IbmI' dampeners l-c provi.Iccl for till' BT 21)-1 in, ,r,II'T III meet I . Ma ximum ' l'I'l'd at l'ng inl' ' r l'c ifkal i,' n requm-mcrus. A military rated power at airdct.ulccl l'lI1l.:ilu,linal sTahiliTy platu- hil.:h blowe r cntical alruudc, l\laJ ed ;IS a b omber, mvcsr 1l.:'1l II III W,IS made of W,\S l SI.) knors. while t he XBn D-I BliN n 09 100, und un-v mmctrtcu! I,,:lc!lnl.: Il'sts gua ran tee d - pccd wa ~ 2BO a nJ Iatl'ml st, lhility Tl'StSfur ca rknots. ncr tah'- utf~ ,m,l land ings were 2, Max imum spe ed a t eng ine military r ated p ower ;IT sea co nd uc ted on AD-I BuN n 09 155. Pt,d, mnanc v characterlevel, I,1adl\.1as a bo, unl-et, wa, iSlks l,f the A I)- ] Q wer e mad e 246 kn ots, wlulc the guaranllsing both BliN n 09352 and teed speed W :I_' 264 knots. 093';4 , an,1 thl'sl' same airc raft t Maximum speed :11 l'nl.:ine we-n- a].;o unhccd for ca rrier mil itary rated power al st'a slIit;lbilit y trials, level, loaded as a sco ut, W,lS The purpose of the Service 272, 5 k not s, whil e t he guarAcc cpraucv ,lIh l Product i, III «m eed speed was 2SI} knot s. ln spccnon Tri lll, was 10 de ter mill e whethe r till' A D- ] was In rhc ' I;lhil it y t e~ IS , 11ll' fIlii,ll\'_ acceptabl,' for service and ing ft"lIItS'Ipr lil'.!: whether it mel rerfonnancc uua ranrccs sl't'ci fied in C o nl. L onguudinnl sta bi lllY was rr.rcr No(s ) 6')39, signe, l o n 18 s" tisfano ry ex cept fur th e A view ollhlt quartel 01 AD s en echelon flighl on 2J April 1!l5O. each ca rrying A pril 19 4 5. TIlt' C omluncd twelve HVARs. Neerestthe camera is BuNo 123814 and. next 10it BuNo sr.uic suc k-free and stic kS,' rvict' Accepra ncc a nd Pro- 123821. NaucnalArch'ves, Co lle ge Pa,k. MD fixI'd s t'l h il i t~· in co n figuraJuc tion In spec t ion Tnals were tion PA, which were 1l1'1llr.11 conduc te d o n AD·I BuN o for displacements below th e 09 155, whi ch h :l.l been
l-cen conducted

iI ""

56

nil:

2. TIlt' hll:h ·'r....-ed Jlrt-c!lon.•l , 1.lh llll\' cha mcrcn-uc- were ,,11I,1,,(Ior\' exc ept that the rudde r-tree thn-cllt'll.Il ' Ia hlli· I)' wa-, \n\lk, .m,1 aileron a,l n ·r.....· Yaw Ill"'" un,I."" lr.lhh· IUl.:h. 3. The hlch·' I'<-·t.J lateral _Uhllll\ ...h.•r.rc ten-rio, were ,all~I:.([ ,,'1 exc ep t Ih,1I aileron i. 'rn ·, were ••hwc ll< .nahl \, Ilc111 . On rht' 11r~1 hl.c:h-,I'<-·......I ,lin' an ,ninon llw rh..LlIlc l· oc c u rr...·.1 OIL 240 knor - V I,II 24.lX\."tl (7. \I ;1Il ) III :1 $I-.Iecr.. -c ",m.c:' .I...·n ·1 drvc-. In n ·' " I:.II I" n d l' clo"':.! Ih :1I :l c ha ll;':" II1lh,· prv-ourv ,11" mbuuon c.ru-v...1hr dcnt -, in rill' under~ iJ l' of b,,111 ,lilt-ro n , w.r-, tlu- .... ' urn· "t Ihl.' on·rbaLl1Ict:'. TIll' d" I1l~ Wl'n' call,,·.I),r rill.' II"l1il'l'il1l: :1l 11" 11 "I n ...k CI picl;lil, h ll1"wi1\1: rnckl'l hnnl: " ·,r ,,.

TW' H HT

f-l."...l. ln .111 c"n fig:llrallOll' 1""1" ,1 , till' -rall accotup.tmc·.1h ,I 11l kr.lI...· r..l1 .1Il.! downward puch 01 11ll' n ·. In till' cle.m t"n fiCIlr< lI h'". ti ll' ' Ia ll w.unme C$Il, i ~I ,·J ot .1 ,Iil.:hl
1.1 OI n aim. h I tull :Itl Ill. -vcuwn t •'I rb c nfi~u r, 11 h 'no I" ' \\"l" r • ,It. C, mt n II t",lrll" an,l control '·th-.. . uv cncv- wlcr...· 'hle·
StaIL'IH're UW...·'IIJ,:
~ ti."K AfJlIK H ll " ~

11"l"'" lll a r~ I1 I : 1 1.

The , 1;111 W:lrlll n l.:

dl.lr .l l l,·n 'l l( ~

ul ti l\'

XBT21 )· I Iw rl.' Illl'rd , 'r...· .k l·1l1CJ 'i na, I", q ll.lI...· •• 'I(Cllrn nc ' 11'" ...-I.. ,.... 10 till" ..... 111:11 -LIIlll\c -1.....·...·'1' .,1 e1w ,IUCI., tl. NUllt' rill.'

SllrJiders tine up lor lake·oll on lhe 10IWard deck ollh e USS Anuelam 1CV-36l on 15 Octob er 1951. Two ere IIrttdy in posilion on the cetapults. w ith thre e more moving up in readines s. San Diego Ae'ospace Museum

57

I.. ,~~. t: kl' " and their arrall J!,'Il1"1l1 '1' ••, ~ .III ~I: l\ I, 'ry. T.lh dl..-cr rvvn ...· " 11'.1' I" "i t 1\ '" all ,1 " I\l~ t. l d"ry III a ll l\·~ l'l·c " . T;,h "l'l'CI11"11 11":1' , ';I"y. :lit h,' lIJ,:h I Ill' It, 'r1:1 111 1:11 , Ia· l'I!I: ,'r ...'o n l lol W; I~ IP" ,,'n'lun' Ill'ar till' tr im ~ I'l'\' d. Tab ,eHi ll C:' IH·rl·I'U'III H ·. nil" ol'l ical <..I lla l ll il.'~ of till.' WIll ,I~l l1l·kl \H' rl' ~; Il I~I.lC IIII\' wlfh n,l 1IIl1NI.II .Ii 'I , 'r · I h '11 all.lll' ' 111.11''r ••h~ln JcI I. 'n, II' l' l~lt '11 1'" rill' ,,111"1''' o r "· lI d~h l ....l.1. l1le rt·.lr-\' ll·W

..

, ........d

~I'.".

THE Sk: \' kAIIlUt JOI:';S TIll II rr.r

mirro r \\",1' '1,1" '1U, II." ,111,1.·"u l.l l'e mo'·t,.' ,1 the W' I~' 10 cnh.mcc I~ 'r\\"ard vi-ion. W hen a Mk. 'i ex ternal ' Iux illa ry Iud tan ], W,l' Ill, runt.... I , ' n Ih.' ricin hOIll" rac k, un,It,."lr'lhlt,.· .llr'lx·t,.·d 111,I K,U. ,r Iluo..: t u'lt i' llb were o".....-r....·,1 in level , rr.lIg:hl Illglu a l ,po.·....I, under I'li) knoh. a n,1 m th e mo.·.I,,·,1.K<:d,·ral l"n .111,1,lIlgl,· o j .u mck re , " lt llll.: from l-ankcd rum - .,t" l0 ,Iq~rt..·,·, or more ,11 'f""d, 1x·I,lw l'i'i k n"". TIll.'.....· 11IKIII;III"I1' wvrc :h J,: r" ,11 a-, 20 kn"", and \vcrc .:.111.....·,1 by ,I I-rt..·,lhl,mn 0' ,llrtl' l\1 " \ T I lill.' t.rnk, wlucb rc-ulrc....1 III prcv-urv ..:h,ml.:....' ,II till.' lot;lll'n·"urt..· -onrcelocareJ under the nulu WlIlL:. The 'l.lr ..... ttlllL: \\" . 1' full ,I" w11 I.'r ,III takc-ottc. Vart.mou- ••1 din....· l h ,IMI tr im WIt h r'<,\\,' r ,1Il, 1,1'1.·....1II ere 11,'1 t.umd 1<' Ix· <;'X..:'·"I vc·. TIll.' Ix"t rud.lcr t..h .....· ltll\g I" r 1.lh·-"II \\',1' .I,·I,·rnHlll.',1 I" I,,· 0 ,I.'grt,.'t,.·, nlN' riL:hl. TIll.' Il'n,I"nq .If till.' t ,lt! III Tl'l.· limll •...J Ih,' r'<'Wl"r tll " I'l'r" x ll n. lI d ~· lJ" ~ l:\r , ' n lurn-up w llh li lt' h,l k...., hdJ. l~rtHllld-h,lll,lIl1lL: n l.l ll....·u\"r'·, on a J ry ..:onn,·I,' runw,l~ \\'ll h a w.. " J ,1".11 l in i,h ..:on"'I•...J .,1 'I .....'fl,... 1'1 lo('-,I.·L:r.'.... Iunl' , 1\ hlc h \1t,.'I,· ,·xl·cul t,.,1 ,,It I, I,KI
,'tlf I"

I"...·'lll....· I ~ l h.· ,.·",I'·fl' \.•,1 II", r.ul 1<. n....' n ". 1' n"r .1,-I,·tn,,,...,1 "Iwrl"" II... I". ,~." ",",1.11,,· ' ·"1'.,1-1.. " I h"l.t",~ II,,· ''''1'1.1Ill' "~,,rn'. l..l ,··nll

1'''''''''

TIIl'Tl' " Tn' n ' l !.:T" lln d- I''' 'l'in!.: 1"lhl,' n..:iL" ,llITin!.: bll,lin /.:. TI l<' l"l'IK lu" i" ll n ·"dll'd {r"m 1Ill',e tr io ;I I, ,,'a, Ih,ll rill' AD- I W;I'

:"'."1',.•1-1.- 1<" " ...... " ., ....·'\"In· rl l"-' " " ..."t l, "" ·"1'1 I", ,h,· [,>II, ,,,.,,,~ : I. Th,' I',m.II".n • ,11·1.·· 1','10"

,·"n""II
"u"

'1'.,'",1 i, "~n'''''''' in

,I,..." r" 1m", '1"-"',1, 1. N" 1"·rl'·I,,,I,I.· , •.,11 "·"m,n~ 1'\1'" "I II,,· I."..t rn ~ t:"nlr~""",,,n. I ~ '''''I

..n,

Thl' rl"J" "rr ,1,1,leJ Ihal ti ll' A D- I J i,1 n,,1 nll'et rill' j'l'rf"rm;lnn' gl1;lT;l n! I"" with re , po.x t ,,, 11ll" loll' lwmc:

J.

~laxlll \lnn ' JX·,·,I , l!

l.·n L: me mililM', ral l...J f".l\\"t'r ,If ,Iirrl. lil'· h l!.:h ...I" ....e r CTll lGll " lut u, I,·, l"a,It,,1 a, a h. ,mlx·r. ") ~l.lxi mull\ 'JX......J a l e nJ,:lne lllllltaT)' r;lIl....J l....l....t,.·r ;l1 .....a Il·H·I.I, ,,...I,·,.1 a' a h. 'll\ h:r. 3. M a ximum 'JX'l...1,If ,·ngml.· I1Uli t,II)' r,lll....J f" l\\'er .11 "C;I len·l, In",It...J ,a- a >oCou l.

The 1~ ,II , .winc mndc:

n-conuncnd.monv we-re

I. Acc vpt rill" m.. del ,\ D· I .urpl.uu- a, a " ll b fach 'l)· ......rvlcc In x·. Z. Improve t ill" e lt·", H"r cou rrol ju rn' c h.rracn-n-, t i..:, 1,1 11" " '11 till' hiliI.I-u l' uf com rolforcc wnh '1'1'1·,1. I. Pr,,\"i.le ,.. It"'I",Il'· 'Ian W;l mlll L: I~ lf 111l' Lm, linJ,: Ct11...linou, , 'Wl'r. -n. 4. Improve the ." 1' 1'1'1 1'\" 11'11\ ..h.uacrcrrv!o- to pn-vcm rill' ,uT,j't·I,.ll1l,IKilll'l tl uc t u.u ion-,. A ~'ra ratl' temperature 'UT\'e\' on the vnzmc 1Il-'1,IIIaII<'n .·1 XIlTZ!)-1 lluN'1

n W;I' o..:"n,IIlCfl-J .11 1'.lluXt·nl R1H'r between W (\:t"h:r )947 ,I1lJ II (\:I..bcr 1l) 4~. Two '·ncm e ' - W· I 5 11'\0Z ,1Il,1 \V· 4 74 74 1 - were 11IIl...J to rhr- machine dur1IlJ.: rho pen•.,J. 111l' ilN t,.'ncIlll' Iud 17. I h"u'" 1('l-:cl.....l l" II, bUI afll' r "nh 19,~ Ii.·'1 h "UT:<' tly inL: 1I h.ld Ix, l" h,IIlL:l'd whl'n Ih ,' 'l1rcrc ha rL:l' r (('ukl nOli.....· , hilh·,I IrI'1lI til\' hi J,:h "I,'wl·r. SI.....·..:I;l!I Il'l ru llwntall<.n lu 11,,1 in d ud,·d ; 1 Rro wn Rl'l' ur,ll'r-l h ,'l m ,lCI'lIl' le in' lalL n ilm '( ' r t l·IllJ't'r
('IlA....

and ,lu ri ng L:ro u n J 1t" I\. C~· li ndl' r- het' En L:lnt,.' In 'I
0'

I. Tht,.· rcccrcer-tr.m-mu rcr. AN /ARC- I, l

l. 4.

'i. 6.

Heads

Bases

Take-ell powef 15 mmutesl 260"C 163"C M,lllaryraled power 130 mmulesl l6ll"C 163"C Normal rated power 10 10 pe' cent no,mal raled power (cont,nuous operallOn) 246"C 163°C 10 percent normal rated power and below

232"C

lconllnuous operatlonl

163"C

7.

.....· r. no. 38681. T Ill' c,'mmunicall"n, rI.Xl· lh' r R2l/ARC-5, .....· r. nu. 4 HlJS I. TIl,' l""mmun it:;tli,'Il' Tl'-Cl'ln'r ROZ6. ARC-'i, .....' r. no. 173 1. TI ll' UHF h uminc r~cei H'r ..\ N/ARR· Z, .....· r. n o . !6'n. 111l' X· ha n d .....·a rc h ra,tl r, AN/A I'S·4. .....·r. flU. IZl 84. 1111' AN/A I'X-2 IFF 1" ll1irml' IlI, ~:r. no. 11 N I. TIll' A lrh.lrnl' Ibdiu A lr imelt'l AN/A PN-l. 'l·r. IIU . 191'l'n ,

Tlw

r,' ," h ~ \\'l' re a lm.. "t UlllfuT1ll ly h'l.1
w", .. o n d u.ll'd

Ih a l th~ d ~t:lr ica l anJ d "dr"ni c ~ in , t 'llla l i,ln s in thi~ a ir(Tafl JiJ it

n. 't ll\l'l'! Ihe rl'quirl' l1ll'llb, a n. 11I' ;ll r;rJ in Inll'r1l·rt,.·IK.... "I.... ,\,l· the " al"kgTOu llJ llo he Il'vl,llI'a, p re,l'm tlllI~ ;

ert,.·'11 ,litHc u ll Y \\';]' l·xJ't'ril·lll' I...1 in !.:l·lling t h l' "nl-:inl" IIIJ "\"l'I, 'I' I h ,' il 1,111..11" l\wr ,111,1 al~ l in oblai ni nL: and lI1ail1l 'lilllllL: ,:lInl'Cl Iud 11.1w, in Ih e ca rhm l·t l< ' r. 11w c; lrhur l·tIt 'r had 10 he ..:alih Till,...1'1ll,1;),I)u,1I....1hy A EL r h il....td l' h ia fom lin ws , lu rinJ,: liw Il-Sh . C ylindl.·l· h L';...t II·llIl.....'f;llmt,.·' \\we ex n ·..., ive I~ lr h.'lh the le wl·tliL:lu Il-StS at...llhl' HuH1llT)' TiUI..J powl'T di mh h i ......r\"ic,· c d linc:. Sh ift inl-: from ,lirl.'Cl to " h l' m a le c
58

Equ,pmeflllif>r1er lest

Inrerletence from

AN/ARC·llgroulld lestl AN/ARC· I 1!ltghllestl R·23/ARC·5 (grOO'ld tesll

AN/APS-4 AN/APS,4

R·261ARC·5 (!I'oLn! tesll

AN/APS-4 AN/APS-4 and fuel booster mo{OI JkIt'CI AN/APS·4

It w.., t1ll'Tt'folt' rt..-cpmlllt'n,k...J Ihat BuNo 0909Z h: ·rl·-\\w lt,...J in eun l' lfTll it r with tnt rl'll u lrem en b l1l N AVA ER in~I ;tl tili'JIl 'f'KIli";ui ' ln " 1(1mloct Ihe Tl.'llulrcme",s ..,(Srec· It"K;lri'lfl AN- I-H anJ d l;U p;.micubr altenIii JIl h.: ~1\"Cn 1\ ) Ih e ['1"l>\'isi'>n'i . J!NAVAER r u" hclllon N AVA ER 15-50-517 , Elrminatitm vf RMio Inr..-rf<'Trnct' in AiTl.,.a{I:

Ct l APTE R SEV EN

Experiments, Modifications and Improvements A~ the 1\ [l !' r0l.:ramllle ,le\'l'l, 'I'e,!, till' vcrsatiliry ,,( till' h"sic n"ul-: bs ,k, i,L:1l was proven nmc an d ag,lin, It lent it""l l Itl a ll kinds 01 sl'ec ialbl adaptat ipns [rum rill' basic divc -l.....unbcr tvpc. T his, Ihe h ,y t" the Skymider\ lung lif",p,1l1, It,d ",Irly on In a wid,' v'lrkt~· or cxpcruncntul lyrcs; some were srillborn aft,'r jllst one machine. while lltlll' rs lnl I" -ub-cqucnt ,I,'vdllpmen" and. ulnuuuclv, tll " "" within TIll'

lIcct.

XBT2D-l In an cnrlv trial. ,I brg,· spinner \\";IS fill ",1 10 Pnuorvpc No. 090SR, one of tlw first four .urcraft '" l-e fitt,',1 wit h the R· 11'i0 S engine. in an aTt emp t t<> improve thai engTn,'\ pcrtorm.uicc Ilowcvcr, till' -14 I\-:!'; soon g,',wrall~' ;lvai bhk, l~c"llIll1g the standard powcrplant tor 11lL' ear ly A I l_ ls and A ll.IQs, t land ta rg,'h mt h,'r Ih ;m navill t;tr· gelS, In''tt',lelof firinJ,; tlll'1lI in ~:l h-", a., W,IS tht' no rm, a no\"<,1 mct h,,,l of m. Hm Tlng was uieJ OUI, with ,inJ,;le roc k"ts fjrine in sequence, Th... adapt,'d
We,ll'"ns C\'IllH'. C,llilllrni a, in till' _' 1111\ mer of 194R, hilt Wil~ not tah'll illlY furrlll' r. Firin J,; roc ket- Sl'LJlwnti;llly lM,1 k'ss impac t than dd in- rin J,; them siml lltal1l"'II"ly en ll\ll,~\l.', when rhc dd ivn in J,; aiKr,lft c'HIl,1 h it with Olll' hc uvv pun ch an,l then quick I)' be d C;lr ,,( the return fire. U nd"m'ine Sin HVA I\. Sin I\I\ :-'I"r 11.75 'Ti n)' Tim' rock,'h then-tore r,' llI;lille, 1 till' norm fur such usage, " II the Skvruiclcr a" on otln-r a ircr aft, A third hask .uruck " r,lt" ' YI'" (B lIN" 090 18) WilS complcrcd as a hcuvv-utruck vcrsum, with extra ,1rIl1UUT protec tion <\11.1 gUlls. II was eiv,'11 ;1 more 1'''\\','rful ''l1,L:illl' in the sha l'" of the 2,700hl' Wrieht R· B'iO-26W, It W;h redc, ienat,'d u-, t h e XAl).2,

' 1;lr],,,ar.l wing, ,lis" moun ted in an nero-

dvu.untc !",,1. Flash _,h i" I,I, well' liue.! to till' 2(1m l1l caunou muz:les. In c. unpcnsation I~,r this a,klit i" nal \\'l'i,e:bt, and l-ccau-c , h,'y w,'re ,!t'em"d redundant in [h is configuranon. th e side-mounted fu-c!age din' brake, 1I",'r,' ornirtcd from thc'c two aircraft and the rec esses were t;lired over. Tcsting \\',I~ conducted at Patuxent Ri\','r in I "''lB.

XBT2D-1Q

[)"UeLh litl e,1 out Pr'l t"ty!", BuN" 091196 a sillJ.:k-s"'11 r h,'t'l·r"C,'nl1;li"';IIll" rolc, wit h I lu- AN/A PT- 16 E C ~ I jammer in a 1'"..l un dcr till' port wing, an,l a \Vil),1,11\' ;llllllliniulll I~ li l .liSI','llst'r in a ,IIS1','llSl'r ,..... ,,1 un,ln till' 'I;lrh",ln l willJ.:.

The cxrvrinwutrhnthccamc th e must n-levant later in the Skvraidcr's I" ne career 11',)\ the fittine' Il l! of BuN " 09109, rhc la't •,f t 11(' 2i pn uc,tyJX'S l-utlt, ,h 111(' fiN 1'1111(' ,·!t·,-tronic countcrmca-urcs (EC~I ) air na(t. Extra accomrnodaunu, II srarl-oardslde :KCl'SS door wit h ;1l1 lll[egr,ll window, ;1Il,1
XBT2D-IN

AD-1Q

!'r nto tVI'" RuN" s 0909K ,1[,,1 09099 1" '(; 1111,' h'st-h,'ds l~ l r till' thr,','-,cat. n igh t· all,l(k variant. This ill\'ll ln,d till' 111" " [ ex t,' llsin' I'h y,i c li ll1o.lificatiull, with a sl,,'d,ll clOck pit he in J.: huill intn Ih ,' (Ust'Llg" f"r I1ll' hul ky ra,la r ,,'Is and fllr IW" rada r " I'er, l['lr" i m l1l ,', l i ; l t e l ~' ;Ihalt ;111,1 belllW the I'il" r's cuc k" it, wit h a lare..' acCt'.ss ,I.,,'r on 1Ill' ~t ar bo
TI ll' I,',IS ,,( th ,' EC M I' f( ,t, Itypt.' r~'\l h e,l in l'i A !)· IQ a ircr,lft (RuNos 09li2-O'-H86) heing hllllt. Thcy r,'ptl''''l1t ed the ha lance ,If the oneillal BT1 !),1 order, which tuta lled 277 mach ines, an ,1 [hey ""ned j"inine the tlcl,t in 1947. T h,'y emi,'d ,lll AN/A PR·I Sc,lrch Ih'cci\'l'r. , I ll ANI AI'A ·I I I'll Is..' A na ly>t'r. ,t[lJ ,1\1 AN/A PA18 ra n" ramic A,Ia"Ia. A n arTilY of ,l"wnwarcl-I""int lne aeria l~ was m" lIl1te,1 hel,lw the after fuse b,e:e, with a small EC M h]j,1t'r "rom inent ,ll) t1w IOll'cr !"'rl ,i de, Ti, r ro· dele ;1 11011' of cool air for [he ECM eq uil'm,'n t, a .,ma ll f'lrwa rJ.fad ng air ,;cOllI' WilS built in tll th,· tu r of Ih e rear fll."ClaJ.:e

XBT2D- IP t~lr

'0

59

..

, ..... ...d ~ I r. ".

EXI'F RI\ lE~TS . \tOnIFlro\TIO~ ~ ,, ~ n I M t' II.O \" I', \1 r ~ TS

XBT2D- l W - Air bo rn e Ea rly Warnin g

In JWll' [1J44, tilt' Ma ;..-hIN·Il' In..n" f Tech n. ,I,'Cy \\';1' unu-d rh... 1.I,k .,i

la.l.lr .md " r'l:rarnl ;1 \"l' t'i hh:h larinc. TI'II' f.Il.: t"l, \:,," ('k-J wirh rhc 1"1;IJ.,:ik' ; 1 '~ l1I kly tlf ,I... vd"pin!-: rill' r\EW .ur c rutt -. T Ill' work- t1w canulevcrcd cathode, which ,lid nor TIll' •'1l ).!1Il' • ,f I he A ir,,". mu- Earl y Warnine inJ.,: r111-,i, wa, ru d'·\"l·lor radar "' llllpl1ll"1H -tan d III' well hi the hard U', I t.:~' "f earner" , I,'1ll can I", traced b.sck III a Rrili,h , Iali" with en" u~h l"lwe r r,' J,'I"CI ;1..1,',1 n 'y..·1 ;I[ deck bn,llIll.:' and " ['CI;lIh'lh , ITl'q ll" n1I ~' r...... utrcmcnt • ,f I\ ''':''Illlx'r 1\)4 \ . TIw in'I,II· 200 nule., .mdr hc ahillt y '" ,1..0 1\'" I, ,w-Ih- call.......1 rh,· ,,:h ttl I"dll rhluuch J ;U11.1C'" A ine ;lirClal, I" Ilw m.rxunum r.uuzc CoII'.I" le ....-..:" n,1 h iccup resulted (rum rhc hnrh1.11 1"11 .,1" an ..<;lr'" wurninu sv-n-rn W,b re..... II\· ,r'·' 1. "lit, ,III<' roa 1.I\:k " I tund-, ,1Il,1'11 wuhin the f'I,wl'r oll[rtll .1,'I... nmnc...1 h ~' power ''f'<:ratml: mode, which meant that ' "l1a"I" r;...J.ll" .11\,1 ,urcrutt , noth1l1!-: wn-, t he lir,1 r,'<..(ultCm,·nt . In adclutou, t he 1;IUlls ctlulJ not h: chec ked out on rh,' car"'lIle ah ... 11 It. lr " ... ,\.. the -ucce, III 19++- S raJoU picture had Co Ix· rcla~'~-J h ' the air ncr ,It-\:b . hut haJ III wait unul rhc ;lIterail . >t' rhc Jal'a!ll·'l.· KlImkd ~'·. til<" , uiciJ ,'- con trol , h iI''' A lr.:r.lll 1)ltl·ct l. l1l Ra-l.u wa-, .arborue. which J,"by,-J .lnJ comph,iliac\" .urcr.ur . ;l~.IIIl'l Alh..-J war,hll"" (ADRI . cated fau!r.lmJlIlc. The mu-nnon l,f th e AIll,,·rK.m, w.e, th .1I ;1Il ..1 the hUllling pi rh..· Anu-nc.m D...fence In J;ltluary 194"5. eiglll monlh, atn-r the ""...II..,<-·t It l C,'I ,I tvl.ncd projcct under way. the crew . Ii- Ihe AEW w.... II,1 rb~' an emu..·• protect h:gan. rbc Ilf"'t AEW .Ilrer.lit - a In IQH. the An cln· US Sc l,·nt ific PI,l- I)' passive role. TIle,· wtlulJ 11)- the .nrcratt Ucncral M,)( o~ TBM An-nger - tlew. In j,'CI c.. 'mmlltl·'· revive...l lh," Bnn-h inter- on the allolt~.,J barrier. ....vuch on .mJ ' 'f'<·r· addmon to rhc rilot . a ., incle r;IJar operae-t III Ihl' ~uhJ''CI . Even wnh rhc hu ge ate the equrpmcut a, ordered, bUI rill" pe r- tor wu-, earned. The r....l.ir mlonnaritl" re...'urc,·s al Ih"11 ( o mman,1 III r1w fmal ",mnd in the c ont rol ,hll''s APR w.. uIJ ptckcd up wa, J,lta·hnh-J hack . vta un AT· JII \"eI'll Ihe P"clfi.; III 1·.)4i . Ih,' Am ...riea n intl'rrrci the rcl.l\".J Tll1l1''t.1. III r ,llr, (l~ ' r lIlull MI M1rpPlr) . far oul ir,11ll Ihe 1l\;,in Il,·cls. tn !-:I\'C ra,far ......[ hi he utili :,...1 in this r"I..· w,a. war wprk CPnf llHIt'J llll rill' radio rclay .1,1\';l!l':,· n, '1K..· " f mn '1I1 lnc " Il,'my Il id ll . , I~·\"..·I,If'l.·'! h ~' [Ill" I /;1:..·11 ill<' {:.'rr" 'lOll u 'no prol'I~'lJI' al ;1 Illure It·i,ur..ly I';ll"l·. ;Hld II A, \\'..11'" "l'IIlC ,',h r 1; lrj.:,'I', ; m, ! l l w I~'I, 'r~' and 11",1, rlll'n I'rIl (llf niO m...nb. anJ Iha..· w,'''' ,'n'n I"," n'r of theX" c;l\" il,< lllal..'11erron . ;1Il,1 ~·a.: h ""'I w"'lclwJ ,. la,l.u ,,['CraWI'> ..... <1, huih inh llh,· l"u~laJ;,'e. t\'f"', ;1\·,1.1 1.11,1.... TIll' ,le\"c1"l'melll .If an h ln anJ C'1'<1a milluln US ..!..1I,1!' '·'Kh . TIlt" ,Ih.llt anJ helow lhl' rilol \ CIIC kr ll. undtr maj..'1lerron cau........1 many oj till' ",lrly rroh, t"unrdiahili'r . II h....J I"....n ,....,·d. "....-J lolle..' w arch r....lar,.;cl.lhe AN /APR ·I . ...-as from an exmnrll' ilft,,,,1 to a grou nJ.h l"-,,,1 mounr,,,,! m a .....·conJ btJ,:e lalrrnc h.ulr n ~"C "" 'lI y f.,t th ..· Brni ,h. I UI~'

'0

60

E.\ I'f :ItL\lENTS. \ lOIlIHCIITIOl'S

into tlw t1nclersi. le Ih e fusl'!a l.!e. To c oni pens,lIe t~ Ir t he e x t ra wciuht, nu unnamcnt was fill ed . Rc...le, ign 'He,1 a.. the XA D-IW, this ai rcraft continued to l-c rested, k'aclinJ.: to till' development " f till' circular ventrally mounted Racl, lml'. Tlu.. \ \ ';1" later ;lIs" {lIT· ther (eslt'd, m a sillJ.:leA I)·2 aircraft ( HuN'1 121226 ), which W;lS sim ila rly nd.tptc.l. These expc runcno It'e1I' I rlu- c onst ruct ion of three version- " I tile 'W' Iyf't-' - rhc A I)· 3W, A D·4W and AD·5W) - Iula lli ng 4 17 aircrafl (sec r'1ges 66-7, 72, l OS). Aftl'T rhc W ,lT, till' Americans ret urned n I eolarioni-an, an de ven ,,{ft'rt'cl TO ..ell bark to rhc I\mi,h their ow n iclea hu an AEW system ! TIll' co-operation of war t ime was over, ,0 till' R\lyal Navy dcu-nnincd t(l Jevclnr ils o wn AEW c.lr, lhility, whic h it fIll\\' .'\iIW as essenl bl. I"\o lh the Admiraltv and the Ai r Min istry had I'lit l~ ,rw a rd AEW rcquirenu-nrs at till' t'n ,1 of rln- war, hut there had in itIa lly becu a dearth of scionuss ro go alwacl with the I'TOl.!WmnlO.', which was t 'ft ttl tilt.' Americans. In addinon, I" l:'l l ·w'lr I\rilbh defence hUllget s weneven l ij,[hler tha n before. I'hms to ,k vl'!o r an AEW )',ITi'l1\1 of till' new Fairt'y Spearfish t'ITJX',I,l-h 11111't:r carn e to n ,1IIghl , and the project was cancelled.

AD-I Some 217 A D- b in Ihe sl 'lll'lol".1 a l(;Kk fonn wert' linally CtllTll' lell', I, wilh tilt' firsl le/n 1918, BuN " (\9 110 ) makinJ,: its maid en !lighl lin :; N 'l\T1I11'1.,t 1l}46,
M'; Il I ~ l P ,«) n. ~ l E N TS

Sp<'d fic;,tinn - AD. !

r ,'we!T'h nr:

R-3350-l 4W

WCIs.:hrs:

Emr[¥ 4,o5I1ks.: ( JO,264lh), I"
[lll1\Cn""ns:

Lenglh II .61m (lStt 2m), h,·il::hl 4.7om ( 151t 7!A"in); "'rn~"'p"l1 15.25m (SOfr V,in ); WlrlJ.: :m:a 17.192"-1 In (400.3 l"'-l fl)

Fcrfnrrnance:

2,5OOhr Max. ~l'e ..J 5HYkm/h (366m!'h); al altltuJ e 4,l15m (13,SOOf,) C nuse ~I'ced 1211km/h (204ml'h) RaIL' <>1 climb Ll ICkm/h (3,492iI/minl Ce llinI-: 10,06Om (H,OOOfrl R,I1lJ,:l' 3,0 511km (1,900 miles)

Acceptance m '....r vice :

1946

ex haust smcks protrudm u lrum till' ex haus t !la ps clumgcd to two gr" lII'S " f three , and rhc mr SUlO P wa, changed. II had incorporated a series 01 adjusta hll' !la ps, h ut now it was liPl't·d an d rn.rre I'Hunmcnt , with twc I cockpi t a ir ducts out l-ourd il centra l in ta ke ap erture.

AD-2 F' III' lwinJ.: the earne r-landing accidents cxpcncncr..d when the first AD· Is had joined the th-ct , an improved vers ion was needed. After Il'StS, this need resulted in the A D-2. TI ll' AD-2 a r pe ared ill 19 4H, anJ a total Il 156 were hlli lt ( BuN ,1S 122 2 10122 J6'5). T Ill' l'0werplalll was t he R -~ J'50 Z6W c ng tllc of 1,020 hl" A rl'-wm h 'd l'ngille (owlinJ.: incorl'o r,lIed a llew -styk' l'x h.lI l." ( o llt'c t ur ring; Ih .., rel'bCellll' nt Ilf

Ih e top grUlll' of three sl ac ks py u twin allowed external idcnr ificanon. O th er cx tcrua] :llt t'rations included a rl'llcsil.!I1l'd hlad,' ae rial, rerlac ing til<' forward-lcamna 1'01e type of the AD-I with a shorter ar-ria] wire, wh ich Tan down III th e tor urthe fusdaJ.:l'. A pitot rube was addeJ 10 till' Iro lll tor oi the vcmcul sta hili:e r, For I'lngrange scout missiulls an ex t ra SOO J.:,,1l01l' (If fuel wer e embarked. giv ing- tilt' AD-2 <J range of I, 1H6 nautical miles. TIll' c oc kpu canopy was altered sligh tly m l-oth forward an d after en ds. with a strcnerhcnccl ,m.!cxn-ndcd head -resl with n tll'xihk· pivot att , '; Ir mon- co mfo rt. Other pilot ai,ll'.' were con rro!- IbOlI wenTl'Jl'siglll' ll. with symho ls of till' fUllctinn s tht,~, (lll1lT<11Il...1 hcing inC(lTp
SPt'eifk alion - AD-Z r .)W,'rpla nf:

R·] 350· 26W

Weighls,

Empry 4.7841.: g (10.546Ih); loadeJ 7,379kl:" ( 16,2681"'); full 8,284kl.: ( 18,263Ih), wi nl.: I.lading 4O.61h/sq h , !'Ower 1",,,JinK 2.7kWhr (61h!11p)

Dimen.,iom,

Length 11.63m (Jtlti 2in); height 4.7om ( 15t'1 7l1i n): ( 50it Xin), win!: arell 37.192S<.j m (400,11,,'1 ft)

r ...rformant;e:

3.020hr Max. ~Pl...u 517km/h 021 mrh ): at "hi t"de 5,580m (18, 300(1) CruiSl'sp..eJ 319km/h (198mr h) RHfe " f c1;mh 853l.:m/h (2,8OOf1/min) Cei ling 9,965m Ol,700ft) Ran).(e ! ,475km {915 mill.'S)

"I

61

w in~"!,an

15,25m

..

, ..... ...d

~l'. ".

De"il,looking lorw.rd. Ollh. cock pil 01the A-1£ 5l-13264!J lithe USAFMllseum. W,ighl-P.ne l'$On Airfield. Ohio

All ,,(lures ~ou"es~ 01 USAF Museum ¥l' HU9hV

Morgan

e. II The port-side pilot's ins'rumenl panol and side pllnellllVoul. b. The pilot's inSlrumttnl panel. e. Th. , I. rboa, d-sid. pilofs inslrumttnl p.n.1 I nd si d., pl neillyolll. w ilh r.serve contro l st ick . nd floor conllols w ilh console. d. Th. lower pori-sid. pilofs inSlrumttnl p.nell nd si d.-p. nell.yout. w ilh COlllrol $lick .nd 11001conll ols wilh eonsol• . e. The pOri-side 1100'conl, ols wilh consol• .

63

..

. ,..."". " • 11. .. .

A bus, sce ne . bon d Ihe USS LeVIe tCV-321 in M., 1949 fn Ihe foreground, rwo AO·2:s 0' VA-34 . re held down on the pitching deck whil e Iheir powerful l.nd unusu iJl) ordn.nce 'oiJd. • mi. 01 Ihree .eri.llorpedoes .nd rwe' "e roehls. is checked Olrl prior to .n uerc ise . N,IIor,.1 Archives. CoIe9- PI'~ MO

,!II1I"I\'I"n,

rcm.uucd

the

Sp«ificalit>n- AIl-2Q r '''' '' TJ'Lml ;

R_B;()·Z6'X'

Well.:h,,;

EmrlY '),062h (\ 1,I ')<)11-); 1,aJe,J 7,iiSljt IIi,1-k11t-); lu1l6,6tHll,' (19, 14l11-);Win): 1.>;.Jlnli: 4!.t'1I"~ f1: f"", ..r l.>aJ.mli: 2.91l:l'hr{6.11M-trJ

11I.lTlt.°n.;I
l.cl\J:lh 11.6Jm (11'11 !m); h"IL-h1 4,16m (I;tt 7 .m); WIl\to:'i'-,n I;.!im (5\."11 oln); ..... ocan:a n.1~2"l.mi4i..\).B"'-1II)

rc rtoml.ln.:""

1,St'-'hr M.,,,, -reeJ ;1~"",mJh I H 1rnrh): ,II ..11L1l""" 5.5&1m (It', mil en" ..... ,""'t.oJ i ~l<.mJh (10;mrh) R.n... of chml- 7!Nlm/h (Z.'i911fl/rnm) Ct'llme 8,110m (!6,/l(\'lftl R.m.:e 2,.fIClm 1I,4<,l 7md", j

rlu-

\H·1).:11I' ~·d).:.....1 Ill' !II

105"611-0 (4.i~"kd ~'1l11'1\', .1!l,IItUb\l1-o (~, !1'i..kd maxunum. wluh- WIIll-! Ill'I,l m ).: went trom ~ \.ill-o/....l ll\ ( 16-1. 7k0...... Ill) ro ..0.6Ih/.... 11I1 ( I lJS...kd....1 Ill ). ~ I't:t'd 11'<1, reduced from lli llll' h (6l1-1 km/h ) t o ~2 111II'h ( i I 7kl1l/hl. hili rill' -crvtcc Ct· i1 Il1J.: i lll l' tll\' e~ 1 Irom Z6,OCrl1(t (7,9~ i m) to ,Z,700l'r (9,,s6'5l1ll . S ta ll ' ['t'n l W,I, 6 ; klllll" Fr"l11 tlu- hall:h , I'lli' .unr.ut (BIi N.. 122! 26 ) lI'a, 'l·kdl·,! I" ma l ,11\ 11Jl l'tlln'd

l·ll).:llll',,,,,", lin).: -v-t cru. whic h 11" 1' unde r .k-vct.q-mcm. .uu l W.I' b l ~'r {itt l"! t" the AI)· '- O n .... ' n.:!L N,'n 1'1' tl u -....· I ~·, h , the ',Ullt' .un r.rtt \\. 1' tntc...1 wnh dl~' cxpcn1l1~'11l_11

vcrur.rlR.I.I,'Illc· I. ,r t1w c.nlv warn-

IIll-! v.m.mt (\t'e I',IJ:'"

6(,).

In .. lllllIllOIl with all Sk}LII.I,,·r ' H 't'" .1 number

I"

or h..' r cxpcnuwntal

1ll .... h-l-,

In n c. uumu.u i. '11. ,t rlu- l'l,'.:t r'1l1 1~' C\ um It'Tl1Ie:NI"',

r« 'l-::t' llll lllt·, ZI . urc raf (RuN",

11H6tl--- I1117.2,

.md

1 2 n 7-l -1 n l ~ 7 )

com!'lt·lt...1 1ll lilt' IW"·~,,:'U van.mt between St-r tt·mh..'r 144-" and Arri119,,9 ", the AD·~Q. Fin'llh , one An·~Q (RuN., 111 17 w.e, ;lti.Jl't nl on tilt' Fr.....IuCII,'11 hue 1<1:1 I~Hl-!~of-loWlllll' lTi,11 1ll0Khlllt·. 11\1, Skyraidt'T wa-, \'c nlr.tlly tlllt...1 wuh a ~l.l rL. \H' T<°

n

n

dr'·'h. T n.rl, we re e
C,,'1" A ir St a l ion El To rti in 1<)')4, wnh ~I. I J "r Wa nt' n Sc h roe der ri l"tin!.: til... aner, I'-f m a "'rk, " f tt',l run-. A lthOll£!l li lt' '''', lTi,ll, r r"\'iJt',1
rtl.' Tlall,lrl.:tOI cour.uncr a, t he An·~QU

were It·,lt...1 m Ihe imnwJ I,tlt.' ", ...t-war 'II EI Sc!-.'1J1ltl. •. T he th''''f'l \\'.1' ,Iuh tt',lt,,1 r,:null Two we re l-cliev..·.! 10 have been Ill, ....t -ucce--fullv, wlueh It...1 10 01 J.:,'llt·ro ll nn.....1 out 01' I' llo rlt,.., r.who-con rrollc...1 "Ja r lall.ln 1<1C.UT)' tlu, t" llllrnlt' lU. In a, ld ll i,.n 1.1 Iltlrm.ll mihl arl 1I,.I).:t dron.." . r,ld,..·.! wi rh cl..-c t rotuc IHt',Nlrml-: lIl'lrunw nt'. Th..·y l\"l'rc 10 I~: IIx ...l l ll 11y \\'lI h Ih c N a\'y' ,lIl,1 ~brllle ('. urp,. in an d H,,").:h t1w ,lir I,n'r Illlcll:,H ft', 1 Silt', in dl~ 'rl h I ex lt'Il,1 Ih J't' ft'llIi a [ l~ lT e i\'i lu n IIll' dltt' rmdt h of a\t 'm le I~ , rn h .I ~o l (l na · dUlies, a U ll ift·,1 ::-1;1 t,', Mallllt' Corr, A I)fI Oll ' , III "rd c r t.l t:~1t Ill" r radlll;ll:lin' . 1..1;1 1 1-'/;1, iiflc.! . Hlt wll h ZSOl-:;lll. >n (<)461LITt' ) !; IT aJl 'll y ~i ~ . Th>.: y· IH·tt' l-: In' n I h t' un , 'Ilie ial lla r a lm I;lnl., ml " li fi l'd t" c a rry fiTl' ·rtOI 'lr· .1<',i).:l1'll I.'n A I) -11) (' I)' t'. IT ,tlla) . ,b n l dlt' mi ca ls ' l' my in ).: "n I"rl',t -Ilrt· O

f."

64

AD-3 The nex t IIlU\'l' wn-, In \I ..or III' Ilk- red... m 'l!lu ' I.l l ht' AD·2. Tht' 1Illlial I'll III 19" 7, wa,'" fll Ih t.' 5 k}· rai.lc r WIth a fur " 1I1e t· Il J,.: lIle . Fi n ' a llt· m,l u\'.... wefe 1:1\'CIlI CllIls I,!t'LlIi" n - ntlll ~Ia~\ o wn twin-Iur " lilt' rr"jt'n , lht' Iwin A lli,oll ; OOenKIne, (It'llt'rd] Elet'lrie\ TG· IOO, ,m.1fwn Wt'>! illdl' '' N ' rtoJet'l." Ih l' tWin H e anJ Ihr

.. rwm 19XB. The r w pl ..... devem u..llv Il.J ,.. the dcveloprn... nt ,.f lin- XAZD- I

Sk~"

-harL TIm UUIll.' 19-45) r w jc d ~ 1;lrtCJ \lUI a' ;1 ~lmrl.: rc....I,-~icn of rill' S kyrai,k' r airframe h i tak e ,hl' IWW p owcrplom . l-u t rJri,lly' evol ved

m l n ;j

com plete new

W.:I, n·, uhin J.! in u 2l,%(ll h

1',,,.

(J 0.4 1il g)

anac k r brw P< ,\\w.,.l hy th e 5, 100..... hl' XT40· A -6 l'llg illl'. T his gaw ;l .,ign ilk; lllt increase III pcrtorm.uu'c over ,he Shr,li,k'r, l-ut ti l l' ,' l1c ilW \\,,\, ..:on tin ua lly !,t'lll-ll·Ill'llic. a n.! till' I'ro jl'C( wax linall y ahoUlJ, 'm" I. The A()·l J C<' I.:n .l lltln counn ucd II I lx· Ii.'ol.-J. ,hi' nrnc Itl l,kntlly' the AI).Z lilll',1 eillh the Wr ich l R-11:;O-,!6W enumc. Till' ~ic .11.-...110..'11 w ..' ..:knw..l up . wuh a srenmhcnc...1 IU...:I.IL.....• .mJ IInJ~·n:a rr i,I)..'I.·.

wuh th e ole..,

lu vlI\J,: l-lrn (~').sUll) mOHOmovemen t. A h.· Il ~· r pWf,,:lk'r w,., Iu ted anJ the ne w t·IlJ,:IIll'·t:lll.,ll11J! ~\'S It' 11l W,I\ a&'f'lt...[, a, we ll :h a r~·de " J,: Il ~·~ll'il , II\ headres t, h~ad ltlg 10 a , liJ!lll d l; IIl J!~' ill t:o~' k p i l canopy r rn(ik'. TIll' A I ).\ h 'pl Ihe ': 11I1l' 11','0 201ll1l1 win g c umuli :m n:UlIellt :h d ll' AD-2. nl~' t'liJ·wlwd d~',iJ!n w:t, a ht·H.... l. anJ illllli l >nl.:~' r full)' r,' l r,K' I~-J illltl ils I, '\\ 't'f fuse l,l).."'· "'ell. TIll' rlt lll wl x' was Tl'lIlu n ...1 in>m Ih~· lail. whik' 11ll' n' ,1T r an .,f Illl' 0 1\1In Ilia' J::in'n " ,mall \·cm ....1 cxt~·n'lon . TOfal rn....lut:ti,.n,'t th__ tn x' W,b I.!') an · J,:~';lr

furthe r m"Jifi~-c 1. wuh an unp roved ta ,1 AfJ.]S ho"k anda n...-w-stvlc wm J"cro......-n . This arrcraft was a l~, f llh....1 with the P·I uut. .-pilt u. The ni).!lu arrac k varian t wa, a rlueeand. with t h ~'''''' .dteranons, became rill' ....-arcr built h.·lln....·n September 1949 and r r" t"trre l~ ,r til\' t\ ()· 4 . Al lh"ugh till' May 19 50. O n ly 15 (BuN, ... 122908aut ,.-p ilt'l wa' a boon, care had It I .....: I••ken 1219 22 ) w rc constr uc ted, gC Ilt'ra l l~' (" IIat.. -r, wh en Skrr,l idl' ~ tl yin J,: wit h tlw l" win g rh...· a rli...· r version..,

USAFand VNA F in St'U1 h· Ea" Asi,l II.....rc

ftnc...1 with the (]-Z LUlIl p" ". Ih ·.,rtl lllg AD-3Q t hi s inst rument wlulc t he 1'- 1 w"', in 11''' ' r au't· d 'ubrupt ,lIhl \' i,) I~'TlI rudder forcc-,', whi ch c xcl'l·,k...l rhc Skyraidl'r's ~Il's ign 11111II.' and could r rllve (,!l'II." A, alwav-, th ere were van.uron- on rill' h l'ic rh....m...-.

O rd.. 'r~·d .., thl' A D· ~Q U t
machmc unde r rh... Jt~si gn ,Hi lOn of AD · ~Q. The tlr...:r,"llr's c..hin wa, mo,hlil·J t~ 'r

Sp«ifie,lIion _ AD· I N

ro..·t.'" rrl.m"

R· J l ;(l -Z6\t' ElTll' l ~'

WCll:llIS:

5.ZCNll: (I I,"1m,,); 1",l
(21.1&%) ; w i nll l)imcn.,i"n~:

unglh I I,63rn (lHIt Zrn), I'Cll:hl ...7(1111( 15fl 7 ~l n) ; (50ft Kin); Will" ,m'a 37.192sq m (400. ~ 3"'l tl)

rert"orman(( :

2,;OOhp Max . ~.J

"" inll~r.m

47t>lm,lh (296mrh); al alwu.k 5,'.i8£\m ( 18.'IC(lttl lIilun,lh (l97mr h) Rate of l:hmb 6Il9lmlh (Z.Zf,(lft/mml Cc ilin!;l8.075flI1l6500fr) R" f1k~ Z.405lm ( 1.4%m;l...,.) Cnme~

mil (BuN,,,,, 12272lJ- I2185l). Of th~......·• AD·3 (RuN,) I 2285 l) W:I' flll eJ wllh tht 2.7lX'h r R· HN·,!hWA l·l\J,:im·. :mJ

_AD-lN (BliND122922) s ee n . ' ttle Paln e nt River Air Test Ce nler on 21 November 1949. Na1lGNl1 ArclwK. ,,",MD

65

15.25m

..

.,..." "." • 11.11.

EXI'I;IUM~.' TS . MIIIlIHC"110~~ M

W IMPROVEME' TS

CTl'
f"nlll"IIIl!u 11ichrs uf tour .urc rutt tor carncr work , a n,I" r'l:r
Atrcr -uccc..tul trial, wuh th e XA [)- IW,

An AD·3N Skyraider IBuNo 122914) ada plad lor nighl-atta ck ope rations, one 01only fifteen s o converted. This one is pictUled on IS Merc h 1951, et the Naval Air I a st Celller, Patuxe nt River, during an e lectronics lUI programme , NII'Dnal Archrves, College Park, MO

Th. ap pBB t.ncl 01 the 'Guppy' was mem orab le, but uni ns piring' Howeve l. it did a n excelle nt a nd . ital job. This iS lhe Nav. 1Air TeS! Cente r's AD·3W IBuNo 12281'B) see n over NAS Patuxa nl River on 9 November 1950. w ilh the Ele ctronics Test Flight. In the BB rly 1!l8Os, a lac k 01s uch AEW a irc ralt dutt lOgover nment poticy an d CUlba ch. c ost the Royal Na vy man y s hips and live s in Ihe Fal klan ds Wa r. NaHonal ArchIVes, Cpl lega P ~ rk. MO

66

llrdt."r, were placed f,'r II rhr cc-scarer AEW \'ari,m ls uf the A[)·; (HuN,,!, 122H77-1 2N Oi ), kno w n <1 _ dw liltl'!'Y'o (~tl1lY war-built submarines (.f the (Jaw cb .. were h :illl.: , u lo,lluli lwJ at rln-, lime , and till"
E.XPERI\ IE S TS. \t OD IFIC fit. TID'S '\ 'D I\l PRO\ [ \ 1f.STS

aircratt were Ct uuplcr ednunus tlu -I;mding-

gear ("iring s in un
fl'f the weight "I the Ib,lom ..· and e'-luip"I rhe IW., operators "l.'alt....1side l,' _I,ll' in th crr cal-i n. Tn hdr further wuh the acrodvnanuc I'rnhlem~ tha t were cause...1 l->y "11 ~ \';b! carbunc le. ;1 p.ur of ~m,1 1I vcmcal ~t ;l hil i:l'f fins were fille,1 to th..· h"ri:o n l al_ t a hill:l~ l'i . Twn .urcraft of the '>l'ries (BIINm lI N N) and 12190 7 ) were ;KllllI!,II ....· down a pr.. d Kl,·,1axi s in>m known ,· rl<." m~· aifl id d_, or l--l rtlcing b 1:1 AE\'('s c!'to.l"f in to rhc .1 vv r 'IIlJ acc~ 1I1~ Ih,· n-k-, ITt'IIl 1" w-I1yin l.: mr rud ers. The APS-ZO h aJ I'Tt'n-,1 IN :II mea(\It-Ie tlf J l'tl'rminlllg lilt: he igh , " f till' mwatd-bound inlt:'rn-pI' lr,,; rhi-, nwnm Ihallh.. ADR ha,1,rill t, •.!' l lhl' jt ,\-. ,f \",,,,'wrin~ inrefCe r ll nl.: (lchl,'r' . Wh,'n the A n- .'! \V~ fir_I ,mh·..... 1 III the Na\) ill the ..'nd of 194:-1, ,lIll'f tr l.•I_ wll h the An DeH'lnr m..· nt U Ol t (VX-Il. Ihey' 'iC It' fllmleJ int ., lWI' ~r"'t: i a ! I' 1 '>lllla,ITt >ns; VAW-! (1'1' till' Pal'ili,' FIn'1 ;Inti VAW-'! IIII' lhe Ad ,lIllie FI....t. In 19 50 , r1 1t: ~l' IWII unll ~ wert: fl.'n'llllC,1 as VC- I I ;Ill.! VC - 12 tivell· The aircraft Wl'rl' ,Id in'r.:d from EI nJ.) to Nort~,l k :'1;1\';11 Ai r Slallo n. \ 'll'J:lnia, wh..' r,· Ihdr c!l'Clrtlllk "q m r1Ilt.'Tl1 was in ~lall,·d an,1 ground 1'· ~l l·'1. men t , ,m J

The cramp ed condi lions ollhlllwO reder operati ves 8boa rd e n AD-JW h rly-We rning Skyraidllr. This lest 8itc l8h was phol ogllphed on J May 1951. Nar,on.! Atch,vlS, ClIl1egl hrk.MD

Thcv "T il' then tr.m-fcrrcd to culu-r rllt'

"ollll'ml' larl',1 in a -4W, or III ,IIW oth er squ1\a] ' pin! Wil h a St.·a- I,·n· l ma ximu111 sr"·,·,1nl ~0 5 QUI'llS"1 I'I,inl { ' f ALUlled.. N;I\'a l Ai r S la11.>I1S. 11" re , th ey w,'re .."-il.:n,' d ;i1l,,1 kn , '" :lnd a ~" r " icc (clli ng of ~6,(l(Xlfl 1~ ,rnlt.'J lo ur-p!.tm: ,1,,·(;l(hlll,·nr_. (1CI,97Om). till' ;Ii rcr~lll h;I,1 a r..mcc of At't,' r h:i nc lr.lim..1ur, Ihl")' ",,'f,' ,h_il.:IWJ 1.150 n;lllt ieal mll..·~ ;1",1 an "Il.!ur.me,' III 7.S Iwllts. It, Gl rri" r~ i, ,r 'Ir"' rl h: ClllSt.' 0 1 till' lragilil)' 11l<." Iwo AD-1W, eornr k l..'t.1 ,I_ A P-~E." " l lh"'if vlI'lll'quir m"1l1. Pl h'~ ;tn, l lichl l'r· (St.·a rch) Wt're join..J h~' twn mo n° .lltU'11t In'" ma nOt.'lI\n ... W'·fl.' oUI "j lIll' '1".....1i.'11, (RuN,,, 121910 an.1 1229 11), et,m-..rt,.J allhou gh \'t'n ical tu rns ,lnJ wing-on '''' fit 1111 AD-1Ns int o Th,' A I)- b hall, ,i the WtTl' '1I1nw,..1. Sr'l.'t: lhGllIy hann,,1. .11- two- r l,Jllt.' HlIIIIl'r·!..:: ilk t Il'a m, I" he , hough I' i_ h,lfd 10 il1J;lgin,' rhdl il ""I~ ,'v,' r ,·mploy,·.! ;t gain ~l till' gr"winl.: Sovil'l E"_l o r

W" ~l C"a ~t

Ill'"

67

...

.,... " ". ~ ~ .t1.

EXPI'RIMI:. 'l.:TS.

M l ")I~I <: ATl O 'l.: S

.It

Wrth I Ilrg_ selrc hlighl c l rried ill ullderwillg pod,lll e AD -3S lo""ed part of . HUlTler-Killer lelm I ble to trIck Sowiels ubml rines I nd s urfl ce wesse ls b, dly I nd night This . ircrltt is s ee n undergoing chech at the Bocl ChicI NawI I Air Station , Floridl , on 13 J une 1951. NallOn.1 A,ch.. es, College Park. MO

IBelow/ The Hunter-Killer Team. pictu red if! I ction on 31 Jan uary 1950. w ith I n AD·3f (BuNo 1229llli1in Ille lore ground . nd I n AD-3S in Ille bl ck ground. TlIis lIew melhod oll nti·submarine wl rflre w as bei ng Inted by YX· I I t Nl wll Air Slltion Boce ChicI, Floridl . NIllOnall'Jclwes.College Park. MO

/8ottom}lhe AD·3S (BuNo 122910) on 31 January 1950. This a ircr. h WaS one ct e pair of AD·3Ns a da ple d to an IIIcl usive ly I nti-submerine w arfare role. The, were assigned 10 the Exper imenta l Tria ls Unit 1 1VX·1111Key Wesl NAS, flori dl . NelHlnl l Arclw.u. Col"",. Part. MD

68

ASO I\l PROVf. \lE ST S

EXPl'.RI\IEsts. \100IFIr"T10"\ A'I;O 1\II'RO"-E MF.Sn

submannc th reat . Alrhouch Ih\.· h lsic Ct 11\(Cr l was sound l·nOIl.L:h when teste...1 hy VX·1 at Boca Ch il::1N'I\,,1 1A ir Slat illll ill 1949- 50. such a combtnanon would prove heavy lin earner space and LKlinl:: in tlcx il>ilir~'. Not surpri~i n.L:lv, plan- were s"OIl bein~ rut ti'n\'ar,1 hv l-oth 1 \ 'lId .l~ and Ill\.' Na\'v r" combine h.'lh rt,k·s mto un .. .ur -

AI'S IIJA r.l>.br, which rt."-Illirt'J a rc lt·~il.'tl . .'J rime, il was al"" expected 1,1 han' been msrrumcnt l'alll'l. Tlu-v were "I... , t luir J"i....1 tilt' lasr! Th .., convcnuonnl Wri,L:hl R·

with 1'·1 aUl
-,

All AO-4NA. BuNo 126!141. coded AI(. ' larboard quart e, Ironl view. laken on 4 Dece mber 19511-

69

H50·25WA eng ine dl'n- Ioring 1,020hr .L:;I\'l' a hlp Spt.·I'.Illf J 15 knots an,1offered a lean er use r Ilf l':;\S
AlJ...IN TIlo.: dun., ·...."lIn (t~ ,r 1'11,,1, EC~1 , ,!,...o r,lI,,r .11,,1 "ttLlr rl "n..' r) nil..fu all,iLl \"analll ..... I~ .11" , pnllluc....1in Cl >n~ i.k' r;\ ll· numh..,,; \(Ii \\Wl' or,ll·Tl..1 in (i\"l' 11I,:lll'S (f\IN,'" 124128----124156,124725-124760,1 21707IH 7M , lUlt"i76-127 0 IK, 127tlHO- I27(2 0). All fin;llly ;\,I"l'll·,1 till' AN/AT'S. H and Al'I< l lA Sl',lrchli,L:ht I" ... 1,I; 'r Illl'ir S (KIIll'r) mh.~l"n . Durin!: thl' K"n:.1Il W,lr, nl;lll~· of th.......· \\"\.'n: funlll'r moJllll"J.

..

. ,... " " . ~

• h. lI.

EXI'HlI MEl'TS.

M(lllll -ICATIO~S

," I) 1\tl'1l0\'EMI:!"TS

Delails ollhe AD -4NA lAD -1D1 Skylaider BuNo 126922, (Above left/ The non-slip wing-Iool w llkwlY I nd the reer 01 bubble-typ. cockpil cenopy _ lAbove/ In its dly -en eck conligurelion. the s/lem., thailloused the original radar consoles remai_ Not. the inner lvse lage w alls. with im.mal belJlll plnels lor lightness I nd stren gth.

In order 10 cool the eleclronicsequipm, nl clowlld inlo the red" operl lor. compartment, Ihe AD'" had a lorwefd -Ilcinglil scoop buill inlO the 10' " the fuselagl spine in a sla lk-type Il iling_NOIl llle blld e aerial lbeh the l ir scoo p. The rod i• • stl rbOlrd loreglound is th.lolding wing pnIII,

70

•

/Abtwel Nol. ttHr hydraulic brlee 10 lb. t.1f . nd . . tltctrOllieelly conlroU.d sliding c.nopy.

TIltAU'" introdlleed the 3.020hp. Wrigh1 R-:J350awAltllgine willi i ncrel$ed , Hic ie ncy end

I.li.bility.looking lorw lrd e long Iha por1 nosll. the !Wo projetling plellll Bft glare s hields to li d the

pilafs night wisian Irom lhellaring of the exhausts. wIIich ca n b. seen be hind the engi ne cowli ng.

71

A'. "", •

•• 011.".

F.XPI,kI MF.:"TS , \lfl[)lfl{' ATlf l" S ..\ r.;O l\ll'kO \ I'\l ES TS

Fin. l c:o nligurl1i on ol lhe AD....N·1 tBuNo 1241251c:ode d

AIJ-41. and AIJ-4XL A ,uJ-." ,ITlIi,1 1 , ll'r f" I""',II, 1 ill , rl,lfilll,( f",wl'l W,I' th e J
rn. on 11 Dec:emb er 1950.

U,DonneI D~s.l.ont Beuh

(BIIN, ... 124 72 '5 -1 24 760) wvr..· -mnl.ulv 111 ,1,1.., "\'l'r.

AD-l W SOllW 168 rhr..·e·,..-atc r A E\X' Sk)' r
AIJ-4() T he IWo -....·,II..· r EeM \'anall! " I I1w AD-4 IOlalhllu'l N a irer-ill (Bu N, ,, 1240li12-107 ')), t'qll irp,,',l wirh Ih ..· lIl",Mic,1

72

AN/A PT- 16 EC~t svcrcm. TIll.' ;lJ d lllllll ot rhc an ..cOl'r ,H,'p II\<.' [u -cI
AD-18

Th ..· US Nnvv l-ccarnc• !och·d m .. l-iner wftl~ W
,,,

•• I'XPEIl. IME"'rs. ~I O f) I H C A TI () "' !i A"'O I M PRO" fM E"' rs

Slyr.u.ll·r. \\' h"~l' Ilft ill l: I"'\\'\"T wa~ ]c!-:endarv. '''''l'lm:,..1 rhc ["I.:I..:a1 d 1ok ...' ';. r a

make-hut "" ,kh"T'c. Twcnt Y-l'iJ,:h l A p·4, {J\uN.... I 17Hi+117&iO.1271'66, llil'il..s-lliHil. 12I'ilJ 37128941 .1Ilt.ll!I'N71 -11H978l were further ,>(k'l\l.'1lwlll.J III ,Ill' m.nn fll......lot l.~ ,I Tt',1 t~,r

thl' rok', Tll..·)" IH'rl' l"'l llIr r'l :d wuh thl' Murk 51 ccnm--Imc Ill, ln,uk.""" l'Jl"':h'T

r;1\;t.. ":;11"" ' -

blc
\\'lth .1 lld.1

"til' kil
Iht: Mk·H.~ll :;7.~lk

104 ('Hlllt' B..v') \\'<.'.11""1\" TIw -c· J.:rn-n tlu'

all'l:r,llt " l'Tt'

Ill'\\'

aWl'''''IllC

,ll... i l.,'!l;lIlo n

,,'

AD--lR. A new .Idln"'" I1ldh,)j h;kl ill h..- dc\"i -c.J - II h.....:aml· ln"wll .1' 'hI>-' hl1nhlll).:', wnh

the weapon bo.'m!.: 1,-1,h....1"UI ;In,1over the aircraft, u~inl: the ... 'mhlll'lIh'n ot rhc A,'r<)

ISC Armament Cunu"l

n.

:-I\'~lem

III

con -

juncnou wuh til,· ~ I,...14 '1Ilt-1Ill: I)m..'Ch' T. Thb 'ovcr-rh c- ch, 'ul,ln' nw ll},...I., mcc J'I.·fleered. all,l\n-J -l, 'w ,Iir,'rall ". dchvcr thcir ordnance '-lldr, .11'1..1 1:,1",' th em a rea ...m aNt" cb.mcc "j j.!,'lI llll: clear " ll hc ~lIh....'qcenr ..k·... n'lt u'Il an,1 r.1,11,11h '11.

Followma Ihl' pn ~ramlll'·' ;1 furt her 165 AD-4fi.. (BuN,,,, I H l 27-l l l NI ) wen-

I-uih from -..: r.II..: I1. l ) l\\, ot Ih...", .urcraft (BuNII 1121( 1), prlotcd b\' Lrcurcnaur Cm n lll;lIl,I"r J.s. N." -nan, b n lllj.!hl wnlcr famr I,. II\\' ~ kr r; II,I" f " r ....·l1illj.! a new llil"lghl-lifllng r,'( urd f, 'r , illl-!l",,·ng:in,· air craft. O n 2 1 ~1.I\· 19 'i l , Ih is aircraft was loaded wnh l4 ,lJ411h (6 ,77kd 01 ordnance
M6S r.coon- l-omb- six 1>.1177 7S01h b omb, and six 1\1 64 SOl' lh h"mhs \\'l'T1" mounted. I'lus cxrru fuel, rt·sHhill!.: in 11 total rake-off \\'l·i).!hl " f 16,719lh 111,11Skd .

Srrcific~t ion

Starboard sta bilizer lins on the Royal Navy AEW· ' (AD·4NI 'NT 121 Skyraider at tha Heet Air AIm Museum, RNAS Yeovillon, Peter C, Sml1h

AD-5

- AO-·m

r""""rrl.m l :

R· H 50-26WA

W"id1I~:

Empt y U 4SlJol ( 11.78.111» ; loaJ•..J 8A6tll l! ( 1!'l,669It-.); full 1O,986 llt (14 .22 111»; winl! Im,llne 46.61h/...... ft: r" )..-er 1,>aJill~ llllll'hr (6.9It-./h rl l.c.·ol{l h 11.96m ( J9tr l in ); height 4.78m ( I Sh 8 ~-;i n); ( 5011 Yo m ); .. 'me area J7 .192...... m (400.JJ"'-lli )

wm~m

\,02Ohr Max. ~ 515l m/h (J ZOmrh); 31 alntude 4,570m ( 15,OC<'Ift ) C n!!...:' -reeJ 115km/h (l 96mrh) Rare "i cl imb 91.."!8lm/h (2 ,9 Jft/ min ) Ceillf\lt 7,1 55m (H,8OOf1) Ran~ 1,4){'1km (9OOmiln)

I . \ cupunu

in ~I'VKC':

1949

73

15.2Sm

By the I" n J (,I rhc 1940-;, it appeared Ihat th e Skyf;li,ler. with its a,brlahi lir\· and vc rsanluv, would continue ro be the mam wor khorse ",f the Ile,' ! fo r se-vc rul m ore years, hut rhar It S actual pro duc non hI',' was ne arin.!: th e end . In ,10 e ra ot Na,·y Jel airc raft, the Skvrmder W ;IS Juokin.!: incrcac-

in,ely OUlm,l,J,-J. o.lU,Ctl' rn;I,11" an eft.. n 10 brearhe ne w Iii", mt orhe J l:'si ~'1l hy r r,"f'< "" 1Il).!, a t Ihl" I" nJ Ilf 1948, thl' fium,C Oi ;l lIuho -eomrounJ R-H 50 for ext ra r 0 \loW a nJ lift, c reat ml: t he AD- ;. ~l1ll1 'H)· N IJ · gelS were li ght a n J Iht' rr''f'<''CJ ne w ,' ng inc "·a.~ bUlh hea v ier anJ hlKl.:l'r t han Iht:' t'x i'l in).! rU Wl"r rlam . AcCt l1nm",J a llllj.!

..

. ,...""." • 11. .. .

woulde m ai l a comple te n-..Il·si ~n of t he i" rw 'lh l .urfrarnc. After c xunu narion and JI ......uo ion, rhc Bun:;lu of Ac ronauncs rell·ctl-..l tht.· iJca. Unde terred. l \'.u,gla" tri ed al-:a in . T he firsl radical i,lc;1 .....as JroppeJ . and ;1 new r'.It.' was pr 0r"lSt.- J. utili:ing Iht.· R-H SO!6\VA enume. In l\:ct."m h :r 19-+9. Dou£::las a ppwac h eJ the N avy wilh rhc AD-, If

purelv as a n anu-submanne warfare aircrafl . Such a machmc wo u ld com bine rhe two separate n ,1t.·s of Hunter anJ Killer, as md rcar ed 1-)' till' S und E ca r al-ilit i.·s, This Jispl ayt.',1 g......d 1' lJ!1C uud. in pnnct plc, rh c N avv was in I,tt'our of Ih t.' idea.

Once aeam. howe ver. a considerable rt.-Jesign woulJ h: eswnna], inc1uJmg widemnu tilt' (orwarJ fusd.lg.· I" allo w fur

sl,le-l-.y-si\lt· '
Dewelopm.nts 10 1950

R..

Noles

AD·l

"""'''''''

Anack

AD·1D

[C M

35

09352---{19386

AD-2

Attack

156

122210-122365

AD-2D

Drones

1

Nf'

AD 20

'CM

21

122366----1 m n, l m 74-1223l11

rOlal

1191 11J-09351

A03

,_

AD,"

Noght aneo

rs

121!m- 1l2':JZl

AOJO

'CM

2'J

1118S4-122816

ADm

AEW

31

121811- 1~1

AD·3E

H~ ,

1

11200&---122907

AD·3S

Kill

1

122910- 122911

AD-4

Anack

AD·lOU

We.1menzed

'""0

'CM

AD·4Nt

weanenzeo

I to AD-4 122lfi3

'"

2roAD-lS 122910--122911

Ex-AD·3W

t to AD-S 124006, 36 foAD·4/ 124125-124760.1 27844 - 127879, 18 fO AD-48 1211354 -121B61J. 121866. 121008-127812, 128931-128943

371

123111-123006, 128911-129)16

301

124 128-12 4156, 12 4~ 124160, 125107 -125764,

I(l) /oAD--4NA 125142-125764, 126816-126883,l269D-126m,

126816---127018.127811G---12192O

126941-126969.116988-127010.

124016---124121, 124161-1 24111. I2!:l16!r125782. 126836-126875.127921 - 121961

so to RN

'01

AD-58

Unofficial

TargetlOW-

A04N

A041

I fo AD-lll9195

" " "

I1J9J5.

123952-12400s, 127845-121BS2 124031- 124075 124725---1 24760

127854-127860,127866.1271l68-121872, Nuclear attack 193 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~12893 1-1 28943, 1 289 7 1-1 28918, 1J212~I~ -I~31 ~3~9~'

74

F"stlB were moc!l/ioo AD-4 _

38toAD -4Nl.12 4~12 416O

".

CHAPT ER EIGHT

Combat Over Korea The US Navy Experience I C llll lll U I1l~1

Nonh

';,rccs

f"RT'. ( ' T, ';lI Bnr.un -, ill ruanuniucd a rcu'''ll ,!hl...'·,i:,'d ,In 'l ;11 Ihi, tim,', ;Illd " Il ly Brit ish
th.u

, tr ik illJ,: (, 'TCl' was ha' lll y ;lssl'l1lbll,d from

a l.:l.:rl" -

1111'iT sh ips t1llTd ;,r,-, ,1Il,1 dl' N' avaiL,hk' in rhc ;11,';1 ,a il,'" I " Intervene.

invacion o ( ;HI,I sue-

l(' lH.''' \

<ll h K , ' T, ' ;I W;IS
ccs-Inl. I t nation , '

wnv

d ear rh.n, un ril the Il'ad m l-:

p l"; H:l ' ll lIl l '

l.rml

air

, 1ll,1

could \'l' lIluhili:t·J. , h" u n ly

I'''\WT

the U N c\l llkl l:> r i n ~ to IX'a r

till'

~lr,

0 11

b y wn h rhc " \"l'r-Ill'xihl,'

m.mnnw

Ear ly Strik es S tr ikinl.: FOTl:e 77" W ;I~ "LI(\'d under lin' overall conuuun d l,f Vice Ad m iral A.I), S trllbl\', US N , a nd wa~ ha ~l...1 " 11 two .urearn ers - rh c Anw ricnn he;I\'}' cumcr USS Val!..')' FlIT£! (CV-4S ) an d tlw Bri l i ~h liJ.,:fll Ill'c1 earne r 11~ I S Tn um(lh. 111l'Ir In',I\'Y-J.,: un ~u r r" rt wa- r w\' i,k...1 h~' I"" cruiwrv - 1Il l' Bnn-h 6 11l-j.,:ullIwJ Eldfmr ( 1l~· inJ.: the IlaJ.: of Rear Ad nural W.{l , A nJ rcw~, RN), <11',,1 rh c b rl..l' .'f Amcncan S lI\·",'Un lll..J R(/,,"·he~ It..'f. T hen -crecn of ten d,:strOyl'f', compn-cd Ih\' Arncnc.m She/ron, Et'l.'rSiJic. Fklr.'M. Radfurd, .\ tadJO.l , U ;lft

Samud N. ,\I (/IIJ7"l~', Bru.Jt and Tau\~i.l: anJ till' Bill r-h CunSfnt and CO.\,'iQl-k. A IUr,.' \'l in j.,: held in Toh o on lq j un e Admi ral J"~ .md Uencml-, McA rthur ;mJ Srratcrncwr J \'(I ,ll,J upon Ihe Nonh Korean Ai r F, -rcc ,.' Ih l' c.uncr-, (ir'l 111,1/" 1 la T.l.'l' r. " It \\";1' l',wnall,d t ha i lhi, rO llll' ri'>l'd ')4 wa rp l;llll's, ;111 ' lIl'rlil'J hy till' ~o\" i \' t U nion, ~~ YA K (il.:ht\'r, und 21 Hvn-h m f"-llll!-x'rs. h-, main .ur ,,"" l" we re l"!n sl' (II rh c Cllln tll lJlIi, t Cill' ll:11 I'Y' \IlJ.:yallJ.,: , ,IIlJ Vice Al lm ira l Strtlh!t, """ in ' trlll"ll',1 h I tak e rh \', \, ,1 111. S\'l,;OIl,I.U) · la r~l' l~ ..lbc.ucd t, 1 Ih l' Allied n ,I\·;.1 arr lIa h were rai lw:I\' mal~hOl llill l.: ~' ,lr,I" whi..: h Wl"T\' c ha n nd lilll.: tT, 11.\1" . Illllllllh m-, ,111,1 'UI'rlll" -ourh ( 0 n-intorcc Ilw 11\\",.,1 · 1IlJ.,: .In n il". ,IIlJ the , 1~"I I( I,I I ,'d l>ri.lL:l's. T.1,l Force 77 ...nle....1 on I Juh' lor I!ll' \n"1 KO"',1Il C'Ia,t anJ rlu- ,Irl',. "It 1\,'1ll.:),IIll.:, (l'm(,,rcl,J h) ,1' 11.:11.111" lin the

be tween

CI ,mm,m,!\'1 N;l\':l! Force, Far E.l'I , which ,'Xll'lhk..J it-,

hid:

( '1 :-':,'}'1: ,'u,I>... ,;o.... \, ... V__ !nlm under the umer"1 foredK k, en AD illaunc hed from the USS Phlllppme Se. {cy..u~ oft Korea. 1951. AD-48s lrom VA·lI S and VA -65 ope rate d 'r om the PIlIIIPPIIle SA. Befofe sai hng from San Diego, Calilofnil , on 5 July 1950, s he hId emba rlt~ VA·U5 .. JIlIrl of her Air Group 11 IevG·11I. Betw een 26 March a nd 2 April 1951, s he IIiurNlallcltd evG ·11 in J apan . and emba llced in Iheir place three F4U-48 Corsai r ~s, IS w elt as tile VA-6S Skyraide rs, alt Irom CYG·2, w hich had previously operJtltd fro",!h e USS Valley Forge (CV-45I, Rola nd W Bah ' V18 Man,n Bowman

75

I" " """ll": ""l.

I"

t

'n \,........ . ~ 11..: ,.",,,111 "'·,.'n,",u ,,~ !..:••".lIl "t, '".. ,. l l,l:h...., T'f ""'''\ ", h: ~""n ,,' r,ul 1""lItr, In \",,,m ll (~ " u rn.!,,,,,. "" """"" th o.' , ,,,'

1.1,,\

""""lI" ,

.on,1

A I l1')4S o n ~ [ulv. Ill\' (i....' al lal'k, wenlaunched. TIll' R\'CI Air A nn ha..! IIll'

,,,

,,... ,, ,,. ~

~ l(.II.

COMBAT OVER KOREA - TIll ' US N"'i)' EXPERIENCE I

hunour of maki ng t he first str ike, wit h t welve Elirl'y Frrctlv a nd nine roc kcr- urrnc...1 Suj-crmannc s..'afirl'~ hl..'ing bunc hed. They h it han J.:ars anJ inst allat io ns on I b eju airfield, a nd 1I1l'n t urned to t he railways a nd hriclJ.:l'~ as th ei r sccc ,ndary tar get s. Many hit ~ wen- SCI ' rl.....1am] IIll' Yall returned 1\' t he Tn· Iltll{lh at 08 1S. WI ll'n th e V(ilk.') Fl1r~('\ tum tl' srrih' came, he r ~ lr i k i ng force - 16 CharKl,-Vllllght F4U Cors airs uf VF·';4, each wit h l~i ght Sm rockcrs, and t he 12 A I) Sk~' rai,ll'r~ "fVA -iS nnclcr th e command of Liel ltl..'l};]ll( ·("A,rnrn;Ill,ler N.!} Hodson W, I~ [aunched at (l61."lO, E
Enemy ai rna(t I'll ,hl' (idd were st ra(e,1

an d Sl't afire , an d the n- were no casualties uruong Hil y of till' Anu-ncan uircrnf from ret urn AA fire, whic h was Iigh l. ln t he afternoon, VA -5i we nt bac k fur a second di n ··homhing stri ke, thi ~ rime t
four mamlJ.:l'd to ret urn to the Valk"'l Fmge safdy, l-ut '1I1e (If th em had suffe red j,l rnage to il.s tlnp s-act uar ing gl'a r, ami if'; 11al'-' could not he lowered o n the la n,lin g "r rro' Kh. After 'a high a nd fast approach', it 'took a cur. landed wh eels firs' and bounced over rhc r m tl'Cling hamcrs into the pl.mcs parked foTv,:,ml. O m' AD ;mll two F4Us were t{,w lly de~tT'lYl.J wh ile three A L)" Ilnt' F4U andtwo F9Fs were ll.llmlJ.:eJ .''' The, high tate "f achievement agalll-'t NIm h K" Te.1continued rhn 'liglu lUI the first month. ar rhc l'n,1 of wh ich T:Isk Force 77's aircra ft claimed tu have dl·str
AD·4B from VA-115 a nd VA·65 - landing bac k aboa rd. Rola r1d W Baker v.a Man," Bowman

l-ornbs. Thcv were l..·.>;(I'rtl', 1 hy l..' ight F9F2 Gruuuu.tn Panther je t fiJ.: ht ns, whi c h \WTl' h.' ing lIS<.',1f('r t hl..· fiN lime in cornbat hy tl\l' U S N
c

T Ill' next ,by W:lS American ludcrcn -

all except two 'In the groun d. In knoc king

den ce Illy, ,mel AD·5 1's S kFailll'rs cc!c-

our Ilw North Korean Ai r Force r;J.:IlI at the h..' gin n ing of h' lSlilitit's, th e Skvraidcrs had

l-rated wit h t hei r own brand of fire wo rks ag,linst the sarue ,a rJ.:l..' ts. T h is IIl1l1', their NlInhs d roPI'I.,d ;1 spun of t he hrid J.:l'. Ten more loc omotives we re cl aimed as dc strovcd, an d attac ks we re abo mad e on Nort h K orean gu nh.lab I'll tlll' T,led" ng, a n,1 1<'f, burn ing, In tUI ,ll, dl'\'l..' n No rth K"ft',lIl w,lrpla lH's h;ld bn'n Ill'Stfllyl'd all li {IIH' d:lrnagl" 1. In re t urn , t he S kyrai,lers suffe red t1wl r first cu mha t c a.~ u' l l ,ies. A nt i-a irn aft fin' W,lS Ill';l\"in 111,111 " n the r t" Vi,'US d'ly. ,lIlll tiJ\lT A Ds were hit o w r Ihe Iilrgl..·t ;m~a . A ll

76

made a sign ificam Cllm rihuri, "1.

Th e Skyra ider as a Torpedo Bomber Om' unex r l..'cteJ o utcome o ( rill' Na ... ~"s

illvlI ln'llll'nl in Ih e Korea n War was the S kymidl..'r\ lIn ly c ha m:e to (unc lion in one of irs o rigi nal w les, as a ro rl'l.'J o h)mlJcr! Thl' l:Iack ,gHlunJ In t he story in volved all th rl..' <;' s<.'rvices.

,,'

....."

01,,", {'O.\lfI,n OVER KO REA - THf' US

On I November 19 50 , th e C hinese Conuuunists sent in the ir a rmies ,KT(I~S the Yalll Rive r to san' th e NOTth Koreans hum to tal , lefl'al. TI ll" Un ited Nat ions forces were quick ly beat en had hy \\'l'i~l u "j numbe rs, an d, by 4 JalUwTY 19 5 1, th e COl\lnHlllist~ re-took th e So ut h Kor ean capital "f Seoul. A l l ho\l~h a c ounteroffcnstvc jTl'l"! tlu- ci ty al.:ain by 18 Murch , ;I further Couuu urust coumcr-auack te rnI"lrar ily hal ted rhc Unncd Nations advan ce, T Ill" war s" tt kd down tIl a hl, ,,,,ly smlcrnutc-, rcmuusccur of tlw First World Wa r trench wurfan- ill Flanders. In the rncanrinu-, Gcncml

!\11lJ.,: 1a~

~1cATlh ur

~AVY

EXPERIENCE .

B:lY on the Yclluw Se a. The rivers' water level wus p.rrtl v controlled hy enrhtccn sluice gales built on top o f a massive CO il' c rete dam , wh ich hcl.l ba ck till' waters of the Hwacbon Rese rvoir. Th!s structure had l-ccn buill hy rl1l' Ja palll'se in till' e:lrly 194 0s, when Korea wns under their control, as a mea ns of pro vid in g fTl'~h warn fo r the ci ty, hu t, lying ,l~ il 1111\\· .Ii,! l-clund Comm unist lines, it rep resent ed more I,f ,I th reat tha n a salvam m to till' population. If the Comnuuuse, c.uurollcd till' sluic e ga !e~, th l')' could raise tlwui. or even

,k'.,troy rhc d.nn . and flo",[ S,'o ul. This wou]c ] also de ll)' the a nll ie~ of the United

Sal e l~

AD-4Bs from VA-115 and VA·55 - the batm an dir ect s • Skyraide r back on board afte r a mis s ion. Roland W Bakerv,a Mart,n Bowman

Hook dow n, und er c arria ge do wn , hea ds do w n! t hre e -pointe r, RolandW. Baker via Martin80wman

was summ;lrily sacked hy PTl' ~ kkTlt Tru man for prop, l~inJ.,: III hIunb Ch in" in n-tul-

Nattons :lIlY oppurtunity It , re-start an o nt:n~ivl', nn d advance north uf till' 11.",,!·

iatfon. TIll' commander of thl' US Eigh th AmlY, Gcner:ll l\-b"h..-w B, IUdgwHy, rook over as Commander, Far E;IS[. TIll' lint'S of th e two llrf"lsing armies stradJ leJ Ihe tlrij,linal jro nt icr :mJ, although Seou l wa~ in A lli,'<1hands , il was mrcalen e,l, m't on ly h\' Ihe Comm unis t armies, hut hy amllheT, mo rl' i n~ i. l io llS danger. T he S'l uth KOTl'an ca pit a l sta n.!s jllS! west of thl' ({ln lh ll'llcl' ,If tIl<' I lan and Pllkh~n Rin'rs, hd or ,'lhey Il l\\" into As:m

r- l~it illtb. On rhc otlu-r hnnd. the Comm unists cou ld close th e sluice gail'S to tally, muk mg till' riVl'r t:':lsily f, lrd;]hll' fOT tlw ir Ilwn il,h·anc ing hllrdl's, Either way, \\'h, "'\'l'T c, ,nttolll"J til\' gre at s l \lice~, 20ft (6.1011ll ill heighl ,1n,14OfI ( 12.20m ) in wi.h h, cll nt rolle.l till' ,Iestiny Ilf rill' h:ntl "fidJ in m i.!· l(nTe:l. No dnllht inlh ll'IK "d b), h i~ com"-ll l'x l'l' ri"IKl' in Cnlll,lll)" "1 the end of the Second \Vorl .l W;lr, when Ihe Germ:n b cd rivers ,lg:lin't Conmunusr

77

ha d 11no,!e,1the Ri ver Roer, Gene ra! RiJgway wa nted l';lTly nu to pre-e mpt :my such control, an.! h ad ca lled f" r thl' Hwachun Dam si llice~ to be ta ken nut tota lly. lle asked the USA F to rc pe at the RA F'~ damhllst ing ex ploi ts, a nd. :lccordi ng ly, attacks WCTl' made hy Bot: in g B-29 hcuvv bombers u"inj,l6 tun htllnh~. Their arrack was a total failure. TIll' US Eigh th Armv had, meanwhile. th rown p on toon hTidgl'" ,ICTUS" rhc Fukhan to conti nue its advance and, '10 9 April, till' Communists dllh' r,lbed rh c sluice gate~ and rdea'l'd tI", tloo.l water exuc tlv as pred icted. Two hridgt'~ weninuu ediutelv affected. one hl' ing totally

bac k a boar d. ev en if the lan ding is not a peTlect

wa-hcd awav, the orhcr wnhdrawn under "I' collapse. »n.l the ad vance gTtllmJ

t hreat

tu a halt. Exasperated. Ridgway again called on the US Ai r Force 10 dll some dli n J.,: , hu t his request w,,~ turned down : even its hi~eM ht llll h~ were I'0werles~ against ~lKh ;l ma,."ive ."tn Kture. Rislgway tr ied :mllllll'T tilCk, and twu attem l' l~ were 1ll:1dl' ( 0 "'"rm till' dam ll~i ng ~pecia[ a.sS<1l11r (Ilrl'l'~, B,Ith :11 tl'mr '" biles!. A gl'nera! oITl'n~ive (oll"wl~d an d I n K l l'~ Ilthe EiJ.,:ht h Ar my ~eizcd Ih e area :lTotlnJ the H W:lch on Rt:'Sl'r voir fur ;1

...

·< . " " . ~ ~ . t1.

CUMRU O\'Hl IW lt loA

TIlE I 'S "'AV'

f_Xrf_R I~'''Cf_

1

•

AD-4Bs hom VA · 115 . nd VA-i5 - . Iou,- pl. ne 101lTlilionIt ac ke d lip e ver ttle PhilipPine Sea. Roland W ... "' arM Bowm~n

8~l'"

A Navy Skyraider armed wilh th ree 1.lIOlllb bombs lak " ofl lrom Ihe c."i., USS Valley forge (CV·451fOI • s lrike on Communisl lillgets in Korea , on 26 April 1951, N.1I0fl~1 AfChlv ei. Co!le ~e Perk. MD

78

COMIIAT IlVEII t;OREA THE us

short pcnod. A reum of US Manne l~ n ~i ncc rs was rush ed forward to s;lhntagl' till' sluice gai l'S and lock them open pe nna ncn rlv. lloweve r, before t111' y co uld do an y more than mak e an inspe ct ion , on 22 April 19 S1, th e C om munis t unn v aga in th rew th l' Americans bac k and re -took the dam , Ridgway W :lS hack whe re he had sta rted!

~AV Y

E.\ I'ERIH';CE I

Wi thin thre e hours of receiving t he request for hell'. I'rinCC!n1l de-pa rched a

striking force o f six A D4 Skvraide rs, each nrmccl with two 2,COOlh homhs. TIll' Y h ad a fighrn I'SWrt of five F4U Co rsairflghrcrbombers of VF- 191, for tl
t;lrgcts. TIll' Soviet Union snl l had >;o. UIlI' old "'mlt'ships in full conuniss u In ,It thi s per iod , :mJ also haJ a t lr/..", »nd growing num be r of 1S,l\.T() n I II c ruisers I 11 thl' St'l'l"J/H[ clas.' built. Aga inst th ese. unri l guidlJ tactical ato mic weapons could he developed. the tllTJX',ln wns still the mn't dtect ivc c, nmrer-mcasurc. Thus it carne about tha t the Skvraidc r was fmullv seen, for th e only time in h istory,

An AD·1 ot VA·l95 unfold s ils w ings aboa rd the carrier USS Princet on lCV-31l oH Ihe Koreen eeest

preparatory to a strike mission.

The Ar my

[lO W

McDonnell Douglas, Long Beach

turned to the Navy for

help. A request was scm to th l' comrmmder of Task Force 77, Rear Admiral Ralp h A. Otsnc, f,lr h is .urcratt ro try and dest roy at least tW,1 of rb c vital sluice gntcs, to lessen rhc poten tia l da nge r of furt her flooding. O peratin g wit h th is task force was till;' attack carrier USS Princeloll (C V37 ), commanded hy Capta in W illia m 0, Gallery. Ah.l
holed the chun , hut all the sluice gatl's rcmam cd unscat hed. T here remained one final hupl'. Amo ng her ordnance in ven tory th e Pnnceron , like all attac k curriers, earne d a smal l complemcnt of th e Mark I ) ae rial toTJX'l1o. Despite the advent pf th,· air-b und led rocket . an d its sucu·s.,flll applic.atioll in the b sl two years of the Second W.)rl,l War against smaller all,l light ly armed ~ h i Pl' i ll g targets, it was still a fact th" t th is weapon was rclauvc lv ioeffec nv c against larger war-hip

79

fuliilling the combined rble of ,lin' ,111,1[orpt'd" bomber for which it ha,1 or ig i n;I Il~' l-eon ,Il'wlop.·t! ten yea rs earlier. Ca pta in G allery prop osed that the lorpcdoe s sho uld he utilized in a second arrack bv the Pnnceron'sSkvnudcrs agaim r the stub bor n sluice l:; lICS. H is Idea was taken up with alacti ty, even though w ry little train in g had been d,me in th is rtlle. Nei t he r was there any opport un ity for further prar nc c , as rhc missio n was sched uled for till' fnlluwing morn ing. The hazards

..

, ........d ~ Ir.".

(, O ~ lIJA T

OVUl KORb\

t tu.

us Nlln'

L \ f' LIl Il,N('L I

f;I": ~'d r y torpc ..lll homh..'r, In'fl.' 11"...11 known . and rh .., dam 11";1' well defended. with ,nui'
rbcrr farl.:~· h . No, ;111 t he lI"arhe;l<1 cxplo-ion-, lh ;1I r..'_lIlll·<1 were Oil lar j.!l·l. or I'rol...luccd rill.' de-n..' J r..· ".lb. bill "Ill.' ...[ m-et h l! pun c hed a hole 1011 ('111 ) in di.uncn'r Ih rtllll-:h one " I th e slurc.., l-:all'" whil..- " . hns l" uk " Ill , 'I1l.' ,l llk"' l-:;lIl' Cl 'Illr k ld y, T Ill.' ~k vrniders h ;ld done alll h,ll h.rdl-ccn ;1, h '<1ofrhcru , wilh" 111 1,1" . A , dll'Y k'fl d ll' ...'cnc , water IVa, l'''lIrinJ.: d lTlllll-:h till' l,!
Prince/on 's Skyraider Missions TI ll.' H .....iKhun R...,...."·uif all ,Kk. ah hll lll.:h Ih..' m."1 ' pt..'Clac ular. wa, ' lIlly, '11'" lIt' lIl an~· J.li ly , ni h'~ h..'IIlj.! mtlm)! ......1 .. ~. VA· 19's 'Ahle· [\'1!'· al Ihl' J't-'ri, iJ. Alm,)'o,1 el ' ll! Ill· u;d ly in aCllun . Ih t.' Skyr.li,I..' r w;" pruv inl.: il.'t.'lf.m in va luahl e \n'aron in Ihe U n ill-J Nation, arm"U f)', II wa, 1.11' .1j.!'.lln'l , uJ't-' ri· I'r num hcr,;; Ih .., "'n,,'m y', s"wi"',·sul'pll..-J T-l4 l;Inh \n' re l'I
Seen under Ihe wi ng ole Nevy AD·4 Skyre ide, trom VA ·195. under Commende r Herold G. eerl$On , USN, Ihe 10rpe do8$leu m,;hed III low level ex plode liS they hit t he sluic e gales ollhe Hwe ch on Dam, on 1 Me , 1951. This famous strike merke d Ihe lasl combel LIs e ollhe aerial to rped o a ga ins l a n en emy lar gel . Nalron. 1Archrves. College Parl;.MO

[ew American tnnk x, ;Hh l even till' A mcrkan 2.l6i n ha:, ,,,ka ;H\l i' l;lllk " " h ·" hUlinc ed ofl rh..-i r arm'Hlred hi.. I.." . ~ ix year,; e'lrli...r. Ih l.' G... rl1l;H\' h ;l..! 1; ,ull,1 rhal un ly r recbiull homhin j.! had ; 111~· d lce l ,'n tlll' , e munsler,;, anJ Ihe A IIIl.'riGl[\' Wl're no w di 'Cuvc rll\ J.: Ih ... 'i l1lll.'.On 11ll.' Ea'I..' rn Front, il wa, rill.' JUllk ..." Ju . 1'17 SlIIka Ihal h ;d Ih... acc uracy lU ddin 'f l h i, lH'l' ul allack; Ih .., l'i 'I
80

l;1f1.:..'1 area. On , Jl)l' rt' pl"'n i"h m"'lll (by thi' ioc (a,led all ,by and W;l' '>(J Ihi ck Ih in vi, · il-ilil y \\'a, , d d" lll grc,Hl'r Ih ;m 200 yards. In ;lur r,on of tht, 1I11-wllhd r;l.....ing UN flOOps were rruJe lr"m ::X""ll Itl Kow on. They ctllmeJ Iht-

CO\IIIAT OVI-ll KOllh\

s.,,,,,,,,

Ordnance ••ptnditur. Kore. - Prine.tOll April l9S1

2.lDJGP l.lDJGP

""GP 2SOGP

100GP "" 08 2llI Frag Napalm tanks

Thdeoor M. 13 rc peeoes Rockets 6 5 AlAR Rockets 5 0 HVAR Mk6 Rocke ts 5 0 ITlQlOl Rockets 3 5 headMk 8 Rockels 3 25 mo tor fuse rockelSMk 149 20mm carmon ammo ~calmg

.....'"'" No

3.883

•

4,54D

1.552 57.540 8 835 1.338 2.170 4 4

i.JJ8 165.592 m,750

Je,.tnlt.:ll,l1l " I tW,1 eucmv 1--;1IT;1I.:\'"" fll'U !:Un " mr l,Kc nw n h anJ GIU......J an e- nmated .k"'(t r l u~ c,N Mlt i,.... am lOnt: II,,· ...n"IIW\ ctr.unJ f..rce-. a ~ well u-, ,1..·~tro~· Illt: t~ ltlr "~' >In"llh''', \ ,Ol5 Wr",Kill·'!. Ih l'll' Wl'rl' simila r ~ rrikl" In Ihl' S;Hlchon a rl'a ;1Il,1 ,l1"n,L: rill" {r" nt 3hpw Sl·"UI. which ,k,tlo~'l',1 1\\''' m"n' enl'm~' ~un l'lIlI'Lh':"'lll...'H...;, a ~lI l'l' ly dlllllp IU hm' ah \\"l' Seoul. Twlllll. 'n· ...m·my artl ll~T)· ril'n...Wl'rl' "h.J flUI. ", well ;1' Iwdl"l' InICk- ;.. \0.1 Sln.1r). Sll\;ll1l'r \'l'hidl~, allli ;\ "'n ,ll.'t., n~h ~.J . Ph,ltl' lhj!hb ctln·Il.J rill' ;Ul'; l~ WCSl uf ~OWl>n an.! ntlfth of r)·llnL,\·;IIlC. After rerll'ni,hmg ;Ic-,lin, PTlnt't'flnl Il'h'\"l''ll furd'M:r no.lflh tll t~ ,1I"ll' IIr l >n Wh;ll thl' ph,,. 1q;r.qfL~ h;.J rl·wak.J an,llau!llhl...1a n", h · ('f 24 AD ~tri k('<; ag;linst Commu ni"t Ir;lIl' f\iIt ~ysfl' m~ al s"Hl,L:lin, Kik h u ;1ll,1 Smrunj.:ll i, clai mi ng thc ,k"nKli"n III Olll' gun f'tl1'itl\'n, tw" C('lllr ll'l... hrid,L:l·.~ , wh ilc

1111

rs

~ ,, \ , ' ~-'P~.llll: 1\ n

I

,-

No

,.1the enemv.

AN-M1DJAI AN-Ml39A1 AN-M14OA1

115

" 00

m

AN- MI68 AN-MIOOA2 AN-MID IA2

7.556 8.913 311

AN-MI02A2 AN-MI66

""

MI15 Mlt6 M11 7 M125A116 Hr l AN-M1JO

30

TIll' 1,1.';1 0 1 hlttin:.: 1ll' ;1\'I1\ ,ld l'n, ll.J ..., . me.m- 0 1 remorc-comrollcdarr.. l"T.111 r .ll"h.J with h l ch - l' x rl "'l n'~ h....1 1" IlI.: IIltri cu<.·J airme n,
ca mc r-ba -c.J Slyr;u Je r-, It ' rhl' lll.....-onuort

B20 B8 4

,

73

T4E 1

,

MIS7 M157

2.946 2.946

f lares MJ:. 6

102

kn..,,:kin c a "r a n t'u t tit .. th,r". a.." 'e11 ;l'" ....'C. I" ,n." l it" vitn] r.lilw.I\' 1r.1C1. On 5 ~t.I Y, an cvv n Crc,u er ...Il~ ln W ,l~ m, ...Ic anJ no Il·" th.ru 2'1 ~l ~-raiJl'r:- " ""l ran in mt ..rdu non ~I n h', ;I~;\ i n~' th e c n ..my "'" r r l" r"Ull" in th e Kowon
Guided Mis siles G.\IU-90 In Ih " "" Jl·~pt.'r;lll' ,tt )"', Ctllll"l' n li"Il;11 Ji v...-hllm l-in c al1,1 ,tr~ lnnc ;l\l ach II"l'Tl' no l Ihe o nl y COllllihlJl i"ns lll
81

l; l rl.·...r~

The Hcllcat -, were fured wnh a remote Ct'!ll r. llll·J tclcvrsum guid.mcc J,'..-ic..... mJ .UIlll'J wllh ;t ~ lIlc le 1,WI'" h' mh a tt'iXl·J l<' 1Ill' un,I......."k· III ,h... Cl·llIt. 11 II1...·b cl'. A Il';un . It IW\1 A!)·4N, 1lI0llLltlrl,J , h.. l;lk l··"t"! anJ ~u h""'411"' 1lI al'li;11 Id l'vi, i' 1I1 o mu .l l "I Ihc F6F· if..: . nil' l'qu1r"ll'lU wa, IIlUun tl,J in . h" a ll~r cabm, ;1Il,1 till' IWo1Il;1l1 "1"' r;lIin~ Il';lm cui,k'd till' airer;lll tll till' (;IICd ;Iro:" . ~ liI nJ in,L: " It {rum t h.. dan · Cl'r :1Hll' alld el lll t rl,IIi ng till' fill;11 .II"'l' Ill!(I lis " bjl'I:lin" A lth"ugh I....." I'r" ""'l l 'I'; il l h~" , an,1 not Cl'ry :ICC UI:ltl', 11 was dl'cidl'lilo comh lt -to:st thl' lll'vic... . C V·li W ; l ~ Sl'ker...J 1"1 thl' Jnh.

()fwrations of Boxer s G.\fUs F, III"wlllg Ih ... rionl't.'rinc wnrk III G~I U · & JXtT (CV-21) W;h J l'''I,arJ Ih ... tim",' AD,4Ws of VC · ll \ 1\..tac hml'lll 'A', c" mlll;llldl·d hy Liculcna nt J. WaJllel l. ;lIlll [\ :Iach ml'lll 'A' nl VC· 35, comlllandl·d hy Lil'L1Il'IMnt R. W. Ta ylo r, wilh lour A[)-4N L~ ;lll.l 011\' A I),ZQ.

"JV, till' ca rn ...r

..

.,... " ". ~

• h.lI.

The B(lx~'" r~'n,I":\"ou~'J wu h Ta-k FI' rH' 77, now commanded hy Rear Admrral A. Soucek rn Ih,' carrier Es'>l'x (CV.I}) on !6 Alll.·ll~{ 10:,1 ')1, A ir ur~: r.l{ ill n, co m1ll,'nH'd on rhc next ,lay, wuh a 101011of 86 com bat sornc- ( ')6 I,f them "'y the :; k~v i,le r~ ) I"-' in ~ laun ched "'y th e B' ':\''f A Ir G roup; rlu-ir tar.L:"b were in rhc vicin ity Ilf C h{l~,'n , Hllll inla nd ~t Or:J g" and ~ lI r plv ;m:a ~ ~oll t h' \\' ,'~ 1 of W(ln ~;ln . In :.11, (,6 t, ' 1" I ,f I -rd n. mce we-redropped un , ur l,li,', anJ Inl<'r urcas.

...~. th e ~ imul l;\tu,tlUl> bunc h of the cnn rrolIinJ;: A [)· 4N from th e 'larhomJ ealaruh ,W TIll' fiN Sk\T;\i d~:r ker l r an ' wnh Ih,' drone, wh ich was r.,Ji ,.-c,.nrn ,lleJ t1uolJj.!h ib laun ch an J inti } It , mlll,.1 climb 10 th e required altitude hy ti ll' ",'e ond com rolhng A D-')N (rillll",1hy Li"I1tenant Taylu rl , which wait,',1o n 1l11' dcc k. W h,'n till' drum' was '
.ur cratt lire•.1 'lJ;:nal was sent . Thl' con trolled Ihe Hd le'lt's aileron, and lIar", ..... nJm~ il JI\" inJ.: int o the tar ge t. Th e 1,OO.)Ih h.lmh C,IU'o(..J a brt,:" det on ation and nu .....-J c l..uJ, I,f earth. ..lIN and -rnoke over Ihe area 1,( imr .KI, "'UI it W:lS n,.{ unt il the photo-reconna issan c e .urcralr h;IJ over-flown till' tar get rhar n', ulb could be ascertained. TIll' pictures were returned to t he c arr ier, and ca re ful :m: l l y~ i~ of t hem

indicated 111<11 th e hridg" wa~ uo ] 'lIl ~cr ' lan,llIlt,: afln Ih l ~ fi'" a t tempt.

21 AugusI1 951. fOUl Sky"ide rs from the u niel USS BOl e r ICV-21l l1y over Ihe J llplln Sell on Iheil WilY 10 demolis h lin e ne my bridge wesl 01Wonsan , Korell. Thes e dive bombe rs . re u rrying e bomb 10lld e qullt 10 lhllt 0111 Sec ond World Will Army B-11. f lying !he Skyreiders lire Nn el Rese n e pilolS lorme rly ba sed al HAS Dlltla s. Te u s. McDonnei DougI.s.long B.lCh

On the next ,by, 28 AUJ;:usl 1<)11. 11ll' wc.nher was J'll<'r. Smkcs d i,1 " 01 commence until I when a further ,n cumh it sort ies, inchnlirur 27 hy th,' A [)." wenlaun ched again ' l 1,lrJ,:" " in till' S"nJ,:jillKilchu an'a. TIl"\' ,ld in 'n'..!2 3 t,'n, 1,( l'r, lnance illln th,' No 2 hy,lm-t'ieclri c I'lanl at C h,,,, m and M'ulhl,1Ih,' A mI-FlO n '",,'rVlllr, TIw 'h:n ificanet' II( Ihi , dar w,,, lilt' (:1<:1 Ihal II marlt'll tilt' fiN Ci MU all:u.: k. O ne \If Ihe six F6F-Sk ..!rtltw~ wa~ Iallnch,'ll (wm BoxeT's J'I.n c
no,

a" lIltle..1 control ,10,1rlac..J tilt' ..!ro ll" on a Iwa Jing lowarJ s th e '...-lecrcd larJ,:el - Ihe llummnm hri,IJ,:,', a strateuic u,~sillg that hall SII far .I,{it-d repe ated USAF all ,'m p" al us ,It'~ t [lln i"Il, T he C; lll \t' n i in Ihe B d lr al's cllck l' it " 'Ill a fuzz\' hut c l"'1f,'n'ltlgh r icl Hr" 1,1th e cI,n trnllinj.! A IJ-4N \ lll11nitor fll " Il,,!>le l:1 ~' lor\ cre w III cont rollhc drOll" wilh a re,IMlIla"'le J ,'g-n.:e III .lCcuracy, II W,l' "et·R'll III fh,' "'ridJ,:" anJ Ihen , fll' m a <;;If.. Ji'la nn' IItI"i,I" lh,' ::l In,' of h,'a\'\' ant i·

82

Followmg Ih b success.

ve-J S connn-

ucd upt:ral iol" a J.:;Ii ll~1 u tlw r worlh ",h.k taructs. mainly ra il "'rid.l:es and tu nnels, which could on ly be dcmolohcd b"

hea vy ordnance de livered with great acc u ra c ~' ,

TIlt' ~'c(\nd F6F-')K Jrlll'" :ltI:lCk ....'35 made on Ihe foll'lwing J ay, 29 Aul.~, as r an of som,' 11 2 Clllllhat [,tJni,... ll" "TI ftooJ th e B()x~.,.. TIw hulk uf liltOX' S\lm,~ (i8 in I\lIal) wIn' ,""...Ie ""', Ih,' SraJ. "The Ia rgtU .....ert' a Iaf).'t:' rul-oh.:-r f,Klllry, millt
,.. ."

.. ,

..,I

("O MR,t,T O \' H t KO k h\

SkyrIiMn oper.ting from Itl. Bon Homme R'chard ltv-J I) ott Korea ,

anJ t/'I " f' h. ItU( \..' ;11 p\,. '1l1..');IIl).:; MI I, 'Ii" ,f otJll.al1.u .' were ,-k'p.~ih.'\1.

Ort.'r,lIi,'n s were curtailed ,!unl1).: dw next two d,IYS due h' n n -l'ss;l[l ' rq ' kmsh-

ffil"flt, and ha,! wearlwr, hut 1'l' g;11l ;lg; l i ll " n

f\(ln

TIn . l'S

~ ,t,\' y

F. XH k IH i C F I

McMul ..,

I :-;.:rtl·ml.....-r.l.)n this d.rv. In unl'4 'I(I,;l I, 'r,,1 "".'r \..', h..rr
83

..

. ,... " " . ~

• h. lI.

1'0\lllAT U\' 1'1< ti.OI
TIlt: I'S " A\' Y I', Xnl
actuall j- ;l~a i n\ l u lficial r uliq . L.", ,mJ J ;tma,l.:l' ran- became so h,k.I I hat the BuA t'r c-nrn.ued III lat e 19 50 Ihal .u mnon "",'>uIJ U'l' up their whole ' I,oc k "f A Ds wu h nine rn onrh- ! In rhc 1II.:hl nt Ih i_~ cr isi-, pcunt , and wuh rhc AD-4 produc uon line .Ill'" III fina ll~' Clll"" in 19SI, Lil'U1 cn.uu -C omnumdcr H ank S Ut'rstl', II, tilt' BuAl'r AD ('r" Jl'c I O flin'r. Maruu- CUfT'S Major Ken Reusser, of rhc Butl',111Armament ,Ii\' isi, III (wlu I had been Ihl' Jri \"inl! force in J.!1·1l1111.: an extra IWO 2(1m lll cannon mro till' Spf th e lL· 2 wen- l..'IK;\'1.J in an aruuarred- tcc l h IX ,If t'n, 'rmt >us sfTl·nl!l h. TIll' Amerrcan rcchmc ulexpert s concluded. howe\'er. Ih al Ihl' a..I"t'lll. n of "UCh rrllll'Cli. >T1I~ll l~ :-kyr.uJ ,' r W.I" '1.11t,t" the que...l lt'n; rhc extra wdell! wou lJ h.I\"t' 1,,,,, .k.lwlX' an t'fti.'C1 uf't -n till' A D's performance. S.lt.'Nl.JI's mr1l.11 re... /ue'l 11".1' therefore rell"l:l l.J 'Il lt m ..ht ancl Ill' W,I' 101.1 I" mmd his o-vn bu-mess, In 1;1(1, hi , leu...r was Wilt h n.:k l·nd"N.'J 'Zal'lltCllJ.\ II 114.~ ~a{llllu~', wh ich tr'llb1.lll"$;I.' 'Cob bler, ' Iiel lo YOUT la't ' ! Un.h-tcrrc....I, rhc (),1I1J.!1a, (I ' m ran~' Illa.!l· ,I .It·I'lik,d 'llIJy o{ ih own . The "'Xpt'Th can·fully 'lIlal.,.""J th ... hulk of lhe Skyra i,ln\ l!T" unJ-fiTt.' hn " ;1lI.! cdm.. . up wnh ;l r .llll'm Ilf the mO, f Ct'mml,n In"'" 01 'I mclUral .1,1111;11.:1'. Thl.')· mad " a ,m"U muJd of Iht' S k~-raiJe r anJ r. I' ......J Lucilt TOJS Ih wudl 1111.' ' "nu la!fil 1l,lk entr.tllct anJ l'x il htlll'~ hi illu 'ltale Ih... co nel' nTTalion . B .n ·in l.: cu nn' nt r.lI'.J t' n Ihe mam rrllhlelll art';ts, Ihe O<.IUJ.! \;1s It'am Ihm ealllt' UI' wirh ;1 rrllf't)x'J ,,,llIlIon. Tht \'ulner,lhll' ;ITl',I, ;1_' in,lieall,,1 h~' till' mrJlkl ell ukl h... (,,\"n l', 1hy , h" l'ts 01 ,I nl'lI" male· rial. ,I cUllll'"und t,f ,It·d ,Illd duralum inum, wh ich lI"a, SlTUllg hlJl co mrarali\'... l~· lil!lu wd d )! ; this w,luld l' I",'i.l1.' lhe: 1l1'Ct'" aTy I'Wfl·(t iun. E
*'

Rann'lo go! ASk,,,id" w' lh p.op spinning . nd • very lIli.ed load 01 ordn.nee Sl. nds re.d, lor lake -e" Oil lile deck of ils e. rrie' olt rhe Ko,,, " eUSl A Ch.lllee·Voughl F4U Corsair, wings folded. i. s poned on lIle side olrhe deck . 5.n Olego A_ 59'"

""-

whic h wert: l.'u kl~',1 III h)' the A D-4Ns 1<1 m.rkc excellen t .macks. T he tiuul tIl'" FtoF-i K ,lrt'Ill's were !olUndll,,1 dl~' I\lll,m'inl! ,by, l Scptcmlwr, makml! ;l lu fal Iff six such SUnil'S. T1w'l' ..ix IllhSj,llh h~' F6F-i K dtl lm', \WH' ah "" IUfd y Ilniqll~' III Ill\.' hi s!"Ty I,f h 'lh IIw U S 1':,I\'y an,1 IIll" S kyraid\"T, ,111,1 \nTl' nl' \'~'r H'f'l°;1I1..J in (I'TIlh,n. LiloUll'n :lIl1 Ta,·I" r\ \'C-3 5 ha, ,I \', l l i~1 d.lim III a ' f'l'cI,ll r bc~' in !h~o ,m na l, "i n a\"al ;-I\' ia!iun. On ~ ~r l~·mh.'r, IIll" S ky r.l i~ll.'r' III VA6i 11ew ~' n' r;1 1 mis,i.'ns, wilh 71 c"ll1h,1t ... 'll I~'S h.° ln~ Ct 'ntr ihll t ~...1tt I 11ll' It Iia l l,I 84 conn'n tl"" al 'Inkl." 11"wn. Till.' w ealh~'r d,,~', 1 in un Ih ... 11I.'Xt .lay an ,I, Ill1 4 501,,1'I ~olll h.'r, I h~' c<Jlri\"T' /It! X~'r anJ E~ 'i':" , ~"~' un~'d hy rill' ,le'tr" Yl' r ('(Ilk. d"'panl°.! (t"m T,I, k F" n':l' 77 I" rl'l urn l u Yukusuka , FUTl~""'\' I'lI uf Hoxa 's airaafr nl'\\' ,lshu rl' In AhUl!i ai rha,~o un 4 SI'I' I ~'mhl· r. DUlln g this inl l'n si\'l' f'l..riIJt.l, till' Bt!xl'T G ruur 5k yr.li.koh h .lel Ilown 40 1 "-lTt iL-s, oltl'n'IH' ,m, 1 ,1 ~·ft' lb l \'l', ..... il h VA- 6 S 1"!.IlImJ.! 3,21 3 11Il!hl hotll ~ . Thh work t.J our ,11 4 .911i l!hl ~ f'l'r 1'11"1 anJ an ;tn' ral!l'

of 12.8 i 11i ~11I h' H IT~ per ptlot. VC· l l ha .1 c" llI rihull,,1 40 5 11il!11I htHIT' (6 .7 hour-, pvr r il", ;Jll,1 2.8 Ili~lll ' per t1\,1Il) , \\'hil l.' VC -3i's 'Hu-h-Hush' missi"lh l!a\"l" I'l l!urcs 1,162 .() hour-, I I \Iaillyi nl! I inll' , llr 10, S hou r, pe r rillll wil h ,Ill ; 1 \"l'T;j~I' "'l u il' rail' tlf (Iltll J'<.'r pil. 'I. S u..: h (h:url" Wl'rl l yri G11 fl'T Sk F ;li,ln ....lll;IJrolb ,lUring Ihe Kurt'an (;" n I1io. O

Ad d itional Armour Protection A, IIll.' t'm'm y llalllllt'lhified , ...l l he nn'J lor J.:rea h'r S k ~' r; lId" T :tiTe rcw rrol ~'eli . 'n 1"'(; I1I\<' tI\<' .1"m ltl' lllt (;Io"r in till' ,I"cj. si" n a, t" wl\<'lllt'r "r not liu'y eOnT lIlll", 1 CI'mha ! l'l....ral i, \lb . T his itlcrt',lSinl!.!'lll).:eT \\"as t'x,l(l' rhated h ~' th t' : l'a l and (( 'UT").:I' of tilt' Na\"y ,In,1 l\.! 'lr illl' Corp, ~p,I,1 l' il "l ~ IllI'llI""ln's. TIll'Y pt·"isle n tly 1'"'S"l'J ,lllwn low 10 t' nsUll' ,Iceuralt' ddl\-l°l)' of t1\<'ir pa~'IIl
84

,,, •

.,,"'"

the N av al Pro \' il1 ~ Ground-, IIi D,lhl",TCIl , Virglll i,l, l'ar uxent River. ~ l ary lan,1 ,mI.l

Quon-,..-t Poin t , Rho d cIsl.md. T Ill' j-crforman n' of the new armo ur W ,\ S uuprcs-ivc. tor, althoul.:h a .Sd-c ahb n- huller couk]

penetrate the Mm plate, ih \"d",.: ilY was '" rcrardcdrh.u It c.m......-dlinlc or n. ' dama!!l'.

A 20mm HE

l!\1."l 'n, IIOl')'

-hell [ut wac

found hI cause vxteustvc J l,hi nJ.: of the pl.uc ,m.! " IC T;K l l l. 1--111 rhc armour totally excludedt he .I.Ull:l l! Illl! Ira j!llwnt, . (\ Iug!..' rdlll......1 till" , IW ds "'. ,h,1I ,pt.,. (i'llly ti,mwJ ......-":11,,11.' cou!.1 h.. rrll,llKc., 1.

Th,-...: c\l1I1.1 h.. l.lll "h'·..! III III rn-..:i·,dy rhc erea-or

r h c

\'U IIkT,Il-k' .

,i rhc

~ ra.. l

r h . u

11w.....·

were Ctl'lN J '· T".J 1Il, r-t

W,' I,'

rh...·

U1'1lICf ......-cnon

m.un n 'll lra l Wille ,mJ IU",..1.1L'I.' .....'C.

tion. when-

Illl'

1'1101 ,m..! the 01,111\ fud cel l

nee...[e...i prorcc non: th e under .md ~ i.le ""-'C ' start ed. rhc l irst 01 fo ur SIK h rc -smrt s Ih ro ugh the vcars; Hem... mann hall been ri"n~ aroundthe t'nl-:illl' anJ alo11l-: the ccntral fu",,-·laj.,'t,.·; Ih t' ri ll ,t" t\l'a.lrt'~t , an. 1 so on. -hrcwd cnouuh to keep th e machine h lob The probl em 01 " ht.lin in l-: ~'n"ul-:h ;1111- and rl 'ln! In reserve u tt e r each ( 1.,'>(.··..1" ""'n. m inium [which w,., then -ca rcc I It , I1MnU There was a final foorruuc ro th h facture thb new C 01ll 1'<"' 1f ~· armour W;I' rem.uknble inui.uive, "" rcnuru-ccnt Ilf evcntuallv solved with t ill' ,llrn'l (if larl-:e. llememann's , 't iginal ri llYwith th, ' Ru A cr ly unl ,flicial) ((l ltl h .mt i" 11 l,f Licurvn.mt - bac k in II)H. which kcrl the Slq T;ud,' r Commander \Villiar.1 Ny hurl-:, . 1 srt't i,11 tlvm e. fromcallv. Lieutenant -Commander ;I,~ bt a nt f,lr m ilitary I'rt"lm: ti on in rh c S Ut;" NcJ I. "",h.) h,,,II'I;ln·J such a , icll lfi. ()Ilice Ili l he ~~'cre l;lr~' III I \ .. ten -c. W .I,h· calli r .nl in th i-, ac hievement , W 'I ' illl-:ft\n . re , Th e M.nint' G,rJ" W ,I' W OIl ,lr r OItlI' .J G,mma nJ mg O ftk t'r of N;lv~' O VeT all,1 1), lud a, 11~' w ou t thl' arm'lI.lrt·J :S k~T'l iJer St.juaJ w ll YF·54. rehevme Lien. . .x non- III Korea It l fid,I-llt tht'm on t IlI-'ir te nant-Com mander Paul G ra)'. H~' w••' A D". Loarh hi lx· -ccn hi lx· rl.l~· llll-: .....'C - ....wm leaJing hi, "IlIa,lron Into low-level 0 11..1 fi,I,lle 10 t ill' ~l aTlne , . lilt' Nan' I~ ,I · com":!t uctu -n in Korea. ihu-, 1Il'·I'lrhon1,1weJ cuit, and the .1,1, 'I'll' '11 " f Iht' a rmour ca lh' rUlltng h i ~ mon ev where hi, mout h h..,1h ..,'n! ' r r...aJ. Th e l), llll-:I.I' All-4 lim' wa' rc

SKYRAIOER MEN - Ron McM asters. USN

The Korean W.. saw the hrsllull ·sc:ale IIl'YOIvemenI of tte 'Spad" on a OOfl'Oat basis and sM fully proved her wontl Among the Amencan all'tfaft ca" '," operating off thecoast between May and 0ecembeI1951, Ilying _ agams1 Communisl targets ashore was the lbt /tmme Rtdwd (CV·Jll had embarked VA-92J eQ'JIPPIld Wltfl the Skytall:ler Ron had Ilown the CurtiS SB2C HeIIdIVSf both aboard camers. m the Medilerr.-.un and North AtlantIC dullng1947, and from shofe bases as a Naval RestlMl pilot In 1948. bul It was With tile ~yraldef, ahef once JTIOfe being called to lhe colours, that he flew his fllst combal mission Ronhalled from rlOf1'hern Caro lina.where hewas born on5 March 1924 He enhsted m lhe Na'l't m Seplember 1943, bul didnOI fma lly graduate from fllghl schooluntil ~iI1946 Alter servingWi th the HelldlV6r, he look dis· charye in November 1947, but the Berlin WSIS 01Ju ly

1948saw 1'1110 recalled10 SflMt:e lor the flf$f lime and rt was 0011,1'1111 June 1950that he WitS 8l)ain drscharged from dll1'; He remalfllld Itv>rllI Wltfl the Naw reseMI forteS and the illllitSlon at the f\eplAIflC at Korea IIlliIIO saw his.eturnto dll1'; v.tlen hewas recalledfor thesec· ond time ,nSep!embef 1950 Altef lTaimllQ on the AD, hiStour duty With VA·92J tollowed, where he Ilew fitly combat miSSions. On return he became an AD mS lJutlor at the fleet All Gunnel School. NAS EI CenlfO, CahtorOla, andhe was not again discharged untilJune 1953 Oncean aViator, alwars an aVlalor. and Ron conllnued to fly With the Naval Reserve until he retired In 1965 H,s naval career won him two A,( Medals as well as vallous Theatre medals These callson him nalurallyceused frequentinterrup· tions 10 hiSeducatiOll buthe persevered and fmally com·

85

p1eted college, 1IIlI,0nng al fresno State lJf1MlIsIty and emllfll'ng from College With I1onw1 111 CrvnllOogy. id\IlMtlIl botl18achelof anti MastllfS degrees. tI'Il959 Hep t>ed the CaillorniaHlgI1wav Patroland S8I'o'8d as a pauolmanbetween 1953and 1959, following Yotlictl he OfPllzed the Llw--Enfortemef11 Education prllll'iIITIlIe alllakllfSheld College 1l'I1959 FoIlowlflg mis Ron tTIlM!d mtoadmlfllsuallon and he was eventually 10retne as a Dean01Students in 1984 Resident now 111 Te!lachatJI, of! Highway 58 south-east of 8a~efSfield, Ron had meanwtule mel and n'lamed hiS Wife jessie. and they had two children. who, In tum. have presented them With 10Uf Qfandchiklren and one grealilrsndchild! Roo keeps himsell fully OCCUpied In several ways He plays golf, helps fnends bUild and remodel thell houses. r;ooks tor the Church Youlh Groups in thell Summer andWinterCamps

..

. ,... " " . ~

•h.lI. ("0 \l 8 " T OHII I;nllb\

TIll n

~ " V\

E\I'I,IlIU.n I

-kill and dcrcrrmnauon and J l·flINh..J W ton- of .... im ..... O:l( ~IC I1)' on all rhc tanrcrs. O ne Nav)' rilol , Comma nder ~ 1.K . The Hunter- Killer ' Ull l · ~Ur.m;l n nl· 1t.:";\111 III AIl-4:-.1 and AIl-4Q, wu h ib main ba-e ,II Denno of VA- 195 from Pnnno[rm. ""<-I' ~,Ul [)iq.:" NA~. provided tour-pl.uu- ~L' quo ned 10 rhc I'fl'~~;l S Silyin},:. ·w" dropped evo:rYlhinJ.: on them l-III the kitchen nou-, tor each "I the carriere on th e Yalu River . 1,·II,·r' . W", 1.1_h,-J firmh' 10 .1 1.(\'",(Hh .... unb IIlI1I1Il[,.J I'll th e cen tre-hue 1,1Lieu11\•..1,. IhL'1Il l' arn':III,lr'" «nrablc. Na vy ,ill,1 .1" '-1' 111 h"~1 ilL' tcmtor v. Three " ir(f,llt car r u-r-, - t he n OX<'T, I'hilipfHfle Sea ;1O, I I'TlTll't'· rcn.mr ( ' -l!.) Carl It AU'lIn\ A D and. Il r AD-4 AO-4N AD-4Q 1 Vallet ForgeICV·45) Dec·51 ""·52 VI" I ,l\.\.\(\,-1_.:allJ I" r tl\n- r ltul'~ It' illullli · VF-I94 &m(CVA-2 11 AO ~ May-53 Jul·53 n,lf,· (;lrt:l'" 1".-.lInl "11 Iiw ir ~C " '''-' ' TIl" ) ] VA3~ leyle (CVA 321 AD-2 lkt-5O Jan·51 rllL'n lu ilixd UI' h ' J,(\"l(lll- " r.ln ml':l· I'ayVA·45 la'e Cnampl,1mICVA·39l AD-4 Jun·53 Jul-53 In,d" wlrh i OOlh ,11,,1 250 lh hOlllh~, " r n,ll',ilm, ,I['llll-: wilh JlI,'ir 20111 111 .:an non PllnceI0llICVA·]71 AD· 4 Jan·51 VA-55 19 Aug·51 (-"" 11 lIl(fl·a .....·,1 in lHlIIl hl'r Ilolll IWO III VA-55 AD· 4 5 Vall/?¥ F01gt1ICV· 4!>1 Jun·55 NO'/·55 tnur l I" Jl'~lr"y :" wllh IIlTl'l' VA-!l5 Prmcell)'llCVA 311 19 0052 AD·' -, '\','Il-n -..:k.-I I',Kb un ,I,'r l·a.:h WillI! ,'nt 'r' VA-!l5 PhI/,ppneSeaICVA. 411 ...·53 Illt>ll-h 1Il(f,·.I....·d Ihl' hUllnc p" IH'I. AD·' ""'53 VA.-lI5 :-':i ch, .:omhll W,l~ I1d , in,'oJr,' in rh" ....· 11 Pflll'pplne SeillCVA 4~t Mar·51 AD·' ""SO Valley FOfge(CVA-451 AD-4 Maf-51 M,y-51 ,1.1\ '. T.lkl··' ,II~ an ,ll ,md lllJ.:' , '" '11IL'111ll,', in 11 VA·ll5 ;1 ,t llIUJ.:l'd ~ L ll l', 11','n' ""Ih lI1"rl' h ;I; ' PllIllppml! SeaICVA 4]1 Jul-52 VA-115 11 AD·4 Jan·52 ,'hl" lI' alt" r .Iark. TIll' Ess,'x c Lt,~ .: a l l i ,' r~ AD·4 VA 155 PrmcetonlCVA371 Mar-53 Jul-53 IH'r,' ,'qu il'rl'd wllh ,I , inJ.:k· rl,d lIl;h l -Iwad PrwlCetanICVA-3] ) Dec-50 May-51 VA-I95 19 AD·' liJ.:hl. E 'l bn,lil1J.: " 11. Iiw l.~O 11....·.1 ilill' VA-7m & .erlCVA-211 Mal·51 Ocr-51 AD· ' 10' 1ll1ll,1I",1h.1I' ro gUI.ll· till' al rcr,lh Ill, whil(' VA-702 14 K~rsalge l CVA 331 Sep-52 Feb-53 AD·' till' c.lrri,·r ,I.-cl '\'a_ hrwll y illulll in,ll''L1 VA ]28 Anllelil11l(CVA-361 Otl·51 ....·52 AD·' wllh , h,IJ ,.J 'J IN-I'an ' lil!hl' ~l l on J.: til\' AD] 800 Homme RiCh
Night Operations

1Il,earea. h ro.... IU IIl.J" gll'a l ,!L'al 01sLill .mJ to LIIlJ 11lL' Sr'IJ r.a.:l a....>;; lrJ a Iu_ ' ,n -in l-: earner dec k utier a mh 'lon over en em y rcm torv which lIli,ehl h"n' 1.1'll.J sc-vcral houe.. FOl rhc night h;II,I"llI"llI umt-, such ,l i lfic lJ h k~ became a fl·J.:lllar I"d "I lif". IlLT\'l'

"C-

, ,

,

,, , ,,

....."

""."

,

" "

......,

86

,.. ., • If_

CHAIJT F.R NINE

Combat Over Korea The US Marine Corps Experience Surpn'mdY, t U klfl ,l'

In

view uf the ~kyr. I i.,I.:r\ rt..1"I ~ 1f1' '" .urcran JUT

ibc dt ...... a ir

ucell..·ncc, anJ du' b el dl
W;I " '" >t 11l1lll

m.u rhc U~ ~ lC rcccrved

; Illy

1951

Skyrm..k,.., on

usmvcn« >n'.11 ;111,....nu- lin: vv....... ..ti.... r It h, ...1 jOtnl:J the N. I\')' "' IIL... I f\rn~ ('Io.'~. Ihl' I,.hll" N'I"w). TIll' K. 'n·"n War hwtll-:Ill ;.hlllll rhc U~~ Ie c"m· l·N . >11, wlu-n, .Illl' " uhe .Iirl'c ir· cum'fancl.... ,hl' n.....-rvc... h,iJ h i I...., lilt 1h111:l.. .l.

Marine Co rps Outfits Receive the Skyra id er Tht' liN 1\brilll' Co rp, . 'utlll It l n 'n'I\'t· ttll' Skyrdi.l,·r wa, Ih., R"'~"rn' Sq ll".ln 'l1 ul VMF·25 1, njulI'lx·,lwith t1w 111.1( :h,lI1(l" VOUl:lll F4U C"rs;ur fh:lll l·r.l,,'mlx·r ;lnd

G rumman F8F !\t..,U C th, A'-~ Il:nt...J t, 1 dd;''fC'llCe til the record h. lIlll- hlc.1~ th ..-v Marine Air Gwtlr I} (MAl; ,1 n, rh l'y ,!t.·r"Nh:J on the enemy, al'lJ never w ;l~ ,I were orde red Itl m"l-ili:l' on 1 M.Ul h 1951. l-en.."r cho ice made. \'I/ith the Sky"T;u.!t.·r encl were then l r.tIl~fl· rrt...J It) ~1.mnt.· f:. ''T'' Ihey' wert" H ' enhance their repuranon and, A ll" S l at iu n lra inmg

EI T.,nl r" und" 1l!1I c onvc....ron

on the A D· I.

we re, more

~ 1J~'1 l1l' nl l~",

arrn'pn,ud y,

t1wy rc...ll....ll-:n;lll·J a,

Manru- Arrack Squadron 2. S1 (V ~ IA-.!SI) lx'GIU~

of Ih i" lnas unil.rr numucr I I I V ~ I A·!;I, ~1..rilll· AlI;1l1.: Sq uad n Ifl 121, (VtlIA· 12 1) h l'l..J al NAS Glenview . l1I ino .., 1l1',,1.' r till' comlIl,tn.l .l Iq",'UI.,1 I,tfie"'r LI"'ut"'n;ll11 ~k,I1l ' wh ile, ltl [unc·, till' ....., :1,1....1r..·x·n 'c -quadron was mobilircd. VMA· 121 (f"mwrly V ~ I F 111 ) ;11 GIl·nl·I.."\\" Na\";I] A ll Siantln , 1111· nni ~ , Un.I.."1 the ctlmlllan.1 Ill" rq.:ular " Ii l, ,"r C,I,'nd I'. B. f',.b )'. U~ f',. lC. •• '11(,' a'....·ml-l......1 t hi. uni l \\"a~ al" , CI 'nn·r1,,·.l tl' tIll" ~ I.: y ra icl,,· r ilnd a h h " u gh t1wir r"nl' ~' r' [(ln .... mll' 1 ;l 1 ~·I. I h~'Y gil t illio Ih... ;[(li" ll ,,'''11.'1''. TIll'lr nil' l.: · name wa~ th ... 'Wo lf Rai, I.·....' hili ti ll' )' ,,~ln Ix"ca me known a~ Ihe ' I l"';l\"y I bul..' r' in

11lt.k.'t....J. ",I "'-iCcl....~full y, J iJ Ihq ' arrly rhcm-e lvc.... that their name w ,b hi ht.'C~ 'mt.· "1'1c til

rh..· ITl
I t-e l f!

In June 19') I. the squad ron W;I ' alert ed .md rh..· re....· r\·i ~1S we re ca lled f-;K I.: '0 till" c" I,"'IP>. O nce the pe rson nel had n-,....-ml-lcd. rh e whol c Il( VMA- I!l W;l' trunsfcrr....J to EI Till" a~ a complete unit ,m.1

ounmcnccd tr.urung on rh..· AD·!. Tlu-, Itll'l.: rh..· lx", t part Ilf the autumn and th en , " nct.' th ..· un u wa, r"';l.ly f"1 ell mf-'ll. th t· ....lu;I.lron wa, all"ca t...J 10 1\ l.mn..· A ir

Cirour H (MAG· H)" TI ll". >lfic,·rs a nJ men IlfV~ lA· 1 2 1. nl '\\" with t ill" A I )· } , arri\'t·d in Jap an ('11 1t' C\ :foh:r 1I) ') I . Tluet· .lar' Lltl'r, I hl' ~' 11..· \\, th eIr S k)Ta ide r. III Olll" uf MAl J' r, (,'rw;lr.l (llx'rathlnal a ir~ tr i p~ in KI'f,,·a. "". " ll·Il'lllW.l K- 3. near Poh an g. T h i, W ,h ~'qlli rrt...J

us MJrine Corp$ Skyrilid.r dePIOym~C"'~~=~~:::::::;;::::::::::::::;;_ Nores Urol From T~; FirSI Marine Skyraider squad ron VMA·t21 1951 1952 IJMA·151

1951

1957

IJMA·211 IJMA-212

1952 19':14

1957

VMA·2~

19S4

1957

VMA·2S1

1953

1957

VMA·J24 'JMA.3J\

1954

1958

1954 1954

1958 1956

1954 1952

1955 1956

VW\.3J2 M ·33J M·I

1957

vt,C·2

1953

1956

"'-&3 WAT·IO VMAT·20 'M:J.l

192 19S1 1!1Sl 1956

1956 1953 1957 1958

'N.,C·2

1956

1958

'I\l.C.J

1956

1958

u-VMF·251

last Manne Skyra,de!' squadron A US Ma rine Corps AO..N iBuNo 12Sn l h om VMC-J, bu ed al EI Toro Air SlIlion. California , ..en her. on 20 february 1950. Th. USMC came lale 10Ib, Spa d. a nd letl ea .ly. but. during Ibe Korean Wif period . opera ted most ...,iantl in IIIOsI co nfiguralions in bolb 'HoI' and 'Cold' ""'If scenarios. N.~on.1 AIelwe'!..

Became VMCJ-l Became VMX-2 Became VMJC-J

eoa.ge Perto.. MO

h-VM(-l

EJ--VM(·2 u-VM(-J

87

.....

,

" ".~

~l(.II.

CO\ l flATO VER KOREA

TIlE us

\l ,\R l ~T

CORPS EXPERIE!>< n :

tlw onlv air strip made (I ( 0'11I:fl't ... in TIl c, a r...a, ,111,1 t hu-, rlu- o n 1r one h .,lil' \'I.'d to 1'1.' c II'a bk' p( bl'arin g till" II.....ight ll{ rlu-hcavtlv l.ulen ~ kr r; l lek' r, a, 1hl.'}· tIl< ,k " If to j< 'in rh... gr im bart lc . ( Later, even g rcat c r Ill;I,ls Wl'fl' car ried hy tlw Manne C orp' AD, w"r king tnuu snip, o l l' il-rn·, I-stl,...-lplankin c clo-cr til till' front line, in n,:,ro n,,' tu till' m'''''els pi cPlllr;!J ...·, o n Ill... grt llllleL)

Sorties an d Loss es 1111.' fiN Marine COfJ'" ~k)T, l i d" r s" n i... was on 27 l\: t\,I'l.'r !CJSI. ;In,1from dWll o n til" in ;Ilm, lSI,', 'll tim l''II' act ic'no Irs r',I... dtr -ct cl,,,,,' S1 11'1,,- ,f( Ill U S Marim' s grolillel fore s, who \\....1\' t"ight11lg a tcrnl-lc war, Ill'a dl r oumuml-crcd and in al'I'a lllng G ,n,ht i,uu, that at t inn-s n':"-'ll lhlcd th e v.utc tnnch w;lff,lfl' of thl' FiN Workl \'1/ af r.ulwr than t he m, -n- 111< ,HI...· fidlling I ,f the' "'oc, '1,, 1ct' ntlici. Lih - fill' pill II S I ']x'ro lling trom t he' cnrncrs , ,tfsh, .n-, rill' ~1afill " ( ::. 'fJ'S ~l';[,l j'll:h'p f~ 'Il 11,1 rhcm-clvc mon- ;1ll,1 mon- tking intcrdlcnon mi....s l.u» aga in,1 stra tcj!lc tarr.:l'r s. tlyrng round till" cloc k in nul - und hrid :':l·-cUl missillll' ;Iga inst till: Iw avy n m ccntrur ionv ,It" C'1I111111I1ist an n;lir(f, I(t j.:lm, 1I1;!t gU;lre!c'd such vital targds, Tl wv wen- "I" , require...1 ttl talJ.:...t cucmv amrnunirion clllm!'s a nd rOod t nuu-port . If was ell'm
\ \';1,

was, as lN 1;11, 1111.'

An AO-2 1BuNo 1223101of VA-702, lIying l rom the c a rrie r USS Boxer (CVA-21). II ca rries the unit ma rkings and the neme 'J inx' under its coc kpil c ow ling. A wi ng pa nel is bein g re placed on a la nd a irstrip atler flak damag e ove r the ta rget. Note two Chance Vought F4U lighter -bombe rs in the ba ckg round. st ill in use by the Ma rines in Korea. Nenonal A' ch'ves, Col lege Park, MO

D uring rill' combat sortics, whe ther III wtnr c r o r snn un e r, tlak conrin u...,1to l-c the main ha za rd , ""r"c ia lly th... Soviet-supphcd 85 mm m"hi ]... cannon, whi ch t h rew a wall o ( 15 11, slll' lIs up h I
tac t ic Ill' U mccn r ratiun ( If UJl !I I 2,000 such \\'l'a rUllS nrouud till' main I;u g,'t a rcas, led '" ma ny S pad l os,,'~ . T h... ,it ua fi"n had """ Cllllll- Sll ....·ril 1 11~ hy nutumn 1952 that th ... C,'m lH,lIld ing O t"ficl'r of Na vy Task Force 7 7, Rear A dmiral A pollo Soucek. j.!a\" ,' il1stnlCti,lll s that ,Ii\"l'-h<. lln hinll a rrac k pull - put s mu-t 1'1.· mad ... a t l ,OOOfI.

Folding ils w ings a boa rd Ihe c erri er Leyte lCV-32) whil e oper aling in Kore an wa ters. this AD-J (BuNo 122799) was photogr aph lild on 12 November 1950. The eircratl , tail -cod ed K, ca rrying 503 on her nos e and w it h a IIrlilen s pinner. belonged to VA -3'5. Natlone l A,,:hlves. College Palk. MO

88

,..

·.. o-!r d

•1'. COMBAT OVER IW Rb\ - l'HE

T h b Il<'W ntfici,II pollcv woul <1 .~ l: r i " lI s l ~' atll'ci the accuracv 01 such attac ks. TIl<' Mar ines cntl! mucd ro barre l in I,iwer than Ill...· official height, ,l1l<1 ill urn- tyrical incident durin.c that summer, Second Lie utenant Edward (Tl'l.\) Uhh-mcvcr. Jr, took a h<'a\ 'y anti -airu,llt shell h it. It tore away a whole ccm rul ~e.cllW n[ otonc win;.:, ,l1l<1 [hl' impact Ill' th e dctonnnon was'" 1 str< 'I\g [h,II it coruplctclv Inverted the AI). km x:kl'l.I,ItJI mo-t "f h i ~ aileron con t mls and jnuuwcl hi , Iandin;.: ;.:e;lf shut. l\.'s!,ite his Ik'~I'l'''lfl' situarion, Uhlcmcvcr man
l' ~

\t ARIM ,

CO R I'~

EXPEII.IU' CE

Manne Co rps AD lifl...·,1 off with a I",ttlh 10a <1cOllll' risill;': rh rcc 2,OOOlh andtwelve 2 50lh Wl·;tpOn~ - [ural of 9,OOOlh uf ord-

cratt, from the infantf~' lIlan \ vicwpcunr in KOfl'a .' 1 It should

nancv paylna.!. TIl\' g re,ll l' ~ t , in;.:k--,b y

el) carrva 9, OOOlh I" Hd 01 .nnnumirion

,I

ordna nce dchvcrv made by ;Iny uni t in til\' Korean War - 156 I<1Il' on taf;.:et - wns achieved h ~' VMA ·J ll in june 19 ') 3. By the end 'l l its comluu perill,l, VMA - 12 1 h ;l,l heCc 1I1l<' rh c .o;,!u;l,ln .n that could h" 'l.'t till' heaviest weight (If " rdnancl' e1d in 'fl',1
(hl (c )

(d) k) (f)

confhct ,

Justifying the Skyraider's Pos ition Whal eli-I the troops on rlu- gn lll1l<1in Korea think of the ~kyra i dl'f! Their " pin ion W,I~ tlu- one th,Ll rl',llIy co utlIl·d if till' S pad wa, to ju,tily it, rcrcnnon in till' trout hue at a tillll' whl'n jl·t airn;!fl In'rl' i I Krl';h ingl ~' , l" m inant. It, I""it inn had 10 h<· l'amed, Arm y Cktll'm l 1I.brk W, Clark d<·sl:rih.', l \"cry rreci~d~' thl: ideal cl(l~l' -sltl'l'
(Above/ Impres sive line-up of the US Marine Corps Air Group Skyra iders. (c arrying Tail cod e AK l, al Osan Air Base, Korea, in 1952. Beyond Ihlt Spad s, lwit h WS codesl are Marine Corsa ir lighter-bombers_ J ames V e'o....

rockets, hulle." et c: have sufficien t arcurucv ;1ll, 1 sta hility 10 hit the tar;.:et; ban' ad equatl' c om municat ions wuh gro und otficcrs dirc ctuu; rbcir ~tr i k t:,; c a r r~' l' n" llgh tuclro ;.:ive it a t l ea~ t t \\'l l hour-, over rh c ha llie urea: ruke uff in 3,Oll Ofr (9 00m) ;

"1'''''''' in .my kind " f "CO"""'. d" y '" ni ght.

An

The wa, rcnllv the onlv ,llrd;lft fight ing in Korea ill rhar tunc which fulfilled al l th nsl' requirement s But Il l' CIl Uf ,e il was 11('1 ,lilly th e wron u tYl' l' (If aircraft that th e U SA F was depl (l~'i n J! , hut the wrllng [rJ'C ,,1' ;1 (( itudc. While the main I'ri,Iritr " f till' U ~A F was to , I,ly ali n ' in fill' ;tir, Iwnc<' dll'i r prcferl' ncl' fnr jl't (jghtl'r-hnml'l'r s, IIll' Lock lll' l'd F-80 ;lll, l th l' Rl' puhlican F84, rh e f( klt ~o kli e r in ,lesl'l'r,tll' I1l'ed fllr

(Below) US Marine Corps Air Group Skyraider disp laying a l ull wing load 01 roc kets . James V e,o....

•

89

c-

h" mh~ ,

..

, .....". d ~I'. ".

CO.\I Il,-\T O v[ 1l KOIlEA

'UI'I" 'rt had ;1 rat h er .Iifti.·fl'lH view 01

clo-c-urr MII']" 'rt . T., ,I... .."".• ~, I I ... ..:r. "n"J II .l....' n·, ", .,l.· "u... h ,..." ..' h" .' ',du.·,-h"".....·,"" '""" ... uhm ., ,,'''' on , I.·, .~ u- I.u ......, .",11 " , "·,r,,,,,, ", .... ''''f, 1,. ...1 .""1...,, "I"'.'U' '" , ",1 ,,11 .," .n' .... kml: I,d".·, ,,,,,,._lln(~ '''mmll' 1,,, ., ,."k, '-'I ,t", ...... ", 1 11,,:n. ,h.· hd",'!"',1..",1.1"I< k ... nh It h ' II", ..,....

111"'."....·",," tT."" "ll<',m hd",·.... " "' 1....1. ...,>oJ .,1,,'1'" ., k ... "." ",,,n.",, h""f, 10, , r.., r LT" ' ~

.'11 .......·,1.."''''-' "'rroo<1

,h... 1"'Tf'

h"

"l.u"", ,,,,k n,I,-h.oI..

"il Ih,: ., ,' .." ""..'" r.,rl",. ,h.", .,

~

Ti ll , I'S

~1~ 1l1"' 1,

(' O IlI'S 1-,XI'LIl Il,M'I ,

Frank C . Kle 01l!CT, VMA - I2I ', O p... r.mou-, Otficcr, roldnu- rh.u:

11.... '''''' ''I'...." '''>I , ,,'~,I ,, .. 1, ,,,>: " "

11." .. 1''''1:

I J",,,', k...,..-). h... " n,' .1.". .. ~ ,1.. 1.·.1,,, ",,' I."", lIl....-h , ~' .' 1"....1 .... ",,,,IJ 11.· " tI, h.· ,rnr ... ,Ih W~ 1 1..'<.1 ''''' , AI), " "h Il\ ·k\.' If, .· h ,,,,,1.,,,'''' "" 'nr, Tho: ",,,, ,·,..1,,j rh,· ""' ,,, h

,h .." " 'il' tl J ",f' "",, ., n,,' I'....kh Th." 10:'. , ,,, Jml ,·no "...:h ',I,'f" '" Ih.•r w,· ,.",1,1',11,,' ,ho.' .. "'-·d , .".... ,.·m.L1" .", h .."" I,,, .' .......H,·r"l

m,"" ....

TIl" Mann , ( ::"'I'J'"

~ln. I1, I,·r

tlvc..... III 0:. -n-

r imc rhat:

tra-r, IIn 1. bre.u h....1 'Ill'!. ;Ihon: all.

h ..luvcdm ,I'N: mr ' 111'1'' '0 . TIle ~l yr.l i,l.-r hadthe IUll'I'"' .II-.b,\, ,,1 dchvcr . ' rJ n; IIK ., • .n over . ,n.· hUll,lr,.J 1'," ........ luTlIlC a .,ind.· .. 'n il'; It \\ ,1' .'xall h· \dl
"'1""1111,1were 1,It ,l mc I, 'r. l ),1 " report ntlccr c.J Ih,· 1" '1Il1 . ,1 vu-w " I th e \ 1.>I..el1-h .y.,':

tn'

n,' ".... ,. ,,. ,I.,.... w' ~ .. k.·" . TI,,·, ,j, ', h" " ,-II, ",.,h ,,,..I r" "." "" "" .n,·.'" I, ~l ": ~r"",d'lL' 'IlIJ ,"" whcec" " ...,. h" \'ln~ ..\ nJ ,hn ,1<",', I..",. ,·r.. ",.,,, 111" 1" ''''''1 ,,, ,I" ~ ',

''''''''Ie.

.m,· ,,·.•1... ,.,,1 l 'It,'", II.. ....· ~ I ."' ll'., Other Sky ra ide r Units ~ Llrilll' A rr ~ ky r' I ;, I" r , " ,tfll th.u ,,:ol1lh.11 .,(l i"n in K" n '" w.rv ~l ,lrilw C,'m l"'~ I I ., ]h ·..:,'ll n'lb " IIKl· Squ,•dron ] (V ~ lC· 1 l. II h",[ 1""'11 ,·quil'l',·,I I','r" -pe( i,llrsl rl,l.. wilh 11,,· A Il -! Q ,111,1 A[VIN van.uu- 0I1l,1 n-ach..,1till' l-curh- : lllll' on 1'5

TIl,' ,HIll"

Tlw linn ......In narncdus atr c ratt, ,md the ~bTl ne 'l Y" r, emh,:lIi.lwJ their 11I<1,hlll" S wuh 'I'll Tak e You Horne Al.:,un', · L.J~ 'ali To wn Iock' anJ '!'>: 'IIlq' 0', " Io nc wlIh ' Kit A n n C ur.....'. Th ey ...... >n

L'K k',

....,mw ,1 a Colonel May WOl' eruhu-aa-uc ,lh ' " 1 th e ::,kyroliJ,'r, , ran ne III a n mte rvrcw ,11 111,11

It'" "" ~R..II,·nr r1.",~ 1...-,h'·" r ... ,.11 """ ...··H· m " , ......, . 11\ til\' . " " li m,' , h.ll ,1,,- S .,n · .mJ II,,' 1<1"'"...., I. " J ., I'!." '" J•., ' ,.J ,,,' .I, '"1'1'''' ' "",k_ \\'IIh ,I." J'I.",,·, ",' ,.m lull,1 ~t.u rn... ,1\".'''''0'' T"k , ,, ' " 1'1'''' ' " ' " 'f" '.... ,h.· er,"',.... . ~'•. h...1 h.·.·n II III": rl......., ,I.· ,,~........I h" ",I.,., " '1'...., ,,j ... ·", k , h .m .-1"",.11I ' '' 1'1'0<1. .,n.l , h,·" h.",·n ·' ;,1..." , r'''' " I ,,, ". ,f,I,· Th., All "'", "Ullt ,tr ,~ , h t", d ..,., .," ' ''1'1 ''" ~.lrn "'>: "UI

".• n,."I.,,"·

~.m ·1

J., a J ." " n,·J th m ..: ....: llInJ h",' ~" rl .",,· rh.u ,'.'11 ,.,rT" ., f,'1: I" .,J .mJ ..:'" J " ... n ,. , Ih,· ..:,,,,, nJ ....J J,·Ir"", u . anJ h ,",'" "n'"'l:h ' I"",J "'.... m....o... un.,f"IUI· r" ":'" ."' , .•n,1 ("I1l( ...."k .'I:. IIn. Th " r l.m.. h." I h," ~ ,..",k , Y"u

,'1"''''' I",,, , "nl,'" you

1~ ,n nIJ. I"le

1:...1. 'Ill rhc n mwav- Iltt ~· - " X fll1l" ' ~ The\· h.I.1 a] .. , J. lIll.I~",·J " I her

li o n, . .. I much .. I rhar Sa nwon wa, later ab.m don...·J ,,~' till' Comrnun o».

Orde, 01 Battle US Marine Corp$ "quadron$ - Korw. tiM

T_

F,~

VMA·1Z1 VMA-2S1 VMCJ-l

AD·4N, AO· 4W

(kISt

AD-J. AO- 4B

Jun S3 SeptSZ

AD-Za, AO-JN

'.1\\ '

1<)'52 . Vr..-j{:' 1 \\,;1, 1.,,,,.. 1 a t ltbrill., A Ir S tn !' K-16 umh-r tlll' chrccr ("IlI111'ln.J ,,1 ~brt lll' Air ( :, 'nIH,1 2. I I ~ int r",I..r Illl"h Ill', '1" ·','h·,1ovr-r I Ill.' "n"I, ,.1 ~" l' t" l1l b" r

tlu-

Ir "111 where tlu- ( :" I11111 1111 1,t, h'I,1 'I ~Ir, 'nl-: md.u 11,'1. Till' ECM .u rcran dulv b[,... k,·.1,lid ..... 'n lll....·,1111<' " I ll' Il\~' while the

A D-01S .

went

III '"

,u111pl'· I...· Ihe lui-!

,1l-:,Un ' l .ldill,... l lar~'· h . ~ k.lIl wh,I ,· .

VMA ·!; I h;I,1 ":'llllr l.·t.·J Ir,I1l1111l!. h'I,1 ..... "1\".·rT,,,1 I" 111,' AI)-3, ,m,1\\'." "" ,\:11",1", ~l f\( , · 1') 011 ~ J,nmary It'

1<);2. 1I,,\\'\'\"\'r. II " nly 1~ ,lI ow .·J V ~ I A 121 " Il l I , . K.",,;, \-1.1J.I!'an .,n 4 JILn'· 1<>; 2, tl \" llll.: III Iw,1 ,·..:h..l"n, 10 M " rilll' A ir )\...... K.o, OIl !'""ncrad, . They am \'",l O il ') July .1' r .1rt " I ~ I At , -12. Th .· w;lr. how ,·" ...·, . W;L, ,(ullll-li n!! h i .111 Iln,.III,I.t(hll' · ,Ial" mal" .",,1till' ,11\11 " I \ ' \',' n ' Iittl.· .l(( i" n . In rill.' po.·rt. 1t.l J.IIlIl'lT'\· I" A r rll Ill;2 , \ '~ IA -121 w"" w." l tn!!.'UI " I K- 3 ,I.r, trtr ,

rcpuranon .

r"

attac k " MA - Il l on ~,lTi won .urf ,d J, the Il yinl! Lcuhcm ecks repo. 'rt.·J Ih;1l twcntv-nve l-omb, haJ .1( 10:llh I.lIld.,J on rh.. tan,:,", area . HQ w a-,nol con vinced; II haJ h" ; lr~1 l:tl." 11 kI.' that h.'{"n '. A r hOh1 reco n nal ".lnll' ;u fcralt 11"." ,1'·' r atel,,·J to Ji'rr<1\"1.' till. -ratcmcm. W he n II returne.J and the rh" to ..nl.IIlJ th.u rhe "I!!lu M.lrlll'· Cl,lrp, Skvnndcr- ha.l, In DUrln C ;1Il

O..e oltllell$l US M • • i... Corps Sk,r.id.rs. BuNo 13388S.I.om VMA·331. Hen in flight 0/1 4 Novembel 1!!iS. ~.-. ArCIlr¥eI. Coleta P.,~ IdO

90

-To - -June 52

Ju'v 53 July~

•

TheAEW Th e Royal Navy Experi ence On I Oc tol-er 1':) 51 , rhc Royal Navv h,l,1 l-," h . hil''' Ct'IIlm i"i, m, 11ll" AE\V"-llIa,lnsn set lip No. 778 ~'111adn lll. Flee Air Arm, n-m.uncd 1Il I'I.T I1I' lHl' ll1 CU1l1 I11 i.... ion. II' 'f'\''': ific
rhc American AEW

"f u..illJ.: !lw

S k~'r;l i, II'r rUTl,Iy iI, :1 I'a....in '

CO Il," I' r '

recepuon .m,IIT,mllllirt inj,l vehu-Ie, h.,I" mg t" - trctch i h hnut ,..J n- ...IUTCI·S l>y 11I ili:lIl g l h urrcrutt lI( t lu .. f ~'r~ uurr c d fi ctcrulv. 11 11' Plfll i..h jllt,'n.!",1 (. k' r ill' the

known technica l J itficu lt il''') hl ,...... rhe AE\V ,I .. nn auh.>n1l' T'l.l.U pl.utorm III ('1·C ....., "1.'11'1' of th..., word, wuh llle .uklinonnl car,.Hlilk, and dut it" (,f n mtrol \ ,t

the

COlllh,ll Al l

Pi.Ir'II..,

durv, :In,1 ns 11II:hr.. ..evrc .11I"C111...1a. nn...[, l'\l when carm-rc ..svrv r;IIJ off an,1 orhcr.. .....l·rl· conuni..., i" nl·.1 f,'r ....... rvicc-.

Deliveries TIll' SO AD-4W Skvnudcr-, albcar ....,1 10 rill' F1 ~'l' l A u Arm unde r rhc tvrtu- uf rhl' MIlWr (Muru,11 1\ . f.... I\(I.· WC"",,"_ Pro· I!r:l l1lllll') 1~ 'rJ1ll",-1 ,wo . Ii~ ri n(f I!r"lI l'~.

the 1\>l.1c.1a, Aircr.dt Comr.IO\'. Fuur 1'( ,h~'''-' kIn iSH-t to 7Sfli. BuNo" l2-ti i-t124ii 1 we-re 1; Ike n ar the l·n.l " f 195I, 0111.1 l-cc.uuc \VT lJ-t-t-\(/T lJ4i. ~i ro.l 11"....."

h:r ..vcen [unc and AUI:I'" 19')1, thcv tr, uhfl·rrl·d 10 N"rl~, lk NAS. where Ih l"Y were 1:1\'l'" ,1 protccnve weat her cn:Ulllg III pr"' l'CI rhcm durinl: their '>l"a "'''Pl:t.·. On 26 Oc« .l-er, "II f"u r .....ere l'ml-a rked ah.l
rill" Unuccl Kmudom.

f

KiRg George V Doch , Glasgow - one ollhl in ilia l .-ar1tl1 01 Skyr.iders 10 .rri.... in lh. UK under lh.

Mutllal Defence Program is unloaded from the Irtighter American Clipper on 9 November 1951 . Pta,~V A r~ hlve.

,k·lin·n'd J irl'l:r1y' to the Roval Navy I-y

l't'eluTmg Hil l

,tnh·...1Il,1 Jl·!l'dllll.: ,urt!(e la rl:et ' ,\I extreme r.llll.:....'. A ttcr !,lIr( ha' lIll.: till" AD-4W. rhc Ro yal N,l\"~' l-yf\I'''l.J the n, .nu.. l pn In""',,fncccp(;UKl' trial, with Ihl' A&A EE ;l Il J rill" Scrvice Trial, U mr (No. 70~ Sq ua..lr"n ), con~i.ll'ri nl: lh al ib ln n l.: _"-·rv k l· with till" US Navy wa, l·nouc.h (0 have pmvvn rh.... airemfr'" C;l l';l"'i lll i~..... ,-\f\ln from C(A) trial. (,,'nll" t,f whl,h Wl'fl' l"On.!lICrl...1 wilh rhe pri\"all' ,nl11p;lny. ~llll i,h Av ialio n Ltd) . only' ,,-·ll'CIIH· (,ua!,1.111 trial. ill Elnl'" >h ,tid) Rop] Aircr.l/r E_I;I"'1i.hnll"1l1 In-rl' clrrk.J (JUl. "Ill....' (. 'mf\lll l-iI,I y. OtKl' till" fiN 1~ 'lI r AEW-], h;I,IIx.-cn put lhrol.ll:h Ihl' ir f\ 1(l·" N. '. 77H Squ.klH,n W,b, un i Jllly 1lJ')z. rl... I"" I ~'1); 1I 1.J ,I, a flllly ort: r.Ilional ,,-!u,I,lr'lIl, Ntl. H4<,). II w,lul,1h aH' an HQ R lc.hl. a nd d w rl' werl' ;tl", !,la n, t~.r (our ca rril'r-"a"l...l llil:hl' - ·A·. 'R'. 'C'. 'D' aoJ 'E' - onn' .ul.kil·1\t ;Iircmf, wcre hI ha",1. \Vhac,). olhl'r Al....·' AI r A ml ~lIa,! r"lh WI'rL' f~,rnll"d 1,1 join ~pt..ci fic c:lrne"', ,IllJ ' !I..h lll,I~.J ul't'n ".ml'll'l in n of

o\rlIIur

TWl'Il1\- brand- new arrcron were Jin'rtl.J from rh c EI Sl'l!ull, lll rrUd W': ll"n [me am]

bv
9/

..

. ,...""." • 11. .. .

TIll: A£ \\' _

TIll' AD-4\Vs. 1l,'W d;b~IIII....1 l>y theR,.y,11 N;l\"~' .I~ AEW- I~. were ,.jtl"aJ~...1 l>~' n.IO~· ;\1 (' b~g.. w'; King (';,....I l:,. V J ",d, ~ on <) November, ;InJ rhc ioll"wmg ,I.'\' there "" I~;I h,lIl,lmg-tl\"I.'r ccrcmorw " 11 rbc qu.w-idc. Rear A Jrn iT;11 W.F. !'''''''ll' 01 ,hI' U~ N.n·\". I \..TuI ~· C.. . >null,mJ'·r-m .Chld ·. 5"1.'01 Atlannc. han ded over the tour ::-: l..~' f;I1,!.·r~ h. Rcnr Adnu ral \V.T. ( ':""1I."h11\.111. R" pl ~;I\'~'. Flag ()tl k .. r, Trauunu,

nu,

ROYAl 'IIA\' \ F.XI'f'R IE.M·[

Augu,1 1957 il arnved al C IIIJ nlS\.· ;\OJ N,•. H4tJ Squad ron', IIQ f-'ll.:hl, An e\TI1 I, mcef hil-emauon aw.uted 'X'T Q(;l. em I December 19S7. II w.o, .I1·-rTl·....-rvcd .lnJ J d IVCfc-J It. RNAS CIIIJTtN:. where If wa, Oil rh.. , ITI'nglh 01 1Ill' AIfj.:mh HoIJJllJ:: UnH (A lIU). On 11 ~ l.l rch 19Si'i . II wa-, tranef..rre...1 ro the N.I va] At rcrutt Ra,!t"

Fd'n1aty ItJ53, rogcrhcr with the fiN

h u..:h,,! rhc ncw AD-4Ws. Ncxt carne WV 177 I " 'X'V 180. wh ich we re fT;m'po. ,n e..! ah....rJ rhc ca rrier P f'TSt'US o n 11I."f ...:<:011..1 'Urrl)' t rip . in March 1951, 'ilonl! wllh the ....·o'n,1 b.nch ,>t' rhc n..w AD-.JW,. TIll.' fi N form..r US Navy AD-4W, \X.'T 0.,166, ;trrtn-J wuh a harch ,.1' ~lt, rl.·~,. n .... >;lrJ

TIll' tour .urcralt were th ..n tmn-portcd 10 R"y.11 N;t\",ll Ai r ~ I, H i "n ( RNAS) A I+"' f.~i nL h. whe re Ihey arrived "11 10 N,,\"'ml-" f tvst. There , till' rfllfl'cl in' l'l.a l lllg~ wen- <m ppcd a"';ly ;In,1 d ll' .ur-

cr.ur wi-re 1ll;1,!.· sefviLed!>I.·, Thcv rhcu Ih,\\, h om Rcntn-w airticlcl to IlM S :\.'11h,m'/';' fill' RN A S C U U f' ''~' in C oruwal], II" Ill' f~' tlll'y jo itll' d till' ..s ( a l- l i~h tl1 1' tlI , ,( N'l, i7~ Sqllad n'n, FI.·I·1 A ir Arm, till' Rlly.11 Navv's f i N AE\V squadron. TIll' Skvrakl"f Ix'cal m ' uruquc m rb.u il \\".1' h. be the L." r. ~,, 'n -e lll:i n,...1 ,ureroll, ("I!ll'r than hdicor'I'J") I" ....-rvc III c111' R,"'al N.I\"\'. AI 2S.l\'(Ilh. ,hI' ::-:kymd" f \\':\, .11.......nu 'Ilg till' Iw,IH,"'1 I\"I'C' ,f ;llrcr,III"\"r "1":T,tl,-J t-y the 1S.l\"\", and had " Ill' 01 till' Cll',lll"" ranee- ,.1 RTlu,h C•• mer .urcratt. F''11rln'n m,'r.' "'r.m,I-1l1'W ~k\-T;Il, ll'J" (..:/n 7%1,,, 7tJ74.l\IlN,,,,, 12N46-- 127~StJ). which hr-r tlcw h:lwl'l.'n (\:r"l~ f ItJS2 ,Ilkl Fl·I'n ufY ItJi1. were ,u~"'III"llI ly mm... tern...1 (127946 ;1Il,1 121949 \"1;1 0. .. ' 11 -t

P" IIl{ NA~) I" Norl~,l k NAS, whe-re Ihe\\1,'Tl' I: I\l'l1 1111.' 11'11;11 r Tt uccnvc ":'~ l l m)..... ,m,1 ~hi l'n1l.'nf tot hc UK. Thcv W, 'Tt: ~ll b"""'lll" n tly l'mhark,...1 in two bntche-, ,'11

1'1'''11,11''',11; ' f

26 J;J1lJ l;lry and 1, March 19S1, , lh~ n, l t l ll' Roy;d NOI\'Y ;lfJ IIw Irl' ld " " f .-\n'lt.'l4·,m \ 'I'1l1lfTC umil :~,:rrl'mlx'f I<)Sl. TIll.' 1..,r IlI.'W A,D-4'X' kIn 7976, nIlN,. I !7t)('I1) W.I~ liN 11,.wn "11 loS ~ t.m.:h 19) '. .1111\- 1T.ln'kITI...I ,,, N"rt~, ll NAS I~,r ,hlpnWn! rTl·'l·T\'.l1i,'n •• m,1 I·mt-.lfh·.! .•h~lrJ

IIw IT.m,!"," (ir....n '\ l" lll1ullll SuliC " 11 IS ~'I' ll'IllI"": f P,)S 1. TIw~I' 1\\',1 ,mcr.i1' h.·(allw \X'T tJ62 ,\fl,l 'Xrr 901, 1'1" 1"'(11\"1.'-

h,

.1ll,1 h"t h \\'l'll! ' Ir,lil:hl illl" 'I " fl' Oil ,\"'h"" II1, h. 0 1\ 7 S"J'le mh.· r Io.,lS6, \VT <.)6\ \I';'~ l!in'n inl,' Ilw h,ln,h " I th ,' R I.'I·l'i 1'1 'ltd [)e ~l'af..: h

Unil

(I~ [)U ) ;

un I

A pair 01AEW·l Skylaider s, WT 945 (3021and WT 94613031 dis play their lull earl y markings in Roya l Navy s e rvic e, Ar'lhu, PeercyArch,ve. hy CClUr'lUY CIt Audrey Pea'cy

h b t,lll a tion

UIlI I (NAR IUl.

S"knl. I,'r ''l luirl'lIll:. f"lUmmi.:

L"',' -onhI

R:-':A~

CUIJ f"'l' l'idll ,I.IY~ 1.1I,·T "1l,1 ,omlllC No. S.J9 ~uaJ f"n 'lll 6 ('\: I,.I.....· f lo.,lSS. TIll.' Tl'main mg k' AD,4'X', h.tJ .1 1~ ....h ....'I.'Il mu..:h 'l'f\'i":I' \\lIh 1i1l." U~ N,t"' ·. •• (!'uNo 12S772) WI,h VX-1. fh.... rl' Ill;lin.ll·r wll h VC-II ,m..1VC-12, wh",Irr.IIl)..'t.-J lhelr

'w

,ldIWl)' in Iw,. hllCh.·, - lo.,llll lo.,l S2/51.and I I in 19H/SS, TIle\' IIU.. all Clwn a full "\'I.'rh,1II1 al NAS <.....\I"n....·1 !'''1Il1 .If NAS Al.ul1l·,b ;111,1 IIU,' flll' n 1~'TT1 1'l 1 hy Ve-11 anJ VC-12 ri l"htt' NAS N'l\1·"lk. ,ni<.l,hl'n I,I
Rura l N;]\"y 'X' V 102 I " WV 106

I I U ,'

rr
92

IiII.' !'..TM·UI ttl ~ loty 1o.,l) l. It \1"." nlll J' lm~ h' .IIlY m"rl' unl il,h.. next h.llch afTl\'•.J in ,hI' Lil': - lin ' rdurhi,h,-J ,Ilfu,lfl, \VT 112. \VT 121 ,1Il,1 \X'T %7 I .. I:J6tJ ,hl~ on till' trl' lchtl'T ('r..m :\l",mwm Suil.l.' in Scp. I"mlx'r Io.,lS 1. Ih....... T,·.• ..:hm~ NAS Ahh '1_1l1ch ollllll.' 251h. FI\'C.. x-US N'll) .IIT,r.•lt (Rul':.... I H l'tJ7. 12.J112. 12 412 1, 1247('11 anJ I 26S4tJ) ha,l lhm RitA.'r ~ri .1 1, Chant:l... II.·." lly f" Rrtll~h ....·Tl•• 1~ h\' lhe r'Tbc.. me lll " I Ihl ' fi r..1 I h n 'l '
"ll,lC;tl iol\."

'1 IT.·,.,ly 1x·lonJ,.: lIlg '" o, her RAF ,Ilrnaft! \VT121 w,, ~ an EnJ,.: ll,h Elec' nil' B. 2 C a n herra o n ordef (I"nun;ucly

" , IlIUllh...,r..

, . .If. ,,,

'\Il>~q lll· nt ly cancelled ). while wr 761 was
\;(.'T 761 nnd \VT % 4 ;In,1 96') - a mvc d al-oard Ill<.' Ir" jehf" r AIII.'Tl,'tlIl \ ','fllllfc;' till' same mum h. Two

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dehvcnc were uu,!l·. aC:UIl " , rcliJrl'- i. heJ

aircrufi. In November Il)S 5.l hc frd clm'( J. Rllhin'I
on.

Navy-supplied Skyr,l!,k'rs - WT 91'\4. \VT 986 and WV 1HZ til WV ISS - nrnvc...1in the UK cm"'arh·d ,II"1<11,1 till' Irl'i!.:hll'r Fraru.:ls .\ lcGmu', (s.:c II11' fa "" " t ,n r .ll.'C 74.)

Tra ining The CO Jl'~l~n a re 1'1 No . 7HH Squadron.

[.icutcnanr (later Lie urc n.m t-C omm.mdcr ) john Trench er. RN , alun g \\"lIh hI' alloned uirc rew and senior tl'C h01c<11 ~ r;lll

were sen t to th e USA In till" 19-)1 . h i unJl' rl!' 1 a three month f.mulianca non an .1 convcr-ton cour.....· .11 NAS Quon-er Pom r anJ N"r· f"IL.. TIll" r il"" flew wnh the Amcncan ve IIlUh, ;lIlJ 0rer.lft-J the ;lIrU; I(1 under lull .....-rvicc conJnions. The radar ,tAl j.... l l III know th e cara"'ililil'" ;IOJ the lunua nou-, of the one-ron AN!A~ 2l1A -cr. ,mJ I! ~ racnce l apphcauon-. which .111fcred quite 'u::nilic;mrly (rum th e R"\,,,I N.I\"Y requi re me nts. Admr ml Sir Joh n Trencher recalled w h ;11 rln-, cn r.ulcd .... gruu llJ

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A be ~ lrli l u l , hoi 01 Royal Navy AEW·l Skyrllide r WT 966 (code d 411) 01 No. 849 Squadron. blinking over 51 Michael's Mount and Ihe Cornish shoreli ne. Arthur Peercy lI ch've. byCOur19SY01Audrey Peafcy

MIss tonn.lion Ilighllrom the Ra,al Navy', AEW·' Skyraiders. Ant..- Pearcy AfchMt. by COWl""01Aud<~ P... ty

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Roya l Na...., A[W ·l Sk'lu idal WT 954 IJ 101JI t. nding .bo.,d III, um., HMS Eagle in 1954. h cames the mill1lin g of 'A' Fliglll M' Squa dron. FI, .I Air Ann , Anh .. P,.rey Archrve. by courtesy 0/ Aud.Pj Purey Doug las AD....W Skytaid., ." Ro, al N• ...., A[W ·I WT 954 IJ101J I lakes ofl ll om llIe Iliglll de ck 01 the . irc ra h urne r HMS Eilgle in 1954. ta"ling th, id,nlific llion c odes of 'A' Flight on its e ngine c owli ng. Arthur Purey Arch.... by courtn y ot Audrey Purcy

95

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tlit.:h l.. nn e], on S July 19S4, No, 849 S'Iu:k1r" n dr-l-andcd 'P,' Fhulu l'"rnrll'lcly, all' lCarl1lt.: two of its Sk ymi,ll'''' t" each of 'A' :1ll,I'C' Flit.:1u .. a.. Fronr-Lme 11Illlll.,Jit,'rYl' (FIRl .nrcrafr. and then re... ll~iJ;;tUt · io t.: ·C' Rl ).:hl ,h 'B' Ri ).:ht. anJ 'D' Flit.:h!:b

Roy.l Nn y AEW·' Skyr.ider WV 105 132OlZ11.kes the wire.s illands aboard ltIe .irera tr ca rrie ' HMS AlbIon in Ihe Me dlle rra n..n, 1954. Arthur Pel fey .....ell..... by e~esy ot Iwdrey p.,.ey

A line st udy of AEW,1 Skyra ide , WV 105 (32OIZ) "b oa rd lhe "i ,e " tr ca rrie. HMS Albion in the Medil" "anIlB n in 1954. Arthuf Palf cy Archive, bycourtesy of AudflY Pe..cy

96

'C' R it.:hr. <"In ly 'A' Ri l.:hr w ;1\ t herl'fore l'm"'arh ..c] (......lilrJ the £a.l:k) at Ih i-. ta ny f"..'n,>J,rill' remamder ' >per-li me InIfll, !lore h;l'l..~, E\"Cn "', Ih i\ J i,1 no, prevent a sen' ....1\ ..h, ,n,lgl' {It arrc ra tt • .Iuc to lack of 'f'd~ cnumc...; Ihi \ lmallr ll'Sult,.J 11\ 'A' ;)nJ 'B' Ri l.:h b h.'IIll.: Il.,JUCl..J had III f"ur i1l1lTdh

each. ,tIl.1 'E' AiI:hl h.-comlOl.: 'l)' AIJ.:lu.

••

.lO..Bs from VA·11S1M VA-65 - crew _mbers with AD·5W, tolled 4S. RoltndW Biker .... M. "",

B_.

Ift:6 .-ll".olL.;...._ " 'JE

(Abow} BuNo 134520 "IVing with VA-1SS on the

dKk perk 01 the urn... USS Intrepid. October 1966. JIIII SuINt " ... Wd Ohtnch erlll Nick WiIie ....

Doug'e, AO-6 Skyrlid.r, BuNo139169, at VA·l16, wingslollied. ,bolrd its urne,. Arthur P..,ey A't hivI , by cOIInesy o! Audrey Pet rey

..•1'.11.

. ,..."". d

Ase ri.. of .clion photogr.p hs 01 AD-4Bs Irom VA· 115 . nd VA--65 operllling fromtne USS Phil,ppine Sea ICV-4n 011 Je or.., 1951. Belore sa iling lrom51. Diego, Calilomi. on 5 Jul y 1950. she h.d emh rlted VA·115.. p.rt 01her Air Group II ICVG·IIJ.B8twHtI 26 Mlrch . nd 2 April 1951, lJhe disemhrked CVG·H illJ .p. n .nd . mh.... d in tneir pl.c, ttlr.. F4U-4B Corsair squ. drons." well .. the VA -i5 S1lyraidln Irom CVG·2. Ill: USSV.lley Forge. Rol.ncl W B. .... viI M. rtJn 8_

n

•

(Topl GoodSb I1lNrd broadside ..jew 0" US NftJ Skyr. id... " - V...·U i of the USS Intrepod ICY-IlL nose-cod'" 404. Arthur Pearty Are~. by tOVltnYIJ Aud•.., P U

t ty

{AoovsJ US Nuy Doogt" AD ol Sk'tf. id... IBuNo 139li651of VA-Itt. Arthur Pu rey Arctwve. by courwy 0' Aud'I'Y P" " V

US N. vy Doull'" Skyr.id.r in dl ep blll. 'inisll, non -tod " 515. Arthur Pn rey Arclwl. by counnyllf AlId
Doll;l" ....2HSk"lidll. tail-cod.d ...0 41S. As1IIuf Pu rt y Aft """'. by tOurtny of AlIdr"Y Pnr,y

ROYII Nl yY AEW·I Skytaide r 4151CVIII CuldrOSIit. Bob Turner

$kyrIiHr .... 1E. BuNolnaz. 01 the US"'F. h en hlltreI' Scotl ...FB. July 1•

. N"t W ........

•..""".d

•• .". •W

(Topl US N. ", AD-6 Sky"id.r {BuNo 132'591111 Chin. uk. Tn:! &lntre . Atthu< P..,q Arc"-, by COU"1tSY 01 Aud'1I'Y P.. ,q

(Above) A ClI moull. gd USAFA· l l BuNo 1324151.1 Hlnsc om AfB in Jul y 1968. Nick Williams

H' lVily I.d.n A-I E Skyr. id.r, BuNo 134990, ol lh. USAf, "'ick W"'ms

,

(AlHJve' Chacke rboard cowli ng on Ihis US NaYy Skyr.id'f, BuNo 135188, on . dUlfl .irstrip. 21 Ma rc h 1910. AtttIur Pu rcy ArchlY' . by COUr'l' SV of Audrey Pu rcy

{Above /eft} DoulIl.. AH-l (form. , AD-6l Skyr, id.r. BuNo 1397JZ. 01 VA -165. Arthur Pearcy ArchiYI . by COUr'luy 01 Audrey Pearcy {Above' A NaYy Skyrlidlr sho_ 0" har clean tin.. In d daap blul plint sc hema. US N. vy()tt,ci,1

Tw o IOmler Glboneu/french/Am.riCln AD'" Skyr.iders, slill btarinilihe co lours ollh.ir lI st unil e w a it new owners II lhis French ai r parll. SIAPA/EC PA Fort d'lvry

The AmicI" J .P. S,lis A·1DF·AlDPruting belwten shows ' I its hOlll' b,.. of I.e Ferti Al,is during th, , nnu, l,irshow ttl,r, in M. , 1998. M. Hiscoc,

Now oWlled b, the Fighter Collection It Dullford IS G·RAID, this A·1D wu prewiousl, bu ed in Fn nn IS F-AlED. 1I i1;..,n here Iinding It I.e Ferti All is in MI ' l!1!t1. M H,scock

Here is ont intlruting mt chint , tht Gt lt Gut~ II tht USAF MUII_ It t h t ' _ conversion I" tr.ining MH. Hurlbert Fit ld. ROfidl, honMl of tbI 'J ungl, Ji_'. Oft, of ttlt"W former AD·5Ns IA·l lil sUpjlli,lIlo the VNAF, sh, wlSllt" llsigned 10 tilt USAh llmous SPKil1Optrltions Wing wtten ... et rried IDcodt 51-59ll. She 'Nil broulJhtblc:It 10 tilt StIles in un I nd hi S been plletd on disp l. , thm ever si net. "'.." R. $mrth

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01 Jul50 01 Oct 50 24Jan 51 16Jan51

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21Nov 55

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zs sensa

US NilV'/

Green MountainStare American Venture

25Sep 5J 16 Sep5J

U$ Navy

WT097 was moonectly appli ed to W194J WIll 2 was Incorrectlyappliedto WT9B2 WT lll was iOCDlreclly applied to WT98J Ooginal senetshould llave been Wlll6

USNavy

WT761 was a duplICate serercarned by an

WT'" WT9« WI'" W1946 WI"7 WI'" WI'" WI"'" WI"" WI"" W195J

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127949

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ItiI aide letters

A Ari

21 NOlI 5!J

US N",

Cktglllill Senal should IIave been Wl09

I3Jl.I151

Afne,K:
10Nov51

OcxxIlas Aircraft Companv

fle.allDcaled BuNo 124114

19Jul51

Amt!1/Cd11 CII(Jp(!f AmerICan CII(JpIJf AmentallD,pper

10Nov51

Douglas Almaft Company

Re-allocaroo IluNo124175

10 Nov !;II

DouglasAIICta!l ~

Re-allocated BuNG 124776

10 Nov 51 19Feb53 19Feb53 20 Feb53 19Feb53 20 Feb53

OolJ:Jlas AUCl'itlt Company

fle.allotaled BuNo 124777

01JuIS?

18Aug 51

:ll Aug 51 20 OtI52 OIOtl52 01 tb52

J

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01 Del: 52 01 Jan 53 24 feb 53 01 Jan 53 09 feb 53 21 f eb 53

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01 feb 53 18Mill 53 01 Dec 50 3OJ;m51 01 Mal 51 01 May 51 03 May 51 12Oct50 01Aug 52 01 OcI50 01 Sep 50 01 Aug 52 01 Jan 52 26Ap, 50 22 Mal 50 17 Nov50

Americall VerI/Ute

01 Mav50 19Ott 50 24 Aug 50 30 Oct 50 01 Del: 50 21 0ec5O 01 Aug52

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Americdfl VerltUTe Americdn Ventute Perseus G,eenMoufItam State G,eenMountam State G,een Mountam State Franc,s McGraw

J Robmson Francis McGraw JRobinson

Poneos Perseus Perseus Perseus

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19Fetl53 19 Feb 53 31 Mal' 53 20 Feb53 31 Maf 53 31 Maf 53 31 Mal" 53

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31 Mar53 15 Sep 53

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15~53

US Naw

\5 $eJl53 15 May 53

US N"vy US Naw US Navy

25 Sep53 25 Sep 53 25 Sep 53 24 Apr 56 21 Nov55 24Api 56 22 Nov 53 19Feb 53 20 feb 53 19feb 53 19feb 53 20 feb 53 31 Mal53 31 Mal 53 31Mal53 31 Mal 53 31 Mar53 22 Nov55 24 Apr 56 24 Apr 56 24 Apr 56 24 Apr 56

US Navy US Navy US Na...... US Na...... US Na...... US Na...... US Navy US Navy US Na...... US Na...... US N"...... US Na...... US Na...... US Navv US Navv US Navy US Naw US Navy USNavy US Navv US Navy

00_

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A AlbIal llalerl

97

Clashed Cuktose 13 April 1957

OJ SeahiM* llaterl

Clashed CukllDSe 12Feb 1960

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RoW .1 N• ..,. AEW-l $kwr. id., 10S132OlZ1 MitlI towed.1t by . trKtor . boIoni the urner HUS Albion in the Mediterr . ne . 1I illl!1!>4_ """'" P.~ A" h..... by COIl"".,01 Audrey P..rc.,

Th e Four Flights A part fro m l ak in l:: part in rhc normal pcacctutu- c xcrci-es ml,1 tr ;linrn l::, the ~krr. l i,ll' f'o l::;linl,J lillll h....1 ' IJ"I'-war anJ

comhat cxj-cneoce. In November 1956, 'A' Fhclu . -nll o(X'r.umc trom t he EagIt, r lt l\"idl.J Earlr Wa m ml::Il.r the 11l't:1Juri f12 0 r't:r.llh.n Mu-kcrcer, rh c Sue: Operanon TIll" "rt:ralll'n W;I' rn l( l~...lmc -.;ul,fauunIy untt] pohucal d.:cblon, ;lhortl.J i, h.-im it ;l( h ic vcd fin; l! -ucc ......' ( in muc h the same W;l ~· ;lS De -crt Storm would h.: tcnnmated I~ , rt r r,',11"!> la ter) . TIll" ,11':.ir al",) -c rvcd 10 coufmu both t he n- r', ll ilit y- of the Skvrnnh-r, a n,1 it , f't 'I' ular ily. Captain D.H. Frazer, RN , recalled rh.u . 'in ,1,IJ llion to t ill' radar equipment in Illl' A I)· 4W, ii one ••I.....-rver wa, left ('UI it wa, f"l'., iHe In slad 1.t\.X! can, of ~er in the cabin. This \l~ JO Ill' Ju n nc the Sue: Of'l-'T;lllllll III 1956 when rhc Hoo p" ;!-,h"fl' Wl"fl' t lll"!y!' ()Ulll'~ in Novembe r ! l,)'j4 mc luded a Jcl,u.:hllll'nI uf IW" :lIfer. .it '" Gil:oralur,

when- rbcv undertook mal- ,,' a new raJ..r rdll'(lOr huuy. Furt he r "l';I -crvicc '11:>o.uJ borh rhc Illodl'm i:ed EtJRk ,mil rhc small...r BlIl''''lrk t;,lIom•.J, '~ ' r ,I ,h"rl mrcrval, hd' ln ' ,. rerum 1" Clll-Ir,,"l' in reduced 'trl'IlJ,:l h, .uu] a fina l tr.m-tcr til rill' Faire'i Cia nlll'l III h-brua ry 1960 . ' IV H uihr ' l'Cnt till' tu-t t'in- m. mths lIf ib «1I'Tr ,h, 'rc,!'>a'l·J ut Ih l E. r RNAS, 1I.talra. w. ,rk IIlC wnh Iht' Med ttcrr.mc.m R l~1 , anJ wa-, tlwn rdll·n.J !'>y' 'C f-l1cht. ln january IQ').J, II ,"ml,,1 'A' 111cIJI ;.h~ uJ rhe ~ h.'I,'n' "':IIlC JIJ,;mJ...J :mJ re-formed ~ith 'C Flruht. The nt'w '1\' f-1lcht wa, aeam ~1'l'l.1 ,I,ht'rl' ,II ~Ltlt:l ;1I111 '1J""'-'4uen11r "l'I"\"l'l.l ,Ih \11,1 Ark R'':'I,J ,1Il..1th ...n \ 'a.:lonlllS h.·I~ 'n' tl'lI1nllnc IU Culdn .....· ;IIlJ rc....'\jurrr lll C wllh till' E. irq (j,mlll'l III 1960,

-

- .-;'~-

.-

=-- ~~

98

-

A Skyr. ider AEW,1. WV 117 a c Flight No. 1M9 Sqll.dron. ' . nding Ilbo.rd the .irtr. h u lTilf HMS AlbiOn. 1955. Arthur P..rcy Afclwt, bJ COUI1Ny aI AlI6rty hare.,

Sk,raider Men - Admiral Sir J ohn Treacher. KeD T.. ~ 0 1 No 849lAEWjSquadrontrorn 7 Jutv 1952 unt 120 JuIv 1!1flJ. John Treachef had a long and llngul5h8d ta!lIllf In tile Raval NaV'( Hi! was born in 0110 lIfI 23 September 1924. were his lijlher. Algen· "'t-bMl FtriCharlesJreecter, was thenworking , The '0 ..IctII retllflVld home afIl was edecated at St SctQll He 8Il1ered the Royal Navv in tile summer '.,.1 before tlSlIlljtteenth blrthdiIv M er IrachbMat HMS Frrbsher. h id. saw tonsldefable

Sea Haw*;s and Frerd1 Alll8 ASoN aircraft He was pr~ motedto lullIaptamon30 .II.nll962 HIS nexl appOIntment was as Naval sssetemrc the Thud Sea tDl'd and Conlrollor 01 theNavy, homCIcIobot' 1962 to December 1964, belOfe going bilclr. to sea as Commanding Officer 01thoIlJ9ale HMSLlMftSloft. tak· Iflg command of the vessel III December 1!164 If'I May 1!I66, he was 8PIJOIf1fed aI/ector, NoMJIIW WartiR. IloIcIing !hIS IlTIpOI1aflt post lor two ~ at a emal lme for the Navy Mewl sea tme lotlowed, ....,. IWI became the ComrnancIIno Ottoctll' 01 the earner HMS

at.,

VlUI!I offoctll', both aboard the battlelidS "*"- 1ft! the IIjlt CJ\Ilser HMS GlasgoW, ... IlIhe Medltananean and horne waters: ., sI"P lor 'lIlI'lI'Ie. earned out borntIafOOo8nls of the US Army at Omaha Beach dUflng the N; \¥ldy landtngs In 1944 He also served aboard sh,ps the old destrClyllI Keppel on RUSSia ten1d then aboard tho new sIoojJ MefmiJld, TteKI hid 'IIIUlteered foI aifaew durirlil the W03/'. IIll SIIIlIor training lJ'ltlll946 In 1947. he qJat· a IlMI PIlot and. iMllie setVIl'lg WIth IIXl

1M SeaM! "7m the c¥uer HMS TnI*t Illhe Korean W. OJIIIIfi1l1ons On return III tllIlWIFl8d 10 jets afIl bame serJio' ptIol ~ IlJIIdron. No, 703. llefDfl flying the basIC ,y,th!he US NNr In 1951. he was apptNnled 1lnII Otfar 01 No, 778 Squadron, wtlich was toI."," aews IOf tho lIBel. Ht s aceeuumeute rIrCI oommand tile Royal Navy's only trent-line SQuadron lallowed In Jut'!1952 aetw attended the Naval Stat! course in 1!bl and . . . lit !tie Naval Stall II WashingtOO, OC. ~ as the Executrve Otticer til HMS n.SouIftA!larltlCR Fill ~1sIand Guard 20 ~ 1~. ben;I prorroted to Com'1 DIc:8!Olf 1956 Me ~ on the stall ol f!yQ;j TrBnf"O at HMS Heron. the Royal 1111 Yl!OVllton, t«:m JuIv 1957 10 May

1959. before bIlcomlrtll Commander (ArrJaboard file cener I1MS Vicrof/lllls Irom Ma~ 1959 to October 1961 Silo had lust spentlllo:lOV vears beIng almost completely rebJilt and hadrecommissioned InJanuary 1958, WIth a hJlI·aogled deck IlIId statlHll·the-art radar ¥d llQUIp. ment She was able to operate the I8lest naval aircraft, benJ the IIflf to tan'V Ihe new ~ SCJm,tat Treads IfllrOdut:edcamer il'Aa11Cfl1o the IrOan Nav-, ashead 01 the teem that v.oted"" their 1lf'St camerothe INS V"lkrantttormertv HMS HeIwIesI WIth Blllish Hao.o.ter

Thr ll l~h l wa~ rl'nowl1l·d for Ib r rtlllli nml ln,
The Sky is k lllltl 'Jl bfJrh far (/luI wid.. . , U:·ilh S<jll4iJrlffl cypher~ lIU i/.\ sid..,

In849 uur Fb~hl did 111(1111 ; FUllr JLghts III sea, HQat h" IIl"' , FOIlI' flitJtu of {our. a k lf"'r Ir11" " IUIIlk' . ArItrok,cIl D. each one KWI1t'J fulTk' ; On cvu.t M e ll. W a l..'If.'T, 8' FL,Ju Iloenl just ant ~1 1t'1 ,

e.n.

PltJrnI ngllt rhc-re {or all rll .~ r, fu 1\ no ll. W p , it is (I BEE!

A '8' nighl Sk yrlllidll AM·'

showing its 'Bee' bldge in CIOSI' Up, Anhm PU fCy Archive, bycounesy of AudreyPut cy

99

E6g/6 frurnNcMinbr 1968 On IeiMng E6f1Ie.1WI wasprcwroted 10Aeaf Mlwat afIl apcllllflted Flag OfIicer CarTier and AA~lIb1ous Ships, Q1 7 JulV 1970, He served in thiS postlll1111June 1972. 1">tleo 110 was ijppolnted Flag OHlCer. Naval Air Command, This was toIlowed. on Octo 1973, l'f ilflpOtfltment as VICe OJIl!! 01 Naval StaH, On I December 1973, hewas promoled 10 VlC8 MrwaI. nl '" Ille Q1lll year was elected a FeIbN d ille fbvaI AertnIutal SlXIetv lie 'MIS ~ a lull Mr.a!Q1 150Iurnbef 1975. nl awardlld h KCB II It'e 8Irthdirv tbun list ollt'e same ~ Mnnl Treacher ccrnpIeted a ITlOiI successtul naval career 'Nlth his last appointment, as Convnantler'1I1Chlel F1eellall $hips 'Mlfld-wlde, mcludlfl\l S1b nannes andFAAatraaltl With thiscamehis NATO appointmerll as ACCHAN lWlth SACEUR ard SAClANT, one 011110 three IMJDI' NATO Commands), until he leuthe Navy on 30Marth. 1971. aged lilry·!WO Al1er leavirlil the Naoiv, Sir Jom jooned National Car

Pam. sermg as DlIllClorlol1tJlI9B5 lie IO'fWld the board 01 Westlan:t n 1978,1fld was Oepury ChaIrman be'-' lBi and 1!119 lie also ...-I as.... at the I'IQnilI'e$S II8TIbln of the Press ~ betMen 1978 afIll981 afIlas a dftctor at SBAC betMIen 19B3af1l1989 Cinently, SI( Jctn li¥es Ifl Bayswa,... london. afIl 8llJOVS travel. shoollng and phHograJt1y

TIll' ' lo ry "I 'C ' Flidu Llrl.:d ~' mirrl'r"kl' " h .arJ Ih l' Ell""'. ,h,'rl·· h l.....·J " ['o.'r.II\<,n, In llll ~1 ;\lt .l . in cluJing
...

" " .~

".M .lI .

Ri )::ht, ' D' F1il,:11l a l..... Join,.J rhc EaKk' III 19')1andr hcn undertoe lk Jd ;uk..J In.ls . ,f rill' AN /A~ · 20 radar at RNAS Eglin" m. ....-fore l-cconung rh c new 'C' Fltgh t , \'(llll'1\

' E' Ri l,:lu,

In

turn . became rhc new 'C

Ri ghi, 11 un,I,'rt.It.!.. de ck mal-, ,1h,>.:l rJ rh e

BlIluurk 1'I:t~ ,"' t'I.'ing lanJ -kl " '.1 at H;II Far, Maha , n-lievinz 'C Flight. In 19')f>,

embarked aboard the AlbulII, the !light cnu-cd hi the Far E.N ,mJ conducted excre t-es In rhe Indian Ocean, After interval- ;11 C uldrosc. IW,' com mis'lon, aboard rhc Bulu'(IT,k '~ l llow,-.J in 19 57 <mJ 1958. 'D' Fhehr , co m mand....1 hy LieutenantComm.mdcr r.G.w. Mprri" RN, at I hi~ pt.'ri o..! h.n] five c re ws, each n llllr risinl: a pi llIt and t\WI observers. T hcrr hack-up was a m.unu-n.mcc crew n( 17 ra ti n j!s; their duric \\W,' cquallv divided l-crwccn A&E and L&R, with (our " tt k,'(S' ste \~..a rds three ,urn afl handlcrv, " Ill' cook and one "dil"ly equipment rallnt:_ There were 00 rccbmc.rl tlffic,' rs, and tlu, work rested wuh the -c-ruor ra nrur- of the Ilij!hl _

Duties and Roles TIll' AEW-I , were e"I'I:·' ·h.,.1

(II

supple-

OJ,'m rhcrr pnm.trv (ull ct illll o( ~u :l tJ i ng ;I).:a ill' t luw -'lyi llj! attac kuur or , h:lduwing ;Iircrall hy ,' Itlll' r Tl'!"lrtillJ.: such contacts Iu till' ea rne r, or l'-y \"l'U UrillJ.: their own ;Iirl.... -rtu- fiJ,:hl" rs It I de al with tilt' threat. In servic e , however. th e)' \\ W ,' aive n the ,'''":1 rille, of A EW, ," ih , drr ecnon, surface -carch. mail dclrvcrv, aml'-uLlIlce• .mJ ......'n. In fac t, 'I) ' RighI renamed Itself the '\Vd l, El rgu ilnJ Anvpl.rcc Airline', anJ rr- comma nJ iIlj! nffin.'r 1ll',I ' m-pired to

WT 959 of 'C' Flight reVYing up I nd unfolding ihi wings prior to lah -off IfOlll l'he deck oltne l irerl ll elrr;er HMS AllMon, 1956. Arthur Pe.,cy Arc",". by Clltlltny 01 Auclr..Pet'cy

_Commal'Klin9 Off~tB 01No. 849 Squldron

CO from

CO f,~

CO ,,~

CO ,,~

CO ,,~

HQ

A

B

C

D

uce J 0

Ireacher 01 J(J15~ It-Cdr M J Baling :lO Jul53 It·Cdr C8 Armsuong

It W Holdnge

It AW SatleV feb 53 Lt-Idr GP Ssbm 01 Jan 54 It·Cdr R M Shave

It HG1 lIewellVn 01 Jun 53 It·Cdr 0 W Winterton 19Dc t53 It·Cdr H GL N.lsh

It-Cd r 01 Andrews

U,Cdr N Ovenden

Ja n 53 ltMWPBens D6 Jan 54 It-Cdr GP Sabin

OJ Sep 53 lI·Cdr N, Dvenden 15Dct54 It-edl A Ba,ll,e

01 Oec 53

18 Dec 54 It--edr 0 G FraIef

~Jul54

~Jul55

ltCdr CB Armstrong 31 Aug 54

It-Cdr RC Ashwrtth 01 May 55 It·Cllr RGG H!tJbard

lSJan 54 It·Cdr RM Shave 16»1 54

01 Mav56 It-Cdr F &<JTnlow

CO

1J Mav51 It-Cllr AGBPhIllip

f,~

09",,,

~O

It·Cllr G legg

.... . "

.... . ..

0".......

"om

05 Sep 56 ll·CU r 8J Williams

lI·Clt J W WICkham 01 Apr 51 U-Cdf 8 H Stod 23Jul58 [1·Cdr C R Mellor

h~

to Sep 56 ll -Cdr C R MeliOf

11 Aug 59 ll -Cdr 0 tew

29 feb 60

CO

17 Apt- 58 1I I( WC F\eadmgs

f,~

17Aug~

CO CO

CO f,~

It·Cdr A0 Iioopef It·Cd! RHS

Merl1>l~S

100

...... "

..... "

It·Cdr OA Fuller

It'CdrWl Shel:M"d 6 ..kn! 9156 l l-ta PGW Moms 07 Oct 51 It -Cdf TG_ Butler

""""

'""""

It-tdr 0 T ArUews

It-Cdr NG1 TaylOf 05Apr 51 It-Cdl PA WoolhllQs 18Aug59

E

':K,,,,..I ...1,""':110' III Jutflt: " ...."{'I.- h ,nl ..J lurn, ,,, m,mml:l"

I .........
fllol.. J'O"UIT

Onc 'D' AII:!ll ex periment

10

ex te rn] t he

A EW\ lan \:l.· of duties even furthe r ca me an a"ru pt end. The iJl'OI wa. rhar, with all th e radar equipment . lr il' I....·t1 out , ;lnJ the sca n ner an d Rudomc removed, t he 'Sky' wriuldmakc an excellen t I r,)o p t ranspon . ( A s n rur nc d OUI, B u lu ~lrk wa _o n he r b ~t cun umwion ,I' a car rier, a nJ wa,_ ult imatelv f il h:.1 0 111 for jus t suc h a n amph ibiOilS tr ,,,'p nun-port li,le.) Chw airua h wa-, ruoduicd: the -e ruor r ilo, rook he r up. hill vcrv rarl,II~' "rOI.l\:lll her " ;I(k down "1:".1111. The ~kYT;lI'!I' 1 tlcw 'no-c-d, ,wn t.ul-up' the whole I II1H: ,h.' was in the , III, n,1 matter ....-h.u rhc rilot JiJ. A _,cn,, 1 W;I_ Je'raldll'J til rhe (\.Iud a. pl.uu a' E! :-;"'\:lIn,!" ..:ek til \: an-wer- ro du-, ,t ",cn\lu~ conundrum, an .! tlu' rcplv was rhar , w it h till' A D- '. -4 a nd . S \'(1~. till' l'x t r" wl· i.c:h l 1 1Il1't "'~'d hy till' rad ar \'lj ui l' IllCllI an ,! IW" " pc r" '",, h.nl meant rill' r~' - l't " it i " tlin .c: ot t he w i n\:~ on till' tuselacc . in orde r 10 compcn s.uc. 1111. ha,1thrown till' " ilcraf, '~ "011uncc da ncernusly our of ktb cl . anJ tilt.' 'uood i,k'a' W,IS plom ptly ~ h d\"l"J! Btl/UUTk\ ~ i'ICI . hip, tilt.' earner H~tS CenW UT, then became 'D' Rtchl\ horne j~'r 10

OJ II 'B' Right No. 149 Squ.dron lifts on trom Ih, . ngled lIighl de ck allh••i' c, .tI

eem.r HMS V'CIOrlOUS in 1960. AtttIu. Pu' ey A'ehfve. by eOl/l1esyo' Aud"y Pu'ey

write the poem

(Wl'

I':ll-:l' 2) thai ~ 1 1l 11~ Ill'

Ihe Sky raiJcr '~ n illl'-yl',n r,,!l' in

tlu- R. wul

N,\\'y,

Will.

Lieurenanr-Comm.uul...r I'crcv Mom-,

haJ the f\)Uow in\: 11'( 0111'0: 11. 'IlS: \. TbrSl'T3...kr I,

rrnumwJ ,"

,,,,,·,~,, t ""' . r<'l'''1 "I ("'ll."·l' .",,1"'t"r"'I"",n,_ \Ve. dllfllll( ,~" ..."ri,1 tnll ....·, h,,,l lllllt- " ••,-....,

' d -r1.·n,J.,III- ....1..."1<- ....a.llI_ n ... Il,·mk

re.h.'I" . ", .•

",1.e. 1 _ ~ , .." .J II' Jed-L.....lmc , h.•rKttft5t1C$. It s" muo;:h mo....e ..as,' h ' I.m..! ,.... tt-1....r1a~ t f"...rh e',I_'1",,., u....1.1 • dw J.d, emIT.. 1m ", ,h.. t",,,1 .•l·rr h .Jmoor ~ .....11 a, In d 1"1 . Th.· IIn,I'·n;"tTMI...· " I . was'"CT'I robu I, Ilh lilt" A....n~,· •. AI"'r a I,..a\,\· Wtdlllg the Sky,,'i.l,·r ",,,"1,1 CKtell.l If, "It""'" ii'~ ll...lfa shah antitax, I;,r"'''1\1.....·h,·11 , Iidli ' Iv oIJc, !'>nu,h '"KMII ....·,..,1,1 I~ ",i hll- n...·.1 'Iuml--

rtb: 10"¥ abo a "'-...... y"... c "" a mar ..-II""'" h,;,.,flt:

,h.· '1>",lIh"f"

'"'l"'I'"''''''

wh h w' M,ld

haw :I1~ .....~I I" w· I,· .,.· 1 101<"'<"<'1"1',"'1,' c.rrr....1 •....1 .'" "'-,,,..I HI I""l'lrs R,uIl. \1;-'" m ' 1)' fl,du kit ,h,ll " '.' ~,ltl J,.. ol' ,,·clt.,,' ....·IIt". " 'IIh r1... :\ ~ 2l'C Ih ,,.11 AI"",,,,,m lnt-nJ.. " ,,11 lhe :\ ~ 2('1', th.: " I" ·m L",.. .f11..J .... ' I... AI:1X' G.--.nnt.1' _(lr l"", km IInh ft,,: :\ ~ 2(\ : ".1' 1h.1I1'" -... ", ~ " ..J.,h:..J In .f tunl. Th" "It·.,,,, .'

r...nod. Sea Slu.c: ml"I Il.' lIi al ~ Itlo l.. till' Medncrrancan. wnh the Skyr,l l'!~' I~,
a ....ncf

plan'

III

ll u..., '"" h.II,J, lhe ",,1

'0 """J

~ yow korn In ""mr'f ,u r

TbrSbmJn JiJ.,.'I( Itlte h:m ll" c.....rulf,.J . Tbr muM. I,"" ""m, WOlLIJ h: a r...in I."h"" . t .,.,;J Ih... , 5lyrdlJer ..~ ....IJ h: "ml,....J .lIIl1 anJ J.. al ldh·....tt ..II<"T ,he 1"" h.tJ ~ CIII;l('UhrJ Tht a<:crM,",11f1 u( ",,,,,,h ,,( ,he r",br ''<.J U'I'" IIlnll "
A Oougln AO-4W Skyllidel in the guiM of Roy.1 N• ...,. AEW-1 WT . ' IU2N) lIkn on trom the .ngled deck 01HMS Viclorious ill 1960. Arthur PearcyAte",,",. by courtesy01 Aud,-. P••rcy

10 1

...... ".., '"Air. ...

TIl E MW - 11110 II.OYAI.

;1l,11IlJ,: till' u ial s ..1111' 1I ~ I S ('l'dL.. Ne ss, hl: l~ 're a (a._I crut..... ahl<.lrJ the AIbi'n!, wh ich pr,'n...1 hi he the vcrv Lt'r A EW commo...on t" till" Far [;1'1. On Ill l\:cl"mh:r 1960, ,Ifl\'r I" return. Ih.. Ri l.:h t WOl' J .,haIlJ\...I ;1I C ul,ln .....' an..! the AEW- I fin.llly Idi IIl\" R,,,v,,I N;I\'y', front-lim" "-11T;lt.lron.. alwr rune ...,11,1 vcar-, "I .....1'\. icc .

A Long Life Dur inl.: lilt" n ine vca r-, the ::- L:~'ra 'cle r had 1'\'J,: \l11 10 ..hOI\" it.. ilJ,:e, hilt it h :l,1h 'pt p,:r· l~ lfI11 ill J.: . C l\uahk\ over that I" n l.( pl'rilkl were rar e. T W lI ai rn ,ltl o:: r,lSll\",1 wit h li n n ' ".'~'\' ,t' eac h orhcr - \VT 1)6 1 in a fk l..l ll\·ilr EXl'I,'r o n 11 Fd -'nwry IWl0 , ,lIl,1 wv a ll .I,",,, ard Ill\" A/hion n il 9 Fl' hr ll
AEW·' KtidIonts Ddre 21.l1n! 1956

AFII

24 ~ 1 956

AFll

11 $eplewtler 1959

BFI, BFll HQ fit

20 November 1959 24 February t960

FigIlr

r"'r.lrily alleviated hy further "111<111 dchvcrI\"S from ti l\" USA in 1955 anJ 1956. TIlt" A EW· I ....-cnu-d , ll·..uncd r" ..utfcr the fate of all ~ L:\·r.Il.I\' r\ , h.'me a"icn\.,J hi a num h.·r o j "Ul'r l\'IHl'ntat)' ,IUIII"S (not all utiicia!!). A lrhouc h rhc dc rccu...n ... j I"'"'-lly inl.: mc...m inl.: 'h,"'lill"" r.... mamcd it.. prime role, It wa .. al..., c.•lk.,J upon to funcuon a" a J necli lll.( aircratt I~ 'r ann-sul-rnannc h ums and weather rcconn.u.....mce . Irs hulk enabled if t ... h:o::"nu,.. a jack -...f.a ll· rra,!e.. \\"hl'n req uired. with ,h' I'·",·..hon- tr.lIl, fer of "lIr r lk'" ,Ill..! storev ,IS wel l a\ rc r-on nc l ht'c llminJ.: a brJ,:l' pan " f iI,' cu m .... r J ul ie\." In , 'rd" r It' keep l'l1lllll.:h l ,j I he Skvratdcr» 1l 1'\ ..ranonul, rlu-n was il J,: r\'ar , I ,~a l "j'\h llf· 11inJ,:' ...f airo::rafr between tlid" " l" IX'\:i,llly in rill' latter yl·a rv. Several aircraft wen'cann ihali:cd' in rill" cud. in " r.l,·r to h ·\·1' or he r\ tl yinl.:. Ai rfr,ll11l'" were reiur hi, Ill'J at RNAS I\ llllhri, t l...., wh Ile Ih\· rl'''p'IIl\IHl iry lor l'nl.:lIlt.' lI\"I'rhalll , wa' han..!,.J " n'r to Ih\' ' J'I:t:iali'l Cl'nlrl' ;11 TTl·j"rt'S'. no rth Wl',1,,(C,lflllll "f Rrni,h On·p·...", A irw
-

Locaoon

Vlt"tor/l)U$

NorttlSea

V"lorlOllS

Medrleuaoean

SeiJhiJwk

Cliidrose

'.... ,,..

~AVY ~.X PER l f:~("/;

c" Tf't,r,u illn (ROAC. the ("Tl·nmru.·r Ii Bnn-h Ai lw<1Y~). The uJ'I.,'ra'! IIll.: anJ modl"m.:' llilln 1'( th e AE W- I\ r....LIt anJ. rddlO l'l.IU'l'lllefll remained the J ut~· of the Naval Al rcratt R•.J .u lr e-tallano n Vlllt (NARIU) <11Go-port anJ Lec -on -Solcnt . The SkYTaiJet'r> con ti nued to serve with rlw Ill,.·t umiI1959/60. hy which time dlelr replacement, rhc Fa itey AEW·} Gannet , ha,1 h.')::lIn til arrive. A J.:r,.,lualt ransllloli r":n",! 1~ ,I1""n...1. Two A EW- I SL:yr.li,kD were Tl·'>l"(\·I.,J ttl become pe rmane nt memonal- - WV 106/C U -427 ( RuN" 124086) was rl'l ailll'd ; 11 C uldnlSC, before hein!,: finalI.,. tran., ferre..! In Yeoviltnu; rill' other (\VT 121 /CU -4I S, Ru No 124121) went III the Fleet A ir Arm ~111Sl'1l 11l ar RNAS Y,·,wilt, Ill. Aft er m.mv Y~';l r' 110 .Ii' r layour, ,i de, it ha , now l-ecn broughr under cover 10 l.lh· us rl;H:l' in a rrol'" " ....l lww h..nl:'lr ;md d,'p"ly lunded hy till' Nat h lIlal Ultle1)'. Th" wa, n , 'I '-Iuite rill" ~'nd I ,f lhl~ ,lell\'!! 11k of .... 'me of Ihe AE\,('-Is. howl·\'cr. Fur a il'W, a fl-rrit:vl' wa.. at h .mJ .

Medrlerranean Medllerranean O" iurs a nd me n 01 No 14' Squad ron, Flee! Ai, Ann w ilh thei, AEW·l t lrlllll up at HMS Seahaw., with the Squidro" Badge . nd B.nl, Honoun . AntIur P ur ~y Af ~h ....e.

102

by

~ou nelY

01Audrt"/

P"f ~y

'.

CHA PTER ELEVEN

Further Diversification zs

On j une 1950. rhc North Korvan artuv, Wllhtlul provocation , a"..-cd t1w l HlIl

Farallel and in\,aJt.·J Stunh I\ or~a . T hi-, clear
TIll' US Na vy

tUIn '

:l\';.ilat-k'

\\';1'

till: o n ly ..[r"ng

l"ok IImTl' ,l l tr, l d l\'l' III Wa,hmg,on , IX-:. Fundinc IV,. , mcrca-,..'.! I tl .1,';11 with Ill<: ..it uali"n an.l. w ilh ,hi .... la.:h·nillJ.: o f the defence hllJg\' , pur ..r- , t rint-:... a Irc..h look w, rs taken at the I \,ugl'I'l'lan, As a re-uh till" AD-S W~I' '1I'I'rnn"1, funded and quk kly 1'11 1 in han d . 1\o'l'ill' ill..: rca'>l.·d !,rodlJdi"n iLllJ ;1

n-ncwalof tlu- curlu-r h 'l1l!' 1111 rh... line at El

the U N ; an :or,llIld Y,

Sl'J.:lIn dd a~ [)llll J.:b., h "I"' ln,ll'd ro rhis new

Amcncan :lIrlralt G l r r il' p; in till' vic uurv were . . 11..ru m
-nuanon, n, .nc I I( till: rc-ulr.uu .urcraftc- thc A D-j ;m,1 A D-6 .....-nvs - ", IW combat,

10

Changes Modilk .ui nll I~ ll rh... AD · j mvolvec] monthan ,. , im r ]l' rinkcnne wuh rill' ha'k , ln i ~tl;

a com plete rc -wolklll ~ resulted III

,1 l;ld ic a lly dilti.·len' maclunc. TIl\' , in dl''l';l! d l H ' l-ombcr ml·lam"rl'h,,,,,-·,I uuo a I WI 1 - ~I" 1l ,by-;III;Kk urrc rafrof J.: rl·;ll 1" ucu 11 '11. r.uhcr r1MIl the AS W nuulum- " riJ.:lnall ~' l· l1\·i~agl·'.1. A mock -up w.r, in·'l x·d nl ,m,l ,ll' l'lo \·l·,1 'h l'ilrly a, (\: Illh;r 1'1')O, a ll,1 ""UIJ... h:g,Ul.

All-5Sk.".ider IBuNo 132614) re.dy 10f Ihe oft. N,tk W",,-

',lIthKorean 1;I~C", ""Hh J,: le.11 cucc r. A~ lime went on, anJ II l-ccame ,,"" 1"11' Ih.u the- Ur-.: iOfe l" we ll' in 1,,1 a I"nJ,:, h,ud, ~~, and that th.. Skvnudcr wa' tu lh ll lllJ,:

I

iu duue, wnh more rh.m a,k'lJIMll' dfi neney, fre.h orders were "la..:l....1 1"1 tlu-

ahh....JJ,:h Illl 'y wen- 0'1111'1""1......1 in lime ,,, take r an III K"f",' a , wIWI...• fll,,: hlinl!. JI J nOI

"" I'tJ unnl 27 Juh' l~'i \. }" l.lIly Na\'y ~m. 1 }"bmll' CUIJ" 11Il1" III rhc rhc.ur...· h..'I!'1Il "I re -equip wnh Ihl' .urc ran from \ l.) j 2 u ll\\';m !-, h U I d ll' y .l1.ln"l 1;1k...· part in .m v

AI1·4. Th.. olJ rlan~ j"r a new \"a l ia m , ...... '

liJ.:h'ltlJ.:, TIll' Ill'\I' I~TI("

hn~"'l\lc ly rcjl'(ll.J a fl'w monlh, l'arlil'!

"" !l jny;l

ii '

a Wilsie of limill'd n 'S\llIrr l'S, nt lll' hq,::;lll III

\\"l'f..." h . ' \W I"l'I, 10

Illlll!. ,mel \"l'T)' 1I.....·(1I1 "l' fvK ..., lif..." ,Ill.!

1l\~ 1I1Y Wl·r...· I' I l', llIl l.m rd , III a Lll""r c, 'nllicl ,

103

TIll'

IWII

crew mc mbcr-, we-re

....... lll.J

' 1,1...·

..., ,J.I.. , f,ll h cr rhan m t.uuh-m: 1111, h i'll bd nw .,lvl-J l:h,lIll..""'" Itl t he ,urer,lll" ( II · •

Lll!."'·, o . . .kprt, m- rrum cnta non .m.1acn I,,n.u r uc "abIK l'. Th . .· rrololn....· I' lf du-, IIh ..Iuicauon W;lS a - t and.m] r fl,J ' ll'l h' n lull' A I )--1 (" uNu I 24Q"6), wil h , I 11I"l·LI l,!l · I}m \n.l.. . 1 Ihan llnnn
.. .., .,..."" • 11. .. .

1I1l' !r,ullnlo: l'lllo:l', hy l'x Il'nJln!: ,hl' hN:lalo:l' till' WlTllo: root . ,tOJ then hll'ndl-J 11 h,l..:lllUtl till' o rig-in,11c" mour. TIll' IU'l,t! J.:l' was al.... 1 strl.·IlJ.:lhl·nl-J •. md lcn crhcncd bv 1ft II in (58.·klll ). III co mr"l:n s,HI' for th e new c"n fi~u r; ll lon. whi ch h,l,1 dr.sm.urcnllv ,hilk,1 till' ~l ~' r;lldl'r\ cem re, ,f I: r, lvl l ~'. The IWI I dl\T hralcs \H'rC " 1111111.·,1comp lctclv from the twn sl,I,· fll'l" b \:l' I, ...:ao"ns. ,llrh"uJ.:h rh,· vcu rral ,lin' hr;lh· W ,h rl'I,I1l\,-J. The e nuruc wa, m,wcd 1~ ,rwar,1 by Sill, the vertical nul surfan ' ,lrt'a WllIlll.J !1.111ltl cannon l-c"Il11C the norm . TIll' new, hr,);IJ I'r anJ l' llllo:l·r. rl'arw .IT.I shJ ITlj! C,1Il0r" featured Iw,1 fl.n . forward sl' 'I' inlo: buller -re estant centre 'l"CIII'I". wnh .mclc...1,*,11' r ands. The ril"l ,1I1sl ro... ri llli \w rl' 'l'atl.J Ix-hind Ihi s. shou"II'r In , hou l,I,·r. wilh an ani i·glare T;l(l slu d,1fil' r",1 1I1 1I'rnall~ '. Thc ril"1 ha ,1 hIs 111~11I 1Il'lTurnclll l"l1leb on Ihl.' Idl ·han,1 si,ll' whili' 11ll' co -rilol aCII..J ,IS navica ltlr and al' n h 'I,llhl' ra,lar lxllnhlll~ in.slrun ll'll1ali'lll " 11 Ihl' r i ~h l -ha nd ~i,It, "I till' ..:,,,kri l. Tw,' ha nd -j!rip, anj!ll',1 cIJllIn,1 c' Jlllllln.' \\'l're I'rovid",1; Ihe n lN,'J Ihe IWO rada r 0f'l-'f<\Iurs. who wI'r c ,11.... 1 'l,.ueJ side h~' si,lc. ROlh u 'nln' and fl',IT j!la:l..J .....1.Tfl\enls Wl're tillll.J n.'I)' J arl hlul.'. 10 rrol"cl thc ......n sil ivc l.....U1r· menl Irllm sun glare ; to the re'lr. thl' Gml 'r~' was hla nh.J off with a ....lhJ. CUT\·I....I (;li nn/.:. The alllen n,l was ....." >IlII,I.ICI1",1,1I1'r Ihc a!lt."r lu.....:laJ.,.'e. Win/.: sr;m W
Sr«ifintiu... - AD_;

r.....t'rrldIl1 ;

R-H so.-Z6W

Wt'I~U:

Em",... '.i5 81lg 112,3111"); 1t...J.:J 85Zt\J,,~ (18.799lb); fullll .HOkI/: (l '.i,C\.Xllh), ...Ing Itwmg .f7lhl'lo.l Il, rt....-er IoeJmg 3.Zkelhr (7Ih/1lr)

(hmen,iUIl-'\:

lcn~:th 12 .22m (-k.'tl lmj: hcll.+'1 -Ullm (I '.ill lOin): I"ing.pan 1'.i.47m (5011 'h n ); wml/: arr"d 17 .192""l m (.fOO.H""l ft 1

Performance

1.OlOhr

501l m/h (1I1mphl; >II altuuJ.. 5.41:15m (18,000tt). 312J"m/h (lOOmrh) R;llt' " f chmb 701km/h (2,l00fl/nun) Ce,linl>: 7.925In (26.000£1) R;ll\l....· 1.935km ( 1.202m,],") ~\;Il( . ~~

Crui.'t" speed

441

N umh.,l'l ('..a ncdbJ

cm ptv, Itl,7lJYlh (8,5!t'Ilj! ) 1"...11-..1 wnh maximum all-up wl.'icht " I ! 5.c(\1f, (11.J4i.'lg) CI,ml"'lIl...1 wilh the XHT21)..! s I7500lb (7.':H,skC> ,I lew yt.'ar.- l-c(" r,'. WIIlj! 1'l
Co nve rsion Kits The r r,wen valul' 01 Ih i ~ airer"lft was IurIher increaSt.-. J hy tilt.' sur r h' " f var i,)us 'h)lr·o n· conversion I n , . which l'nahleJ Ihe l;lr~c fw,c1alo:c arca hol.lw Ihe much bij!J..'C r can, 'py to Ix- 4l1idl~ ' aJarlt..J (or a var iel Y01 r"le' , as follow~ :

I. Phllltl reconn!ll'ithl' r i,k " I Ihe in ner (u ~e1a gt" . in Ihis r{llc. a hobtin g rij! wilh r,!tchl.·t l" adill j! ho ist was carril'd, alunj! with

104

3.

4.

;, 6,

lunucd medica l equipment, il nccc...• "'lry, oXYJ.:I'n was rll't'J III from rhe rlg:hl-hanJ oc kpu co n.... slc. e m)..., transport, bv th e ;.JJItH >Il of a lIlt'c hal\ic,11 hoi...1 capable o( carrying a maximum 1'12,(\'"('llb (9C8ld 01milu al1' ...1,lrt..". Tr' '' 'r transport , with bench -.c,llln J: " '1';1...11," " f uccomrnod annu twelve (ull)' 1''1l1lrrlt-J '",IJ lers (Ih t" ' II- in· 1' ). T:nget lu/.:. with Ihl.' nunnal "'WillI:: l'qlllrmCn! anJ dr'lIle.... P,ls....nJ.:I·r lransp"lrt , wnh luut re;u ward -IaClng huckel St"I1S. t";JCh, II which \\'.1' e' luirlx'd wilh irs own in,lividual (lxyg"n rl'~u huor anJ s'lll'ty harne....... TIl i.. was mainly I'mrloycd t~ lr 1"1'hr,lss Imlls!'1 'rt ali,)n tI, and fTt lin airfields anJ rl.'ar-arl.·;t h,t...l'....

Such \"l'Kl1i lilY al",) leJ In a Navy rl....luire· nll'n1. in 19 SJ. lor thl' A D·; III h.' adarlN ,IS all in..l1ighl n'Iudling lanh'r, to fl'rlenish Navy it.'b such a~ th,' Co. IlIg<1T anJ Ihl' Panthl'r, and Ihll~ eXII, nJ Ih..ir rnis.sion rnn~. 1 '\ M.I~Ia.s h>keJ inlo lhis and fl'p",nt'J lhal ~ue h a n mvcT'> i' lIl was nOI rract icahlc a'i srt'cifit.J. TIlt' )' .IiJ w me ur wIth a ...."OTking ahl'm,ui\"C in the carryin j! ul a -.clf-collrallll."t1 eXIt"mal fuellinj! tank. Inc 'huJJy' SInT"C'. III conjunct ion with a traillllJ: ~l ho.'>4.· anJ no::I",. This WflCt"rl h."CaTTlt.' pmt and parcel uf Ihl.· AD-5's V,lsl rl'I"l(:nui~.

More Permanent Variants Thl' inrl.'TIlal kits sufficed f' lT till' numCWU:i anci llaf)' tasks Ihal came Ihl' SkyraiJcr's W,IV in Ihc 19 SOS hut, as hof"rc, thc hasic

l'l 'RTII I,R

I)lV IIt SI I 'IC A1 1 0 ~

I B7 S7- 1H 776, I Fil l 'J-1 3i 221 I Ni 56--- 1N 60'; ).

,1Il,1

AIHQ I \ M '~"I' ,,,,,k Olll' AD·iN (RUSl l 13i Qi4 l all,l m.llMI.....lu a, a I~M tr-""'·
AD-.i.' · A -mclc arrcran ( BI.I~u 1124i 'J). ""11..'Il'.J to rill' N.I\·a! Expenmcntul Tl'~1 unn \'X·I al Key \V," I, R "nJ .I, wa-, l'llulrpt.....1 .1' .m cxpenmcutul ASW It:,[ -N:J. ~1I11'[".'I1 wuh th e Mauncnc Anomaly l"lc tl·l.:!ur n..1 AJ) ) msmuncru.u ton . it llIl.ll·n" "k .1 -cnc ot' r ll al ~ III t hi s ,-"II i""", hut no producnon rcq um- me n t resul ted,

The All-Weather Squadro ns The amval u( , hl' all-we..t1ll' r ~l ll: .d ru [ h C,IVl' ti ll' Ih'l'! all cxrra dimc n..ion. O ril-:Illa l; n ~ w;d1 till' c ompocm- ~ Iu: ld ru n,

(Ve l , which ha,1a mixed h,lC "i aire rall in AIl·~ in clllH'up

ec he lon lormelion al 500tt I1SOm l over tbe Allanlic COIISI on 22 ...... 1955. "'tlt'OlII I AlchN's , ColI, ge Plfk. MD

muJd \I'a.~ H I~o adartl.J for furth er mh , i. lIl' 111 a sene... o( more perm.uwut van.nus.

.IDS.\' TIllS W"iI' a nil:hr at tack .urc r att , with rh o.' I extra compartment burlt in to the

cemral tu,d ;ll.'1: to htlU-e the I ...... ' 1)[".' r:111 ,r , omJ therr specialis t cqniprncnr , which l OOlrfl~ a -earchhght, a 11. r.... ,h'lx'n"l'r :uiJ a "'lOO- h.Jo~·. They earned borh rhc m:h radar and f'll.....crful illununauon in tlln n Ill:' an Aertl 3R elunC,lll,,1puJ ( ,.rUrt.Xr ,he \.,ing on ,hl' r yl. 'n. I\ MIJ,:I.., rJ one airci.lfl ( AuNtI 132477) l
AlJ..5 W

th eir cruuplcmcnt,

rhl' ~l'

,ll·\"l·I" I,\·,1 tn to

lu ll :11I·we a l h e: r at tack ,Ill.! t'il-:ht \' r umts (VFAW ). Fur :1 lu nc rniu,1. d wir main wu rkh"rst· W;I , the AD·i . T he "' llIa,lro ll t h a t o rigin,llt:d ,h VC·4 al NAS Atl:llll ic C ity, Nc-w Jt- rw ~", in J uly 1948, am] wa ~ r....,lo.'sign:ltl·d a ~ V FAW·4 .'11 2 Jul\ 19 ;1" whi..· h ..mvcd ar QU"Il "."1 in

The A EW \'o.' r' I" 11 01 th e A D·'; \1'''' '' 1"1Ir' l·ah.·r with rill' u, u••1 A N/A I'~ -20H 1'''..1 , M .I ~ I 'J5R, can he: raken as lypiGII. f\y I comnu lilly killswun-, rill" 'l l u l'l'~" It ld. un r-, J ul y 19 :;7, com man ded " y Comman der .....hieh wns mounted umjer Tin' iu,dac,· [ohu E. (\1.·11. [ r, USN. thi.. squad ron h-r. sect ion illllll",!ial d y :Ih lft rhc cmnnc. The cdn-, main func t ions :I' inll"w , ; rea r canopv w.. ~ rl'll,'" cnl'd , h; 1 '",];,1' ;111· 1Il1'l 0l1 r.;.'n..r inc, wuh , mall -cnu-c rrcula r T" "" "" ~r' .IUJ ,1'< '... e twm v.mn.," .I""nl: .,11 c ....,lu,."', ,,' ,"" ,uh"r ;mJ ,"" ,I-,h1\. rr. ,,'o.l...... 1ll,lllw" a hail th e il' rw:lr,1 1...... '·'l·;II'·r coc kpu. AI m".., .111 rhc IN ta! un,ll'rwIll C .,I1·"',·.,,h.:r .u r .lo:kn...· .1t lh..· ,;" rl<'l l."l t,,,.n ordna nce p"illl' were onu ncd troru rlu-, r" "·l.k .,II·\•.-" ." h.:r ~ n J,:l.'n...: hor ,>t h.·, ",fl.",· ' yr",", ..... ;' h l" , r "m.. r,lIr h.·LIlC fd allll'd l~, r I, or...... Ii.,,· · ~'l ·'A:' .m." l "'r.,I-,I", ,",,,hln :1,IJ it i"nal iuel J ror tan b. .'" ..lo:l...·h rn n h J,."f'I" n-J .•h .. rJ C\·~.. h. I\' 1Il1! Tht: n" rma l arran Cl·m.... nt w;" lor ,I Ih..· ~Il ·~ """" 1"'" c ~ra""I ,,\'. Jl·l,u.: h nll·nt 0 ' (. lur 'I..: h .Ufl r;.!1 I" h... ".., icnl-J r' l ....;lCh ~;l rr ll· r. A 1.' 1.11 "f l l~ .,1' O n t he "'-lu.l<.lrnn\ , m.· n1.'1 h ,11 Ih,lI .I'lIe: w,' re: h.:tw n '; 7 anJ 59 ril' lh , wll h l6A I). , h is ".ar;a n r " l're: t'1Il;11I\ r r"J uet:J, 1I\ i"ur h,lIc ht:~ (R uN I" 1127N - l l .?7lj2, ';" al.l nc ",h TWO TV-2.. an.l " ne S:-":B-:;.

105

.....

,

-

" ".~

~l(.II.

l'llRl'IlI'R Dl V I . R S [ ~ l r A T I O 'll

These Skvmidc rs,
3B 45 51 51

CarliN

uss

rarawa

16Aug -24 Oct 1957

ICVS·40) USS ESWK 16Aug-24 Oct 1957 (CVA·91 USS Leyte 29 Aug -28 Nov 1957 ICVS·32) USS Valley Fvrge 2flSepl ace 1957 ICVS·45)

De1<JChment

Camel

52

USS Valley Forge lCVS- 45)

1Jan-31 Mar 1956

51

USS I..e rte ICVS·32) USS rarilWil

27Jan-24 Feb 1958

BJan-3FebI95B

ICVS- 40)

nlt,y ra rt id r ln ed in thl' NATO EXl'rd~t' Sl1rifl~hoarJ (nw h..,twct' n 6 J,H1uary 'lIlel ) Fd 'rIl,lry, a ~ wdl a" int ..' r-sh ip eXt' rl:i~l'S , By [IlL' t'n.l "f Jllllt', lhe tr,msit i, 111 perilll.l frlllll all-\w allw r alt ,1C k III all-wl'a [h ..' r t'igl1rt'r S'I ll:l
Aooard tro»

Detachment

camer

36

USS Randolph

4 Jun1957- 4 Jan

J7

ICVA·151 USS Roosevelt

13 JlIo-6 MarI 95B

43

ICVA· 421 USS Saratoga

Aboard 110m

Each of the-e dcrac huu-nts c(lllsist~d of se ven (llficns, )0 cnloted nu-n an d [our AJ)- 5 ~. From 10 Oct ober, dct nchmeru 5 1 parlicipan."!ll1 the nnu-sul-mann.., r h,ls,,' pf two 1l1"H' NATO exerc ises, 'I b)'~lri h" 'H1.! 'Red EJ't'ch ', in c('n junclion wilh tilt' Six th Fket. O n S N' lwllllx'r, [he "-luadn ln Tl'ct'in'd Il F2H ,tircr,lft , and hegan rraining te , l1n~ on this lll,lC h irw in adJirion to if'; n,lTinal AI ) « (11l1Illi I IlWllt ~ , Sim ib r ,!t'ployments 1~ , ll o wl'J in till' fif"t quarter of 1958, although till' AD-5 u n i l~ had hl'l'n redtlCl'd 10 ni rll' 'lircnd·" wil h Ih l' fllll.l\'..in ~ dl'tad m lt'nts:

38

Pac k. USN , o n 12 July, It was l-ased ut NAS Atla nti c C i [~', NJ, il ~ part ,If th e A tlantic Fleet, anJ ih atrc raft su cnath consisted uf 42 AD - SN~, al"ng with tWII T F· IQ.." all A2F2 and nn SNB-S. T here were se v..-ral ac ti ve detachment s aboard cur rie rs at sea, as follows:

42 33

ICVA-501 USS Fonestal ICVA-591 USS Intlepld lCVA -l11

1958

Returned

22Oc11957 Re[umed

210C11957 Betumed

21 Del 1957

The-e de-tac hments [,I" k part in NATO Exerc ises 'Smkcbac k' and 'Pipcdown'. 1\.,tac lun ..-m l1 was uru ]..-r Licutcunru -Commandcr S, Takts as Otfio-r. m-C omm.md. with five " iluts, 41 mvrr and (UIIT A D-SN aircraft; dcmchmenr 41 had Lieutcnnm H ,T. Gower as O fficer-in-Command, with t'iglu r ilols, O lll' air im dligeTlct' "trin'r, 5 1 llll'n an d seH' n A D-5N ain·mft : d..·tac h· l1lelll 4) was und..'r C0I1I111;1I1,lt'r C.G. Th k,man n , with eight pil,lls, '11ll' ,Iir itllelligellce ,,fficc r, SO lllen an, 1Sl'\'l'n A[)-SN aircraft. All tlll'Sl' <1..' I,Khllll'nts rt'tIlnll-...1 to th e "-lua,ln 'n ,'n 21/22 C\:\I ,lx'r. nl is l'siahlis h llll'lll was lllainr,linl'd in early 195 R l~ha ngi n g slightly ,11 a Skyrai.!er S1fl'ngt h of l8 An-SN~ an'! '>111,' AD-5Q, i nn,'a~,'d [onine AD-5Qaircraft hy till' ~nd " I March , wh ile de[achllll'1lI -tS was dep luy.....l [0 till' US S Es_~"x (C VA -9) on ) J;lIlu,lry and ,letachnll'1U 4 3 [ 0 rht' US S StlT£lW,l;d (CVA -60) on '" Jam I;H)'. By April , thl' Slltla,lrun h 'l.! )7 A D-iNs an'! 11 A DSt...}.; I,n irs ~ [ re ng [ h , alld , Il'tach nll'lll ~ 31, 16 and 42 h;ld de ploY"',1[" till' carri..' r~ Imr"tlid, RtlluIo/111J Olnd FrnTcswl O[Kl' mOTl" un 20 ~by, 18 JUlll' ;md 2 \ A pril. rl's['t't.:tiwly. n l is was flll'ir p,lllenl ; fl,r full dl,t ;ti l ~ ,,f their ~ ll h~'q ' ll' n l ,k "h'ylllt'n1S, see A I'I"lCn, llx [II, By C' l lll~ l' 11f r, l\ i llg lilt' all-weal IICT ,Itlac k firl'p" w..' r in llne \Init, t'xp..' n isl' t:llul.l lx' hllil t up in thi.' sreciali~t ;lfl'a, and [raining of nl'W ai rcre\\' COIII.l I'll' ,lS~ imi la lClI, with .' ea eXl'l'rit' llCl' gainl' d hy till' per iod ic dl' lachmen ts h"m Ihe Sllua,lrun h i the att' IC).; ca rrier s ,>f till' fl..' et. Nllclt'ilr
106

AD-6 There was a counn utnu need for ual Mk 8 lOOgallon ( I, l6l-lmc) drop tan ks mount ed umle r till' w i ng~ when required. an c-xrra pa ir uf I S5-gal1lln (704 -lilfd fud ta nks were provicl..,.l in Ih t, aft er cockpi t co mpa rrm c nr and all ex t r a 12,S US gallons (9301h or 422k g) of o il could Ix- carr ied in a small tan k mounted ahoVl' this in a small ta nk, Oi l sur p ly was nlwavs tilt' lim iling fac tor with an y Skyra kler sorue. T hl' )H.S gallon o il slimp provl'd imufficil' nl , anJ 'lIlxili;lT)· oil t,lllb h;ld to he fitted f and with 18in or 36in '[),lby CUlter' fuse extt'mi
• IU lnllHl lll\UIS IFlCA TI(J~

wav dc-crtl-cd

$r«ifM:;Iliun - AO-6

r''''TTJ'I;mI;

R·3J;o·16WA

'I1'C'I~\I'"

Emptj-

[)lTnm».n~ :

5,-429I./Il( I 1.96ijlb); IoaJeJ 8.ZI3lJ,: (18.1061"1; full 11.14\.'k g IZ5,l,).X'lh); ,",'inK 1....J lltg H .2UVs.J (1; power 1•...Jmll: l1o.tu'hr 16.71tYhrl

lnl£lh 11.t4m ( l~ft lOin); Mldtl " .78m 115ft 8' In); (50ft

Pnf
;b

h'I\'i ll~

rll\' expl- ...ivc

rowvr III IO.COJlh of TNT.

l-:ln ) ; ....1111/ ,1n:d

"'U\~n

1'i.15m

l7. 191""l m ( +XU J!oql1)

J,02Chr Mall;. ~PC'<"J SISlm/h 02Zmph);.11altnu.k 5,48')10 (I 8.<XXlt1l C ruee ' r'l"'l.J H9lun/h (I98m ph) Rare " j c1iml-1'69lmill (Z,8S0ti/mrn ) ('..t· iling 8,M5 m (lll,'iOOfl) R;Ill j,,'l: 1, 115l rn {l, l ib n ufes)

The AD-6 thu-, Incorporated h'lh Im'..leve l anJ all-weather capacuv (0 become an all'HllJl\J arrack aircraft " I' ,-'f,',11 , ·t'NI li lity. A " II' ~rolm"'. a ll;K k rtll..• becanu-

more

~lCll1fical\l.

aJ...Imonal armour r Lu-

inl.: wa, worked in ar"unJ tbc I'll.,!. Flucxr ra rn ' It."<:tlon consivted "I ,1,1,' r ;lIlt" a"fl',,,1 th e forward canopv ext,'n..llO~ down III the W1l1~ roots, ;m J underneath

pnuccnon con'rin~ the cen tre .....cnon . wnh mouldc...1armo ur 1';ln " I, Il.';t.lllll.: III' t o Ih l' ,' ll~illl' firewall. TIll'''' nn... litk"tl.,n, d"~Il.:Il\:J til ~ iVI' inCt\:;I" ·..Il' r,,r cct ron front ).::tIlun.l tire . Onn' ;t~;l i n, add itiona l 'tfl·nl-: dll' nin ).:: 11"<1' irnn ...luccd. with 11" llh ll'· rh k kn l·" -kur a r"un.1 Ih\: wheel w..-ll-. TIll' Wllll.: structure wa-, mode more fl',rl l"1ll nround rill' tNhll tr, 'uh!t, .. ,i l in' la n,lllll.: l.:\:a t, with rcmforcemenr of rh... \.I'IIl).:: -km .•h ,,"c. TI\b h.IJ become nccc-o.rrv bcc.ru-c ..i Iht" '·\"l·r-IIlt."tt.';binl.: I"ad, h.:11\~ illlptl'o\.. J on rhc
Ant"rt'lIK.' III-crvice: 19 ; J

•

"'Its.

I"

Oov.glll AD-' Skyraider (BuNo 134S36101VA·176. Arthur PearcyArchIve, bvcoutlU Vut Audrev Pearcy

Sm LAU·IOA Zuni and LAU·"<.J nw.:kl'l ro.h; SUU·ll Am CIl!lt,l in ;nl.: dll' l ;AU · ! B dt"ClTil:all~' Jri\'\'ll. _lx· h lm,lh l i.6!mmGatling I!un , with I,SOO n>un,!, tIl euher l-;11I, tr,lel'r ,'r ;m n'lm- I'lac inl.: :unmtmnioll . aM with a r.llt.· 01 lin' "I C"llhel J,lXX' ur 6.(\X''l'm; an,! ~UU· 1 4 A dlJ.'I ~1 hlffil-,!l'ren,..: ", wll h ' IX 11Ih." hanJrJ In all iIlH'nt....1 !t1.lncul,n r donIROllnlN unit . Tht.""": flrt.' ,1""rll lw nt, "I CBU, Incl..... k:J Gr.m,:l. A, .....ell .l' f\LU· ! ( un 'l. l blll ~"'ll) ,II\,! \'l.U·2j ('tahill:.....!) lire hum'" 1'..... 1, C' l!lIAlnlllj! naralm anJ " Ih...r 11,1111111,11,[" !i 'l wJ~. ,lnlllh~r ~~J't-"<:i;llly I'".\wrllil ;1..1,1111< 111 ro ' nt.' Spi]J 's ann, >tIl)' in Vi"1 n;Ull W;I' Ilw BLU·76/B fu~1 air ~xrl'''ln' hlln" (FAE). TI ll S cam'lcr o f l(li n dia l1ldt.·r. n >111 ,lillln,e a high l ~' co mhu,tihl,' Ilqtlld. \\';]' Iltl t.'d ;Ift

with fill, and Tlin' 41in in ,!i;lt1 w t" r, I~ ,r ,t,lh ilit y in dt.·" :"Ill . ;1' wdl ,I.' with;l ra ra, h lll" I I' ,I, 'w it, f;lle , ,f , k"" Ill. It ' l.:i\"t.· 11ll.' Il,w-Ie\"...1 ,1,·h n· l"\· ;llt,· u ll t iml.' I,' Cd c k'a r. AI t h..· h'rw ,u.l t.· n.l. lht.' 'lIllI, lina 1.1IlL 11";1' 1111t..J wll h ,I 1.>IIl.:. 1.1J't-'tlllC,,'nt.'. \I ith ,lIll.' l"(I.lbk' nll~' II I Ir" llI . t.:I\"ln!.!.1Il ""'ef,III k'nt.:lh " I Iflilll 14.24 11\ 1. \\'u h I1ll.' \"a r· IOU' fill tnt.:' (II" hi,... l>. ,m m nc I .m~ .Ir,k ,m,1,u<,: h 1 .1 11·ur Wt.' IC h r .,1 11\1, ,1t.'\I(,· wa, 2,64..X'I" (l. lN.~ kt.:) . Jr, w"rklllc' \h· It.' <,: 01,1" t.'nnu ch lI11raCI c fllm" I"d rill' Ih1l1(, I' inc. rd",I'm!.! till' Ilqui ' !l1u" IIw ,ur. ,m.! ,I O,l~l·"...t." lll, 1 ftl....• H'tard,·..! till' tb ,h (" I11 ]->lI, rll 'n 1"l1c " I1" udl j'"r Iht.· n ',ult.lllt l.:;I' d "u,1 I" '1'II.'a,1. I~ >r maximlllll impau . T hl.' dll'CI' w,' rl.' d,·\'a'toit inl.:.I'"rr iul brly al.:
107

"11"

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. II .

HIII. T1 I ~.1I.

T he Yankee roc ker it-elf W , IS spin-s tab ili:eJ ny t wo an gled n lld es. A l,ul-:l' ann-collision beacon was lat e r ad. It:J I II rill' t il' of th e tai l and rctr....' pee tivelv filled tl I ea rlie r 111' xlds 1 In an cxteu."i.In. Sta tic , li"dl,lrl-:l' I" x 1111.' '11s.1 apl' ear l'd in rai rs out boar d on th e e-levato rs llf the horcoru al stabdice rs. and in mples on thl' tra ilmg Ibl's of th e mai n wnurs. ln total, 71., A I)-6s were built , in four barchc-, (HuN..., I H-I66-1 H 6 >7, [ 3522 3I'IS-ll'6, I H -I92- 1376H and 139606139821). T b cv saw wi-Ie' prea,1 from -hn c an. 1cllm hal " lI t ~· with l-orh the US Na vy ;1Il.1 the US Marine CI1 r rS, and late r, wlu-n till' i"hs ah ruptly stop ped. wit h th e VNA F an .1 the USA F. Umquclv for the 'Ahll'-D"g', no sub .va na n rs of rlu-, mar k were l-utlt .

IJln.II.S IFIC ,\T10N

An AD -6 of VA·14S in lIighl over Ihe Philippines while operati ng from Ihe ca rrier USS Hornet lCVA·112) during the WesPac crui se. February 1951. National ArchIVes. College Palk. MD

An AD -6t llnker belonging 10 the US Navy's VA-104, fuelling a Chance ·Vought F-8U·l Crusader during exer cis es over the USA. 26 November 1951. NatIOnal Archlvas, Collega Palk, MD

AD-7

clclSt~ SUr l'( It! WI Irk, am] a 1" IICIll i:ll nuc lear capa ci ty. T hl' main d ilfcn:n cc was its

The

adop tton of ,h l' Wriglll R-3 1S9 -26 -W B cng uw . which required strengthened engine mounts. T his en gine gave rhc A D7 a max imum speed 'If H ,mph ( S52klll/h ) at a lll' ight uf 20,OOOf, (6,09 5m ), wit h a reduced service n'i1 ing , down to 25,-100(t

fina l mark uf th e remarkabl e to he huilt hy Dutl j.!las ur EI Sl'gun,1o was rill' A D-7. O utwa rdly, it was ulruost ideu t ical to th e A D-6, ."h:lrin l-: the same span, len gth, lll' ight und wing area. hcuvv armour r rot l'L1i" n fur low-le vel Sk ~"Ta idl'T

108

(7,740 m). Range was alsll s l ight l ~' re...luced, I, ~OO miles (2,OlJOk m) , alt h, ,ugh rate o( d imh improved. from 2.850fl pe r minute (869m per minute ) 10 3,nO(1 per minute (985m per minut e) . Furt her undercarriage ~[ rt' ngt he n i n~ " '
l'I 'k 1I11-k III VI-kSI I-lr ,.. Tl{)~

ih dUl ies had ex panded over Ilw Yl"lrs. The outer wm~ panel- an,1 linml.'" ;11.... ha,1 to CIlJ't" wrth l'H' r-inl:n:;I.smlo: 1,,;... lllllo: de1tlOlfIt1, M1Ch as the ex tra ran "I M1 20mm cannon that were nncd to rbc All-b. The unroducnon 01 the ~ tul llrk' EIl'I:It.r Racks (MER). which wen' ..1I1I....i ro rhc AD-6 and A0-7 and were G1r"Hl' "t cam' lillo: -rx bombs, confirmed r1w IWt..J I~ 'r 'lk:h rem meml'nl. The Nat'Y placed "r,lers I~,r 240 "I IIIlS version. (AmunJ Ihis ttme, rlu- ,lIToatl was N:~in n i n~ III fx· reta n,.1 to in rlu- Fll'd hy the affectionate nic k n .uuc of 'Spud': Ih is seems In have derived from its V illf;l~l', which II,J jd rilot s t" compare it III th e French FiN Wo rt,1 War stalwart " f rhc

Sp«ifiCllt i"n - A[)· 7

Pc.....-errLmt:

R·nso.26\t'B

W...-i~n:

Emj'{y -;,,,86kl<: (12,094''''); k-.kJ IOM 9Olii: (21,7951"'); fulll1,l4l-"'I.-.ii: (25.l\\)lh); ,,,,nl: L.-.I'llii: 56.9IlY"lI ft; I"-....er "-.lmg J.L'lllll'hr (8.4Ih1hr)

[)Unl'n.".>fU:

urllllh Il.S4m (38ft 10m), hC'1 ..h, " .78m (I lit S\!ln); \l"l~n I S.2Sm (S<'tt ~ in ); \l"ml: area J7.192"l1 m HOO. l ~ ft)

Performance:

HI' n/if M.I". "f'C'.-J 552km/h (H 1mphl; at alllluJe 6.09Sm (20,OC(\ttl Cruee spl"C'
R'1J1/.:c 2,09Olm ( I, 100111l1..· .j

A<:c"r f,>!lCC in ...,{Vic,,: 19 56

same namc.]

Another .lUI)' Ih al GUill' dll' way " l lhis Spa..! varian! was thai of 11 ~' inlo: ranker. In this con"ij.,'Urat ion, a JnlJ.:lll· h, N' '1ll,lp"ytnj!"out winch was ftn,....[, an. l three streamlined tank - with 100-J.:..II,'n l·"r,"iI)' were earn ...J, om- under rhc tllsd.l~l· ,10,1 (-.M' on either win!:. on the IM!:I' M.lfk S 1 ventral pvlon-, ro port .111<1 sl;lrh..ar.1. TIlls eoquirm
Armist ice and 'Ceasefi re' The ...nJ "f ii!:lu inJ.: in "':"rl';I k,1 I" an amlt.suce in j u l ~' 19 S J; al ah"UI II1\' saml' Ilml" thl' l'xf'l'lteJ ,Irriv,tl 01 rill' Sp'I.I's Jd rep!:tcC:lnem , th e XA 41)-1 pr,'II'I H'I' "t thl' Skyhawl . h'tI'PI·IWd . (T h is 'tiru, tlt rl\l\'l'\l til be (If l'qual l.lllJ.:l'\·ity, lIl;lkillJ.: its fiN tliJ.:hl . Cllllr ll,d .....ith tlll' IlslI:ll l,r" lIla lute cul· Is;l(ks in 1Ill' ,1.-('·lIn' bud J.: l"l.) 1~1>f' lt c th is, l"xislinJ.:'.r.k·rs \wr,' Sll(h fha l fhe peak n{ Sl)"rai. k·r I'r u..lucl i' lll ,ll EI ~nJl.I .....;IS aClua lly rl"adwd III JUIll' 1954, ~'hl'n 59 m,lCh illl'~ \\'l'Tl' n'llIrll'te,1. Nnncrhd t.,,",s, thl" "riJ.:ina l A I) · 7 " r.l....r was se\~rd~· cut, anJ "nl\" 71. ,.1 Ihi .. I~'f'l' (PouNO!" 1410 10--1420tH ) Wl·a' hllil!. Tbe ce"d...clire in l\:"a'a f.lill...1 Il' hTlIlJ.: al:\1ll1a comr!l·te kilt 1<' C.,mOlunlSt I·Xr.m· >100 m the Fat Sm. As thl' u'llllllunists cmtlnued to layr lans ,i' r "unlwr ;tJ.:1,'rt.,,",SIl ' fl, the \t'l'S! coulJ nOIaffor,llt, I'lwt.·r 'f.s j.,'t].lr,1. mJ a sunog US S.:wnlh 1-11"(.·t W;Ls If.s m.tin ~rec oll h< conl in u ......1il" lel'l·n..ll·nce .,f such places IfN,lti,'ll;I!isl C h llll:S\' T'llw'lI\. Relll~ 'iCt'meJ to holJ lnll'nl;t1 Illl\,11 law 10 contempt . and han ' lin k' respt....:t l~ 'r hUlli
in lnr crnari, '11.11Air ~I-.;lt:l' Irver war...,,,, ".11'1cent to Ham.m. wa' ..ubject [0 an unproq,h...1 .urack h" two Rl',1 Chinl'X" fiJ.:htl'T .urcran. Thcv ""t I.nh- sh,'1 rhc rr-m-rort plane lOltI rill' ....~ I, hut .11... , rvrvarc... I1~ -tr.. 1l....1 1I on lis W,lr ,ltlwn , kllllll!! len of lis civihan crew .11,,1 ras....·nl..·i,-rc, A ...... arch W ;ts "r.lnl',II~'r any ..urvrvor-, from tht.· nC-4 and tilt.' .u rcrafr earner USS Philif'tltllt' ~""d (CV-47) wa-, "rJl'rl"l I" :1 Irolll ~tHlll.l I" C,ITt)· oul .m .u r 'we r 01 Ihl' .Ul"a. ~h .... h..J em!-sarled thr" ~l~rai,l,·r tlllIls ; Veil. .m AE\'(/ o " r(il t.·q uil'l'...d wllh An- 4\'i.'~, VC· H,

l'qlll rped wnh A I)-4N" and VF·-;4, ....'11111'1'>\-c1wuh AD-4s, andundcr lIlt.'CI.mlIland t,t Commander Chrlstl.1ll Fink . USN . A I"nc with Rrili..h ....·al' l.IO,·.. from li,.n!: KIln!! anJ A rncncan .uuplubt.m-

from lilt" Pluhppmc.... -ornc 16 ='k~·r 'lI"l"r' trotu lilt.' I'hllippine Sl!a ljll\·.ll Ihl'lr l·.lrlll·r m;tss.lcrc. TIle Skyr.lIJl"T'o lll"w 1n;1 .. 11·!'f'l...I-ur l'ehd"n of t"ur-rbnl' h'Xl.... " 'ilh l'.t(h .."X III

,~

-

¢:J

"'".

<9'" ,~

y

'r

"

++ +++ +t+ ++ +

The Hai nan Isla nd incid enl - 26 July 19!i4- batll tl lormalion.

109

.

. ...."". d ~l'.".

H : kT III, k

1.1(1 1,'.11 oll"Cl tormanon (h.,I"w) . TI ll' Y C"lbl,I,.J ,.1;1 ';,ur VF·5 4 lea,1, commandc·J h Licun-n.uu-C.. -mrn.indcr P;lUl W;lh l· -trom. With Llc'lllen;ml" (J.g.) Rich.u,1 RibH c' .m,1 J"hn Dam i;m, an,1 Elhil-:n John Z,lr,llI" Ihll\1:' ut il\."'fl ( 150m ) alnn ...lc. Ikhlll,I,lI\J .Ih l\"<· rhi-, .....-cnou. 'I;Kh.J ,II ~.(\\."'tl ("h.: 'm), 1~11I,)\n.J f"m mOTC ' A I)." 1,...1 h, Licurcuam-C omrn.mdcr \Villi.ulI A les;l!l,k· r. wnh Lieutenant - (H:.) RK h.l r,1 Kor-ercu .m,1 [oh n Rochford. ;In,1 EIl' IJ.:1\ Rlc h,lr,1 Ct
Oevelopmenl51950-7 Des gnar on R6!e AD 5 Attitt~

m vre su u-...Tl II:'S

n on-provocative In rh" lr conduc t. TIl l' cut no icc in 1\ .. iJlIlI.: anJ . while- th e AmcriC11l formanon \\", 1' m,lkin l-: a I ).,lcl-:rl·'· (urn ar thc north ern h ... m,lary II I it, sea rch :. .nc, (WtI Lavoclnkm LA -7 fil-:h le p, of rhc C hinc-c A ir Force .11'J"·.lrl·J "I"'''·e ;IllJ h.·hi nd till' IC;IJ lli~hl " ' VF· 54 al\J J iveJ down on them, m;lklll l-: fmll l-: run-. Three of the Sk~'tai,ler, wen' ' uhl"(!l·.! to a hall o j lirc·. TI \e C"m muni'l I'll" " had c onccntr.u.,,1 on till' hi che~1 Il il-:lu . anJ dl,'udu Ihe y I"," been I'rl'''Cnl c''' wrth tour »n m l-: d u cL ~ ; rlll' y hopl:" III I;ll ,' lh c-,, · 1I11 t, ,,11,1 th en ,lin' down ro .h-n l wnh 1Ill' " tlll' r -cc uon-, ill turn, t1,ill~ lIll' ir Ill' il-:h l a,!v;nu ag". Lrcutcn.uu T:u ham (a tonncr fighll'r in -truct or ] 1\' ;I ~ !l1l' lir~ t ' " , il-:llI till' Conimuni-l fiJ-.:hl c·r, d"" illj,,: ill, "fl"[ lhin kinl-: 1I,,,y mi~h l h..' rhc·1m' ( :.. 'r ' ;lir" hl' tl'.. !i:l',1 tlll'i r hn" ik InI,' 1lI ;11,,1, hol llc',1 ", a n\llll-:~ 10 hi ~ 'Ol11l'a1\1"ll', \\"h'l 1II1t1ll',li"It'h· "'rt,h· alld
till' .....·.1.

TIll' .....·c'.n.l LA -i IMIT"" ly llll,....·J Lll'w I,·n.HlI-C"ml1l.iIl, I,·r A 1,·s.IIl,I,· r. wh.. Jl,1 ,I harJ Idl lurn .m,1 t.:"1 d,·.IT. H i ~ WIIlCl1l.1n, Li.' ulen.ml (j.g.) R'l<.:hl;,r.l. l-:"I "" ...'rn " I IIll·,· tI,·m\' .11 ~,c\\'"ljI,I 'U I l.u ll-,llnhun hi, I.trt,:ct, \w\"illl-: I; ,rl-:" ll " n I" ,m il hi, gill". which WNe , rill "" r" ";ll," ! Fly Ih,· tllllC-

rOMI

BuNos

'"

13247B

NOh'S

132392-132476 132637 132767 133854- 133929

AD

~ ogh l

AOSW

AfW

2J9

alLll:k

"'

132400-13Z636 134974 135054

"AD'" AO<

Conver~

1& Anad

1

113

132479 1J4.l66-134631

\35123 13540l

139606- 139!12 \

AOI

"

al rhc Chim-e (l1:'hl"r, f"II"w,.J "')'. rill: (W,I Ctl r,;u r~ ilf the lor cover. T l n,-n, k·J the mutter, anJ rhc -econ d Lwocluk in ~ hortly afktW;lrJ , j" lm·J n- (;0111p.uuou .lr Ilw 1""1 1<'11\ ot lhe S" ulh Chm., St.-a o f( T,m k"n Point . TIm" till' ~ kyra iJe r notched ur IWO more fll-:Ill"r kill~ Ttl aJ,1 Itl u-, r,·m.lrk;lhk· [C'O 'rd. TIll'R' was rn llc'sl tnun eh III:t (;111.1 In ' Ill lcft -wuur supportc r-, in I Ill' \X'C'~1 l, bur tlu- "11 1I r,' action - ir"lll Illll'r" n,h'd ;1'''U I Ir r" ' llc ce,~ fu l ,ldc'llC", .m.l , hO"lltlg d' )\\ll " I' till' al-:l-:fl'~""r~ - ha,1 <\(l U;ll1y la!..l·n ,,1;1(" Ill, 're rhan 12 Ill ll e ~ Ir"11\ rhe R", j C h inn,' ,o,l,di n,·. It w", rlll'rd;.re .I"c-I11<:,lk'l-: illlll:lr,', ;n ,;.I)"

Th e Las t Skyrai de rs TIll' US I"r.:,·, leam,.J frolll tlu' 1I1(1,lenr (h.1l il W." vil ;llltlkl-':r III' Ih"lr I.:II,nd . anJ rill' ~r.I.1 ,ulUlllIK"I (o rl.I~· .1 lull r ,lt! III lhi,. TIll' Ilumr....r ..I ?' ;I\'\ ..... lll.I"ro n~ l·'llllr'....·J with Ihl> nc·w n'r'h'n~ <>1 Ih... ~k~r .u,I,·r colllIllU,·J In 1-,'1",'\\, J"·,lkllll.:. l-y S" I'lc'mh.·r 1 ~ i5 . al 29. To till' UIIIllI",II,'Il "\C', 1Ill' 'ldH "f rill' Skyr;Il.lc·T h.·IIll-: (;lr;I' pu!r"d " II rill' ,k·,·k of ;1 F,l(c~wll d.1~' c,lrrll"r \.Iric'.! lil lk· IH'lll till' lalln.:lll·' (r,lm rhc· Fr,mklill TJ ROI,s....''''r " .I,·c...k· c'arHer Al dl""ch tlll' [[,I,hli"ll;l l 1I\'l'rall .!l'C'r n:l\"Y hili,' ,,,I'HltIllJ.: " I till' ~I';I,I I \;l,1 I,,','n r"l, b, ,·,1, ,Ill 2 \ F,·brll ar~ 19 Si , h ~' rill' 11,'"' clIlIl-:tl·y ,lI\.. l l-: lo,~ wh ile I', CUTJ'" I r~ r' ,I,· W\'l't,'Iv ,utl.lik·,!. J'l';lked;l! I, ~I'.l..I ""'llIa.!r" m. h "lll l ~ i 6 "n ll',l r,I~ , il 1:'r,I,lu,llh d l'CarJ,..t (h" All, until. h\' 1 f.) 5 ~ . 11ll' ];.'1 "'Ill' haJ Idl I" r.lnk- wilh I" n'ln"ment Irum In ( :.1111, 'rnl.! , I )"llIc \." hd,1 ;1 ,,'n'm.my .1' rill' 11Il.lI 'sk, r:Il,ler (Ru:'<:" H!OSI ),(he U K0th . " .1' (011\I'''· t.-..1 .111.1 lunnitUy r, ,lk', 1 •'III .11 EI s...·l-:lIll,I" "1\ 11'\ Fl·hru.lr'l 1~5j .lt, ...·...·.·r l.lI\C'· Into IIll' N.l"\'·' VA· 2 1i Sqll .I,lr,.n, .1' rill' I.N J'i'h'n-'·l\I.:IOt..J ,11I ... 1.. .1Ircr,lll . m.lrkcJ rill' 1.'11.1 ol .m c·r.l. T Ill' alr.::r,lll ....·rn...J I" n l-: ;iIlJ l\.Ir,1 .mJ, In 1965, l'n,hl Ih J,I)'·' with rht, '~raJ S, h,Io,"', VA·ln al <.....\... 111......·[ I ' P H\! .

137492-137632 Anack

j-ut th e lower ....-cnon of ~tl,IJcnly arf'l.'.IR.J, "'b:in1:'

\ ·~l.-\ -HI

"'"''

hom AD 'iNs

Skyra i J" r~

132719 132792

\3955&---139fiOS

'CM

.unmunmon.

133757-133776 135139--135212

AD'"

R. ",ht,'rJ ~o ( (WII o f hi-, WlIll-: cannon tirinl-:. rhc t wo c nc rnv
142010-14208\

laSl S~~ l aflje, BuNo 14211111

110

'"

.<

CH APT ER TWELVE

Delivering the Goods No matt er how e xcellent its dl'sign .
ent ire raisoll d'rm: was the r[;Ki ng o f ordnance whe re it \\'''lIl.1 l-c mos t elfl'cti vc.

The J iw bom ber, and IIw Skvratder in particular. was ;.hle II ' do th is bec ause il was J csigneJ spec ifica lly (" T th e jn h; their aircrcw were trained. f\ 1<,1 , anddedicat ed ro the (ask. Th is was tilt' u:su h " f a , [d ih,'T
These forces, if not com pcucuccl for, resulted in errors of hor h ra nge

;l 1l,1 dcflcc .

uon. To mit igatl' t h is t he flllbwin .!! co rre c ttvc

measures wer e

ta ken

hy til l'

Skvr.uclcr pilot: l. Ill' .lcu-muncd Ifll111 ilewlogy th e wind vt' loc ity nnd direction ar till' o r,ln,ll\ <:l' firillj.l .dtuudc: and then 2. I\\.' den-rminc. l th c rclativc winJ ;llong the chosen divc-unuc k axis , The f"llllwin j.l method was t
tel till' wind ve locirv, a dot was placed 'lll'll.!! th e true in dex , and tlu- t rue index was returned (0 0 ,!l'gn'l's" A line WllS drawn hlIrb 'mally from till' dor to a pomr int erscc t uur II\\.' true index line. A nother line was drawn vcrnc allv from the dll t un ti l it intersect ed t he index lim' pcrpen chcular Ttl rhc true inde x line " TIll' kllj.lrh " f the lin t' from (en tre lIf till' h lar,1 tl I the Int ersec t ion lIf till' hori contullme with rhc true index was the 6 and 12 o'cloc k ur r'IIl.!!\.' win,1 CI 'lllptll\\.' n t. T I\\.' length ,,f till' line from the centre of till' board to thc vcmc nl lmc int ersl·crinj.l the ind ex lin e perpendicular to the true imlc x was th e 3 ro 9o'c!o".: k dcflccnon com roncm. TI ll' fn ll
--

The Firing Run l-

The first fundame nt al Cllllside ratiotl was to fly Ihe COITl'O .lin ' ;lllgll: (fligh t pat h ), The me" t commllil l'IT<'r - Il ying a Cl 'Il\,ex Ilight path to thl' hOlllh-rdl';IM-' I"- lint - cOllld J,.,: t.1d llri~ the Ji ve, and win,j c, lm:..:t ion , wh ich arrlil.J aftl'r rek'a",' , ,1ll,1 lh esl' ha d ttl hl' comrensated fot. TIll' hlltlw ing wind factors had to he taken int I I Cl Illsi,k " lti,HI:

V

•• "

V V

., " ~

V L--- V

"

V

j -

c;'I

f:::: "

-

ff- l-

f-

I. the winJ (or 1lI1l\·illj.l a ir mass) movin j.l me Sk ~' r,! id e r with Ihl' same \'L'lloc ity anJ in thl' SUlIl' d irt'dion as th e wind ; Z, Ihe motion imra rtt',llo the airnaft hy the winJ, wh ich was fllrth t'r imparted to the on.ln' lrK\.' as it was rde;!sed fr" m the Skyrai,ler;

'00

O,d nance delivery - WAY laclor.

111

""

WAY f1K:tOl'

4

.

....." ". d ~l'." .

LJl: lI'tlt l;>;(j I HI. ( jtJtJlJS

,1q.:Tl·'· ~.

1'1.,.." " .1"1 .,I"n l-: till' InK' m.lcx 11Ill'
I" l'

,I,·lo: r,·.· ~. Dr;lw verne••1 .Hl,1

h••n:.'n LlI hn c- from the ,1" 1 1,1 lin- IrII,' rudex .m, 1 mdcx lin,' r,,:rr~:n,li.:ul .lr I II II an d n-••d \\ IIlJ u 'mpt mcnr -, ; I~ I.,II"" ,: r,IIl l-:" cotu porwnt (l knot-, . •1",l,·(II"n CPIllJ"'Ill'n! 1i knor s. l ). \.:,.

th e

wmd

c umJ" 'Ill'IlI ~

w,'r,'

known , rill" I'n 'I" 'r ( urr,' U I" '" h,..1 I" ...... ,11'1'11".1 In • 'r.l,·r I ., tm- I Ill" ,r,!n.ln..~ "'I,·c• nvclv . TIll"~" we-re oll'r1k·,I ;h 1'. ,11,,\\·, : Altitude tOflKt ion table AII,rudt> II!! All'lude ClKrecllOfl lmllS,1

50 100 150

12 31 J8

100

"49

150 JOO

350

.. "" ' 50

1.

"ss 61

"

69

U'lllr"'Ill"1U mil.:. 'IT....:I n.n dcn-nnuwdfrom c.>1b IlII IIlC 11ll' \ \ I Il.1 corrccnon I ,I"'I,·~ ;I\',ll l.tbl,· III all IIll' R.Illl.:' "

Displ ll,i ng its unique ·bllr.. door' s ide· ope ning lusel ag e -mounled dive brllh s lind II lonnid a ble ana , of rocht Dfd"atlt e. II US N...., Sk,raider tDfllmlltltllS a sha llow dive. USNavyo/llC.a1p!>otOQf.pIl

....1u. I,lr"n\ rll"h. Tlu- m il r or rcc non

11",1' ,1,1.1",1or 'lI"'rrau~d r" or tnun rill" mil 1...' .1,1 II~~ J "'a~iC:l lly for 1Ill" 70,I,'cr",', i O·,lq":r",' til ~ O-d"l-:In' .Ii..., I" I",

lN',1.

I" »u U ' 11.

Tlu-, l-:,I\',' till'

(l ti l

12 tl'.-I".~

!. I \.,t1....·1il '11 n 'Ill!" 'IWill mil c -rtvc r i. '11 lIhlain.",1 h~' u, inc lin- ,;l 1l ' ~ method. 'I. TIll' corrccuon- wcn- ;11'1'11".1 by .....·lI ing tin- corr..ct 1111 1 k'a,11I1r" rill' glln-,ich l.

"'y

TI11~

W .. ~ ,1 " 1ll' rallnl-: tlu- h"1e mil 1.". I.lt"r ti ll' In '" run III l-e ~m pl'IY'·.1 ;1Il.!

.I,I-hlll-: "r ,""'lr:ld lnt-: rill' r,lIll.:"' winJ 11l1k

TIll' .lin' w", then entered with the

1'1J'I'C r LIllO rlw wind ,\I \11; 11 rill' Sky· r;li,l.'r w.r- ,Irit'f~d duri ng Illl' din' rll .. I'0 inr where rhc pippc-r W;I~ vcmcallv even wilh [Ill' I;u g,·[, hut ull'h" rr:"Ill;llly rill' Illlllll"'r 1,1 nul-, rl'l.juil\:d '" t-:in' c< 'r· rec t . Idll·cl ion corrccnon. TIUJ~. It' .14;

nul- dctlccuon correcnon wa-, r''l.jlllfl-J. .Ill,1 rIll'wmJ wa- fr, .m 8 ,,'d, "l rcl.mve r., tlu- .lin" .n: I ~ .

It W",\' 1l0';'1.:'..•......11)·

"1,"nI,'"

till' .I ivc with the rll'f'l-'r I"'t:rl\.l,.... 70 mil, trom th e lal")....·1 ... l that , "'y liw link' rd,,,;l"-' .llfllllo.l" was r eached. rhc r'J'f't-'I' W.I~ 4; 11111, ,II YI I'dllCllnllll rhc r,II")....'1. Exp..:ri,'nn· ai,k-.J In cntennu rhe dl\ 't' "tt'.....·1 rbc r"'f'I-'r dr-t.mcc from rclca-e J't"ninn. ...' ,., hi ....... ,lntlo.o; J to the ri,::hl ~J't,r .ll r,"k,.\,,-' ;llriulo.k . 4. A further al.1 in dctcnmrnne corrcc l hlll' \\'a~ 10 ll'''' Ih

Tbe impress iwe bomb load ol lbe "Able-Dog' .48 . mounle d 10 I.OOOl b IJ.6JOkgl wo n b 01mind ·t ookies· . giving a" inc r"diblllll ll·up wlligbl ol211,OOOlb 19.070kg) glo ss . McDon lld Douglas. long BllIch

112

, it-:hl ;\, ;\ r ,llll:c,

IIll,ll'r. FI 'I ,·xa mpl , I 1m! l~ III ;11 1.(X$Ifl ,'r I y:ud:ll 1,000 y;l r.,,- For JO· . Il·gll'"

,m,1 iO-d..gro.;',·

d in " .

Illl' ,hint

•

ranee I' l. lX\,' prJ, .uul I 11111 will ' lIhrend If, on rhc, l .U!.:, '! alo ll !! the :; !t , l} o'clock .IX I'. For ;. SO·dq.,:rn· dive, the slam r.uutc j_ 1.200 ~' ;lr, l , :111,1 I ,nil would _111-11'11,1 'l.6tl .11"111.: the 1 Ill$ o'clock ;IX i-. T hll'. it th., wind i.. «uh that i, fl"lIlt, In ,1 10 knot-, mll J.:l' n'1II' r"lncnl an,\ 19 kn or -, ddl" ll j, III C\ ' 111['11' nent, till.' w lIl,1 (:t -rrcc t i, ' 11 ",' rill' r;1I\)':l' compone nt need.. hi be m, I,I" ...)" -c·l fl ll!.: r 1u.' mil, utto t he I.:II Il0"1.:11I, ;I, a rrlll' pnare. F,'I the J dln"ulln componcm. rhc
inner c irri.' n( 7'if1 f;l,II\1_ .uul an circle IIf I SOh r;] ,I IlI ~ .

" 11I,'1

Release and Recovery The Slva l,l~' r hadto be III bal.mcc...lll 1c!U at the f'lInl 01 " IJml11(t' finn~ : 'Tnm till' atrctaft ;111,1,I" n .. 1 , Lm .l
npplicd lIll

rl·t·. l\·,· r ~'.

1000

.. ...""

940

""

866 819 /66

,,/

643

sn 500 413

'42

'" //4

w"

The firepower 01 the SkYTluder leg endary; here. a miaed load 01 rock et projecti'" q displayed " the a ireraft ban b a wa y Irom the camala . US ~ oIt>coal phcMograph

Com mon Er ro rs - Effects and Correct ions I. Incor rec t rclca -c a h ll llJ~· - Ihi s t "n,I~',1 It , be hiuh, wnh O'lrt'~ I,,'n, l llu: chon "n'I"" Pil
,

In correct dive ;lIlg l~' - gt'Ill' lally', rh c ,!In' ,mg ll" It·n,l..: " ,, ' be I,lli,'ll

Il ic!\! "11 IOIkl·.1 tar gl'" 11.1,1", I.....•UI ill:l·d ll' l·,1;1], 1t,h 0 lll,bt ,'nt ,lin' ;Itlgk·, u'mc rd~:r,,' n l ~' I'1l,lmg , ho" ,11"f"'. TIll' c.,ukl I....· cau.......1 !'>y IIK" rrl"C1 l'llI" a 1 11 1 u,l~ ;l!l,1! ..'I ;1I1'1"·l.J ,1Il,1 ~h;I Il.,w ,ltn' ; 1Il~k'S. -f. In( . 'rr~l"t mil k'a,l - g"Ill' I;llIy, WlI\J Ct, rr~(! h'l\' well' lI\CI ,rrl"Clly 1Il;I,k· .I'Il·\'iou, rim , h ;I.lI \I Ix- an ;llp l'd anJ dd-I ' nill' Cllnt'( 1i. 'IlS rn ;] d~ . T ill' pi].ll had I"

71 3

!'>l' aw.rn- Ih ;l! ,h all uw dl \"~' S rc-ultcd in

a 1,,\\· n'[cuw ;li"I''':~'' ' WIll'n ;111 l'm,r produces ..nothcr. till' lilt! corrcc uon II'a, a, Ull in' ..]...,; ' Fh' lhl' urrp lanc ;l1l rh...

1II1ll'

.md th ink! 1\'n 'l JU'l lilh'lhl'

clcv.u, .r d. 'w n.' 'i.

~I I rl'il·.I.....' ..'I rnulnpk- Ide,I.....· - .1(,1-ionallv, Ih", Sk ~' I;i1J~1 lI.....·lf would nll l J.... fun ct tOlllng correct ly, ~ I, 'I.....-trcn. however, II was rh.. . 1'1 1I" ch ,'l:k till' s\\' i l cl ll'~. U, mg th~' wru nc I'it:kk· i, n. 'I Ulll"' 'm in' In. !'> tli 1 ~ IIll·XCU"lbk·. Rl·nwm......·t. III c\1m!'>,11 pHI may not l-:l'l ;lIl
6. C:"rreCll
..

. ,... " " . ~

• h. lI.

llEII\'HtIMj

r ue Cl Oo US

NOYllmbllr 1910: 'h llse lh, t t Skyra iders in ec helon formati on s how c illally Ihe va ried payloads Iha l the Able ·Oog could Cl rry, McOannelt Oaug les, Lang Beech

Skr r.u J l·r ri l"" were lo lJ that 20 kn, '''' of -Iv-e.J, S ,It'j..'T'''·'''·' of dive .ln l!I..• <111.1 2('(' r.ITJ .. ,,f -rn 'r III .. lant romj.!t: relca-c alnn le can-e 1 II.' mil.... f impact error. A f I...It·er Jln· (ou lJ l-e c ompc n...l1 cd I~ .r hy rvlca-, IIll! hurh. Thi.. wn .. con ..i,lt:rt·J J ...,i r;IHt·, orhcrwisc· a I,,\\, poll" Ul could re-nl r. Only "n...· error (0111.1 ",·Xi..l - if .. ,lin· II·a. S d"'·J,:rt·...·.... hallow, even wit h a corr...'d . p......-d ,1Il,1aluuuh-, rill' f'lllnl:- wou l.1 snll (;1 11 sbort of rill'" mrgc t , B~' m.,vi lll,: till'" ri p]' c-r in thc 12 o'cloc k dtrccuon. it would Ix· I'"•.• ihk IU compensate fllr the ,!ivt'-a nJ,:lt· error. Tr.I1Ilt't· Sk,T'li,lt-r pil. ,t . h,l,1 rlll'"ir .lll ...· n'I on drawn 10 till'" r ht·nonl\,:non known ;1" ·r.lrl,:...· ' flxal ion·. Thi. wa' wdl kn ,'wn 10

l11<1n,' ;1 (
r.l,l.lr 1ll. lall. 11 i. 'Ib, -urclv m.mv combs ri1' lh 1!.'110rt-J tha t parncul.rr (. IIJ1 iunary m 'Ic, ,>I, I h...-rr war J. 1\\'11~ J \. Th.... re ..n il l-e a muumum W "C."ConJ mrerval bet ween .urc ran.

o n ITMIJ.:1f) (Of br~· o f m...-nta] 1~lCllill •...' Th...· f"lIowinl! 1--:1'1( . w..-rc b i.1 .1'1\1'0 durln J,: pe riod. on l ilt.'" Ifaminj.! ran J,:...,.:

Th e Div e

.111 d ive -born.....-r I,jlll"' . and Iht: c n .....· I.f

I. Do not ...·IlI...·r;1 d in: unlcs-, rh.. · ]•••.auon For !Ill' .....tual dive , till.' rudder trim ,,( till.'" ,lin: r;,fl " Ill·;" l h known . required ar 190 knots \1'''. verv nc,lrlycor2. A ircr.lfl l"a.I\·d wuh ordnanr c· ..h " 111.1 rect ,II rdl·a.,· air. pccd: 'Ma h· r crtuin yO\! n, 'I I.....· (".....-ran...l in p r oxirnirv I" 'HI!l·n ll' I' ..1,1 not exert pressure on Olll' rudder pedal (mdill Of r.lda r) .lilt: 10 the 1""",hillty " j h..:niti.'n "I certain In·'II'.m (t'm'.. . 'Ill.'n r.

h,' dl"CII\.nl;lj..'1wt lC r.1.liali'l\l j, .r(T' . IG >1l. id l·r illl-: Ih"'1 o nt: o f tlll.' prinCIpal S kym idt:r 1
114

at rel..·

·. Rudder tr im should occasional-

ly be c1u -kccldunn u pull-our.' Alth"uch ftI,I,It'r trim ""';1. f'l·rmllteJ 10 ...... aJJu'I ...-J durinj.! th.... Jiw. th... e]......·ator fnm ""',1. nul. Tht: Skyrai.ll·f ml'n \liCR

..•1'., IIH l \ t.KI,\(' Tilt: (; 001)\

advi-ed rh .lt dw rea -on j~ 'r fhi~ w,,~ \k·~ i l.:n anJ -truc turnl hrr ut.uion-, p lu-, the f"""I hilir}' of rhc tom nmn i lll: ;lll"a y '.

The 1I1ll'u rI:lIln' of l-:<:tt llll: du' ~ ky . raidcr onr« llw corrcc t uluh- " I ,lin' path as carlv a, J'""ihk' lI'a, " n·,,",'.!, in order that necessary corrcc non- coul.l h.: In;I,I,, In l ime. T he init ial poinr o f ntm \\",1' OIl (1 o'clock .mJ 101" rbc ..n ll,1 (00 mil, ,hurt fOf 30.J" I..'Tl·" I:li,k arrn l;l( h. ;10,1 -l(' mil,

for a 50-J'1 :rn' J,:liJd. For

.1 tr;IlIWC I'l l", ',

firsl JIH· ·h 'ml-mg: aH;Kb. cuhcr a reference 1'''1111 on rhc l-:'Ollll
SlqTdiJ"r ll,dt could bo.' u-c...I I"lwlr ," I Imare rhc ( " ' T,' ..:! r"Il -I1\ pOilU . On till' Skyraid"T, such I" 'llll '

I\"lT"

li,II:, 1 a, rill'

fn!lllwilll::

I. fUT JO-dq,.:rn' d iJc b.. llnl-lIll.: - between Inc mho .lrJ .md o u l ..... '.lr,1 J,:u n~;

2.

j(Jf ; C·.I q .!r...... diJ..· h 'lIl b llll,! -

th..· Mk

;1 h'mb rack:

l. I~)r 70 ·Jc·J,: rt· c· JIW ..... ' IIli-IllJ,: - a 1"" '11\1 h iM -w'l)" 1" ' IWt:"'1I t1w mh""lrJ !.OUII ;m J winJ,: roor .

II wa.' st.ucd t h; lI. atwr ,. lurlc practicv, ~ holl k l

1'1.' po, sihl t:

'11

I,,""" J.. Ii.... R'"dl T" d (.~,m "I I..' fl. 1J:.....

(,\OIl ,"

,h..' fl "... I' I...JJ"." '-r.•l ", .~". nu..k ., 1 1~"11 J,.....-n....uJ I"m ",~ ..... 1 m n ,ncJ h ,m h I " 111..1" 1'"'" " I 'T"Th"I,1 h... l ",,,,.,,J, II", 1.1"'...-r. h.•\' '''~. , ~ " Mil" .... ;lrr.,Il~ ....II" .,,1.0."'« '

,h,· I,·,,,m ( .MIN..,,,

I'" c-sum.u ..· the OI Ill,![e

hot,,· ,, ' ",.. "k '1'1,,,1 I,,Il,...... mlt ltn"II'"I!., ,u'. It ..... 1'

without I h~·M.· crtuchc-.' II i~ ut ter..·, lllll,! 10 'o(.·c h OII' rlu-, cotupurcd w it h , lln·. h ' m " in l,! prac rtc..· III the s..·o 'n,1 \VI,rlJ \"(/ar an ,i tin' Korean \'('ar. N..·w' Zcal.mdcr Bob Brown 1Ill,!. who 11..-w rh... Vuht..~ Vcnecanc e .Il\"l;' h ,mh..·r ru Burm.t , n'l:all..-dthat rhcv w,ltll,1 linc up with a "...II. 'w lin..• p.II111 ..",-I.•lo n l,! Iht:

",,,,nll.11 ' " "' 11 1,- m lilt' ,1",( 11,,11I.....1,..,,·1\, ,,, all..", .... k\Ol: .•_ r..', 'hl.... I< H·'''''''·lh.II ,h" "OI" , ,r.dl "'.." " ~nl '.J J ,n"'lh lo ......j.. lhe ,.,fl....., ",.. ho..., .m, ,iiI' ur ..l.,J. 1h<'" f"l h "t the d!T(fn, h,;,J 1<> .01,1.... ",'uh II>.- 1,,...-/.'11 .'x" ,.. lhe (fafl

..' runnc cowlmu, whil..· au RAF V~·nl,!t:all <:"· pilot, AiJ,:llf St.T!.!~'; 1l11 I..R.M . 1I1,h1..-. r,,·callc.1 tlw I' rot:l,.l ur~' Ib ,'d h hi ., u n it in combat in IlJ·H , th us: \V" .'I'rt' .... I...,J Ih... !;" ......, tt,~n .',1"'.... 1~ ~1 " Ill, h

.,11,....,,1 .. ", I'.'" " 1"I.:t ,10,· "or' ""'': .,oJ.." II .,f1"'"n... . I .. l,.ofu I • II",· ,,,\0: •• lho.· 1"...·1 ...."'....·.'..... 1· ...J h ...,\- .10.""

,,,,'t, .,....1 ,,110...........1 ,ho.. '.'fl.":1 I"

h 1>.>.,1I,. "'.".' 1I1." ' ,·I ,~ "" '''''-1 •.• II", "'''I .l'Wh Mn""TI"I,M' ,1"""1111<'",,,·1"",;0' ,h ,' t." I....·1 .,"J " """"IIIl'lnll,,,·d, ... wnh ,h ",· I~,,,, h,,,~. ,ll,," n-lr Ih.II rh,' .11" r,.lr ,,'.' ,.nk., ""hI< I,·", hdr ' ~"" ,,, hll Ih,· I.'fl."" ,""....·It. '0 th e il1...k:I.......·· r~ ... do-c .,~k Th.: I" ~ ~ hili,...·" "' .... , ,ml.,lIl -I.,oJ· In~ 1n.1 "h~.. I",J ",,"lI~It\ ..\O It1<: ruJJ..'t

f"l..LI,

TIu , I' tun h..-r con n n ncd by lilt..' acco u nt " , U:-, N,I\"\ P .lunll..·" ptlot, Rt:.lr Ad nur.•1

Paul A. H "lmh..·rJ,:. wh.. ' Olll.:hl : 11 rl..· nf ~ II..l\l.' ,1.)· til 1942: P" ' 11\1: 111 \· tr."nl1l ~ Ill,·,,·

1I",' It' ... ,m,·

, h ~'

B,lI-

tn_,.,,,,·,·.

'" h"T>' p,I"" , ,."h,~I "'.. """. "r 11,.. II 1Il.•htlll" ". ,1""·1"'''.... \."",Ilo~' l.ud ",ho.." h' 11""'1 1'"11·,,.... I .-.t-.....".J Ih.H " "'.•" ".1'\ I" bee"n"" "'1:" ...1 In. """I h~,.,j '" "h", ,...., " ~ Ih tnh .or '" ,I' lho....· .'T>' "rt", ho....I IIIthl' ",.,m"", Th. .....· r'~~' "h. ...... "'.... " .. I~.rnh,,~ ....,.., ""." ",.", "',,,...... , "I,,'n TI.,· .~" ",h" "' ",·,11 ,,·'~J"' ..I...J

,,,,,,,m''''''

"10

I,, O" ·!-.,ll 1'1.,,,·.,,

rh,,,,, .•

~"h,'''''. ,,· h ; .

"h,

tI " " ", ", ,nih· h.llI, ""Ih " h",). 11,,·,· h.'mhtn~. then. \\'.,' .dm,'" ,11\ .,tI

,,~,l.l

In ,I", 1<)60, . 1I",:-,k ~T;ll,kr I'll, 'f' ..vvr.. . " ,1lO\\lIll,!

""' ...

»degreeglide bomb

...... ......

glde IOCi.ets

ralh . \'(1.lrnill l.:

\\. 1'

R""''''''n 11, ....' .Ii, 1IlJd.J.... 1....,1.1 ........•....." ul·

,....."' ...... "I' ro ••' ~ ~ ',k'l:""" 1",,1, h,1 ".''''m·....'· Ih~ ", ........" til" '1.......1.1" 1" "'·1.,,,,. 2(\' In' 'h . Nt ) l"H iATI\"E: l)1\ II' l\l l (;, {'.tI" ,', Ul"' ], .•lw",I" " " f,·,,"" ·'\ ,', I ~ "", b l,' ( :Illll!' ,II I·h' In,'I' utlll:llll: 2.2(\'0]'''' .II~I I,',n ....·11"'1:" 1o.1:\r" IIl.k·,"·.'....·Jml~ II ,II\~.I .. ,"',·..,·,. II... ,1",,,11,, h,~,1J T"" h...,J'Il 1",,,,llh,' th",\h.,_ h...." .....T.•I-I,-I1....I." I~' In.h

1""" ''''' 1:

'AS .10 knots 11fl over 70 knnts 90fl shllrl +2{J knots

34tl QVl!l

20 knolS 3lttshllrl ·20 knolS ISh oYer 2Oknots 11ftsho
knots 24ft 0Yel

-20 knolS 24ft short glide lockelS

well-trodden

,.,j ",Ih _,,,l h,.." ,1,,,1<: ..\ ..'~, """"·f. rull

ow. dtli""Y Ilblt T", ""'"

.1

1.:1\",,·n:

AUS III...., N.AOTS (Nn al Aviilhon Ordnan ce Tesl Slilllon) Skytlider tBuNo 1238691 ~M canying fw O 1.000Ib bombs on its und erw;ng sl iltions . N lllOPIl lu~""""'s.

.20 knots 2411 over -20
- - --

5 degrees (J,ve angle/error

Steep 901t ovm Shallow 170ft ShM Steep 741t OVOI Shililow 8411 shoft

200 yalds sir etr(J( 100 ~Iow 132ft over lOll fill 126ft shorl 100 close 58lt ovel

Too la' 6Jlt shcw1 100dose 21It lM!l

Steep -131t aver

Too lar 1DIt0Yel Too dose 1011 oYet Toot.. 12ftshor1 Too close 5tt aver Too tar 511 shoI1

ShalbN 4711 shott Steep 3611 lMll' Shallow 4511 shot1 Steep 3511 aver Shallow 43h short

li S

(,"1 ,hI' r ,m o l l h l' " ,Hlln ' :-'k) r.II,lcr I'll ", '.. 11;'.I.m tlll,! <: u n ...., il \1.';1' l·m ph.l'l: l·J ,h,lI

"'n"'_I<'"'' ,. Ill\."

",.,'!'J

T1 \t, .. ,~],

I he

1'1." " ...

til

''''1:)'' ,.,I,f.r.II"1t\

"I-,I"l ." ,I"·,,

.11 .,

..

. ,... " " . ~

• h. lI.

[)H.I\HU!li G TIll, GOOll\

The h..11I W. I ~ h 'rt In the renrr..· .II\J till: winl-'S leve l wlulc Il)'lll).: the rirr..: r Ill' 10 the bull's-eve, ,lIld II wu- held on l~ ' I' -vvr;11 -c"'::"n.l, ('11"1'It. 1,·II"I,;c in . 'r.I,·r It tabr l"I<,.I 'Tlli~"h. l'f.",.... ,,"",1 J ".<,. Ibh a "u n1 S(:,·n'lri". wen- p rac t b-ed ';,r tIl\." 1....:1' .Irifl " II t,u g..· ! Ill . me ,iJ" or II", or hcr, I hr cc main angl,·. , ,f attac k, .· II,I-" " J Th... i,I"a w". Ii' m,ll ,·lh'·I1l."t r,lrl ,1 ".....,.ll! ...",I... ,lh.",J 1:"'" ,mJ 11>,· ".II·,n .1,,",1.1.""" ." II", t.,rCd 1".""" ,,,,,,I" r Ih.· I.·.~I"'c ,...k..· ,.t II... p""ihl,' IU C,'I hll~ 10 allllll,I" qUI(kly. rt<.J"'I~.J .I~k ('''''''10:1111\ ~, ..... ,,.,,,,....1. l:.WI\ .,]1IluJ...,. .IIlJ 'f't.... J.. ,,·k · dhlluJ..... .,n.! ,,,.... . 1•..'nJ ~< erece .1",..IOItI, c 1ffi!-11": ". ("..,.

JIN rridr t,1 rill' 90 -.k·!.:Il·" [urn, rill' I'd ,,[ 1'"11,,,1 IIHO rill' [, \\'l'r,' rr'··....·(. AI th,· roll 'lI1 po int . thc air," ·..·.! W'h Ilh.' kn "t,
J ur.l prIOr 10 180' pO$llIOn C"""k

.........

1810_ _I 1. F..t bOOB

,-, ~

Pilul . convcrtmu '1lf'.f'l" .J h i ultuude for th ..· lJuilh,.1 .ecc nt were ;Illm,'ni .h,oJ: :\ .h.,I1.... · .1,mb ..·,11 "" " I, In 11>.· "'-lu",·...... O. t<>, n" ,,<, 1".,...., h' ,<,,,,,I> I'"lt 'lfl\:m.,I.,I""oJo:-. 1\ . 1.1 1", r "n ul .""1".....1 " ..1,,,<,< to

''''1...

1-0,1" .. 200 kn<>h ~"" ... Ih'· I'r''f'<.·I1,·( .."II ,KI "' " b,ah·. Al 4.'iO(\h , ~<>n nn,· ", ,· '"m 1·.Ilk III 11,<· ,I" w" w", .! 1" 1: ",hoi,· " " Ill llll ll lll: I" , hlllb.

Fur tlu- van.uionc I"r S()-,I,·).:r'·l· J.:lid,· "ulIlh lllCan.1 70 -Jt."gr,·e .II\'<' ho mhin,L:. set Ih,' diagram. " r f"l' il'·'

Nigh t Bomb ing The .,; 1I1ll· gen eral procedures could he (01II'w,.J li 'r h.mhlllJ.: at ni uht, hUI •'Ill: ,IJJcJ pn-caunon wa' th e uw uf the gyro hori:on " n pull -out. where rhcrc 11'. 1' no vuual horicon. On dark niJ.:h t" it w". mipottaut (or Ihe l' i1,'1 [. , turn h i, ;11 n-n Ii" 11 i 111 llll'di,lIeI" 1,1 hi. in.trll llll'nb. "n.- ,· til,' "rdnance ha,1 h....n nn·.!, an,1 [ll l·W..:utl· hi, ru l1" UI h\' mean, " f Ihe.e. \'(/Iwn h 'm"inl! wa. lO'n, lu.-I,·.! 'Ill a , in c1" liJ.:h l. , ,,.-h as a 'lll"L...· 11' \;11 m ,hc ....,11 '·1, wh"fl' therr w,'r,' n" o dw r rel,'r,'ne,' f"' inl', it was of ,,11,11 Im", 'rtal\Cl: Ih,,! co ntl nu"", refere nct." " ·,f' I1MJ,' 10 the gyro Ii"n:"n while: ,Klu,tlly in thl: run . It \\ ,h r. lrticularll· ea,y h I h:, olll,' .1 j..or i ,· n1~·,1 " \'l' r th ,· sea. '1Il,1
Climb 10 4 .SlXlrl bel",. comm.... ISO' lum

,,,.>g

I,I ~ -

6 1,1,,'.... td1 7 1,2(1()rpm 30tn r.w

320k1. pc".

1.1llXlrl· Aock.,s. 2,2OOr1 - BomM UXIOyd IIIani 'enve '"

releaM,ouT b-; 1,000000 l", nx: 1<eI5. 1,SlXlrl lo< bombs

1nm

2-2~

1-2" nose-'

JO" glide-- Itombing p.n.rn.

/16

MaI.- ..... ON 6.lIOOl1.

"."

,, t

.i,.,

m.Ll VEIlJ~1:

ClIfrt> to

TIlle noon s

6.!>OOl'l boofotlt <XlII...... lQfog

~"

ni gh l , wilul.1 ,erioll,h' impa ir Ihe pilol \ n iuh t viston ar the crit ical momcru ofh l-, arrack und, ltl ;111 proh,lhilll~ ', nun th e attack com ple relv.

Rocket Fi ring

:J.COkt " .MlOll ~ 3 2OO1t

19ombl. '.2'OlJ'l"l-.c~ ..

...........

. . . . CIUIIlPf

'

l!aIIl. 1110'

poM>Dn

_

1 .0ll0lI~ .

.... or. 1I.OllOlI l !JOkl \rim

The I -ch mques crnpkwcd m rode! fin n!.: - rh...' nt r)" int o [he run, rh...· nlll u -clf, rhc pull-our anJ rh.. cl imh h ICk In alulu.I..: wert: all much rh e s am ...• ;b in h,ml-in!.:. Th...· dive ;lIlgl...-, however, It'nJ...oJ to he much -h..lIl1 w cr (30 J",'ctL>t.~ 1 tha n 11l bornbme. h wa." noted that variation m d ive ancl,..; gave I"", ra nee error w h en roc k....h .....ere ....mj-loved than w hen h"mh-. were frrcd . Th.. entrv .IIIUwe fllr rock er
2-2 • "'" 1-2 .... - . .

Clomt> to 8.SOOIl

~

,~

_.0.•

0(:11...

Flares A I _,'a {and,

later, o n ni uht mi "lon .. over Vit't n am l. l1are, for med a vcr v import an t p
TI...

t.·.nll h : m.lIl' 11m•.", th.u , "'111~ ~', t],,,,..... II...

' ~ Ill:r ,I(, I".m",· 3101<1 2 .82OflIRockelS), UIOO,\,
-

lG.5OOII.l l1O'

Ma S1Bf arm ON l O.OOOft

--"

19O1o1 l""'2-2 . · .. ~ _ 1;+-2

11" Ilin-bombing p,nern.

m.'I- d'

This did 11' 'I imrly Ihal Ilare.. wrr c· tN'd . .n "" \'l' f)' niulu mis_ioll , ht·cau, ... the re IH'r,' 1lI,IIly ni ght., when rh cn- was sttll t'll llllgh natural Illumination. " ~I"'c ia l[r III linIropic ,. llowe vcr, 1111 il dark niuhr , "lIh. hunt ing in th c· cold and black wa _t~·~,,f the North Ad.umc , flare , were e...,ennal. TIll' tIl,"1 versatile Itlre ~ in uw ,II rill: tim e were rh c· Mark 6 , which wvr...· u.....d with a 5OOf[ J rllr .lclay. Thi.. dday I" 'f,,rt· i lluuun.mon was l'lllg enc'ugh [,I "II, l l~' th e Skvr aidcr .k pllly· in,!! rh e 11m' III clc.rr it an, 1 I.,.... in ",,,it illn III mak e ih allack 11ll1ll"" ,!ialdy afl er h:n i[i,In, vcr il was ... hl In cnouu h 10 r e rruu qutck and accur.nc illu-

mmanon where SkyraiJer rilnlS were the rctorc rcnun.Icd Ii the f(llln..... i n~;

" ,h"l, ." the hJ:hll nl: , ,,n, I ,, ,, ~ ,, d•....,,,·,,"', .. ,

..... ~l iJ In..· "'"cuk ,1I"rnm.•".",

~ 1:o.~1

The aetU:11 h.' n·' .,f illumin.u i"ll ..... <1_

_

"r.tainL-J l>,...... k"t:llng t he n:fi cuk wit h llll' lea",' pr",,*'nration of rm l-:_ 'IIlJ r~I~- ' l-y the pi lol exerci,in~ rr"JX'r CllnT rtll I,f Ih e , igh l rht..."'t' ll. TIlt' rilo' II', " , •• h+...:J "Iway' hi check th e rh ...... ",lal ......·llIng' rrior h' lumin g ",n Ih e ~ ig h l, h.:i,:au"C luming on a , igh t .....' 1 fur hh:h-I...·\"d illumin,lli "n, ,II

l",ulkJ I" ,ho.. AD r r' >\·w..... 01 J,n",",1 rT,,,,,l..., r,m!:,",: 'room th..

_ _ "Ilhll"ll: .1.. ,,,".~

.• r'rr<'r .mJ d J'd'llIIlIl,l nne lu . (tlmrk lc r 'rf'<". r••\', m,l n ll l: ~ "1Il- Sd«lItln I' o:a-lh' ""('~"rl"h,-J t..1 knob, ..'C_iN on rhe j/Un "I:hl . E.",,, pi!'>!

drvd.lp. ,h..,.,.;,. rr""I"'." Ih<· rrd.·......:.. "lI'mum l'r1l
117

,,'~ II h.-ldl ' ~l l h,' ,JUI"

11

was needed . Th e

~l. lrk

5 flare \\'a ~ aisil lI"CJ: ir would umuc afll'r 90 [ II 120 seconds which ;Irp;m'nt [~' cuu......·d ';111 uncomfortable J eby whil e awai[inl: illurmnanon'. S teh 5 k~Ta iJ ...'r haJ lim,' [ II 1:,'1 in ;11 1,' ,.'1 IWO well -illumin;lIeJ rum he (lln' ;I ......"CUIlJ Ibre Ilt'\.'\.Ie-J ' 0 he U'>loJ . Tht' Ie
.. .., . ,..."" • 11. .. .

lJ H .I\'~.Il IM;

'111 1, ( jll ClIlS

Among thal a'er ....e a pons tha' rile Spad edded '0 it s inwenlOry was Ihe PAVE PAT II, ltIe de.elopmenl 01Ihe BlU'16I8luel ' " e xplosive munilion. Here . a n A·1H is see n al Kirtland AF8 . H. .... Muico. in 1968. Ni~1 "' clWes. ColIegoe P.,k, MD

SIBlboard Ironl quarter view ola Skvraider. code d 4lI1 . IBden w ith a mi~ed range 01 ordnance on its underwing s llllians. marking the 20th annive lury 01 ih e ntrance inlO'h e Na vy. EI Segundo , 1961. McDonnell Douglas, PublIc RalaliDn s. Santa M onica

/18

,..

~lr .'

Df-Unll t!\(: TlII'_,,0(1)\

anJ

I ra n~m illin t.:

' Flare uwa~·. l5CII)tl. '

Wtt h rr;Kt io..· • it w.. ~ (ounJ ,h;ll a larl!~·1

(

cuulJ N: illu lIl lOOlh.'J aim..... t Ct '1lI I nUIIU~ I)' wnh a ma ximum economy of tlare-, (see rhe JI ;Ij:r.un). lh.: KhJc: artack run in '1..:h ca-e-, w.e, ma...k he!ow ,hI· flare a~ IIw candlc tl l
....

attacks. u~ i nl! ,I lonc-burrun u or Lnc-nm u i~ ca nJll·. Ct lUlJ he hd" w ,'T ,,1'l1ll!'ldl' th e

-

•

•

) o

l~)

flare. hll rhi-, tN l
•

11<111.' ttl one sid\' of till' ! :lTJ,:I'f. If lil\: [ ;I q': l'"l II',IS a wcll-dcfcndc...l, I'TI··hril'il-..l , ' Ill" [hkc a &wil.'t 1\re.\ tll C h"s cruiser] , it W
which would illurmn.uc t lu- I;.rgc l . . . nh. M.Jl n 'Vl'a linJ,: Ih l..' ;l1 l;Kki tlJ,: ~k ~' r: l i,l l·r.

Practice bombing pattern usinll llare illuminalion - 210 4 aircraft.

aJ optl...!,

Anorher -hlllg l'r fUT rill" ;lnadill J,: AI) was ovc rca-r: wh ich rctlcc«....l t h l· Ii...:lll and \ilhc.luelll.....1 Th e

.urcratr , "Iu iddy

m :llill"':

dr...p wit h, " r ll" rma l 10 , th e hnm Hng lme , in or.l,·r tn gin' silh" ul..' He illununanon In rhc target : ro

1\

ane-.bllargl..·t. A lt hough IIw Navv lr;JininJ,:

R~rl'"

haJ

•1., Jt'plh r"·'n ·r"...... h' tl.... h..rnlomi: r' ~ >( , ~nJ ;.,m..n....... ",n! ,ot ..·"lJ .. ,II ,,,...... lh..m tn J ,,'f'

1lJ'eT
.1,,'J'J'l'" ,I,,,-.:tll' "n·r . he,

I .Ul:<·! /:;'·" [II -

........{ <'"'-':11"" .lIu'nm ,"....... rd'lI1'· !'f.nr h> lile nha....I ....... ' "ot lh.-'1.m...

It was o "vi
'CIltttit·, . USAFA·1ESkyrl idlll, BuNo 132624. a, med wilh len SUU·l41A clusler bomb conlainefSen ,oule

IlIIhe IIfDel tOne in South Vietnllmon 2(1 J anUllry 1966. US Ai, Fort9 Otl't ,. 1

119

TIll' Skvruidcr ream technique wa fu r Ihe sccr jon It l arrrt l<1ch th e ' ;lrgl..'t wit h I,Ol\)yd sep arat ton gar and u 500ft ~ l l..'p·Ur be l w ccn rhe t wo AD... The fiN S kyr:li,ll..· r w ould rcl e ast: its Ilare JITI..· c l1 ~· ove r rhc \!arh· nt.."ll l 'U)..~t OIl 3,500ft III 11..' \'...1 Hldu . Nil anc mpr was mad e 10 mak e a llowanct..· f,' r w ind dnf on thi.. first d ro r , u n ll..·'" il wa, accurately kno wn. On release. thl..' fir-r r il"l rran -rmned 'fla re away. 3.,C\. . . fum 1t'lt ' [or ' riJ,:h l '. J e renJ in g on te rrai n], and im mt'Jl.ncly comme n ced a t urn to he III p""il i"n ("r ,1 lO-de)..'Tt..>t-' g1J.lt..'
n.

.....

,

-

" ".~

~ l(.II.

1l~ L1 n K I NG

1 111-: (;(lOllS

(Above ) Idea l Spad bait, this co nvoy 01Vietnam es e army truck s was loc ated proc eeding along Rout e l A, the key north to s outh artery 01s upply l or the invas ion farces. in the vic inity 01 Dong Hoi on 9 February. 1961. Thirte en empty vehic les we re headed north, s eve n loa de d vehicles w er e moving south and we re give n a good working over by the US Air Force Skyra ider s . Department 01 Oetense. WashIngton DC.• courtesy of Robe rt C. M,k esh North Vietnamese regular a rmy tanks and ve hicles ex plod ing an d burning under lcw-levet e ttac k by USAFSkyraid ers in April 1968. Ohen depi cle d in the we ste rn media as a popula r upris ing agllinsla corrupt regime. in la ct the Vietname se war wa s a n ac t 01 agg ression by a Communis t nenc n aga inst its democra tic neighbour an d lou ght wil h ruth less ness and in con trave ntion of all signe d treaties and United Nalions convllntions , For a time the Spad s help e d hot d the line. Department 01 Detense. Wash,ngton D,C.. courtesy 01 Robert C. Mikesh

att ,llk hy rr.msnuttuur, '[)i\"l' hea,lin l,: 270

rurc l~ 'r

d l').:rn' ~ ,

l-c l,:;Iino.: d

recover

tll

len'.

111l' H:1R' telllporarily des troyed till' pil"l 's rughr vision, Sll caution h:t,1 10 be IN',1 (,n recovery from the l,:lide under a hril hant tl.m- intothe h!ackrl\'ss. T h e pil'l t haJ to make filII u~· of hi , in -rruuwnt s on th e tum inl,: cluub-our, ;Illd th i> somcnmc, cnu-cd \"l' n il,:'1 h" C:IU" ', altl l"Il l,:h th e attack lI"a~ compk-n-lv \ ' iSIl;11, ti ll' lli.L:ht prlor had to "Call hi s .ur-pccdnulicator. ulttmctcr, ,111.1 ahuudc ind iGllll r fn-qucnrlv and qu ickl y. Til jll,ll,:e ahitudc ul-ovc -ca level t~ ,r th e pull -pu t ,lq'l.' n, k',l on a ~e
11 K pil" t\ ju, l.L:l't\ll'nt , whi ch must h~· pra(f ir ,' and e xperience.'

(T his could, o ( course, ,lIs<) l-c ar pli,·d t il drve- hllnhi nl,: tcchniquc.] A, a uc ncral rule for tb rl,·.lr" l' ri n l,:, no S kyr:ti,k r "i lll! ough t III have pfl'ssed hi , fir, 1 run in below I,OOlJfl wuh.'til excellent ni l,:l u vis ihilil Y. ,'sr eda lly \\'1ll'11 liL' \\'a, tor illl,: 11K lwuvv ltlllds the AI) w:lS capahk' ,>t" Iiflinl,:, 11lis \\'uu ld Invariabl v result in llIushi ng, or ma ke fu r cr it ica l .urspccd in till' clunl--out. A 1O.d"l,:Tl'l'l,:lid,' anl,: k' sufficed for acc urat e hlllllhi nl,: an. 1 .' tw t"i n l,: under SIKh circums tances, and yet env... a safd~' l1hll):in in spenl of a pproac h tp th c wavc· tups or rh c l,:rUtlll' l. A 40-dl'l,:n'l'

120

un ule III app roach was con~ ick' reJ to ill' the ah-..:,Iule maximum for ni ght attacks ,

5G-Degre e Plus Angle of Attack w ith Bombs and Rockets A 60 -del,:Tl'" to 90 -deg ree approach ....'a~ considered es-cut tal for 50..J el.'R'C runs; apa rt from tlurr , th e tec hniq ue was abon thl' same as fill 30-degree rum, Again, a down wind Ie.!:: was flown to a J"-" ition .rl-cam till' t,ll):l't , at all alt trudc of 8,sOOft, or cluul-inu 10 tha i Ill'i l,:h t. The target ....-as th en allowed til ras~ a point in line with the Mk 5 1 l-omb rac k, and erurv airspeed was

.

' •If., OI'L! VHIJ:\{i TH E GOO DS

190 knots at 8,01..10(1, TIlt' rippe r WH.~ plac ed 40 mils shon <1 1 rho 6 o'clock po sit ion ,md flown III' to rlw " 1111 (no wind). Rdc;lSl'

height was 3,301..1fl f ,r I",,mh, nnd 2,800ft t~ ' f rockets. with pull-out nlnrudcs of 1,500(, for bombs an,l I,QL"(lfr ('Ir rock ers.

Napalm This ordnance was ru '1 a wear" '11 , ,( M'a war fare, bur rhc technique lit" dd ivl'rinl-: it was taught t,1 N;l\s Skvraidcr ('ii, lIS. TIlis was because of th e US Na vy's lung Ira,liti on of surporting [n il'!', as ho re wuh dosc· a ir-Slip" pon opcranon-, whi ch started in the P,l<:itk

Campaigns of the St:con.! WorlJ War, and haJ been l·lnl'h,.si:cd hy irs nhtu 1St e xc lusive tasking in thi s n:sf't-'(( d urin).: th e Korean War. In LICl, tilt' training W ,IS III 'IT \T !I ll ' Navy well in its sul-scqucnr employment over South- East Asia, Tl w 1~ )II 11wi ng is un extract from the tmining m ;IIlII;II:

""i l-ling, thi s leve l high -speed drop permit [ l:<-l a gn';11 dea l of ICl' way, A s the napalm r unis n-r would proc eecl h onaonrallv, or ;\ lll1 U~r. l~ u cu n.si.lerahk· ..lislilllCl· ilit ~ r the ,Iw p, release anvwhcre wit h in a reasonable J isla nce wou ld norma lly fl'su h in a direc t hit. Liter, ad van ces in napalm l-ornb, pro,Iuet...l a non-nnul-hng bnnb fined with a proximity fuse,

,I

Stra fi ng T Ill" Skvroldcr was anm-d With four 20- m m can non . iir in g he]tl,d percussion round s. Al th ough rh c,c we re u j a n o ld type. th e method WilS st ill dcerncd ctfccuvc agai n_t cncmv illl;mt ry. S tf, lfing runs we re ll... uallv conduc ted at low angles of al' l' r'l ao:- h,

me ant an e ve n steeper di n ', l~ ;lc! in g t tl a vicious circle. This could be come dan ecr"US close to the ground ii Ihe Skvnudcr pilut conccnr ratcd 100 d osel y o n rhc targc t and go t too stee p and too low. T he o pe n ing rounds were squeezed o lf a t a l-ou r 1.100yd slant range, and , as th e f,lIlge shorte ned, the lead ,lIlgle reduc ed r. zero. A s rh c nillgl' app ruaclwd and t he n passed thfou gh rh e dis tanc e .u wh ich till' guns wer e ..... 'fe· siglu e,1 - 1,200 yd - rhc hit s crossed the t'lrge!. In other wo r,,!s, where th e sta rhn ard gun she lls were h it ling to th e left uj targe t when in side l-or es igh l range, th cv then hi t to th e right llf t ar get when outside hOfl'-siglu ra n ge . When iifinJ..: tr acer. it
an.,("C f
there

j,

wluch U c"n

~

d"I" ',",,,,1.

no J:lllt.:,,'r til th,' "i,,,,alt f",m

~IIKe

""",,I-

..t.". il C" n llk'aru;

h, ,lr"rl'...~ 1 [rom 'Illy .dnru.le. This that a 1'01,,1 can 11\, in I" ", .",.1 fa_'t a",1

TIl<' I",,"-.,Ill· II.J,· .Iell,""r\· l' "1,<'<:i"lIy d f,:.:tlve "l.:''' '' ' 1

J.I"""t the na palm "n th" ta't.:'·l. ooiMmll" (u, Ih,· .",,·raf, C'1ll ~

tI""",, JIl"n ly al

lhe smscrun "I h l!:h 'lx'c,l. level 11,gl\1. rcle.uc tht- ...>mb ;lI1J pull ""t , It " 1'",n'G,llv ml]'<"" " N.: t" mi"" the t'll!:,'t ",inl.: t hIS 111<"1I1S ,of ,1"'1" [" IllI. Alfd 'ru;l enemv' l " ~ 'I" . t he 1" ""·k ,,,·1 high· ~

Jd,,'ery i, d1'ec u",' al" , lx,,,,,,,,,,, " I the

tm.l~n, y ttl '1''''.I,llh,·

b"rnmg l\;traln' ,,,,," a

..'Ilk iI«'~ , GftlunJ cuntru lkr.' an- k,s rclurtat u ro .I",""t a n" I",lm aU;Kk d",,' h ' tncndlv lnws than they ,lie to <'I, ...... stro h· "'lIh fra~.

,,,11 m,,

mmtat ~m

"" mbs. T1wy know Ih"t fhe n"r"hn can be.IroN", ,1with .'xlrvtnv accurac v an, 1th"t

'f' ~ff''C15 will he Iimite,1 to " kn o,,"n ,ltV" , whcn-a.,'llllm .omcllm" un]'rcJic!,,!>le.

",Iel lli"n to the bn that r.,[e"" nt.: at \,0001'1 "b.,,"e th v le rra m J!<- accuracy, III

Napalm could he relcast'<.l in a "lin' Jllst ,IS conventional homhs were, hut it was fo und that its accuracy hy such de livef)' was poor. The najl'Ctof)'oi the na palm .....Imhs t hen in use was unprt.J ictaNe, a nJ rhl' y ofte n tu mHe..-! in flighl. 11 wa.~ th erei'lre dl't' lT1l...1muc h more efficient to rd ease naralm uti lizing the IO\\'-Ievel techniquc, with ,m approac h . reed of 240 knols, a t a hd ght o i a.....lut 100ft, and u~ing 22 mi ls rll pl;lCe the o rdnance exactly a., requirl"'l. If the t<Jrget was a

An excellent view of Armee de rAir armnnrers loading cl ips ol2Omm ca nnnn rounds into a French Skyraider elt he 2ll'lh Escadre de Chasse 'Aurers· Nemenlchas', base d al l es Salaines. snulh nl 8 nne, Alger ia. 1963, SIRPAfECPA Fort d·I.'Y

hl·twl'e ll 20 a nd 45 dc gret's. T he guns wcr e hlll",'·sightcd
121

impac t o i (hc munds, yOIl have the o n ly accurate inio rmat illil o n sigh 1inl-: adjuSl tllenlS nl'ccssary.' It was rl'cotllmendcd that trace rs sho uld nOl he loa,lc,! Of used in rhe tlt'C[;

u""

o r t" ,cc" ,ll n, ~IH 1:" '''" , hv 1:"l1 n,'<\"n lh e 1:,,,,mJ ,m ,Jv.,] annm!: ,cfvrcnu ·. TIle "", ,,fIiE ilnJ HEI 11",,1- will f"ctlnau' ' 1",t1lrll: at n' l:h t ,mel .·n;,!>I., tI,,· rt10l II> .:o rrect hiS",m,

.....

,

-

"" .~

~ l(. lI .

1ll:L!VE Il I;.JG Til E GOO()S

'I

(Abovel Skyraider of the Gabonese Air Forc e ar ue revme airport. The former Fre nch co lony use d the se aircraft (se cretly flown by Frenc h pilolsl e n a nli·ins urge ncy s trikes and pa trols" SIRPAJECPA son d"l"ry Close -up 0111 Gabonese Air For ce Skyrai de r er umevure airport, s how ing in detail the sla rboa rd wi ng ca nnon a nd rocket loa d. with sta ndllrd wee pcns lor co unte r-insu rge ncy strikes a ga inst Libyan-ba cked guerr illa forces " SIRPAiECPA Fort d"lvry

122

,..

• If

I

lJEI.IVERING THIo GOOIlS

Nuclear Weapon s The \'aril,1 t'quil'l'ing of the vcrs.mlc

TIl\' act ualtes t bcdilY was

Fumam T.lrgl't

C e-ntre, jacksou villc, Florida. For Ihe firsr of Ihe lon g-dis tance. I,,\\'-

West 's intlatahlt., J,'sign I" preve n t colla r c hafing:, aJ eling: extra c u.sh illn ing f"r tlll" I'il'l!'s sl'aring:, and a new type oi light weight he lmet til lessen headaches, plus extra Aspi rin for rhc sa me pruhk'm - were ,Iuly made . It was nul just aircrcw o-mfon that h",1 t" lx' improved for 'uch mbsions, TIl\' S kvratdcr also nccdccl to lx, adal'tl'J it'it was ro ca rry o ut th ts rtlk' I'roficil-n tly. C onvcnt illna1 1)/F diJ n, It fun cri< 'n r r' lpc tly
Skvnudcr tllnll'lllhi~ al rl·i l, I~· irnprcssivc air - level fligh t [ri"ls, VX-3 had 25 l'i l'Its and craft info a serious conte nde r. Ro lli till' US [ivc .urcrcw on l'S1" hl i,h llu' llI and rhcv Na\'Ya nd till' US Manne Corps Skymidcn; look it in t urn s III tl y non-st op at IIn,!,'( wcrca""igm...1th,' lludc,lr ddin'q' [(,Il-. booth 200ft, UI' ;11l. 1 ,1'I\I'1l the- l';.,..tern c. la,1 of the utili:ing-thc low-k-veluavhnuion ;l I'I'Hl;K h United S t" t,'". T he 'l\'erage tligl l! time was Pt1 3Gs ... 2 seconcl. rellcr..J riwll, slngk'-" llgilll'd ,Iircr:lfl 1' 1 tells .\chcalef carry nuclear l\'\'al" lIlS aga inst a'" 'rhisli(: l1 roll and pilCh a lt,lude Info/ ~==:::==-====:_--, Lay down de!IVel<1 trials, ,IS r n Ileel Or/V219/X22, c,1l1,lucIl,J 2251< 1 , ." ll\ 1951 ny the eX\'I'rimClHal Irials uni t, VX-3. of the O pe rat i" n,,1 I)l,...c1" pl1ll' ll1 1,(10011 F,)rce, ba'>Cd ,11 NAS AIL11ltic Ci ty, TIll' aimllf Ihis hush-hush uni l W;lS I" ,'va luah' rhe loo-delivery sy~tetl1, ut ildng the AI)11511 ,. " 4 and AD-4Q, fim'd with thrl'e e xte rmll I t'uel tanks to gi\'e max imum hunkl'rage,

""'" '.-

,"'"

--

,---

".<

,-

It'?,lJQ.\ltl.Q

Nuclear bombing - low angle toh delive ry pattern.

>ctrnb

5" aigh l& .......

eQ!'.;I.!E' maln,,,,n same POW"

en $J>M(l '" all

commen<;e

chac ~-
723

smoolh

cl imb Ie 175 11

fl~ 51' '''!l1l' '" l.....eI

Ct' speed '" a~ ' poc~ le ' when popper

Cross&lll"'9"1

Q!J!!!!MoI.Q """ 5WI\CIl 'o w

.....

,

-

" ".~

~l(.II.

[)El.IVERrNG TIlE Go o n s

Nucl ailr bomb ing - mad ium ilngla loft dalive ry pattern .

mIX ncn -,~

2,lIOOrpm _ 45,n !!'!Il2lL~.l?

masler ann

~ ,-

0'

on speed" an cneck _ OFF htUCOfl1I>1,"e labs gym '''"''''9'''

1 ,8001'1"" - 28 ,n

"."

,n(! 'gIlt

2.00Cm

pcnermr c cnvmv air »pncv ami rake ndvan rag l' 1'(

till' }.:r,," nd con tour. In those pre -

Stealth d,lYS, ilwisibilit y mean t

~ lI T\' iv :J L

Such an ;lr prll'ld l path ';'r th l' SIllw A D could mean six " r .....-vcn hours' 11il.:ht rune ,

ON

labs inch""l"" roll &. po,,,n alll luOe ",10 2,86Orpm -!>SIn 260TAS

81t"""" 100ft !!:l~NJ."!

ST" ie'o'el lab8\lYro 'cage'

master atm OH

on ,In·r'lgl·. F. ,r Ilu-.....· practice 11 id1t.s ,

Iwil,: h" \'1 around 100lt'! ~I Tah::h l and

\H'Tl '

dll' norm.

level with IIIL' e n~ i ll l' m ix set

rich, an, ll" II X, { ,)11 10 giw 2,600 rplll, lur 225 knots 'lip'IX'l,,1 t" wit h in 7 ,CXlOtr of rh l' targl·1. 111is caused grl';l1 stra in , l-ut it wa, cc-vnt i,ll if t Ill' Skvr, kll'r W ,IS tc J survi vc I, JIlg enough III h.rvc ;Illy ctfl'C t. 11 1l' lung and

•

d llpres8 'pICkle'

\\l'a ri~ Hlll' llig h t~

th at were made in prac l i ~ i n g thi , "1'l'r"'Kh were nic knamed 'S an dbl, lIH' f:- ' h y

till' l-utt - wearv A I )

ind lio;lhl OFF li"""SlatlS

c rews .

ev COO'Ipjf!!1O
In au uc tunl uuuck ~c l' narill, n l"ng ;11'1 'wach would hl' m.rdc andt hen, ,h th <.' releas e I" ,sit i,.n was n curecl, till' Labs Gyr" Unease' ind ica tor light would gu'On' ,the ellgitw w
IBM IIId apply

8.!'lEASE

y_-'oU & ace

4.500 in 2 sec

'nd ~gn l OFF !Me OFF r_poc~le

U1bs

'""-:al,,..

roll" potcM

would g ll uut 'lnd the tuner countdown

would commence . T ill' A D wouldpop up ('h ighh
would go l-ock '(Ill', ac compan ied hy

till' warmng roue. 111e actual I"h W ,I S done hy Ill"king n three-quarter 1o,, 1' with an up tight rccovc rv o n tlu- ' 11'T'osi t l ' c ourse to I he ru n - i n ( ,1 " He- h ,,11 C uba n curlu. ni cknamed by the Skvraidcr pil"t s rhc 'Truman Eil.:ht' a lte r till' former prcsidcnt ). with th e ordnance t,lss<.',1 at the h i ~hl' s t peak. 111is was the yaw, roll am] acc ele rate ('{itA) seque nc e. which applied 4.50s in two seclln.!'" O n release, till" Indic ator l ig h t an , 1 ala rm tone l-orh went '0 1(' and the S kvraidc r, turning hack 180 dcurccs on its flJrlner CllHrSC , then e xec uted a sh arp 45 -Jl'grl' l' 111m clilllhi n g up To 1,00011 to tI <.' ar the imp 'lCt area :m J
~

ind hgnl ON lone ON

till" a lom-

ic hLlst wav e.

This I" rlll 01 n uck'ar-weapo n ddivcr y rract i<.'c Illctl wd i ~ hl'sl illuSlratl'd in

124

gr;lph ic form (see tlW d iagnuu \ I II pa,gt' IlJ anJ al",n'l. Ca rr),jng nuclear weapon s prcscrued som e proble ms, ,lUI' to th e ir ~ i:c, l en~th and w ~i g ht _ TIle Skvnudcr's I ()adin~ limit was set at 17.Sool h. ,10,1 I he si:e 01 the nuclear l-omb nc cessu arcd a special Skvraidc r modification. with rhc dis<,h ling 01 t1w undcr-fusehun- JtW brake. According to forme r US Navy pilot C h uck Mullaney: Onn' ,,~,"n thi, w,,, ",... I,'" r Ihin1<mll' Th~""dy n"h" (rlw\' "w... A-f""mhs rh"n) stretched 1'0",1< int" rh,· Jil',-I'uh·, anJ !h~ >I"f" Ii'III1: fill>

e""IJ f,., J'l!nag~J

f,j' ,h,' ~xI~IlJ~d I"w~r "",l e_ TIl<" ~t'"J h"d ,m ... nJunn~ c"r~~r. I red dlln

rill, w", l.ug,·I~· .Iu~ h' it, r.m~......Illd It . "f,i hl y .lchvcr a lluck·,,, "·~"r"n w 110 I"w-hillh-l"w 111\",1"... .1. 1 t" d (h;u ,urvlHllll lhr "1<"1 w." n'lnll!" In an\' Cd"'. In (h... ;(\"nJ 60s, " n~' n "d~ ;lf J,'I", ... ry ,..,•,. ,1~ ...rn...J "·,,tth..-hlk. III

,",,

.1'.

CHAPTER T HIRTEEN

Target Tug The Swed ish Experience

'" elpllsad perts flims ily cove red, forme r AEW·' Skyraide r. WV 185, sta nds forlornl y outs ide the ha ngars 01 Scanish Aviation at Pre st w ick a irfie ld in 1962. awa iting convers ion into 8 18'g e11u9. This airc raft nev er Mew operationa lly wi th a ny active seofce flight onc e il left the US Navy, a nd ended its days as SE-EBI

witll lbe Svansk Flygtjanst.belore being given 10the Swe dis h Air Museum. Arlh", Pearcy A'ch i~e, bvCOUrlUV 01 And,....Pearcy

In IIJ6I,

till'

three Swcdbh D..-fcncc

Fp , Cl 'S

fuund themselve s in urgcut Ill'ed of .urcruf versanlc enouuh to act as [ 'IT).:,,'1 tugs, :11\.1 suitahlc for their other require ments. TI l\: Swedish Defence Mnusuv cas l around {or arrrlJprialc aircratt capable (If
,I

Scottish Av ia tio n Ltd , hasl'd at Prcsr wick, ,m,1 with an earlier kn ' lwk'dt.:l' of rill.' S kvr.udcr trout Ro yal Navv service, W ;IS il\var,led the co nt ract to refurhish 12 \,f till' purcho-cd aircrau, an d con vert them to tar J.:d tu g~.11 1e y Iwre a wardl' J Cl.es R Rriti ~h rl'g i ~t ra li lln ~ f,lr t h eir tl'IHl'llr,ny British fL 'Sidcncv ,m,1this enable... l two of t he sd~'e ted A EW- Is, \VT 987 and W 9"5 I. to he flow n direct from RN A S C uldrosc up III Prestwick a~ G-.31 3 a nd G-31 2. The rest (01lowed m.m- sedin dy, co vering till' shortl' r distann ' from RN A S A hho tsind1 hy" road. TIl l' con version involved the rem oval of t he Ril,lol1lL', tlw vert leal fins, arr estor hook, win g slats and orhcr ruilitarv hard war e, inclu di ng radio equipment . O nn' th is was done. the aircraft were give n a t ho ro ugh overhaul a nd then fitt ed o ut lo r rh ct r new rtlle , This in volved the (itti ng Ilf

125

updated civ ilian radio an d electronics (V I IF/VOR/lLS glide-slof'C, marker h.'i!con. radio alumet er, Intercom systt' llls). TI ll' forme r observ er's cal-in was refu ted with a row ing winch and assoctnrcd cquirmcn t , a nd sca ting for the operator. Three rvpcs of tow ed ta rge t, were a t Ih al ti me he ing used hy Ihe Swedish A ir Force and the Skyraidcrs were fitted to dea l wit h th em all. The strut ta rgel was mainly u-ed (or ;ln ti-aircrail tra ini ng for Ihe Swedis h Arm y and N a vy's j..! r'l unJ- and sh i l'-ba~'d J.: uns as air-defence tra in ing. The win g target a nd till' a rrow target were mo re i"r ae rial combat practice hy t he Swedish Air Fo rce in air-to-ai r tra in ing. As always with rhc Skyr aidcr, othe r duties were found for the aircraft. bes ides target to win g. Elcctroruc countermeasures was added ro th e repertoire with till' iining of
..

, .... " •• d ~lr.".

TARGET Tl rC' _ Till,

(Top} The conversion proc e" Irom AEW10 larg allllg look place al me Prntwick hangars 01Sconish Avialion Limiled. prior 10 their sa le 10 the Swedi sh Air force in 1962.The conversion prolonged the active service lile of Ihe , irc r,h a nd led to m.JIny being sa ved lor posl erity. H,re. a lonn,r ·A· Flight veleran WT 9!19 (4241Al llnd. rgOtls thl1ransIOrmltlion. Arthur Pelrey Arclwe.by cOUf1ny IlA Aud•.,. Peltt y

~ W W I~ 1l

EXI'FR 1E"f"F

IAbOlfeJ Three ollhe twelve lonner Royll NaY)' AEW-1 Skyraide rs. ptt«:..... by me Swedish lovernmenllor lISe lISIIlrgllltllg s, IIndergoing con rsiol . the hanl'rs 01Scotti sh Avi ation II Prestwick dllring 1962. Arthur P cy At,*"", try courtelY 01 AIoICl '.,. PeI' cy

'26

.,'" TARGET nit; - TIlE SWEll lSIl

EX I'E R 1F.~ n

radar-janurun u 'Sunc' po d under the ron wing. This was late r lll' gr.ldc d WIlL'1l it W ,IS ~I'LlCt'J hy t he more :l, IVanCl'l.] ' Pel rus' po..[. The dark him.' (' MiJ n itl") paint lhal haJ been the A EW· [-, trademark all it , working life w<\, ,tri l' !,l-.! otf, an d the air craft wer e re -paint ed in h right yellow, wit h their British Class R C ivil rq.;:islTat ion" in

black. In this con dition ,

rh l'~'

were test

tlnwn and th en delivered hy a ir direct to

Sweden. I{ere. the)" \I't'H' n: -rcgisl l' Tl·d and alloucd their S..n-,li,,11 n...gisU' ll j, IllS, whilh replaced the f\ritbh markin gs, by $t'<'mk Flygrjan.~l AU (Swl.·,bir Luuit cd] at Brornmao TIlt' ,l d in' r~' ..b tl'S were as shown III the ruble, right .

Cmss BReg [i-31-4 [i·31·5 [i·31·6 G·31 ·J G·31 ·8 G·31-9 G·31 -10 G·31 ·13 G·31 ·11 G·31 ·12 G·31 ·3 G·31 ·2

7 September 1962 11 October 1962 6 November 1962 30 November 1967

13 Februa,.,.1963 7 March 1963 4 April 1963

1 May1963 28 July 1962' 20Jull962" • FellV rl.ghr f,omRNAS CuJd'()5e to PresfWld-

SE-EBA

14 September 1962

SE·EBB SE·EBC SHBO SE ·EBE SE·EBf SE·EBG SE-eBH

23 ncioter 1962 27 November 1962 15January1963 25 Janua,.,. 1963 1 March 1963

SE·EBI SE·EBK SE·EBL SE·EBM

26 March 1963 29AU9usl 1963 26 Apnl 1963 21 May 1963 19June 1963 9July 1963

IAbave! Cockpit layout 01 a Royal Navy AEW·l SkJfJidllf after conversion 10 , Swed ish target tug Arthur Pu reyArchIVe, bycounesv 01 Audrev Pearcy (Above nghf/ l ooking aft Irom the pilofs coc kpit

imo me lormer r,dar companment ola Swedish SkJflidlr convl ned 10 a ta rgel lug by Scon ish AnllionIt Prlstwick in 1962, showing winc hes and wi. .. Arthur PllrcyArch lve.llv courtesy 01 Audrev Pearcy

The spare arrcr.rtt (W T 849) \\'a~ ,,~' sea in \ l}j1 , ill it.. or igina l.

,hipped

unconvert ed sta te, an.l put ~'h~n

the fiN

ca"u:l l l~'

into ..tore .

occurred, with

till'

it"". by fue ,l SE-EAH ,II l.ulca 111 Scptcut1968, this aircraft wa .. a ..... igncd a .. ;t ~ replacement. Taken front ..toraJ,:l' in [9 69 , uwas given the full c.inver..inn trcurm cn t

ber

h

S\H~Ji,h

Ail\v" rb Limited al BlIllt" f!;I,

and registered ,H ::'E-EBN, However, it ,lid notlast long, heing d ,'s tfl'rc. 1 nt l\.1idb n. b

The winch e peretcr's obsernlion dome on Ihe port side 01 a converted lllrget·lowing Skyraide r 01 the Swe dish government. Arlhur PearcvArchIve, bvcourtesy ofAudley Pearcv

127

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. lI .

TMHiF.T

ruo

THE SWE[lI.~H

~_ X H_RIF~CF.

(Above) Seple mber 1962. In the coluurs 01the Svensk Flyglansl AB. the tormer WV 185 nrries Th e lD cude ul Sf·fBAul its new uwners. lind is seen here It Presrw-ick airfield. Scutland. Artn ur Peilrcy Archive. bycourtesy ofAu drey Pearcy

MI Arne Holmgren (second righd IOlmally accapting delivary of tha lilsl SkYla idel lor the Swedish Ail Service from MI D. McConnell. Contracts Manager 01 ScottiSh Aviation l imited. Also in the picture lIeft to righl) are Ca ptains Olle Holger lind Richard Osabahr. Chief Pilols of Swedish Ail Services li mited. lind Mr H.G. Hart. Scottish Aviation's Assistant Sales Manager. Arthur PearcyArcnive. bycourtesy ofAudrey Pearcy

Swedish Skyraider details Swedrsh US BuNo Civil Reg SE·EBA 127950 SE·EBB 127947 127960 SE-EBe 127948 SE-EBD SE-EBE SE·EBF SE·EBG SE·EBH Sf·fBI SfUK SE·EBl

127954 127955 127942 127957 127945 126867 127922

SE·fBM Sf-fBN

127949 126849

Brirlsh Class

BR" G-31 -4 G-31 -5 G-31-6 G-31 -7 G-31·8 G-Jl-9 G-Jl-10 G-Jl·13 G-Jl-11 G-Jl-12 G-Jl-J G·Jl·2

N/A

Royal Navy No.

Notes

WT952 WT949 WT961 WT950 WT956 WI957 VVV182 WT959 VVV185 VVV181 WT987

Scrapped Malmo 1974 onward lutttartrnuseet Stockholm-Arlanda Svecmc's Bil Ikh Flygmuseum, Scoe Scrapped Malmo 1974 onward Scrapped Malmo 1974 onward Crashed turee-ranax25-2-76

WT9S1 WT849

Cham S Groll, Medford. Dr ~ N4277L Delivered unconverted Conve rtedSweden. Reg 1969 Re placed Sf-EBIl Destroyed Mldlanda tn 1971

Scrapped Malmo1974 onward Destroyed by lire. lulea . Sept 1968 A,rmuseumSweden3-9-73 Pacific Fighters. Cnmo - N4277N Natmoal Warp lane Museu," - N5469Y

128

in 19 7 1. By thi s tim e, rbns were N:ing moor ed to repla ce the Skvmidcrs with the nL'W custom-built M itsllhish i MU·2F (r-.1U-2B-20 l, ,IS well a~ I WO Ll' ,U JeT 24s. H oweve r, these tWI\' ,lircw(t were just not capable of durlic atj n ~ th e Spad's overall ca rrying capaci tv anJ were unable to per(linn the ECM duty it had also carried out. Four ,If th e Skvratdcrs (SE-EBF, SE-EBK, S E-EBL and SE-EBM) had to he retained ;Jhl:'r 1974 to perform This rille. unti l suitahk replacements could he found . Th is prn illngcd rhc Swedis h Skyraiders' life for a furt her three yea rs, at <J tim e when most o( their equally venerable corupanillns Wl'H' broken up at Malmo as surplus to requirements, from 1974 onwards. This sec ond stay of execution was impormm, as it ulnmatelv led to the aircrafrs' preserveo

non and salvation. Th ree OThers, SE- EBB, SE-ERC an d SE-EBl, were allocated to Swedish A ir Museums and put int o store, re !ldin ~ restoration and J isplay.

,..

• If.

CI IAIYfEH f()URTEf.N

Combat Over Vietnam The US Navy Exper ience II The End of the Skyra ider? By the 1'11,1 of the 19S(\, it

' l'e llll'.! " , it

til\"

,by ofthe ='kyr;li.k'r \\,;1.' aim, " I over ;1, b r ;1' the Unill'..! ~Llf ,'~ W;I, concerned. TIll' US ~brint' e'rl's l1a,1 t1"\\'11 Its fin.rlrn i", i"n, with the ='(';1.1 In 19S8 , till' N avy wu-, cnll

ttoomj;( ~ .......l cmpl.wmenr

I~ ' f

rhe ;lIK r;II'

III

~I~cia [ i~t

rhc A m,' ric
~ha rrly

ft.",l,'s, bill numbers hold d" CH';)"t."cl from till' hl·~·d .t y pf J9'}5. Further

1I'; lI,.

db1" " al, were fak-

TIll' . .ak· wvm rbrouuh. hut the Alll,'TKan,' g" I1,'r"...lt y W;IS n u l III hv rcctprocntcd when

ing phil':" , tIle tn"St , il-: ll ific m l Ix 'in g till' s ale "I ll ] AI }, l" Fr;llln ', under rlu- .Illsl' icc s " f the ~ IUltl'll l\.' Ii.'n ( l' A ir I'r' l)..:r,l1Imw. (T h is

" f tIll' aiTe rati h;Kk In "11 t ill' Frclh:h !) Un,I,'T till' rcrm, of ;1 w i,I\.'-ra ng in.l:

, k'al strl' h.:llI.,..I li ll' rn '!o: ralllllll' III rhc hrnu . ,I., the French wanted tlu- .un ran lIlT what

rcvn-w ", !Ill' military, which t.....k 1,1;lu ' in 1962, ;111'ur.". i\' m~ van.mrs t ,I the ~k ~'ral,l\'r

~\lrJ' llI~·t('-rl·qll;n·nlvnl ~

ASllpliMrtBIONo 1l!l6611of lh. VA -nlln ding . boald. Britisll.ircflft Clll ier. Th. 'He....y H. uler" 01 1111 from all mlnner 01c, " iel decks .nd jungle . ir$trips lor I lmost 30 yll8r$, mounting ri,tII« s!lih .gainSl Communist .ggressor$ in both KOlea ami Vietnam. long aftor pis lon-ongined IIIItIlft Ilsewhele hid bee n declared unlillor combal operations. lhe Skyraid l r's e normous ordnance_!'OWer. its .bility to stlike I I smlll targets ac curalely a nd. abovi all, ils abi lity to 'linger' over lhe ~ lon' 'Wlitinlllargets 01opponu nily al the req uest of the tlOO PS on Ihe ground, was everything ltfIi~ il' close-suppon airplane. US NIVY othe'il l pho lograph

.......o.w......

129

tlw V, in their turn, urgentlv rcqu c_,t,'tl ",'ml'

.. .., . ,..."" • 11. .. .

I'urcha......d . How e ver , no ·"ltlCi.•1' ..:omhal mi -ciou-, had I....-cn undertaken by A nW Tl ' can N;\\'Y p.:r""llIll'l. TI\l' a ll chanucd a hrurrl\ III A ugu,1 I\)(~, wuh Ihl' Tonkin I~ N.1H' ,,-!u.I.ITt,n, rcm.uncd " I"."ral1\,n.11 Gulf lIll:l,I~· llI . ()n 1 AIII.:IN , North Vk, · wuh till' ;lHU.lt'I, anJ the ~ k\ r.udcr W,I' nul nanu-,c lIl"lor r"'1.......lo I" 'al ' ('~ I TR,.· III Brn.u n. 'PT' h>dr, 11\ US 1'.1T1,1I\l:1') lll.l,k· a l'xf".'t-ll\.1 It, il~urc, 'n the 11" , . ,i rhc U~ 111 11 1I.1f' h lr..:~', j. 'r much loneer nuvwav. II.rwsen c, o( un rTtl\,,,h...1 .UI'Kk ru n, .IC.Il Il,1 till' Amcncan ,k,lToy~'r ;\l,LlJ ox InD1'\'l' I, ,I' "" .'II~· n before. till.' 1l 1l 1· XI" :..:t ~'>.! 71 1), ,'!,,-'r;lllIl"-: III ln rcmanonal \\'" r ~·r, . hal'l"."lw..l~ Two .1,1\-, 1.1I ~·r, on 4 A ucu, ,, ,i mdar :It1al:ks werc 1Il.I,k· ;Il-:a ll),f 111\' ,k's ll"y~' r Chlnge of Skyrilider dnigniltion$ 5-ptember 1962 Tll m~'T }o:, (Dl ).9') I ). TIll' Amcnc.m rrl" new deSlgl18{1OtI __ old deS.gfl81101l lderu ordered rl'rall :" " ry .ur -mkcs ;lg;lin ,I A-lO AD-4N the naval h,bes rhar housed t hl:Sl' units, A-IE AO·5lanad rorel ,111\ 1 rill: Amc rican-, were Ihu , I'r.)vo h ', [ A-1G AO·5N inr u ~' ll f~' r i llg IIw , h""l in,,-: war a ga in,1 rill' Al-H AO·6 C,'m llllln i, I, oncv mor e. A-1J AD·] Tl u- fi N US N avy Sly ra"k' r " l'eri tt i"I" [A-If AO,5W over Vic t n.un C lIlW Oil ') Aug u,1 IIJ6-t, €A,lf AD·5O with Op-muon 'Pierce A rrow'. TIll' camUAlE AD5 cr TinmJ''TuRtl (eVA · I·t) laund ll'J Ill'r lut'I1IVrllll' - targcl lugsl VA-52 SkYT;li,ln, ;IIlJ Ih ... Cumfdldll"n (CVA-6-t1 J.llll1\lwd VA -H), in 'ur['<'n, 1...,,11 un il, h.·IIll-: ~\.lul l'f'l\.1 wilh Ih~' A- Ill ,m,1 A-Il Thn 'lnl~-k ,n lin ' "-'j';lra le \\~' r~' l" nlMH\"

h~'

when a VA- I4; Spad (HuNo l 19i (0 ),

Ih~' U~ I\" rart nll·nt of 1\" k 'N ' (Sl'l' tlu1,IH d . At till' t une, tj u- ..:h;lIl~ ll1~ o j ~1~"'I~ 11.11 h,n ,11.ln." wctu It, h.. 11111" 'rl.nll - onlv

redc...i~n. l ll·d ;\' rlu- A- I

Sarhcr. W;I' 1" "'1 " I AAA lin ' ove r the tar-

Reta liato ry Air Str ikes ~llln' <. \.",h.·r I IJ04. Ihl' 1T.llnin,,-: . 1~'I ,Kh · Irom ,h~' :X.IH·'s VA · IS! "-1".I,In'n

1Il1'1lI

h.l,j h.·~·n w"rklll!! III til<.' U~A .m.1, I.lfl'r, III S."lfh Vkl ll;Ull, IrallllllC Vklll.llll...' 1·

rd.'t-

III

Ilw

tN'

01 Ilw A·I-

"W~ h ; I~1

Nunh VI~·tIl,UlW"-· n.n·,11 h,I,,--' ;IIlJ;tn 011 'I"r;lt.:~' dl'l.... ,1 ,If Ninh, \\Ill..:h W.h Ih~· r"r· ['<....1, 1h >;lls' 111.1111 '" ,ur~ I" ,I Iud . II W.h ~"II 1ll ;1"..'>.! Iha ll 25 of till' ,:lll'llI\ ,lui'" \n'fl' ,unk o r """\'~'rd~ ,1 . ll n . II.:~...l lll Ihl"\' ;llt ,Kl-, hul Ih i, d.I~·\ o'.....ra l lo rh .11"" '. IW rh~' lir'l ~ kyr,lI.I~·r 1' .. ,".lh\' of 1Ill' Vil'mam Wilr,

Douglu AH ·1 11ormer AD·61Skyraid er, BuNo 139132, 01VA·165, Arthur Pearcy Ar ch,~e . bycOYrlesy ofAy(\rey Pea'cy

130

plloll:,1 "')' Lie ut enant (j.g .) HI( ha rJ C.

get ;lTC.I. A ......coral ~ l\"r,ll,jl' l 01 Ihl~ "'IIM,lr,," ill ....l rook hn-. hUI 1\-.1' ;l "' I~' In m.rke II back h i hom... h'I....·. Inmaliv. till' Navy's ~p; .. I, were re- merl'J I" ·I"·("r-I.I[' ac tions, III wh ll" h ,I Com. IIl UIll'1 atl.!l:l wou lJ rc-nh III .1 , 1.11' on the wrhl III the torm oj;1Il air -mkc. TIll' partern 0 1 r""l"lll,,-' "-'l'lll~'li "n[~' h I 11'aJ rhe ;Il.:/.: rl''''", ,r to mcrca-e h r-, a(li,'n,. US ['n d' Illrrlwr l:. l rr l~·r , rrik~',. nil I I Fl''''nl.ll)·, VA ·I!; j, 'In''>.! VA-95 ,1ll.1 VA·215 In ~k\"T.II.II·r 'Inkt:, launl:h~\.1 R·"f".'Ctl\·l'l)frllm thl' t:;lrn ...f'" Coral St.-a (CVA -43I, RallJ!t'T (CVA-6 1)• .tTl,1 "allt'ot:" (CV.'..19), "hKh h.IJ all JOlfll\.1 Ih l' St:\"l'1llh F11·~·1. TIll'''''' ,trikt:_ Wl·r... 11I.lde aJ.:illTbl ~"rth Vicllum........ am\~' ''',In .Kb;tnJ.-.ur['<'r1 1,h."l l llIl", l\h lCh tlw Sr.I,I, hl! ~UJrr ;lnd .... ,Ii,II),. w"h,'ul ,IllY AD I , ,, ,~.", .

'
.J{- ....

l-......-e-nd., Ed Gr•• lhous. 01YA-25 ludy 101 I.unch hom Ih. USS M,dway ICYA-41l in 1965, .... witII ..... ry1Iling h, could Clrry, including Ih. bllhtoom pillmbinll This w.s listed u YA·25·s se cret IfIINll'llI SaIlDoeto Aerospace Mllseum

By ~b y 1905. Ann-n..'un .urcruft earner.. were p'"r"l1ml.: on nix,,' (:-;'''lIlh) Slat h'll on SOUlh Victn.rm. 'lnkc .u th .... Vn-r Vemamc-c .....ur 111.I..:hll1<.-'. which .:b

Norrh Vu-uuun.........•

.1<'1,1, ,\ llll! Ih..·sc· III IIll n 'a'llll! ruunl-cr-, rh.mk-, h' .' >\'1..·1 "lll' rk

.rrrm....... .111,1 .'11 Yaukcc ::-'
. ~ ~rnll.1

. hl

'0

~ Ii''' l k·, (SA~ b) . TI l..· IIT r ...•

f....eJmll I1w

. 1 ~f"· "' I "11

.1l!,lItl , 1

ratic ,oll ,lwm tlcll!hhllllr. ~kyr..l 1.kr.. ..foeTdllnJ: In the ...... w.m-r-, IH'n' INJ.llly

..J.1ffil.'I.! with the ba.I)!c· " I 'Til..' Tonkm trolf Yacht Cluh' on tiu-ir rc.rr tu..d ag...·'. A, wellasstrikes ;Jl!;litN ' I"'·..· ifin l t;lrl!,·I'

r...,h .i rhe so-call.. . .11\:-~ li lll,lri:......1Z.. m..· nMZ), which was i ~'fl, ' r 1h, 111 · ConunuLN>., Slq'rakkr-; al , tl.-w f ·....:;lr nil'"

tn.·

r .llrol (O"'''f lor lCOf'lC1'o -<archinJ: ior ,ho,....I" .....o r ll"h. ml ' kin.., !at... r In,'wtl ,I' L'SAR ( 'CtIh;.1 !oe"drch aM n-..cllc).... " ' 11 inn ,ln ·d Ilk Sl\T.liJ...·1'" in hm..h..·, w lIh ho,h till' m.-my Jl.'l figh,..·" an.1 ;-; lI l1~ ...:....-I"-A lT rronJ m,ii: (omh.11 ,111'

Skyraiders Again st MiG-lis

It..

"I III..· ~ kY r .lld ...·r;

I",·rt"rnl.llll"· UIl,I,," h ll' , lIy Ill\' ..h,"H lIll! d u \\" n of ..·Il,·IlI\' M l(j · 17 J..·h - ;1 '~';I 1

TIl...· xnith "\"0..>1

Vi...' t n.uu

..... ",

Ih,' ~' " ..rt"rn1l'd not once, hUI lInn'!

u"

TIn' li" l Ill' un ..:...· I... ,k pla, . .· 20 JUIW I'J6i. W h i[..·, '11 a 1'''''''::'1' nu.... i, ,n, '\-cr N," ,h Vrctn.uu 11....·1t (0l"-'wrlulh over 1. 111,1 wvrc I n.,wtl ;1_ 'I~""'I , I....... ",hik· th ,,,,,-· "'l'r ...... ,1 \H·r...· ·f'....·l \"'-'1'). I" ur A -I ! {,. ,,-VA-2 i .• 'f't-·r,m ill! ffllm Ih ..· L lm ..·r ,\ li.J U\I:" (eVA-oi l) ,I,

·( ':'m:N. l· Ill!!hl. \wrc .....·.lr... hllll! Ill\' PI ...·11 " I...·n Phil r,'l!I" tl ';,r .1 ,hol ·duwn F-1 0i I' I[UI. TIl\' lllghl W
I.."

131

Ltctucnnut (j .l!.) j.unc-, Lyn nc .... hi" tu.m,

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Personal Acco unts O'lUek Mullancv

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A " ...:"n,1 ~ t.tJ kill tollow....l on y t \ :lLtoer 1960. F. -ur A ·1I " from VA - 176, one Ilf twu ~k~·r:.ll,l..·r un lh worklllJ.: from rhc earner Imrc(lltJ (eVA . II). wert.' "'I'e ro ll lll g wuh a

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A Dougl" A·1H. c onverte d 110m a lorme' French AD·4NA by Jack Spanich. indiuled by Ihe dorsal air sc oop a nd lar ge door in Ihe cen lra lluse lage . h is paint ed 10 ,esemb l. A·1H BuNo 1235326. fre m VA-1761rom the car rie . USS Intrepid (CV-1Il. w hic h. piloted by lie ulenant li·g.) Tom Pa no n. s hol down a MiG-l1 over Vieln am on 9 OClob ..r 1966. Ar'hul Pearcy Arch, .... bV courtesy of AudrevPearcy

134

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SI,l1 ldinJ.: hy h) pick II I' anv ca.,> u'llti.·s froma biJ.: t hrce-cumcr smkc int " N"rt h Vicmam. TIll' Il';I,I" r "f Ill<." (11).:11I wa, LieutenantC"lIllll.m, I,·r L....l Cook. VA -I 76\ "'1"!o lI{fi· ccr. wnh Lu-utcn.m r (j .).:.) Jam." 'PIAI' WIIl.1· .1' h.. Wtn).:II\;Ul, and rh.......~I\n'I .....~ t l( \f1 \I I•.J h · LIl'Ull' IMIlt Po:lo:r Ru-,.....-ll. wuh L,,:'Utl'/lant (I.J.:.) Thoma- Patton. Sun- cnounh , ;1 ~IcD\lnndl F-4 Nunrom fr.'l1llh.· -mke wa- , hi l ,m..! Wl'nl JcMTl ~ O uulc -, "" 'lIth- \n'" of Han ", . The heh. cop ter W.I' "rJ.'rl.J " ....'\.'I dry' I" -c,ech fur tI"" down•.J ril"l and VA-lib's ::'r;kh 1,-,1· 1. ,w.·J lurn In over rhc ( 11;1' 1. 1IlI\l'Il{\UN• • ' I"" covc nne I he hcltc, 'rler.1l ~,(('(\tt. lhe other s"me dr-t.ruce h:hin..l a, back-up. The "h, -le ,1"w-l1lu\'in).: group t1ew I"ward, II"" 1ll;1,,,"...1 AAA an,ISAM ~ilcs Wd lllll).: f" r them. Thcv made II thrLIl.t£h IIll' flak. with the rear p.ur making )U pI' rl'"i' lil "r,lfillc run s, all.1 n, ' ln l·"i l.,s ,,'ere

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SKYRAIDER MEN - Captain Chuck Mullanev. USN. Rtd Qui I.UIaret serwd If! ttwl Umled Stales Nao.y lor eleven yeafS and spllflll\lsentire

tne WI ~ons HIs 8ll¥iable recordWitS a lolal 0/ .,050 military II'llhIS. II'ItIUlling 15lI eatneI'-iIBct laM,ngs. n . lor sheef mileage. his total 01some 3JJXllIyIng hours "II the Spadlakes some bealmgl Oluct Mullaney wasbom on11 NDvemller 1935, til BoslOn. Massachusetts. eooeducated at asscoec JumOl colleges around resas Hi! scent two years in colle{!£! at tile Uniwrslly at Conoecl,cul before graduating, and imood tbe Na"'V on 28 September 1955 as an officer cadet He mel arid manteo Ann lesue at Cofpus Ebnsu, Texas, on 21March 1957 The couple hadthreechildren - li rs! Rick, Cindy two year s tete, and. aliBI' ttJee more veers, Daniel Mullaney's Navallhght training was done on a vanety 01 aircraft. as witS usual In 1tI:Ise days. He spent IlXllIours Uylng 1-2& . w.Th a lurthef 2Sllhours on !he SNJ(the NI'f'Y Vlnion 01 the T-6 Te..an 01 Harvard), the SNB, and H3s. lMmg his Navy eatllef III aboflew the A30 iWld the F9F-8. Most 01 hiS lime III combat was spent tlytng the StvraIder. ir'I:lOOlllIl hIS dutyower Voetnam WlItJ VA·l52 from the carner ~ InthaI PlPld he was awarded !Nt DfC. • 1 Aif Medals, NavyCommendalion Medals aI'l(I ~ 6rOl4I utalions He ovtflew lM!r}OA8 In the.squadron as far as ~I hw's __ A se.ooJe oltar once loid 11Im that. WIth Ills rank and eIPel"I8'lCe, heWilS the IIIClSl usabIlI pilot Il'l u. SQUadl'on He coukllead ee IlIII1Ie squadron 01 fly wmg Il'l a

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On IeaYmgtllll SllMCe . Mullaney IlNned Amencan Anlines, on 2 May1966, asa Pilot Inlhll next 30yllars. he clockedup a funhel 20,00)01 sohours flying su dlffareol air, I..,. f\'llE!s He rewed from commerci~1 flyll''Il on 10 November 1995, bul Slill flies hrs 0Wl 1'llht alrc/alt for fun Mollaneol confesses 10being 'ahopelessbne-eouar workaho lic', and, whenhishobby ofcarpe!ltry Slopped being enough fOl him, he look up farming: 'Staned fooling Wllh cattle!hi! 5ilffilllime I wenl wllh!he airline and I still farm 400 acres'He livesonhis rmne
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saf,·ly. '1IIh" II.ch tlw downc...1 Phantom

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FIII' the ir lll'r" I<: w"lk . wluch rl'su h ...J in -c r.uul-lcd ttoma Hanoi ai rfid.1. 'IIlJ we re one Mi G J,·s lrt,~".J andone h ea\" il ~' Ja mon rhcrr W,ly ...-orh. ill.:'.J in the WIIlC, for uu tncndlv 1.lS......... TIlt' tour v ncruv jcr-, we n- ... ,un sic h l,...1 Patton rec eive...1 ,he ~ i l""r ~ I;lr and hi, hy C:....,," ;111,1 Wilq·. ,\OJ till'\' went d" wl1 three companion- rill' PFe. "11 rill' ,1,'(k. The ene my jd~ I~ ,11""".1. '1Il.1 rhc :\[)·l [1.- were i mm,-Ji,lI d~' lit:h l mc l~'r thcrr hvc-; Three J-ht'is h"n w..1

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C. ... ," .111.1 oul v A~ m Kor ea. the Sr:lds ,,1... , tlcw niuhr(r.l:~ m.IIl' 1t:llninc a t I, 'w level si!\'l·d them h.uassmcnr m issi, '11 " III Vn-m.uu , wuh Sf'l" tor till' monu-m. \Vil,·y even m,IIl,lc", 1 1l1 cial metal ~h i d,ls fix" ,1 aho n ' Ih e l'x ha tlst Cd 11\ a slla l'sh"t al one ,, ( h is ronncnn.r-, ' tal'b to blo ck 0111 c b n·. and aid n i,eht ,111<1....·, m- hn- , which c llIs,·d it 1" break I ,If, vision. Chuck MlI lI.lllq · n-cull...,1 " IH' bill there were ,till two more j,·t, wirh ni ,eht misvion, e Xl'l.linin,e I·X " d l~· what twice h is ~ r.·.·. 1 in 10 \\'. T he lead pa ir's luck slIl'h an :ll"Ii"n ill\'ol\'n l:

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,b."

Iill"!, ..",I wlwn I tlll"lh h..... "m· "",hI,· ~"'C'f\ 17mm " uhin r"nl!'" "f'I'"...J "r "n m~ . T1,,·l1.lk w." 1.'1),...". m ttl ,m,~ ""'. I tw Ill", rt· ~, t..n h;. w." Ih,I! ,Ill" cum"·.... h,oJ ..." "1..... 1,,, 'l",,1 Iylhr "1"..I.I....,·I,·f.",.J. A, ,I,.. ""'I:,nn,nl: '~ In.· rh-~o "'" 11",.1 ~ I e kllO " ~' k ' II 'ml\" I " ·••"",,,.J.II...'t .t..·f<.'

,~

,""""1'\<1, ,, .... I

~~

J, ", on I" 1+:1 k",(lo-

I ..... h.'\'f"'\ ... nh nil ",..n..lnJ I hl.'1 'r.-J ,hM Ik rho ~ .. F·I'\<. ".,1..1 ~, ,,,,", k .mJ I.,l"' :i ['K'un:. lho: '\',It ," "m"n" "..·n· .. ' IfIllt"'.J.

Sum ming up th e AD I )lInnl! tlun' .mJ ,I h.M ~'e, ln. ,,( imeft'< .m.1 ll
{"O\IIl ,\ TOV Ut \ ' 11:1\ ·\\'

N,I\'y ~\.;yr'IlJc r rH.llS p.ud t he- ulnmnr c pnce III (r.......I,II11. anJ JI J n, ,t rerum.

On 10 Apnl 1965. the U~ Navy con JOCll-J ,I tormal ceremony .11 Naval Ai r Sranon Le~I ""r.. when II", A·I W ,I~ 1111;\1· Iy rented. The N :I\'y ~r,I,I~ nll~llt be .. ffi ciall~' J ca,l. "Ill [h,·~' ~[I 11 fdu~nl l 'l lnJl,lwn.,tnJ the b~ 1 ncrual t:,' mh l [ l.umch "t rhe A·I w.r- by VAQ.H wuh an EA · IF

1111,"'11 on ! S I\.u·mlx·r 1 t}6~ . Til sum up t he N :lq'\ r'·~; IT.lI, 'r IIll" AI l. Chuck ~l u ll . IIl '·Y g::I W rill' 1; , lIow i ll ~ 1"'·Tl I·

nelll an,1 \";llu,·J ion~

of

ol'~" r\', l l l "l b

t1w ~\.;~T'H "Cf d ur in !.: u -

.1ll,1 optn f lll a l l',.'r i-

Il>IO{;ldIVit y: •

Th.. . ~l,."l ..,." ""h"""l>k , ,I"," t" Il' " "" 1"1I. hut II ,,'a, n,.t "" h''' 11 1" .'t'·" I< '''' , .1

n,,·,,·..." "'

1111', 1'\ \OWY

E ,\ I' HII~.\n

1'1."" I.. ~n til" ."'" " ...\' ,,'>.'Il,·n •~ ,t..: '''fl>:,no.' ,. , "''''~ ""hmJ I I,,· r,I.~

TI\I' 1'1."" .. c,d 1 1.1(\'11'>. Tho.. :"'1'...1''''Ilt .~It,~ ,t... S.I'" In' n -

" .....' III 1% .. I....n·.I.. ~', 1".," •.,,11 ~........,.ot.1 k..-l It

,h. ",I.I n,,' h."" ..• " ... h> II' r,•.J n'>. 'I"-' "I'>,ht\.

n......... ""'T<' ~...I, ....,·, II... "~ "h.·m r.mh.mJI..:'\:,..,h \'".",.•", ""'~Ilh' .",~",J It..- d,,,, l T" ].."tl< lI. u ",,,In'd" .•n..1r........... '.,..H", \i.''" .1' .1 .....flll.llml""'n, nU'''.IIl,I.II'·'h,i h,~,,.,,~ l"n'<'llIm~ "nl"''''I'''''.,j "-'1'1,1\ "'''''·n....''' III

.~

.m .,"'~"'.,!

".<.t",

The Navy A -1f 1 'll\,1A- I] Skvnudcr.. "WI' ahl.. ltl carry a couuu-rnu- a-un- in the form "t llw "I:I\\, b rd H :~ l l 'l ...l.llw AN/A LQ -~I, which wn-, Sl llt iCll' tl l III blo ck "Ill till' rud.u ctl1\lr" l, " I' the Norrh Victu.ruu-....· s'>\'i" lsupplied ~lI rlal,' - r ,,·A lr (~AM) ,m,1 Arm -

Apillllillostil.lorci operet ing d"p in , nolhe , nation's temlo...,. likl the Jep en e se in Burma or Ihl Red i'Kor... the Wesle, n l ilie s Ijuickl, lound Ihl! I s lla legic ' ole WIS dem.nded Irtlm their ctese lIIIIIlI"fI.ircr.1t: if they were to lend Otlltll invas ion 01 SOLlth Vietnam. a nd SlOp Ihe move menl 01s upplies. M" II lII.i,IiSlal prioritin . IS a lw a, s. WIS Ihe drapping 01 en emy-conlr olled bridges 10f road a nd rail ""'ic.llIis photograph dal ts Irom 13 J une 1961; US Nayy pilolS have dest royed Ihis highway b,i dge and CrIl..ecl iI, . pproach to a ler...,cro ss ing in a i' slrikes direc led al the importa nl Phu Qui crossing. 35 miles 1!Iil1l)lllHrIh·wes l 01Tha nh Hoa , US N~vv allle'l l phologr.ph

e-.s.

13 7

II

AlIcr; lh (AAA) r;tJ.u "C I ~. Tlu-, ",,J came complcu - WIth an in -lxnlr ram .nr lur" 1tw

r l.II.:'..J at [hl" fr om ti lT n-, clecmcal -v-tcm. The -v-tcm rltl~"l...t Ill. anJ .1 ~l1 \.1 1 1 EC~1 con",,1 .1Il..1 monuor "" ,\ wac , 1 ".~ h,..J I " Ilw '" on "I..k ,II the I'll, ,t·.. Ct 'n.... ,I,·. R.m!.:,· W,I~ al ap;1 problem ..1' e lm, \.; ~ 11111.nw y relate I: l '!Ill "l"'''!''~' .-,~,h~'Ur,...1 ,I...· "",·m.,1 hk·IM ~ -..: '-1:.,11,." I.ml ,." th.· '-'1"1t.., I" ·. n...· ,10. ... ". ,,,I<- ".1' ,I ,·,..lur.I ", I· ~ I "~II I ~ 1" ..,,.,,,, I I II...,,.,.n w"I"" I.·..,"'I,..t" ..·lIl1.:,,1' , ~ till" ,,,,,, Illh."lr'! ,....l , I,,,. I .",~·, 1..,,,,1,,,;,th.·, Ih,,,, h. '''IIl ~ )11' / "'l<' "''' ,Il<" "·I\I,,·ln,,·, II .,1.., h l',.,....·,I , Ill' ;1Il fud 1m,... Ih." ..w ,· 1n" .,Il,·,1 ,'", ,,,,1\1: I" "" tl lt' ",h.,,,.! 1"'1"1'" TII"I' '....1<" . '

"" ..hl" .Il" '" h' f"'l'nlllt .", ·r,,_.II' ' <"1".: 11'''1:. ("ltl

.....

,

-

" ".~

~ l(. II .

('o :l1 Il A r OV I'1l.

u~ ~vy

VIEl~ A M ~ 1 1l 1

Skyraider .!.~u ad,ons F,oro

U S SA\'Y U,I'I;RII ,r-;n- I I

T,,,

,"-L" "'Il' ,t w." .!,Ih",li I" ,·'I.,hlo, h " " ",,n lh"~'l!h lh<·",· hll! ILlll", TIll" n· n" ,·l" ,," -ull he..1 Ill<" ,,,,.,11 ,11;II11,'I<:r hue rh, « ne ve I!.'n·,' ""I I<'ll

VA·1L

1948

r w H,·""

VA-15

1950

l 1", ,,"'mhllt: IlIn, W"lt: t:t:'w ,.,U" ",.,,1,·,II 411

VA-16

1955

,k'c" "" '>;J,h,,,,, ''''''C ,10"" "'.,k.'" I" ",y n .•,IIll\! .•1",,,1 ~I\I)., I h,l\'<' "",,,"' <' ""'.'t<.. Ih", dll" (....' .•I.·I:"...·.!,"'·, lh.' l '''·I''.'d l,,·,1 "' lh" lo ll" :;0, were "',,''' l'!tl',.,,",,, TIll' '1""1',lilT h.l.I ~ I \'t' n W.'I ,,, d"I.· """,,I,tIlc .on.1 I ;om n'" " "" wh\'. ~kd""'K"lI\ 'f'<·ak",c. h"" ,·"·I. th,' I" ,n ,.", ,10,.., h.,k,· 11'." .1'·,lll"·, n,,,L N"11l' 11ll" I"". II' IIh till" ",1" h., k<·, "I"·Il..• t>(I·. l.-c,.·<· .10",' ",a, " "''''''''''''' ,,,n·kt.ni"l\ m,III""""'e Ihal lett \" '" ·h.II'l!lIll! III 11ll" ' H.tl" TIl<" " br.'k.·, "We' '''''I!hl)' Iw" " ,,-'I h· "x_ I 1"""" .I" ,•. """,,h"'l! 1"" Ix·e."'l<" ,' 1"" ,m. (1,,.. "· ,,,n.ml " 1 \"" .1,1 \'(1,11 II Ihal "'t:

VA-24

1947

VA-Z5 VA,34

1947 1948

VA-34

1948

VA-35

1949

1959

VA-4Z

1947

1048

VA-45

1947

1957

AD-4B

VA-52

1959

100'

A-1H, A-lJ

'·"'rl,'w.1

"-.1> 11,,· Th" ,d, w'·.''''·, T hc f"ur ro-

"l-Ie ",." ," f,,'m.' Th.'leh ""'"n' ,",,,,1.1h,' ,'x,', "'1<',1 U\ ,,,.II" ,, !c'n,,', "r f".1" , 1.,i1me h't 11"'1 m,nI,". TIl<" 1<'."k·1,,,,,1.1 .1" ,'<' 1" '\"'" .,1" ,f 'hl. ,I",:t,·<, turn- wnh '''''1,1,· ",m t:·J,1' "en.d,. 11,,1 u "'," .I,."" ,," rI ,,, ,01,10" . , ,,,,,. ,'ut UI IF, W"/<· a '''l1",I,'[;Ihl,· "" I',"vc n,,'ou " ,-,., lilt" SI,!) ,m.1 ':'I\~(' ,.,,10.....Th,· ".,...\'<. "' ;" "InI'I"y",1 ,·"nl "'· ",,",h- ",1\<'11 "",'Ulllg lit,· l lU·ln " r 11ll" hch-

Squadron

To 104'

X8TZD·1. AD·Z

"'65

1958 1049 1008 1951l 1951l

e~-VA-18

A-1H, A-1J

e~VA-38 e~ -VA-38

VA-54

1949

1957

AD-2, AD -4. AD-4L, AD-40

VA·55

1949

1957

A04

VA-54 VA-65

1947 1947

1048

VA-74

1949

1949

1959

e.VA-28

e~ -VA-4B

e~-VF-54

AD·2, AD·4

VA -75

1949

100'

VA,92

1955

VA·94

1949

1957 1949

VA 95 VA-96

1952 1956

100' 1958

VA·l 04

1953

1959

VA 105

1952

1958

'''1'1''(:>

VA·114

1948

1949

In 1Ill" wal,,, "t II",>:hl , I h,,,',, " "" "1'1.- " I "h"'·T\".,li"n,. TIl<" 1"'1 "Ih,n \'" " h , h"v ,· " ",1..1 "'-"'I'I."K'· ,,' 1Ill" "ll,'lIl\' 1'I 'Ill I! 1" l ,lI

VA-ll5

1949

100'

AD·4.AD·40, AA· 1H. A·1J

e~·VAI2A

VA,1 22

1959

1967

A-1H.A-1J

'AG

VA-125

1950

1962

AD·2. AD·3. AD·4,AD·48, AD·4NA,

e~·VA·26

,."" Il!

\"~', 1'''1 ,',,"

c" I h,,,,, ~h 11,,· " 'IIII'I! ""I", ,, A Uk']" 1<',111' ",.,l,· wh,,, "·'·Ill' I,k<, " ,1,·I,·no" n,·.! dl'"" '" ""1'" I'"'' "ur, TI", h·'l'l,,'m...1 ., " "'1,1,· ,,' In"",. d"~'ch I ' Ill. ,~ ,m' IIUI '" ,"" ",h"l II j, ,, """·,,......,1 <'x l,,·r"·ll"c. )',," , ,,"'" ""' l"h " to ",1 \"" "'''''' t; 'le" ·Ul).! " I I'''''' "",n ' I LlI' ,.III\' (." "I' I~,...:,1 h' Ih"1 "I "11ll",,j. h", " '" h)' ,,,,,,10, ~ \"t.,k,-" 1!,"ll"',UC" .I'." 'e' · '" 11", ,,,,,.1""1 ,,( 1,"'1"',,'1 ,,·!l"I"H·I,.,r.' " '''' ~1' V"II' ''''I h' mak.· th.u ,'rn " ac"m_ Ilur \'-a' l IIn.!,·" I.m,!.,hl,·, h' m<' ,lIl\''''av. w." dl<" .,1",.1",..1\, c"I'[,"'" f,·<,I",c If,,u \."" h;,,1 ,,],.'11 \'"" w,'1l1 'fC"1 11','1 1",." I I1l~ h,I< k ,., l hc ,""rr,,·I. -y; , h· '''11l1'1,·1.-11· "hjl'c1l\"'·. """ ""I" h",1 ! -I It""" 1!".""llIc<·.1,," ,'''"r lo t<- '1'''''.. ",. 1 11"-,, """ ",·"·I,,,, l ,,,,,., 1[", I"'."'h .'ealll. III<" ~ 4-h'IL" n' I''''''''' ""'111,-,,1 I" lx' rlw 1x"1 I[,"'I! Ih,ll ,'n', 1"'1'1"'1\... 1,,, \"" " J , I" n"l kn.'", ,t "dll"" h,,,1 1111' t~'d U\>: ." I ,10""",·,1" "l1h ,II'" ,,1 ml' "1" ".I">l111"'h".

nu,

",.,,<.,

( )I.: "u1" '·, no -uch rc-pn c came li lt' \\"
AD·I , AD·4NA, AD-4. AD'4l. A·1J, A·1J

AD· 40, AD·5, AD·6. AD·7 VA-1Z6

1958

1958

VA·135 VA,144

1961

1962

VA-145

195' 1951l

1968

AD·2. AD ·4, AD·4L.AD·40A lH. A·1J

VA·152

1959

A·1H.A·lJ

VA-l!>4

1948

1968 1948

1958 1966

AD-4. AD- 4L. AD-40

VA-ISS

1951

VA-165

1960

VA·174 VA 175 VA,176

"149 1048 1955

1959

AD-1H, AO-1J

1949 1957 1966

VA-194

104'

VA-I95

1947

VA-I96

1951

VA-215

1955

1049 1009 100' 100'

VA-ZI6

1955

1959

VAIAW)33 VAAW-35

1955

1960 1960

AD ·SW. AD-50, EA-1E. EA-1F. A-1E

e~-VC-33

1951l

AD -l , AD·2. AD-20. AD-3. AD-4. AD-4B. AD -4L. AD-4N. AD -5, AD-6

e~-VC·35

e~-VA·l9A

AO-l ,AO,4

e~-VA-2DA

AD -4NA. AO -4Q. A-1H, A-1J

e~·VF·I94

A-1H,A -1J

VAQ-33

1951l

19119

AO·4NL. fA· If

e~-VAAW·33

VAW-l 1

1949

AD·3, AD·4W AD20. fA-IF

e.vc.u

AD-4W. AD-5W

e~·VC -1 Z

fA· IF. AD, 4, AD·4L, A·1 H

VAW-12

1949

1960 1961

VAW· 13

1949

1968

VFIAWI4

1955

AD·5 1958'---_ '---'-'-

Irom 111<.' ,:. ,( kl' ll o f
==_ e~·VC-4

,..

."

CHA PT ER FIFTEEN

Combat Over Vietnam The USAF Experience TraininJ,: "I ;l 1 111()~1 vvvrv USAF pdp, III til' Sl'tN.' of h u mour, wh ill' u Tlll'rs Ii.uml thornthe Skrr,Jj,ll'r in (ll mbal bt.'!I\'lTIl ]964 ,In,1 sdvl's nn her f'l''l'll'xl'd to be a"sil-:lled tn it. 1972 lI'a~ clTric.1 nut hy ·H()()C\ unl-ar Crew TrJininj.! s..\ll11 fnuu jeb I ,f 7CX)'l'lll., "11 4 Novcmlwr, its ,Iirrmft cmryitll! VNAF mph ( 1,i2~klllJh), tel gnlund.stmfinf! pi,. ton-cngmcd Sky rak lers. il was a n-,Ie reversal for which m;lIlY volunn- c-rc.l with a wry

mark inus. Stl'p.by-Stl'l' Anwri.:an ,IIR'Ct p.mu-ipation in the comhat fi/.:hting I'ru/.:fl's,Sl,, 1 from IlyinJ.: as 'a,kis"rs' wit h

'Firebird' OYer Vietnam, a good air-to-a ir vie w nt a hea vily laden Spad on the prowl over the blltlleground. US ~1Vf Offici.t photograp h

139

Vil'tllallll'SI.' aircrcw, thn,ugh t]yin/.: mis,i, ,n... aCC\'lll p,m yin g VNAF CI'[l't>; -ull aw,liting their Sr, Hl'si, ll' Irai n ing, mil! tlyinJ.: m i"iolls in Cl11l\I'an~' with VNAF aircraft, I" in,ll" pendent c" tlIh;u sorties. The USAF Sk~'T
of t1w co ntrol panel. Convcrsclv, much ...xtra radio cquipmenr was emna rkl'd .

Am' lI1/.: other impn'wd navigarional instruments, thl',!, had UHF, VHF ;ClaJ.:l' ahaft tlH.' cockpu III !'I'rT wa, ;1Il FM

.....

,

" ".~

~ l(. II .

622 whi l' aute n nn fo r uir-to-g rouncl cornmuu icurionv, wh ill' tlH.' UHF antenna I'm jl'lll',1 til ~ta rl,,'a rd, /l.lulInte, 1 further l-uc k ,1IId ccntrnllv \\",S tlH.' St ll" hL"l e AN!A RC27 U HF uun-una. "Itholll.::h sOllH.'times tlu- ARC- I was fitt ed instc ud, wit h the T ACAN (AN!A RN-2 1) I'psitipm'd bl'hind it, ("II'I\n,,1hy till' ra,li. '-com pass 10. II' ;ll'ri "l hI-hind ;1 circular f01 irin).:, und 01 r;I.1i, ,("1111''''' sl·J1sin).: acnal , tllm).: to till' leac]. in,!.: l',lgl' of the \'l' ni,'a l sLlhili:n, T Ill' AN!ARA -lS U HF hum ing antenna W,1S

wh ile t he FM horner was I" bi tiulll'd under the re a r (lIsd a).:e , U~A F cquipnu-nt aho illc!ttd l·d a ll XM-·P mine dis l'l' llsc'r, whic h was not rd'·'I.'l'd III /I.·IA I' rec ipients of t he Spa.!. T he USAF Sk~rakkrs a ls" ,Iitfl'r,',1 (rum those sllpplit',1 to till' VNAF in t haI ml bt rl'l;l illn l tlw ir tai l hooks. For Air F,ITl"l' men. flyillJ,.: a Nnvv pl.uu011,1.1 k;,d t" lltl"Xpl'U,'d prol-lcms. Fl' r example, there nrc several C;N.'S on record PI' USAF pilllh startillj.: ro take olt whit" till' airer"t't" wings Wl'H' still in t hl' I;,l,bl

In dll' ca-,c of the two-scat AD-5 (A I E), some 1111 Illifil'a\ i, ' 11 totlu- c ont n ,Is 11',"

considcrcd l1l'(l'ssary hy t he U SAF. Thi, wav to give c rechbilitv Ip the 'Viem.rmcscIl nwn - Amcricau-advi-cd' role under whic h rhc tN' " f tIll' Skvnuclcr h;ld l-eon .'i;m rt i" lll'd h ~' Congr,'ss. T here was an ad.lili.l\l;ll (rem, wa hle) thronlc control lever fined at t he c e nt ra l con » rlc ro.,i l ion, dtrccdv connected to till' pilot 's tbrotr!e on Ihe lett-hand con-ole . Tlu-, ext ra co ntrol lac ked throt tle ,t"rs and merion loc k-, bur ,'nahle.1 the (o-r il" t III make lett-handed adjustme nt s. Lrkcwrsc. a 'spore' cont rol Slick grip, o.uuplctc With is •-wn g Ull t rij.:j.:er, bomh re leas e and trim tab con t rol , fc.atu re.1. while Ol tcw A -I E., "I",) had rud.lcr trim o, mH. ,I. which workcdon manual ,dec (i, -n •,f ;] t rim selector -wirch. !n IIll'o f)· 1I1l'1l , t he American in -t ruetllr!;,.h-isllr .' a t alon gside the Vrctnarnee prlot, III pracuce. t he maJunt y III combat opcrauons were conducted hy the Amenca ll pil. ,!. TI ll' Vicuunuc-c ;lSsistanh were r ruJ.:lessivc1y d"l\nj.: ta.!l"I , firsl t" rlu- rtlle of I'a."ive sl','(I;lt"r, rlwn . when rr.uned VNA F pi" ltS became I'Tl lfid l'tlt en ough ro work wilh their o wn Skvr.uclcr "'1llOl.1 rom, h,'ing sllhsfHUte J hy unrramcd ~ I"onnel jllst I" fill the -cnr , These untortunarcs wen- J.:in· n th e h umilialing nickname (If 'S ;l!l,lhaJ.:; by the Anu- ncan ,lIrnwn!

Increasing Interven tion

Combat over Vietn8m, An A-IEof the USAF. BuNo 132665. dropping 8 bomb on an enemy position. McDonnell Douglas, long Bucll

hllll" ...1 "t till' ,'xtn'mity llf tlll' ~tarhuOlrd willJ,.:. with till' AN!A RN - 12 nlOlrh'r hea con h..ing similoJrly lp..:atl·,l tn sta rh., ard, whik' till' AN!A PN -22 r;l,li.1 a lt imcl l' r h;,.! a simi la r position mid -wOl Y a lpnJ.: IIll' , ta rh",r,1hori:onta l sta hili:e r, Fro tll th e lu\\',' r starl'l 'a r.1skI.· ,,( Ih e rear fll~eL ' j.;e l'x t,' n,led the h u ri:. ll" ,,1 F/l.1 hll lllinJ.: a nt,'llll;l, with till' AN /A RC-44 VI IF-FM radill ah \lH' iT,

o,n figllr
140

The eSLlhlishment lIf I FiJ,.:l u ,' r Sq uadron (Commando) FS( C ) at Bien 11 0 ;1 ;lirfirIJ, \\"l.' a ., ign ific;llll escalation in American Intcrvcnuon in S"U1h-East A,i Ol, It was lI riJ,.:lllall~' planuccl 10 hOI\"(' th ree AmenGill Sk~'Tai, lt'r Sllua.lrllns in place, {(l provide th,· n ....:e'sou y 'stiffen ing' (If thl" VNA F uni ts and, in till' wor,ls llfOl'nnal J,),el'h . 1. ~ I,Xlfl' I If 2 A ir I livisi,m, {(l'lead hy ex amp le' . T he fiN l k to" h mem of ! FS( Cl was hased a l Bil'n lI \1a 0 11 8 Jlll)' 1963, as part Ill' 34 Ta(l i!:a l (JrllUr, hUI it5 (iN A- I Es ,Ikl n,)( ,lTTive (h e re unt il I May 1964. Th,· sqll;tdnln was Ctlmma nJcJ fiN hy Lietlt e n ant -C \lmma nd e r John ~l. Pon,'r, ,m,1 suhseq llently by Lieute nantC\ )ll\nla nd,' r Wil liam R. Eiche lherger. Origina lly ;lCti\';lIed on 17 JUTl l" 1963, tlll'redesil.:ll;lleJ 1 Ai r Clllllmanc!o SquadI' ,n, C).'m p,"ite, h:Gl11ll' r an l,f 62 5 I Taclica l FiJ.:h t,' r Winj.: on 8 Ju ly 1965, Oclrtj: switdll',1 1\1 , '[" tica l Figh ter Wing frum 2! N, '\ ·e1\lh....r 1965. Ry 8 Ma rch 1966, the un it had becollle p,Jrf lIf 14 Air ulOlmanOO

,..

." Wl'R' till' tra ining ufVNAF rill us. but I1K'St' s,xm l'xl';md".11
Win g. Its uriginal .lllf ks

InCOIl""T,lIl' mon- ucuvc 1'
the war. Thcv Ill'w rS~'l-h"l"g i cal wartanmu..sions . then phot o-r cconn.ussuncc mis-

sinns, ;m,!. (inall y, full h"mhi nc comba r missions.

On I:; August Iy6 7, now ,ollll1l;m,I,'d hy Licurcn.nu -Conuu.mdcr J:lIll n R. lhlJr.'rh, tlll' un it was fl',k',i cn;nl~,l ,I> I A ir Commando Squadron. FighkT, !-d oTe hc inl.: Tl'<,r C;llli:l,d as p.rrt " f ')6 A ir Commaud. \'Ving. on 20 Il"l ,'mlx'r 1967 . Tht-, wine W;I.' ;hdf rl'd" ,ig1\,Ik'd ,11 ';6 :-;1',', i,.1 Or'l:" lli\'n, Wing.l1n 1i Au gus' \ 46 7, rill' unit W;lS fl',ksh:n; lIl'll yr'! ilga in, hn :omin J.:

Rcvvcs, were assign" .1 III Au gust 1967. T heir initial dunes w\..rc t" 11 ~' AvlH AN I) A -Ij S k~-r'l iell'fs fro m their s[o r'lge fidel nt Davis-Mom han over to rbc US N,lV~' IRAN I;H: ilit y 'II Q UOIN'I Pouu . Rh....lc Island. (or r,'(ur f'.ish nwl1l , Hn,! then to flv [hem had fo Enul.mcl. Grad u'lll)', a fUrl her

14 pilulS a rr ived and, under the command ,,f Lieutenant -C, rmmamjer Rep!'. a pTlll'~'r Imining I'r,'gr,lmnw be ga n . Th is c.uutn1l\" I'Ill[il Feh nl 'U)' [9AS, when rhcv wentrun-fcr rcd by C- 14 1 via [Ill' S urvival S.:h' lol ut Clark A FR [ If I'leiku. Vietnam. U nde r III" ccuurnaml ot C ommande r W'll· I:K,' A, Ford, their ~'s t a h l i sl ll m' l1l slTl'ngth was 2'; pilot s with I Vi airmen . Three

moun ted over a [hr~" ' -elay pcnod bet ween IS ,md 20 Jalluary 19Ai. as ,I pre-empti ve str ike. priur to t he ,k,folia ti.ln run s hy Ranch Hand C- 12 3 Provider nun-p ort planes ~'quirl'cd wuh Aucnt O ra nge chcmicul SpTilYS. Some 3951OIls ofl.... 'mhs. incht.ling a brgc number fitted with dcluy-acuon (IN'S. were ddiwre,1 into ,1I1 area of IK,500 ac res, which cllIK,',lleel an ent ire en emy' n'gillll'lll and its cquirmcnI . Operationcon nn ucd rhroughour t he SI'T,I)'lng l'l'Ti,,,I, placing
AUSAF AD·6, BuNo 152243. in the usual camouflage paint scheme used in South·East Asia. McDonnell

Douvlas, LO"GBea ch

I Special O",' r;ltion s Squadrpn, a nd Lieutenam-Commandcr [ohn A . S A f,,!I. Jr. assumed command, in IO IJcccml-cr J 967, On 5 Janu a ry 1966, I A ir C"mma n,lu ~an olX'r,lt ing

trom Ple iku Air Basc. Meanwhile . a second U S A F S kvraidcr "'!ltlJron - 6 Ai r C,lmm.m.l,} squadro n \\'as hcin~ furnll',1 ,ll Enl.:bn. j A ir Forcc Ba~ il' pan of I Air (:o lllln
\\'~'\'b

l.u c r, in mkl ·~ I
20 .urc ruf wen- uIII"aek'.! ut C a m Ranh Bay from rill' c-con carrier trnnvpor t sh ip, an d rill' s
/4 /

As an ex t ension u ( [hi s operation. [he US A F Sp,tcls wer t' hac k over till' a rea again on 31 March , th is [ink' d rorping napalm to it.:nit,' [h e 1,200 ga llull' of .lk .,"1 (u"1 dllmrl'l l hy' C· 12h in 'l r.I,'r to vtnrt t; ,rest fir,'s, T h is proved a damp .....IUlh, il S [rorical th ullde rs(, lTlTI-'; st' lpr<-" I t h~' ClHltl,lgT
..

, ..... ...d ~ I r. ".

Clos e-Suppo rt Opera tio ns On the whole. mort,' convcnuonal eI, .....'· 'III" .... ,n "1'<:f;lll"'b r run-J to ...... I ~()S\ torte. C1"-'f;lllr\J.: el,,,,... to tho: l'nL'lIly nom '~,rwa rJ tlrl'r, lI i n~ locanon-, (R1L,I. rhcv were ,lblL' to ~i n' L'''',J and alm. "l in'lan! ' ur I" 'n h IAlIi..:J Cl'l>lmJ I~ ,rce" R,ullhl' C."I

hrch . In on e 'IKh 111'''1''''. earned ,>Ill 1WJ6. III rd ll'l o' .10 AIIIl.J ~I"""olJ with machine 1-,"-10 ;. In command uf till" 'Iriline 10K..:"" W,I'> MaJ"r 1\t: marJ F. Fisher, who Il,·w wnh winj.!nl.lll C apt.un Fr.HlCl'CO (paCtI) Va,qu..:·:. Bad weather, with vcrvlow d uuJ ;lnd dncrlc, had ';'TCl·J them ha.:k till' J"y As in KOle e. a lthough iel airc'a h were use d predo minantly lor ai, s lrikes, 10 good I"'-'I~ m-. TI,i, euuc. h"W"H'T. Fi, her h'Gtll.J a ettect, Ihere wes still a need lor en e ircreh Ihlll could ca rry large amounts 01 heewy h" k· in th..:· murk. end led hi' fl\'O: companordnan ce, a nd yel s lill hllvelhe ab ility to lnite r 'on· c all' in the tIlrget l one. The I"n, , I"wn thrllu).!h it to I1Mk..:· low-level ranc nale of Ihe Stuka lind Ihe Daun tless of Ihe Sec ond Wo,ld War wa s s ee n s h il io :tIl.11 b. TIll'Y I'mer).!..d hl'lwilth till' do..d be II valid e once pt, liven two decad es or more Iater, The Douglas Skyra ider wa S lhe L I~w ; 1I a lwidu t If al... HIt HL"'Oft . wuh the tops last of Ihe dive bombe rs in Ihis classic tradi tion, a nd leter ada pta tions 01the 'Able · of tlu- hill, llwi\ihlo: on either 'I,k· uf them. Dog' se ~ ed we ll in Ihis role, He lll, a USAF Spad, BuNo 132SSJ, he ads oul on a nolher mis s ion over South Vietnam in 1965, USAF oflrcr,1 phologr.ph T he lin:1 1 al'rToa.:h called t'''r a low1"n,1 ,;trait.:ht Il i ~h t . run runu Ill\' ~0( lin' Ir.•il" ,