Skyraider F-AZHK Sandy 1st SOS
Developed during World War II for the U.S. Navy, the Douglas AD Skyraider almost disappeared before having the chance to excel during the Vietnam War, where the aircraft proved well suited for close air support (CAS) to ground forces.
Nevertheless support of search and rescue (SAR) missions had been the Skyraider’s crowning achievement during the conflict. In fact it became dramatically apparent early in the war that lone helicopters were too vulnerable to conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. For this reason in 1965 a SAR task force decided that rescue helicopters would work in pairs, and that Skyraiders would provide rescue escort.
The callsign “Sandy” was founded in late 1965 by Capt. J.W. “Doc” George during an A-1 replacement flight to one of the several A-1 groups that rotated through Udorn. Actually it was George’s Bine Hoa departure callsign. After having landed at Udorn he was asked what call sign he would like to use while there. George answer was “Sandy.” Not only the callsign was retained by George’s replacement, but also became the callsign of any Skyraider assigned the SAR mission.
This Skyraider was built in California in 1951 with the c/n 7802 and after the US Navy serial number 127002.
In 1961, he was first assigned to the 3/20 "Oranie" Fighter Squadron with the callsign 20-FP then to the 1/21 Support Aircraft Squadron with the callsign 21-LN and finally to EAA 2/21 “Oranie” with callsign 21-ZH.
Skyraider F-AZHK Sandy 1st SOS
Developed during World War II for the U.S. Navy, the Douglas AD Skyraider almost disappeared before having the chance to excel during the Vietnam War, where the aircraft proved well suited for close air support (CAS) to ground forces.
Nevertheless support of search and rescue (SAR) missions had been the Skyraider’s crowning achievement during the conflict. In fact it became dramatically apparent early in the war that lone helicopters were too vulnerable to conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. For this reason in 1965 a SAR task force decided that rescue helicopters would work in pairs, and that Skyraiders would provide rescue escort.
The callsign “Sandy” was founded in late 1965 by Capt. J.W. “Doc” George during an A-1 replacement flight to one of the several A-1 groups that rotated through Udorn. Actually it was George’s Bine Hoa departure callsign. After having landed at Udorn he was asked what call sign he would like to use while there. George answer was “Sandy.” Not only the callsign was retained by George’s replacement, but also became the callsign of any Skyraider assigned the SAR mission.
This Skyraider was built in California in 1951 with the c/n 7802 and after the US Navy serial number 127002.
In 1961, he was first assigned to the 3/20 "Oranie" Fighter Squadron with the callsign 20-FP then to the 1/21 Support Aircraft Squadron with the callsign 21-LN and finally to EAA 2/21 “Oranie” with callsign 21-ZH.