Douglas A-1H (AD-4NA) Skyraider
The A-1H Skyraider began life as the AD-6, itself an improved version of the AD-4B. This variant of the Skyraider was designed to serve as a tactical nuclear bomber, with a strengthened airframe to carry the heavy atomic weapons of the day. Gun armament was increased to four 20mm cannon. In theory, the AD-4B was to drop a nuclear bomb by “over-the-shoulder toss bombing,” which involved a sudden pitch up into a climb, using the kinetic energy to toss the bomb as far as possible; as soon as the weapon was released, the Skyraider pilot was to roll over in a split-S, using energy built up in a dive to get as far as possible from the nuclear shockwave. This theory was never tested operationally, and it remained in question whether or not a Skyraider would actually be able to survive the detonation of its own weapon. Nonetheless, a significant number of AD-4Bs were built or converted, which led to the follow-on AD-6. Unlike the AD-4B, the AD-6 was developed for low-altitude conventional bombing and used the larger hardpoints of the AD-5. In 1962, the AD-6 was redesignated A-1H.
By the time American involvement in the Vietnam War officially began in 1965, the US Navy was phasing out the A-1E and A-1H in favor of the A-4 Skyhawk, consolidating its remaining Skyraider squadrons on the A-1J, though some A-1H squadrons continued to serve until around 1968. As a result, large numbers of the over 700 A-1Hs built were available for the US Air Force to purchase. The A-1E had proven the worth of the type, and the USAF lacked a slow-moving attack aircraft: the A-1H had an even higher bombload than the E model, was newer, and was a single-place aircraft. As the A-1Es were handed over to the South Vietnamese Air Force, the A-1H took over its role in the various Air Commando squadrons assigned to Southeast Asia.
After over 20 years of dedicated service, the last US Navy A-1s left the fleet in 1968, replaced by the A-7A Corsair II. Today, 41 A-1s survive in museums, with a few in flyable condition, out of a total of 3180 aircraft built.
Built as Bureau Number 126997, this AD-4N arrived with the US Navy in 1950, and likely saw action in Korea, as it was converted to an AD-4NA with cannon armament and ground attack, as opposed to the nightfighter role the AD-4N was originally developed for. Details of 126997's service with the Navy are sparse, and in 1961, it was transferred to the French Armee de l'Air for service in the Algerian War; it may have served with EC 20. After the French withdrawal from Algeria, 126997 was stored at Chateaudun, France, and eventually sold off in 1977 to an American warbird collector. In 1991, it made its way to Planes of Fame in Chino, California.
Though 126997 is indeed an AD-4N (or A-1D after 1962), it's painted as an A-1H of VA-176 ("Thunderbolts") during that squadron's deployment aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11) off Vietnam. (It oddly carries the "JC" tailcode of VX-3.) An A-1 flown by Lieutenant (jg) William Patton shot down a MiG-17 during this cruise. VA-176 would remain in Skyraiders until 1969, when it reequipped with A-6A Intruders.
The fact that it's painted as an A-1H really threw me off--first I misidentified it as an A-1J, and triple-checked that 126997 is indeed an AD-4NA. Normally, it has a simulated warload of Mk 82 bombs and rockets, but with the airshow circuit just starting to come out from under the coronavirus pandemic, 126997 was having some maintenance done when we saw it in May 2021--it is very much still flyable.
Douglas A-1H (AD-4NA) Skyraider
The A-1H Skyraider began life as the AD-6, itself an improved version of the AD-4B. This variant of the Skyraider was designed to serve as a tactical nuclear bomber, with a strengthened airframe to carry the heavy atomic weapons of the day. Gun armament was increased to four 20mm cannon. In theory, the AD-4B was to drop a nuclear bomb by “over-the-shoulder toss bombing,” which involved a sudden pitch up into a climb, using the kinetic energy to toss the bomb as far as possible; as soon as the weapon was released, the Skyraider pilot was to roll over in a split-S, using energy built up in a dive to get as far as possible from the nuclear shockwave. This theory was never tested operationally, and it remained in question whether or not a Skyraider would actually be able to survive the detonation of its own weapon. Nonetheless, a significant number of AD-4Bs were built or converted, which led to the follow-on AD-6. Unlike the AD-4B, the AD-6 was developed for low-altitude conventional bombing and used the larger hardpoints of the AD-5. In 1962, the AD-6 was redesignated A-1H.
By the time American involvement in the Vietnam War officially began in 1965, the US Navy was phasing out the A-1E and A-1H in favor of the A-4 Skyhawk, consolidating its remaining Skyraider squadrons on the A-1J, though some A-1H squadrons continued to serve until around 1968. As a result, large numbers of the over 700 A-1Hs built were available for the US Air Force to purchase. The A-1E had proven the worth of the type, and the USAF lacked a slow-moving attack aircraft: the A-1H had an even higher bombload than the E model, was newer, and was a single-place aircraft. As the A-1Es were handed over to the South Vietnamese Air Force, the A-1H took over its role in the various Air Commando squadrons assigned to Southeast Asia.
After over 20 years of dedicated service, the last US Navy A-1s left the fleet in 1968, replaced by the A-7A Corsair II. Today, 41 A-1s survive in museums, with a few in flyable condition, out of a total of 3180 aircraft built.
Built as Bureau Number 126997, this AD-4N arrived with the US Navy in 1950, and likely saw action in Korea, as it was converted to an AD-4NA with cannon armament and ground attack, as opposed to the nightfighter role the AD-4N was originally developed for. Details of 126997's service with the Navy are sparse, and in 1961, it was transferred to the French Armee de l'Air for service in the Algerian War; it may have served with EC 20. After the French withdrawal from Algeria, 126997 was stored at Chateaudun, France, and eventually sold off in 1977 to an American warbird collector. In 1991, it made its way to Planes of Fame in Chino, California.
Though 126997 is indeed an AD-4N (or A-1D after 1962), it's painted as an A-1H of VA-176 ("Thunderbolts") during that squadron's deployment aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11) off Vietnam. (It oddly carries the "JC" tailcode of VX-3.) An A-1 flown by Lieutenant (jg) William Patton shot down a MiG-17 during this cruise. VA-176 would remain in Skyraiders until 1969, when it reequipped with A-6A Intruders.
The fact that it's painted as an A-1H really threw me off--first I misidentified it as an A-1J, and triple-checked that 126997 is indeed an AD-4NA. Normally, it has a simulated warload of Mk 82 bombs and rockets, but with the airshow circuit just starting to come out from under the coronavirus pandemic, 126997 was having some maintenance done when we saw it in May 2021--it is very much still flyable.