A-1 Skyraider! Pics + Vids thread. - Page 9

Elbs · 11-14-2009, 07:15 PM

Elbs · 11-14-2009, 07:55 PM

Thought I'd share this interesting combat picture and the story that went along one of the Skyraider's most famous missions in Korea.

On 1 May 1951, eight Skyraiders launched from USS Princeton on an important strike mission. Five Spads from VA-195 Tigers and three from VC-35 loaded with aerial torpedoes were tasked with hitting one of the most heavily defended targets in North Korea: the sluice gates of the Hwachon Dam. With control of the gates, the North Koreans could possibly flood Seoul and cause serious trouble for the UN forces. Special forces attacks failed, and heavy bombing by the USAF was unable to destroy the gates.

Escorted by a force of F4U Corsairs serving as flak suppression, the Skyraiders made risky low level attack runs and released the torpedoes. One was a dud, one went awry, but the other six hit home. One of the fish made a gaping 10 foot wide hole in one of the gates, and another was completely obliterated.

Not a bad result for the Skyraider pilots, flying through AAA fire and aiming at targets only 40-ft wide at low level. After the successful mission, VA-195 proudly adopted the Dambusters nickname. The Skyraiders may have been replaced a long time ago, but the tradition and history of the famous mission remains present on the fin flashes of VFA-195s F/A-18s today.

Quote:

Seen under the wing of a Navy AD-4 Skyraider from VA-195, under Commander Harold G. Carlson, USN, the torpedoes launched at low level explode as they hit the sluice gates of the Hwachon Dam, on 1 May 1951. This famous strike marked the last combat use of the aerial torpedo against an enemy target. - National Archives.

dbamil · 11-17-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wicked_hind

An A-1 armed with Mk-82 or M-65 demolition bombs, unguided rockets, napalm, plus loaded to the hilt with 20mm ammo-woe betide any enemy soldier on the ground that happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What's even better is that we may see Guided rokcets pretty soon. They are the fire and forget type, not as good as hellfire but good enough for knocking out slow moving vehicles and fixed positions...

T.S.C.Plage · 11-17-2009, 09:20 PM

santana · 11-17-2009, 09:56 PM

Another one here

T.S.C.Plage · 11-17-2009, 10:20 PM

You've already posted it on page 2.

santana · 11-17-2009, 11:30 PM

But those two in a SANDY formation are just great

JUNKHO · 11-19-2009, 10:32 PM

Great pics! Received awesome help from these guys on several occasions. (Owed a lot of beer to pilots at NKP) IIRC you didn't have to worry about "If you come - come HOT MF or don't come at all" ( Some zoomies were all about a "dry run" first and usually at the most inopportune time) Because when they showed up, they were hot and you could look up and see nothing but stuff from wingtip to wingtip and the world would get right for awhile!
Thanks again for the pics!

baboon6 · 11-20-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elbs

Thanks! Leave it to the Brits to make hilarious poems about...well just about anything. Found another one:

Skyraider with your pregnant look,
I read you like an open book
One day, when letters you have brought
And on the dack you are safely caught
You will collapse with labour pain,
Producing infant aeroplane

849 Squadron flew the Skyraider AEW.1 (AD-4W), off of HMS Bulwark

And all the RN's other strike carriers at the time. 849 was the sole FAA Skyraider operator and flights from the squadron were detached to air groups on various carriers. The squadron converted to Fairey Gannet AEW Mk.3s in 1960. 849 is still in the AEW business today, flying the Sea King ASaC Mk.7.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...s/849/history/

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/newa1_24.html

Laworkerbee · 11-20-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.S.C.Plage

You've already posted it on page 2.

Elbs · 11-20-2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baboon6

And all the RN's other strike carriers at the time. 849 was the sole FAA Skyraider operator and flights from the squadron were detached to air groups on various carriers. The squadron converted to Fairey Gannet AEW Mk.3s in 1960. 849 is still in the AEW business today, flying the Sea King ASaC Mk.7.

Thanks for info! Good to see 849 carrying on its legacy.

2495 · 11-20-2009, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.S.C.Plage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laworkerbee

I absolutely totally 100% agree. Sandy Skyraiders... gonna have to hit ebay see if I can get a couple of models and make a vietnam era Sandy team.

11-14-2009, 07:15 PM	#121
Elbs Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Bankrupt State Posts: 2,600

11-17-2009, 09:20 PM	#124
T.S.C.Plage Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 32 Posts: 1,059

11-17-2009, 09:56 PM	#125
santana Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,967	Another one here

11-17-2009, 10:20 PM	#126
T.S.C.Plage Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 32 Posts: 1,059	You've already posted it on page 2.

11-17-2009, 11:30 PM	#127
santana Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,967	But those two in a SANDY formation are just great

11-19-2009, 10:32 PM	#128
JUNKHO Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 196	Great pics! Received awesome help from these guys on several occasions. (Owed a lot of beer to pilots at NKP) IIRC you didn't have to worry about "If you come - come HOT MF or don't come at all" ( Some zoomies were all about a "dry run" first and usually at the most inopportune time) Because when they showed up, they were hot and you could look up and see nothing but stuff from wingtip to wingtip and the world would get right for awhile! Thanks again for the pics!