He owns the plane...he gets to fly it! Back off, you wannabes! <G>

A Douglas AD-5 (A-1E) Skyraider in Vietnam era markings at TOM. This particular aircraft is powered by a Wright R3350-42 motor, has serial number 132683 and is owned by Danny J. Summers of Sugar City, Idaho. The aircraft is now based in Carson City, Nevada, in these South Vietnamese Air Force markings.

The cockpit of the Spad, the name given the Skyraider that had the extended canopy and could carry additional personnel.

The tinted aft canopy in near full view. An elegant looking aircraft in this configuration.

Rockets on the wing of the SVAF Douglas A-1E Skyraider.

A full view of the Aft Canopy and rescue point for those in the Aft cockpit of the A-1E.

South Vietnamese Air Force Squadron markings on the tail of the A-1E (AD-5). The production lot of AD-5s from where this aircraft came had an interesting selection. The great majority went to the South Vietnamese Air Force, however one was assigned to the US Air Force and is now on display at the Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. That was the aircraft in which Major Bernard Fisher earned the Congressional Medal of Honor by landing and rescuing a fellow pilot downed during a combat mission. The rescue was accomplished on a sod road under heavy groundfire.

One other aircraft ditched off the USS Forrestal, it's crew being rescued. Another was shot down in a dogfight with a MIG-17.

Wing mounted rockets were utilized against enemy entrenched position in support of ground troops during the Vietnam conflict. Doubtful that they had much effect on the NVA and Viet Cong's system of underground tunnels, but they could sure tear up some earth!

A view from the port side of the Wright R-3350 encowled on the mounts of the Douglas A-1E.

I can see an oil streak or two on the propeller, but otherwise, this A-1E is immaculate. Not even a bug splatter by the looks of it. s/n 132683 is one of four Skyraiders featured in the photo at Skyraider.Org, part of the 185 aircraft SVAF contingent featured in "Escape to U Taphao," by Ralph Wetterhahn and published by Air & Space Magazine in the Dec/Jan 1997 issue.

Skyraider.Org

Escape to U Taphao