XBradTC

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XBradTC

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Have some SPAD

The Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider was a quite remarkable aircraft, and spent 23 years in US Naval service.  In addition, Skyraiders of various types served with the air forces of Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chad, France,  Gabon, South Vietnam, Thailand, Sweden, and the Republic of Vietnam (and quite likely the North Vietnamese after the collapse…

The Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider was a quite remarkable aircraft, and spent 23 years in US Naval service.  In addition, Skyraiders of various types served with the air forces of Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chad, France,  Gabon, South Vietnam, Thailand, Sweden, and the Republic of Vietnam (and quite likely the North Vietnamese after the collapse of RVN).

Dad’s first squadron command was of VA-85 “The Black Falcons” then equipped with the A-1. Mind you, it was a short tour, as he had not yet screened for command. As it happened, the squadron CO and XO were lost in the space of about a week, and as the next senior officer aboard the squadron, he assumed command. When in charge, take charge. VA-85 actually won the Battle E competition while Dad was in command.

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Responses to “Have some SPAD”

  1. Ron Snyder

    Kudos to your Dad. He had to be very proud of winning the Battle E.

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  2. Feh

    “the squadron CO and XO were lost in the space of about a week” – losing one CO could be an accident… losing two begins to seem like carelessness. =)

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  3. Xbradtc

    Or sometimes, bad luck just happens.
    Remember, in 1962, the loss rate was much, much higher than today.

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  4. Esli

    I saw an immaculate French example on display at Le Bourget air museum in Paris a couple of weeks ago. It is easy to forget just how big that thing is in real life until you stack it up next to a bunch of other airplanes from the same era.

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  5. SFC Dunlap 173d RVN

    The Air Force got in on these magnificent aircraft as well.o

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