Warplanes of the UK: Douglas Skyraider

Douglas Skyraider

(Tim Felce Photos)

Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider (BuNo. 126922), c/n 7722, Reg. No. G-RADR, ex-French Air Force (Armée de l'Air), 42, ex-Gabon Air Force, (Armée de l'Air Gabonaise), (Serial No. TR-KMM), ex-F-AZED, Kennet Aviation, North Weald, Essex. Airworthy.  G-RADR is painted as an A-1H (BuNo 126922), code AK-204 of VA-176 "Thunderbolts", flying from the USS Intrepid.  The unit flew the A-1 Skyraider from 1955 until 1966 and saw combat during the Vietnam War.  On 9 Oct 1966, Lieutenant William T. Patton of VA-176 shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-17 Fresco.  It was the first (and only) shoot down of an enemy jet by a propeller-powered aircraft during the Vietnam Conflict.

Douglas Skyraider AEW.1s from 778 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in flight in the 1950s.  (USN Photo)

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

(MACOS8 Photo)

Douglas Skyraider AEW.1 (Serial No. WT121), c/n 7427in storage, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.  WT121 was built in January 1951 and stationed at the US Navy base at NAS Norfolk before allocation to the Royal Navy.  Shipped to Great Britain in March 1954 and served at RNAS Hal Far, Malta in 1955, returning to Culdrose later that year to serve with 849 Squadron.  In 1972 airlifted to RFA Engadine off the Cornish coast by Sea King helicopter, then airlifted by another Sea King to Cobham Hall.

Douglas Skyraider AEW.1 (Serial No. WV106), in storage, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

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