For BigSky and the other VN Vets/aviation fans

[awp101]

I remember BigSky56 mentioning before how much he enjoyed seeing the old, trusty SPAD overhead...

May 4, 2013 - Douglas A-1H Skyraider (1 of 2)
Photo: May 1966 (RVN markings)

CREDIT


May 5, 2013 - Douglas A-1E Skyraider (2 of 2)
Photo: February 15, 1968 at McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA

CREDIT


Both pics from http://www.planeaday.com/

[Hobie]

That is one of the coolest planes ever.

[awp101]

That is one of the coolest planes ever.

Followed closely by this:

May 11, 2013 - Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat
Photo: March 26, 2011 - A Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft performs aerial maneuvers during the 49th annual Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Air Show & Open House.

CREDIT

And this:

May 10, 2013 - Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Chino Airport, Planes of Fame

CREDIT

[COSteve]

Done

[BigSky56]

If I close my eyes I can see hear and smell those sandys as they wing by eye level making eye contact with the pilot smelling the AV gas as he passes hearing the click click of the bomb release feeling the heat and blast of the napalm as it ignites, secondaries from ammo and grenades on charlie, the flight all made their runs then pulled back up to station then a lone sandy came in and did a slow pylon turn gave us the thumbs up and went about their business. That plane just has class none better then or now for ground troops & could linger for hours. Thanks for reminding me. danny

[MrMurphy]

They were specifically designed for CAS, so of course they could deliver better than the F-4s.

We've had very few dedicated CAS platforms, but the Skyraider was definitely a good one in it's time.

[BigSky56]

If I couldnt get a sandy next in line would be a A37. danny

[Aussie Chris]

Danny, have you seen the 1991 movie Flight of the Intruder?

It is one of my favourite movies about A6's and the ending has a great part with a few Sandys and a Jolly Green Giant. I recommend it.

Chris

[stretch]

Spads were awesome, and the men who flew 'em had
iron gonads the size of grapefruits.

Nice pics!

-Stretch

[C. Cash]

Danang, Vietnam 72-3. My Dad with his back to the camera.

[Paladin]

Was at Chino thought I would share.

[Betterluckytg]

Don't recall ever having CAS from a prop job, but will NEVER forget the Phantoms coming around, spewing their smokey exhaust, lining up, the "click, click... whufff whufff whufff whuFFF" the feeling "OH SHEEEI...!" and the overwhelming relief when they hit the treeline, and ..... Oh yeah! GET SOME!

And watching the Phantoms diving on gun emplacements in the DMZ through all that AA and wondering "How can those dudes DO THAT?" and "Why are they still alive?". Having never seen the other guys, the Phantom pilots are my heroes. Talk about balls of steel!

[nemhed]

I love all that fixed wing, close air support/ground pounding stuff!!

[BigSky56]

Oz Chris Ive seen that movie I think it was loosely based on a true story. having flown alot I got to see the results of bomb runs by A6 and B52's. during pink team missions would sometimes see a monday morning bomb, unexploded 2000 lber 1000 lbers 500 lbers as I was at tree top altitude working the AO and hunting charlie. When a AF plane or army helio went down any aviation unit in the AO would break off and go to get the boys back with a flight of sandys from Da Nang a c130 gun ship and cobra gunships would show up. Ive seen a cobra hovering overtop a downed bird doing pedal turns expending ordnance to keep charlie off the crew till a recovery bird can come in. My life is their life applies to recovering GI's I have watched several birds go down trying to save GI's and the words of Christ come to mind, There is no greater love than to give up your life for another person. The look of relief on a guys face when you grab him and pull him in that bird is half of when the guns are quite and you clear the area and are headed back to base then there is a release of emotion.
CCash was your Dad stationed at DaNang if so that bird probably covered me more than once. danny

[MrMurphy]

Flight of the Intruder was based on a book of the same name, written by a former A-6 crewman. He's written a bunch more books.

[earlmck]

Sitting out in the Gulf of Tonkin on a carrier I saw the other end of these fellows -- leave full of ordnance and come back empty. First cruise in '66 we had a squad of the Spads and they were fun to watch. Second cruise ('67-'68) we didn't have any. Scuttlebutt of the time was that Charley had been tipped off by one of our newspaper articles that he needed to lead 'em farther and he started shooting them down too much. Obviously that wasn't quite true if they were still using them in the 70's.

Then mid '68 to mid '69 I was shore-based near Danang. I do not remember ever seeing a Spad fly by. Probably just my foggy memory, but I would have thought it would have registered more permanently with me if I'd seen some, given my time watching them during air ops at sea.

Anyway, thanks for the show, awp.

[C. Cash]

Danny.....yes, in Danang 72-3. He was in the 366th TFW "The Gunfighters" as they called themselves as they would mount mini gun pods to the bottom fuselage of the Phantoms. Thank you for your service, and all here who served!