The Skyraider was developed to take the place of the Dauntless dive-bomber and was to be come the last heavy single-seat piston-engine combat aircraft. For over twenty years the Skyraider stayed in first-line service with units of the US Navy and gave ample proof of its usefulness in tow wars -- the Korean War and the Viet-Nam War, proving unbeatable as a ground attack plane. From 1945 to 1957 the assembly lines built 3,180 aircraft in seven basic versions.

All of these versions could be adapted for four main uses: day assault, all-weather assault, radar surveillance and electronic counter-measures. These uses were indicated by a special letter in the designation: N for all-weather version; W for radar surveillance; Q for ECM. For the assault version, no extra letter was added. Hence, the AD-6 was an assault Skyraider.

The single-seat AD-6 Skyraider was used in the Viet-Nam War by the US Navy and the Marine Corps, the USAF, and by the air force of the Republic of Viet-Nam. France and Britain were among the other countries which used this aircraft, apart from many lesser powers which kept the ADs in service until the second half of the 1970s.

Configuration:

Engine: Wright R-3350-26W Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial, 2,700 horse power
Wingspan: 50 feet
Length: 39 feet 2 inches
Height: 15 feet 8 inches
Weight: 25,000 pounds (loaded)
Maximum speed: 322 mph at 18,000 feet
Ceiling: 28,500 feet
Range: 1,143 miles
Armament: 4 each 20mm cannon; 8,000 pounds bombs
Crew: 1

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...As you know I was in Vietnam from February '66 until December '68 and the boys I liked to see drop by were those AD6 Skyraiders; they could stay over the target much longer than the jet jockeys and really did a pounding when we were pined down hard. These were the boys that dropped 75% of the napalm back in my days and were quite a welcome sight to my men on the ground. These are the only photos I could find of them, maybe you have some Navy Pilots in your list that could give you some good pictures.

12:42 9/22/2003