Douglas A-1E Skyraider
Built by Douglas Aircraft Corp., the AD-5 (A-1E) served as a Navy attack bomber during the Korean War. During the Vietnam War, 50 aircraft were taken from storage and used by USAF and RVN pilots for close support and rescue helicopter escort. Major Bernard Fisher flew one of these aircraft when he rescued a fellow pilot from behind enemy lines on March 10, 1966, becoming the first USAF Medal of Honor recipient during the Vietnam conflict.
U.S. Navy BuNo 132463 was one of 670 AD-5s built by Douglas at their El Segundo, California plant, and accepted by the Navy in February 1954. It served aboard the U.S.S. Shangri-la, U.S.S. Franklin Roosevelt, U.S.S. Intrepid, and U.S.S. Enterprise before being stricken from Navy records in July 1963. In 1962 AD-5s were redesignated as A-1Es. It was brought to the museum from storage in October 1985, and restored by the museum staff. It is painted in the markings of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 14th Special Operations Wing.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: A-1E - one or two in side-by-side seats; AD-5 - five. Power Plant: 2,700 hp Wright R-3350-26W radial engine. Dimensions:
Span: 50 ft 9 in. Length: 39 ft. Height: 15 ft 7 in. Weight: 18,800 lbs.
Performance: Speed: 365 mph maximum at 15,000 ft. Ceiling: over 25,000 ft. Combat Radius: 1,500 miles.
Armament: four 20mm cannon, plus twelve wing stations for bombs and/or rockets.
THIS AIRCRAFT IS ON LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE USAF