Type: single-seat ground-attack aircraft
Bureau Number: 127007
Powerplant: one 2252-kW (3020-hp) Wright R-3350-26W Cyclone radial engine
Maximum speed: 498 km/h (310 mph)
Range: 1448 km (900 miles)
Service ceiling: 9753 m (32,000 ft)
Weights: empty 4577 kg (10,263 lb); loaded 8284 kg (18,263 lb)
Armament: four 20-mm cannon in wings, plus mixed ordnance including bombs, napalm and unguided folded-fin aircraft rockets on centerline and wing stores stations, up to 8000 lbs (3636 kg) mixed ordnance
Dimensions:
Span: 15.24 m (50 ft)
Length: 11.63 m (38 ft)
Height: 4.7 m (15 ft)
Wing area: 37.16 m2 (400 sq ft)
The Douglas Skyraider was the heavy duty torpedo/dive bomber the WWII Navy was looking for in the mid 1940s. But the war ending victory over the Japanese came before Skyraider was able to see action.
The first AD-1 was delivered in 1946 and manufacturer Douglas continued its tradition of starting the names of Navy aircraft with "sky". It was a versatile attack bomber, capable of day or night missions, reconnaissance and airborne early warning. Skyraider became the backbone of the Navy's carrier aviation strike force.
Known as the "Flying Dump-truck" during the Korean War, the Skyraider was one of the best close support aircraft of all time. The AD-1 was put to the test in the Korean War and by all accounts was very effective in close support. Skyraider's long and successful career would stretch into the Vietnam War before the propeller driven aircraft was finally retired in the early 1970s.
In its twelve years of production Douglas built 3,180 of the venerable Skyraiders in 28 variations.
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Within one hour, USS Laffey was hit by five Japanese Kamikazes and three enemy bombs.
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