USS Ranger VA-95 Skyknight A-1 Skyraider
Origins Of The Douglas A-1 Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider, formerly known as the AD, stands as an iconic symbol of American aviation prowess, bridging eras from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. Despite the advent of jet propulsion, this single-seat attack aircraft carved out an illustrious career as a piston-powered, propeller-driven anomaly, earning the affectionate moniker “Spad” in homage to the famed French World War I fighter.
Conceived during the crucible of World War II, the piston-engined Skyraider was tailored to meet the demanding specifications of the United States Navy for a carrier-based, single-seat, long-range, high-performance dive and torpedo bomber, succeeding predecessors like the Helldiver and Avenger. Crafted by the ingenious mind of Ed Heinemann at the Douglas Aircraft Company, the journey commenced with the ordering of prototypes on July 6, 1944, designated as the XBT2D-1.
Taking to the skies for its inaugural flight on March 18, 1945, the XBT2D-1 underwent rigorous evaluation by the USN at the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) starting in April 1945. By December 1946, following a designation shift to AD-1, the first production models found their way to fleet squadrons, notably VA-19A.
Evolution marked the Skyraider’s path through seven iterations, commencing with the AD-1 and progressing through the AD-2 and AD-3, each iteration boasting incremental enhancements. The AD-4 introduced a more potent R-3350-26WA engine, while the AD-5 witnessed significant widening to accommodate side-by-side seating for two crew members, a departure from its single-seat heritage.
Variants like the AD-1Q and AD-3N explored multi-crew configurations, paving the way for the AD-5N’s four-seat night-attack adaptation. Further refinements culminated in the AD-6, an enhanced iteration of the AD-4B featuring improved low-level bombing apparatus, and ultimately the pinnacle of production, the AD-7, elevated with the formidable R-3350-26WB engine.
The Skyraider’s operational footprint extended across various branches of the United States military, including the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, alongside international partners such as the British Royal Navy, the French Air Force, and the Air Force of the Republic of Vietnam (VNAF). In the annals of U.S. aviation history, the Skyraider eventually yielded to the advanced Douglas A-4 Skyhawk a subsonic jet, marking the denouement of its remarkable service tenure by the early 1970s.
A-1 Skyraider Manufacturing History
Amidst the thunderous demands of the United States Navy, the piston-engined, propeller-driven Skyraider emerged as a testament to ingenuity and necessity. Crafted by the visionary hands of Ed Heinemann at the Douglas Aircraft Company, its genesis unfolded with the ordering of prototypes on July 6, 1944, christened as the XBT2D-1.
Taking its inaugural flight on March 18, 1945, this marvel of engineering underwent meticulous scrutiny at the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) from April of that year.
By December 1946, reborn under the designation AD-1, the Skyraider found its wings in the fleet squadron VA-19A, marking the dawn of its illustrious journey. Bill Bridgeman’s memoir, “The Lonely Sky,” vividly portrays the tireless efforts of certifying AD-1s at Douglas’s El Segundo plant in Southern California, a relentless endeavor ensuring the delivery of two aircraft per day to the U.S. Navy throughout 1949 and 1950.
A pair of USS Ranger VA-95 Skyknight A-1 Skyraiders
Rooted in a low-wing monoplane design, the Skyraider boasted a Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engine, evolving through successive upgrades. Its distinctive large straight wings, adorned with seven hardpoints each, symbolized its versatility and potency.
Renowned for its exceptional maneuverability at low speeds and formidable ordnance capacity over expansive combat ranges, the Skyraider transcended the limitations of its era. Its enduring presence, characterized by prolonged loiter times and optimized ground attack capabilities, stood in stark contrast to faster fighters repurposed for bomb-carrying duties.
Heinemann’s visionary approach, fueled by a relentless pursuit of weight reduction, birthed innovations that redefined the Skyraider’s performance envelope. From streamlining the fuel system to forsaking internal bomb bays in favor of external stores, each refinement contributed to a cumulative weight savings exceeding 1,800 pounds, propelling the Skyraider into a realm of unmatched agility and efficiency.
VA-95 Skyknights and the A-1 Skyraider
The second VA-95 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, and was the second of three unrelated squadrons to bear that designation. The first squadron being Torpedo Twenty flying the TBM Avenger. ATKRON95 was established on 26 March 1952, and disestablished on 1 April 1970. The squadron’s nickname was the Skyknights from 1957 to 1963, and the Green Lizards thereafter
VA-95 deployed on the USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47), USS Hornet (CV12), USS Oriskany (CVG-9), USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), USS Ranger (CV-61) and participated in Korean War and Vietnam War between 1952 and 1965. The squadron
1953: VA-95 made only one deployment to Korea, having been established in March 1952.
January 1963: The squadron participated in cross deck operations with the British carrier HMS Hermes (R12) while operating in the western Pacific.
May 1963: Following the military losses of Lao neutralists to the Pathet Lao on the Plain of Jars, Laos, USS Ranger transited to the South China Sea to support possible operations in Laos.
November 1964–April 1965: The squadron participated in support for photo reconnaissance missions and conducted strikes against targets in Laos.
AD-4 BuNo 123865 of VA-95, USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47), early 1953
7 February 1965: Following the Attack on Camp Holloway in Pleiku, South Vietnam, the President ordered Operation Flaming Dart, a reprisal strike against North Vietnam. The squadron’s target was the Vit Thu Lu Barracks. However, the strike turned back due to poor weather conditions.
11 February 1965: Squadron aircraft participated in Flaming Dart II, retaliatory strikes against the Chanh Hoa military barracks near Đồng Hới, North Vietnam.
March 1965: The squadron participated in Operation Rolling Thunder strikes against the Phu Qui ammunition depot in North Vietnam.
Aircraft assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
AD-1 Skyraider – 19 May 1952
AD-4NA Skyraider – 03 Jul 1952
AD-4 Skyraider – Sep 1952
AD-4L Skyraider – Oct 1952
AD-6 Skyraider – Oct 1953
AD-7 Skyraider – Sep 1956
A-1 Skyraider Specifications
General Characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0.25 in (15.2464 m)
Height: 15 ft 8.25 in (4.7816 m)
Wing area: 400.33 sq ft (37.192 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 2417; tip: NACA 4413[43]
Empty weight: 11,968 lb (5,429 kg)
Gross weight: 18,106 lb (8,213 kg)
Fuel capacity: 380 US gal (320 imp gal; 1,400 L) internal tanks
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-3350-26WA Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,700 hp (2,000 kW)
Propellers: 4-bladed Aeroproducts constant-speed propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 322 mph (518 km/h, 280 kn) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
Cruise speed: 198 mph (319 km/h, 172 kn)
Range: 1,316 mi (2,118 km, 1,144 nmi)
Service ceiling: 28,500 ft (8,700 m)
Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 46.6 lb/sq ft (228 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.149 hp/lb (0.245 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 4x 20 mm AN/M3 cannon with 200 rounds per gun
Hardpoints: 15 external hardpoints with a capacity of 10,500 lbs (4762.71kg) per NAVWEPS manual 01-40-ALF-1, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Other: bombs, torpedoes, mine dispensers, unguided rockets, and gun pods.
References/Sources Consulted
Ed Heinemann
Douglas A-1 Skyraider
The Official Website of the A-1 Skyraider Association
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider: The Best Attack Plane Ever Made
AD Skyraider Units of the Korean War
-1 Skyraider
USS Philippine Sea CV-47 1952-1953 Cruise Book
USS Hornet CV-12 1954 Cruise Book
USS Oriskany CV-34 1956 Cruise Book
USS Ticonderoga CV-14 1957-58 Cruise Book
USS Ranger CV-61 1960 Cruise Book
USS Ranger CV-61 1961-62 Cruise Book
USS Ranger CV-61 1962-63 Cruise Book
USS Ranger CV-61 1964 Cruise Book