Douglas A-1H Skyraider Restoration Feature 2022 NMUSAF
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2022
- Interviews with the core restoration team from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This video includes video and photos of the year and a half restoration of this aircraft which is now on display in the Southeast Asia War Gallery.
United States Air Force Skyraiders in Southeast Asia are often remembered for their support of search and rescue (SAR) missions. Operating under the call sign Sandy, the A-1's extended loiter time and massive firepower offered pilots the ability to protect downed Airmen for extended periods. Whereas jet aircraft often had to leave the battle area for refueling, the A-1s provided nearly continuous suppressing fire until helicopters extracted downed Airmen.
The aircraft on display represents Captain Ronald Smith’s A-1H The Proud American (Serial Number 52-139738) as it appeared during his SAR mission in June 1972 as part of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom (NKP) Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Captain Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross for the rescue of a downed F-4 Phantom crewman near a North Vietnamese airfield.
The Proud American had a long and storied record in Southeast Asia. Although many pilots flew the plane, it is renowned for three separate episodes: Lt Col William Jones’ Medal of Honor mission in 1968, Capt Ronald Smith’s Air Force Cross mission in June 1972, and for being the last US Air Force A-1 lost in combat in Southeast Asia in September 1972.
This aircraft (US Navy BuNo 134600) was modified and painted by the Museum’s Restoration Division to represent Capt Smith’s Air Force Cross aircraft and placed on display in 2022. It was part of OPERATION FARM GATE and flown by the South Vietnamese Air Force from 1965 to 1975. The Air Force Museum Foundation funded the A-1H Restoration via a partnership with the A-1 Skyraider Association - the first time the Foundation partnered with a single organization to fund an aircraft restoration. Members and associates of the A-1 Skyraider Association provided all donations to the A-1H Restoration Fund.
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Vis...
There’s a whole lot of cunning and innovation in that project. Well done! All the best from New Zealand.
Douglas A-1 Skyraider. One of the greats.
Agree. (I Flew the Sky Raider from the Ship Shangrila in
For me, it's that you took something that was pretty much scrap and parts. Through blood, sweat, and tears, you've transformed it her back to her glory. It's much more satisfying than taking a flying piece and giving it a new paint job.
Fabulous restoration! My father flew Skyraiders in Viet Nam. First Air Commando, 602nd, Bien Hoa!
Absolutely amazing. It's mesmerizing. Phenomenal dedication, ingenuity and skill. Thank God for the folks who restore warbirds. You preserve flying history, our heritage and you memorialize the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of our veterans. Thank you to all who participated in this restoration and made it possible.
Another reason to make another trip up there! ❤
I could watch these long form videos for hours. Excellent work to the NMUSAF restoration team and to Ken for recording all of this. Hope all is well and looking forward to the next project!
Thanks so much Max!!! Ken here by the way lol! Next up will be the JN4 and the F-15 Streak Eagle!!!
My initial T-38A Instructor Pilot when I attender USAF pilot training was “the only fully qualified pilot in this room”, Major Jim Maxam. His first assignment in the AF was flying these in SEA. A good man, I hope he is alive & well.
ex-race car fabricator, that thing is beautiful. visited the AF Museum @ Wright Patterson when i was a wee lad w/ my pop, maybe 1960 or so. impressive
Awesome to see a great plane coming back together from all the efforts of SO many! Love the A-1H !!!
Thank you for taking as much care and thought making the video as the restoration team did making the aircraft right.
Fantastic job! Love the behind-the-scene details.
The Skyraider is one of my favorite aircraft, a lot people never realized how much they have done for the ground forces, how many life's they saved.
Great job fellows TY 4 sharing
I enjoyed this and the Memphis Belle please keep doing these when possible on any future restoration
Great job men, thank you all for your hard work & dedication! ARRS 71-73
Big props (pun most definitely intended) to the restoration crew and videographers! Both final products turned out great!
Thanks so very much Chris!!! That's funny!
Great job. Love the Skyraider, a real workhorse.
Truly a piece of Art great job.
Magnificent. A fitting monument to those that flew the Skyraider.
Superb work, I really love it! Thanks to all for this amazing job!
Miracle Makers great job guys.!
I saw it today for the first in the SEA Gallery. It looks amazing.
Fantastic, amazing job! Thanks to everyone associated with this important restoration--what a historic treasure! I'm a huge fan of the Skyraider and have had the honor to sit in a couple over the years (and see several more in person). Just a wonderful tribute to the Sandies of Vietnam and to all SAR personnel of that era. I'll be coming to see The Proud American real soon.
My favorite Plane. Hand Salute to you Gentlemen. Thank you for your very hard work.
I want to be a volunteer!
OUTSTANDING. ! WELL DONE. 🇺🇸
Attention to every single detail is amazing. Love the work
NO WAYYY!!! WTF JOE SCHO!!!! THATS SICKKKK YOU GET TO RESTORE THESE WARBIRDS!!! Saw you got ur Private Pilot L's too!! Nice job n CONGRATS!! Cincy State Alumni!!🤘🤙👍💪
Wonderful work you all do!
I flew the Sky Raider off the carrier Shangrila in the Paciffic in the 1960s. Great Plane
It's nice to see such care for such a legend as the A-1 aircraft.
I have been thinking for a long time to build one for radio control because I really like this plane.
You have really done a great job.
Awesome!
Fantastic work on this beautiful Aircraft 👍🌷🇺🇸
Wow. So beautiful. Wonderful job .
Magnificent aircraft. Saw them in Nam. She was a beast!
Great job, fellas, keep up your good work! I look forward to see what else you guys have been working on.
Great work ya’ll!
Awesome restoration, loveeeeeee the SPAD… found the ejection system explanation very interesting 🤔 (might wanna check the “Caution” stencil on the fuel grade) More vids please 🙂👍
What an amazing piece of work. I cannot wait to visit the museum for the first time!
Nice job be proud
Lest we forget , you just know that in a hundred years time a kids gonna be asking did people really fly in those .... and in that moment all those who didn't come home are remembered again.
Great job guys now what about the early B17 in the back ground ? John in far away New Zealand.
TOP JOB 👍 SKY HIGH KUDOS 🦅
I can understand the level of authenticity when presenting the aircraft and what can be seen. What I never will comprehend is the insane, exacting attention to detail inside the airplane that no person will ever see or notice. Especially on a machine that will never fly. Time and resources that could be used elsewhere on flying examples.
Seems more complicated than a WW-2 fighter. With the ejection seat that cockpit is tight.
The only thing missing is the exhaust stains on the side of the fuselage and oil stains on the top of the centerline fuel tank that were typical of the Wright R-3350 radial engines.
Towards the end of the video, I was thinking the same thing. She looked that way once. ...The day she was painted. After that, it was black exhaust and oil stains.
One of these is sitting at a farm near cleveland forget the guys name he was a hoarder of old aircraft still some stuff there
Skyraiders stayed in production until 1957.
I appreciate the thought not sure why you all would spend the time effort and money to bring an aircraft to so exact a restoration for a static display. I would understand that amount of effort on a real airplane that is one that fly's as it was meant to be
I understand…
Crewed her in Danang olaa 1970 macvsog.
What about the B-17 in the hanger? When you will start on that?
AHOOO werewolves of london
Should have made it airworthy. Its a shame to get that far and not finish it.
What a waist this bird was made to fly. Not just to be art work in a musium. Not enough left in the air flying.
Where did the photos page on the website go?