More Skyraider Combat Damage
A-1H 134-551
Major Don "Major Major" Milner was flying as a Sandy on a
SAR mission in southern Laos in March of 1972 when his Skyraider took a
hit from a large caliber AAA weapon. Judging from the size of the hole in
the aircraft, it was more than likely a 57 mm. The SAR involved the rescue
of the two man crew of Nail 31, an OV-10 from NKP. The SAR took place at
the Catcher's Mitt, a notoriousy bad place near Saravane. Major Milner was
able to fly the stricken Skyraider back to NKP. These photos tell the story
of just how badly the aircraft was hit.
These first two images show the same hole in the right flap made by the
57 mm round. Fortunately, the round did not explode on contact, but exploded
after passing through the flap peppering the aft fuselage with shrapnel.
This is a view of the right side of the aft fuselage of the same A-1 (134-551).
Notice the numerous shrapnel entry holes in the aircraft skin.
This is another view of the right side of the aft fuselage of 134-551.
(Photo courtesy of Jerry Carrigan)
This photograph shows the left aft fuselage of 551. The numerous bulges
in the skin show that this aircraft surface was peppered from the inside
of the aircraft. The shrapnel had passed through the right side of the fuselage
and was unable to penetrate this surface.
The fact that this aircraft remained airworthy after sustaining such
a devastating hit gives ample proof to the durability and toughness of the
Super Spad. Had the round either exploded on impact, or impacted on the
underside of the fuselage, the story might have been different.
Postscript
A-1H 134-551 was fully repaired and returned to the combat flying schedule
in April. Less than one month later, on 1 May 1972, the aircraft sustained
a hit from an SA-7 and was lost. Some things are just not meant to be. The
Skyraider was being flown by 1Lt Joe Seitz who extracted safely and was
rescued. The story of this mission is reprinted
here from the pages Stars and Stripes.