The Douglas AD Skyraider (Paperback)

Few aircraft have been known by as many names as the Skyraider. At various times in its career, it was designated the BT2D, AD 'Able Dog', A -1, and was also affectionately called the 'Destroyer', 'Hobo', 'Spad', 'Sandy', and the 'Flying Dump Truck'. Following the AD-1 came 178 AD-2s, 193 AD-3s and 1,051 AD-4s. These performed various roles as daytime and all-weather attack, radar patrol, and electronic countermeasures. In 1951 the variant two-seater AD-5 appeared, with a bigger cabin, and a year later production resumed with the single-seater AD-6 versions, and the final variant was the AD-7 in 1955.

The Skyraider performed very well in the Korean War, being operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps and was described as 'the best close-support and interdiction aircraft in the world' at that time. During one mission, ADs destroyed the floodgates of the Hwachon Dam using torpedoes, which precluded the enemy from flooding two valleys and holding back the American advance.

In Vietnam, the Skyraider was employed by both the US Navy and US Air Force, and from carriers in the South China Sea, Skyraider's carried out bombing strikes and close air support operations. It was also used in operations against Viet Cong strongholds in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It also picked up its famous 'Sandy' call-sign in the Vietnam War, as an integral element in the recovery of downed aircrew. Later versions were employed by air arms across the world, including the British Royal Navy who utilized it as a carrier based airborne early warning platform. Author Andy Renshaw brings the history of the Skyraider to this volume, looking in detail at the background and development of the aircraft, its many variants, and war roles. This volume will include many hitherto unpublished photographs, color profiles and scale plans, as well as models the Skyraider in various scales.