Warbird Information Exchange

Hello guys,

I'm helping a friend who is writing a book about the French Air Force Douglas Skyraiders.
The book is due to be published next year in France ( 350 pages ) and I'm doing the part dedicated to the survivors ( a big task for me !).

I know the Heritage Flight Museum AD-4NA was recently painted ( winter 2006) in USAF markings and depicts an aircraft flown during the Vietnam war. Does anyone know the history behind the paint scheme ( unit, pilot, year... )?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Ben

Col Bill Jones MOH
http://www.af.mil/history/person.asp?dec=&pid=123037442
http://www.afa.org/magazine/march2006/0306sandy.asp

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Jack,

Thanks for the links about the Jones MOH. Do you know of other MOH winners that flew Skyraiders besides Bernie Fischer?

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Eric,
I don't beleive there were any more AD MOH awardees. But there was another recommendation I beleive. When you really for a repaint we'll talk!! Do you remember Bill Beck, 1/7 Cav M-60 gunner featured in "We Were Soldiers" ? Here's his quote......
30 Jul 2007
I was in the battle at LZ X-RAY, November 14-16, 1965 as a machine gunner with the 7th Cavalry. While laying prone on the ground and firing at the advancing NVA I was observing the A-1E Skyraider making his bombing runs in front of my position (between the Chu Pong Mountain and me). I have documented this in the book "We Were Soldiers".
I was 'keying' off of him as I knew that he had a better view of the enemy than I had as to where they were coming from. The pilot made several bombing runs also firing his machine guns at very low levels. On his last run he was hit by enemy fire and his fuel tank exploded and caught fire. Just above the tree top he passed by me, his plane trailing smoke and flame. I was less than 50 yards from him and saw his face looking at the LZ and in my direction. He was alive and moving at that time. He disappeared over the trees and out of my sight. He killed many of the enemy and may have saved our battalion. I am extremely grateful for his actions and feel he deserves the MOH for his heroics and sacrifice.
From a US soldier,
Bill Beck
231 St. Johns Drive, Camp Hill, Pa
jnbbeck@webtv.net


Capt Paul T. McClellan Jr USAF Stayton, OR 1st Air Commando KIA/MIA 11-14-65

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Jack,

I learned of this story by researching a mention of it in a previous post you made. Very cool idea.

Have you ever heard of the "Squatter Swatters" from Vietnam fame?

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

His widow lives about 10 minutes west of me and is quite a nice lady.
His son Paul lives over in Bend.

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Don't touch my junk!!

I thought the guy that landing an AD under montar fire to pick up a fellow pilot got one, name, I think was Fisher.

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Well darn Jack, you beat me to it

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"They can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that"

http://www.heritageflight.org
http://www.bravo369.org

Jack, many thanks for the links, very useful and interesting!

Ben