Warbird Information Exchange

Historic Aviation Memorial Museum To Unveil Restored Skyraider Saturday
The Historic Aviation Memorial Museum will roll out its latest restoration project on Saturday.

The A-1 Skyraider will be unveiled during a ceremony for its members set for 10 a.m. at the mu-seum, located in the old terminal of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, Car-olyn Verver, HAMM member, said.

HAMM members have spent months restoring the aircraft, she said.

It will go on permanent display on the tarmac outside the terminal.

Many of those who took part in the restoration project will be present during a reception in the museum lobby immediately following the unveiling, she said.

The Skyraider was a single-seat, propeller-driven attack bomber of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. It was made for ground attack missions and armored against ground fire in key locations.

According to information from HAMM, the aircraft was used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Air Force and saw service with the British Royal Navy, the French Air Force and the Air Force of the Republic of Vietnam.

During the 1950s, the Skyraider was a carrier-based fighter bomber. The Marine Corps began phasing out Skyraiders in 1956. The Navy used the Skyraider into the 1960s, according to the information.

During the Vietnam War, the aircraft was used on bombing raids.

The Skyraider was built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. at its El Segundo, Calif., plant.