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My dad was a skyraider pilot in Vietnam, Major San Hong (Hồng Khắc San). Great memory when watching this video 👍❤️👍

As a 75 year old Vietnam era veteran and a big big fan of the Skyraider, this was a fantastic piece. Great pictures but even greater stories of the men closely associated with the aircraft and many stories you will never hear anywhere except from those who were there. Great job all. Hand salute!!!

I was a crew chief on the the A-1E Skyraider at NKP in 1968/69. Best plane I worked on during my time in the Airforce! I couldn't believe the number of bullet holes they would have when they'd come back from a mission! I'm 78 years old now, but I still, fondly, remember that A-1E!!

I'm still learning about the Vietnam War. Born in '62 loving all things aviation, I built a model of this plane but never really looked up it's long history. Thank you first to our veterans who served especially in Nam who gave everything to save the South Vietnam people and endure the scorn of their own American people. What a hell hole that must have been. Thank you to this channel to show the real life of American pilots during that war and the planes that were used to get the job done. Awesome video!!🇺🇸🇺🇸

We fail to recognize the huge contribution the Douglas company has given to the USA. The "Spad" was a lifesaver for many US military personnel. They were pretty much gone by the time I was commissioned as an Ensign. But by then (1977) we had the little A-4 that deserves to be remembered as well. My CO flew the A-4 in Vietnam and he took a hit, a bad one. Captain Conner (USN) flew that tiny jet, upside-down, home to our ship. He became a legend. Never forget what these men did! I never will.

I flew two tours in Vietnam, my second was up on the DMZ, 71-72. I was part of an Air Cavalry troop stationed up there, and was the 'Hunter' in a Hunter-killer team. During both tours, I witnessed the unreal capabilities of the "Spad-Flying dump truck-Sandy, etc many times. I always marveled as to how long they could stay 'on station' and they never seemed to run out of ordinance to shoot, or drop. Just amazing what those skilled pilots could do with that particular aircraft. I thank you all of the 'spad drivers' who may read this, and I offer a very humble, "thank you", for saving my ass MANY TIMES. A slow hand salute to all of you. God bless.

Thanx for providing us old school folk these docco’s.

Probably the best piston engined attack aircraft ever produced. Extremely durable and excellent loiter time on target. I would give a piece of my anatomy to be able to own one today.

As a kid, my grandad had a book aircraft of the Vietnam war, and the A-1 in it single seat, and multi seat aircraft was my favorite! I would draw, and color the A-1 when it was raining, then at the age of 32 finally saw it in person! There’s nothing like it in the world. Wish more were saved, but very thankful that some were saved!

What a chonky, beauty of a plane. If the Skyraider had an ancient equivalent it would be a charging war horse

We've just finished restoration of an A1-H Skyraider and it's on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton Ohio in the Southeast Asia gallery. Volunteering this Saturday.

Years ago I spoke with a former Skyraider pilot. He said, "We called it the flying dump truck." It could haul a load.

The best attack aircraft in history. The A10 is a close second. I would love to own one of these beasts. All the best technology from the piston aircraft era.

Out of all the piston engine aircraft of their time, the F4U Corsair and A1 Skyraider are my favorites.

Testament to American ingenuity and most of all, skill, dedication and bravery of our pilots! God Bless all our sailors, airmen and troops!!

Im italian..the documentary is very beautifull!!! ONORE E GLORIA HAI PILOTI AMERICANI! SEMPRE FEDELI 🇮🇹🇮🇹

Beast of an aircraft.

I built a model of one, but never realised the sheer SIZE of this aircraft!! IT'S HUGE!! I saw the one at the Vietnam Museum of War Relics - my God, what a gorgeous aircraft the SPAD is!! 👍

I was a Crew Chief with the 6th SOS, Pleiku, Vietnam in 1969. Best aircraft I ever worked on .

i was an a-1 mechanic at pleiku from jan to dec 1969 with the 6th sos and worked on 606 wiley coyote quite a few times. my friend a1-c gutierrez was the crew chief. very glad to see it survived the war.

My eldest brother joined the Navy in '64, as a structural mechanic, years after he retired, we were touring the USS Alabama Air & Naval Museum, and in one of the buildings there, an A-1 was on display. He laughed and pointed it out to me. "See this old girl? I worked on many of them, when I was nineteen or so." RIP, brother.

Thanks to the pilots of the A-1s for what did for my Company under fire. Fantastic accurate fire power at extremely close range.

What a wonderful story. Since I was a young boy was my favorite plane. I remember seeing them on TV news of Vietnam war reports we always watched the daily reports as we had several extended family over there at any one time in Army, Navy and Air Force. My dad was an air traffic controller during the Korean conflict, I built models of all sorts of WWII planes but my favorite was always the Skyraider. None before or since could do what an A1 could. Truly GREAT PLANE!!

ベトナム戦争中にAｰ1スカイレーダーは様々な任務に付き多くの兵士達をサポートし救ってきました。兵装のメニューも豊富でダンプトラックと呼ばれました。サンディーの愛称がしっくりきます。スペシャルデリバリーサービスをありがとうございました。🙇‍♂

Greetings from Colorado! Thank you so VERY much for this episode. Dronescapes climbed to the top group of my favorite aviation channels. Having been a Bob Hoover from early adolescence and going to the annual airshow at Andrews in DC area. I'm grateful for your efforts to keep aviation history alive-as history is today and always very much alive. Great episode regarding one of the saddest but most significant portions of US history and international relations.

I would have been the happiest man in the world if I had been able to pilot one of these beasts. These planes rank up there as one of my favorites. The stories I have heard and read about are truly inspiring.

I am a proud mechanic of Douglas Products C47 - Super DC3 with Wright 1820 9 cylinder radials, MJRM Martin Mars Wright 3350 radials DC 4 Sky master and Basler DC3 with PWAC PT 6 turbines the A1 is my all time favorite

I remember meeting my dad at the aircraft carrier where the flight deck was full of this aircraft in Alameda, California. He was attached to many squadrons that flew this aircraft then he transitioned to the A-7 when he got transferred to Key West, Florida. He saw the A-7 in it's infancy to just before it was replaced with the FA-18.

The A-1 was a beast. Love the early aircraft painted all navy blue.

My dad flew them as well. USN '58 & '59 (born '36) -he sure got out at a good time! I have a triptic of the 3 planes he flew; Mentor, Trojan, and Skyraider, and his carrier qualification card (USS Antietam)

@DroneScapes..thank you for posting this fantastic video, especially the personal interviews and where those historic Skyraiders are now. I’m a retired A&P mechanic and worked a few years for Captain Bubba ( aka Skyraider Bob) when 39606 was owned by Bob Grondzyk (R.I.P.) of San Diego, Ca., He had told me some of the history of his plane, but not like the first hand account from Roger Youngblood, wow, what a fantastic account, just amazing, thank you Roger and Jack and all military vets past, present and future. For me to know it’s been restored, repainted and flying and in a great museum is very heart warming and gratifying. I loved working on this plane, frustrating at times, especially the replacement of the internal fuel bladder, very complex airplane, but built like a tank. While providing ground support to Captn. Bubba during startup, when that huge R-3350 came to life and idled, it literally shook the tarmac, I could feel the vibration under my feet being a few feet away from the engine and massive prop…what a rush, anyone who’s been around large radial engines while running, know what I mean…some of the best times of my aviation career. Thanks Jim Cavanaugh and your incredible museum for taking over care and custody of this amazing piece of military and humanitarian history, and Ken Holston for lovingly flying her and allowing her to create those beautiful aerodynamic oil streaks down the sides of her fuselage…..Captn. Bob would yell at anyone who’d try to wipe them off….he’d say…..”damn….now I gotta make those all over again”….. and with his big grin tanned face and white hair, slip on his helmet, slide into the cockpit….into the blue yonder he’d go…. thanks Captn. Bubba, many thanks…..Clear Blue Skies and Endless Heavens above !

Thank you for your service and keeping the history of these Aircraft and Men going so people don't ever forget! I started looking at this Video for the A1 but came away thankful I heard some of these Men's story's. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

Just came home super tire. Turn on youtube, this show popup- Starting to watch, I am deeply touching the stories from many servicemen. The men and woman who served in South Vietnam, they are forever hero to us- refugees, we are grateful for theirs extended arms with dedications. They are individual citizens made America greatest nation for endless refugees resettlement. My parents served in the south Vietnam along with CIA. We paid dearly after the fall of Saigon in 1975.

A story I've never heard about a plane I came to love when I really learned about it's history. Thanks for everything here, men.

The Skyraider is one of my favorite planes. I've built several models of them in both 1/48 and 1/32 scale.

Saved my bacon over the DMZ- love this Sandies - Thank You

Thank you. Happy you came home.

I joined the US Navy in March of 1968. I was trained as a ADR (Aviation Machinist Mate, Reciprocal - i.e. Piston). We trained on the side-by-side seating A-1E in Memphis TN which were no longer flight-worthy and strapped to the ground. I loved going through the "pre-flight" starting procedures and feeling the power of the 18 cylinder R3350 engine. Unfortunately, I was never able to work on them since the Navy no longer used them in combat.

An amazing aircraft with long history of use. Most powerful prop engine plane to ever take off from a carrier and carried a load as demonstrated, that was bigger than what two B-17's could carry in WWII. Think of the A-10 as the bigger, more mature brother that took over the job.

This was the epitome of propeller driven aircraft for military use.

Many years ago and my memory may be failing me by now but I recall them dropping napalm across the field from us at the base of the hill. It was always an awesome sight

I was listening to this video, and I thought, ‘That guy has such a great voice. He sounds like David Hartman.” Much to my surprise - it is David Hartman. Well done, lads.

My absolute FAVORITE prop driven American plane, hands down! LOVE' em when they are totally dirty, from the exhaust staining and the other various oil leaks.

tech friend of mine flew 20 years old A-6 in the 1980s and during first gulf war. His mentor /2nd pilot flew A-1H's and he told me, A-1H would make anyone smile ear to ear whenever they see one on deck, wings up or down. They were legendary. after the war and service. He was invited to go to a car show slash air show. He couldnt believe his eyes that his friend managed to get ahold of an AD-5 by some flying firm based out of St. Louis. Apparently the firm was looking for former A-1 and its variants pilots. it was all blue, multiple seater AD-5 from idk 1950s

Great work! Thanks to everyone who served. GOD Bless from Alaska

It’s been a while. Since 1962 as a matter of fact. I flew the AD-6…or the A1H…for years. Let me put it this way. On a Friday evening, given the choice of going out with the most attractive lady in town . . . this or getting some more time in that cockpit . . . especially night time. I’d opt for the SPAD in a heartbeat. Saved my life after two horrendous crashes. Flew through a pine tree once on a low level and, later, survived a night carrier launce following a crash into three tied-down Crusaders and tearing the outer half of my left wing off. Does it sound as if I’m in love with this plane? I was. Oh, and my longest flight in this (according to my log book), was 11.3 hours. The limitation was oil and not gas. Bombload? I recall his limit as having been 10,500 lbs. I’ll check my manual later but I’m sure I’m right. I flew several planes over a 51 year career and this was my all-time favorite.

Love those A-1…especially there weapons..loves from the South Vietnam.

They laid a lot firepower.I was in Vietnam 67 to 68 as Recon 11 Delta when we called them it turned the tide a lot of times.

The Spad has always been at the top of my list for favorites! She's a fantastic aircraft all around!

Always glad to see /hear a spad on top cover .

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was retired from US military use in the 1970s, but the Gabonese Air Force continued to use it until 1985.

I was stationed at Nakhon Phantom in 1969 as a Security Police Dog Handler . The A 1s would Ferry ordinance back and forth to drop on the Ho Chi Trail all night long. We were the closest airbase to the Trail. Also the closest to Hanoi!

Hands down most badass plane ever

The A-1 Skyraider received numerous nicknames including: Spad and Super Spad , Able Dog, the Destroyer , Hobo, Zorro, The Big Gun, Old Faithful , Old Miscellaneous, Fat Face, Guppy, Q-Bird, Flying Dumptruck, Sandy, & Crazy Water Buffalo. The A1 had the most names of any aircraft ever designed

Amazing aircraft, for endurance and survivability in it's role on the battlefield it was second to none.

Absolutely fascinating documentary. Thanks, from a now well informed chap from the UK.

War is hell. Politicians send their young men to commit evil acts against a "deserving" enemy. And yet, true warriors are the greatest of men. Thank you all for your service, Sandy pilots and all who've served.

Wonderful aircraft!

Thanks to our Veterans , Bless you all .

It was a bad ass aircraft

Great story. I do wonder why the Sky Raiders mattered to be saved, and moved so quickly. Using Digital Media, I would have loved to see a movie of all of the field activity and landings on that day. Madness

I should add. When we climbed into this machine, we didn't strap ourselves in, we strapped this plane onto our backs. Custom made fit. The plane was never in control. We were.

Love seeing the sky raiders at air shows. They are much bigger than the video makes them seem. I have always been a jet guy. But older I get more I like the older planes. Great vid

In memory of my father Major Robert Cyril Williams Pilot USAF.

ABH3 boatswain mate here I lived and breathed these plans. fueled them, armed them. shot them off and washed them, and hid in them to get some sleep. they were bad to the bone.

"Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history." - Flight of the Intruder

I fire the last live ordnance in February 1979, with an AD4 France had given to the tchad air force, the other pilot of the 2 ships mission die in. 2018

Excellent video!

My first cruise ('66-'67 VA-192 in USS Ticonderoga, we had an A-1 squadron in our CAG. VA-52. Their Spads had a big spikey mace painted in blue on the side. Always thought it was a fitting symbol for this bird.

Awesome! Thanks for your service!

The Navy/Marine Corps used the A1 Skyraider and the Airforce used the Cessna A37 Dragonfly for ground support in Vietnam. But it was actually A37 that inspired the creation of the A10 Warthog.

My great grandpa flew f105 thunder chiefs over vietnam it still fascinates me about the things these pilots had to do

My pop flew a skyraider off the coral sea in 65 and 66

Thanks, I like this history.

The A-10s cool uncle! Saved a lot of USA lives in Vietnam by being slow and low to loiter near a hot spot the hit and get jets couldn't.

Pawns of the neocons, and proud to do it!

The only pilots with bigger anatomy between their loins than Sandies were the chopper crews.

I was at Tan Son Nhut (Saigon) in 71 and 7 2. I saw Sandies (A-1's) taking off from there during that time. Years later I saw many C-47's in Thailand at Bangkok's International Airport.

I love military aircraft and can't for the life of me decide on my top five. Heck, I can even divide it up into prop and jet favorites and still can't decide. I can divide it further into prop and jet fighters and bombers and there's still no way I can pick just five. Just when I think I'm getting close, I see your video on this plane and it's back to square one. Did the same thing with a P 61 Black Widow video I watched just before this. I seemed to have forgotten about these two beauties!

I saw one that was an air ambulance variant, it could carry 4 stretcher's or 8 passengers internally

A good presentation, it is surprising (or not) that sometimes aircraft that are deemed to be out of date can still perform duties that they are the best at.

One of my favorite Aircraft. I took a ride in one at a local Air show.10 or so years ago. Some of the best money I ever spent on pure fun. If your in Utah you can see a Airfare version just like it at the Hill Air force base Museum A side by side Pilot Co Pilot or Reo. With two rear seats . I Belgrave it's a Trainer .Looks like the one on the web that got me to the video

Ah yes the plane that made fighter jet pilots in Vietnam so envious when it came to ground attack and CAS.

my father was in the first air commando flying this plane Vietnam/Southeast Asia 1967-1969 but they were nicknamed Hobos. I have never heard them discussed all these years later.(Hobos)

I am so amazed that a plane like this could have carried more than a B-17. I now have more respect for this plane...

Just imagine the lives saved if we could go back in history and replace the B -17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator (planes I love) with the Spad. A 14,000 pound bombload was nearly triple that of these bombers on a long mission (5,000 lbs) and almost double on a shorter one (8,000). The B-24 and B-17 had over double the range of a Spad though (3750 to 1550). The best part, 1 pilot in the Spad vs. 13 pilots and crew in the B-17 and B-24. A total of 57, 205 bomber crewmen died in WW II, a 46% mortality rate. Just think of the brave crewmen that could have been saved.

Damn good aircraft ! Thanks DroneScapes for this excellent video. 🙂👍

Gotta love military aviation 😁

35:30 thats an awesome shot, propellor planes and helicopters combined

My cousin Air Force Major Carl B. Light flew these in Nam. He was shot down over North Vietnam on his second tour but was rescued the next day. He said he was told he had the most expensive rescue of the war. Another plane was lost trying to rescue him, and those pilots had to be rescued. He made it home uninjured.

The A-10s grand-daddy.

LOVE the Spad!

I made a 1:72 model of this plane with a full load of ordinance. It was by far he heaviest 1:72nd model single engined aircraft I ever made.

Beast

Hello to all the Skyraider fans!

I swear this is the Piston prop version of the A-10 Warthog

4:32 A1 with a toilet seat equipped to a wing pylon!!

For some reason also I am reminded of Johnny Cashs I been Everywhere Man song when I see A1 Skyraiders flying its as if the pilots have been Everywhere

A design overnight, and all without computers.