General Background

The A-1 Skyraider originated as a carrier-based torpedo and dive bomber. Deliveries as the AD-1 to the Navy began in November 1946 and in 1962 was renamed A-1. It was the first single-seat torpedo/dive bomber to serve with the Navy. The primary mission of the A-1 was close air support for ground troops because of its heavy ordnance load and accuracy. The aircraft had great success in Korea and Vietnam. There were 3,180 Skyraiders built in seven major models and 28 different versions. There were 266 A-1s lost in Vietnam.

Some nicknames - Able Dog, Spad, Sandy, Hobo, Firefly, Zorro and "Crazy Water Buffalo," a VNAF nickname.

The Aircraft

In October 1965 to commemorate dropping the six millionth pound of ordnance in Vietnam Navy CDR Clarence Stoddard of VA-25 flying an A-1H “Paper Tiger II” carried a special weapon, a damaged toilet. It was placed in a makeshift rack under the right wing and code named Sani-Flush. Stoddard began a dive and released the load. The wind caught it and it just missed a second aircraft. This made for a lot of jokes about using germ warfare.