Douglas AD Skyraider

202 Pages·1999·34.68 MB·English

by  Peter C. Smith

The Douglas Skyraiderwas Peter C. Smith hasworkedasboth
designed as areplacement for theDouglas book and magazine editor but hasbeen a
SBDDauntlessand bythe timeit was full-time historian and writer for many
introduced it looked likean anachronism. years.Heistheauthorof manymagazine
Whilst military aeroplanes were getting articles.sevencollections ofshort stories
sleeker and faster and werepowered by jet and anovel. but is better known for his
engines,the Skyraider was alarge, meticulously researched factual history
propellor-driven monoplane that looked books on aviation. military and naval topics.
ungainly.Lookscan be deceiving and the As well asbeing extensively published in
Skyraider was to earn the affection of its theUnited Kingdom,the UnitedStates and
crews and of many ofthe people it Australia. Peter'sbooks have been
supported in the ground wars in Korea and translated into Chinese.German.Japanese,
Vietnam and in some smallerconflicts. It Italianand Swedish.Hisexpertise isalso
went on to serve in ten differentairforces called upon as aconsultant for television
and for morethan twenty-five years, documentaries.Peter is amemberof the
undertaking rolesasdiverseas dive Society ofAuthors,London and hereceived
bombing, airborne early warning.air-to-air the Royal MarineHistorical Society Award
refuelling, nuclear strikeandcasualty for 1987/88.Originallyfrom Norfolk. Peter
evacuation. nowlivesin Bedfordshire.
What gavetheSkyraider its reputation and
longevity wasitsexcellent load-earrying
capability. its rangeand endurance.and its
adaptability.Powered by asingle 2.700hp
Wright Cyclone.theSkyraidercould carry a
largerweapon load than manyWorld War
Two bombers.It served with distinction in
Korea and Vietnam with the UnitedStates
Navy,Air Forceand Marine Corps,and was
used as an airborne early warning
aeroplane by the Royal Navy.The Skyraider
was also used by Franceand some smaller
nations.such as South Vietnam,Chad, Laos
and Cambodia.
Dive-bombing historian Peter C.Smith tells
the full story of thedesign.development
and longoperational useof thisoften
underrated aeroplane. Using archive
material and first-hand accounts.thisnew
addition tothe rangeof Crowood Aviation
bookswill appeal to anyone with an interest
in military aviation.
Fordetailsofourotheraviation titles,andacopy
ofourcatalogue.writeto:
TheCrowoodPress
Ramsbury
Marlborough
Wiltshire
SN82HR
Cover design byAnnetteFindlay
£29.95
PrintedinGreatBritain
.......".,
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•11....
LAUNCH A SKYRAllJER!
WHEREISTHEENEMY,
Admiral wants sec!
(0
Wh,u will the order he!
'Launch a Skvraidcr!'
Deck pitchingout uf sight.
Seahawksan:sining tight,
Venoms won't fly tonight;
'Launch a Skvraider!'
Oft cornes the plainnvc wail.
'How can we get the mail!'
Presson through ice and hail
'Launch a Skvmider!'
Ship gets herselfa clout
how will they son it
Oll(!
You bet your life they'llshout
'Launch a Skvraidcr!'
What keeps them on the hoil!
Hard work and skilful roil;
Takesa lot of midnight oil to
'Launch a Skvraidcr!'
Offwhen it'sfoul orfine, pitch
black or bright sunshine;
Three cheersfor 849, when tllI..'Y
'Launch a Skvmtdcr.'
(Bykind1l\'nni.~silJlllJf
LrCdrP.G.W.Morris.RN,
'0' Fli/{ht,HMS Bulwark, /958)
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,..
••
D o u g l a , A D
r s u e r
Peter C. Smith
The Crowood Press
,.,...."".d
~lr.".
F'N1"1t>Ir,h~11rI 1'1'Nt>~' Dedication
11...C",,,,,_ Irn''''1I,1 To the memoryofArthur Pcurcv- aviation historian anJ friend.
R,,,n,N.'I).,t.r!I'.>T,>u.:h
W,Il,h'Il:~NIi21lR
c.
r~·1t'f Slmlh 1<N9
Alln.:hu~'rJ.N"I'd"...1Ih~rut>IKa""nIn.,,'
.....rq>l\,JucrJ.".Ir."''ffi'lIrJ,ndnj't<>rm,,,-"',any
ITW"dlU,elecree uc'" m«ru.nKd\',nd..JlflJ:
f'ho.Ol'.....'f'~·.rt'C,,,.Jml<:.'''',onv,ni",nulk'".r,,,..~
dnJ"'1T..,v~1~~..r<'m,""Ih"",f'l'1Tlll""k'",n"TII'f\K
1',,,",rhorf'lIt>h..hcT-,
Brili_hlib....'"C~ul...teuint·in.Put>lic~li<>nlbu
ACdl..k'l."""'r<'<;"rJ i",th" h....>l. ...."..,bN.- in)fll
lhorfirm'" L,......ry
!"h<Ol''I:T.,pI.rr"""1Wr-'l-....:J'-rI.'j',nJ(he Unl'l""
·...,m......".•oJ'·.''f'<"nm.:.fu....l..I,'<'·Il1<.un'c:JJ,vr
''''.In,..Shor.u.kr.c....k.J410R,ups......, mto Its
drve. USN..vy"t!'CM!.
T"I'<'(.K,·."...·,1:(,,,",h'('ncl.
(:tichenh"mlhto,lJm,l/:ll.
Tn"·..·.'.IIlJ,1,·".:n~....1t>v
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Contents
Introduction anJ AcknowlcJgemcnts 7
WARTIME PROGRESSION OFTHE DIVE BOMBER 9
2 FALSE START
The Douglas Destroyer 16
3 LAST CHANCE
A NewConcept is Bom 21
4 A STROKEOFGENIUS
Development of the Daunrless-ll 29
5 THE SKYRAIDER DESCRIBED 37
6 THESKYRAlDER JOINS TilE FLEET 51
7 EXPERIMENTS, MODIFICATIONS AND
[MPROVEMENTS 59
8 COMBAT OVER KOREA
The US Navy Experience I 75
9 COMBAT OVER KOREA
The US Marine Corps Experience 87
10 THEAEW
The Royal Navy Experience 91
I [ FURTHER DIVERSIFICATION [OJ
12 DELIVERING THE GOODS III
13 TARGET TUG
The Swedish Experience 125
14 COMBAT OVER VIETNAM
The US Navy Experience I! 129
,,,....,,,,.d
~I'.".
15 COMBAT OVER VIETNAM
The USAF Experience 139
16 COMBAT OVER VIETNAM
The YNAF Experience 151
17 SMALLWARS
The French Experience 159
18 END OFTHE LINE FOR THE SPAD 163
19 SPAD SURVIVORS 169
Appendix I AD-I BuNo 09155- Performance Data 181
Appendix II Rescue Radio 183
Appendix III All-Weather Skvraider VA(AWl-33 184
188
Notes
Index 190
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•11.
Introduction and Acknowledgements
The ~ thestoryofa WI')' famousaircratr, Brilish Royal Navv, the Vicrn.uuc....... Air ,al\·,IIIlIO.In Ihl'li~htufrhc 'o\"ayIn which
certamlvone of [he t..m,l;.'e'l ser\"in~ and F...ece, thl' French ATTrk.~ J... rAir.till' US theSlYTaiJcr wascon sidered bvthe-ert'U..
bes IOH'J ci Its kind. Like (ffiln)" fam,Ill.' Air Force,,11ll1theairforces tlfClInh. li.., plc, thecritics'\'iC\I,SonJive born....·rscan
dive bombers, the Ot.lll~b.S AD Skvratdcr G,lhon and Chodl.hut alm'''''1 [rom II Itl rca......mahlyIx-Ji,mi:...~.
_,.,con.~iJt..reJ an anachrornsrn hy cnncs jl......ln 'klliti"n. rhc~k~'rai,k:te..rncd more ~tythanks,asalways.~ofiNrothcnu-n
.ho.manal:t'olscreamingjets,ctllllJ not than its fair shan' of nickn..nw", over the wh,}actuallvflewtheaircran.1111'Usi, the
N,\N ushumely fcarures and rm ye;m.:the 'Daunrless-Il', in J...·!l·wnn·to ib real siory anJ theiropinions are the oru-,
peller-dnvenrnlf'Ul,ilm.What tho-c nit (;1I1'k.II1.S f'n....k"\."l"~or fwm the same 'Iahll'; th.u count. Th..,y arc Admiral ~ir j"ho
IC~l'lIleJtusee.in theSkymidl'raswella~ [he ·Ahle,l\.~· hom It.'> fiN ,ll·S11'.1l.llion Treachcr, KCR; Chuck Mulbnl"Y. US
m cder aIrcraft of it! tvpc, was that it.'> AD; the·Sp;....!·. I't.·GIII~· II wa.' .....01,1;,11'1.1. Navv, RIJ;CharlesR.Shuford,USNon'y,
mhrn:nteccurecv, itsabilityto lonerover I~l"oJly.iJ,,'1l11rinc usI'n·t.:lshll\ ,1Il,laccu RIll; Lreurenam-Cornrnander L Willialll
me
hankfu:1J,tIlJuseaseofmaintenance. racv,[hl'·Ayin.c: DUlllpTnKk'. 1)11,..,USN. RIJ.l.icurenanr-Comm.mder
(P) Pl'rcyG.W.~1t'rri" RN.RIJ;fr.'lll C.
Kll",I!.:,,'r. USMC; and Ron Mc~b..tcrs
USN.
I w'lUlJ hke hIexpress my J,:ralltu<!c for
th.., 'lUhlan..lll\~ help of Cumm,tn,I.".
~tl'rlwn J.Riordan IV, USN,;1t till" Pen
tal.:"n. Idlll>C' valuable and unreserved
as,i,lance was vital to my re-carch. Simi
brl~', Iadn,,"1t..J~t.·1I\C""ul~lanJill~ha..:k·
Ill~ I rt.·o.'in·,lfromMark L. Ev'm~, Ili'I"
nan. ,IT the Naval Avuuum Ili~l<fl)'
Branch, Naval Hisl.lrical Center, \Vil,h
in~ltlll, DC, for his help, anJ for makinl.:
available 1I1t., EJ llctncmann Skyr,li,ll'r
l'rcs-,Ih·k·a'l· fllr In)' use: H,E. ()o~ker, Jr.
SeniorMember.A\'i,l1i"111 Rtlardoflnspcc
non and Survey at Furuxent River NAS,
tLLtr\'I'HlJ, fur many valuahk· ,1''':lIml'l1l~
conccmc..l with the original lc~ting ,111.1
All'd).2utTYi"1ltorp.don.two500lbbombs endlwelve 5illlOCketsinIIighl over cvalu.monIII'theXBT2D-1auclAI)-I air
NATCPal\lxl1llRivl',MD,illSeptember1950, NOllonalAfch,Yes,CollellePo'k,MD nOlft;COlwlA, Kn'll,FOIACo-or.1l1laIOr,
Tl·..:hnical ruh1i~hin.c: Te,ulI, Naval Air
\'(l"rt"are Cenll'r Aircraft [)ivi~i(ln, P,IlUX
l'lll River, t\bl)'[im.1; the Archi\'i'l, US
~ItarricelN a........,t<lthl"HIt'I''''t,n thl' ,S,.llll<' (If lht.' nid.mullcs were rUlllph, Pall'lll i1n.1Tr.ldl'mark OfficI..', Wa~hio.c:­
gn.lt.mJ m the/;:rimconllirlSof Korea an.1 lllt.'ntary, ....'me derugillt'ry. rout aim.I" "II. too,LlC;C"mman.ler,Nal'alAirWarfare
VlCtnam. Thl"SCfacton tUffiloJ till' ·oh....) fin"lIy, rdlec[t'..1 ;) fl'Il.lm·~~ I,ll' Ihl' "ir Cl'llfl'r Aircraft [livisiun. r,IlIlXl·nt Riwr,
bcml'Sl)'raiJerfrum"'-llllethin.c:01itII,h· (rafl. nc~ritt.' ""·l'min.c: ..I.....ily, 10 lx·nUl I,f !\lal)'lanJ.
an.! an C'm"'arr.~~mcnt into an all-roun.l rLJce, the SkyTili,k'r won lhe hearh Ilj Thanhal",\to Fr.mk Hu.l~on.hi'fOrlOlO
ll£hllnjl:mdt:hine.The .11\'1..' h.'mh.·ren'n mtlStwhofll'..... ii,.lr\\"hIIJq~n.ll·..I UJ'llil II ;mJ !rlcnJ;!\bninBowman.hislOrianaoJ
11.IOl1I~·\Io'on{l\'ere\'l'nIheUSAF,whichha,1 1~lr tht.'ir S<lfl,ty. GI, in rllt' (\11.1\\"a'[l'~ Ilf hil'n,l;L'Ik"(HC) Pierre [\.IU'.......[,Ch.-fdu
~ fOf ~ Ilml1: hlloJ ttl it.'> mt.'rirs ;IIl..l lht.·Korean lTl·nchl.....urin the~ll·,lInyIll'.l1 lA:p.:rrr~Jk'l1!. Gt.""tlon dl"" PrnJtKtiom.
;comfulofilSc11J!it' ~rrt.ln rule:. of the SOlllh-E..~{ Asi,1IlJunde. 111<1\' n,ll ECPA, F"nJ·h'I)'.Fr.m..:e;LxLil'Ulen,lIll·
w.:C'al1long-5er\'inli:anJ multi'ruk' mll have known Wh'l their l'lll'my w,,, "n Ihl' Colonel Au,s;I\"~', Dira:!t."UT de ,.EwNisst·
lUI)'aircraft.lheSkYr.liJl·rwent lhrou.c:h;) .c:rnunJ. rout (hl'r km'w Iht.'}, coulJ rely"n 1Th'fl1Cin,fma!(~~te et Phlll'~aph~
hr..11deri~ ra~ o( ~i~'IlilI1IJn", which Ihal f,llllitiar sounJ ;lllJ I'rt'(lll' in Ihl' ~ky, J..,s Annel;'s. Fun J'h-I)'. Flann'; Kel'in
(~noll>nlyfroml'lf'CTiilllr1<111f'Cr:.({.r Simit.rly, fur ,lnwneJ pillll~ Jl'l'r in R. Smith of Fredericbl-urg. Vir.c:inia. fl'r
(the-USNa\"I'.theUS 1-1.lI'1neG.rl'''. lhe enemr-hclJ 'erritu,",'.,heSkyr,u.ll'rO1l';111I hi~ rhllh",,-'T,lrh~; Ra~' C, Stunin'm jor
7
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~h.lI.
AnAD-iIBuNo1391311inIhghton7October1955.N.~Artlwes.CoIq,P,rt.MD
I'holll.l..'r'irhs "f till.' Royal Navy AEWs; ranee in my Tl.'''I.·arch into Roval Navv rhc r-.kCklbn Aviation MU'il.'lIm,Califor·
Audrcv Pcarcv, widow uf my much.nuocd Skvraiders: Rol-en C. Mikesh. (or his nia, f,)r dl"tails and pholo",'1'<1rhs of thtir
/.:"0" frien.j ;lIld fellownurhor Arthur. for expert advice 011 the South Vietnamese Skvraldcr: DeniseA(lllin~t'r,and l).Menard
her many kindlwss"s and hospitality,and Air Force Skvratdcrs, ami forhis pcrmis of Ihl.' Unncd Stall's Air Force Museum
(or ~ivin.l.' rue her rlC..muesjon (rt't'ly t,1u......· sit," to rcpn....lucc .....ime ,,(his"Ulsl;mdin.l.' Writ.:lu-Pmtl.'r'..on Air Force1\1-c,Ohio,fl.
Arthur's l.·xlt'n,iH· notes anJ rholl't.:rarhs rhllltlj.'f'iph,.;Stewart Lmh'1Il1.(orj-crrms Jl'wilsand rholOgr.irh., o( rbcir Sk}TaiJer.
..,(the RoyalN;lvyAEWs;Keith Ferris,tlile sion 10 usc his special Vielnamt'''I'. photo anJ courtesv Jurin!:myresearch vrsir [herr:
..'(the(nun.Il.·rs. "Iun/.: wuh R.G. Smith, ..l( grdrh; Tom A. Br"....-n.US M.mlWCorps Lyt\lLl SralJin~ and Mamn Espen ciThr
rhe American SocicrvofAviatiun Arti~lS; Marine P,....rnbcrs Newt, Kmcsron. Oluo. FiJ;.:htt·r C ollccnon. 31 the lmpenal W.
Ray \Y/aj..'nc..r an..1Alex ]. Lutz, at the San for hisgreal help in ItlCillinJ.: veter.m...md Mu-curn. Duxford Aufield,C lml>r.Jge.b
Dll.'J.·..-..Aero-pace ~tU,.t"lim. for rermission J....cumcnt..;andAlano(Fmnk SmithAvr Jt..t'llisofrhcrr Skvraidcr,"oJrt..nni5.,ion
It. usc rhOltlJ,.'mrhs trom their collecnon: arion, Ne.....ca-rle-upon-Tvne. tor uniallmg rhoh....,:rarh II; fk>b Turner, CUi.Hor.Cce
Kalhll't'n Klenholz, Archivist, Amcncan anJ unsliht.,J hell' in tr.J.:king J"wn rure mander DaviJ Hobbs,RN,A:o.,blantOn
Aca<lemy.,f Ans and Letters. New York, rc:(erencc.'sdown the years. tor, <It\lI]eITY Shore. Histori.m, allciTle
NY; MIII1~' Lloyd. Stlcil·.IY of lllu-muors, ~ty dl.'l.·pt".S1gr.ltltudc isalSl.Idoc to Cluf At't't AirArm Museum, Yellvihon,Som.:r.
New York. NY; Patricia McGinnis, for &myas. Archive~ Reference Tc.uu,Smith· set, fur111I.'1rkinJ hosrilaillyand forJetat~
hdpmgmes" muchduringmyrcsc.uch in soru.m lnsntute, Washingh'll, DC;Gerard lI( rlll'lr Skvnudcrs at 'rcovilton and Cui.
Ihe l\.llI.l.'las Archives at Lakewood. Los Pahl, E..Iucatiun Directorof thl.'KaLulla:o" dro-c, and permission to take and Ib(
Angdes,andIi'r.l.'T;\1lIingmef'l'nnissi,'11III Aviation Histol)' Must'um, fllr ,ll.'lail.,and rhlllll)..'raphs o( Ihe aIrcraft; an" Hugh V.
uS<' rhOloj,.'mphs and ljuotc dirtocdy (wm rhohlj.,'r<lrhs o( their Skyrai.ll'r: Troy R. ~l"lrJ.:'lIl. Acaverxrt't'k,Ohill,fllrhisrOOr<>'
JocumC:llIs hl·.kl III Ihe <lrchi\'es Iht'll'; Sne'kl. PlIhlic Af(;iirs Officer. I\"ranmenl grarhic exreni~.
G.A. Smuh, Sccrl.'laf'i N,walHumee ml' ..-.(Ihe Navy, Naval Air St,lIi"n Oceana,
mand, Viewry RuiIJini.:, HM Naval Basc, Virginia(\each,(tlrdetailsanJ rh.,It....'.f<lrhs Pd erC. Smidl
Punsmtluth.ftlrkind helpanJvalut..,Jas.~i~· of their Skyrai,I....r, Wil1i;ml R. l\.lI.lfler, u( Ri~Ie"
8
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CHAPTERONE
Wartime Progression of the Dive Bomber
Thet.m~· ~~MS {ilheSecood WorlJ War [)aunrlo.'.haJrbyc•.Jthell\'IJ.1ft.'1...-.A~til(' hl whether rhc~ '11'\1 hnheno .....parate,
lfItirmeJ tUlly rbe tmh rb,u the U01Tt..J war in rbc Pao lic connnucd. rh..•Cum" hili Illuru,llly dcpendcnr ri..l..... might be
:--r """ "~" In lheir pre-war policy haJ SR2CHdIJIH'rh..J finallyI,.h·!l over the eoml-lIwJ III..ne arrcratr.
N In me- dive bomber Ob ;I m.nor front-line role tlf the D.ltlllll...~~, anJ the At fir..t... prorosal to merge the tW\1
(j1lo....lnEunl('e.lhe RO~<JIN,wy's [apan...'se N.u·y's )'"k"sllb I'4)' ~lIi"""1 j;..nus ..I arrack in one aner,lfl ....·I.·Illt..J
HunSluaJIve bomberhaJ achic\'t..-J Comet (,JuJy') ..lIn.'hl.lmh.·r h..J rcpl...:c.J absurd. »nce rhc methods were l"lally
thtftlJlf!'cirbe jiM mljor ","aThhip. rhc the Val. hJl their .!I\·e·h,mblll~ IIll1lk'ncl·. contra-tmg. Thedivebombern,lll.J li,rih
.:ru:..et'K~. &'t\l'-,,~'fl 1939anJ 19-11, rcrnamcd paramocmt.' ..h....lull' ~ureTl<Jrlly over orhcr 'H~.·~ III
LutN. e'~junkersju.87. incombma hun"""r ou rh.. ~urrri-e anJ ,ICCIIT;"':y
lm
1m .... [hePanzers,h.JJcleared nar«In mhcrcnt masteepdiveattac];froma,l!real
lttn natklfl in Iil:hlnin,g camf"li,-'Il~ rhar Combining Roles hl·l,I!ht.TIletorpc..J.Ih..rnbcr.'In rbc",rht'r
aJ .1d~ ,mJ wt't"h rather rhan }"C<lr!'>. hand. made Ib attacks alm,....' fe'llhl·nnJ,:
~'hrnrhePaCificWatl·Tuptt.Jin Decernb,..r On land. the JIH' htlll1h.'r~ wen- m 1..uc- lilt"wave-tops,'0..nsureasrru"It'lhdr.'p."'..
1941.nIl......rheJa~nt.".'<AichrDlA 'Val' t.:c!>...fulwhenIheyw..rkcd in do....:e ••'1'I:r- Ih,u ih hi!::hly -cnsuivc 'OTJX.J...weapon
l bnmh.-r that spcarhceded the attach auon with the I'arcco. whilt',ut -n, tlw wouIJrunandoperatecorrectly.TIlt"Ct'IlI'
n.ima.kII'marlalPearlHarbor,ron[),tr· Paunlk'~~ ,mJ Illl' Val .lChll'n-J m....t hmall"n "fborh mcrh....I~ wa..considered
IlinmJIn thl' InJi,mOcean. \Vlwn the whl'n workinl:: in a rl';11llwirh Ihl'irh'I'J"·l· l'~~l'lUial hI sink Iaq.!.. \\·<!",hir'" anJ c-pc
ti!hr-h<Klcame,11"";-I_withtill' c:lrri,'t-".. d'l-h..mh<:r c...mp'lTli.'ns. ,hl' (,rUUlIlla" eiall~' hlllle~hir~.
~.hk'l~uftheRaubutIh,'COt'<I\Sc,I TRD A\"l'n~t'r ,111,1till" N,lbpl1la BSN Whll...,m<ll-cur;Hl'JiH·.h.,mhin,l!attack
mJ ~hJ\I,I\': hl're,the~t.m{I,lrJ US Navy K;IIl', rl·~JX·elin·lr. 1I'''\\'I.·\'l·r, ;h rill' W,II mil:hr C;1l1~l' ~il:ni(icanr Jam"!::l' III Ihe
,11\1."h.lffih:r.thenluch-l,l\'N [),,)lJda~SIU) c.'n!inlle.!,qlle~1i"n..h-,~an I...l'l' ,hkl.·J ".. wllo...ll'n Jl,,<h of American ,mJ J;ll'''m·.....
n..........ao.,lnS8Olllndin wu from!he$ame$fableInddesigner ISltIe
$ly!MIr.r...SSD·SbelOll"10ItIelolli Sllrflighl MU5ellm,Indisslill f1yinglodlY.In
,1tJ7,II ..... ResentGrlllllChlmpioll-.:Oshkosh. lJ,Zilir.t.-StarflIghlMII_
9