DOUGLAS SKYRAIDER AE-1

The Douglas "Skyraider" was a designed as a replacement for the USN’s highly successful WWII dive bomber - the SBD Helldiver.

At the time of its introduction to service, the Douglas Skyraider was the most powerful carrier-based aircraft ever built with its 3020hp, Wright R-3350 engine delivering a maximum speed of 340 knots and capable of carrying more ordinance weight than the famous B-17 Flying Fortress.

Its three station fuselage and underwing racks carried a wide assortment of ordinance including rockets, mines, torpedoes, bombs, and napalms.

The Skyraider performed well in Korea with both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and was described as the best close-support and interdiction aircraft in the world at that time. During one mission, Skyhawks destroyed the floodgates of the Hwachon Dam using torpedoes preventing the enemy from flooding two valleys and holding back the American advance.

In Vietnam, the Skyraider served with both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force and despite being a propeller-powered aircraft, the Skyraiders of the 77th Task Force hold the incredible feat of shooting down two Mig 17s.

Operating from carriers stationed off the coast in the South China Sea, the Skyraiders carried out bombing strikes and close air support operations and was used in operations against the Viet Cong strongholds in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. 

It picked up its famous call-sign "Sandy" as an integral element in the recovery of downed aircrew, when it joined a team of helicopters in a rescue operation providing suppression fire on the enemy forces while U.S. Air Force Sikorsky HH-3s (Jolly Greens) and Sikorsky HH-53s (Super Jolly Greens) plucked the down aircrew members.

The USN operated the Douglas Skyraider up until April 1968, after completing over 100,000 missions over Vietnam.

All Douglas Skyraider Instruments listed below come complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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  DOUGLAS AE-1 SKYRAIDER OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE (OAT) GAUGE

  Early USN Douglas AE-1 Skyraider Outside Air Temperature cockpit indicator

  $550.00

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  DOUGLAS SKYRAIDER AE-1 GENERAL ELECTRIC BU AERO MKV RPM GAUGE

  Rare MkV General Electric USN Douglas Skyraider AE-1 RMP Gauge...

  $690.00

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