Two Douglas AD-5Ws above the USS Forrestal
The photographs on this page represent various Navy Skyraider squadrons. Help is needed to do justice to this page. (hint, hint)
"Guppies" from VAW-12 in early 1956.
I joined VAW-12 in June of 1956 and our tail markings were "NE"
with the old blue paint scheme. When the Suez Crisis of November 1956 occurred,
I was in the VAW-12 detachment on the Forrestal's first deployment. By then,
the Navy had already started conversion to the Gull Gray/White color scheme.
In addition the Navy reorganized all aircraft tail markings and VAW-12's
new designator became "GE". -Thanks to Speed Ritzman
K 25539, AD-5W, USS Forrestal, VAW-12
K 12883
One of the most unusual missions of the Korean War was the use of F6F Hellcat drones from GMU-90 loaded with 1,000 pound bombs. The F6Fs had remote controls and television guidance cameras, which were controlled by VC-35 AD-4D drone controllers. One AD-4D controlled the F6F on the deck and during launch. The second waited until the F6F was airborn before taking over control.
(From Douglas A-1 Skyraider by Larry Davis and Dave Menard, 1997)
KKE 69162 Patrick AFB, 24 Jun 61
KN 5308, VT-30