Skyraider Squadrons

USAF

USN

USMC

VNAF

French, Armee de l'air

Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm

USAF

Disclaimer
(Prepared by "young" ret.USAF Spad driver, nuff said)
More mature individual (guy who done been there pre '71) volunteer need to clean up this mess

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USN

Disclaimer
(Prepared by ret.USAF Spad driver, nuff said)
Brown shoe volunteer need to clean up this mess

In order to access the squadron histories that are available
in pdf format, you will need to download and install the free Acrobat Reader
software from this link.

Squadron Histories	Flew Spads from	Skyraider models	Spad Combat	Before Spads	After Spads
VA-1L (ex VT-58)	1948	XBT2D-1, AD-2	-	TBM-3W	N/A
VFAW-4 (ex VC-4)	1955-1958
VAW-11 (ex VC-11)	1949-1960	AD-3/4W/2Q, EA-1F	Korea,Vietnam
VAW-12 (ex VC-12)	1949-1961	AD-4W, AD-5W	Korea		E-1B
VAW-13	19xx-1968	EA-1F	Vietnam		EKA-3B
VA-15	1950-1965	AD-4/4L, A-1H	-	TBM-3Q	A-4B
VA-16	1955-1958	A-1H	-	-	-
VA-24 (ex VA-1B)	1947-1949
VA-25 (exVA-2B)	1947-1968	A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)		A-7
VAQ-33 (ex VAAW-33, VC-33)	1950-1969	AD-4NL, AD-5N, AD-5Q (EA-1F)	Korea,Vietnam	F4F,TBF	EA-6B
VA-34	1948-1950
VAAW-35 (ex VC-35)	1950-1960	AD-4N	Korea
VA-35 (exVT-2,2B,3,4A)	1949	AD-1 AD-2	-	TBM-3W	-
VA-35 (ex VB-3B,4,3 VA-3A,34,35)	1949-1959	AD-1 AD-2 AD-2Q AD-3 AD-4 AD-4B AD-4L AD-4N AD-5 AD-6	Korea	SB2C-5	A-6A
VA-42 (ex VA-3B)	1947-1948
VA-45 (ex VA-4B)	1947-1957	AD-4B	Korea
VA-52	1959-1967?	A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)
VA-54 (ex VF-54)	1949-1957	AD-2/4/L/Q	Korea
VA-55	1949-1957	AD-4	Korea
VA-64 (ex VA-5B)	1947-1948
VA-65 (ex VA-6B)	1947-1959	AD-2, AD-4	Korea
VA-74	1949-1949
VA-75	1949-1963	AD-4	Korea
VF-92	1955-1957
VA-94	1949-1949
VA-95 (2)	1952-1965	AD-1, AD-4NA, AD-4, AD-4L, A-1H/J	Vietnam	F6F-5 Hellcats	A-4C Skyhawks
VA-96	1956-1958
VA-104	1953-1959
VA-105	1952-1958
VA-114	1948-1949
VA-115 (ex VA-12A)	1949-1967	AD-4/Q, A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)		A-6A Intruders
VA-122 (RAG)	1959-1968?	A-1H/J
VA-125 (ex VA-923)	1950-1957	AD-2, AD-4Q, AD-4, AD-3, AD-4B, AD-4NA, AD-6, AD-7	Korea	AM-1 Maulers	N/A
VA-125 (2) (ex VA-26)	1960-1962	AD-5		A-4C Skyhawks	A-4E Skyhawks
VA-126	1958-1958
VA-135	1961-1962
VA-144	1959-1959
VA-145 (ex VA-702)	1950-1968	AD-2/4Q, AD-4/L,A-1H/J	Korea,Vietnam(3)	Avengers	Intruders
VA-152	1959-1968	A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)		Skyhawks
VA-154	1948-1948
VA-155 (ex VA-728)	1951-1958	AD-4/L/Q	Korea		Skyhawks
VA-155	1948-1949
VA-165	1960-1966	A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)		Intruders
VA-174	1949-1949
VA-175	1948-1957
VA-176	1955-1966
VA-194 (ex VA-19A)	1946-1949
VA-195 (ex VA-20A)	1947-1959	AD-1, AD-4	Korea	Avengers	Skyhawks
VA-196 (ex VF-194)	1951-1966?	AD-4NA/Q, A-1H/J	Korea,Vietnam		Intruders
VA-215	1955-1965*	A-1H/J	Vietnam(3)		Corsair IIs
VA-216	1955-1959

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USMC

Disclaimer
(Prepared by ret.USAF Spad driver, nuff said)
Leatherneck volunteer need to clean up this mess

Squadron	Flew Spads from	Skyraider models	Spad Combat	Before Spads	After Spads	Tail Codes
VMCJ-1 (ex VMC-1)	1952-1958	AD-4N AD-4NL AD-2Q AD-3N AD-4Q AD-4W	Korea		F3D	RM
VMJC-2 (ex VMC-2)	1953-1958	AD-5W AD-5N			F3D	CY
VMJC-3 (ex VMC-3)	1952-1958	AD-3W AD-4W AD-4N			F3D	WZ
VMAT-10	1952-1953
VMAT-20	1952-1957	AD-1 AD-2 AD-4 AD-4L		F4U Corsair	F9F-6, F9F-8
VMA-121	1951-1961	AD-2 AD-3 AD-4N AD-4W	Korea		Skyhawks	AK
VMA-151	1951-1957
VMA-211	1952-1957	AD-4B			A-4	AF
VMA-212	1954-1957			F4U		WD
VMA-225	1954-1957	AD-5, AD-4B			A-4	CE, WI
VMA-251	1953-1957	AD-3, AD-4, AD-4B	Korea
VMA-324	1954-1958
VMA-331	1954-1958	AD-5 AD-6		SDB F4U	A-4	MP/ VL
VMA-332	1954-1956			F4U		MR

Bill Hahn has provided some of this info.

Bill Holmes, Jr. sent info along with some photos. Thanks Bill.

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Republic of Viet Nam Air Force

Disclaimer
(Prepared with the generous assistance of Leon Wohlert
Additional information is available on his VNAF Website)
VNAF Spad pilots needed to correct errors and/or ommissions)

Squadron	Flew Spads from	Skyraider models	Spad Combat	Before Spads	After Spads	Tail Codes
514th FS (ex 1st FS)	1963?-1975	A-1H	Vietnam	F8F-1 Bearcat	-	L, FF*
516th FS (ex 2nd FS)	1963?-1975	A-1H	Vietnam	T-28C/D	-	L*
518th FS	1963-1975	A-1H	Vietnam	-	-	K*
520th FS	1964-196?	A-1E/H	Vietnam	-	A-37B	V*
522nd FS	1965-196?	A-1E/H	Vietnam	-	F-5A	U*
524th FS	1965-196?	A-1E/H	Vietnam	-	A-37B	?
530th FS	1969-197?	A-1E/H	Vietnam	-	-	?

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*About the tailcodes:

The FF tailcode was most probably used only after 1973. It was found on one A-1H ( FFA ) that made it out in April 1975, in the large-large-small format.

The squadron letter for the 514th Fighter Squadron is L. Their aircraft would carry tailcodes like: LB , LE, so the first letter (large) is the squadron identifier, and the second letter (small) being the aircraft individual letter.

A-1Es of the 518th FS carried codes like KWA and KWC, with the smaller K and larger W being the squadron identifier and the smaller A and C being the aircraft identifiers.

The same rule applies for the A-1Es of the 520th FS, but their squadron identifier was VW and the tailcodes would look like VWC.

French Armee de l'air
Skyraider (Sky) Escadrille*

(Information kindly provided by Rene Francillon)

Altogether the French acquired 20 ex-USN AD-4s as well as 88 ex-USN AD-4Ns and 5 ex-USN AD-4NAs with the former three-seaters modified as single-seat aircraft with removal of the radar equipment and the two operator stations from the rear fuselage. (However, the French frequently used the aft station to carry maintenance personnel, spare parts and supplies to forward bases. In Chad they even used the aft station for a "bombardier" and his "special stores"--empty beer bottles--as these were considered as non-lethal weapons, thus not breaking the government-imposed rules of engagement, during operations against Libyan-supported rebels in the late sixties and early seventies. You may have seen this story printed elsewhere. It is true. I was first told about it by a first cousin who, as a Brig Gen in the French Army, commanded French forces in Chad when this "non-standard" operations took place!).

The AD-4N/NAs were initially acquired by the French to replace P-47Ds usedin operations against rebels in Algeria during the mid-fifties and early-fifties. At that time, France considered Algeria not as a colony but as an integral part of France with the natives given full privilege as French citizens. However, with the Soviet Union and others fanning the fire of independence (Have you read lately how many thousands of Algerians have killed in massacres since that unlucky country got its independence in 1962?), a nasty war was fought between 1954 and 1962.

The Skyraiders were first ordered in 1959 and the first was handed over to the French Air Force on 6 February 1960 after being overhauled and fitted with some French equipment (radios?) by the French manufacturer Sud-Aviation.

Escadron	Flew Sky from	Skyraider models	Sky Combat	Before Sky	After Sky	Tail Codes	Remarks
"Ouarsenis" 2/20	1960-63	AD-4N	Algeria	P-47D?	?	20-Qx	Escadron 2/20 "Ouarsenis" (2nd squadron of the 20th wing named after the province "Ouarsenis" in French Algeria--traditionally, French squadrons are named after provinces) beginning in April 1960 at Boufarik AB in Algeria with a detachment at Biskra, later Tebessa, also in Algeria. Inactivated in Algeria on 31 December 1963.
"Aures-Nementchas" 1/20	1960-63	AD-4N	Algeria, Djoubiti	P-47D?	?	20-Lx	Escadron 1/20 "Aures-Nementchas" from July 1960 at Boufarik with a det at Bone. Relocated to Bone, Algeria, in early September 1962 and then back to Boufarik in May 1963. Sent a four-aircraft detachment to Djibouti (then a French colony on the "horn of Africa"; it became independent in June 1977) in March 1963. Inactivated on 30 September 1963. (Most personnel and aircraft going to Escadron d'appui aerien 1/21--see below--in Djibouti.)
"Oranie" 3/20	1960-64	AD-4N	Algeria	P-47D?	?	20-Fx	Escadron 3/20 "Oranie" from October 1960 at Boufarik with a det at Oued Zenata, later Mecheria, in Algeria. Relocated to Oran-La Senia, Algeria, in September 1962. Redesignated Groupe de chasse 3/20 (Fighter Group 3/20) in November 1963 and remained in newly-independent Algeria until inactivated in March 1964. (Most personnel and aircraft going to Escadron de marche 2/21--see below-- to Madagascar.)
1/21	1963-72	AD-4N	Djoubiti, Chad	P-47D?	?	21-Lx	Escadron d'appui aerien 1/21 (1st Air Support Squadron of the 21st Wing) activated at Djibouti on 1 October 1963. It had been preceded there since March 1963 by a four-aircraft detachment from Escadron 1/20. This squadron sent a detachment to Fort Lamy (since renamed N'Djamena) in Chad during August 1968. Inactivated in Djibouti on 31 December 1972.
2/21	1964-73	AD-4N, AD-4NA	Madagascar	P-47D?	?	U*	Escadron de marche 2/21 (2d Temporary Squadron of the 21st Wing) activated at Ivato, Madagascar, on 30 June 1964 with 10 AD-4N/NAs. Redesignated Escadron d'appui aerien 1/21 (Air Support Squadron 1/21) later in 1964. Inactivated in Madagascar in August 1973.
"Ain" 1/22	1969-75	AD-4N	Chad	P-47D?	?	22-Dx	Escadrille legere d'appui aerien 1/22 "Ain" (Light Air Support Flight 1/21 named after the French province of Ain) activated at Fort Lamy/N'Djamena on 1 March 1969 to take over operations in Chad from the 1/21 detachment. Later enlarged to squadron size as Escadron d'appui aerien 1/22 "Ain" (Air Support Squadron 1/22). Returned to France in October 1975 to be inactivated.

* France donated fifteen Skyraiders to Cambodia in two batches (the first 10 being handed over in 1965), six Skyraiders to Chad (where they were flown by French mercenaries between 1976 and 1984), and eight Skyraiders to Gabon (where they were flown by French mercenaries serving with Gabon's Presidential Guard). The last Skyraider to bear French military markings (BuNo 126965, an AD-4N returned from Chad) made its final military flight at Bordeaux on 21 September 1979.

(Information kindly provided by Rene Francillon)

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