The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Outpost Harry - Korea (June 10-18, 1953) - June 10th, 2003

http://btainc.com/OPHSA/OPHSA_Intro.htm ^ | Compiled by SAMWolf

[skeeter]

Thanks for the ping, SAI. Hard to believe the US is only now beginning to leave the DMZ.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Larry! I have heard the Morning Doves cooing, I love their voice.

Enjoy the baby Robins, the sun and the new day!

I have another day of waking up to sunshine! Hard to believe but I am going to enjoy it in spite of myself!!LOL

[larryjohnson]

Thank you both!

[snippy_about_it]

Your welcome.

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
Douglas A(d)-1 Skyraider

Origin, WWII:
The Douglas "Skyraider" was a design submitted to the U.S. Navy as a replacement for the famous SBD dive-bomber. Originally designated as the XBT2D-1, the new aircraft made its maiden flight on March 18, 1945, two weeks ahead of schedule. It was the most powerful carrier-based aircraft ever built. Its single engine with its three fuselage stations and six racks on each wing could carry varied assortments of ordnance including rockets, mines, torpedoes, bombs, and napalms. In fact, it could carry more ordnance weight that that of the famous Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The Navy gave Douglas a letter of intent of 543 aircraft, but the order was reduced to 277 after VJ (Victory in Japan) Day. In 1946, the aircraft was designated as "AD-1."

The Remaining Years (Korea and Vietnam):
Few aircraft have been known by so many names as the Skyraider. At various times in its career, it was designated the BT2D, AD (Able Dog), A -1, and was also affectionately called the Destroyer, Hobo, Spad, Sandy, and the Flying Dump Truck.

Following the AD-1 came 178 AD-2s, 193 AD-3s and 1,051 AD-4s. These performed various roles as daytime and all-weather attack, radar patrol, and electronic countermeasures. In 1951 the variant two-seater AD-5 appeared, with a bigger cabin, and a year later production resumed with 713 single-seater AD-6 versions. The last version was the 72 AD-7s in 1955.

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

In Vietnam, the Skyraider was employed by both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. From carriers in the South China Sea, the Skyraiders carried out bombing strikes and close air support operations. It 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. It joined a team of helicopters in the rescue effort. it provided suppressive fire on the enemy while U.S. Air Force Sikorsky HH-3s (Jolly Greens) and Sikorsky HH-53s (Super Jolly Greens) plucked the down aircrew members.

Despite being a propeller-powered aircraft, A-1H Skyraiders of the 77th Task Force hold the incredible feat of shooting down two Mig 17s.

The Navy used the Skyraider up until April 1968, completing over 100,000 missions over Vietnam. Surplus Skyraiders were turn over to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). The U.S. Air Force continued to use the Skyraider in rescue operations.

Specifications:
Country of Origin: United States of America
Primary Function: Carrier-Borne Attack-Bomber
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company - El Segundo, California
Crew: Pilot Only
First Flight: 11 March 1945 XBT2D-1

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 50 feet 0.25 inches
Length: 38 feet 10 inches
Height: 15 feet 8.25 inch
Wing Area: 400.33 square feet
Weights: Empty: 11,968 lbs - Loaded: 18,106 lbs - Maximum: 25,000 lbs
Powerplant: One - Wright R-3350-26W Cyclone, air cooled, 18-cylinder radial, 2,700-hp

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 322-mph at 18,000-feet
Cruising Speed: 198-mph
Climb Rate: 2,850-fpm
Service Ceiling: 28,500-feet
Normal Range: 1,316-miles

Armaments:
Four 20-mm cannon;
8,000-lbs of external stores on one underfuselage and 14 underwing hardpoints

Visit the The Able Dogs website.
This is a site for Skyraider vets and has 22 galleries of photos and tons of other information

All photos Copyright of The Able Dogs

[Valin]

I'm forced to admit we're both pretty great!

[SCDogPapa]

Hi!!!

[SCDogPapa]

Hi!!!

[SCDogPapa]

Hi!!!

[snippy_about_it]

Hi!!!

Oh my goodness, still got that triple post problem. Amazing. :(

Thanks for checking in!!!

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Flint (CL-97)

Oakland class light cruiser
Displacement. 6,000 t.
Lenght. 541'6"
Beam. 53'2"
Draft. 16'4"
Speed. 33 k.
Complement. 623
Armament. 12 5",8 40mm, 16 20mm, 6 21" tt.

USS Flint (CL-97) was launched 25 January 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif., sponsored by Mrs. R. A. Pitcher, and commissioned 31 August 1944, Captain C. R. Will in command.

Flint reported to the 3d Fleet for duty at Ulithi 27 December 1944, and 6 days later sailed with TF 38 for a month-long cruise in support of the invasion of Luzon. She screened carriers as they launched strikes on Luzon, Taiwan, and the China coast, and fired protective antiaircraft cover during a Japanese kamikaze attack on 21 January 1945. Replenishing at Ulithi from 26 January to 10 February, Flint then sailed with newly designated TF 58 for air strikes on Tokyo preceding the attack on Iwo Jima. Her force arrived off Iwo Jima 21 February to fly air support for the Marines who had landed 2 days previously, and Flint returned to Ulithi 12 March for a brief 2 days of replenishment.

Putting to sea with TF 58 for strikes against Kyushu in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa, Flint aided in bringing down several airplanes in heavy attacks on the task force from 18 to 22 March 1945. The task force then closed Okinawa, and Flint with other cruisers bombarded beach installations in preparation for the landings on 1 April. Aside from the period 14 to 24 May, when she was at Ulithi for upkeep, Flint operated off Okinawa until 13 June, when she anchored in Leyte Gulf.

Flint sortied from Leyte 1 July 1945 to screen the final air attacks on the Japanese home islands and to join the bombardment of the east coast of Honshu until the cessation of hostilities. On 24 August, she took station off Nii Shima to serve as rescue ship and homing station for transport planes carrying occupation troops to Japan. Between 10 and 15 September, she lay in Tokyo Bay, then sailed with a carrier task force to provide air and sea surveillance of Central Honshu until 21 September.

The cruiser made a voyage from Japan to Eniwetok, then loaded homeward bound servicemen at Yokosuka 13 October 1945, bringing them into San Francisco Bay 28 November. After sailing to Kwajalein to bring home more servicemen eligible for discharge, Flint reported at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., 11 January 1946, and there was placed out of commission in reserve at Bremerton 6 May 1947. She was reclassified CLAA-97 (Light anti-aircraft cruiser) on 18 March 1949. She remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in September 1965. USS Flint was sold for scrapping in October 1966.

Flint received four battle stars for World War II service.

[snippy_about_it]

Wonderful Johnny, thanks.

[snippy_about_it]

forced?

LOL!

[snippy_about_it]

Good Morning and thank you aomagrat.

[manna]

Present!

[Darksheare]

I'm in.
Let me guess.
I said "vacation" and SAM got the idea to take a vacation?

Ooops.

Thanks for the ping.
And let us know when he gets back.
That way you too can take a breather.
(Or just 'chill' with the gang.)

[snippy_about_it]

Ha ha. Yes, it's all your fault. lol.

He has two weeks he has to put up with his in-laws living in his home and taking over the room his computer is in.

He just sends me his already prepared threads and I am posting for him cuz he can't get in the room until almost noon EST and that would be too late to post a daily thread.

They don't get up until late and they go to bed early so he hasn't much of a chance to sign in. The next couple of days he's at a seminar and has his son's graduation, he has to entertain the IL's, whew, see, he's very busy.

I know he is looking forward to being able to get on here early and late once the his IL's leave. :)

He's miserable without us. LOL.

[Darksheare]

*Ugh*
I could.. um.. .make a visit of the friendly naighborhood Darksheare?
"The power compels you!"


Tell Sam good luck.

[snippy_about_it]

I will.

He'll see your post, his time is just so restricted he doesn't have much time between logging on to check the Foxhole and his mail. :(

I expect once the IL's leave I will hardly be able to get a word in edgewise around here. lol.

[larryjohnson]

Well, I got to see the last 2/3 robins leave the nest. The last one after a parent delivered two bugs. These babies almost looked full grown and even had speckled red breasts. I have been spleckling mine too long in the sun so I came back in. There is a poem here somewhere.