US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft) [Paperback]

Rick Burgess (Author), Zip Rausa (Author), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Combat Aircraft | Publication Date: March 31, 2009

Osprey's examination of the A-1 Skyraider Units' participation in the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Designed and built as a carrier-based attack aircraft in 1944, the A-1 reached frontline units too late to see combat in World War II (1939-1945). With the advent of jets in the late 1940s, the Skyraider was seen as a dated throwback to the golden age of piston-engined naval aviation. Despite its days seemingly numbered, the A-1 proved to be a huge success in the Korean War. Remaining in production through to 1957, some 3,180 Skyraiders had been built by the time the last one left the Douglas plant.

Nicknamed the ''flying dump truck'', the A-1 remained a key component in naval air wings into the 1960s, allowing the aircraft to play its part in the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Both A-1 attack and EA-1F airborne early warning aircraft saw action in Southeast Asia from 1960 through to 1969, when the last examples were finally retired from carrier decks. The A-1s in particular bombed targets in both North and South Vietnam, despite the aircraft being highly vulnerable to enemy flak and fighters. Co-written by a two-tour Vietnam War combat veteran in the A-1, this is the first book that focuses exclusively on the aircraft's service in Vietnam, providing a must-have volume for Vietnam aviation enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Designed and built on a carrier-based attack aircraft, the A-1 never saw combat in World War II and eventually was viewed as dated. But it proved its worth during the Korean War and earned a reputation as a craft able to carry any weapon in the naval arsenal. This history comes packed with black and white photos and is a 'must' for any serious military collection." -California Bookwatch (June 2009)

"Number 77 in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series, US Navy 1-2 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War combines the skills of two former editors of Naval Aviation News, Richard R Burgess and Rosario M Rausa, the latter of whom had the personal experience of flying A-1s in two combat tours over Vietnam. All Navy units that served between 1960 through final withdrawal from the theater in 1969 are covered, with photos and color profiles to illustrate some of the striking markings with which the Spads went into battle. Firsthand accounts add a vital extra dimension to the narrative, including the occasional hair-raising encounters these lumbering but tough old birds had with surface-to-air missiles and MiG-17a - two of which were shot down by Skyraiders in the course of the war." -Jon Guttman, Vietnam Magazine (August 2009)

"Overall, it is an excellent book on a subject that is both historically significant and fascinating to read. It is one I can highly recommend." -Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com (April 2009)

About the Author

Rick Burgess is a retired naval flight officer who served in two patrol squadrons flying P-3 Orion patrol aircraft. Burgess, a former editor of Naval Aviation News and the current managing editor of Sea Power magazine, is the editor of two books on naval aviation and the author of numerous articles on naval aviation history and organization.

Zip Rausa is a retired naval aviator who flew A-1 Skyraiders in two attack squadrons and completed two combat deployments in the Vietnam War. Rausa, a former editor of Naval Aviation News and current editor of Wings of Gold magazine, is the author of several books on naval aviation, including Skyraider: The Douglas A-1 'Flying Dumptruck'.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (March 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846034108
• ISBN-13: 978-1846034107
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bargain, May 22, 2009

By 

Barrett Tillman (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

Even at full price, this book is a bargain. Crammed with information, it's written by two of the best possible authors, both with extensive naval aviation credentials. Zip Rausa is one of only three Osprey authors I know of who has flown the aircraft he writes about (the others being Powell of the Vigilante and Brooke of the Vulcan.)

While the mighty Skyraider became nearly a cult icon, the authors rightly focus on the men rather than the machine. The personal sagas in this book contain dramatic stories of early loss (Richard Sather), happy endings (Dieter Dengler), and many bitter episodes (Joe Dunn and others).

Throughout the text the authors describe the dozens of deployments of all 10 A-1 attack squadrons and detachments from three electronic or early warning units from 1964 to 1969.

As with all Osprey titles, the Skyraider volume is especially strong on illustrations. More than 70 mostly excellent black & white photos are augmented by 19 color plus a generous 30 color aircraft profiles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Flying Dump Truck, July 22, 2009

By 

Bernardo Wu (São Paulo SP Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

After attaining success as an attack aircraft in the Korean War (1950-1953), the AD-1 (later A1) Skyraider at the early 60's was just another piston-engined airplane slated for replacement by new jet models like the A4, A6 and A7 fighter/fighter- bombers. Nevertheless , the Vietnam War (1964-1975) brought her a new span of life with the VA squadrons in the Pacific Fleet. Starting just after the Tonkin Gulf incidents on August 1964, the A1, later driven out of the North Vietnamese skies by the dangerous Sa-2 AA missiles, managed to stay as a ground support machine for the troops engaged in the South against the VC and later found a new role in which excelled: scorting SAR missions. In fact, its propelled driven engine allowed in excess of 5 hours flight time and its huge load carring capability gave the rescue forces protection and guidance in and out of the extraction points, saving numerous aircrew downed in hostile territory.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WELL DONE TOME ON THE A-1 .................., August 16, 2010

By 

HISTORY GOURMET (PENNSYLVANIA,U.S. OF A.) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

I very much enjoyed this book, as I have a BIG interest in naval aviation, particularly in the Vietnam War. I think that this is one of the better books in Osprey's aviation series, probably because one of the authors was actually a Navy Skyrader pilot in SEA. So you have someone writing from firsthand experience, instead of just a good wordsmith who had little to do with the events described therein. A must have for any military aviation buff, I give it 10 stars !!!!!!!!!!