Downed, But Not Forgotten,
by
Stan Stokes
Douglas Aircraft delivered to the Navy Test
Center an aircraft for testing in April 1945. This aircraft would prove
to be the last of the great single engine propeller driven war birds.
Its simplicity of maintenance, excellent flight characteristics, and
overall performance were all rated very good to excellent. In May, with
WW II still underway the Navy entered a production order for 600
aircraft. In 1946 the aircraft was renamed the Skyraider. Powered by a
2,500 HP R-3350-24W engine turning a 4-bladed 13.5 foot prop the AD-1
Skyraider was capable of carrying 4,000 pounds of bombs and/or wing
loaded rockets. Improvements continued with future variants, and when
equipped with a 3,020 HP power plant, the Skyraider's payload capacity
increased to a whopping 6,500 pounds, with a top speed of 328 knots. As
one of the largest single engine propeller aircraft ever built, the
Skyraider saw plenty of action during the Korean conflict. The AD-6
variant was produced in quantity (713), and saw plenty of service in
Vietnam with the Navy, Marine Corps., USAF, and Vietnam Air Force.
Despite the availability of high performance jet aircraft, the Skyraider
proved its value on numerous occasions in Vietnam by providing close in
support of ground troops. Colonel Bernard Fisher is depicted in Stan
Stokes' painting during a mission in the A Shau Valley on March 10,
1966. A US Special Forces camp had faced several days of heavy attack by
a large force of North Vietnamese troops, who had brought in ack-ack
guns in anticipation of Air Force support. The monsoon season was still
underway, and the North Vietnamese knew that this would also hinder
American air support. Jet aircraft were of little use due to the low
ceilings, and an AC-47 gunship and helicopter had both been downed while
making low passes. A1-E Skyraiders from the 1st Air Commando Squadron at
Pleiku were scrambled to support the Special Forces. During the second
day in support of the A Shau battle, one Skyraider, piloted by Col.
Dafford "Jump" Myers, was severely damaged, and in flames. The only
alternative was an emergency landing on the airstrip in the lower-valley
camp. Fisher, guided the stricken aircraft in for a belly landing.
Failing to jettison his 300 gallon drop tank, Myer's Skyraider landed in
a ball of flame as it skidded down the make shift runway. Myers
successfully escaped the burning wreckage, but was within yards of enemy
ground forces. Fisher and several other Skyraiders made several low
passes laying down strafing fire and dropping ordnance. With any chance
of helicopter rescue many minutes away, Col. Fisher took matters into
his own hands and landed his own aircraft on the damaged and
refuse-laden landing strip, successfully rescuing his downed comrade.
Fisher's Skyraider received 19 bullet holes, and for his heroic efforts
Col. Fisher became the first USAF officer to receive the Medal of Honor
in Southeast Asia. Col. Fisher now resides in Idaho.
Overall Print Size: 16" x 11 1/2"
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Collector Sized Lithograph:
$40
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225 Signature Series
Lithograph: $125
Co-signed by
Colonel
BERNARD FISHER, USAF Medal of Honor Recipient (depicted).
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