The A-1 Skyraider is a legendary aircraft. A workhorse attack plane for the Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, it was famous for its durability, massive payloads and unmatched slow-speed maneuverability during close-air support missions in combat.
Affectionately known as the “Spad” by those who flew and maintained this armored combat vehicle with wings, the Skyraider is revered as one of the most extraordinary and versatile aircraft in U.S. naval aviation history.
Although it’s been nearly 60 years since the last Navy Spad took flight, the USS Midway Museum keeps this celebrated aircraft front and center on the flight deck, and after more than two years of detailed restoration by the museum’s airwing volunteers, it looks almost brand new.
“The Skyraider is a very historical airframe,” said Steve Smith, Midway’s airwing director. “It tells an incredible story about these great flying machines and the men who flew them. The tales of its close-air and search and rescue support missions in Korea and Vietnam are renowned.”
Skyraider squadrons flew from Midway’s flight deck in the late 1940s shortly after becoming operational and again in the mid-1960s during the early stages of the Vietnam War.
Midway’s Spad has a long and well-traveled history. It joined Fleet Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12) at Naval Air Station Quonset Point in Rhode Island in 1952. In 1955, the aircraft was transferred to the British Royal Navy and eight years later it was reassigned to the Royal Swedish Air Force where it flew gun and missile target training missions until 1976.
The aircraft returned to the United States in 1984, where it was later displayed in the National Warplane Museum in New York for several years before finally landing at Midway’s restoration hangar at Naval Air Station North Island in 2006. It was first displayed on Midway in 2007.
“This aircraft has literally been around the world and back,” said Mark Berlin, Midway’s operation director. “In the nearly 20 years it’s been on Midway, it’s been one of the most popular aircraft. I’m glad it’s restored and back on the flight deck for our guests to see.”
The primary reason for being taken back to Hangar 805 at North Island for a second restoration was due to the long-term negative impact of San Diego Bay’s saltwater environment on its metal airframe.
“The major issue was corrosion,” said Steve. “The airwing team treated the corrosion on the wings and fuselage. We also had to reskin several areas of the Skyraider to bring it back to the proper condition to be exhibited on Midway.”
This latest restoration effort, also done by Midway volunteers, was started in 2003. More than 8,000 hours were spent refurbishing the 74-year-old aircraft. The Skyraider returned to Midway in May, where the airwing team completed painting the markings and emblems of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25) on the fuselage. VA-25 flew hundreds of combat missions from Midway over North Vietnam in 1965.
“The airwing volunteers worked their magic again,” said Steve. “They did a great job removing all the corrosion and rust, and with the tremendous focus our team had on its preservation and maintenance, the Skyraider will last a very long time.”
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