This is Navy 'Spad' BuNo 134600 painted represent A-1H 52-139738 as operated by the 1st SOS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB during a "Sandy" SAR mission to rescue a downed F-4 airman near a North Vietnamese airfield in June 1972, earning Captain Ronald Smith an Air Force Cross. That aircraft had earlier gained fame for a mission in 1968 when Lt Col William Jones was awarded the Medal of Honour. BuNo 134600 itself was flown by the South Vietnamese AF from 1965 to 1975 and after restoration it was placed on display in 2022

Unknown Thai serial

This restored Spad is the latest to be displayed at NMUSAF. An ex-USN Skyraider, BuNo. 134600 flew in combat with VNAF's 514th and 520th FS. "The Proud American" was flown by Lt Col W. Jones on his MoH mission in 1968. It was flown on 1/2nd June 1972 by Capt R. Smith, awarded the AFC for the farthest rescue of Oyster 01 Bravo, WSO Capt. R. Locher who ejected from his F-4D over N. Vietnam. It was the last USAF A-1 to be lost in combat in SE Asia in Sept. 1972. Call sign "Sandy" A-1s are remembered for SAR missions.

Seen off Vietnam with 139755, 139702 and 139766. 139738 to USAF as 52-139738. Photo by: Bill Ray / Life

Vietnam cruise with the carrier Bon Homme Richard. Part of the same original as photo 446712. Photo by: Bill Ray / Life

Seen with 139738 / NM-603 and 139702 / NM-601. 139755 shot down over North Vietnam on 2 December 1965. Photo by: Bill Ray / Life

Ca. 1956: TOS USN as AD-6. 7/62: Redesignated A-1H. 4/65: TOS SVNAF. Shipped by USNS Core (CVE-13), arriving in Saigon 17 Jun 1965 and assigned to 514th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa, Vietnam. Unknown date: 520th Fighter Squadron. 30 Nov 1974: Last cited on SVNAF inventory. Aircraft remained in Vietnam until at least 1992. 1997: U.S. Army Center, Military History Branch; transported to AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 8/99: USAF Museum, but remained at AMARG. Ca.2010: Transported to NUMSAF. By 2011: Restoration started.

This Skyraider was built as AD-6 for the US Navy with BUNo 135260. It was transferred to the South Vietnamese air force. It had an identification band in insignia blue with white stars on the fuselage was operated by the 516th Fighter Squadron "Flying Tiger" assigned to the 41st Tactical Wing based at Da-Nang AFB circa mid 60s. The 514th FS had yellow and black checkerboard fuselage identification band and was assigned to the 23rd TW at Bien-Hoa AFB.

From the carrier Bon Homme Richard, deployed off Vietnam. Photo by: Bill Ray / Life

Former SVNAF 139606, still wearing its camouflage, alongside another of the type, N39149, ex SVNAF 139665.