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Built as an AD-6 Skyraider 135300 was delivered in June 1954 assigned to VA-55 "Warhorses" In 1956 135300 went to VA-115 "Arabs" and in 1962 joined VA-145 "Swordsmen". In 1964; assigned to VA-25 Fist of the Fleet and in 1965 it spent eight months in Vietnam. From late 1966 until April 1967 and again in September 135300 was Vietnam with VA-52 "Knightriders". The aircraft rejoined VA-25 in late 1967 and was the last Skyraider to fly an attack mission in support of Khe Sanh on February 20, 1968. The aircraft was retired in April 1968.

Designed by Douglas' chief engineer Ed Heinemann, the A1 was first flown on March 18th, 1945. Used in Vietnam for close air support and for providing cover for combat rescue missions, the Skyraider was valued for its ability to devastate enemy ground targets. It had four 20-mm guns installed in the wings, and could be equipped with additional combinations of bombs, mines, gun pods and rockets. The Skyraider was large for a single-engine, single-seat low monoplane-its bigger-than-average fuselage had plenty of space for modification and could be used for carrying passengers, medical provisions or heavy cargo.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale A-1 Skyraider is made with state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, which yield a near solid and seamlessly-constructed model with a heavy feel. The fuselage features a canopy that slides open to reveal flight controls and an instrument panel with pad-printed dials. Other fine details include a tail hook below an all-metal empennage, individual exhaust stacks emerging from the rear of the engine cowling and a variety of removable ordnance and external fuel tanks (depending on the release). The main landing gear and gear doors are constructed as a subassembly for easy installation. The leading edge features correctly-shaped machine gun barrels and hand-painted navigation lights.

Info: A-1H Skyraider - USN VA-25 Fist of the Fleet, NL405, USS Coral Sea, 1967