The MiG pilots had completely misjudged the Skyraiders, possibly assuming their speed advantage would ensure early victory—only to be outfought in close combat, where the A-1H Skyraider excelled.
June 20, 1965. Four Navy Douglas A-1H Skyraiders buzz across the jungle canopy of North Vietnam. These four propeller-driven aircraft belong to Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25), stationed aboard the United States Navy Carrier USS Midway. VA-25 was also known as the “Fist of the Fleet.”
The pilots of the two Skyraiders are Lieutenant Clinton B. Johnson, Lieutenant Commander Edwin A. Greathouse, Lieutenant Charles W. Hartman III, and Lieutenant Junior Grade James W. Stockdale.
And they were about to make history.
A Propellor vs. Jet Dogfight
Of course, the pilots of Attack Squadron 25 had no intention of making history that day. They just wanted to take the fight to the enemy in North Vietnam. But as they made their way through hostile airspace, unbeknownst to them, they were being hunted by two Soviet-provided MiG-17s belonging to North Vietnamese Air Force’s 921st Fighter Regiment.
The MiGs, underestimating the Skyraiders’ maneuverability and firepower—why wouldn’t they, after all, given that the MiG-17s were jet fighters and the Skyraiders were propeller planes?—initiated the attack against the American planes.
Here’s the thing, though. The Americans clearly knew their planes better than the North Vietnamese pilots knew theirs. That’s because, despite being slower than the MiG-17s, the Skyraiders had better maneuverability at slower speeds. The American propeller-driven planes had tighter turning radii to outmaneuver the faster but less nimble Soviet-produced birds.
The A-1H was armed with four powerful 20mm cannons. The Mig-17s had an assortment of weapons.
Lieutenant Charles Hartman III and Lieutenant Clinton Johnson scored the kills. Hartman fired a burst from his 20mm cannons, striking one MiG-17, which began trailing smoke and crashed into the sea beyond. Johnson, meanwhile, maneuvered behind the second MiG and hit it with cannon fire, forcing the pilot to eject.
The MiG pilots had completely misjudged the Skyraiders, possibly assuming their speed advantage would ensure early victory—only to be outfought in close combat, where the A-1H Skyraider excelled.
The incident remains one of the most celebrated examples of piston-engine aircraft triumphing over a jet in aerial combat. The Skyraider pilots returned safely, though one A-1H sustained damage from enemy ground fire during the mission.
The event highlighted the A-1’s versatility and the skill of its pilots, earning it a legendary status in naval aviation history. For their actions, the pilots received commendations, with Hartman and Johnson credited for the kills.
The Specs of the Douglas A-1H Skyraider
The Douglas A-1H Skyraider, often nicknamed “Spad” after the World War I fighter, was a single-engine, propeller-driven attack aircraft that became a standout workhorse for the U.S. military during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Designed late in World War II by Douglas Aircraft Company, it first flew in 1945, just missing combat in that conflict. However, the plane’s rugged design and versatility ensured it had a long and storied career well into the jet age.
The A-1H was a specific variant of the Skyraider family, introduced as part of the AD-6 series (redesignated A-1H in 1962 under the Tri-Service system). A-1H was powered by a single Wright R-3350-26WA Duplex-Cyclone, an 18-cylinder radial engine delivering around 2,700 horsepower.
This gave the plane a top speed of around 320 miles per hour and a range exceeding 1,300 miles, depending on its loadout. While quite slow compared to jets like the MiG-17, the Skyraider’s ability to loiter over a target area for extended periods—up to 10 hours with external fuel tanks present—made it invaluable for Close Air Support (CAS) missions.
Physically, this plane was a monster in the sky. The Skyraider’s airframe could absorb significant punishment, thanks to armor plating around the cockpit and critical systems. Indeed, this plane often came back from successful missions riddled with bullet holes.
Pilots loved these birds, too, because of their stability at low altitudes and low stall speeds—down to 100 mph, ideal for pinpoint strikes in support of ground troops. This plane could take off and land on short, rough airstrips or aircraft carrier flight decks, making it a favorite of both the Air Force and Navy.
Consequently, the A-1H thrived in roles that more advanced jets couldn’t easily fulfill. It flew rescue escort missions (often under the call-sign “Sandy”), where it was used to suppress enemy fire while helicopters extracted downed airmen. It further pounded North Vietnamese supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and provided CAS missions in battles, like Khe Sanh.
Its loaded weight could reach 25,000 pounds.
The plane had straight, low-mounted wings that were equipped with seven hardpoints each, plus a centerline station, allowing it to carry up to 8,000 pounds of armaments. That’s more than some WWII bombers, like the B-17 could carry!
The armaments package included bombs, rockets, napalm, torpedoes, and even unconventional loads, like toilet bombs (don’t ask). As noted previously, four 20mm M2 cannons were placed on its wings, each with 200 rounds, making this a flying arsenal.
The Skyraider Was a Tough Old Plane
A-1H Skyraiders served with the US Navy until the early 1970s, with the Air Force retiring theirs later that decade. South Vietnam’s air force used them until the war’s end in 1975, and some even flew with other nations’ militaries. Today, restored Skyraiders are prized by warplane enthusiasts, a testament to their enduring legacy as one of the last great piston-engine combat aircraft.
These planes were iconic works of art. They weren’t flashy. But they got the job done.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter@WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / BlueBarronPhoto.