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The Skyraider AD-5W was primarily used by the U.S. Navy for early warning airborne radar and provided long on-station duties. The aircraft had a huge distinctive belly radome and extended canopy area designed to accommodate two additional crewmen and the radar electronic gear. Skyraider 135188, flying at this year’s Vectren Dayton Air Show, served with the U.S. Navy from 1955 until it was retired from active service in 1970. During this time frame, the aircraft was stationed at the Naval Air Station at North Island, San Diego, California, Lemoore, California, for ‘Spad Training School’ and also at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Skyraider 135188 served aboard five (5) aircraft carriers during its span with the U.S. Navy, including the USS Wasp, USS Hornet, USS Shangri-la, USS Intrepid and the USS Kitty Hawk. While aboard these carriers, Skyraider 135188 visited Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Philippine Islands, Mediterranean Sea with stops in Spain, France and Italy, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Retired in 1970, Skyraider 135188 was first sent to Davis Monthan AFB for storage but was later transferred to Naval Air Station China Lake, California, for storage. Skyraider 135188 sat at the NAS China Lake, California until the spring of 1989. Aircraft was moved to Fighter Rebuilders, Chino, California, restored for Mr. Robert Pond. First civilian flight was July 8th, 1991, and was flown by Steve Hinton. During the following years, Skyraider 135188 was sold to Lone Star Flight Museum, then on to Polar Flight Museum, then to Olympia Flight Musuem. In December, 2006, Dr. Brent Hisey purchased Skyraider 135188 and has flown and operated the aircraft since that time. During its civilian era, Skyraider 135188 has had a dark blue paint scheme with U.S. Marines painted on its fuselage, courtesy of Mr. Robert Pond. Dr. Brent Hisey decided to repaint the skyraider in the summer of 2008 and ask Oklahoma Museum of Flying team members to find photographs of 135188 while in the service of the U.S. Navy. Several months of researching the internet, magazines, books and naval records turned up one color photograph and two black and white photographs of Skyraider 135188 in its current paint scheme. Painted during the winter months of 2008/2009, the new paint scheme is gray and white with a blue/white checkerboard nose. This paint scheme was the last squadron the aircraft served with in the Navy, Squadron VAQ-33, stationed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The checkerboard nose honored the Commander Air Group (CAG) because during World War II, he commanded a squadron of U.S. Navy ‘Corsairs’, which had the checkerboard nose. The one color photo was courtesy of Robert F. Dorr. |
