Late in World War II, the Douglas aircraft company developed a new piston-powered carrier-based attack aircraft for the US Navy, which emerged as the "AD Skyraider". The Skyraider was built in good numbers, not only for the attack role but for the electronic countermeasures, airborne early warning, and other roles. The AD was a rugged and powerful aircraft that proved its worth in Korea and Vietnam in the hands of US Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots. It also saw service with a number of foreign air arms.
During the Vietnam conflict, the Air Force began to consider a new close-support aircraft, more modern and capable than the Skyraider, with a particular focus on the anti-armor mission. The solution emerged in the 1970s as the inelegant but formidable and very well thought-out Fairchild "A-10", better known as the "Warthog" or simply "Hog". The A-10 proved its worth in the Gulf War in 1991, and in the series of dirty little wars that followed. This document provides a history and description of the Skyraider and Warthog.
During the Vietnam conflict, the Air Force began to consider a new close-support aircraft, more modern and capable than the Skyraider, with a particular focus on the anti-armor mission. The solution emerged in the 1970s as the inelegant but formidable and very well thought-out Fairchild "A-10", better known as the "Warthog" or simply "Hog". The A-10 proved its worth in the Gulf War in 1991, and in the series of dirty little wars that followed. This document provides a history and description of the Skyraider and Warthog.
