The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was an American single-seat attack aircraft. It was originally designed during World War II to replace earlier dive bombers such as the SB2C Helldiver and torpedo bombers such as the TBF Avenger.
A piston-powered, propeller-driven aircraft during the late-40s where designers were focusing on jet aircraft, it had much longer endurance than the jet fighters of its era.
Though it entered too late to serve in World War II, it first entered combat during the Korean War. Subsequently, its advantage of long endurance allowed it to serve close air support during the Vietnam War.
It was known for dropping a toilet in October 1965 to highlight the six millionth pound of ordnance dropped.
The aircraft was designed by Ed Heinemann who earlier designed the SBD Dauntless. He would subsequently design the A-4 Skyhawk.
