The Douglas A-1 Skyraider is a piston-powered, propeller driven military attack aircraft that was operated by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force until the early 1970s. The A-1 Skyraider had excellent low-speed maneuverability and carried a large amount of ordnance with long loiter capabilities that made it competitive against jet-powered airplanes.
Lt. JG W. Thomas Patton was part of four VA-176 Skyraiders that launched off from USS Intrepid flying as Papoose Flight. On October 9, 1966 as part of a search and rescue mission they encountered four North Vietnamese MiG-17 jet fighters. Using low-speed maneuverability and their four 20mm cannon effectively, they were credited with one MiG-17 destroyed by Patton's A-1H Skyraider Papoose 409, and two others destroyed or damaged by his squadron mates.
