A-1 Skyraider
The A-1 Skyraider may have been a WW II design, did not go fast but could carry the weapons load of a B-17 (on 7 hard points) and stay around until "the cows come home' (10 hour loiter time). The sound of that Wright R-3350-26WA Duplex-Cyclone engine was 'music" to many a downed pilot in Southeast Asia when the A-1 operated as SANDY - providing air support to the rescue Jolly Green Giants.
The Air Force used the Skyraider for a variety of missions - the common bond between all A-1 squadrons being Search and Rescue (SAR). While Skyraiders were flown mostly at night due to their perceived vulnerability, the rescue mission meant that all bets were off. No matter what the time of day, if the Skyraiders were needed during a rescue attempt, they went. Few things were probably more frightening than the prospect of flying in the severely hostile airspace during daylight hours and all in a 150-mph airplane. But it was the most important mission they had, and the most rewarding, if they succeeded, was extracting an aircrew member from virtually the enemy's backyard.
This type of mission was the rescue escort; identified by the call sign "Sandy" (the U. S. Navy had its RESCAP). Rescue escort entailed providing on-scene command by coordinating the helicopters and support aircraft while suppressing enemy gunfire. During rescue operations, lead was known as "Sandy One", and it was his job to decide on the tactics to be used and he was also the first one on the scene. Sandy One had to be concerned with many things: where the downed airman was in relation to surrounding landmarks, trolling for ground fire to determine enemy gun positions, controlling other resources (helicopters with their Sandy escorts and supporting jet fighters), and, most important, deciding when to call in the helicopters to try for the actual pickup. Every rescue was different, each mission unique in its own way, but the A-1, with its long loiter time and formidable weapons load, was the perfect aircraft for the job.
Everything became secondary to getting the man out before the enemy could capture him. It was tough work and extremely dangerous, but the rewards of success incalculable. As one ex-Thud (F-105) pilot so aptly put it: "If a Sandy pilot walked into the bar, he would have a hard time paying for a drink."
As for weapons loads, the attached photo shows a "standard" load out for a SANDY. The Sandy SAR load was perfect. It had ordnance such as CBU-25, HE 2.75" rockets, and 20 mm to kill trucks and other light skinned vehicles. It had the highly accurate, high rate of fire SUU-11 mini-gun pod with 7.62 mm ammo. And it had specialized SAR ordnance such as the M-47 smoke bomb, CBU-22, and WP rockets.
Ordnance carried for a SAR mission was: 720 rounds of 20 mm for the M-3 cannons, 1,500 rounds of 7.62 ammo for the SUU-11 minigun, 4 x CBU-25 canisters with high explosive bomblets, 2 x CBU-22 canisters with smoke bomblets, 2 x AN-M47 white phosphorus smoke bombs, 2 x LAU-3 pods with 19 HE (high explosive) rockets each, 2 x LAU-59/68 pods with 7 WP (white phosphorus) marking rockets each.
CBU-25/22 (now designated SUU-14a)
These odd shaped dispensers are CBU-25(cluster bomb unit). Each of the six tubes contained baseball sized bomblets which were dispensed out the rear of the tube. The CBU was dispensed one tube per press of the pickle button. Since the A-1 often carried four CBU-25s, this was good for up to 24 passes alone without regard to the rest of the ordnance!
CBU-22
CBU-22 was a specialized ordnance which was optimized for search and rescue (SAR) missions. There was little external difference between CBU-25 and CBU-22 as both CBUs utilized the SUU-14 dispenser. The dispenser contained several smoke producing bomblets which was often used to produce a smoke screen to help hide the pickup area from hostile gunners. If dropped nearer the ground, the bomblets had an incendiary effect since they would still be burning when they hit the ground.
LAU-3
The LAU-3 was a 19 tube rocket pod held seven 2.75" FFARs. LAU means Launcher Aircraft Unit. FFAR means Folding Fin Aircraft Rocket. The rockets could have different types of warheads. HE (high explosive) rockets were used against targets made of wood or truck type steel. HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) heads had a shape charge and were used against armored vehicles. WP (white phosphorus) heads were used to either mark a target with smoke or as an incendiary weapon. The LAU pod was reusable and was returned with the aircraft for reloading. The LAU-3 rocket launcher carried on most loads including the Sandy load.
M-47A4 White Phosphorus Bomb
This small (100 lb) bomb was used in two ways. If dropped safe (unarmed) the bomb case would crack open on ground impact and produce smoke for up to 30 minutes. This was often used to mark points on the ground so as to be able to relocate them later when needed. If dropped armed, the fuse would burst open the case on impact and ignite whatever was in the vicinity.
Minigun Pod | Ordnance: SUU-11/A
General Electric GAU-2/A 6 barreled machine gun with 1,500 round 7.62x51mm ammunition. Fixed rate of fire: 4,000 rounds per minute.