A Douglas A-1 Skyraider, nicknamed 'Magnet Ass' and marked with tail code TC, sits on alert status on a Southeast Asian flight line during the Vietnam War. A pilot boards the cockpit while a ground crewman services the aircraft, which is armed and fueled for rapid launch. Skyraiders of this era flew close air support and search-and-rescue escort ('Sandy') missions, often kept on immediate alert to respond to downed airmen or troops in contact. Project: 218943