Douglas A-1 Skyraider "258" sits fully armed with rocket pods on cocked alert status at a Vietnam-era air base, ready to scramble at a moment's notice. The sign reading "ALERT AIRCRAFT COCKED" warned ground personnel that the aircraft's weapons and systems were prepared for immediate launch, a routine but critical part of the rapid-response missions flown by Skyraider squadrons in support of ground troops and downed airmen. Project: 218965