The Don Englebreston Collection

Ground Crew and Pilot with Shark-Mouth Douglas A-1 Skyraider Prior to Mission

Ground Crew and Pilot with Shark-Mouth Douglas A-1 Skyraider Prior to Mission

A ground crewman assists as a pilot climbs into the cockpit of his shark-mouthed A-1 Skyraider, moments before another mission over Vietnam. The fierce nose art, a tradition dating back to World War II, was both a morale booster and a point of pride for the men who flew and maintained these hard-working attack aircraft. Project: 219827