[goldgunner]

A1's = Heavy duty work horse. My dad flew them in close ground support out of Nakom Phenom (sp?) Thailand into Vietnam and Laos.
He also flew prop jobs in WWII and Korea - said you could always tell the pilots who were 'old hands' from the new crop of jet jocks who had been plunked into the bangers: The jet jocks would eject - as they would from a jet - at the first dash red light or smoke or damage, and the old timers would just get in the traffic circle waiting their turn to land with shot up wings, ailerons, and smoke pouring out of the engine - they knew that a couple of jugs give or take was no big deal...