Image: A-1H Skyraider of VA-25 with toilet bomb on USS Midway (CVA-41) in October 1965 (NNAM.1996.253.2381)

Description: A U.S. Navy Douglas A-1H Skyraider (NE-572, BuNo 135297) "Paper Tiger II" (which was a temporary name used for just this one flight) of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25) "Fist of the Fleet" being readied for a mission over the Mekong Delta aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41), in October 1965. VA-25 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) aboard the Midway for a deployment to Vietnam from 6 March to 23 November 1965. To commemorate the mark of having delivered 6,000,000 lb. (2721.56 to) of ordnance NE-572 was equipped with a special "bomb", a toilet! The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard. One of the plane captains of VA-25 saved it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. VA-25 personnel maintained a position to block the view of the Air Boss and the ship's Captain while the aircraft was taxiing forward to the catapult. The plane was piloted by X/O Cdr. Clarence W. Stoddard, wingman was LCdr. Robin Bacon (in NE-577, BuNo 139768, with Lt. Clint Johnson shot down a MiG-17 on 20 June 1965). When the "sani-flush-bomb" was dropped, it almost hit LCdr. Bacon's plane due to its light weight. Cdr. Bill Stoddard (now C/O) was shot down and killed by SAMs over North Vietnam on 14 September 1966, flying with VA-25 from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43).
Title: A-1H Skyraider of VA-25 with toilet bomb on USS Midway (CVA-41) in October 1965 (NNAM.1996.253.2381)
Credit: U.S. Navy sailor or employee [1]; larger b/w file available at the National Naval Aviation Museum, photo NNAM.1996.253.2381
Author: U.S. Navy
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No