> The Skyhawk was introduced around the same time as the Phantom,
 > or earlier, but another ground attack aircraft (enormous radial
 > piston engine) was flown before then. I forget its name but
 > they were used very successfully for close support during the
 > Vietnam War.  (Skyraider perhaps?)
Yep, Skyraider.  Spad.  A-1E.
There was a novel about Navy carrier ops during the Korean War that described 
how the carrier skipper was having difficulties docking (no tugs?), and he 
had to use the tied-down piston fighters on his deck as a kind of side-acting 
propeller.  The fighters were cranked up (sitting on the deck), and their 
engines pulled or pushed the carrier laterally.
And the "owner" of those aircraft (forget his title, not being a Navy type) 
was gnashing his teeth at what they were doing to his precious radial 
gines.
I wonder if those were A-1E's as well.  I doubt any _other_ piston 
fighter-bombers were flying off carriers by then.  Any Corsairs left were 
probably all with the Marines and flying off land bases?
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