US Air Force plane crashes in Oklahoma: What to know

[MarineCombatEngineer]

A small U.S. Air Force plane crashed in a field in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon.

Two crew members—a civilian contractor and a U.S. Air Force active-duty member—were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash, but no one was injured, the Oklahoma National Guard said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The crash draws attention to operational safety in military aviation and highlights the risks undertaken during training missions.

The OA-1K Skyraider II is a recent addition to the U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command, designed for specialized missions including counter-terrorism and close air support, according to the Air Force Special Operations Command.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-air-force-plane-crashes-in-oklahoma-what-to-know/ar-AA1P64dz?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=68fbd8707e484c5daaf8b39a895783c6&ei=34

In Vietnam, we were glad to see these planes in our vicinity, back then we called them Sandy, they were great close ground support aircraft, heavily armed and could stay over the battlefield for extended periods of time.

How the Skyraider became known as “Sandy”

The A-1 Skyraider originated as a carrier-based torpedo and dive bomber. As the XBT2D-1, it first flew on Mar. 18, 1945, and deliveries as the AD-1 to the Navy began in November 1946. In 1962 the Skyraider became the A-1.

The Skyraider was the first single-seat torpedo/dive bomber to serve with the Navy. Its success in both Korea and Vietnam seriously raised the question in 1966 of reopening production, which ended in 1957.

Support of search and rescue (SAR) missions had been the Skyraider’s crowning achievement during the Vietnam conflict. In fact it became dramatically apparent early in the war that lone helicopters were too vulnerable to conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. For this reason in 1965 a SAR task force decided that rescue helicopters would work in pairs, and that Skyraiders would provide rescue escort.

At first, this kind of mission was performed by US Navy A-1s, but by mid August 1965 the 1st Air Commando Squadron (ACS) sent a flight of A-1Es to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand, to cover F-105 air strikes into high-threat areas. This move marked the beginning of the US Air Force (USAF) sophisticated CSAR program.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-how-the-skyraider-became-known-as-sandy-and-the-a-1s-first-csar-missions/#:~:text=The%20A-1%20Skyraider%20originated%20as%20a%20carrier-based%20torpedo,1946.%20In%201962%20the%20Skyraider%20became%20the%20A-1.

I didn't even think these aircraft were still in service.

[QueerDuck]

1. Rats

plane ... one

[Irish_Dem]

2. Any crash you can walk away from is a good crash.

I hate to hear about USAF planes going down.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. Ain't that the truth.

They say that a carrier landing isn't a landing at all, it's a controlled crash, which sometimes, isn't so controlled.

[Irish_Dem]

4. US Air Force kids always thought Navy pilots were insane.

Landing their aircraft on a tiny ship, bobbing up and down in the water.
Then a rope has to snare them to stop them from going over the side of the boat.

We thought it was not fair the Navy had airplanes at all.
USAF didn't get boats. The USN should not have airplanes.

But then we saw where how the Navy pilots land on ships and we agreed,
let the Navy have the ships and airplanes. They are lunatics.

Of course we were just kids. Didn't understand operational needs and strategies, etc.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. I think one of the most exciting things I saw while on a Navy ship

was the launching of an SLBM in the Pacific Ocean, the missile popped out of the water like a cork coming off a champagne bottle, then the engine ignited and it was gone in seconds.
That was one awesome sight to see.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Wow, I would love to have seen that.

So the missile comes out of the side of the ship?

I thought only Subs launched SLBMs?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. No, this was a submarine launched ICBM from an Ohio Class SSBN sub.

Here's the Wikipedia article on the Ohio Class SSBN's:

Ohio-class submarine

The Ohio class of nuclear-powered submarines includes the United States Navy's 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and its 4 cruise missile submarines (SSGNs). Each displacing 18,750 tons submerged, the Ohio-class boats are the largest submarines ever built for the U.S. Navy and are capable of carrying 24 Trident II ballistic missiles or 22 tubes with 7 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles apiece. They are also the third-largest submarines ever built, behind the Russian Navy's Soviet era 48,000-ton Typhoon class, the last of which was retired in 2023,[14] and 24,000-ton Borei class.[15]

Like their predecessors the Benjamin Franklin and Lafayette classes,[16] the Ohio-class SSBNs are part of the United States' nuclear-deterrent triad, along with U.S. Air Force strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.[17] The 14 SSBNs together carry about half of U.S. active strategic thermonuclear warheads. Although the Trident missiles have no preset targets when the submarines go on patrol,[18]: 392  they can be given targets quickly, from the United States Strategic Command based in Nebraska,[19] using secure and constant radio communications links, including very low frequency systems.

All the Ohio-class submarines, except for USS Henry M. Jackson, are named for U.S. states, which U.S. Navy tradition had previously reserved for battleships and later cruisers. The Ohio class is to be gradually replaced by the Columbia class beginning in 2031.

Description
The Ohio-class submarine was designed for extended strategic deterrent patrols. Each submarine is assigned two complete crews, called the Blue crew and the Gold crew, each typically serving 70-to-90-day deterrent patrols. To decrease the time in port for crew turnover and replenishment, three large logistics hatches have been installed to provide large-diameter resupply and repair access. These hatches allow rapid transfer of supply pallets, equipment replacement modules, and machinery components, speeding up replenishment and maintenance of the submarines. Moreover, the "stealth" ability of the submarines was significantly improved over all previous ballistic-missile subs. Ohio was virtually undetectable in her sea trials in 1982, giving the U.S. Navy extremely advanced flexibility

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio-class_submarine

A very lethal weapons platform, one I truly hope is never used in anger.

[Irish_Dem]

19. Oh I think I understand now.

I thought you meant you were onboard a SHIP and saw the missile come out of the side of the ship.

I think you are saying you were on a SHIP but there was a nearby submarine which must
have been hidden from sight deep under the water and the missile comes out like a bat
out of hell suddenly from seemingly nowhere?

OK I would be freaking out and scared. Jebus.

I love submarines for some reason.
I watch all the Submarine movies I can find.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. Here's a great video of life aboard an SSN:

Last edited Fri Oct 24, 2025, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

&t=1312s

[Irish_Dem]

24. Many thanks MCE.

I am surprised that they allowed video of the inside of a nuclear sub.
All of this used to be tight security?

Will watch asap!

[Irish_Dem]

26. Great video.

The missile launch was unbelievable. And to think what kind of damage it could do if active.

I did not envy the reporter getting off the sub in the middle of the ocean.
I would have chickened out and said nope, not doing it.
Just drive me back to shore thank you.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

27. Have you seen this movie starring Gerald Butler:

If you like submarine movies, then you'll love this.

[Irish_Dem]

32. Oh yes, I love this movie.

I became a big Gerald Butler fan.

I have to watch it again.

[Irish_Dem]

20. Terrifying that our mentally in CIC has these kind of weapons at his fingertips.

[Emile]

7. LOL

[Irish_Dem]

10. We thought the Navy lost the plot on their ranking system too.

Though we admitted the Navy had the best uniforms and USN had the best personalities.

USN also has the best Post Exchange and commissary.

[ananda]

12. They really do. You should have seen the pictures of my dad..

in his whites. So handsome.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Oh yes, the drop dead gorgeous dress whites.

I am sure your Dad was so handsome.
USAF mess dress is nothing to write home about.

And the sailors with the bell bottoms and little white hats.

When we were stationed overseas during the Viet Nam war,
my friends (we were young teens) and I would go to the Navy Post Exchange
next to us and buy the Navy uniform.

The bell bottoms, the shirt, the hat. The whole outfit and then wear them around
the Air Force base.

The USAF men (our fathers) were gone all the time flying back and forth to Viet Nam.
The women (our mothers) playing mahjong and taking flower arranging classes.
The kids just did their thing.

[ananda]

17. That is way cool.

Yes, my mom and dad were a very attractive couple,
especially on the dance floor.

Boy, they could cut a rug and people loved it.

[Irish_Dem]

21. We were silly creatures. We are lucky we didn't get busted for it.

Oh my I can see your mother in her formal dress and your dad in his dress whites
cutting the rug and people agog.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

29. I love these stories about WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.

serving 2 "tours" in Viet Nam really made me question my Oath to the Constitution.

[Irish_Dem]

30. When my Dad was flying combat in Viet Nam, I once confronted him about it.

This is a story I can't forget.

I was a young teen and against the Viet Nam war.
Even though I was living on an USAF base in Southeast Asia where all the men
were flying back and forth to Viet Nam. And gone most of the time.
Their lives were in danger and we knew it.

But I was against the war and killing the Vietnamese people.

So one Day I gathered my courage and told my dad I was against the war
and that the US should pull out and go home. MY father had a temper so I
was pretty sure this would not go over well. He was putting his life on the line
all the time in Viet Nam. But that was part of my point, he was risking his life
for something that was wrong.

Anyway I say my say to my father and expecting to get some loud worlds back.
Instead he looks shocked at what I said, he opens his mouth to say something.
Then to my surprise closes his mouth and walks away. He said not one world to me.
The subject was never brought up again.

This was uncharacteristic of my Dad and I was quite puzzled. It finally dawned on me
the explanation. My father was the son of Irish immigrants who had been an oppressed
and starved people for hundreds of years.

My father was fierce in his love of the United States, the land of freedom and opportunity.
He was supremely proud to fight for the constitution, rule of law, democracy, bill of rights, etc.
His children thought he was a bit over the top in his love and loyalty to freedom and the US.

He always said the USAF signed his paycheck but he worked for the American people,

So when I said my say to him it occurred to him that I was one of the American people.
He was risking his life every single day and had done so in WWII, Korea, now Viet Nam so
his children had freedom to run their mouths and stand up for what they think is right.

That is why he said nothing and just walked away.

[Irish_Dem]

31. The day I was born I stopped a USAF plane dead in its tracks on a runway in Korea.

I like this story.

I was born while my dad was stationed in Korea during the Korean War.
My mother had stayed stateside with her parents, she was pregnant with me.

I was born two months early and weighed less than 2 lbs.

So my mother sent a message to the Air Force base telling them the good and bad news.
The baby came early and outcome was not certain. I was in an incubator but was screaming
like crazy and actually kicked the sides out of the incubator.

So my Dad is taking off on a runway in Korea to fly a mission, and the air traffic controller
tells him to stop the plane on the runway. An airman comes running out with the news
about me. My dad liked the part where I kicked out the sides of the incubator because it
didn't sound like I was going to die anytime soon.

(After I kicked out the sides of the incubator, my mother and aunt (both nurses), begged the doctor
to let them take me home. My grandfather built a little incubator for me at the house and I stayed
in it until they moved me to a little cigar box.)

[Emile]

14. Had the best food too. We had lobster and shrimp every Friday night.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Air Force kids were well aware that the Navy lived like kings.

We could see it in their post exchange and commissary.
Huge amounts of goods and food.

We lived in close quarters with all branches on the US military during the VN war.
We could well see that the Navy lived high on the hog.

I used to complain to my father that the USAF base exchange and commissary were
a disgrace compared to the Navy stores and he kept trying to tell me that
the Navy could bring everything over in their huge ships.
USAF only had small planes.

[ananda]

11. That is true.

My dad flew off the St Lo during WWII.

His best friend, who was engaged to my mom,
flew from there too and was killed in a landing
accident.

Later, the whole ship was destroyed in a
kamekaze attack, and the flyers had to land
on Saiplan.

IOW, flying is no joke.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

16. I always marveled at these Navy Carrier pilots,

it had to take nerves of steel and supreme confidence to take off and land on a bobbing ship in the middle of the ocean.
I don't think I could do it, probably why I never even entertained the thought of becoming a Navy pilot.

In my eyes, your dad is a hero, his generation literally saved the world from tyranny.

[ananda]

18. OK, I'll tell you a story.

My dad was a lieutenant and had his own plane.

On the nose he painted a shot glass and named
his plane The Straight Shot.

And guess what, it was.

One time he had to lead the squadron back from
a mission after dark when the leader was lost.

He radio'd in to ask how to identify the St Lo.
The guy told him, land on the ship with the green
light on the back.

Well, guess what? Every ship had a green light.
But they all made it anyway, and that was quite
an accomplishment.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

25. Love it.!!

My dad was one of the original Navy Seabees, he island hopped with the Marines and was designated in the first wave of the invasion of the Japanese home island, if not for the dropping of the atomic bombs, he wasn't expecting to survive the first wave.

There but for the grace of god goes him.

[Irish_Dem]

33. My US Navy uncle was killed in WWII from a kamikaze attack.

Huge enemy squadron hit the USS Meredith.
They sank the ship in under ten minutes.
The crew fought fiercely but never had a chance.

Yes I have read about the pilots being stuck when their ship goes down.
Some are lucky to find a spot to land.
Others not so much.

Your dad was lucky to survive.

So your Dad married his best friend's fiancee after he was killed.
That is a story right there.
Then they made a handsome couple on the dance floor.
And had a daughter who is whip smart.

[ananda]

34. I'm so sorry about your uncle.

My dad's first cousin was killed right after
the war ended.

A German sniper got him in Berlin.

Your uncle was a hero. My dad always said
the heroes were the ones who died.

And yes, my dad was the one who had to
tell my mother about her fiance. Then
after the war, in Los Angeles, they got
close and married.

[Irish_Dem]

36. Your dad was a hero too.

His job in WWII was very dangerous.
Yet he got up every day and did it.

Yes that is the scene I envisioned.
Your dad telling his best friend's fiancee that he had been killed.
Then later falling in love and getting married.

Yes even after a war ends, there are still some deaths.
Sorry to hear this about your 1C1R.

[Abnredleg]

5. Different airplane

The Skyraider 2 is a modified crop duster used by Special Operations Command.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L3Harris_OA-1K_Skyraider_II

[MarineCombatEngineer]

8. Oh, ok, thanks for that.

I didn't think any of the Sandys that I saw in Vietnam were still active.

[electric_blue68]

28. While not bobbing in the water...I visited The Intrepid Air and Space Museum here in NYC years ago....

Very Impressive!

At 920' ft it's about the length of the longest avenue blocks in NYC. I went practically till the end, and took a photo looking back from there!
A lot of the current ones run about 1,000' - 1,100 ft!

You can tour a lot; and climb up and down some ?ladders if I remember
to get to certain top areas. They have aircraft in the interior exhibit hall, plus all kinds of other stuff.

But seeing the planes out on the flight deck was - wow!
My favorite is the Lockheed A-12; which I thought was the SR-71. It seems they're similar. I first saw a photo of it back in the mid-60's (Time & Life book).
I don't remember if they had the flight cable, that you (would have) stepped over out on the deck.

I really should save up for a visit in late Spring '26 - bc a few years after I went they had the Space Shuttle Enterprise there, and they made it a permanent exhibit - still there!

Plus on the pier they now have the British Concord plane! When I worked in WTC South Tower 2 in '80/'81 the Concord was flying. We were on the 73rd floor NE corner office. I brought my binoculars, and saw it take off! Like a swan!

[Emrys]

35. A plane of the same model in happier days:

And on a not so happy day:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

37. That plane should fly again soon.

A little buffing compound, some elbow grease, good as new.