Click to big up. National Archives image 80-G-428678.
On 1 May 1951, a torpedo attack was made on the Hwachon Reservoir dam by Douglas AD Skyraiders (redesignated A-1 in 1962) of Attack Squadron 195 (VA-195) from USS Princeton (CV-37). This successful strike, and earlier bomb attacks by Navy and U.S. Air Force planes, were made to deny the enemy the tactical use of controlled flooding on the Pukhan and Han rivers. Torpedoes were used after bombs failed to achieve the desired results.
They destroyed one flood gate and partially destroyed another.
This was the only Korean War use of torpedoes.
AD Skyraider of VA-195 on Princeton (though not with torpedo). These were beautiful aircraft. USN image. click to bigup
Princeton was decommissioned in 1970, and sold for scrap in 1971.
As for VA-195, they are now known as Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), and fly F-18E’s from Naval Air Facility Atsugi. And they are officially known as the Dambusters for a reason.
