With the prospect of flying the AD-1 Skyraider and AM-1 in carrier operations , the US Navy assigned the Maulers to Atlantic Fleet squadrons . Attack Squadron 17A ( VA-17A ) was the first unit to get the AM-1 and received its 18 aircraft in March and April 1948 . It was redesignated VA-174 on 11 August and began carrier qualification trials aboard on 27 – 28 December and completed them aboard in January 1949 with all assigned pilots completing their day qualifications . During this latter deployment , the squadron participated in the unsuccessful search for a British South American Airways Avro Tudor airliner missing in the Caribbean . The squadron made a brief deployment aboard , one of the largest carriers in the US Navy , in early 1949 . The longer flight deck of the carriers made landings easier for the AM-1 pilots and the squadron did not have a single landing accident during its deployment . Upon its return , the unit transferred its aircraft to VA-44 and VA-45 , both newly assigned to '' Midway '' , and converted to the Skyraider before being disbanded in January 1950
British South American Airways Avro Tudor
BSAA Star Ariel disappearance
Martin AM Mauler