The advent of jet aircraft in the mid-1940s rendered all propeller driven aircraft obsolete. Early jets however had poor endurance and high landing speeds. The US Navy had a requirement for a strike aircraft that could loiter in a target area for long periods and that could operate from the small escort carriers.

The solution to the problem appeared to be to utilise a turboprop engine aircraft as these offered both long endurance and good slow speed performance.

The Douglas Skyshark was built to incorporate the best features of the successful Skyraider and incorporate a turboprop engine.

The requirement for a turboprop powered strike aircraft was issued in 1945.

The turboprops engine, being a new technology was beset by numerous problems.

The Skysharks first flight did not occur until 1950. Engine and gearbox problems continued and the first production engine was not ready until 1953.

In 1954, the escort carriers, from which the Skyshark would operate were being mothballed and the program was cancelled after 2 prototypes and 10 production aircraft were built

Mach 2 1/72 kit completed by Steve Pulbrook in 2018.