 Pilots found the Mauler a heavy handling aircraft that was difficult to fly in formation, and hard to land aboard a carrier because a less than perfect landing often caused the aircraft to bounce over the arresting wires and into the safety barrier. It was a very stable dive bomber, more so than the Skyraider, and could carry more ordnance. Maintenance problems and the difficulty of landing aboard a carrier caused some pilots give it the nickname of "Awful Monster".
