The name was lost due to an error, sorry, 02.04.2020 12:46
Re the beloved OV-10 Jeff Meadowvale in very wrong. The RAAF has never operated the Bronco. A pity! During Viet 36 of us from the RAAF fighter world flew as FACs with the USAF, 20 of whom did all or part of their tour aboard that ace sportscar, the OV-10. I was one of them, serving with the 504th TASS. Currently the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is getting close to completing the restoration for static display Bronco 639. It will be the only aircraft in the Memorial's collection in USAF markings. We're proud of that! Ken Issue28/Rash38
Stan Kapp, 11.07.2016 02:21
Summer 2015 Two OV10G+ returned to service with USMC in Iraq. There flew 134 sorties during a 82 day deployment. Resounding Success !
dale carraher, e-mail, 24.01.2016 16:39
A interesting technical maintenance disaster destroyed an OV-10 on the Sembach flightline late 75 early 76. A fuel relay required R&R. Lets R&R the Age power recepticle at the same. Because the schematic depicted the wiring from the same side of aircraft, when power was applied at 100% vs 25% at a time, the Bronco caught fire and melted to the ground. Access to relay and recept was only accessible while in the cargo bay thus the pigtail recep wires were crossed...boom. Lesson: recep wire schematic was from a view outside of the aircraft R/H side. I believe a TCTO was issued. I was the electrician, the Crew chief powered up out of sequence on ops check. If proper sequence had been followed only event would have been a popped breaker on the main bus bar in the cockpit..... with no damage to our baby. I will never forget that day...Does anyone remember the tail number.
Gene Hilsheimer, e-mail, 08.04.2015 18:29
I was a young enlisted ABCCC aircrew member (Intel) out of Udorn where I was able to visit other units for "orientation" flights. NKP was my primary port of call where I snagged multiple A-1E, Candlestick C-123 and the occasional OV-10 missions. I remember my first Bronco flight when the pilot made our first 90 degree snap turn after takeoff... and how quickly I learned to deal with my stomach in my throat. I thank my lucky stare for the opportunity for my OV-10 combat missions... some of which I was allowed actual stick time. It was a hoot!!!
John Wilson van Etten III, e-mail, 08.03.2015 04:23
John Van Etten Nail32 1971-1972 I flew 198 combat missions in the OV-10 PCS out of NKP. I was one of the on scene commanders of the Bat21 rescue. My roommate was Dave Breskman Nail 31 and I worked his SAR when he went down. I was selected to fly the Combat Evaluation of the Pave Nail laser system.
John Ballard, e-mail, 27.01.2015 22:41
I have been involved with the OV-10 "Bronco" since Oct. 1968 as military instructor (NAMTRADET-1040), technician in Marine Squadrons (HML, & VMO-2, VMO-6, H&MS-36 Flight Section), N.American Tech Rep., OV-10 Consultant (CDF, ATF, Dept. of State) and try to still provide assistance to current users as needed. I have served in aviation maintenance, instruction, manufacturing and test evaluation since 1955 on props, jets, helicopters and it is my opinion that the OV-10 Bronco has given the "biggest bang for the buck" of any aircraft that I have served with. It's versatility and effectiveness has been limited only by the power of it's engines and the imagination of it's users. Always the orphans of the services, the aircraft and the hard working pilots and maintenance men accomplished wonders on a shoe string. There are close knit units, but ALL men from the different services who served "Bronco" over the years are a truly tight group and proud of it.
I was fortunate to fly in the OV-10 from 1971-1972 as a Weapons System Operator and put many "spots" down for LGBs. Stationed at NKP, the 23rd TASS, I am proud of the accomplishments of my comrades-in-arms during my tenure. I can proudly say that I was part of a unique squadron with a unique mission. Only 15 were modified with the Pave spot, 13 were operational at the time I joined the unit (I believe), and we lost one while I was there. I'm also proud to say that I was part of an 8-ship formation during a typhoon-evac from Da Nang and have pics to prove it!
Don, 27.11.2014 19:06
I am interviewing people still in and around Columbus regarding the OV10 and YAT-28. My father worked at the CMH NAA plant at the time and simply want to create a nice piece of history. These interviews will be on or off camera per the persons preference. Please reply here if interested and if everyone can see there is a good bit of people I will repost an email to set up times etc.
Robert H Niles, e-mail, 24.11.2014 22:04
I was in the first classes trained in the OV-10 and was in Viet Nam in 1969 with the 19th TASS assigned to 1 ACD and later assigned the 549 Training Squadron. I flew over 450 missions while in Viet Nam.
Frank Baque, e-mail, 27.08.2014 20:22
I was a Nail FAC and flew the OV-10 out of Nakom Phanom, Thailand (NKP), in 1970 and '71.
The aircraft was just exceptional for our mission and was a joy to fly. We had some absolutely fantastic pilots and ground crews. I will always remember those times and people.
Scott Main, e-mail, 13.03.2014 18:26
I worked on OV-10s at Sembach Air Base, West Germany from 1982-1984. I spent my years in the Phase Dock hanger doing the Phase Inspections. As the years have passed I have come to look fondly upon the time I spent there. Although I never got to fly in an Air Force aircraft, there certainly wasn't one inch of an OV-10 in which I didn't have my hands. Unfortunately, I have no photos of that time, and my only pictures are stored in my memory.
Frank Kelley, e-mail, 09.02.2014 06:21
I flew Air Force OV-10's out of Danang AB as a "Covey" FAC over the Ho Chi Mhin trail. I absolutely LOVED the airplane and enjoyed every minute of my 1,000 hours!!
Larry Lindsey, e-mail, 22.09.2013 15:54
I was part of the support crew when combat evaluations were conducted out of Binh Thuy. Anybody else from the crew out there? Would sure like to here from you. This was certainly an awesome aircraft.
Craig Roberts, e-mail, 29.07.2013 19:58
I first saw an OV-10 on a fire in central California when CDF (CalFire) started using them. Years later I got some stick time in one and was impressed with it's straight forward honest flying. Told my son "if you said you got to drive a Ferrari I would still say I got to fly an OV-10"! Even got to land it!
Bart Osborne, e-mail, 05.07.2013 03:39
I worked on the YOV-10 from concept proposal through rough terrain testing of the prototype - stress analysis of the landing gear, engine mounts, and cowling for the prototype a/c. I then left NAA Columbus for Lockheed California in Burbank CA.
John Joss, e-mail, 14.01.2013 20:23
Spending time with the Marines at MCAS Yuma, I had the opportunity to spend time in the FAC OV-10 both day and night. Delightful, responsive a/c. Amusing to 'back out' of the flight line with reverse thrust selected. I don't particulaly recommend night FAC work, especially when a lost USMC attack bird far from the right place at the right altitude comes over so close that you can feel its passage (we were orbiting directly over the target and deploying flares). My instructor pilot, Lt USMC, said over the ICS, just after that happened: "My mom told me I shouldn't do s**t like this." Right on.
Bob Valdez, e-mail, 25.06.2012 12:48
I was a member on VAL-4. A plank owner, I was the second inlisted man in the squadron. It was a great airplane and we had a great group of officers and enlisted men. I was a AO-2 and a weapons team leader. VAL-4 has a active website (black pony.com.
Larry Sibley, e-mail, 12.03.2012 19:43
i also worked @ the columbus plant in 1963 to 1965 my dept was non-destructive testing (x-ray) main job was the xb-70 inspecting the stainless steel oven braised honeycomb panels prior to shipment to edwards in cal for final assy. we did do a lot of jobs for the bronco and yat-28 (exerimental version of the t28 trainer (never made it to production). had a lot of fun finding all the airframe cracks the crazy test pilots introduced to the ov wringing it out in the hocking hills of southern ohio lol.
Garry Joseph Keiffer, e-mail, 06.10.2011 06:33
I WAS A FIREFIGHTER FOR NAA AND STOOD BYE ON DROP TESTS ON THE FIRST TWO OV-10A'S IN COLUMBUS OH.
DAVE BELLOWS, e-mail, 17.09.2011 16:39
I WAS A CREW CHIEF FOR OV-10S IN 1969-70.I HAVE MANY HOURS BACKSEAT TIME IN THIS AIRCRAFT.THIS WAS TRULY A SPECTACULAR AIRCRAFT AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE SURVIVAL OF MANY GROUND TROOPS IN VIETNAM.
Larry Cherry, e-mail, 02.02.2011 22:52
I had the great job in the 1960's as a Test Project Engineer for North American Aviation and working in the wind tunnel testing the various design configurations for the OV-10A.
johnbluthardt, e-mail, 27.10.2010 13:24
I was a pilot in VMO 4 (USMC reserves, Grosse Ile, Michigan) around 1969. We were given brand new OV 10s to fly and did we have fun. We had not flown fixed wing aircraft in years and it was sure fun getting to fly fixed wing again...hello Clark, Basinski, Sirlouis, Ballantyne and all you wonderful weekend warriors.
Jim Falls, e-mail, 20.10.2010 22:07
I was a pilot in the Navy's Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4, Black Ponies) in 1970-71 flying out of III and IV Corps. Unlike our USAF and USMC brethern who flew the OV-10, our mission was close air support for US and Vietnamese riverene forces, but that quickly expanded to US and Vietnamese army units and even Australians a few times. Our weapons load included 5 inch Zuni rockets (the ground troops' favorite), 2.75 inch rockets, a 20 mm cannon, 7.62 mini-gun pod, four sponson-installed machine guns, and flare pods for night operations. To say we loaded this aircraft to the gills is an understatement. In my 28 years of flying, nothing compared to this squadron. Our enlisted people were the most dedicated and enthusiastic folks you could hope for and our pilots gave it their all for the troops in contact on the ground.
Jim Kinchen, e-mail, 15.09.2010 16:25
As a USAF Forward Air Controller, I flew O-2s into Cambodia from Bihn Tui VNAF base in 1970-71. The Marines had OV-10s stationed there and carried 5-inch Zuni rockets on night missions in IV Corp.
I got to fly an OV-10 with my squadrom commander a few times and enjoyed its aerobatic capability. The control responses remindeded me of the T-37, but with much more responsive power. Excellant visibility, at least in daylight. It was an enjoyable plane to fly.
Stephen Tyler, e-mail, 08.09.2010 07:47
Back in 1969 I was in VS-41 as a AE3. At the time the Shop consisted of a Chief, a Second Class PO and myself. First day at work the chief told me to go out and change the generator on one of the four OV-10A's we had.We also had S2E Aircraft on the line. I spent eleven months working on the OV-10's. I volenteered for Val-4 just to stay with them but the Navy sent me to the east coast instead. I spent time tranning Marines at area 22 @ Camp Penelton.Engine changes only took about 1/2 hour to complete.Of all aircraft I've been with this one was the most fun to work on.
Harold Gerwien, e-mail, 27.01.2010 17:24
I came across this site and looked for the OV-10. My association with the Bronco, was at VS-41 Air Anti Submarine Squadron 41 at Naval Air Station North Island Coronado California. Our squadron had three OV-10's and we trained the replacement pilots for the "Black Ponies" of VAL 4. one of the proudest accomplishments during my time in the Navy was to be a qualified plane captain on the line.\\ Navy plane captains are responsible for taking care of the aircraft while it is on the ground. fueling, post-flight and pre-flight inspections. The pilots who flew the OV-10 were a great bunch of guys. I was at VS-41 from September 1970 through Oct 1973. After all these years I only remember one of the Bronco pilots. a Lt Bruce Underkoffler. I hope I spelled his name right. He took me on a flight up to Camp Pendelton. on the way he let me take the stick a few times. The torso harness I was wearing was borrowed from a Lt. Baker. I promised him I would not get airsick and puke on his torso harness. Wrong! we were practicing touch and goes on small air strip at Pendelton on the third go around I began to feel queasy. the intercom didn't work, my shipmates had removed the barf bags and on the forth go around lost my lunch. Lt Underkoffler was very understanding an cut our flight short and headed back to North Island. On our arrival my fellow plane captains lined the flight line and saluted us. I spent a good portion of the evening cleaning the cockpit and Mr. Bakers Torso Harness. What a great aircraft and greater were thw men who were fortunate enough to be assigned to fly and work on them.
Patrick McCaslin, e-mail, 06.01.2010 17:15
I love this airplane. It was great fun to fly and got me home after being hit over Laos. Me, my wife and two boys will always be grateful; especially the youngest. He was just a twinkle in my eye then!
Richard "Dick" Ingelido, e-mail, 06.04.2008 04:58
OV-10 FANS:
If anyone is interested in the Marine OV-10 and how the Garrett Engine was supported under the watchful-eye of a civilian in Vietnam during 1968/69; a book/memoir titled It's Not About The War is a must read. This book has over 30 pages of color photos taken by the author, many of which are of the OV-10 and T-76 Engine shop on the 1st Marine Air Wing Bases.
The Townsville Bulletin Review in Australia stated, “This is a survivor’s memoir. In a word, harrowing".
Visit http://notaboutthewar.blogspot.com/ to preview the book or e-mail on notaboutwar@yahoo.com
Jeffrey Meadowvale, e-mail, 16.04.2007 09:32
I want to comment about the North American OV-10 Bronco, I would have been very happy as a Aviation Enthusiast in the 1970s - 1980s If The Royal Austalian Airforce had then at least a dozen active Navy Army Air Force Bronco Squadrons in every States here in Australia and a few Static Broncos on display in the Australian Aviation here in Aviation Museums .
