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 From Fall '98 Bronco Flyer 

Congratulations on the Formation
     of the OV-10 Bronco Association
Royal Moroccan Air Force
OV-10 in Books

Congratulations on The Formation of The OV-10 Bronco Association

After years of work, Mike Richardson of Colleyville, Texas, former Marine aviator and now a Captain for American Airlines, with help from the Texas Air Command, recently acquired an OV-10A This airplane's roots are with the U. S. Air Force but it had been transferred to the Marine Corps as part of the OV-10D SLEP program. It was never modified into an OV-10D, but was left for spare parts at Langley AFB. The airplane is presently hangared and disassembled at Hicks Field in Saginaw, Texas. (See Bronco Flyer, Spring 1998)

For the last few months, interested parties and former Bronco drivers have been working with Mike to plan the restoration of the OV-10A. Early on, it was determined that a full restoration to flying condition would require the acquisition of other airframes and numerous spare parts and GSF equipment. Along with restoring the aircraft, the decision was made to also preserve the history of the people who worked on or flew the OV-10, both military and civilian, foreign or domestic. This task could only be accomplished by forming an association of individuals who would like to see these goals met and be willing to assist in the effort. This fledgling association is a "work in progress." Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Incorporation of the OV-10 Bronco Association, Inc. was accomplished July 3,1998, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. They are currently applying for tax exempt status with the IRS. They envision association membership taking many forms, from casual observers to individuals or corporations willing to donate time, money, expertise or momentos.

Statement of Purpose/Mission Statement of the OV-10 Bronco Association:

During July of 1998 the process of acquiring a 9,000 square foot hangar to house the Association and museum was started, with actual acquisition of the hangar completed in August. The hangar is located at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas.

This initial phase of formation is being devoted to collecting names of individuals who share our interest in the OV-10 and soliciting their support. They also need contributions of manuals, photos, squadron insignia, stories, memorabilia, etc. to build a collection for eventual display. These contributions may be either permanent or on loan to the museum for the purpose of copying, as in the case of manuals, photos or squadron insignia.

Identification of volunteers willing to donate time or expertise to the restoration and database formation is also needed.

Visit the Bronco web site, http://www.ov-10bronco.net for more information, or please contact:

Royal Moroccan Air Force OV-10 Broncos

The first two of six OV-10 Bronco aircraft ordered by the Royal Moroccan Air Force left the Rockwell Columbus plant on a gray January morning in 1981. The aircraft were taken from U.S. Marine Corps inventory for rehabilitation and modification prior to delivery.

The work was performed under a U.S. Navy contract and the Navy accepted the aircraft from Rockwell at Port Columbus International. The Navy promptly turned the aircraft over to Fenix, Inc. for the ferry flight. The pilots for the flight were two Marine Corps reservists from VMO-4, Jim Dearborn and Jim Aiken.

The route took the two aircraft from Port Columbus International to Goose Bay then across the North Atlantic via Greenland and Iceland to Scotland, England, Spain and finally to Kenitra, the Royal Moroccan Air Force Base. The flight was without incident, leaving on a Monday morning and arriving in Morocco after eight stops and 29 total flight hours.

Everyone thought the aircraft looked great in nice new paint including the markings of the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Everyone that is, except the Spanish. By the time the aircraft arrived in Morocco, the wires were hot with complaints about the unauthorized flight and refueling of a Moroccan aircraft in Spain. Apparently, the flight plan showed the aircraft as U.S. Navy (correctly, as the Moroccans had not yet accepted the delivery). However, the markings indicated the aircraft were Royal Moroccan Air Force, representing a government with which the Spanish were not on good terms at that time.

The rest of the aircraft were delivered with tail numbers only. The Marine Corps team in Morocco (Mobile Training Team 1-81) including our old friend T.C. Antonsen, scrounged around and found enough paint to put proper markings on the other four Broncos.

The Moroccans flew the aircraft very little. One crashed and burned, another landed without benefit of lowering the landing gear. The remaining four aircraft have 300 to 500 hours since the rebuild and have been in well protected storage for many years.

The remaining aircraft have been purchased by another country and are being put back into service. Hopefully they will be flying soon. Two of them will be used for border patrol with the remains of the gear-up aircraft used for parts. The other two Broncos are available.

Actual tail numbers of the five surviving aircraft are not yet available. They will be published as soon as the information is obtained. We would like to hear from anyone else from MTT 81-1 or otherwise associated with the Royal Moroccan Air Force OV-10 program.

The OV-10 Bronco in Books
A List Prepared By Chuck Burin
(Part 1, more next edition)

Here is a short list of books that are either about Bronco's and their crews or that have parts in them discussing the Broncos, crews, and operations:

OV-10 BRONCO IN ACTION
Jim Mesko
Squadron/Signal Publications number 154.
ISBN 0-89747-340-X.
8 1/2 by 11.

This is the typical Squadron/Signal book heavy on photographs and light on narrative. There are a number of errors mostly related to a rush to publish by the editors.

GROUND ATTACK VIETNAM
Lt. Col. Mike Moriarty (U.S.MC Retired)
Ivy Books
ISBN 0-8041-1065-4

Moriarty was the Commanding officer of VMO-2, in Vietnam, from January 12, 1970 until September 17, 1970. This is a great book with stories about Bronco crews and operations from MCALF Marble Mountain and Da Nang AB. He uses the real names of pilots and observers except for a few cases which he explains.

HIT MY SMOKE! Targeting the Enemy in Vietnam
Chris Couthard-Clark, Allan and Unwin
ISBN 1-86448-482-2

This is an Australian published book about the Royal Australian Air Force participation in Vietnam. They sent 36 pilots to fly on an exchange program with the U.S.AF. The book includes stories of the pilots who flew 0-1 Birddogs, 0-2 Skyinasters as well as the OV-10 Bronco. I have not read this one but am trying to get a copy.

Desert Storm AIR WAR
Robert F. Dorr
Motorbooks International
ISBN 0-87938-560-X

This paperback covers most aspects of the Desert Storm air war. Marine Corps Bronco operations of VMO-1 and 2 are covered extensively starting on pages 20 - 22 and continues pages 60-62. Also see pages l00-10l, 107-ll0, 113, and ll5-117.