Calfire Rockwell OV-10D Bronco
At the beginning of the Vietnam War, there was little interest in a dedicated counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. The USAF was too committed to an all-jet, nuclear-capable force, while the US Army was satisfied with its helicopter fleet; the Navy concentrated on its carriers, and while the Marines were mildly interested, they lacked funding.
Vietnam was to change that. Horrendous losses among US Army UH-1s was to lead to a rethinking of helicopter doctrine, and pointed up the lack of a dedicated COIN aircraft. The USAF found itself depending on World War II-era A-26K Invaders, former US Navy A-1 Skyraiders, and converted trainers like the T-28 Trojan. The USAF also found itself in the market for a better forward air control (FAC) aircraft, due to the high loss rate of its O-1 Birddogs and O-2 Skymasters. Finally, the US Navy needed something to better cover its Mobile River Force units in the Mekong Delta, which could not always depend on USAF air support. In 1963, all three services issued a requirement for a new light design capable of performing as both a COIN and FAC aircraft. North American's NA-300 was selected in 1964 and designated OV-10A Bronco.
The OV-10 design drew heavily on independent research done at the China Lake research establishment, which in turn was inspired by the World War II P-38 Lightning fighter. The P-38 used a central "gondola" fuselage to concentrate all of its firepower along the centerline, which made for better accuracy; the OV-10 would do the same. As in the P-38, the engines were contained in twin booms that stretched back to the tail. The Bronco's four machine gun armament was placed in sponsons on either side of the fuselage, while ordnance was carried beneath the sponsons. To satisfy the USAF's requirements for a FAC aircraft, the two-man crew flew underneath a large, spacious canopy that gave them superb visibility. Because the Marines wanted an aircraft that could carry a Recon team, the fuselage was extended and, if the rear seat was removed, five paratroopers could be squeezed into the back, or two stretchers.
When the OV-10 arrived in Vietnam in 1968, there was a fear that the Bronco would be the jack of all trades and master of none. In fact, it proved to be excellent in all of its roles. As a FAC, it was a huge improvement over the slower O-1 and O-2; as a COIN aircraft, it was also a good aircraft, though it could not carry the same amount of ordnance as an A-1. The Navy equipped one squadron with OV-10As as VAL-4--nicknamed the "Black Ponies" for their dark green camouflage--and these were used extensively over the Mekong Delta. There were problems with the design: the airframe was actually too heavy for the engines, which left it underpowered, and ditching was invariably fatal for the pilot, as his seat tended to hurl forward into the instrument panel. Nonetheless, the Bronco turned in a sterling performance in Southeast Asia.
Though the Navy transferred its surviving Black Ponies to the Marines after the end of American involvement in Vietnam, the USAF and Marines would keep theirs for the next 20 years. For the 1970s and 1980s, the OV-10 replaced all other FAC designs in USAF service, aside from a handful of OA-37B Dragonfly squadrons. The Marines also kept their OV-10s and further refined the design by adding all-weather capability in the long-nosed OV-10D variant.
By the First Gulf War in 1991, the OV-10 was starting to show its age. The USAF began retiring its fleet even before Desert Storm; the Bronco was considered to be too slow to survive a modern air defense environment. Though the Marines used some of their OV-10Ds, the loss of two aircraft also led the USMC to retire their Broncos after war's end. Both services chose jets as replacements--the USAF with modified OA-10A Thunderbolt IIs, and the Marines with two-seat all-weather F/A-18Ds.
OV-10s were also a mild export success, going to seven other countries, mainly in the COIN role. Most have since been retired in favor of newer designs, though the Philippines still has a large and active OV-10 force. The type enjoyed a brief renaissance in 2015 when two former Marine OV-10Ds were taken up by the USAF for use against ISIS forces in Iraq, to see if the design was still viable. Though the OV-10s performed well, the USAF is not likely to put it back into production. 360 were built, and at least 25 are on display in museums aside from the aircraft that are still operational.
Aside from the Philippine Air Force, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) uses a fleet of about 20 former USAF OV-10As and former USMC OV-10Ds. These are used to scout for fires during high fire danger times, lead in waterbombers on attack runs, and coordinate large numbers of waterbombers working a particular fire. In the case of the former Marine OV-10Ds, CalFire uses these aircraft's infrared sensors to pick up "hot spots" that would normally be invisible to visual search. Though the aircraft are aging, CalFire still uses their Broncos in these roles.
Though this model carries the registration N476AW, this is actually inaccurate for a CalFire OV-10D. N476AW was indeed a civilian-operated Bronco, but was operated by the US State Department from Patrick AFB, Florida. N476AW was formerly 155501 of the USMC's VMO-4, and was retired in 1994. The State Department acquired it and several other OV-10Ds for use in spraying cocaine fields in Colombia. Given that the coca farmers and the cartels were opposed to this spraying, State OV-10s were frequently shot at and occasionally shot down--to the point that additional armor was scabbed on the bottom of the Broncos to protect the crew.
N476AW was reported active until 2009, when it was taken off the FAA's registry and marked only as "destroyed." This could mean it was scrapped, or possibly one of the OV-10s that was shot down on a covert mission over Colombia.
Though N476AW/155501 never served with CalFire, this model shows off the bright overall gloss blue used by CalFire's OV-10Ds when they were initially put into service. Today CalFire tends to paint their Broncos in more visible white and red. Dad built this kit for display in the Poletto Collection, but in 2013 I donated it to the Great Falls Model Railroad Club for display on their layout at the Montana State Fairgrounds.
Calfire Rockwell OV-10D Bronco
At the beginning of the Vietnam War, there was little interest in a dedicated counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. The USAF was too committed to an all-jet, nuclear-capable force, while the US Army was satisfied with its helicopter fleet; the Navy concentrated on its carriers, and while the Marines were mildly interested, they lacked funding.
Vietnam was to change that. Horrendous losses among US Army UH-1s was to lead to a rethinking of helicopter doctrine, and pointed up the lack of a dedicated COIN aircraft. The USAF found itself depending on World War II-era A-26K Invaders, former US Navy A-1 Skyraiders, and converted trainers like the T-28 Trojan. The USAF also found itself in the market for a better forward air control (FAC) aircraft, due to the high loss rate of its O-1 Birddogs and O-2 Skymasters. Finally, the US Navy needed something to better cover its Mobile River Force units in the Mekong Delta, which could not always depend on USAF air support. In 1963, all three services issued a requirement for a new light design capable of performing as both a COIN and FAC aircraft. North American's NA-300 was selected in 1964 and designated OV-10A Bronco.
The OV-10 design drew heavily on independent research done at the China Lake research establishment, which in turn was inspired by the World War II P-38 Lightning fighter. The P-38 used a central "gondola" fuselage to concentrate all of its firepower along the centerline, which made for better accuracy; the OV-10 would do the same. As in the P-38, the engines were contained in twin booms that stretched back to the tail. The Bronco's four machine gun armament was placed in sponsons on either side of the fuselage, while ordnance was carried beneath the sponsons. To satisfy the USAF's requirements for a FAC aircraft, the two-man crew flew underneath a large, spacious canopy that gave them superb visibility. Because the Marines wanted an aircraft that could carry a Recon team, the fuselage was extended and, if the rear seat was removed, five paratroopers could be squeezed into the back, or two stretchers.
When the OV-10 arrived in Vietnam in 1968, there was a fear that the Bronco would be the jack of all trades and master of none. In fact, it proved to be excellent in all of its roles. As a FAC, it was a huge improvement over the slower O-1 and O-2; as a COIN aircraft, it was also a good aircraft, though it could not carry the same amount of ordnance as an A-1. The Navy equipped one squadron with OV-10As as VAL-4--nicknamed the "Black Ponies" for their dark green camouflage--and these were used extensively over the Mekong Delta. There were problems with the design: the airframe was actually too heavy for the engines, which left it underpowered, and ditching was invariably fatal for the pilot, as his seat tended to hurl forward into the instrument panel. Nonetheless, the Bronco turned in a sterling performance in Southeast Asia.
Though the Navy transferred its surviving Black Ponies to the Marines after the end of American involvement in Vietnam, the USAF and Marines would keep theirs for the next 20 years. For the 1970s and 1980s, the OV-10 replaced all other FAC designs in USAF service, aside from a handful of OA-37B Dragonfly squadrons. The Marines also kept their OV-10s and further refined the design by adding all-weather capability in the long-nosed OV-10D variant.
By the First Gulf War in 1991, the OV-10 was starting to show its age. The USAF began retiring its fleet even before Desert Storm; the Bronco was considered to be too slow to survive a modern air defense environment. Though the Marines used some of their OV-10Ds, the loss of two aircraft also led the USMC to retire their Broncos after war's end. Both services chose jets as replacements--the USAF with modified OA-10A Thunderbolt IIs, and the Marines with two-seat all-weather F/A-18Ds.
OV-10s were also a mild export success, going to seven other countries, mainly in the COIN role. Most have since been retired in favor of newer designs, though the Philippines still has a large and active OV-10 force. The type enjoyed a brief renaissance in 2015 when two former Marine OV-10Ds were taken up by the USAF for use against ISIS forces in Iraq, to see if the design was still viable. Though the OV-10s performed well, the USAF is not likely to put it back into production. 360 were built, and at least 25 are on display in museums aside from the aircraft that are still operational.
Aside from the Philippine Air Force, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) uses a fleet of about 20 former USAF OV-10As and former USMC OV-10Ds. These are used to scout for fires during high fire danger times, lead in waterbombers on attack runs, and coordinate large numbers of waterbombers working a particular fire. In the case of the former Marine OV-10Ds, CalFire uses these aircraft's infrared sensors to pick up "hot spots" that would normally be invisible to visual search. Though the aircraft are aging, CalFire still uses their Broncos in these roles.
Though this model carries the registration N476AW, this is actually inaccurate for a CalFire OV-10D. N476AW was indeed a civilian-operated Bronco, but was operated by the US State Department from Patrick AFB, Florida. N476AW was formerly 155501 of the USMC's VMO-4, and was retired in 1994. The State Department acquired it and several other OV-10Ds for use in spraying cocaine fields in Colombia. Given that the coca farmers and the cartels were opposed to this spraying, State OV-10s were frequently shot at and occasionally shot down--to the point that additional armor was scabbed on the bottom of the Broncos to protect the crew.
N476AW was reported active until 2009, when it was taken off the FAA's registry and marked only as "destroyed." This could mean it was scrapped, or possibly one of the OV-10s that was shot down on a covert mission over Colombia.
Though N476AW/155501 never served with CalFire, this model shows off the bright overall gloss blue used by CalFire's OV-10Ds when they were initially put into service. Today CalFire tends to paint their Broncos in more visible white and red. Dad built this kit for display in the Poletto Collection, but in 2013 I donated it to the Great Falls Model Railroad Club for display on their layout at the Montana State Fairgrounds.