The Broncos Of VAL-4

 BUNO: 155393   5th Bronco Built |•| 4th Marine OV-10A  Side # 115 
 Replacement For BUNO 155490; Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•|First listed in the June 1968 Navy History Cards at NPRC at the factory in Columbus, Ohio on October 31, 1967.
|•|It remained with the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River Naval Air Station from February 13 to September 8, 1969.
|•|It was then at NPRC RDT&E in Columbus, Ohio thru January 1, 1970 were it was prepared for shipment to Vietnam.
|•|The Acceptance & Transfer Unit at NAS North Island shipped 155393 to VAL-4 on January 12, 1970.
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Upon arrival at Vung Tau, it was a short tow through town to the VAL-4 flightline

|•|It arrived at NSA Binh Thuy on February 6, 1970 as a replacement for BUNO 155490.
|•|Fifty-two days later it became the third OV-10A that VAL-4 lost when it was shot down near Hue Duc, 20 miles north of Rach Gia after being hit by ground fire. Lt. Cdr. John Westerman and Lt.(jg) Pete Ford ejected and were Wounded In Action.
|•|155393 was struck from the records as a combat loss on March 30, 1970
|•|See: Aviation Safety Net Database Entry for 155393 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155394   8th Bronco Built |•| 5th Marine OV-10A  Side # 111 
 Replacement For 155503 Stationed At Binh Thuy 

|•|First listed at the factory in Columbus, Ohio on December 5, 1967.
|•|To NATC at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland on March 29, 1968. 
|•|Back to the factory on June 18, 1968 
|•|At NAS Patuxent River, Maryland for Service and Weapons System Testing - August 5, 1968 
|•|NPRC Columbus on November 6, 1968 
|•|November 25, 1969 - at the Acceptance & Transfer Unit at NAS North Island for shipment to Vietnam on January 12, 1970 
|•|155394 arrived at Binh Thuy on February 6, 1970 as a replacement for Buno 155497 
|•|One night in January 1971 during a heavy rain storm, 155394 was the wing aircraft on a Scramble launch when the canopy came open on take-off. The pilot immediately returned to Binh Thuy AFB to make an emergency landing. The aircraft departed the runway and began to cartwheel through the elephant grass. It came to rest in an upright position and the aircrew made a long walk back to the ready room in the rain. 155394 was airlifted to NSA Binh Thuy for repairs and emerged from the hangar soon afterwards as VAL-4's first grey Bronco. 
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|•| Eight months later October 29, 1971, 155394 became the sixth Bronco VAL-4 lost when it was shot down approximately 15 miles south-east of Phu Vinh after being hit by ground fire. Both crewmembers - Lt. Roy "Bubba" Segar (Pilot) and Lt. E. A. Smith (Observer) ejected and were rescued by an Army SAR helicopter.
* As a postscript, Lynn Henish adds: JK Pell and I were first on the scene when Bubba and Smith punched out in Long Binh Province while prosecuting a target single-ship on the way back from a Rung Sat patrol. We covered the evac by an Army slick from Saigon who had heard the call on Guard frequency. I watched her (155394) crash twice. As it turned out, Bubba had happened upon an NVA Regular Battalion being off-loaded in the Delta, evidently unbeknownst to anyone! He tore 'em apart with his Zunis and LAU-69 on "ripple". It looked like Iwo Jima down there from where we were overhead.
 
|•|See: Black Pony Bronco Busters & Aviation Safety Net Database Entry for 155394 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155395   Sixth USMC OV-10A Bronco Built  Honorable Mention 
 YOV-10D Night Observation GunShip (NOGS) Broncos: Binh Thuy June - October 1971 
|•| First listed at the factory in Columbus, Ohio on February 23, 1968.
|•| 155395 was the first OV-10A 'Bronco' delivered to the Marine Corpss - February 23, 1968 to VMO-5 at MCALF Camp Pendleton, CA.
|•| Then HML 267 when the squadron was redesignated on March 15, 1968.
|•| Arrived at the US Marine Corps Reserve Base at Los Alamitos, California on March 5, 1969.
|•| On April 6, 1970 it returned to NPRC RDT&E at Columbus, Ohio were it was configured to become a YOV-10D "NOGS" Bronco.
|•| It was sent to RDT&E at the Naval Weapons Center at NAS China Lake in California on November 9, 1970 for evaluation before being sent to Vietnam.
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YOV-10D - BUNO 155395 - China Lake - 1971
|•| 155395 was the first of two OV-10As converted to YOV-10Ds. The Marines wanted to make more of the Bronco by adding new sensors and heavier armament. North American Rockwell modified Bureau Numbers 155395 and 155396 to "YOV-10D" configuration in 1970. The gun sponsons were removed and a three-barrel General Electric M197 20 millimeter Gatling cannon in a turret was added under the rear fuselage. The Bronco's cargo space was used to accommodate the turret system and cannon ammunition. The nose was extended 30 inches to accommodate a turret-mounted "forward looking infrared (FLIR)" video imager.
|•| After stateside tests at the Naval Air Weapons Staion China Lake, California the YOV-10D NOGS Broncos were shipped to Vietnam on April 26, 1971.
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155395 looking for work
|•| Before & after the NOGS operated with the Black Ponies in 1971, average 20 mm ammunition usage was 5,138 rounds a month; but from June 5 to August 13, 1971 while the Marines operated the NOGS Broncos with VAL-4 the average usage went up to 50,527 rounds as the Black Ponies & NOGS fired a total of 151,580 20 mm rounds. The YOV-10Ds flew 207 missions with 275 confirmed enemy kills and 23 injured, 63 sampans were destroyed and at least 30 damaged, 39 structures were damaged and 14 were destroyed, 19 secondary fires were noted and 36 secondary explosions were heard, 7 bunkers were destroyed and 19 damaged and 4 supply caches were destroyed/damaged.
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BUNO 155395 at Binh Thuy Air Force Base in 1971
|•| The YOV-10Ds were returned to China Lake and remained there until 1972.
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 1V0046 Apr 22, 1993, to Air Force list as PA0001 Apr 22, 1993. To California Division of Forestry as N469DF, disassembled in warehouse.
 
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Binh Thuy Air Force Base - It took a lot of bullets to reload a YOV-10D

See: Light Attack Squadron Four 1971 Command History  & YOV-10D In-Country video & M97 Gun Turret Information Sheet
 
 BUNO: 155396  Seventh USMC OV-10A Bronco Built  Honorable Mention 
 YOV-10D Night Observation GunShip (NOGS) Broncos: Binh Thuy June - October 1971 
|•| To HML 267 at the USMC Base at Camp Pendleton, California on March 6, 1968
|•| Then listed at the US Marine Corps Reserve Base at Los Alamitos, California on March 5, 1969
|•| May 21, 1970 - returned to NPRC RDT&E at Columbus were it was configured to be the second YOV-10D "NOGS" Bronco.
|•| It was sent to RDT&E at the Naval Weapons Center at NAS China Lake in California on November 9, 1970 for evaluation before being sent to Vietnam.
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|•| 155396 was the second of two OV-10As converted to YOV-10Ds. The Marines wanted to make more of the Bronco by adding new sensors and heavier armament. North American Rockwell modified Bureau Numbers 155395 and 155396 to "YOV-10D" configuration in 1970. The gun sponsons were removed and a three-barrel General Electric M197 20 millimeter Gatling cannon in a turret was added under the rear fuselage. The Bronco's cargo space was used to accommodate the turret system and cannon ammunition. The nose was extended 30 inches to accommodate a turret-mounted "forward looking infrared (FLIR)" video imager. After stateside tests at the Naval Air Weapons Staion China Lake, California the YOV-10D NOGS Broncos left China Lake and started their journey to Vietnam on April 26, 1971.
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YOV-10D "NOGS" Bronco awaiting transport to Vietnam at NAS North Island
(Click for larger image)
|•| On May 26, 1971 the two YOV-10Ds arrived at Cam Ranh Bay to begin the NOGS Combat Evaluation. Since USMC OV-10A squadrons were in the process of standing down from combat operations the NOGS Detachment was collocated with VAL-4 located at NSA Binh Thuy in the Mekong Delta area of IV Corps. The evaluation was successfully completed by late August and the YOV-10Ds were returned to the United States. The NOGS Broncos were operated in formations with either 1 or 2 VAL-4 OV-10A wingmen or paired with the other YOV-10D on "Double D" missions in III and IV Corps. (Jim Dearborn - USMC NOGS Pilot).
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To NASA as N367NA. Stored at Cleveland until transferred to California Division of Forestry.
|•| See: Light Attack Squadron Four 1971 Command History & (YOV-10D NOGS Information)
 
 BUNO: 155397  11th Bronco Built |•| 8th Marine OV-10A  Side # 101 (?) 
Replacement Aircraft at VS-41 
|•| First listed as new at the factory in Columbus, Ohio on March 15, 1968
|•| To HML 267 at the USMC Base at Camp Pendleton, California on March 25, 1968
|•| To the USMCR Base at Los Almitos, California from March 6, 1969
|•| Sent to VS-41 at NAS North Island in San Diego, California as a replacement for 155460 from September 9, 1970 to January 18, 1972
|•| To VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton until June 28, 1972
|•| Morocco acquired six ex-USMC OV-10A-model airframes that were delivered in 1981 after being refurbished by Rockwell in Columbus. It was originally intended that Morocco would get 24 aircraft but political problems lead to the delivery of only 6. In January 1981 fifteen Marines made up of personnel from VMO-1 and VMO-2 formed a mobile training team called MTT-1-81 to train the Moroccan Air Force how to maintain and fly the OV-10 aircraft.
This was the first time Marines had ever been used for this purpose. They spent six month in Morocco at the Kenitra Air Base providing training. The first two aircraft flew over in February of 1981. Their route took them from Columbus, Ohio up the east coast of the U.S. and Canada over to Greenland, Iceland and then down the west coast of Europe and into Morocco. Two more followed in March and April.
The aircraft were to be used in the civil war being waged in the south by the Polisariso insurgents. During the operation of the aircraft one crashed and was destroyed, and another made a wheels up landing but was scrapped as repair was not within their capability. With the end of the war the aircraft were used for border and coast patrol, flying out of the Kenitra Air Base. In June of 1991 the OV-10A made their last flight to Meknes air base where they were put into storage.
The aircraft were last seen in April 2001. They were considered to be in very good shape, although there were minor things needing repair (stemming from the fact that they had been sitting for an extended period of time.)
|•| 155397 crashed in the Western Sahara Desert on April 30, 1981 and was written off as Damaged Beyond Repair. The pilot survived and was the only occupant of the aircraft that had taken off from Marrakesh Menara Airport, Morocco.
|•| See: Aviation Safety Net Wikibase Entry for 155397
 
 BUNO: 155405  26th Bronco Built |•| 16th Marine OV-10A  Side # 111 
 Replacement For 155394 Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at factory - July 19, 1968 
|•| HML 267 at Camp Pendleton - July 24, 1968 
|•| January 1, 1969 listed with VMO-6 Quang Tri, Vietnam thru June 28, 1969 on the NHHC History Cards dated June 30, 1969 
|•| The NHHC History Cards dated June 30, 1970 show it with VMO-6 at Futema, Japan from June 28, 1969 thru May 12, 1970 
|•| June 30, 1971 History Cards show it at Futema on May 12, 1970 thru May 6, 1971 
|•| VMO-6 at Futema, Okinawa, Japan transferred it to VAL-4 on November 20, 1971 as a replacement for 155394 
|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when VAL-4 was decommissioned 
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as 1V0014 Apr 22, 1980 
|•| 155405 was returned to service in 1987 to be used for training new Marine pilots with the 22nd TASTS at Davis Monthan AFB as #87-405 until 1991. Then back to VMO-2 and on to HMT-303 at Camp Pendleton 
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155405 (on the right), in the Boneyard awaiting resucue by the California Dept. of Forestry
155428 on the left. From Mike Baldocks photo collection
|•| 155405 went back to 'The Boneyard' as 12V00322 on Sep 11, 1992 until it was again resurrected by the California Department of Forestry as N414DF, Cal Fire No. A-140
 
 BUNO: 155417  48th Bronco Built |•| 28th Marine OV-10A  Side # 105 
 Replacement For 155497 Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory on May 31, 1968
|•| Then with HML 267 at Camp Pendleton, California - June 8, 1968
|•| Then with VMO-6 at Quang Tri, Vietnam - January 1, 1969
|•| VMO-2 - MCAS Futenma, Okinawa - June 23, 1969
|•| VMO-2 sent 155417 to VAL-4 on November 2, 1970 as a replacement for 155497.
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155417 as part of a 4-ship Fuel/Air Explosive sortie over South Vietnam
|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when VAL-4 was decommissioned.
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted to an OV-10D+ in 1991. Transferred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in July 1994. Transferred to the State Department on October 1, 1996. Converted to a spray configuration and sent to Columbia on February 25, 1997. Last known to be at a technical school in New York.
 
 BUNO: 155425  64th Bronco Built |•| 36th Marine OV-10A  Side # Unknown 
 Supplemental Aircraft Arrived Binh Thuy 
|•| New at factory - June 20, 1968
|•| HML 267 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California - June 24, 1968
|•| Auugust 7, 1968 - HAMRON 16 COSA, Danang, Vietnam
|•| Auugust 10, 1968 - VMO-2, Danang, Vietnam
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155425 - 1st MAW - Vietnam, 1968
|•| Arrived at Binh Thuy from VMO-2 in Da Nang on February 19, 1971.
|•| VMO-6 Futenma, Okinawa - June 23, 1971 thru April 14, 1972
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Transferred to Morocco 5/4/81. Suspected to have crashed in April 1984
|•| Bob'z Note: This aircraft was misidentified on the BUNO list in Kit Lavell's book "The Flying Black Ponies" and other places as 155427. Apparently both 155425 and 155427 were transferred to NAS Cubi Point and 155425 was redirected to VAL-4. Naval History and Heritage Aircraft History Card Records indicate 155425 was attached to VAL-4 and not 155427. Verified by VAL-4 pilot logbook entries for March & April 1971 by Don Hawkins, Mike Lamberto and Jim Hanks)
 
 BUNO: 155458  130th Bronco Built |•| 69th Marine OV-10A  Side # 110 
 Replacement For 155495 Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - September 27, 1968
|•| HML-267 - Camp Pendleton - October 2, 1968 thru November 2, 1968
|•| VMO-6 - Quang Tri, Vietnam - November 2, 1968 thru April 20, 1969
|•| Came to VAL-4 from VMO-6 on June 27, 1970. Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when VAL-4 was decommissioned.
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BUNO 155458 outside VAL-4 Hangar at NSA Binh Thuy

|•| April 5, 1972 thru July 21, 1972 - NAS Cubi Point. Phillipines
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California on May 12, 1972 thru June 1, 1974
|•| December 31, 1974 - VMO-1 at Cherry Point
|•| VMO-1 at New River from January 2, 1975 thru June 6, 1980
|•| MASDC Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona - June 9, 1980
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Transferred to the Boneyard in Tucson, AZ on June 6, 1980 and was stricken from the record on August 8, 1983 after being damaged in a wind storm.
 
 BUNO: 155460   134th Bronco Built |•| 71st Marine OV-10A   Side # 101 
 Original Aircraft, Remained At North Island 
|•|New at the factory - October 1, 1968 |•| VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on October 2, 1968 - January 3, 1969 |•| To VAL-4 when the squadron commissioned on January 3, 1969 |•| Back to VS-41 on February 28, 1969 to be used for training VAL-4 replacement pilots at NAS North Island. |•| On August 7, 1970, 155460 crashed while landing NAS North Island. Both crewmembers - Lt. "Flash" Leebern (Instructor Pilot) And Lt. Thomas Lange (Student Pilot) - died in the crash.
 
See:Crash Report & Aviation Safety Net Wikibase Entry for155460
 
 BUNO: 155461   136th Bronco Built |•| 72nd Marine OV-10A  Side # 102 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| New at the factory - October 2, 1968
|•| VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on October 3, 1968
|•| VAL-4 on January 3, 1969 when the squadron was commissioned
|•| VAL-4 Det. B in Vung Tau, Republic of Vietnam in April 1969 until the detachment closed on July 21, 1970 when VAL-4 consolidated operations at Binh Thuy
|•| 155461 was the seventh Bronco that VAL-4 lost on February 9, 1972. Pilot Lt. Robert Lutz was Killed In Action and Observer 1st Lt. Eugene Brindle ejected and survived the crash.
See: Aviation Safety Net WikiBase Entry for 155461 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155462  138th Bronco Built |•| 73rd Marine OV-10A  Side # 103 
 Original Aircraft Remained At North Island 
|•| New at the factory - October 7, 1968
|•| Arrived VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on October 8, 1968 transfered to VAL-4 on January 3, 1969 when the squadron was commissioned and then back to VS-41 on February 27, 1969 until February 9, 1972
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BUNO 155462 NAS North Island

|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California on February 24, 1972 thru June 1, 1975
|•| June 17, 1976 thru March 4, 1978 - VMO-2 at Yuma, Arizona
|•| March 4, 1978 thru June 23, 1980 - VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California
|•| NPRO REP in Columbus, Ohio from July 1, 1980 thru March 13, 1981
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Transferred to Columbia in 1980 and then to Morocco in 1981.
 
 BUNO: 155463  140th Bronco Built |•| 74th Marine OV-10A  Side # 104 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - October 8, 1968
|•| VS-41 - NAS North Island, California on October 9, 1968
|•| VAL-4 - NSA Binh Thuy, Vietnam - January 10, 1969 thru April 2, 1972
         OV-10          
155463 taxiing out at NSA Binh Thuy, Vietnam

|•| When the squadron decommissioned, 155463 was flown to NAS Cubi Point
|•| April 5, 1972 thru June 21, 1972 at NAS Cubi Point, Phillipines
|•| September 8, 1972 thru July 9, 1974 - VMO-1 at New River
|•| Note: Aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident on July 9, 1974.
 
 BUNO: 155470  154th Bronco Built |•| 81st Marine OV-10A  Side # 105 
 Original Aircraft, Remained At North Island
|•| New at the factory - October 30, 1968
|•| 155470 was rec'd by VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 2, 1968. 155470 was transferred to VAL-4 when the squadron commissioned on January 3, 1969 and then back to VS-41 on February 28, 1969 to be used for training replacement pilots at NAS North Island.
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155470 in a black paint scheme with VS-41 markings at NAS North Island

|•| March 27, 1972 transferred to VMO-1 at New River, North Carolina until July 30, 1976. Then with VMO-1 at Cherry Point from July 31, 1976 thru Septemder 22, 1976 when it returned to New River until April 6, 1979.
|•| With VMO-1 in New River on August 6, 1980 thru August 5, 1983
|•| VMO-1 at Cherry Point on May 2, 1986
|•| VMO-1 at New River on May 2, 1986 thru April 6, 1979
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted to an OV-10D+; this aircraft is now being flown for controlling mosquitos
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 BUNO: 155471  156th Bronco Built |•| 82nd Marine OV-10A  Side # 106 & 101 
Original Aircraft Stationed At NSA Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - October 30, 1968
|•| VS-41 NAS North Island, San Diego, California on November 2, 1968
|•| VAL-4 - NSA Binh Thuy, Vietnam - January 16, 1969
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155471 is the aircraft whose nose tire was reportedly shot by the VAL-4 Maintenance Officer LCdr. Bill Bartlett for "failure to
perform properly" causing Skipper Marty Schuman to bounce this Bronco on the Portable Steel Plate (PSP) runway at Chi Lang
while Admiral Zumwalt was riding in the back seat

|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when the squadron was decommissioned. Remained there until October 10, 1972
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California and Yuma, Arizona thru June 1, 1975
|•| MARTD Detroit, Michigan on February 2, 1976 thru May 14, 1976
|•| September 25, 1976 thru November 30, 1976 - MARTD Atlanta at Atlanta, Georgia then Deccember 6, 1976 - February 7, 1977 MARTD Atlanta at Cherry Point and back to MARTD Atlanta at Atlanta, Georgia thru February 12, 1977
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in New River on February 12, 1977
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in Cherry Point from February 27, 1981 thru April 28, 1981
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in New River from April 28, 1981 thru October 14, 1983
|•| MAG-41 DT Marietta in New River on March 5, 1985 thru June 21, 1985
|•| MAG-41 DT Marietta in Atlanta, Georgia on June 21, 1985 thru February 26, 1986
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 1V0037 Mar 10, 1993. Later operated by California Department of Forestry as N410DF, Cal. Fire No. A-110.
 
 BUNO: 155472  158th Bronco Built |•| 83rd Marine OV-10A  Side # 107 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - November 8, 1968
|•| 155472 arrived at VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 9, 1968 and transferred to VAL-4 on January 3, 1969
|•| After arriving in Vietnam, 155472 remained at NSA Binh Thuy until the squadron was decommissioned
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Gandalf The Gray Wizzard before leaving for Cubi Point

|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 where it remained until August 10, 1972
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton from September 15, 1972 thru June 1, 1975
|•| MARTD El Toro, California from June 25, 1975 thru May 5, 1976
|•| MARTD Detroit, Michigan on June 12, 1976 thru September 23, 1976
|•| MARTD Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia and MARTD Atlanta at Cherry Point thru June 30, 1977
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in New River on June 30, 1977 thru July 14, 1981. Then HMS-41 DT Marietta at Cherry Point on July 16, 1981
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in New River on September 18, 1981
|•| NATC RDT&E at Patuxent River on February 22, 1982
|•| HMS-41 DT Marietta in New River on October 5, 1982 thru September 11, 1984
|•| MAG-41 DT Marietta in New River on September 11, 1984 thru July 30, 1985
|•| MAG-41 DT Marietta in Atlanta, Georgia on July 31, 1985 thru July 11, 1986
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155472 at VMO-4 in 1990

|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted to an OV-10D+ in October of 1991. On loan from USMC Air-Ground Museum in Quantico, VA to the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, NC.
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BUNO 155472 - National Naval Aviation Museum - Pensacola, Florida
Click for larger image
|•| On May 25, 1969 shortly after VAL-4 began flight operations in the Republic of Vietnam Lt. Pete Russell was Killed In Action while flying this aircraft. Rear seater Lt. Jeff Johnson flew the aircraft back to Binh Thuy.
- Through the efforts of Pete Russell's brother, 155472 was transferred from the USMC Air-Ground Museum to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida in October of 2004. Although it is still configured as an OV-10D+, it is on display in the original green VAL-4 paint scheme.
 
 BUNO: 155473  160th Bronco Built |•| 84th Marine OV-10A  Side # 108 
 Original Aircraft - Remained At NAS North Island 
|•| New at the factory - November 8, 1968
|•| VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 16, 1968
|•| VAL-4 at NAS North Island (History Cards say Binh Thuy) - January 3, 1969
|•| Back to VS-41 on February 28, 1969 for pilot training
|•| VMO-1 at New River, North Carolina March 13, 1972 thru June 25, 1975
|•| MASDC DMAFB in Tucson, Arizona on June 23, 1975 - Returned to service
|•| To NARF Cherry Point on April 7, 1978
|•| To NPRO REP Columbus, Ohio on June 23, 1978 thru September 1, 1978
|•| First listed as an OV-10D on September 1, 1978 at NPRO REP Columbus, Ohio
|•| with VMO-1 at New River from April 2, 1980 thru November 27, 1984
|•| with VMO-1 at Cherry Point on February 13 & 14, 1985
|•| with VMO-1 at New River on February 14, 1985
|•| with VMO-1 at Cherry Point on April 28, 1986
|•| with VMO-1 at New River on May 22, 1986
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|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted to an OV-10D in December 1978. To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 1V0036 Sep 27, 1992, to PB0002 Oct 29, 1992 Eventually converted to an OV-10D+ and then to an OV-10G. 155473 was painted in Desert Sand paint while serving with VMO-2 at MCAS Camp Pendleton before deploying for Operations Desert Storm & Desert Shield. Transfered to the Department of State in November 1998.

 
 BUNO: 155474  164th Bronco Built |•| 85th Marine OV-10A  Side #s 102, 105 & 116 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| Bob's Note: I think I have more pictures of 155474 than any other VAL-4 OV-10A Bronco. I will share some of them here.
|•| Three war veteran 155474 was new at the factory on November 20, 1968, 155474 was sent to VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 21, 1968
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VAL-4 training flight over the southern California

 
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And over El Centro, California

|•| It was transferred to VAL-4 when the squadron was commissioned on January 3, 1969
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VAL-4 "Brown Water Navy" sortie over the Mekong Delta

 
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Parked in a revetment at Vung Tau Army Airfield

 
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Brought home for maintenance to Binh Thuy Air Force Base

|•| It was stationed at Binh Thuy until it was flown to NAS Cubi Point when VAL-4 was decommissioned - April 1972
|•| NAS Cubi Point until April 22, 1972
|•| VMO-1 Camp Pendleton on September 15, 1972 - In 1975 it received the Night Observation System standard modification that made it an OV-10D
|•| VMO-2 at Yuma, Arizona from June 1, 1975 thru March 9, 1978
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California from April 5, 1978 thru August 24, 1984
|•| 1991 with VMO-2 this aircraft deployed during Operation Desert Shield / Storm, flying forward air control and artillery spotting missions
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OV10D+ with VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton in 1992
From the Carl E. Porter (PMC) Photo Collection

|•| When VMO-2 was deactivated in 1992, 155474 went to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona as 1V0044. A year later 155474 was one of 22 OV-10Ds assigned to the Department of State Air Wing and was soon an anti-drug spray aircraft in Colombia
|•| 155474 was acquired by an aviation technical school in Burlington, Vermont
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155474 after spraying drugs in South America with the DoS Airwing

|•| In 2018 it was purchased by Mike Manclark's OV10 Squadron to be restored to flyable condition in Chino, California
|•| Initially scheduled to be the first Bronco restored, airframe damage and corrosion caused by the sprayer configuration slowed the restoration process
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155474 being towed to the paint shop in Chino California

|•| Under new Federal Aviation Administration Registration Number N16854 155474 came out of the Restoration Hangar in Chino, California to have it's engines started yet again
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155474 as N16854 prepares for engine run in April 2021
Click for larger image

|•| The four bladed propellers are an immediately noticeable modern update - but are slightly outdone by the updated cockpits
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Glass Cockpits
Click for larger image

|•| Currently three - 155409, 155474, and 155493 - OV-10 Broncos are being operated by the OV10 Squadron. Today's OV-10 Broncos are being used by Blue Air Training are "Providing the highest quality Close Air Support (CAS) training to our nation’s Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) and Warfighters, anywhere in the world."
Mike Manclark is leading his OV10 Squadron to airshows around the United States. Giving rides to Veterans, deserving others and granting life-long wishes are just some of the things he does with these Broncos.
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BUNO 155474 at the Osh Kosh Air Expedition in Wisconsin on July 28th 2021
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See: Warbird Digest & OV10 Squadron Facebook Article
 
 BUNO: 155475  164th Bronco Built |•| 86th Marine OV-10A  Side # 101 & 110 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| New at the factory - November 12, 1968
|•| VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 14, 1968
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155475 at Naval Air Station North Island before VAL-4 went to Vietnam

|•| VAL-4 on January 3, 1969 when the squadron was commissioned at NAS North Island, California
|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when VAL-4 decommissioned
|•| To VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California thru June 1, 1975
|•| To VMO-2 in Yuma, Arizona on June 1, 1975 thru June 17, 1976
|•| September 6, 1978 - VMO-2 in Camp Pendleton, California then VMO-2 at Cherry Point on February 24, 1979
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California from September 4, 1979 thru January 19, 1984
|•| VMO-2 at Cherry Point on January 24, 1984 thru March 26, 1984
|•| VMO-2 at Camp Pendleton, California from March 28, 1984 thru March 28, 1984
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Currently N407DF flying with the California Forestry Department as A-510. To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 1V0027, later 1V0032.
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 BUNO: 155480  174th Bronco Built |•| 91st Marine OV-10A  Side # Unknown 
 Replacement For 155393 Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - November 27, 1968
|•| HML-267 at Marine Base Camp Pendleton, California - December 5, 1968
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155480 Possibly at Camp Pendleton California

|•| VMO-6 - Quang Tri, Vietnam - January 1, 1969 thru January 25, 1969
|•| Arrived - VAL-4 at Binh Thuy on April 29, 1970
|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point when the squadron decommissioned on April 5, 1972
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 12V0025. Later operated by California Department of Forestry as N408DF, Cal Fire No. A-230
 
 BUNO: 155490  194th Bronco Built |•| 101st Marine OV-10A  Side # 111 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - January 2, 1969
|•| 155490 was accepted by VAL-4 at NAS North Island on January 12, 1969
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155490 Over California

|•| This airframe was only seven months old when it became VAL-4's first aircraft loss on July 19, 1969
|•| 155490 was struck by enemy fire and crashed near the Three Sisters Mountains near Ap Bac, in Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam. Both crewmembers - Lt. Aubrey Grady Martin (pilot) and Lt.(jg) Roy Dean Sikkink (observer) were initially listed as MIA and it was eventually confirmed that both were KIA

See: Aviation Safety Net Wikibase Entry for 155490 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155491  196th Bronco Built |•| 102nd Marine OV-10A  Side # 112 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| New at the factory - January 14, 1969
|•| 155491 was accepted by VAL-4 at NAS North Island on January 15, 1969
|•| To Binh Thuy on July 21, 1970 when Det. Bravo in Vung Tau closed
|•| On March 30, 1972 it was transferred to VMO-6 at MCAS Futema, Okinawa, Japan
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: It was removed from USMC records and transferred to Morocco's Air Force on March 13, 1981. Crashed after being hit by a SAM-7 AAM on January 21, 1985
See: Flight Safety Foundation Wikibase Entry for 155491
 
 BUNO: 155493  200th Bronco Built |•| 104th Marine OV-10A  Side # 113 & 115 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| Received new from the factory, 155493 was accepted by VAL-4 at NAS North Island on January 27, 1969
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155493 - Fuel/Air Explosive Cluster Bomb Unit in Vietnam

|•| On April 3, 1972 it was transferred to VMO-6 at MCAS Futema, Okinawa, Japan
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted to an OV-10D+ in 1991. To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as PA0015 Jun 24, 1993. Registration N54623 reserved Feb 5, 1997 but cancelled Aug 20, 1998. Registered as N97854 on Feb 21, 2008.
|•| The airframe then spent many years in pieces at the National Vietnam War Museum east of Mineral Wells, Texas. In 2018 they were purchased for restoration by Mike Manclark's OV10 Squadron.
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The six airframes were in bad shape after sitting ouside in the dirt for several years.

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155493 being restored in Chino California

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155493 First flight after restoration

|•| In September of 2019, 155493 traveled to Fort Worth Texas for the OV-10 Bronco Association's Broncofest XII

155493 @ Broncofest XII * Click for larger image


 
 BUNO: 155494  202nd Bronco Built |•| 105th Marine OV-10A  Side # 114 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| New at the factory - January 16, 1969
|•| 155494 arrived at VAL-4 - NAS North Island on January 23, 1969
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155494 Starting #2 - Binh Thuy Air Force Base Vietnam
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|•| Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when the squadron was decommissioned
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: Converted from "A" to "D+" in 1990. It was a Desert Storm Veteran and returned aboard ship in June 1991.
|•| Transferred to the MCAS El Toro museum late 1993. Moved and on display at the Flying Leathernecks Command Museum at MCAS Miramar, CA in 1999.
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155494 USMC Leatherneck Museum - NAS Miramar - 2008

 
 BUNO: 155495  204th Bronco Built |•| 106th Marine OV-10A  Side # 113 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - January 16, 1969
|•| VAL-4 at NAS North Island, California on January 21, 1969
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155495 Arm/De-Arm at Binh Thuy Air Force Base

|•| June 7, 1970 - Fourth Bronco that VAL-4 lost in Vietnam. Aircraft written off as damaged beyond repair after being hit by .30 calibre machine gun fire. Indications are that the Pilot - Lt.Cdr. Jere Alan Barton was wounded but made a command-initiated ejection at about 400 feet MSL. After landing he appeared to be unconscious and did not disconnect from his parachute. The Backseater - Lt.Cdr. James D. Hanks successfully completed the ejection sequence. Lt.Cdr. Barton was KIA and Lt.Cdr Hanks was WIA. Both were recovered by an Army helicopter.

See: Aviation Safety Net's Wikibase Entry for 155495 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155496  206th Bronco Built |•| 107th Marine OV-10A  Side # 103 & 116 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| First listed at BUWEPS at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on January 27, 1969
|•| Came to VAL-4 at NAS North Island on January 28, 1969
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155496 Patrolling the Saigon Shipping Channel

|•| To Binh Thuy on July 21, 1970 when Det. Bravo in Vung Tau closed
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|•| 155496 Nose docked for maintenance outside the Handball Court in Binh Thuy

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155496 Zunis and FAE/CBUs - a deadly combination.

|•| Transferred to VMO-6 at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan on March 26, 1972 when VAL-4 decommissioned
|•| Joe Baugher's Notes: To Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center as 1V0023 May 20, 1992. Now being operated as N421DF by the California Forestry Department, Cal Fire No. A-240.
 
 BUNO: 155497  208th Bronco Built |•| 108th Marine OV-10A  Side # 105 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy 
|•| New at the factory - January 29, 1969
|•| 155497 joined VAL-4 at NAS North Island on February 7, 1969
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|•| It was the fifth Bronco VAL-4 lost in combat on June 7, 1970 after being hit by ground fire near the village of Xom Thong Xoai, South Vietnam. Lt(jg) Ed Bastarache and Lt(jg) Pete Ford ejected safely, and were rescued. This was Lt(jg) Ford's second ejection from an OV-10A - he ejected from 155393 on March 30, 1970
 
See: Aviation Safety Net Wikibase Entry for 155497 &  Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 BUNO: 155503   220th Bronco Built |•| 114th Marine OV-10A  Side # 115 
 Original Aircraft Stationed At Vung Tau 
|•| New at the factory - February 13, 1969
|•| Arrived at VAL-4 - NAS North Island on February 17, 1969
|•| Arrived at VAL-4 Detachment Bravo, Vung Tau, Vietnam on April 5, 1969
|•| Bureau Number 155503 was the last OV-10A "Bronco" built for the United States Marine Corps
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155503 with 155463 flying near the Long Tau Shipping Channel

|•| 155503 was the second Bronco that VAL-4 lost. On December 20, 1969 while patrolling the Saigon Long Tau shipping channel in the Rung Sat Special Zone 8 miles N of Vung Tau, the pilot advised the Moon River Naval Operations Center that he was descending to investigate a sampan at about 4:45 PM. After twenty minutes of silence and with Moon River Center unable to contact the flight, the Vung Tau VAL-4 alert crew was scrambled to search for the missing aircraft. The burning wreckage site was spotted 10 minutes later in the swampy Rung Sat Special Zone, 8 miles north of Vung Tau. At the time there was no visible evidence to indicate the cause of the crash, but the area was definitely hostile where ground fire was often encountered. Both crewmembers - U.S. Navy Lt.(jg) Joel Sandberg (Pilot) U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Carl Long were KIA.
 
|•| Partial remains of Lt.(jg) Sandberg were recovered about a month later and hopefully the remainder of his remains were seperatd from the remains of Capt. Long when they were recovered and returned to the United States in 1992. After Capt. Long's remains were identified, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Site 50 of Section 68) in Washington D.C., on September 16, 2004. It is not known if any more of Lt. (jg) Sandberg's remains were identified and returned to his family.
Here is the story of the recovery effort: The Thing He Carried
 
See: Aviation Safety Net Wikibase Entry for 155503 & Charlie Sapp's VAL-4 Crash Site Map
 
 Other References 
   |•| Aviation Safety Net OV-10 Crash Wikibase
   |•| Ejection History of OV-10 Aircraft
 
   E-Mail Suggestions, Comments, Additions, Changes, Revisions or Corrections to: Bob   

 
 
Page Recreated: September 2021 By "Sea'N'aiR'