New arrival in Fort Worth

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:21 pm

The OV-10 Bronco guys have a new arrival at the VFM.

Formerly of the USS Alabama/Pensacola

BuNo 146898

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:25 pm

Cool! Though I was hoping it was a kingfisher! :cry:

Saw that "formerly of the USS Alabama and got my hopes up! Was this one of the ones damaged in "Francis"

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:10 pm

Zane,

Is this a real Yankee Air Pirate? (Combat vet?)

Way, way cool!

SPANNER

cozmo · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:00 pm

Sorry for mobile (I was hoping they would get them all put back together), but Fort worth is a whole lot closer.

If they ever gave up the Kingfisher, I would suggest a place just outside of Houston would be a perfect place...this coming from a guy in Dallas...

BattleRabbit · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:10 pm

do they have wings for that badboy?

cozmo · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:22 pm

That looks like them on the right side of the first picture.

It had wings last time I saw it. But that was pre-Katrina.

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:07 pm

I don't know if she is a real Tonkin vet or not.

Here's the poop from the OV-10 site.

http://www.ov-10bronco.net/

This Crusader was on display at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL and sustained damage from Hurricane Katrina, and moved back to NMNA in Pensacola.
This Crusader began life as an F8U-1P and was delivered and accepted by the US Navy on 1960-02-26.
The plane then served in VCP-63 (Composite Photo Recon Sqn.), NAS Miramar 1960-03-04;
VCP-63 Det. L, USS Lexington 1960-10-26; VCP-63, NAS Miramar 1961-06-08;
VFP-63 (Light Photo Recon Sqn.), NAS Miramar 1961-07-19;
VFP-63 Det. F, USS Lexington 1961-11-01;
VFP-63, NAS Miramar 1962-05-16.
As part of the transition to the modern tri-service designation system, it was redesignated as an RF-8A on 1962-11-30.
It then served with VFP-63 Det. L, NAS Miramar 1963-05-09;
VFP-63 Det. L, USS Hancock 1963-08-31; VFP-63, NAS Miramar 1963-12-19;
VFP-63 Det. M, NAS Miramar 1964-07-08;
VFP-63 Det. M, USS Ranger 1964-08-31;
BWR Dallas, Dallas 1965-05-11.
There is a gap in the records between May 1965 and June 1968, believed to be when it was converted to RF-8G standard (these had stronger wings & fuselage, wing pylons, and ventral fins; improved engines, and updated electrical & navigation systems).
The plane then served with VFP-63, NAS Miramar 1968-06-25;
MARTD Olathe, Olathe (VMJ-4, Marine Recon Sqn.) (Reserves) 1969-06-27; MARTD Dallas, Dallas (VMJ-4) 1970-02-21;
MARTD Dallas, Dallas (VMJ-4) 1971-06-16.
There is a gap in the records between June 1971 and Jan. 1975
. The plane then served with VFP-306, Andrews AFB 1975-01-05;
VFP-63, NAS Miramar 1975-12-09;
VFP-306, Andrews AFB 1976-06-15.
It was administratively stricken from the record at Pensacola NAS on 1984-11-09.
On 2008-01-17, the VMAP announced that enough funding had been secured to recover the aircraft from Pensacola, however much more funding will be needed for the full restoration.

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

When talking to on of the OV-10 Bronco Association guys I know, he said they thought this bird may have been one of the RF-8s used to take pictures of Cuba before the Missle Crisis, I don't know if they have confirmed that though...
Here is how it looked a few years back on the back lot at P-Cola..

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:01 am

That's gonna be real fast when they get the hole pointed the right way.

viking73 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:21 am

Great news! Thanks for the update Zane. I need to drive up there and check that museum out sometime soon...

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