Gy7ras
Moderator
Registered: 09/14/07
Posts: 234
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #1 |
The first time I came in contact or even heard of an OV-10 was in Vietnam. My unit was attacking a village under which we were taking small arms fire from. As my platoon made its way up to the village, an OV-10 flew in about two to three hundred yards behind us firing rockets into the village making many a direct hit.
I remember being out of breath in the heat of battle and being thankful that the OV-10's came in behind us to make our combat mission an easier task. I never understood why they took this great aircraft out of commission, as a support aircraft I believe it was fast enough in low air support, but maybe the technology to take it out had advanced beyond its capabilities.
Semper FI! 
__________________
 |
| |
SgtWookie
Fire watch
Registered: 01/16/08
Posts: 6
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #2 |
I heard that in Operation Desert Storm, a Col and his observer had been aloft for about 90 seconds before they were shot down, no survivors.
The OV-10 was immediately pulled from inventory.
|
| |
cactusmarine
Fire watch
Registered: 07/29/08
Posts: 13
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #3 |
I think its just that the OV-10 was Long in the Tooth. The Airframe had a lot of time on it and maintenance costs were to high. The Mission of the OV-10 often put it in high g-load situations. An airplane like that can only be used so long before the men who fly it are in jeopardy. The F/A-18 is supposed to take on many roles (jack of all trades, master of none. Much like the F-4 Phantom did.) Also the Harrier replaced many of the OV-10 roles. The US Forest Service uses the OV-10 as a spotter plane for the fire fighting role. Also some wealthy people keep them flying for fun and historical value. |
| |
MtDoraDave
Fire watch
Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 4
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #4 |
New member, first post.
I was in VMO-1 (avionics) and deployed to Saudi for Desert Storm. Shortly after our return, we were told the squadrons were shutting down.
They weren't old in the tooth anymore; many of the planes had just gone through a service life extension program... they were made brand new again.
I can't swear to the accuracy of this, but my understanding of why is this:
The millions that were spent upgrading them just before Desert Shield/Storm included fitting them with all new avionics including a Laser that was supposed to allow them to pinpoint a target for other aircraft to bomb... it didn't work.
I was transferred to another unit before I had the chance to lat move or early out (I wanted to lat move). I was sent to work on UAV's; unmanned aerial vehicles. Remote control planes with cameras. Secondary MOS only, leaving promotions to come from my primary... which never came.
I got out of the Corps in '94, when my enlistment was up.
I don't think I gave any classified secrets here, but if a moderator or operator feels I did, I won't be offended if you edit my post.
|
| |
MtDoraDave
Fire watch
Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 4
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #5 |
I did some googling and found this website. Scroll down to the section on OV-10's to read what the author has to say about the demise of the OV-10. A lot of it sounds like opinion, and more than a little bitter, but very informed nonetheless. It makes my bitterness about not being able to get promoted above E-3 when the squadrons shut down downright silly.
http://www.combatreform.com/strikephotos.htm
|
| |
Gy7ras
Moderator
Registered: 09/14/07
Posts: 234
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #6 |
Thanks Dave!
Good info and good reading. As a grunt in Nam I really didn't know all the particulars about the OV-10. I can only say that they did pull us out of a lot of scrapes flying low air support.
Their rocket fire was pretty accurate at least in my case, a few times during fire fights going into vils, and few times when we were getting hit from across a river.
Marine Air to me as well as the Naval and Air Force aviators always looked good to me when they were pulling us out a scape!
Sermper Fi!
Gy7ras Admin.
__________________
|
| |
