North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco 67-14639

Warbirds Online recently visited the team at the Australian War Memorial, Treloar Technology Centre in Mitchell, ACT to view the current aircraft project undergoing conservation and restoration – North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco, Tail Number 67-14639.  This aircraft was one of a number of Broncos flown by Australian crews in Vietnam one of 157 of the type built for the USAF in 1968 -there were a total of 360 produced for all versions. Bronco 67-14639 is currently undergoing an intensive effort to return her to her Vietnam service configuration even to an exact date when she was photographed, 13 July 1970. On this day she flew on two separate missions with Australian crews.

The aircraft was in very poor condition when received by the Australian War Memorial in 2007 and a major effort has been required to rebuild her to the Memorials high standards. The wing structure in particular was in very poor shape with extensive corrosion. So much so that a complete new wing assembly was obtained from the USA to substitute for the original structure which interestingly enough was from another airframe that was flown by Australian pilots. Throughout the rebuild rust and corrosion has been present in nearly all sections of the aircraft requiring many remedial repairs and in some cases reconstruction of damaged fittings and components. The repairs are carried out to professional aviation standards and accuracy.

The cockpit glazing needed to be replaced and a second set was procured from the US, and sent to Aero Clear at Armidale, NSW for polishing. The aircraft has fiberglass components in a number of areas and these have been repaired.

Bronco 67-14639 saw extensive use following the Vietnam War and was the subject of numerous modifications. In order to satisfy the Memorials conservation standards all of these modifications have been identified, removed and documented and the aircraft has been restored in its exact Vietnam era configuration.

At the time of our visit, the aircraft has had the fuselage and wing structure restored and mated together as well as the landing gear with the fit out of refurbished components taking place. The Bronco is starting to resemble an aircraft again. Work will soon commence on the restoration of the two tail booms and tail assembly for refitting and the structure of the aircraft will then be largely complete with the myriad of detailed system components, instrumentation and controls all being fitted.

Once complete the aircraft will be finished in its exact Vietnam era scheme as on the 13 July 1970. Thankfully there a number of images of the aircraft in existence to provide the detail for the refinishing of the aircraft.

It is anticipated that the Bronco will be complete by the end of 2019.

North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco – Tail Number 67-14639 History

The aircraft was constructed in 1968 and shipped to Vietnam for service the USAF The 19th, 20th and 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadrons (TASS). During this time she flew a total of 131 flights with Australian crews, with 30 strike and attack missions for a total of 203 hours. The names of the documented Australian crews to date are:

• SQNLDR G W Neil (20 sorties)
• FLTLT R A Slater (37 sorties)
• FLGOFF P D Condon (42 sorties)
• FLTLT K I Semmler (18 sorties)
• FLTLT R J Butler (11 sorties)
• SQNLDR D W Owens (2 sorties)
• WGCDR C L Ackland (2 sorties)

A number of RNZAF pilots are also believed to have flown the AWM aircraft and RAAF pilots flew the Broncos between December 1965 and December 1971.

Bronco 67-14639 continued in TASS service in South East Asia until the conflict ceased and was then sent to Germany where it was based at Sembach USAF Airbase from 1977 until 1983 when it returned to the USA and was based at George USAF Airbase in Victorville, California. At some stage the aircraft travelled to Osan Airbase in Korea, however it again returned to the USA, Hill Airforce Base in Northern Utah in 1989 and last flew in USAF Service at Shore Airforce Base on 4 November 1991.

The Bronco then passed on to the Philippines Air Force and in 1992 the aircraft was based at Sangley Point airbase with the 15th strike wing of the Philippine Airforce. However, the aircraft only operated with the PAF a short time being written off in 1993 due to corrosion, having flown a few hundred hours in Philippine service. The Bronco was formally written off in 2002 and placed in open storage providing a source of spares for other aircraft.

The memorial acquired the Bronco in 2003 as a gift and following protracted delivery arrangements it arrived in Sydney in March 2007 aboard the HMAS Tobruk. The aircraft was then placed in store pending restoration at the Treloar Technology Centre, restoration began in 2017.

Whilst not an Australian service aircraft, the Bronco has a strong Australian service connection and will make a fantastic addition to the Australian War Memorial Collection when it goes on display. The efforts of the small but dedicated band of conservators are to be admired for the high standard of exhibits they produce and the workmanship is a sight to behold.

Warbirds Online would like to thank Memorial Staff and Jamie Croker, in particular, for showing us around on the day of our visit. We will continue to report on the aircraft and progress over the next year.

The Australian War Memorial is also to be congratulated for presenting more detailed documentation on North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco, Tail Number 67-14639 on its website. We suggest Warbird enthusiasts visit their website for more of the history of the aircraft, its restoration and Australian Forward Air Controllers (FACs) in general at:

https://www.awm.gov.au/about/our-work/projects/Broncorestoration

https://www.awm.gov.au/about/our-work/projects/asteedreborn

© John Parker 2019

Warbirds Online acknowledges and is grateful for the use of some material in this story from the Memorial’s website as researched and written by Air Vice Marshal Graham Neil AO, DFC, DFC (US) Rtd.