Newsletter Coming in May:

We are preparing a newsletter to send to all members and former OV-10 people. The following subjects will be covered in more detail then, but this will give you advance warning and a heads up.

Ron "Sand Dollar" Fix takes the Helm:

The OBA Executive Board reluctantly accepted the resignation of Founder and President Mike Richardson on 23rd of March. Mike will remain an advisor. Ron Fix was nominated and unanimously elected to serve as interim President until the annual Board of Directors meeting, now scheduled for October, 1999. "Sand$" (sndlar07@aol.com) brings an extensive background as an OV-10 pilot and maintenance officer to the Office, as well as years of proven Marine Corps Leadership.

OBA moves into hangar space at Vintage Flying Museum:

At long last, we are have begun to moving into hangar space at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. We are hanging our sign on space provided by the Vintage Flying Museum of Fort Worth. This museum is home to "Chuckie" the B-17 Flying Fortress as well as other organizations and aviation exhibits. VFM is also an FAA Educational Resource Center. It is an active, vibrant place and we are delighted to be part of the activity. Plans to erect displays and expand our area in the museum are ongoing. This truly gives us a place to call home, be it ever so humble.

799 has moved:

Also at long last, 799 has come out of storage and been moved to Mike Richardson's Meacham Field hangar. [Editor's note: There has been some confusion and misinformation going around lately on this aircraft's status. The plane does not belong to the OBA, but to the Texas Air Command. The acquisition of another flying/restorable airframe that will belong to the OBA is being pursued, as a separate and independent matter.]

Museum status:

We have been approved by the Texas Historical Commission as a bona fide museum. This makes us eligible to apply to the GSA for approval under their Federal Surplus Property Program. As you can imagine, we have bounced that application back and forth to GSA and have just about gotten the application process figured out. Once that is satisfied, we will have a major tool with which to build the museum and collection.

Membership Drive:

Hopefully you received a postcard from us with a picture of three OV-10's on it. This was part of an ongoing effort in our marketing campaign to generate new members and verify addresses. Well, it has worked big time. We sent out 1037 pieces. I'm not even sure how many info packs and phone calls Dawg has made, but since that mailing we have increased our membership to over 60. Our goal is 100 in 1999 and 200 in 2000. Our mailing list coordinator, Benjie Raymond (benjieraymond@msn.com) in Virginia has been working overtime on our Veteran List and email searches for names of former OV people. He has been lining up Squadron Coordinators to find names, addresses and Cruise Books. Between he and Dawg (Jim Graham, qb_dawg@msn.com), we are working on a daily basis to get the word out and locate lost souls.

Name the Museum Contest:

I'm not going to spoil it, so read your newsletter carefully when it arrives.

Bronco Fest '99:

Is there a reunion in your future?

New Corporate Sponsor:

We are proud to announce the addition of our first corporate sponsor, Maney Aircraft, Inc. Since 1945 Maney Aircraft, Inc. has been recognized worldwide for providing systems, components, and parts to the aerospace and defense industries. They are the world's leading support organization for operators of the OV-10 Bronco worldwide.

On-line Name Search:

Many of you have asked for a way to search our name files to find old friend or help add to our database. Our list of names is quickly approaching 2,000, but is by no means complete. With your help, we are making plans to make some of that information available to you right here on the website. The newsletter will have details. If you aren't on our list, or know somebody who isn't contact Benjie. The upcoming newsletter should really draw a crowd.

Best regards,

Jim "Grump" Hodgson
txavi8or@gmail.com
OV-10 Bronco Association
Secretary/Treasurer

Hail and Farewell:

Welcome aboard to the following new members. We appreciate your support and look forward to meeting all of you.

Don Overfield (bronco@maneyaircraft.com)
Don is a former Marine and now works for Maney Aircraft. He is also one of the editors of The Bronco Flyer.

Mike McCollum (stryder61@worldnet.att.net)
Mike is a former VMO-2 AO and now a lawyer in Dallas, Texas.

John Hefty (heftypub@aol.com)
John was a pilot at VMO-2 from '73 to '74. We're glad to have him as a new LIFER. He publishes children's books at http://www.create-a-book.com

Mike Stirling (ichiban07@aol.com)
Mike is a former ground crewman with 19th TASS at Dau Tieng and Cu Chi RVN in '68 and '69. Says he has lots of video and is working on the "National Vietnam War Museum." We need to hear more about that.

Jim Lucas (JLucas5410@aol.com)
Jim was with the VMO-2 Avionics Shop from '72 to '75. Jim is a LIFER.

Brendan Searle (bcs@si1.dod.gov.au)
Brendan is our newest "mate from down under." He is the son of Bruce D. Searle who served as an RAAF exchange officer FAC with 22nd TASS RVN '69 to '70. Bruce passed away in '95.

Bob Stoffey (cmbatpilot@aol.com)
Bob, as his email implies, flew OV's with VMO-2 in Vietnam. One way or another he's been involved with the Bronco since '69. He is also the author of "Cleared Hot!"

[Note: the following two entries were re-re-corrected 4/20/99. Our apologies for the original errors! - Ed]

Heath Thomas (charltay@access1.net)
Heath has seen VMO-1, H&MS-36, MAG-49, Det B and VMO-4 in his OV-10 lifetime. Heath was an enlisted power plants mech and Bronco Buster having flown in the A's, D's, and super D's.

Mike Robb (mikerobb@daoes.tec.il.us)
Mike is our newest LIFER. He was a flight line mech with VMO-2, then went on to work Maintenance Control, Phase NCOIC and then even did some Air Force time with the OV. He also received the 1999 FAA Gold/Diamond award for Maintenance Training.

Welcome aboard all!

By the way, we received a note from Joe Lukenbach's wife, Carolyn. If you knew Joe and would like to contact Carolyn, please contact Grump txavi8or@gmail.com We have decided to keep Joe's name on our rolls.