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The first Bronco to fly into combat, flying from Danang on July 6, 1968, was from Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2) which initially carried a vertical white VMO over a red 2 in leu of normal tail code letters. Later, VMO-2 used the distinctive double horseshoe banner logo, designed by Jim "Grump" Hodgson who is a frequent contributor to this site and other Bronco projects.
VMO-2 flew its last combat mission in RVN on March 22, 1971 and the official stand down was March 23, 1971. The squadron's 19 aircraft were reassigned as follows: Four aircraft (155428, 155450, 155451 and 155486) were left with H&MS-11 to continue flying support missions, while the remaining 15 aircraft were flown to NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, on March 24th (10 aircraft) and 25th (5 aircraft) to be prepared for further transfer and shipment. Nine aircraft (155410, 155413, 155415, 155416, 155424, 155425, 155426, 155427 and 155453) were transferred to VMO-6 in Okinawa; two (155488 and 155498) went to VMO-1 MCAS New River, NC; and four (155406, 155452, 155454 and 155485) were shipped back to the US for VMO-2 when it was reorganized.
Records indicate the following related to OV-10A shipments from Cubi Point:
- 4/28/71 - 4 aircraft to San Diego on LKA-113, USS Charleston.
- 5/10/71 - 3 aircraft to Long Beach on LKA-114, USS Durham.
- 5/18/71 - 4 aircraft to San Diego on LKA-115, USS Mobile.
The aircraft shipped probably included ones exchanged at VMO-6 with some previously held by VMO-6 being shipped to the US.
With the addition of officers and staff assigned to HML-267, VMO-2 was reorganized from cadre status (that means that there were some people to take care of the equipment and records but they had no aircraft to operate) to active status on September 30, 1971 at MCALF Camp Pendleton. HML-267 went on a deployment to MCAS Yuma in mid-September 1971 and officially split on the day they returned to MCALF Camp Pendleton (October 1), so their nine OV-10s became VMO-2 Broncos as soon as they landed.
VMO-5 reactivated 15 December 1966 at MCALF Camp Pendleton and flew UH-1Es. They became the first USMC squadron to receive Broncos, starting February 23, 1968. It redesignated as Marine Light Helicopter Squadron (HML) 267 on March 15, 1968. About this time it became a composite unit, serving as the training unit for both the UH-1E and OV-10. When HML-267 returned to Camp Pendleton from the Yuma deployment on October 1, 1971, their nine OV-10s transferred to VMO-2 and thus 267 became a UH-1 only squadron. 267 is still stationed at Pendleton and as HMLA-267 flies the UH-1N and AH-1W... in other words, they've been flying different versions of the same basic aircraft for well over 30 years now! (Thanks to Tom Denton and Chuck Burin, who transferred from HML-267 to VMO-2 when it was reactivated, for helping with this info.)
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Group:
AHE020 Description: Dan Ahearn
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This was found on Dan "Pigpen" Ahearn's homepage at the URL http://www.ntr.net/~ahearns/ov10.htm. Dan is the one on the right, the guy on the left is his backseater, Chip "Tard" Gibson. Dan has been quite helpful with information on these pages and he flies R/C sailplanes like myself, even has a Chrysalis... guess great minds run together! :^) This was taken in Kuwait in 1991 and Dan flew with VMO-2 (how'd I ever guess...)
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Here is a good friend of the gallery, Dan Ahearn, posing in front of his trusty steed in March 1991. The propeller blade shape indicates this is an OV-10D.
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Dan Ahearn captured this photo of an OV-10D firing a five-inch Zuni rocket on the range in the Chocolate Mountains near Yuma, Arizona. This photo came from his webpage and makes a good Windows wallpaper.
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Another fine picture from Dan Ahearn's website. This OV-10A is shown flying over Mount Ranier (in Washington state) in the Summer of 1991.
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Group:
BUR050 Description: Burin in-flight pics
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=556
H=306
135KB
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Pix/USMC/usmc_ov10a_2_over_beach_burin_155396-398.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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BuNo 155396
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| A/C 2
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OV-10A
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BuNo 155398
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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Probably 1969
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LOCATION
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Camp Pendleton, CA
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| SENT BY
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Chuck Burin
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Probably Rockwell/Roy Mills
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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March 1998
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This picture was graciously provided to the Bronco Gallery directly from the private collection of that well-known and enthusiastic Bronco guru and USMC pilot, Chuck Burin. These aircraft, numbers 155396 and 155398, are from HML-267, Camp Pendleton, California. 155396 later became one of the two YOV-10D NOGS prototypes. This picture is believed to have been taken in 1969 by Rockwell photographer Roy Mills.
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=558
H=283
138KB
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Pix/USMC/usmc_ov10a_flying_burin_155404-2.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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BuNo 155404
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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1969
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LOCATION
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Camp Pendleton, CA
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| SENT BY
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Chuck Burin
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Rockwell/Roy Mills
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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March 1998
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Another picture from Chuck Burin. This is HML-267 aircraft number 155404 captured by Roy Mills at Camp Pendleton, California in 1969. You can see a picture of this aircraft (in somewhat different markings) after a 1972 belly landing on page 37 of the OV-10 Bronco In Action book (it lived to fly again!)
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Chuck Burin photographed this OV-10A of VMO-2 south of Da Nang in 1969
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Group:
DTM020 Description: In-flight
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Group:
HOS030 Description: Hoskin airshow - WA
Brad Hoskin - McChord AFB Airshow 1993
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ID: 189
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GROUP: HOS030 - 01
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=456
H=232
57KB
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Pix/USMC/usmc_ov10d_155451_hoskin_01.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10D
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BuNo 155451
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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1993
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LOCATION
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McChord AFB, WA airshow
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| SENT BY
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Brad Hoskin
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Brad Hoskin
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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March 1998
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This is a USMC OV-10D, number 155451, of VMO-2. This picture was taken by Brad Hoskin at a 1993 airshow at McChord AFB, WA.
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ID: 190
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GROUP: HOS030 - 02
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Another one of 155451 by Brad Hoskin at the 1993 airshow at McChord AFB, WA. Notice the vents at the top of the canopy are in the open position. This angle also shows the bulged canopy side windows that allowed OV-10 pilots to be able to see directly below the aircraft from level flight. You can also get a sense of the thickness of the bullet-resistant windshield by the thickness of its frame, visible along the top edge of the center windscreen panel.
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ID: 191
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GROUP: HOS030 - 03
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A closeup of the nose of 155451, showing the pitot tube, FLIR turret, and missile warning system sensors (the circular disks on either side of the pitot tube.) Also note the red formation light, just aft of the "24" lettering. Photo by Brad Hoskin taken at the 1993 airshow at McChord AFB, WA.
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Group:
TWO020 Description: VMO-2 inflight pics
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This stunning photo of OV-10A number 155471 from VMO-2 was taken in 1973 by Chuck Burin while flying over Arizona. Be careful there guys, it looks like you could be flying into Arizona!
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=200
H=144
20KB
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Pix/USMC/usmc_hodgson_uu22.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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Unknown
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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Mid-1970s
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LOCATION
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Enroute to NAS Fallon, NV
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| SENT BY
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Jim Hodgson
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Jim Hodgson
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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April 1998
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A small but nice little picture from Jim Hodgson. This was taken while enroute to NAS Fallon, Nevada sometime in the mid-1970s (a period when VMO-2 was on the road nearly constantly).
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Our friend Chuck Burin sent us this nice shot of two OV-10As (numbers 155481 and 155397) of VMO-2 in formation. This picture makes a very good Windows background!
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Chuck Burin sent along this interesting and unusual picture, taken in flight. Notice the altimeter!
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OV-10A number 155484, attached to HML-267, is captured on film by Terry Love at Camp Pendleton in 1969 (picture provided by Chuck Burin.) Personally, I think this color scheme would be a really nice one to use on a model! :-)
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Here is an early OV-10A of VMO-2, Number 155427, as photographed by Chuck Burin in Da Nang in 1970. This aircraft also makes a flying appearance in the OV-10 Bronco In Action book at the top of page 29. This apparently is an early production aircraft.
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Jim "Grump" Hodgson sent this exciting shot of the view from the backseat of an OV-10 on a target-marking run. This shot was taken in the Chocolate mountains outside of Yuma, Arizona. Jim just happens to be the guy who came up with the red, white, and blue stripes and horseshoes insignia used on the tail of VMO-2 Broncos!
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=600
H=443
46KB
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pix/usmc/usmc_ov10a_vmo2_morrow_road_ops.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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Unknown
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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Summer 1989
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LOCATION
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Camp Pendleton, CA
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| SENT BY
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Andrew Morrow
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Andrew Morrow
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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January 2, 2000
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Andrew Morrow sent us a fascinating picture showing the OV-10 in its element. This is a VMO-2 road ops excercise at Camp Pendleton in the summer of 1989, on a road right by Edson Range that runs parallel with I-5. The Broncos would land, turn around, come back to were they landed and then take off again. Many freeway spectators stopped by too!!
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=594
H=437
47KB
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pix/usmc/usmc_ov10a_vmo2_morrow_saudi-bound.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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Unknown
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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September 1990
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LOCATION
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En route to Saudi Arabia
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| SENT BY
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Andrew Morrow
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Andrew Morrow
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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January 2, 2000
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Andrew Morrow took this photo on the way to Saudi Arabia in Sept. 1990 during Operation Desert Shield. This picture appears to have been taken from a C-130, as there is a wing-mounted helicopter refueling pod visible in the corner. It took them nearly a month to get there with 6 OV-10s and 2 C-130s. This picture makes nice wallpaper in Windows!
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| PIC 1
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(No Description)
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W=700
H=475
70KB
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pix/usmc/usmc_ov10a_vmo2_morrow_acree-hunter1.jpg
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| PIC 2
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None
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| PIC 3
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None
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| A/C 1
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OV-10A
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BuNo 1554??
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| A/C 2
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N/A
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| A/C 3
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N/A
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| A/C 4
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N/A
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| DATE
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Probably Jan. 16 or 17, 1991
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LOCATION
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Probably King Abdul-Aziz Air Base, Saudi Arabia
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| SENT BY
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Andrew Morrow
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PHOTO BY
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FF9970
Andrew Morrow
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| WEB URL
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N/A
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POSTED
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January 2, 2000
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This is Col. Acree and CWO Guy Hunter coming back from a flight in Saudi Arabia. These two gentlemen got shot down by an infra-red missile on the second day of the air war. They ejected safely and became POWs. We aren't sure, but think that this picture was taken right after the last flight that they returned on. The next flight, they never came back.
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Andrew Morrow sent this picture he took in Feb. 1993 when VMO-2 was returning to the US after a deployment to Okinawa. The planes flew from Okinawa to Atsugi (on the Japanese mainland) where the Japanese preserved them and bagged them. This picture shows them being loaded onto a barge to be transferred to the USNS Mercury. Andrew says that it was a fun trip and they were paid pretty well for it.
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