LWayne

Grumman OV-1 Mohawk: only fixed wing aircraft specifically designed for the US Army since the US Air Force became a separate service in 1947. Designed as a battlefield light attack and surveillance aircraft with SLAR radar, camera capabilities and various weapons configurations. Had two pilots, seated side-by-side. Crew enjoyed excellent vision due to the "bug-eyed canopy! Had an outstanding service record in Korea and Vietnam. Maiden flight in 1959 and eventually phased out of inventory in late sixties and early seventies as I recall. USAF had always objected to US Army fixed wing attack aircraft as it conflicted with the air force mission...

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

This guy flies one in air shows http://mohawkairshows.com/

GHesler

Grumman OV1 Mohawk
Flew in right seat as aerial observer/equipment operator in PhuBai Vietnam 3/69 - 3/70 and was an Imagery Interpreter

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

You are correct!

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

How about a Bronco?

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Nope, that's a different A/C, made by North american Rockwell, but a similar twin turboprop!

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

absolutely

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

If I recall correctly, North American Rockwell made the OV-10A Bronco, a twin turbo prop plane used by the airforce as an aerial forward observer, looking for possible targets, marking them and advising the fighter jet who would then roll in and destroy the target(s). The OV-1 was manufactured by Grumman. It's use was mainly for reconnaisance and data gathering, although it could be rigged for air to ground fire support, but that wasn't its main mission. Both planes saw extensive use during the Vietnam war. I had the opportunityh to go for a ride on a mission in an OV-10 Bronco one time. I was amazed at this aircraft and what it could do.

blackhorse 1-7

This, without a doubt is a Mohawk, OV-1, one of the ugliest airplanes the US ever sent into the air. Twin crew, three rudders, it was used for photo-recon. Yes, it was an Army airplane (not Air Force). The crew weapons consisted of either a .38 revolver or .45 semi auto pistol worn in shoulder holsters. The airplane did receive some offensive weapons towards the end of that war. There were about 370 of them in Vietnam. Today, these airplanes serve no purpose as unmanned drones are better and safer at taking pictures.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Had a detachment of OV-1 Mohawks with their SLAR stationed at Ah Khe in the central Highlands...neat little a/c

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I never saw one of these in Vietnam, but I'm sure it is an OV-1. I saw lots of OV-10's and, in fact, flew one combat mission in the back seat of one. A Navy squadron, VAL-4 (Light Attack) flew out of Binh Thuy in the Delta, and, as a tech rep, I had to go down from Chu Lai and help them out with some maintenance problems. So I went down. They were really nice people, so I asked it they'd allow me to go up on a mission. They agreed. The next morning we went up, and not long into the flight we were assigned a target, a "suspicious" looking person in a boat. We flew in over the boat, and the lead pilot called the FAC and said that the guy in the boat looked and acted like a "friendly," so he declined the mission.

In a short while we were called in to "light up" a fairly large hootch. It seems that 12 VC had been seen running across a rice paddy carrying small arms. We flew to the site and started to make runs on it, firing our ordnance (rockets, 7.62mm machine gun, and 20mm machine gun). My plan was to crouch forward and shoot--yes, I had my ever-present Nikkormat with me--around the pilot's seat. That plan worked great until the second pass at which time I realized that if I screwed my body up to get into a shooting position one more time, breakfast was going to be served all over the cockpit and I'd have to clean it up when we got back to the base.

I quit shooting and settled for watching. I didn't lose my breakfast. We made 12 runs at the target and got a bda (bomb damage assessment) of 12 kills and 2 secondary explosions. The secondary explosions proved that the hootch in which the VC were hiding was an arms and ammo storage site. I only got about five shots of the runs, but I got this great memory.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

One of my A-6 Squadron mates flew OV-10's in Vietnam down in IV area...he loved the a/c

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

There was a reason one seldom saw those Mohawks. They were flown a lot a night and otherwise used in "sneaky Pete" mode of operation.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

T.O.

Wow, now I feel like a relic!