Drifting in the Breeze

[mcnoch]

From the books I was reading about these missions I got the impression that their best protection was the enemy on the ground very often had the problem to see them as the line-of-sight in the forested area was so restricted. So giving away the own position for no gain was not a sound strategy.

[jerryfmcompushaft]

Are you sure they were Cessnas and not Pipers?

[mcnoch]

If we are talking about the L-19/O-1 they were modified versions of differentCessna 305 variants. And the OV-10, used in the same mission profil by the Marines, was from North American Rockwell.

[jerryfmcompushaft]

Apr 27, 2013 7:25:35 GMT -5 mcnoch said:

If we are talking about the L-19/O-1 they were modified versions of differentCessna 305 variants. And the OV-10, used in the same mission profil by the Marines, was from North American Rockwell.

Hate to admit it but you and Tet are correct, Mathias. The L-19 was, in fact, a Cessna. I was thinking of the older "Grasshopper" which was a Piper.

[Deleted]

Definitely a Cessna, I examined a still flying example at a war bird museum in New South Wales (Temora) in March last. I was interested because a US friend now deceased flew one in Vietnam and had talked to me about his experiences. His best friend flew a C-130 Hercules there spraying Agent Orange. Both died of cancer or cancer related heart failure.


www.aviationmuseum.com.au/


Cessna


www.aviationmuseum.com.au/aircraft_colection/cessna02a/index.html


Original Cessna Bird Dog


www.armyav.org/board_birddog.html

[Deleted]

Yes the museum aircraft is painted in its service colour and the pilot who now flies it has his ID painted on it, same ID he had when he flew one in Vietnam. The museum flying days are for selected aircraft not all on display in the hanger.