And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Lockheed CL-760 proposal for LARA (Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft) program. Eventually North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco was selected for production.
Black Ponies (AKA OV-10's) flew cover for us in the Delta late in the Vietnam War. It was rumored they could carry their own weight in bullets/rockets/bombs. They also carried 5" Zuni rockets which leveled several playing fields almost instantly. PCF Driver with greatest crew!
During the Vietnam war, my father was a back-seater in OV-10s and he ran the laser for what were our first smart bombs. I didn't have an appreciation of what he did back then, but in that role, he was a serious badass. He was based only about 50 miles from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Many years later, when he passed away, a portion of his ashes were buried at a Veteran's Cemetary near where he lived, but his wife (not my mother) wanted to keep the bulk of his ashes in a nice urn on their mantel. However, then she passed away 5 months later. So his ashes came to me, and I had to figure out what to do with them. I asked the VA if he could be re-added to his existing spot in the cemetary, but that just isn't possible. So, at the last minute, I decided to put his ashes in the lake where he would frequently fish. I thought that he would have liked that.
So there I was, on a coldish December morning on the bank of this lake, with one hand trying to respectfully add my father's ashes to the lake, while video-taping my little ceremony with my other hand.
And then a CalFire OV-10 flew overhead.
To this day, I'm pretty sure that he made that happen.
Great story, and I do believe that it was indeed more than just a coincidence.
I had a similar experience after my dad passed away, except my story involved Bald Eagle sightings in the same place before and after he passed away, 50 years apart, a hundred miles from home. When Dad spotted that Eagle on a camping trip he was more excited than us boys were.
I will always believe that my second sighting of a different Eagle, perched in what looked like the same tree, was also not coincidental, that it was Dad letting me know he loved me.
Your dad would have been stationed at Royal Thai Air Force base Nakhon Phanom, the forward air rescue base located on the Mekcong. I was there in 72-73. We have a Facebook group that is open to all who have a connection to the base if you want to join. There are still some who night remember him. Or you could share any photos he might have taken there. We would enjoy seeing them.
Lockheed CL-760 proposal for LARA (Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft) program. Eventually North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco was selected for production.
ReplyDeleteWith good reason
DeleteI saw an OV-10 fly over the other day & wondered if it was military, then I remembered how long ago the Viet Nam war was.
ReplyDeleteA couple were flying missions in Irag in 2015.
Deletecorrection: in Iraq. Need more coffee.
DeleteSurly: I will go with "Eye-Rag"!!!
DeleteYou're a genius Surly! The whole region should be named Irag.
Delete--------or u rag------
DeleteBlack Ponies (AKA OV-10's) flew cover for us in the Delta late in the Vietnam War. It was rumored they could carry their own weight in bullets/rockets/bombs. They also carried 5" Zuni rockets which leveled several playing fields almost instantly.
DeletePCF Driver with greatest crew!
Cal Fire has / had a few OV-10's as spotter planes. This looks like more fun - especially from narrow and short rough fields.
ReplyDeleteCalFire currently has 16 OV-10As flying with 4 OV-10Ds recently acquired from NASA to join the fleet.
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDF_Aviation_Management_Program#Air_Tactical_Aircraft
During the Vietnam war, my father was a back-seater in OV-10s and he ran the laser for what were our first smart bombs. I didn't have an appreciation of what he did back then, but in that role, he was a serious badass. He was based only about 50 miles from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
DeleteMany years later, when he passed away, a portion of his ashes were buried at a Veteran's Cemetary near where he lived, but his wife (not my mother) wanted to keep the bulk of his ashes in a nice urn on their mantel. However, then she passed away 5 months later. So his ashes came to me, and I had to figure out what to do with them. I asked the VA if he could be re-added to his existing spot in the cemetary, but that just isn't possible. So, at the last minute, I decided to put his ashes in the lake where he would frequently fish. I thought that he would have liked that.
So there I was, on a coldish December morning on the bank of this lake, with one hand trying to respectfully add my father's ashes to the lake, while video-taping my little ceremony with my other hand.
And then a CalFire OV-10 flew overhead.
To this day, I'm pretty sure that he made that happen.
Great story, and I do believe that it was indeed more than just a coincidence.
DeleteI had a similar experience after my dad passed away, except my story involved Bald Eagle sightings in the same place before and after he passed away, 50 years apart, a hundred miles from home. When Dad spotted that Eagle on a camping trip he was more excited than us boys were.
I will always believe that my second sighting of a different Eagle, perched in what looked like the same tree, was also not coincidental, that it was Dad letting me know he loved me.
Your dad would have been stationed at Royal Thai Air Force base Nakhon Phanom, the forward air rescue base located on the Mekcong. I was there in 72-73. We have a Facebook group that is open to all who have a connection to the base if you want to join. There are still some who night remember him. Or you could share any photos he might have taken there. We would enjoy seeing them.
DeleteTwo great examples of the truth in the saying "There is no such thing as a spiritual coincidence." Thanks.
DeleteSo many military masterminds!
ReplyDeleteHow different was cruise from approach speed?
ReplyDeleteIt was rumored they could hit Mach I in a dive - I believe it.
DeletePCF Driver with best crew
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/heroes-and-leaders-no-other-way/
ReplyDeleteA little write up on one OV-10 experience in Vietnam. I know the survivor.
It was designed (as part of the military requirements) to carry 8 paratroopers in the fuselage. That must’ve been a tight fit.
ReplyDelete