Warbird Information Exchange

At the Grissom Air Museum we wre working on doing something that has not been done for a long time. We are looking at bringing an aircraft indoors for display. We are looking at moving the O-2 into our current building for display. I am trying to find the veteran or veterans that flew this aircraft. I am also trying to read up more on FAC's and what they did in their day to day lives, and how time was spent when not flying. Also are there any FAC pilots that stand out for what they did in combat. There is a name on the side of our O-2 that says Pilot Lt. DENU. Not sure who that may be. Thanks in advance for your help.

O-2A, AF Ser. No. 68-6871

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Ravens
A Lonely kind of war

These are a couple of good ones. I've got one more to list, but it's out in the car right now. I'll have to get it when I get up for work tonight.

Check your PMs

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Hit My Smoke, Jan Churchman.

While Ravens is a great read, they were flying O-1s as FACs in Laos.

Along with the VMO-2, VMO-6 Facs, there was VAL-4 Black Ponys ( more COIN mission,(OV-10) but did FAC work in the delta.

USAF

Rustics, Nails, Coveys,and others, better known as the 19th TASS, 20th TASS, 21st TASS, and 22nd TASS.

FAST FACs

F100 Mistys
F-4 Wolf
TA-4 Playboys

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Chris....I have found one pilot who flew "your" airplane and will probably get some more info from others in day or two. No daring dooooooooo stories quite yet

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Naked in Danang is a good read too.

Thank you everyone so much. I have a question. In order to get it inside we may have to take the outer wing panels off to get it through the door. Do the panels just unbolt outboard of the struts?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Way to go Karen!!!
Chris, If your night shift in the tower and want a book to read I got one, I'll send it to you if you promise to send it back.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Any chance you could keep the wings on by placing roller dollies under the wheels and maneuvering through the doorway?

For the tail number history, The Maxwell HRA should be able to provide a complete synopsis:

http://www.afhra.af.mil/

Wing Tips come off during inspection. Whole wings attach (big bolts...LOL) at the fuselage not at struts. I will email you some Illustrations from Parts Manual.

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Here's a somewhat lousy pic that shows a couple of disassembled O-2s. Looks like if the wings come off, the tail assembly has to come off first; I wonder if it might work to remove the tail section alone, then move it sideways on dollies as Ken mentioned...

Thanks so much to all of you on here.

Jeff I will shoot you a PM, I'd love to read it!

Ken-Thanks for both tips. I have sent for the history card from Maxwell AFB. I also like your idea of keeping it in one piece, and I am going to try to do just that. Problem is we basically have a big truck garage door to get it through. I will get measurements prior to move and ask for ideas here before I do anything.

Karen-Thank you so much for your time and effort.

Oscarduece-thanks for the tip!

Rv8er-that pic helps me out big time incase we have to go that route. Thanks!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Is it currently painted in the correct markings? Does it need to be repainted?

BTW, the 0-2 images on the site are missing...
http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/?page_id=330

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

Cessna O-2A 68-6871 was accepted by the USAF on the 11th of January 1968.

Shipped out to join the 504th TAS Group at Nha Trang, taken on charge there, 9th of March 1968.

Stayed out in Vietnam, operating from Phan Rang and Bien Hoa before returning home on the 16th of December 1971 when it was assigned to the 110th TAS Group, ANG at Kellogg.

Spell at Davis Monthan from 14 February 1972 to 25 July 1972 before returning to the 110th at Kellogg.

To the 135th TAS Group, ANG at Martin, then to the 507th TCT Wing at Shaw.

Hope that is of use

Sid

Used to work with a guy @ BADWRENCH years ago who was in VAL-4 the Black Ponys,Had a few tales that would make serious scenes in a VN movie.
It would be a lot easier to remove the tail booms to wheel the airplane around, a couple of turnbarrels in the booms and a pocketful of screws but take them off as an assembly, don't try to remove the horizontal stab because then the booms get all wonky and difficult, better to take the whole thing off, cradle the heck out of them as they are very tail heavy and as awkward as brown shoes with a tuxedo.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-