Warbird Information Exchange

We have been doing some research to determine the number of T-41B and D aircraft shipped to Laos during 1971 and 1972. The reason being is we made the decision to paint our T-41B 67-15084 in the Air Force Gray colors of the three T-41B aircraft that were in Laos during 1971/72. These three B models were in addition to five T-41D aircraft which were virtually the same as the B model with 210 hp engines and constant speed props.

The T-41 aircraft were maintained by Air America's facilities at Udorn along with O-1 and U-17 aircraft..

The overall paint schemes were Flat Gray with black tail numbers and stencils. Some aircraft had the RLAF roundel on them while others were left unmarked.

Of the five T-41D aircraft delivered two were listed as destroyed:
71-1053 Reported lost in Laos 13 April 1972
71-1057 Reported lost in Laos 11 May 1972

Of the three T-41B aircraft (reclassified as T-41D) one was listed as destroyed:
67-15067 Reported lost in Laos 20 July 1972

The tail numbers of the three T-41B aircraft were 67-15066, 67-15067, and 67-15163. Our aircraft is 67-15084

Two T-41B aircraft have been restored and flying in the US and both have been done in Army gloss OD and White so we felt that a different paint scheme would be nice to see. Also after a year we were unable to achieve success tracking down the history of the aircraft and would be unable to restore it correctly without any information.

It is also interesting to note that after our aircraft left the Army in 1974 it flew for a number of years with the Drug Enforcement Administration and was painted an overall gray color at that time so our choice of paint will also reflect the heritage of it's service to our Nation with the Dept. of Justice.

If anyone has any other definitive data concerning these three T-41B aircraft we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

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The three T-41B's you mention, 67-15066/7 and 15163 were all supplied to the Royal Lao Air Force.
Nothing is known about 066, 067 was lost in Laos, 20 July 1972 and 163 was on display in poor shape at a museum in Vientiane, Laos

Roger that, thanks for your response. The T-41 aircraft were only a few of the hundreds of aircraft delivered to RLAF, deliveries included Cessna O-1s and Cessna U-17 aircraft for "training and utility". A lot of the O-1s and U-17s ended up being flown by US Personnel including Ravens in 1970 and 1971. Some of the Laotian aircraft flown by US personnel had the RLAF roundel on the fuselage while many did not bearing only the aircraft serial number as shipped.

During 1969 the DEPCHIEF had initially requested a decrease of the 32 Cessna O-1/U-6/U-17 aircraft being flown by the Royal Laotian Air Force and the Ravens. These 32 aircraft were to be replaced by 31 U-17 and T-41D aircraft. However additional O-1 aircraft were found and the shipments of additional T-41D and U-17 aircraft was delayed for funding and shipment for 1971.

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From Air America website:
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/special ... F_T41s.pdf
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/special ... index.html
http://www.air-america.org/index.php/en/
Good luck, love your idea on paint scheme. Been following on FB and this is one impressive restoration.

Thank you for your comments and those links. May be will get lucky and find a couple of shots at the Air America maintenance facilityin Udorn.

We did discover that some of the T-41s were based at Vientiane and Savannakhet.

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I have really been enjoying updates on your project. Would you mind posting a few photo examples of the paint scheme you are thinking about for your project?

Was the T-41 used in another fashion (other than fixed wing pilot training/familiarization) in Vietnam? ie. Was it used like the O-2/L19 to some extent?

Thanks for your comments. To my knowledge none of the T-41B or D aircraft were equipped with under wing hard points and I doubt that any were engaged in any activities beyond general utility, transport, training and the occasional light load carrying similar to the U-6 which was used in a training and general utility role.

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Several good photos of RLAF T-41B aircraft located here.



https://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-La ... 9046637495

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