Possums &
Birddogs
of
161 (Indep) Recce Flt
In 1967 the OC of 161 (Indep) Recce Flt, Major George Constable, organised
the loan of an O-1 Cessna Birddog from the US Army through the 74th Aviation Company,
callsign "Aloft", at Phu
Loi. At that time the Flight was operating six Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux helicopters
and three Cessna 180 fixed wing aircraft.
On 28 Aug 67, George Constable, Peter Robinson
(EO) and John Wright (fixed
wing pilot) flew to Phu Loi to pick up the "first" Birddog, serial
number 56-2608.
George Constable and Peter Robinson returned to Nui Dat in the Birddog which
was an "E" model aircraft which was manufactured in April 1957.
This aircraft began operations with 161
(Indep) Recce Flt on 29 Aug 67.
On 07 September, Capt O'Malley from the
74th Aviation Company flew conversion flights
with David McFerran, Tom Guivarra and Bernie Forrest in 56-2608.
Tom Guivarra only had two flights in this aircraft. The first on 07 Sept and
the second on 08 Sept when he flew the aircraft from Nui Dat to the airfield at
Black Horse. During the landing phase the aircraft slid off the runway and nose
dived into a large ditch on the side of the runway.
The aircraft was recovered to Vung Tau where it was repaired and returned to
161 (Indep) Recce Flt on 14 Oct 67 when George Constable with Peter Robinson as
his passenger flew the aircraft back to Nui Dat.
On 27 Feb 68, Bernie Forrest with Mike Boland
(EO) flew this Birddog back to
Phu Loi and returned it to the US Army.
On 16 March, Bernie flew to Phu Loi where he picked up 51-11969 and flew it
back to Nui Dat where it commenced operations with the Flight on 17 March.
Bernie was responsible for flying both Birddogs back to Phu Loi when they
became due for their 100 hourly servicings or any special maintenance that was
required.
Birddog 51-11969 was originally an "A" model aircraft, built in
1952 and modified up to a "G" model, post 1956, before being sent to
Vietnam.
On 23 May 68, George Constable was flying 51-11969 when the aircraft was shot
down and destroyed. George was killed in the crash. At the time he was shot down
he was flying a vehicle convoy cover mission for an Australian convoy returning
from Fire Support Base Coral.
The following pilots of 161 (Indep) Recce Flt are known to have flown one or
both of the Birddogs on loan to the Flight:
George Constable, Bernie Forrest, Tom
Guivarra, David McFerran, Steve Tizzard
and Peter Garton.
From the records held in the 161 Recce Collection the two Birddogs on loan to
the Flight, from 28 Aug 67 until 23 May 68 flew a total of 921.35 hours.
These two Birddogs were used as required in support of 1 ATF and flew the
same missions that the Cessna 180s flew including:
Visual Reconnaissance flights, night flying missions where the starlite
scope was used, first and last light recce, search and rescue missions, AOP
flights, transit flights and convoy cover missions, just to mention a few.
In August 1970 the remains of a crashed Birddog
were delivered to 161
(Indep)
Recce Flt at Nui Dat where it was rebuilt to flying configuration which was the
birth of "Bunny II". But that's another
story.
****************************************
Book Summary:
Possums
and Birddogs
Other
aircraft: Bell
47G-3B1 Sioux Helicopter | Cessna
180 | Pilatus Porter |
Bell OH58-A
Kiowa Helicopter | Bunny II
|
