The U.S. Marine Corps was a large operator of the Bronco. The
Marines, unlike the Air Force, deployed the OV-10 aggressively to
the conflict in Vietnam soon after deliveries began in early 1968.
The first Bronco to fly into combat, flying from Danang on July 6,
1968, was from Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2, which
carried a vertical white VMO over a red
2 in
leu of normal tail code letters.) The Marines deployed VMO-6 to
Quang Tri in November 1968. VMO-6, called the Tomcats and using the
tail code WB, was based at MCAS Futenma, Japan until
deactivation in 1976. Futenma was also home to Headquarters and
Maintenance Squadron 36 (H&MS-36), which used the tail code
WX. VMO-1, based at MCAS New River, North Carolina, used
the tail code ER but did not operate in Vietnam (contrary
to what was reported here previously.) Around the same time, the
Navy formed VAL-4 and started to use Broncos, borrowing aircraft
from the Marines until VAL-4's deactivation in April 1972. These
aircraft then returned to duty with the Marines.
I hope the
Philippine Air Force will upgrade the
OV-10 and increase the number of this aircrafts in the PAF.
More upgraded longer range OV-10 bombers
are needed for the PAF.
