Restoration of a Vietnam era O1A Bird Dog - National Vietnam Veterans Museum - Victoria Australia S2 E5
Apr 27, 2023 ·
12m 17s
We interview volunteers rebuilding a bird-dog at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria Australia. During the Vietnam War, the Bird Dog was used primarily for reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery...
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We interview volunteers rebuilding a bird-dog at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria Australia. During the Vietnam War, the Bird Dog was used primarily for reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment, radio relay, convoy escort and forward air control of tactical aircraft including bombers operating in a tactical role. Its quieter noise footprint, lower speed, tighter maneuverability, short runway ability and better visibility (even to the rear) kept it highly valued by the ground units it supported and highly feared by enemy units it flew over. Two O-1 Bird Dogs were loaned to the Australian Army's 161 Reconnaissance Flight operating out of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. One was lost to ground fire in May 1968, killing 161's commanding officer. Another Bird Dog was built by this unit's maintenance crew using aircraft sections salvaged from dumps around Vietnam. It was test-flown by 161 and later smuggled back to Australia in pieces contained in crates marked as "aircraft spares". This aircraft now resides in the Museum of Army Flying at the Army Aviation Center at Oakey Queensland.
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