North American Rockwell OV-10a Bronco 67-14639

North American Rockwell OV-10a Bronco, serial number 67-14639. This aircraft has a one-piece wing of constant chord. Attached to the wing is a central fuselage containing two tandem crew positions and two engine booms. At the front of each boom is a mounting and cowling for the turbo prop engine and at the rear are mounting points for a one-piece tailplane, which runs between the two booms at the rear of the aircraft. The engines are Garrett-AiResearch turbo prop powerplants. The engines drive three-bladed aluminium propellers.

The aircraft has a tricycle undercarriage, with the nosewheel located in the forward part of the fuselage and the main wheel assembly in each boom immediately aft of the engine. At the lower rear of the fuselage on each side are a pair of sponsons, each which would have carried two 7.62mm M60C machine guns in service. Each sponson also includes two hardpoints to which can be attached a variety of ordnance including bombs or rocket launchers such as the seven shot 2.75 inch tubes or four shot 5 inch Zuni rocket launchers. A further hardpoint for the attachment of external stores or a drop tank is mounted on the fuselage centreline between the two sponsons. The airframe is constructed primarily of aluminium alloy rivetted to a framework of formers and stringers. The crew positions are enclosed by an expansive canopy structure. The forward windscreen is laminated glass while the remainder of the panels are moulded perspex. A large panel on each side of the canopy hinges upward for crew access. Each crew position has a complete instrument and engine control set and is equipped with an ejector seat. At the rear of the fuselage is a rectangular cargo bay, accessible via a hinged rear fairing.

The aircraft has been extensively restored by the AWM, and has been repainted to represent the aircraft as it appeared in July 1970. The aircraft's original wing was structurally unsound. It was replaced with a wing from Bronco 68-3811.

The Bronco aircraft was developed for forward air control (FAC) duties under a joint contract for the USAF and the US Marine Corps. 157 OV-10A variants were built for the USAF entering service in 1968, with an initial batch being sent to Vietnam late in the year. The 19th, 20th and 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadrons were equipped with the type. RAAF pilots serving with the TASS units on FAC duties flew the type extensively between December 1965 and December 1971. 23 RAAF pilots flew in Bronco aircraft, including in 67-14639 when it was operated by the 19th TASS. A total of 131 flights are recorded including 30 strike/attack missions, for a total of 203 flying hours. A number of RNZAF pilots are also believed to have flown the AWM aircraft.

67-14639 continued in service with TASS and is believed to have flown over Laos and Cambodia. From 14 May 1977-27 August 1983 the aircraft was based at Sembach USAF Airbase in Germany. The aircraft subsequently returned to the USA. In August 1984 it is known to have been at George USAF Airbase in Victorville, California. On 17 February 1989 the aircraft departed 5th TAIRCG at Osan Airbase in Korea. In March 1989 it was transferred to Hill Airforce Base in Northern Utah. Its last flight at Shore Airforce Base was on 4 November 1991 by which time the aircraft had 10435.7 hours of airframe time. By 17 January 1992 the aircraft was at Sangley Point airbase, where it was attached to the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Airforce. Its last flight was on 13 October 1993 when its total airframe time was 10790 hours. On 12 December 2002 the aircraft was declared as beyond economical repair due to corrosion. It was then placed outside in a reclamation area and a number of parts removed including the engines, cowlings and propellers. Following an approach from the Memorial to the US Government title of the aircraft was transferred as a gift on 1 July 2003, the transfer being confirmed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 13 April 2004.

In late 2006 the aircraft was disassembled with the assistance of the Philippines Air Force. The aircraft was carried from the Philippines on HMAS TOBRUK, arriving in Sydney on 16 March 2007. The AWM restored the aircraft over a two year period commencing in 2018.

The aircraft is fitted with a replacement wing from OV10a serial number 68-3811. This aircraft flew with the 19th TASS in Vietnam in 1969, and later flew with the 601st Tactical Combat wing from Sembach Air base in West Germany, between 1976 and 1984.