The Southeast Asia War Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio includes several observation, utility, and liaison aircraft.
With regard to the Southeast Asia War:
A product of the Cold War, the Southeast Asia War (1961-1973) began with communist attempts to overthrow non-communist governments in the region. United States participation in the Southeast Asia War resulted from the policy of "containment," which aimed to prevent communism from expanding beyond its early Cold War borders. The containment strategy seldom led to major combat, but as with the Korean War (1950-1953), the US committed large military forces to protect an allied, non-communist government. The main U.S. goal in the Southeast Asia War was to protect South Vietnam -- initially from a local communist insurgency and later from conquest by communist North Vietnam. The U.S. also hoped to prevent the spread of communism to other nearby countries. Although popularly known as the Vietnam War, U.S. efforts included military action not only in South and North Vietnam, but also in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
Helio U-10D Super Courier
According to the Museum:
The Super Courier was a light utility transport developed from a civilian design first tested in 1949. Its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability allowed it to operate from a clearing the size of a football field, and its ability to fly slowly at speeds of approximately 25-35 mph made it an excellent aircraft for visual reconnaissance. The original version of the U.S. Air Force Super Courier made its first flight in 1958. The USAF purchased three aircraft for evaluation the same year, designating them L-28As and later redesignating them U-10As. Eventually, more than 100 additional U-10As were ordered, mainly for use by air commando units in Southeast Asia. It was used for liaison, light cargo, small supply drop operations, psychological warfare (dropping leaflets and broadcasting propaganda), forward air controller (FAC) and reconnaissance missions.
This aircraft has a top speed of 180 mph, a cruising speed of 160 mph, a range of 1,100 miles, and a ceiling of 20,500 feet.
Cessna O-1G Bird Dog
According to the Museum:
The O-1G was a two-place observation and liaison aircraft developed from the commercial Cessna Model 170 in 1949. Originally designated L-19s, Bird Dogs were used by the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine Corps for such tasks as artillery spotting, front-line communications, medical evacuation and pilot training. In Southeast Asia, the O-1s became a USAF forward air control aircraft. A forward air controller (FAC), often an experienced fighter pilot, flew in a specific geographical area so that he could readily identify enemy activity. If a controller observed enemy ground targets, he marked them with smoke rockets so for attack by fighter-bombers. The FAC remained on the scene to report bombing results. The single-engine O-1 was slow and vulnerable to enemy fire. This, along with its limited range and small payload, led to its eventual replacement by the twin-engine O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco. The USAF ordered more than 3,200 Bird Dogs, most of which were built as L-19As between 1950 and 1959.
This aircraft has a top speed of 150 mph, a cruising speed of 115 mph, a range of 530 miles, and a ceiling of 20,300 feet.
Cessna O-2A Skymaster
According to the Museum:
In late 1966 the U.S. Air Force selected a military variant of the Cessna Model 337 Super Skymaster, designated the O-2, to supplement the O-1 Bird Dog forward air controller (FAC) aircraft then operating in Southeast Asia. Distinguished by twin tail booms and tandem-mounted engines, it featured a tractor-pusher propeller arrangement. Having twin engines enabled the O-2 to absorb more ground fire and still return safely, endearing it to its crews. The O-2 first flew in January 1967, and production deliveries began in March. Production ended in June 1970 after Cessna had built 532 O-2s for the USAF. Cessna produced two series -- the O-2A and the O-2B. The O-2A carried wing pylons for rockets, flares and other light ordnance. In the FAC role, the O-2A identified and marked enemy targets with smoke rockets, coordinated air strikes and reported target damage. The O-2B operated as a psychological warfare aircraft equipped with loudspeakers and leaflet dispensers. It carried no ordnance.
This aircraft has a top speed of 199 mph, a cruising speed of 144 mph, a range of 1,060 miles, and a ceiling of 19,300 feet.
North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco
According to the Museum:
The OV-10A was a twin-turboprop short takeoff and landing aircraft conceived by the U.S. Marine Corps and developed under a U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps tri-service program. The first production OV-10A was ordered in 1966, and its initial flight took place in August 1967. The Bronco's missions included observation, forward air control, helicopter escort, armed reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, utility and limited ground attack. The USAF, however, acquired the Bronco primarily as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. Adding to its versatility is a rear fuselage compartment with a capacity of 3,200 pounds of cargo, five combat-equipped troops or two litter patients and a medical attendant. The first USAF OV-10As destined for combat arrived in Vietnam in July 1968. A total of 157 OV-10As were delivered to the USAF before production ended in April 1969.
This aircraft has a top speed of 281 mph, a cruising speed of 223 mph, a range of 1,240 miles, and a ceiling of 26,000 feet.
Beech QU-22B
According to the Museum:
The QU-22B was to be an unmanned airborne relay for the Igloo White operation during the Southeast Asia War. Igloo White placed and monitored sensors to detect traffic along the main enemy supply line, the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Modified from the civilian Beech Model 36 Bonanza under the Pave Eagle II program, the 27 QU-22Bs delivered to the U.S. Air Force contained several changes for military service. The QU-22B carried a large generator above the engine to power its electronic equipment and additional fuel in extended wing tip tanks for increased range. Its remote control equipment allowed the QU-22B to be flown directly by an onboard pilot or as an unmanned drone. In 1970 a detachment of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing (later the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron) known as the "Vampires," conducted the first operational QU-22B flights. During a typical mission, the QU-22B orbited near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, picking up signals from Igloo White acoustic and vibration sensing ground units and relaying them to the Information Surveillance Center (or "Task Force Alpha") at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. Although the QU-22B performed well as a signal relay, all operational flights in Southeast Asia carried a pilot onboard due to equipment reliability problems. In 1972, after the loss of several aircraft, the USAF cancelled the QU-22 program.
This aircraft has a top speed of 204 mph, an endurance of 6 hours manned and 10 hours unmanned, and an operating altitude of 30,000 feet unmanned and below 25,000 feet with a pilot.
Teledyne-Ryan AQM-34L Firebee
According to the Museum:
The AQM-34L remotely piloted aircraft flew low-level photo-reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam. The AQM-34 series was developed from the unmanned BQM-34A target aircraft.The AQM-34L on display flew more than 30 missions over North Vietnam.
This aircraft has a top speed of 645 mph, a range of 750 miles, and a ceiling of 50,000 feet.
More from the Air Force Museum
Air Force Museum: Southeast Asia cargo aircraft (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Southeast Asia bombers (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Southeast Asia air support aircraft (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Southeast Asia fighter planes (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: The Hanoi Taxi (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: MiGs (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Sabrejets (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Some reconnaissance and utility aircraft (photo diary)
