OV-10 Bronco was most hated aircraft in the river Mekong valley. Its appearance clearly indicate that some artillery or aviation attack come so peasant who lived in area do had a reason for absolute negative stand about it. Bronco was forward air control airplane and this mean flying over and behind enemy lines, spot targets, attack em and giving direction to attack. Its designation mean that, O for Observation and V for flying command site (do not mess it with Vertical, what indicate helicopters, those who vertical take of).

Airplane presented here is OV-10 Bronco from VAL-4 unit. Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) came into official existence on Friday, January 3, 1969. Bureau numbers of current VAL-4 aircraft are: 155460, 155461, 155462, 155463, 155470, 155471, 155472, 155473, 155474, 155475. During the operational training North Islands, unit received additional airplanes. With two additional aircraft (BuNo 155494 and 155495) delivered by the end of January 1969, unit had fourteen aircrafts. Fourteen aircraft were deployed to MCAS Yuma on Sunday February 2 1969. for a two-week period of weapons training. Two aircraft were left at Naval Air Station, North Island and one new aircraft (BuNo 155497) was delivered at North Island and this give total of 17 Bronco’s aircraft assigned to VAL-4. Squadron personnel and the four civilian representatives departed from Naval Air Station, North Island shortly after midnight on Monday, March 24, 1969, and arrived in Saigon on Monday afternoon, local time. After a five-hour delay, the personnel were airlifted into Binh Thuy by USAF C-130 aircraft. Very soon they start operational missions. Alpha (VNAF Binh Thuy) flights have been armed with Zuni 5-inch rockets and the Mark IV 20mm cannon pod. This combination has provided a tremendous increase in the capability of the Bronco to destroy sampans, hootches, and bunkers – the most common targets. The ordnance configuration of the alert and patrol aircraft at Binh Thuy consists of 12 five-inch rockets, 750 rounds of 20mm ammunition and 2000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for the lead aircraft, and the wing aircraft carries 12 five-inch rockets, 38 2.75- inch rockets, and 2000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition – plus a flare pod on the centerline station for night patrols.

Data for OV-10A Bronco, subject of the color profiles

BUNO: 155471 156th Bronco Built |•| 82nd Marine OV-10A Side # 106 & 101 Original Aircraft Stationed At Binh Thuy. Received new from the factory, 155471 was rec’d by VS-41 at NAS North Island, California on November 2, 1968 and transferred to VAL-4 on January 16, 1969. Flown to NAS Cubi Point on April 5, 1972 when the squadron was decommissioned. Now N410DF with the California Forestry Department. OV-10A Bronco 155471 is the aircraft whose nose tire was reportedly shot by the VAL-4 Maintenance Officer LCdr. Bill Bartlett for “failure to perform properly” causing Skipper Marty Schuman to bounce this Bronco on the Portable Steel Plate (PSP) runway at Chu Lai while Admiral Zumwalt was riding in the back seat.

Few words of pilot of no. 106, Dan Sheehan:

“I have found out a little more about 106, after Vietnam. When the squadron was decommissioned in 1972, 106 and the rest of VAL-4’s planes were flown to NAS Cubi Point. Since VAL-4 had borrowed Marine Corps OV-10s, I assume the surviving air frames were returned to the Marines. In 1993, 106 was transferred to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, otherwise known as the Boneyard, where out-of-service aircraft were stored in the Arizona desert. After that, 106 was operated by the California Department of Forestry as N410DF, Cal Fire No A110. Cal Fire operates a number of OV-10s and I believe they are commonly used to guide the larger air tankers on their fire suppression runs. I don’t know if 106 is still there now.”

There was armor plating under the pilots’ seats, but it was limited to preventing small arms penetration. Dan remember that the center panel of the windshield was also supposed to prevent small arms penetration and the fuel tanks were supposed to be self sealing up to .30-caliber fire; but he couldn’t find any mention of that in the flight manual. By his words that is very little protection and you could probably have stuck a #2 lead pencil through the aluminum skin of the plane just about anywhere. Pilots of Bronco joked that overall the Bronco was only “semi bullet retardant.”

Srećko Bradić

All photos- Dan Sheehan

Before disbanding, Lufttransportgeschwader 63 conduct the farewell tour with the specially painted aircraft – the “Retrobrummel” with the registration 50+40, to give the numerous supporters of the Transall the opportunity to say goodbye to the aircraft. The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft, produced as joint venture between France and Germany. “Transall” is an abbreviation of the manufacturing consortium “Transporter Allianz”, comprising the companies of MBB, Aerospatiale, VFW-Fokker. Initially developed to meet the requirements for a transport aircraft for the French and German Air Forces. In German service i replaced Noratlas.

For five decades, the C-160 Transall was the German main military tactical air transport aircraft and it was also one of the main air transport capabilities at EATC. Since September 2010, Germany transferred the authority of 74 C-160 assets to EATC. The first historical mission under EATC authority was executed with the C-160 Transall on 11 October 2021. From that moment EATC managed nearly 21000 German C-160 Transall missions, totaling about 92000 flying hours. Starting from 2014, Germany gradually replaced the Transall with the new transport, the A400M and the C-130J Hercules.

During its service Transall C-160 used RAL 6014. RAL 7012, RAL 9006 for first camouflage pattern and later used RAL 7021, FS 34079, RAL 6003 for camouflage. Retro Burnmel used combinations of camouflage colors used in Luftwaffe.

Malta Air Show has is the place where last Transall C-160 50+40 participate before retirement. Transall C-160 50+40 is at the Air Force school in Roth, Bavaria converted into a classroom.

Srećko Bradić

Boeing F4B was prominent naval fighter plane in US service. Sample presented here is Boeing F4B-3, used as command plane in U.S.M.C, at MCAS Quantico, VA, 1935. Main color of the airplane was grey and entire fuselage was covered with this gloss color. Aluminum paint was used over wing fabric and top wing surface were in yellow color. Vertical rudder is in the tri color scheme and same colors were used over engine cowling as well wheel covers. All letters were in black color.

Srecko Bradic

Color profile captions:

01. Ju 52/3m g3e, registration 50+G10, based on photograph from Vienna- Aspern airfield, Austria, in 1939. Airplane wear early overall light grey scheme and interesting two red bends used during the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938.

02. The code S13 indicates a Schule (S) in the Luftgau XIII (13) of Nьrnberg, so S13+. The luftgau was a subdivision of a larger Luftkreis). It’s very difficult to guess the other letters/digits because the letter following the cross indicated the flight within the school the plane belonged to. The last two digits (sometime three)indicated the real identity of the plane signifying the order of arrival of the plane at this “Schule”. The code of this Ju 52/3m could have been : S13+E33 if it was the 33rd plane arrived at the “Schule” and given to the 5th Flight. Whole machine is in the RLM 71 Dunkelgrun color.

03. Reichsluftfahrt- Minister Hermann Goring have used this Ju 52/3m for what we call today VIP plane. Machine dominative color is red, in honor to the greatest German ace (until that moment) Manfred Von Richthofen, registration was D-AGUK and the WNr. 4022. It serve as VIP plane in period 1933- 1935. Note Lufthansa logo on tail as well letters Manfred Von Richthofen beneath the cockpit.

04. This bomber version of the Ju 52 and in pale grey scheme belonged to Fliegerführerschule (C), Lechfeld, Summer 1938.

[See image gallery at www.letletlet-warplanes.com] 05. Personal airplane of the Luftflotte 5 Chief of Technical Service. Its operational area during 1942 and 1943 was Norway, Finland and Soviet Union. Standard camouflage of RLM 71 and 70 with large patches in white.

06. Ambulance version of the Ju 52/m3 g6e, register BJ YD, in the temporary winter camouflage over the regular camouflage of RLM 70 and 71. This machine operated from Norway.

07. Various Airliners used the Ju 52 worldwide and still use it. Here is shown Bolivian pre WW2 Ju 52/3m Wk.Nr. 4009 ‘Huanuni’, which was used by Lloyd Aero Boliviano. Detail of interest is the longer windows on fuselage. This machine with others of the type, has been used in the Chaco war.

08. Netherlands is one of the user of this machine and sample present is in the natural metal color, with national flag on tail and black registration on the wings.

Bradić Srećko

Curitss Seagull used most of the camouflage pattern seen in US NAVY and in very start of its service metal was painted gray and the fabric was painted aluminum. The tail surfaces were painted lemon yellow (New York, BB-34; Arkansas, BB-33 & Texas, BB-35 (VO-5) and the section color for the number 8 a/c was true blue on the top of the engine cowling. The neutrality patrol star on the forward area is correct for 1940. The official directive for applying the neutrality patrol star for the SOC-1, -2 -3 and the SON-1 aircraft was to center a 2′ diameter star on the engine accessory cowling with the upper circumference about 5″ below the top of the cowling. This was listed in the 19 March 1940 Bureau of Aeronautics Directive AER-E-255-HY,QW-19,F-39-1, Technical Note 6-40.

[See image gallery at www.letletlet-warplanes.com] The blue gray over light gray color is for the next period. The red & white tail stripes, 7 red and 6 white, horizontally applied by the new directive of 5 January 1942. The national insignia, 4 on the wings two on the top and two on the bottom and 1 on each side of the fuselage, were ordered on 5 January 1942 also. The directive was: Aer-E-2571-BP, F39-5, VV,FF-12, 001085. Diameters were different for each particular aircraft. Some national insignia were applied in huge diameters on the wings and fuselage, some were not. Most squadrons used black for the applications of their fuselage codes. The USS Lexington, CV-2 kept the old color, white, for their fuselage codes through to the sinking of the ship on 8 May 1942. Photo evidence bears this out. Last camouflage pattern were Non Specular Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue and White.

Srećko Bradić

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) for the United States Air Force. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export customers. As of 2015, it is the world’s most numerous fixed-wing aircraft in military service.

[See image gallery at www.letletlet-warplanes.com] It started its operational service in three grey camouflage colors and later its developed into numerous camouflage and livery patterns. Some of the is presented here.

Srećko Bradić

The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twinjet tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric Canberra, manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Initial Martin-build models were virtually identical to their British-built counterparts; Martin later modified the design to incorporate larger quantities of US-sourced components and produced the aircraft in several different variants.

[See image gallery at www.letletlet-warplanes.com] Martin B-57 color profiles caption

01- Martin B-57B 52- 1567 from 13th TBS, 35th TFW. Airplane feature standard camouflage pattern used first time in Vietnam. For the B-57 is specific great variation in applications of stencils and service markings and this one is lack of many of them. Tail letters are in standard white color and rudder is red.

02- Martin B-57B 53-3955 used by Pakistan air force. This one is designed for operating in all weather conditions. Camouflage is very simple with light grey on the topside and black at the bottom.

03- Martin B-57B operated by Pakistan but in the specific overall green camouflage pattern.

04. South Vietnam is one of the operator of the B-57 and they have used variation of original USAF insignia as it own markings. This plane does not use any camouflage paint and flew in the natural metal. Note dirt over the airframe caused by smoke during the engine start up.

05. Vermont National Guard flew a B-57 in a number of different camouflage pattern. This is standard all black color with exception that main code letters are in white and the common practice was for this type of camouflage is the use of letter in red color.

06-B-57G 53-3865 featured standard camouflage pattern introduced in Vietnam. The plane is from the 13th TBS, 8th TFW, Anne Domini 1970. The G model is special combat adaptation of the basic B-57.

07-EB-57B 117 DSES- Martin EB-57B of the 117th DSES, Forbes AFB, Kansas Air National Guard [originally B-57B SN 52-1500]. It has on most areas ADC Grey or Coin Grey light color and the high visibility orange sections.

08-RB-57D Nationalist China, US have trained Chinese Nationalist crew to operate this special version of the B-57. Plane is very simple finished in matt white and matt black colors.

09-RB-57E 55-4245A, this airplane served in Vietnam and was operated by 460th Reconnaissance Wing. Plane is in the standard overall black color and use small national insignia. Note interesting badge design of black bat holding camera.

10-B-57B NASA is very interesting as well this is early B-57 used and deployed by NASA. This plane, regarding to the number of images, have real evolution in the painting and markings as well duty done in NASA service. N809NA (cn 166) Ex USAF 52-1576, this Martin B-57B spent most of her career with NASA, attached to the Lewis, Langley, then Dryden Research Facilities. The plane is in the white color with some areas in natural metal. Note small logo under the windscreen which denotes that plane is used during the Viking Mars test program.

Bradic Srecko

Magister Mk. I, N3780 of No. 15 EFTS, 1938. Typical pre war finish with all yellow painted surface and natural metal cowling.

On 3 October 1946, one Miles Magister was transferred from the RAF to Belgium to be used as instructional airframe at the Technical School at Saffraanberg. Early 1947 the machine was made airworthy and delivered to 367sq/169Wing at Evere where it was used for communication flights, first registered TMR 50/DMT 50 later G-1. In September 1953 the machine was stricken of charge and continued its career on the civilian register as OO-NIC. Rescued by volunteers in the seventies the restored machine is now on view at the Royal Army Museum in Brussels.

Magister, L6907, TBR-K in the later war camouflage as well national insignia.

Miles Magistrer, L207, Misir (today Egypt), Cairo 1942.

Srećko Bradić

Dornier Do 217 was developed as a replacement for the Dornier do 17 bomber. The first prototype (the Do 217 V1) flew on 4 October 1938. It was mass-produced from November 1940 to may 1944. In total, 1905 samples were built. It serves in Luftwaffe until the end of WW2 in various roles.

01. Dornier Do 217 N-07, Dornier Werke plant, Friedrichshafen, 1942. Camouflage is standard splinter with top side in greys RLM 74 and 75 and the bottom in RLM 76.

02. Dornier Do 217 K, W.Nr. 56051, U5-DK from 2./KG 2, which crashed after mission over London and wreck was found on the outskirt of Cambridge and later excamined by RAF. Interesting to note that tail surface coming from another machine, Do 217 E so therefore, W.Nr. look different. Night bombing camouflage with black bottom, RLM 76 top and camouflage spots.

03. Dornier Do 217 K-1, W.Nr. 4446, from KG 2. Similar camouflage as above machine while it have no camouflage spots at the top surface.

04. Dornier Do 217 J-2, pilot Major Radush, Stab./NJG 5, Doberitz, early 1944. Unexpected to see night fighting machine in all white color so this is very interesting machine.

05. Dornier Do 217 M-1, 2./KG 2, Munster- Handorf, September 1944. Standard camouflage with old green colors at the top RLM 70 and 71 with black bottom.

06. Dornier Do 217 J-1 235-8, from 41 Stormo, flown by Capitano Ammannato. Standard all black finish with reduced Italian insignia.

07. Dornier Do 217 K, U5-AA, from Stab./KG 2, Netherlands, 1943, camouflage is standard night bomber with green colro at the top and black at bottom.

08. Dornier Do 217 N-1, Stab or I.7NJG 101, Ingolstadt-Manching, May 1945. Very spot fill camouflage which is in general RLM 4 and 75 greys with the a lot of the spots in the same color on the fuselage sides.

Bradic Srecko

The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter with anti-submarine, anti-surface threat capability, including over-the-horizon targeting. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including submarines of all types, surface ships, and patrol craft that may be armed with anti-ship missiles. It was developed for the United States Navy beginning in the late 1950s.

01. Light Anti-submarine Helicopter Squadron 31 (HSL-31), North Island Naval Air Station, California
02. Kaman Seasprite, 149026, after an engine failure during Deck Landing Quals on USS Compte de Grasse, ditched into sea then recovered and use as gate guardian as HT-030/HSL-30 NAS Norfolk
03. Kaman SH-2F, 149748, August 1987, Chesapeake Bay, HT-042/HSL-30
04. Kaman SH-2F Seasprite, 149768, HX-231/HSL-34, Jun 1982 on USS Deyo
05. Kaman Seasprite, 149769, September 1982, HX-234/HSL-34, written off after lost power and rolled over on landing at NAS Oceana, VA, 10. August 1984
06. This Seasprite, 150157, start its career as HU2K-1U and in 1962 it was converted into the UH-2B. Retired from HSL-33 at NAS North Island in 1993 and today is preserved at the USS Midway Museum, San Diego.
07. Kaman SH-2F Seasprite, 150185, 1991. Low visibility scheme.
08. Kaman SH-2F Seasprite, 151303, HX-235/HSL-35, during the sea rescue excercise, 19. February 1986.
09. Kaman SH-2F Seasprite from HSL-30, during the airlift operation of the Hungarian freighter who suffer from hart attack, August 1984.
10. Kaman SH-2F Seasprite, 152190, HSL-32, 1975.
11. Kaman Seasprite, 158200, HY-334/HSL-36 Det 4 USS Trippe, Jun 1979.
12. Kaman Seasprite, 161647, July 1986, USS Badger
13. Kaman Seasprite, 161914, 18. April 1988. This machine was later converted and delivered to Royal Australian Navy.
14. Kaman Sesprite 161658
15. Kaman Sesprite 169026
16. Kaman Sesprite NZ3442

Srecko Bradic