OV-1B

Mohawk

High-Performance Reconnaissance/Attack Airplane

In June of 1956, the Army had a requirement for a two seat, twin turboprop aircraft designed to operate from small, unimproved fields under all weather conditions to perform the missions of observation, artillery spotting, air control, and liaison. The GRUMMAM AIRCRAFT CORPORATION was awarded the Tri–Service contract with it’s entry of the OV–1 Mohawk. The Army took delivery of it’s first OV–1A Mohawk in February of 1961 with total deliveries of 380 OV–1’s in four different A–D models.

MOHAWKS were initially deployed to South Vietnam in 1962 and served throughout the entire conflict. The Mohawk was used for visual and photographic reconnaissance with great success due to the aircraft’s speed and quiet turbo–prop engines. The aircraft was also utilized with success in the light attack role when armed with 2.75 inch rockets and .50 caliber machine guns. In late 1966, an armed OV–1A of the 131st S.A.C. shot down a North Vietnamese Air Force MIG–17 over North Vietnam.

The Mohawk was removed from Army service in the mid 1990’s with the last Mohawk unit being the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion based at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

OUR AIRCRAFT

Serial No. 59–2631
Accepted in October, 1962 by the U.S. Army, our aircraft, an OV–1B Mohawk, was sent directly to the 503RD AVN BN of the 3RD Armored Div. based in West Germany. The "B" model Mohawk was produced to utilize the Army’s new Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) mounted externally to the aircraft in an 18 foot pod. The SLAR provided a film record of ground radar images on both sides of the aircraft’s flight path of moving targets at night and in bad weather. This system was used successfully in patrolling the West German border and in Vietnam. To compensate for the weight and increased drag of the SLAR pod, the OV–1B model received more powerful engines and increased wing span. A total of 90 OV–1Bs were built. OUR AIRCRAFT IS THE LAST KNOWN "B" MODEL MOHAWK FLYING. Our aircraft was released from Army (National Guard) service in 1985.

1962–1965: 503RD AVN. BN., 3RD Armored Div., (Hanau, W. Germany)

1965–1966: 122ND AVN BN (West Germany)

1966–1967: CONUS (Depot Mtc.)

1967–1969: Army Aviation School; Ft. Rucker, AL

1969–1970: CONUS (Mtc. Aircraft Spare)

1970–1972: 52ND AVN. BN. (South Korea)

1972–1978: CONUS (Flyable Storage)

1978–1985: Georgia Army National Guard

1985–1986: Army Aviation Museum; Ft. Rucker,AL

1886–1999: Private Owner

1999 to present: Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

Specifications
Crew: Pilot and Observer/Technician

Engine: 2 Lycoming T53–L–7 Turbines (1,050 shp)

Speed: 297 MPH (maximum)

Range: 645 miles (without wing drop tanks)

Service ceiling: 25,000 feet

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05/02/2007