lucky duck!!!!

[OSCARDEUCE]

O2-A in Viet Nam hit by 37 mm flak.
Enjoy.

[Paul Sharp]

Interesting picture!

Why is that one bird in the BG painted black?

[Mitch Taylor]

The O2-As that flew night missions were painted flat black. They also had two rotating beacons on the tail, one for night that had a cone around it so it could only be seen from above. From what I've heard, night FAC missions in the O2 were pretty hairy.

Mitch

[Paul Sharp]

Cool. I've seen a few aircraft painted black before (not talking military here), so I guess you could paint an O2 that color and be authentic.

In fact, I didn't even notice that the one with the tail wound was black, too, until I looked at it again today.

Oscarduece - are you that guy in the picture?

[skymstr02]

The guy in the picture is Capt. Dave Milligan, Call sign NAIL 45, with the 23rd TASS at Nahkon Phenom Royal Thai Air Base, circa 1969. He took that round on his last night mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail over Laos.

Dave Zavoina
68-11055
"Viet Cong Hunting Club"
Knoxville, TN

[Paul Sharp]

Thanks. Cool picture. The FACs were a great group and get my wholehearted respect.

[skymstr02]

Here's a different angle, with the intrepid crew chief present, gotta admit it, can't live without the guys on the ground.