16 July 1965: The prototype North American Aviation YOV-10A Bronco, U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics serial number (“Bu. No.”) 152879, made its first flight at the NAA Columbus Division, Columbus, Ohio, with Chief Test Pilot Edward Allan Gillespie in the cockpit. The Los Angeles Times reported:

AEROSPACE: North American says first flight of OV-10A plane is success

FIRST FLIGHT of the new OV-10A counterinsururgency aircraft was successfully performed Friday at North American Aviation’s Columbus (Ohio) Division, the company announced. The twin-engine turboprop aircraft’s maiden flight lasted one hour. Pronounced a complete success by North American Aviation officials, it came nearly two months ahead of contract schedule and only nine days after formal rollout ceremonies.

—Los Angeles Times, Vol. LXXXIV, Saturday, 17 July 1965, Part II, Page 8, Column 1

There were four YOV-10A service test prototypes built.

The North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco is a two-place, twin-engine light observation and ground attack airplane. It was built at North American Aviation’s (later, North American Rockwell) Columbus, Ohio, plant. It was rolled out 8 July 1965, and made its first flight 16 July. It has a high wing, two tail booms and a high mounted horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The Bronco is 41 feet, 7 inches (12.675 meters) long, with a wing span of 40 feet, 0 inches (12.192 meters) and height of 15 feet, 1 inch (4.597 meters). The OV-10A has a gross weight of 10,250 pounds (4,649 kilograms), and can carry up to 3,600 pounds (1,633 kilograms) of external stores.

The cruise speed of the OV-10A is 223 miles per hour (359 kilometers per hour), and its maximum speed is 281 miles per hour (452 kilometers per hour). The service ceiling is 26,000 feet (7,925 meters), and the range is 1,240 statute miles (1,996 kilometers).

The OV-10A Bronco is powered by two Garrett-AIReseach T76-G turboprop engines, which drive three-bladed propellers. The T76 has a two-stage centrifugal compressor section and a three-stage axial-flow turbine section. It is rated at 715 shaft horsepower (533 kilowatts). The T76-G is 3 feet, 7.0 inches (1.092 meters) long, 2 feet, 3.0 inches (0.686 meters in diameter, and weighs 341 pounds (155 kilograms).

The Bronco is armed with four M-60C 7.62 mm machine guns, and up to 3,600 pounds (1,633 kilograms) of bombs or rockets.

YOV-10A Bu. No. 152879 was damaged 7 June 1973 and withdrawn from service. It was then displayed at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, California.

A total of 360 OV-10 Broncos were built. They remained in service with the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, most recently as the OV-10G in 2015, under Operation Combat Dragon II.

Edward Allan Gillespie was born 28 July 1928 at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was the second of two sons of Arthur Vernon Gillespie, a sign writer, and Rhea Gladys Seybold Gillespie.

Gillespie attended Ann Arbor High School, where he was the president of both his junior and senior classes. He participated in football, swimming and track and field. He graduated in 1946.

He became a licensed pilot at the age of 16 years, and joined the United States Navy at 17, 7 May 1946.

While a member of the Aviation Midshipman Program, he attended Syracuse University and Western Michigan, University, majoring in engineering. He began undergraduate flight training in 1948.

Gillespie began Navy flight training in 1949 with a North American Aviation SNJ Texan advanced trainer at NAS North Whiting Field, Florida, in March 1949.

After completion of flight training Gillespie was commissioned as an ensign, United States Navy and designated a Naval Aviator, 2 June 1950. After transitioning to turbojet-powered fighters in Lockheed TO-1 Shooting Stars, was assigned to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) and flew flew 80 combat in McDonnell F2H Banshees from  aircraft carriers during the Korean War.

On  1 September 1950, Ensign Gillespie married Miss Janette Deans Tait at Duval, Florida. They would have four children. They divorced 11 February 1997 after 46 years of marriage.

Ensign Gillespie was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade (j.g.), 2 June 1952.

Lieutenant (j.g.) Gillespie attended the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, graduating in 1954.

Lieutenant (j.g.) Gillespie was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, 1 July 1955.

Gillespie remained in the United States Naval Reserve, but entered the civilian sector as a test pilot for North American Aviation in 1956. As a reserve naval officer, Gillespie often flew test flights for U.S. Navy aircraft at NAS Patuxent River and NAWC China Lake, California. He commanded a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk squadron and served as an instructor at the USN Test Pilot School. He was also the reserve commanding officer of NAS Brunswick, NAS Oceana, and NAF Loges in the Azores.

Lieutenant Gillespie was promoted to the rank of commander, United States Naval Reserve, 1 July 1961.

Lieutenant Commander Gillespie was promoted to the rank of commander, 1 July 1967.

Commander Gillespie was promoted to the rank of captain, 1 January 1974. That same year, he was named a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Ed Gillespie retired from the Navy with the rank of captain, in  July 1982. After 30 years with North American Aviation and North American Rockwell, he retired in 1986.

Captain Edward Allan Gillespie, United States Navy (Retired), died at his home 9 July 2015 at the age of 86 years.

TDiA would like to thank regular reader Matthew Merrell for suggesting this topic.

© 2024, Bryan R. Swopes