OV-1 Mohawk – Walk Around No. 49

The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk was the first turboprop aircraft to enter into US Army service to fill the role of visual photo and electronic reconnaissance. It was unique in its design and it never received recognition for its accomplishments in more than 40 years of service. Originally planned for both the Army and the Marines the OV-1 was used just by the Army although NASA had a test aircraft for testing jet engine noise. Civilian users included the US Forest Service Environmental Protection Service and US Customs which used the Mohawk to track drug traffic. The OV-1D aircraft from the 15th MI (military intelligence) and the 224th MI groups participated during Desert Storm accruing more than 5 500 flight hours with two planes lost. The Mohawk was retired from US Army service in 1996.