OV-1 Mohawk Stars & Stripes Rocks Glass

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The OV-1 Mohawk was a twin-turboprop, battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft developed for the U.S. Army in the late 1950s. First flown on 14 April 1959, it was built to operate from rough forward airstrips while conducting visual, photographic, infrared, and later radar-based surveillance—a first for Army aviation.

Designed for two crew (pilot and sensor operator), the Mohawk featured a distinctive twin-boom layout, a bulbous cockpit canopy for improved visibility, and terrain-following sensors mounted in under-fuselage fairings. It was rugged, fast (over 300 mph), and highly manoeuvrable for its type.

Over 370 OV-1s were built, with several variants including the OV-1B (side-looking airborne radar), OV-1C (infrared), and OV-1D (combined sensors). The Mohawk served extensively in the Vietnam War, where it provided critical intelligence and target spotting. It remained in service during the Cold War, including Germany and Korea, until it was phased out in 1996, replaced by more advanced unmanned systems and newer reconnaissance platforms.

Despite its capabilities, the OV-1 was at the centre of inter-service rivalry, with the Air Force resisting Army fixed-wing operations. Nevertheless, it earned a reputation for reliability, precision, and versatility in a reconnaissance role.