Archivist
Corie Squires

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As your VO-67 Archivist, I am happy to announce that your archives have grown tremendously in the last few years. Most of the items in the inventory are original VO-67. Of course this does not include the many current news articles describing the history and valor VO-67 displayed during its 500-day history. Many "one of a kind" items have been contributed to the archives. A Natops manual on the OP-2E, an OP-2E "Load Adjuster", original photos, and manuscripts are just some of the items you will find in the VO-67 Archives.

Wally the Warrior made his first appearance at the 2005 reunion in San Diego. Wally, a full size mannequin, is dressed in all original VO-67 combat flight gear including flight helmet, flight suit, flight vest, flak vest and pants, chaps, gloves and boots. All Wally's items were used on combat missions with Crew 12 and 7. Close inspection will reveal that these articles have never been cleaned and still show the "Red Dirt" many members often talk about. A 38-caliber handgun replica and M-16 machine gun and ammo were added to show what the aircrews worn during a combat mission. Also displayed are a flight jacket, various combat greens, a bush hat, unused parachute (not the low level explosive deployment type), knives, flares, survival mirror, maps, and flight orders. Very special framed pictures of the Vietnam Wall "name rubbings"of the 20 brave aircrew who were lost in combat from Crew 2,5 and 7 are also part of the archives. We hold dear the individual pictures and history of these 20 special men. The squadron "Ceremonial Bell", presented to the squadron by the crew of the USS Milius, (DGG-69), is the centerpiece of the archives. It is used in a moving ceremony to" Toll" the KIA members whenever the surviving members gather.

In August of 2005, VO-67 acquired an Acoubouy of the type parachuted into the jungle canopy by VO-67 crews in 1967-68. The manufacture date on the unit is May 1968. This buoy could have been in the VO-67 inventory or destined to be. The squadron is also in the process of acquiring a "Norden Bombsight". Not many outside the squadron know that VO-67 was the only aircraft squadron of any service to use the Norden during the Vietnam War. The sight will be installed into the OP-2E (MR-1) replica when it is placed on displayed at the Palmdale Air Park in California later in 2005 or early 2006. The replica aircraft is owned by Thunder Air Museum and modified as tribute to VO-67. The bombsight will be displayed at all VO-67 reunions. The pictures on this page show only a small part of the complete archive collection. The entire collection is always displayed at each reunion and is available for all VO-67 members to examine and touch. After all this is your history. If you would like to donate an item to the VO-67 Archives, please send me an email at vo67archivist@yahoo.com so we can arrange it. It is an honor for me to be associated with true American heroes.

Corie Squires
VO-67 Archivist