Registration (N-Number) N206EV
Navy BUNO: 131482
Squadrons: VP-4, VP-7, VP-17, VP-872 and NAS Olathe, Kansas

Greetings,

I want to bring you folks up to speed on a couple items that have transpired in the last several days. A wonderful thing is in process for the members of VO-67 and it's history.

As you know I have been involved in a project with others to secure a P2V Neptune to be converted as a possible replica of the OP-2E. Heavy 21 was able to save one of their aircraft and it is now on display at the Pima Air Museum.

The Army's Crazy Cats also have a bird on display at the Rucker Army Museum in Alabama. Why not VO-67? All our remaining aircraft were scraped soon after our return so displaying one of them was impossible.

A man named Frank Motter spotted our web site about a year ago and after learning our history decided that he would devote as much of his spare time into helping the VO-67 squadron receive the recognition never given.

Frank is an aircraft accident inspector for the FAA. He is owner and founder of Thunder Air Museum and an airplane nut.

Frank has located our OP-2E Replica. At this point it is just completing the paperwork. This bird is BU/No 131482 #145 N206EV and it belongs to Evergreen Aviation. It can be seen at http://www.airliners.net/open.file/161582/L/.

OK, now we have a replica sitting out in the desert, what do we do?

This aircraft has to get to Lancaster California where it will be converted and painted in VO-67 colors. That is a lot of work and could take a lot of money. As fate would have it Frank now meets up with Palmdale Plant 42 California Heritage Air Park representatives. They have just completed a first of a five part 15 million dollar air park and are desperate for airplanes. They now have nine and on completion will have over 100 birds. They have agreed to dismantle, truck, reassemble, modify and display the OP-2E MR-1R replica in the new airpark. This new airpark is similar to Pima but will have lots of trees and grass. Lockheed Martin is heavily involved with the Heritage personal. Thunder Air will maintain ownership of as he calls it "Our Bird." The cost for all this is Nada. Frank will become a plane hunter for Heritage in his spare time but not until he completes his corner stone project, the VO-67 Replica tribute. This could not have worked out better if we had planed it. You must read all the details about the Heritage Air Park to see what they have envisioned. Take a look at http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/airpark/.

I have just received additional news that this aircraft may be freshened up and actually be flown from Marana to Palmdale. You can be sure that we will have some people there to film the departure and arrival. I will post the news as I get it. Whether the aircraft is flown or trucked it will be in its new home early in the coming year. A lot of technical information will be needed from VO-67 personal to convert this aircraft into an OP-2E at least on the outside. Start looking through your pictures for detail shots of the shaf dispensers, camera pods, armor plate in nose, mini gun mounts, etc.

Heritage has a first class machine shop and is capable of producing almost anything.

They are eager to get the replica into there large hanger and get going. As per Heritage Airpark, "We are eager and honored to display the OP-2E and history of VO-67."

The squadron was a unique and special part of Vietnam War history".

Bob Reynolds

PS. Anyone have a Norden Bomb Site. That's our next project. :-)