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T-28 Trojan trainer aircraft; PAF
Topic Started: Wed Jul 2, 2014 5:26 pm (27 Views)
Flipzi
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Posted Image
T-28 Trojan (credit to photo owners)

North American T-28 Trojan

The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan was a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a Counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War.

On September 24, 1949, the XT-28 (company designation NA-159) was flown for the first time, designed to replace the T-6 Texan. Found satisfactory, a contract was issued and between 1950 and 1957, a total of 1,948 were built.

Following the T-28's withdrawal from U.S. military service, a number were remanufactured by Hamilton Aircraft into two versions called the Nomair. The first refurbished machines, designated T-28R-1 were similar to the standard T-28s they were adapted from, and were supplied to the Brazilian Navy. Later, a more ambitious conversion was undertaken as the T-28R-2, which transformed the two-seat tandem aircraft into a five-seat cabin monoplane for general aviation use. Other civil conversions of ex-military T-28As were undertaken by PacAero as the Nomad Mark I and Nomad Mark II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-28_Trojan


Posted Image
credit to photo owners/Peter Steinemann

T-28 in the Philippine Air Force

The Philippines utilized T-28s (colloquially known as "Tora-toras") during the 1989 Philippine coup attempt, the aircraft were often deployed as dive bombers by rebel forces. The Philippines got 12 T-28A.

Because of its proven capabilities, the aircraft attracted foreign customers mostly to the air forces of Asia and South America. The Philippine Air Force, battle tested in counter-insurgency operations selected the armed AT-28D and received more in the 1970's as a light attack and COIN aircraft.

It was assigned to the 17th Attack Squadron of the 15th Strike Wing based in Sangley Air Base in Cavite. Armed with miniguns, general purpose (GP) bombs, 81mm cluster grenades and up to 1,200 pounds of munitions carried under 6 underwing pylons, the PAF AT-28's affectionately called as the "tora-tora" served from the Advance Tactical Command Post and saw a lot of action supporting government troops in its campaign against the communist and muslim rebels.

It became the most active fixed wing aircraft of the air force to support combat operations. With the AFP's self reliance program, the AT-28 became a test platform when it tested the country's first made air to ground missile, the "Cali" in Nueva Ecija province.

However, in the 1980's, the aircraft was used in several coup attempts. Most notable in December 1989 when a flight of Sangley based "tora-tora's" piloted by PAF pilots belonging to the RAM-SFP spearheaded the revolt that would shake the nation in 7 days. They were destroyed though by loyal PAF pilots flying F-5's while re-arming in Sangley. With some "re-constructed" they continued on to serve the PAF until they finally retired in late 1992.


T-28D in Southeast Asia

The T-28D saw combat with the USAF in Southeast Asia beginning in 1961. The type was eventually transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force where it continued to be used by the VNAF until 1964. The T-28D was also used by special operations groups in Laos and Cambodia, and the by the USAF in Thailand until 1972. A number of Fairchild built AT-28Ds were delivered to the Philippine Air Force were they were used effectively against communist insurgents active in the South of the country. They gained international notoriety when used by rebel PAF officers against the residence of Philippine President Cory Aquino during an attempted coup de' tat.


Sources;

http://www.northamericantrainer.org/t-28.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-28_Trojan

http://www.angelfire.com/ga/batwentyone/Attack.html
Edited by Flipzi, Wed Jul 2, 2014 6:15 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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credit to photo owners

Trojans of the 15th Strike Wing

The 15th Strike Wing was organized and activated as a provisional unit on 26 November 1973, at Sangley Point, Cavite City, with a mission statement: To conduct counter-insurgency and special warfare operations. The appointed Acting Wing Commander then was COLONEL EMERITO P SURIO PAF (GSC), with COLONEL POMPEYO P VASQUEZ PAF (GSC), the Deputy Commander, and a complement of two officers and ten airmen.
Col Emerito Surio

Initially, the Wing had six (6) T-34 Mentors and six (6) T-28 Trojans, mostly from 100th Training Wing and 5th Fighter Wing. Ten (10) airmen were sent to the 410th Air Materiel Wing to undergo maintenance on-the-job training (OJT), in February 1974. Then, additional personnel were reassigned to the Wing such that, by the end of the year, the unit had 27 officers and 288 airmen, who became the nucleus of 15th Strike Wing.

Arrival of T-28 form 100th Training Wing

On 01 July 1974, the 18th Maintenance and Supply Squadron (forerunner of 461st Field Maintenance Squadron), was activated and manned under the leadership of MAJOR SALVADOR CERENO PAF. A month later, 16th Attack Squadron was organized in anticipation of the delivery of T-28D aircraft from Vietnam. This unit was activated and manned on 01 August 1974, with LT COL SANTIAGO O PITPITAN JR PAF as Squadron Commander. Following this, the 17th Attack Squadron was activated on 01 October 1974 and wasprojected to man the SIAI-FRAT-260 Warriors (SF-260W). However, for several months after the unit’s activation, the squadron only manned one (1) T-34A Mentor. The first batch of the Italian-made, locally assembled SF-260W Marchetti aircraft, arrived in late February 1975.

SF-260 Warrior / T-24 pilots

On 16 October 1974, the fearless 302nd Special Operations Squadron of HPAF was placed under the command and control of the 15th Strike Wing Commander. Two days later, the Wing received the first batch of T-28D aircraft, fresh from the Vietnam War. Trained under CAPTAIN HAMILTON of the US Air Force and eventually checked out as instructor pilots were: COL BARROGA, LT COL PITPITAN JR, LT COL SAMSON, LT COL DAVID and MAJ BILLONES.These pilots made a smooth transition to the T-28D, bringing forth a new generation of PAF pilots – THE ATTACK PILOTS. Conceptualized mainly to fight insurgency in the country, this new breed of pilots has come to specialize in Close Air Support and Air Interdiction against the enemies of the state.

T-28 Trojan Attack Pilots

On 18 February 1975, after training a handful of Combat-Ready Pilots, the Wing deployed four (4) T-28D aircraft to Edwin Andrews Air Base, Zamboanga CityPreparing for CAS in Edwin Andrews Air Base, in support of SOWESCOM operations. Barely three days later, had the first air strike in 15th Strike Wing’s history taken place in Kandiis, Province of Basilan.

On 17 March 1975, three (3) SF-260W aircraft were deployed at the 15th SWAdvance Command Post at Francisco Bangoy Airport, Davao City. On 15 April of the same year, the SF-260 Marchettis, piloted by Lt Col Lana and Lt Abaday, wreaked havoc to rebel encampments in Balabagan, Sapakan and Reina Regente, in Central Mindanao.

T-28 From Thailand for 25th CAS

With the acquisition of additional T-28D aircraft from Udorn AFB in Thailand, another unit, the 25th Attack Squadron, was activated on 29 March 1976. It was given the task to provide Close Air Support to ground and naval forces in the newly organized Western Command, which was then under the concurrent command of the 15th Strike Wing Commander. LT COL TERESO J ISLETA first commanded the 25th Attack Squadron with 71 officers and 36 enlisted personnel. On 13 April of that year, three (3) aircraft of the 15th Strike Wing landed at Puerto Princesa. Following this, they also made a historic landing at Kalayaan.

Posted Image
credit to photo owners

http://www.15thstrikewing.mil.ph/history.htm
Edited by Flipzi, Wed Jul 2, 2014 6:17 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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Fairchild AT-28D

Attack model of the T-28D used for Close Air Support (CAS) missions by the USAF and allied Air Forces in Southeast Asia. It was fitted with six underwing hardpoints and the rocket-powered Stanley Yankee ejection seat; 72 converted by Fairchild Hiller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-28_Trojan
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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