The
concept for an organization dedicated to the Cessna L-19/O-1
Bird Dog originated with Mr. Phil Philips of Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Phil had served as a U.S. Army Aviator in
Vietnam and had flown numerous combat missions in the Bird
Dog. Once back in the States and beginning a career in the
private sector, he thought affectionately about the humble
little warbird from Cessna that had served him so well.
Unfortunately, he was also frustrated. There was very little
printed material about this noteworthy airplane and worse
yet there was not a single flyable example anywhere near his
hometown that would allow him to borrow a few minutes of
"cockpit time" to reacquaint himself with his old mount. He
set about to correct both problems.
Research
indicated that there were a few demilitarized Bird Dogs that
were in the hands of civilian owners. The Civil Air Patrol
also had a few and there was a rumor that those airplanes
might be sold to private individuals at some point. Interest
was slowing picking up in the civilian market where the
Dog's excellent flying characteristic and reasonable
operating cost were beginning to cause some excitement. Phil
found a tired old Bird Dog of his own and began a quality
restoration. Before it was over, he not only had a Bird Dog
to fly, but it was a show-stopper to boot!
Phil
approached the Bird Dog's lack of notoriety with the same
intensity. An organization was formed, the International
Bird Dog Association (IBDA) and in 1984, Phil published the
first issue of The Observer, a newsletter dedicated
exclusively to the Bird Dog enthusiast. It contained a
mixture of war stories, technical tips, and classified
advertisements. Little by little, it caught on. It was
appreciated by Bird Dog pilots and military aviation
students alike and became the focus for a growing number of
fans for this unsung little hero.
After serving the interests of this group for several years,
Phil found that his business career was taking more and more
time. Unfortunately, Phil's responsibilities forced the IBDA
into an early retirement...until now.
The IBDA is back! Through the efforts of Mitch Leland and
the BowWow website, the IBDA is poised once again serve as a
focal point of interest in this wonderful piece of flying
history. Frank Vranicar recognized the value of the work
that Mitch had done in developing a Bird Dog web page. Never
being one to wait for someone else to make things happen,
Frank gathered up a contingent of Bird Dog folks at the
annual Liaison fly-in in Keokuk, Iowa in 1998. All present
agreed that the time had come to resurrect the IBDA. This
informal meeting was followed by phone calls and more
discussion. The result? After considerable encouragement,
Mitch Leland agreed to become president of the new IBDA and
to place his website at the disposal of the Association.
With the 50th Reunion/Anniversary event behind us we feel
strongly about our future. We had 46 Birddogs on the ramp at
KAM and over 250 people at our awards banquet. It was a
great event that we'll all remember.
As a member of the International Bird Dog Association,
you'll be supporting the preservation and enjoyment of the
Bird Dog. You'll have special access to the member resources
found on this website, including hard to find technical and
authenticity information, history, Bird Dog photos, and
more. You'll be able to network with Bird Dog pilots, owners
and enthusiasts, from all over the world.
Joining the IBDA is easy, and the yearly dues are very
reasonable at only $30.
For more information about the IBDA, contact
Suzanne Cobb - Director of
membership. Thank you for your interest in
the IBDA.
