Forward Air Control (FAC) And Covert Operations In The Vietnam War Era
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- čas přidán 27. 12. 2023
- Forward air controllers (FACs) played a significant part in the Vietnam War from the very start. Largely relegated to airborne duty by the constraints of jungled terrain, FACs began operations as early as 1962. Using makeshift propeller-driven aircraft and inadequate radio nets, they became so essential to air operations that the overall need for FACs would not be completely satisfied until 1969. The FAC's expertise as an air strike controller also made him an intelligence source, munitions expert, communication specialist, and above all, the on-scene commander of the strike forces and the start of any subsequent combat search and rescue if necessary.
Present as advisors under Farm Gate, FACs grew even more important as American troops poured into Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) would swell its FAC complement to as many as 668 FACs in Vietnam by 1968; there were also FACs from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and allied nations. For the early years of the war, USAF manning levels were at about 70% of need; they finally reached 100% in December 1969. The FACs would be essential participants in close air support in South Vietnam, interdiction efforts against the Ho Chi Minh Trail, supporting a guerrilla war on the Plain of Jars in Laos, and probing home defenses in North Vietnam.
As the war came to center on the Trail in 1969, the FAC role began to be marginalized. Anti-aircraft (AAA) defenses became steadily more aggressive and threatening along the Trail as the bombing of North Vietnam closed down. The communist enemy moved their supply activities to nighttime, quite literally leaving the FACs in the dark. The American response was twofold. They used fixed-wing gunships with electronic sensors to detect communist trucks, and onboard weaponry to destroy them. They also began putting FACs in jet aircraft and in flareships as a counter to the AAA threat. At about the same time, emplaced ground sensors began to complement and overshadow FAC reconnaissance as an intelligence source. FAC guidance of munitions also began to come into play in 1970.
By the time the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the U.S. and its allies had dropped about six times as many tons of bombs as had been dropped in the entirety of World War II. A considerable proportion of this tonnage had been directed by forward air controllers.
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I was a JFO for the ARMY for 12 years. I did some serious damage to the enemy. Worked closely with the Air Force JTACS, TAC-P, to accomplish all missions (Cleared Hot). We are a dangerous breed, and loved by our Battalions. Remember that we just didnt use AF, we used all assets. If I didnt get hurt, I would still be doing it.
Great episode. Thanks for the respect.
- Will
Thanks for the like!
I'm trying to get clearance to put my last Air Strike up on your channel with your permission. It's pretty bad ass. Two GBU-38's.
Let me know what u think about putting it up. Thanks again.
- NOM
Thank you for your service, and that would be great if you get clearance!
Thanks for your service Sir
As a young kid I loved the " Birdog " ; years later an Immaculate Birdog was towing us on our L 13 " Blanik " gliders.
It was flown by General ( R ) Heitmann ...he always insured " his plane " was spit & polished.
Greetings and Respect from Vina del Mar , Chile .
Fantastic video about often forgotten heroes! They're loved by every person in harms way for a reason.
My father was a member of a Forward Air Control unit of the Royal Air Force that landed on Juno Beach on 6th June 1944 in Normandy. Attached to the Canadian Army, he served in the whole of the campaign in North- West Europe until the end of the war in 1945. Considering that his unit was always in the front lines during the campaign, he was extremely lucky to have survived the war.
Bless him
It’s terrible what the indigenous people of Laos suffered under the commies. But either way, this was an excellent and informative program. Thanks so much to all the vets who served there.
Was the Cessna 170 modified into a tandem, better then a Piper Super Cub or several other light aircraft?
This is a video about AIRBORNE FACs. Where are they TODAY?