How Bout Some Forward Air Controllers

[Robbie Stuart]

USAF PHOTO

Korea March, 1953.

[lestweforget]

Does anyone else think it would make an interesting thread to post pics/details of FACs and their aircraft? It's a very interesting subject. Could have WW2 spotters, Korea, Vietnam. Just a thought!

[Holedigger]

Sounds like fun, this pic is Post Nam, so I don't know what category you would put it in, Port Arthur TX airshow, 1978

[lestweforget]

Very nice. Always liked the Bronco, one of the very first model kits I ever made! Any still serve in the US military?

[Warbirdnerd]

My Dad flew OV-10s in Vietnam with VMO-2 Callsign Hostage Lady, I've got some of his pictures I'll post when I get a chance, can't upload to Photobucket at work anymore...
The US military does not operate the OV-10 any longer, but there has been discussion about bringing an updated version back to help with the current conflicts in East Asia...
Air & Space Magazine will be doing another article on the OV-10 early next year, I sent them some of my Dad's pics and they interviewed him a couple of weeks ago...

I'm still surprised by the number of my 'airplane friends' that have no idea what the OV-10 was...

[Robbie Stuart]

USAF PHOTO
Description; "Cessna 02-A Bird Dog of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron" - Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam 1968/69
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[tom d. friedman]

Does anyone else think it would make an interesting thread to post pics/details of FACs and their aircraft? It's a very interesting subject. Could have WW2 spotters, Korea, Vietnam. Just a thought!

absolutely!! a topic that knows no bounds from ww 1 to current!! bring it on!! a refreshing topic!!

[mtpopejoy]

I sent this topic thread to my co-worker who was with the 21st TASS in Camron Bay (I don't know if I spelled that right).
He got a kick out of it. He said those things used to come back looking like swiss cheese. Took a lickin' but got their pilot back safe.
Regards,
Mark

[TAdan]

Robbie, anymore shots of Korean War AT-6 "Mosquito's"?

[Robbie Stuart]

Thats all I have ot the T-6's. Sorry.
Robbie

[TAdan]

Thats all I have of the T-6's. Sorry.
Robbie

That's OK. I was just curious as I saw a pic earlier today of one with "557" as the buzz number.

[DocThrock]

One of my hangar neighbors and flying buddies is/was NAIL 32. He was in on a portion of the famed BAT 21 rescue. He had actual recordings of the radio transmissions as he was flying to be on station. Regrettably, he was only able to salvage one tape of all his missions.

We had "hangar movie night" and invited John to speak. We watched the Hollywood movie and the history channel documentary and read along with transcripts as he played the recording. He would stop action and make comments on the actual facts and "theatrical license". It was fascinating. And scary. I couldn't help but be amazed and in awe of what he and his cohorts did in the air, above, and IN, what was happening on the ground. And so many operations with so many different branches and services. He said he commonly worked about 7 radios and frequencies simultaneously. It was interesting that he used a grease pencil and wrote clearances, operational data, etc. directly on the windows of his Bronco. Finally operations got so busy that he started recording transmissions so it was easier for debrief and reports.

Amazing that he lived to tell his part of the story.

Wish there was a Bronco on the airshow circuit. I know a guy who'd be available for the front seat!

[Warbirdnerd]

These are from my dad, taken in DaNang 1969-70.

[oscardeuce]

Phan Thiet 1970 from Col. Chuck Hines

[wardie]

AT-6 Mosquito landing at Temora, NSW, Australia



Wardie