Close Air Support In VietnamThis study traces the development of close air support tactics and operations in South Vietnam from 1961 through 1973. The early years (1961-64) witnessed the buildup of Farm Gate operations and introduction of the Tactical Air Control System (Barn Door). Tactics evolved for the 0-1 Bird Dog FAC and for such strike aircraft as the T-28 Trojan, B-26 Invader, and A-lE Skyraider. Ordnance problems were tackled and headway made. During the buildup (1965-68) the 0-2A Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco bolstered forward air control. Strike operations were strengthened by the F-100 Super Sabre, B-57 Canberra, F-4 Phantom, F-5 Freedom Fighter, and A-37 Dragonfly. Gunships (the AC-47 Spooky, AC-130 Spectre, AC-119G Shadow, and AC-119K Stinger) also gave excellent assistance to group troops. Support of Special Forces commenced. Inroads were made on problems of coordination, command, and control of tactical air power. Tactics were further refined to meet the changing needs of close air support. In the final period (1969-73) the OV-10 acted as an armed FAC. The A-7 Corsair II entered the war. In 1973 the pullout of American troops began. Lastly, the study discusses the A-10 close air support aircraft. |
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Contents
CLOSE AIR SUPPORT 19651968 | 47 |
NIGHT CLOSE AIR SUPPORT 19651968 | 89 |
THE FINAL YEARS 19691973 | 113 |
EPILOGUE | 127 |
NOTES | 133 |
CODE NAME DIRECTORY | 163 |
Common terms and phrases
2d ADVON 2d Air Div Air Command Air Control System Air Operations Air-Ground airborne Airpower Evaluation airspeed airstrikes altitude Armed FAC ARVN attack heading Capt close air support combat Comdr Communists Corps DASC Defense dropped enemy EOT Rprt FAC Operations FAC Ops Farm Gate feet flare flareship flew forward air controller ground commander ground fire guns hereinafter cited HQ PACAF immediate air requests intvw Jan-Jun Jul-Dec Kenneth Sams KIAS light MACV miniguns missions napalm Night Ops North Ofc/AF Hist Operations Center Ops in SEA orbit ordnance PACAF Tactics Project CHECO reconnaissance rocket Saigon Seventh Air Force Skyraider South Vietnam Southeast Asia Special Forces Squadron strafing strike aircraft strike crews strike pilots Tactical Air Control Tactics and Techniques target area Techniques Bul TFWg U.S. Air Force U.S. Army USAF Viet Cong Vietnamese VNAF weapons
Bibliographic information
| Title | Close Air Support In Vietnam |
| Author | Ralph A Rowley |
| Publisher | Lulu.com, 2013 |
| ISBN | 1939335124, 9781939335128 |
| Length | 182 pages |
| Subjects | › History / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |