Page 43 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

Even with their superb organization and carefully sighted mortars and artillery, the Special Forces camps relied heavily on what is now called “close air support,” or what they sometimes labeled “calling in the whole world.” It was the job of the Forward Air Controllers to identify the enemy and bring in whatever air assets were needed.
Calamos, the son of Greek immigrants, related his background. “When I was growing up in Chicago,” he said, “I had only flown once or twice. The idea of someday flying jets in formation seemed like a pretty good accomplishment. I went through Air Force ROTC in college, earning my commission in 1963. I went on active duty in 1965 and pilot training in Texas. I had aimed to be a fighter pilot but was assigned to fly B-52s. My wing was stationed at Beale AFB in California on Airborne Alert.”
Calamos was not to have a long career in the big Stratofortress. “I was ordered to go to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller. After going through FAC training in Florida, I arrived in Vietnam in May of 1968, being sent to Da Nang Air Base. It was quite a shock to go from the biggest bomber in the Air Force to the little Cessna O-2A,” he said with a chuckle.
Da Nang Airbase was first occupied by the United States Air Force in 1962 to support MAC-V and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) operations in the region. Originally a base for troop carrier squadrons, by 1965 it had expanded into one of the largest combined air bases in the Far East. Dozens of Air Force, Army and Marine transport, tactical bomber, reconnaissance, attack, and tactical fighter units sprawled all the way to its vast concrete horizons.
Calamos arrived in Vietnam just after the huge Tet Offensive, which meant that he and his fellow pilots of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang would not be bored.
Prior to 1968, most of the tactical air support squadrons had been flying the smaller Cessna O1 “Bird Dog,” whose origins went back to 1947. By the time Calamos arrived at Da Nang, the 20th TASS was flying the more capable Cessna O-2A, a military variant of the 337 Skymaster. Nicknamed the “Oscar Deuce,” the O-2A had twin engines in a pusher- tractor configuration under a high wing between twin tail booms.
With its large slanted windows to provide excellent visibility, the O-2A was perfect for the role, but provided little in the way of protection for the pilot.
But the O-2A’s most valuable ability was its excellent range. At a cruising speed of 120 to 140 knots, the Cessna could fly over a thousand miles. “There were about six of us at Da Nang,” Calamos explained. “We were assigned sectors around Qua Nam, which included the Thuong Duc camp.” This meant that the O-2As could remain over a
Calamos in front of a T-38 Advanced Trainer
battlefield for several hours.
USAF O-2A “Oscar Deuce” Flying near Pleiku, Vietnam 1968
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