Page 44 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

“Cleared In Hot!” (Cont’d.)
The Night a FAC was Awarded the DFC By Mark Carlson
The Forward Air Controllers of the United States Air Force, along with those of the Army, Marines and Navy, have become one of the great unsung stories of the Vietnam War. FACs, which had their origins as far back as the First World War, had been operating in Vietnam since 1962. By 1968 more than six hundred USAF FACs were conducting vital air support roles far beyond their original mandate. FAC pilots, almost always alone, performed varied duties such as collecting intelligence on NVA movements, weapons and strength, acting as a communications link between ground and air units, and most satisfyingly, coordinating combat
search and rescue operations. But their primary role evolved into a specialized link between friendly ground units and the “fast movers,” the tactical air fighters from the air bases. If a Special Forces, Marine or Army unit needed help from air assets, it was the Forward Air Controller who climbed into his little Cessna O-2A Skymaster and headed into “Indian Country.”
As he drew closer, the pilot established radio communication with the ground unit to learn where the enemy was and more importantly, where the friendlies were. Keen eyes, a steady hand on the controls and a quick mind were essential to assessing an evolving situation. The FAC had no real weapons, other than his sidearm, but his most important tools were his radios and a load of ten white phosphorus rockets. The three radios, which were set to communicate with the air base, strike aircraft and ground forces, could only be used one at a time. It took fast reactions to flip from one radio to another while calling in air strikes and keeping both the air base and ground units informed.
A FAC had the authority to request air strikes on enemy positions, and in the case of ground units in danger of being overrun by NVA attack, even diverting air assets involved in other operations. They were on call at any time and place.
Needless to say, the FACs in their small and unarmored O-2As were eager to avoid capture. “We tried to stay clear of ground fire,” Calamos admitted, “remaining above fifteen hundred feet and not flying straight and level for too long. There was often a lot of ground fire, even small arms stuff. When we fired the rockets, we had to descend to make sure we hit our target, but right after that it was back to fifteen hundred feet again.”
With its slow cruising speed, the O-2A could “loiter” over and around a localized ground battle. This ability was the key to staying abreast of what was happening on the ground. The McDonnell F-4 Phantoms and North American F-100 Super Sabres moved far too fast for accurate bombing when there was less than a few hundred yards between enemy and friendly forces. Pinpoint precision was paramount in protecting American and Allied lives. “The FACs orbited the area, controlling the air strikes by firing white phosphorus rockets to mark the target. We knew where the friendly and enemy ground units were. That’s what the
rockets were for. The jet fighters could not
drop unless we told them that they were
‘cleared in hot.’ We told them from what
direction to approach and what the target
was.”
The FAC orbited within sight of the target while the jets moved in and dropped their ordnance. One at a time the bombs went off, obliterating the FAC’s view of the impact zone, but when the smoke cleared, he had the decision of calling for another bomb run. Considering the NVA’s reputation for tenacity, it often took many bomb runs to finish the job.
Defensive Mortar Position at Thuong Duc
44 / DFCS News Magazine / SUMMER 2020