www.fac-assoc.org
472 Parish Blvd, Mary Esther, FL 32569
www.fac-assoc.org
472 Parish Blvd, Mary Esther, FL 32569
ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP: Interim Officers
and Committee Chairmen are:
| President: | Randy Hetherington | baiglobal@aol.com | 305-852-87091 | Tavernier, FL |
| Vice Pres: | Jon Wroblewski | wrobonet@netscape.net | 719-481-9307 | Monument, CO |
| Secretary: | Ned Helm | ned@wingset.com | 802-477-9922 | Woodstock, VT |
| Treasurer: | George Ferkes | beachflyr@aol.com | 850-581-4953 | Mary Esther, FL |
| FAC Search: | Jon Alexaitis | calexaitis@dellepro.com | 817-581-8381 | Bedford, TX |
| Website: | Zot Barazzotto | zot@erinet.com | 973-429-2119 | Xenia, OH |
| Mission: | Jay Barnes | barnesjay@juno.com | 973-325-6208 | West Orange, NJ |
| Publicity: | Bob Boswell | aerix@email.msn.com | 321-639-7335 | Rockledge, FL |
| Database: | Jimmy Carter | jimmywho@aol.com | 912-922-0073 | Warner Robbins, GA |
| FAC Memorial: | Don Echelberger | echelberg@aol.com | 850-664-5444 | Mary Esther, FL |
| FACNET: | Skip Smothermon | skipsm@ earthlink.net | 405- 528-5496 | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 2002 Reunion: | Hen Min Hiu | henhouse@innercite.com | 530-677-9242 | Cameron Park, CA |
| Charter/By-Laws: | Charlie Jones | btrflyfac@aol.com | 850-936-9688 | Navarre, FL |
| Newletter: | Claude Newland | cnewland@gnt.net | 850-654-2955 | Destin, FL |
| Book Project: | Charlie Pocock | charmarpock@aol.com | 719-488-9056 | Monument, CO |
| Corporate Sponsors: | Byron Sutton | wtcor@gdi.net | 407-876-6209 | Windermere, FL |
| FAC Historian: | Darrel Whitcomb | nail25@aol.com | 703-359-7824 | Fairfax, VA |
If you’d like to help in any of these areas or have a particular skill that might be helpful, please contact the appropriate officer or Committee Chairman. Volunteers are specifically needed to assist with the FAC Database and the Newsletter.
FAC REUNION 2002 DATES ANNOUNCED:…The Forward Air Controllers’ Association Second All-FAC Reunions’ will be 10-14 April, 2002 in Honolulu, Hiwaii. It’s a HAWAIIAN R&R you don’t want to miss. Start making plans now to attend. American, Australian and New Zealand Forward Air Controllers and all Southeast Asia FACs, FAC Association and family members, and supporters are cordially invited to attend.
A committee of FACs residing in Hawaii have scheduled a fun-filled weekend in one of the most nostalgic settings imaginable—a place many of us have wanted to revisit.
The host hotel, the RENAISSANCE ILIKAI HOTEL, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, II 96815, is in sight of Ft. DeRussy-- where wives waited as GIs were brought in by busses for the R&R week they would remember for a lifetime. The Ilikai is being extensively and expensively remodeled this year. The new rooms look fabulous. They are doing a multimillion dollar upgrade of the property to compete with the Hilton. The renovations will be completed in Jan 02. We will be one of the first groups to meet there. Get ready to rendezvous in Hawaii !!
Through the services of EEM Tours, we have secured the best possible rates for a group of our size. We have reserved 350 rooms at nearly half the "rack rates" charged to everyday tourists. In addition, the Ilikai has extended the rate to contiguous days before and after the reunion dates for those of you who want to arrive early or stay on. Contact EEM for details on the rates. The first 10% of people with military ID cards (active or retired) will get an additional discount! Special room rates are guaranteed only until 5 January, 2002.
REGISTRATION FEE: The Reunion Registration Fee is $35.00
for FACs and $25.00 for spouse /each guest. (See Registration Worksheet
enclosed.) This fee covers costs for: Welcome Reception, Name Tags, FAC
Hootch, Meeting Rooms, Transportation to the FAC Memorial Service (Punch
Bowl), and misc. reunion expenses. Everyone attending should register.
REGISTRATION METHODS: All Reunion Registration will be handled by EEM Tours. Make all checks payable to "EEM Tours" and designated for FAC Reunion 2002. There are four methods to register:
If you have any questions, Call EEM Custom Tours at 1-888-TOURS12 (1-888-868-7712) .
ALTERNATE HOTELS: The nearby military HALE KOA HOTEL, 2055 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815-1998, (Fort DeRussy) can be used by active duty, retired military, Reserve and National Guard, DoD civilians, and all foreign military with orders assigned to a U.S. military installation. For information and reservations on-line, go to web site: www.halekoa.com. or call 1-800-367-6027. Reservations are being accepted now on a first-come, first-served basis!
The WAIKIKI TERRACE HOTEL will be the overflow hotel. It’s within short walking distance of the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel. EEM Tours can assist with reservations.
AIRLINE TICKETS, RENTAL CARS, TOURS TO OUTER ISLANDS, AIRPORT TRANSFERS: EEM Tours can assist you to get discounted rates for these requirements; however, firm airline fares will not be available till October 2001 (6 months prior.)
BANQUET SPEAKER: General William J. Begert, Cmdr, PACAF, has accepted our invitation to speak at the FR2002 banquet.
General Bergert is a graduate of the USAFA class of ’68 and a Vietnam
0-2A FAC veteran with more than 300 combat missions.
HAWAII FAC MEMORIAL DEDICATION CEREMONY: (From Bill Ernst, bternst@hawaii.rr.com) A committee of FACs residing in Hawaii have designed and are now in the process of acquiring a monument consisting of a granite base and a bronze plaque commemorating the accomplishments of all FACs, especially those who were Killed in Action. The monument will be installed in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, within "Punchbowl Crater", Honolulu, Hawaii, and will be dedicated during the reunion with an appropriate ceremony, band, color guard, honors and missing man formation This is a significant location for a marker of this type, because the Punchbowl is second only to the Arlington National Cemetery as a final resting place for our nation’s veterans. It will be a place you’ll want to visit on future R&Rs to the Islands. It’s an impressive shrine to all wars fought within the Pacific rim.
HELP NEEDED FOR MEMORIAL FUNDING: YOUR DONATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS WORTHY CAUSE. Funding for the FAC memorial is from private funds--contributions from FACs, friends and supporters. The cost is approximately $6,000. The monument has been designed and has already been ordered so that it will arrive in time for the April 2002 FAC reunion. Your assistance is need. Please help support our FAC memorial efforts, and mail your contribution to: "Hawaii FAC Association", PO BOX 894213, Mililani, Hawaii 96789. Make your check or money order payable to: "Hawaii FAC Association" and enclose your name and address. Time is critical. The Hawaii FACs have agreed to guaranteed the cost of the Memorial until they can be reimbursed through your contributions.
On behalf of all FACs and our fallen comrades, we thank you for your support! (Hawaii FAC Memorial Committee)
REUNION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. WILL YOU HELP? Once you arrive in Hawaii, on site volunteers are needed to augment the various reunion committees which are being chaired by the host Hawiian FACs. Volunteers should contact Hen Min Hiu at henhouse@innercite.com, 530-677-9242 or 2990 Boeing Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682.
Hen Min will connect you to the appropriate committee chairpersons as follows: Registration: Mike Cavanaugh and Toby Rushforth. Budget: Hen Min Hiu. Hootch: Buck Welch. Meal Planning/Food Advisor: David Greenlee. Publicity: Vacant. Memorial/Special Events: Bill Ernst. Entertainment: Arlene Hiu. Banquet: Hen Min Hiu and David Greenlee. Golf/Polo Shirts: Buck Welch.
This is a great way to get involved in the reunion, make new friends, and contribute to the success of this great FAC gathering! If you have no particular committee in mind, but just want to help, please contact Hen Min. THANKS!!!
FAC ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP/TREASURER’S REPORT
(From George Ferkes, beachflyr@aol.com):
As of June 2001, the FAC Association
has 464 paid up members which includes FAC's, MX, RO's, and support personnel
that served in SEA FAC outfits, at least one Misty FAC, Widows of KIA FAC's,
Children of KIA FAC's, Authors of FAC books, Active Duty personnel, a fair
number of General Officers (some still on active duty to include CINCSPACE),
a number of Australian FAC's, Father of a FAC............POP Pierson at
101 years old ........or is it 102 now?, US Army retired, and some other
categories that I am sure I missed.
There are no outstanding bills leaving the FAC Association with a current balance of $12,985.04.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE FAC ASSOCIATION: 464 members is a great beginning for the fledgling FAC Association! The Association’s objectives are to preserve FAC history and to promote FAC comraderie. Membership is open to all who wish to support these objectives. Initial membership is only $20.00. The question of Lifetime Memberships will be addressed by the Association’s officers at the upcoming FAC 2002 reunion.
Don’t delay. If you’d like to become a Charter member, fill out the Membership Form included with this newsletter and get it in the mail today!!
BONUS: As a Charter member you’ll receive a copy of the 80 page FAC Trivia Book that was compiled for the 2000 FAC Reunion. This is a great piece of FAC History and Lore—a ‘must have’ for your personal library. Note: The FAC Trivia Booklet will be mailed to all Charter members in November 2002.
NAME ADDED TO HURLBURT FAC MEMORIAL: (From Don Echelberger, echelberg@aol.com.) On Monday, 26 March 2001, Mr Ron Clamp of Memorial Design, Elberton GA, arrived at Hurlburt Field to add the 220th name to the Hurlburt Field FAC Memorial. While members of the FAC Memorial Committee looked on, a mobile high-pressure sandblasting rig was used to etch the name of Capt Harold R. Vogel onto the granite slab with the 1968 group. The process took little over an hour, and the results are excellent. The work will be paid for from Memorial donations available for continuing maintenance of the site. If you knew Capt Harold 'Bud' Vogel, or can confirm his FAC Call Sign, please contact Don Echelberger at www.Echelberg@aol.com. or call 850-664-5444.
Don also has 19 brass nameplates that were removed from the original Raven/FAC monument that was replaced by our FAC Memorial. If you have information/addresses on family/relatives/friends of any on the following, please contact Don:
. 1/Lt Richard T. Gray (Nail), Capt Douglas M. Seeley (Hammer), 1/Lt George B. Menges (Nail), Capt Thomas W. Wolfe (Nail), Capt Warren P. Smith (Nail) Maj Owen G. Skinner (Nail), Capt William S. Sanders (Nail), 1/Lt Alva R. Krogman (Nail), Capt Lucius L. Heiskell (Nail), Lt Robert F. Rex (Nail), Capt Donald A. Luna (Nail), 1/Lt Thomas A. Duckett (Nail), Maj Richard G. Swift (Nail), Capt Joseph O. Brown (Nail), 1/Lt Daniel W. Thomas (Nail), 1/Lt Mark A. Peterson (Nail), Capt George W. Morris (Nail), 1/Lt Phillip L. Mascari (Nail), Maj Harold B. Lineberger (Spike)
CAPT. HILLIARD A. WILBANKS TO BE HONORED BY HIS HOMETOWN. FACs INVITED TO ATTEND: (From Jonathon Myer, j-bmyer-alexva@erols.com) Those who attended last September's "Mother of All FAC Reunions" and/or have followed reports to the FACNET know that Capt. Hilliard A. Wilbanks, KIA 24 Feb 67, was:
a. One of our two MOH FACs especially honored at the dedication of our Memorial at Hurlburt; and
b. Inducted into Georgia's Aviation Hall of Fame on 21 April 2001.
Now his hometown, Cornelia, GA (18 miles from scenic Helen, GA) will be dedicating a memorial to him on 29 July, a Sunday afternoon. Per sister Pat Wilbanks:
". . . The marker will be carved of black granite with an etching of Hilliard's picture as well as the Medal of Honor. On the reverse side will be the entire citation. The landscape architect's drawings were wonderful---I think everyone will be pleased. The place for the memorial is at the Community House just 250 yards from the house Hilliard was born in and in which Mother and Daddy lived all their married life. . . . There will be no specific invitations for the general public or any fees involved. If anyone should be interested in contributing to the memorial itself, please make check payable to ‘Hilliard A. Wilbanks Memorial Fund’. The address is: Community Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 1900, Cornelia, GA 30531
". . . There will be a reception after the ceremony with a display of his memorabilia. They are planning to show the AF video
(Family Version) that I have of the eyewitness accounts during the reception."
In addition, FAC Jonathan Myers has been asked to do "'Willie' Wilbanks' One-Man War" (a ballad about Wilbank’s final mission) and fellow-FAC Jimmy Carter is looking to arrange an Honor Guard and possible O-1 flyover for the ceremony. Anybody within range of North Georgia couldn't do better than to take part in honors rendered to one of our own -- theirs before he became ours and the nation's. All are welcome and the ceremony is free. Hope a few of you can make it. Community and national recognition of its true heroes is also part of our FAC Story. If you’d like to attend or need more info, contact Jimmy Carter @ jimmywho@aol.com or Jonathan Myer, @, j-bmyer-alexva@erols.com. Jimmy Carter has reserved some rooms in Helens, GA for those who’d like to attend.
FIRST FAC POSTAL STAMP ISSUED: (From Jim Gordon, Covey Intell, 1968, coveyintel@worldnet.att.net.) On 17 May the US Postal Service issued a 34-cent stamp commemorating the 20th TASS Covey FACs. One-upping all other squadrons and bearers of FAC callsigns. The Covey’s managed to convince the posties that the Coveys had shared the USPS motto, that "Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail, nor dark of night will stay these faithful couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" and that the Covey slogan was posted at bars all over the world. The postal service agreed that the stamp, like the Coveys, would be for first-class service, and promised to invent a new class of service for future FAC stamps, reflecting the reputation of other FAC units, which would be Numbah 10, G.I.
Unfortunately, the artist took a few liberties with the Covey patch design, although the stamp DOES present the subject, colors and motif of the original patch. See the stamp design at http://shop.usps.com/images/01_peanuts34_d.jpg.
For comparison purposes the Covey patch may be seen here.
OV-10 BRONCO FEST III ANNOUNCED: The 3rd Annual
Bronco Fest Convention will be sponsored by the OV-10 Bronco Association
(OBA) in Fort Worth, Texas at the Clarion Hotel (located in the Sundance
Square tourist area) 19 - 21 October, 2001. This event is open to all who
are interested in preserving and perpetuating the history of the OV-10
Bronco to include those who designed, built, flew, and maintained the aircraft
from its inception to the present. Events will included: Armed forces Day
tours and activities at NAS Fort Worth, a Flight Suit party, visit to the
Vintage Flying Museum, Blue Angel Aerial Demonstration performance, OV-10
static displays, banquet and farewell breakfast. . Additional information
on Bronco Fest can be found at the OBA website at www.OV-10Bronco.net or
by contacting Bronco Fest Project Managers
Jim "Boomer" Bloomberg
Ron "Sands" Fix
FAC COCKPIT AUDIO TAPES SOUGHT: Joe Copalman of the OV-10
Bronco Association is collecting FAC cockpit audio tapes of actual FAC
combat missions/strikes. Your cockpit tapes are valuable historical documents
and deserve preservation If you have recordings of FAC missions that you
can duplicate onto cassette and send to him, he would be very appreciative.
Contact Joe Copalman or send your tapes to
Joe Copalman: Researcher,OV-10 Bronco Association
2542 E. North Ln.
Phoenix, AZ 85028
SHORT BURSTS:
FAC History Book Project
From: Charlie Pocock, Charmarpock@aol.com
and
Jack Webb, Spider@compuserve.com
 |
| FAC History Book Photo Submitted by: TIM EBY (20th TASS) |
TO ONE AND ALL. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our initial request for stories and pictures for the FAC History Book have not met with great success. The few stories that have been submitted are very good and range from the heroic to the humorous. Although they are superb in their content, their numbers are insufficient to meet the needs of a book to relate the FAC legacy.
The most common comment that we hear is, "My story is not important." No, folks, your story is important. It is the FAC story. All of the experiences of all of us relate in some way, shape or form the essence of the overall FAC experience.
A lot of time has passed since these experiences occurred and time has not been kind to some of our memories. As we discuss this, time is still passing and will continue to do so. Some of our compatriots have already gone off to that big landing strip in the sky, taking with them memories that should have been shared with those who possess an interest.
Many of our children, and now in many cases grandchildren,have a real interest in what we did way back then. Although one aspect of that time was acts of heroism, there were other acts involved as well. Acts of compassion, of kindness, acts with a humorous bent, times of sorrow, loneliness and the ever-popular time of fear. These experiences all comprise the entire FAC legacy. Yes, Virginia, your story is important!
Those of us who are stricken with CRS can rest assured that the date/time factor is not of prime import. The humanity-or lack thereof in the story is. Please, dig out that old shoebox of memories and pictures and share them with us so that we can also share ours with you.
HERE’S OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU: Sit down today and write out the details of your most memorable mission(s) or day(s) as a SEA FAC. You’ve been wanting to record these events for some time, and now’s the time!! Please send your stories to the appropriate POC (point of contact) listed below. Our objective is to have a first ‘draft’ of the FAC Book available at the April 2002 FAC Reunion. Some of us enjoy access to the Internet, while the vast majority do not. That is why this newsletter is so important. It is the only contact that many of us have. So please use it. If you are confused about your POC (or any other matter), please contact one of the Book Committee Coordinators:
Jack Webb
420 Jones Ave.
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
(920) 563-7249
Charles Pocock
910 Forest View Road
Monument CO
(719)-488-9056.
SECTION 2: The Early FACs, 1961-1963
(prior to the 19th TASS), including early Air Commandos and
Butterflies
Scott Freeman, 7812 Hilo Court, Diamondhead MS 39525, freeman.james1@worldnet.att.net
And Early Ravens, Craig Duehring, cwdueh@kreative.net
SECTION 3: 19TH TASS: Mike Morea, 3858 Timber Ridge Court, Palm Harbor, FL 34685, moreas@ij.net and Noel Wilson, 1119 Oriole Dr., Starrville MS 39759, sewilson@futuresouth.com
SECTION 4: 20TH TASS: Bud Jones, 65 E. River Rd. #20, Rumson NJ 07760, covey583@yahoo.com and Tim Eby, Rt. 22 Box 8BB, Hico TX 76457, teby@htcomp.net
SECTION 5: 21ST TASS: Byron K. Sutton, 505 W. 2nd, Windermere, FL 34786, Bsutton310@aol.com
SECTION 6: 22ND TASS: We need a volunteer for this section, but in the meantime send submittals to Jack Webb, 420 Jones Ave, Ft. Atkinson WI 53538, spider@compufort.com
SECTION 7: 23RD TASS: Ron Russell, 9811, Summerday Dr., Burke, VA 22015, ronrus@gateway.net
SECTION 8: Our Gone But Not Forgotten Brothers: Jim Roper, 4646 Kashmire Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, jroper3531@aol.com
SECTION 9: Our Legacy to Others: Bobby Mack, 637 Emerald Lane, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547, bobby.mack@baesystems.com
SECTION 10: Prop Wash—Appendices; Glossary; slang and jargon; call signs; trivia; songs; poems; jokes; sayings; index; etc. Chuck Johnson, 225 Brian Circle, Mary Esther FL 32569, chuck.johnson@baesystems.com and Larry Hughes, 11712 Admiralty Way #G, Everett, WA 98204, larryh@w-link.net
IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, VISIT THE HISTORY BOOK PAGES ON THE FAC ASSOCIATION WEBSITE FOR STORIES OF THE MONTH AND SOME INTERESTING HISTORY BOOK LINKS: http://www.fac-assoc.org/
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Please attach this form or information with your History
Book submittals:
Last Name: ______________________________First Name: _______________________________MI:________
Nickname:_________________
FAC Call Sign(s):________________Aircraft Type(s) ______________________Dates
Flown: _________________________________________
TASS(s)______________________________FAC Location(s)____________________________________________________________________
Home Address:___________________________________________
City: ____________________________State: __________Zip: __________
Phone: (________)____________________________ E-mail Address:
_____________________________________________________________
Story Title and Approximate Date:__________________________________________________________________
( Each story should have an Author’s title)
I grant my permission for my story and/or pictures to
be used in the FAC History Book:
Signature:______________________________________________________Date:______________________________
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Jonsey's Ride, or, Life in the Back Seat
_____By Joe Sowa, Jade-03, 19th TASS, 1967-68
Our TACP regularly flew volunteers from our mechanics as well as our radiomen in the back seat on VR and planned strike missions. Few requested additional rides after their first experience. My most memorable ride was with one of our young mechanics, Airman First Class Jones.
I saw some motion on the ground after the first bombs hit and suspected we might be getting some ground fire. As you might guess, I didn't fly a straight line for the rest of the air strike, hosing off rockets at every conceivable angle to keep the F-4 Phantoms (in this case, with 8 bombs each) on target. At some time during the fur ball flight, I looked back to see how young Jonsey was doing, whereupon, I reached back with my right arm and latched onto his belt to keep him from falling out the window. He was lodged out the window up to his waist and leaving a puke trail that may have confused both the fighter jocks and the Charlies. Thankfully, the power handle needed no attention as it was set at full power, so I flew left handed for a while until I could get Jones back in his seat and strapped in again, even as I maneuvered. It was then that I realized what "little green aliens" looked like. I had one in the back seat. Afterwards, with Jonesy back to his normal pinkness, I let him use the hoe handle in the back seat to "fly" the airplane and he started feeling much better.
The air strike resulted in a busted trench-line, opened bunkers, burning hootches and several KBA scattered about. When we taxied in after the air strike, Jones was back to his cheerful self, feeling like he had taken part in a significant battle, and damn proud. He was telling his boss, Technical Sergeant Mark Schore, all about it before he even got un-strapped, continuing the tale as he deplaned. Of course Mark had been listening on the radio so he knew of the report and was considerate of Jonesy's excitement. But he couldn't keep from looking over Jones' right shoulder as he listened to the story. Jones finally caught on and looked himself to see at what Mark was fascinated by. You guessed it, the right side of the fuselage, vertical stabilizer and elevator were a Picasso of the Italian lunch he had stuffed himself with earlier.
They quickly adjourned to the Line shack and Jones emerged shortly with a pail, rags and water to erase all signs that he may not have seen the whole battle. Mark never said a word about it, neither did I. The radioman in the shack never saw the mess, as he was busy with the next air strike.
With him telling the enthralling eyewitness account, we treated Jonesy to a restaurant dinner with the whole group, in honor of his participation in the great battle. Mark Schore and I knew the whole truth, but we weren't talking. Till now.
Great ‘Hun’ Pilots
_____By Gary Dikkers, Mike-57, 21st TASS, MACV-SOG,
1970
I always had great respect for the 'Hun' (F-100) pilots I controlled, especially during TIC (Troops-In-Contact) missions.
One of the strangest strikes I ever worked was with two F-100s for a SOG (Special Operations Group) RT (Recon Team) in northern Cambodia. The weather was such that the flight lead could have refused to work, but he did what I asked them to do and our helicopters got the team out.
It was a day with about an 800' overcast. The visibility underneath was excellent, but it was a hard ceiling with no holes.
The team I was covering was in an east-west running valley with the peaks on either side up into the clouds. I was orbiting above the deck when the team called and said they had made contact and were starting to run, and that they needed air support. I called II DASC at Pleiku and then dropped down below the deck to find the team.
When my fighters checked in it was a two-ship flight of F-100s from Tuy Hoa. They pressed to the rendezvous point and told me all they saw was clouds and that they didn't have a tally on me. I then told them I was beneath the deck and explained the situation. I told them I really needed them to drop their bombs between the SOG RT and their NVA pursuers.
I explained that the team was in an east-west oriented valley, and told them if they would go to a certain TACAN cut (radial and distance) off of Pleiku TACAN over flat terrain to the west, they could then descend below the clouds and then come in low-level from that direction. I told them I could mark when they were inbound, and asked if they could drop from level flight at low-altitude. I added that as soon as they dropped, they could pull vertical and pop back up through the clouds.
The flight leader didn't sound real enthusiastic about my plan, but he agreed to try it.
They went out to the TACAN cut I had given them and descended below the clouds and headed east. They picked up the valley we were in and called inbound. The visibility was good enough that I could pick them up about six-nautical miles out.
They went through dry on the first pass and then pulled up into the clouds and went back to the TACAN cut they had used to penetrate the deck. Each aircraft then made two hot passes for me. They broke through the deck, headed east up the valley, and as each 'Hun' was about four miles out I would throw down a rocket and tell them to hit my smoke. Their bombs were surprisingly good for a delivery, which I doubt they had ever practiced before. After each pass they would do a straight pull back up through the clouds, get on top, and go back west to descend and run in again.
I could never get any BDA for the mission, but the SOG RT was able to break contact with the NVA following them and we pulled out the team later that afternoon.
Whoever the pilots were, the SOG RT on the ground really appreciated their efforts.
Looking back on that mission, I'm sorry we didn't have better telephone lines so we could have taken the time to find out who they were and write them a letter thanking them for the mission. Each pilot should have gotten a DFC for that mission alone.
Some Folks Couldn’t Leave It Alone
_____Charles Pocock, Viper-7, 19th TASS, 1966-67
Joe Potter probably holds the record of flying all three FAC airplanes on three different tours. Joe was a Sidewinder FAC assigned to the 1st US Infantry Division in 1967. In 1968 he returned to Vietnam as part of the Combat Evaluation Team for the new OV-10. In 1972 Joe was assigned to the 22nd TASS at Wheeler AAF in Hawaii flying O-2s. Early in 1972 North Vietnam launched an offensive across the DMZ and the Joe was part of the Hawaii-Five-Oh group that reinforced the 20 TASS.
In January 1968 the Navy lost the intelligence ship Pueblo to the North Koreans. Fearing the worst, Air Force planners directed MPC to identify 100 FACs who had been home from Vietnam for a year or less, and were considered still current, and send them to Korea for 179 days TDY. With less than 24 hours notice these 100 FACs arrived at Osan AB, Korea and were assigned to US Army and Republic of Korea Army units as ground FACs.
Gene McCutchan was among the first ten PCS FACs to go to Vietnam in 1962. He worked with the ARVN Airborne Division as a Red Marker ALO/FAC and after a year his tour was extended. A year after he returned to the US he was sent back to Vietnam as an ALO/FAC in II Corps; and then returned to the ARVN Airborne Division. Again his tour was extended and when he came home in 1967 he had served more than three years in Vietnam.
FAC Association Charter Membership Form
Yes, I would like to support the goals of the newly formed FAC Association to promote FAC Camaraderie and future FAC reunions.
________Enclosed is my check for $20.00 to make me a Charter member of the FAC Association.
Please make check payable to "FAC Association" & mail to: George Ferkes, 472 Parish Blvd, Mary Esther,FL 32569
Last Name:_____________________________ First____________________ M.I. _____ Spouse’s name:________________
Mailing Address:________________________________________ City: ___________________ State:____ ZIP:__________
Telephone: (_____) ___________________ E Mail Address:____________________________________
FAC Call Sign(s): _______________________________ FAC Aircraft: ___________________ TASS: ____________________
FAC Tour Dates:_____________________ Locations: _________________________________________________________
I plan to attend to FAC reunion in Hawaii 10-14 April 2002 Yes_______ No _______
I’m willing to work on the following FAC committee: _____________________________________________________
