Comments on: Unsung Heroes of the Vietnam War – The Bird Dogs https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/ Intelligent Thrillers Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:55:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: My Office in Vietnam - R. Lawson Author https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-22757 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:55:26 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-22757 […] those unfamiliar with what CAS missions entail please read my blog post about them. This blog explains how forward air control (FAC) coordinated combat missions before “smart […]

]]> By: Chuck Miller https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-10342 Wed, 14 Aug 2024 08:15:09 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-10342 In reply to Snoopy 4.

I flew O-1G out of Ban Me Thout and Cheo Rio with the 185th and the 219th after the 185th was disbanded.

]]> By: Gene Z https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-9751 Sat, 03 Feb 2024 22:58:16 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-9751 In reply to Ken Kunz.

I flew back seat with you on numerous occasions

]]> By: Ken Kunz https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-9314 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:32:28 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-9314 In 1968 and 69 I was an Army O-1G pilot flying out of Marble Mountain Airfield. Our unit (1st Plt. 21st RAC) flew several missions each day in support of the 1sr MAR DIV aerial observers. Once we were checked out by one of their people we were put on orders as TACA’s (tactical air controller airborne). Marine equivalent of the Air Force FAC.
I conducted many air strikes but never one that went like your narrative. Most of the time we made corrections for each pass of the tactical aircraft. Each was cleared “Hot” on final approach to the target.

]]> By: John Gobel https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-9291 Sat, 03 Jun 2023 19:55:51 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-9291 Flew Army O-1s from 1969 through 1970. Besides some FAC missions, we had many other missions too – some quite a bit more hairy. We did BDAs (Bomb Damage Assessments) after the B51s did their thing; we did a lot of night mortar watches; dawn clearing missions in your assigned sector (blow up or call gunships over where the bad guys built stuff overnight); general recon missions at 1,500 feet which often ended up at 100 feet to get a closer look; take higher level commanders to monitor and guide troops in their outposts that was being attacked (usually at night), and so on. Enjoyed the hell out of it.

]]> By: Snoopy 4 https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-9135 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 19:58:57 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-9135 I flew Army O-1G in Vietnam in 1970 and the Airforce would not let FAC’s fly below 1500 feet AGL so they called us to find and mark targets for them.

]]> By: Jonathan Swayze https://rlawsonauthor.com/unsung-heroes-of-the-vietnam-war-the-bird-dogs/#comment-9061 Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:48:23 +0000 http://rlawsonauthor.com/?p=697#comment-9061 On a bright sunny day in September of 1951, Jack E. Swayze was proclaimed the winner of the Cessna L-19 naming contest. His winning entry was emblazoned on the nose of the L-19 that shared the podium with Jack, General Mark Clark, Duane Wallace and a host of other dignitaries that came together to celebrate the naming of the BIRDDOG.
Naming The Birddog – International Birddog Association
cessnabirddog.org/2017/08/naming-the-birddog/

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