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O-2A on a VR mission over Vinh Loc Island,
Thua Thien Province, 1968 (© Tom Pilsch)
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Visual reconnaissance (VR) was a core mission of the forward air
controller in SEA.
Whether serving as the airborne eyes for the ground
maneuver commander, searching for hidden transportation and supply targets
or gathering routine intelligence information, the basic VR process --
look, identify, report -- became the core around which all other missions
revolved.
A primary responsibility of the Trail FACs in northern I Corps
was to provide
information to local military commanders, district and province security
forces, and the theater intelligence system. This required
hours and hours
over the varied terrain of the AO -- coastal lowlands, rivers and
sea coast, rice paddies,
multiple-canopy mountain forest -- looking for changes in the normal
patterns of activity. These variations could include
indications of new or
heavier foot or vehicular traffic, changes in local activity patterns, or
evidence of new construction, digging or attempts at camouflage.
The biggest
challenge in the information gathering process was separating the
unusual from the routine.
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Click on image at left for a narrative and photos on how a sharp eyed
FAC ruined Charlie's night.
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Close Air Support
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Interdiction
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