THE EVOLUTION OF THE AIRBORNE FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER: AN ANALYSIS OF MOSQUITO OPERATIONS IN KOREA,
Abstract
An assessment of the role of the airborne forward air controller (FAC) in the Korean conflict--organization, tactics, equipment, and operational procedures. The function for which the airborne FAC was initially conceived was strike control. To this was soon added the responsibility for performing visual reconnaissance over the entire front line and for calling for strike aircraft for immediate close air support. With these three functions--strike control, visual reconnaissance, and strike aircraft procurement--the airborne FAC became the focal point of the TACS. The organization, tactics, and operational procedures developed 'under fire and in crisis' in Korea failed to survive after the war. The stature of the airborne FAC in Air Force doctrine and attitudes did not change from 1946 until 1966, when the operation had to be 'reinvented' in Vietnam. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0660523
Entities
People
- James T. Farmer
- M. J. Strumwasser
Organizations
- RAND Corporation