Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Control of Air Strikes in SEA 1961-1966
Abstract
Command and control of air assets in Southeast Asia (SEA) has been a subject of concern within the mainstream of USAF doctrinal deliberation for quite some time, especially since the United States became directly involved in the war in Vietnam. Concurrently, a great deal of time and effort has gone into the sophistication of the Tactical Air Control System (TAGS) which was originally installed in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in 1962. In consonance with the refinement of the U.S. and Free World Military Assistance Forces (FWMAF) posture in the theater, the TAGS has evolved into an integrated system capable of responding to the full spectrum of tactical and strategic considerations. At present, the control system is fully integrated except for a few structural anomalies, i.e., control of SAC B-52 operations and USMC air assets, the ramifications of which will be discussed later in this study. Although the enemy and the battleground are essentially the same, the nature of the conflict is considerably different compared to November 1961 when the first USAF JUNGLE JIM contingent arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base. Tactical air operations within the changing military milieu have increased more than tenfold. For eexampleduring a two and one-half year period from January 1962 through May 1964, USAF and VNAF combat aircraft flew only 31,696 sorties. Comparatively, the records show that over 80,000 strike sorties were flown during the first six months of 1966 in support of in-country operations alone. An additional 67,998 combat sorties were flown against NVN and over Laos during the same period. Behind this rise in the statistical curve is the story of the expansion in Southeast Asia of US tactical airpower. Expansion of the Air Force posture in SEA through 1964 was a gradual process, and then the introduction of jet aircraft over North Vietnam (NVN) in 1965 profiled a changing concept of operations, considerably different from that envisioned during the early JUNGLE JIM days.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- ADA586192
Entities
People
- Warren A. Trest
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces