Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 50 years ago

50 years ago, my father was a USAF pilot in South East Asia.

Three months after this photo was taken, he was shot down and declared Missing In Action.

He was recovered safe and mostly sound

I was dragging going to work today, but this changes my perspective.

I will go to work and be happy and be grateful for all that I have.

Have a great day.

Wow.

Every day is a gift, no doubt.

FC

Ouch. There be a lot of wild and crazy stories about the Bronco back in those days.

Thanks for posting that. Have a good day.

And you too. We all should. If you've not read this book about OV-10 FACs you should. A lonely kind of war

Excellent pic and story.. I'm glad to hear he was recovered and survived...

Great picture and happy ending to what otherwise could have been heartbreak for your family..Glad he survived and was picked up..!

I was already back stateside when USAF Bronco's arrived at NKP. they were the only aircraft we never shared CAS missions with in '69-'70

A great day to you Sir as well .

Cool story, lucky for you is right, he looks like a very proud and honorable man.

He loved flying the Trail in the Bronco.

As a kid I'd sit cross legged and starry eyed, soaking up his stories.

There's a second half of the MIA story that is long, but the abbreviated version is... about 15 years ago he received a scratchy faint, satellite phone call from US personnel standing over the wrecked fuselage of his Bronco.

They had recovered an identifying number off the wreckage, called it in, and within minutes had my father on the phone to verify that he was flying solo that day. They were relieved to hear there were no human remains to be recovered at the sight.

That dug up a bunch of long-dormant emotions for him.

The story of how his wreckage was located is remarkable. I'll take time and write it up proper.

50 years ago? Wow . . . Time sure flies when you're having fun!

I was a junior in high school.

Thanks for sharing! Glad you have that picture and that it helped your perspective for the day.

Dang man, great post and photo. So glad to hear you grew up with a dad!

In 1970 I was a 9 yo kid with a newly made OV-10 model on my dresser. Such a cool plane. I believe it was recently used against Isis.

I turned seven that year. Glad you got your Dad back.

Great story with a great outcome. Thanks for his service and your sharing of the story.

His service helped keep us safe!

Look forward to it.

Thanks for the pic......and thanks to your Dad for his service!!

I'm guessing he was a Nail FAC (callsign Nail-xx) and those guys took over the day FAC mission on the Trail when it became less than survivable for O-2 aircraft. O-2s continued to fly the Trail, but at night, when the OV-10 could not (because the back seater couldn't use a starlight scope in the Bronco) and the O-2 could. It was a hairy job. They faced the usual small arms thru .51-cal heavy MGs, but also 14.5, 23, 37, and radar-directed 57mm AA guns. Later, even shoulder-fired SAMs. As I say, it was interesting up there.

I flew the Trail too, but farther south where the firepower was lower caliber (most of the time). That's my little fun wagon below my name at the left.

Anyway, crisp salute to my brother FAC, and I am toasting his recovery with a suitable beverage as I type this. (Not with the official Nail FAC drink, which was the Rusty Nail, but I may have made tribute to those guys and that drink in a different way, LOL!)

Ha! I was the freshman you tried to mess with but then quickly learned had real fast hands😉

T Bone,
Awesome picture and eventually great finale! I look forward to reading a full story on this event and (in a way) the timeframe between learning about the mia announcement and your Father's ultimate recovery in particular. Thanks for sharing this with us!