RAAF FAC History

submitted by: Alva Leon Matheson


By the 1960s the RAAF was very much aware of the role and advantages of Forward Air Control. During WWII, the RAAF had squadrons specializing in target identification and reconnaissance, and by War’s end some considerable experience had been gained by RAF liaison officers attached to British land formations in Europe and the Middle-East. Additional experience was gained through working with the Mosquito FACs in Korea, and again during the long Malayan Emergency, where a small number of RAAF officers were trained as ground FACs by the RAF.
In 1961 the RAAF began training its own FACs. Eligibility for this training was restricted to experienced fighter pilots who had also completed the Australian Joint Warfare Course. Initially concentrating on producing ground FACs, the training syllabus was progressively developed to include airborne techniques using the CA-25 Winjeel trainer aircraft.
RAAF participation in USAF FAC operations was a by-product of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict and was the result of the personal initiative of a series of three individual officers initially sent on other duties.
In 1965, as a result of bilateral discussion beginning as early as August 1962, an RAAF pilot, Wing Commander Vance Drummond, joined the Strike Plans Branch of the USAF 2nd AD TACC at Tan Son Nhut. After some months with the TACC, this officer, with the support of the Deputy Director, sought opportunities to expand his knowledge of the TACS by working at the DASC at Bien Hoa. He also checked-out in the O-1, flying VR and FAC missions. After gaining further experience, he was transferred to the 19th TASS and spent the remainder of his tour as the ALO to the 25th ARVN Division in the Delta.
His replacement, Wing Commander Tony Powell, arrived in Vietnam in December of 1966. He followed a similar path, beginning in the TACC at the now HQ 7th AF, progressing via DASC Alpha to the 504th TIS at Binh Thuy and then into the FAC business for the last half of his tour.He flew with the ROK 9th Division and finishing as ALO to the 1st ATF. While serving with the ATF, Powell proposed, through channels, that one of the FAC positions in the TACP be filled by a suitably experienced RAAF officer.
At about the same time, Squadron Leader Rex Ramsey, who had been posted to the Headquarters 1ATF as OIC of the Air Transport Operations Centre, found himself redundant after an establishment review reduced his position to flight lieutenant rank. Based on his earlier fighter experience, he volunteered through HQ RAAF Vietnam to serve the remainder of his tour as a FAC. After the usual staff-level consultations, his offer was accepted by the USAF. He completed the TIS and was assigned to 22nd TASS, flying with the TACP at Tra Vinh in the IV Corps AO.
Meanwhile, RAAF HQ in Australia directed the Commander RAAF Forces in Vietnam to informally approach the USAF about the possibility of attaching three RAAF pilots exclusively for FAC duties. HQ 7th AF welcomed this approach and formal agreement was quickly reached. In mid-October 1967, the first group of three RAAF dedicated FACs, Flight Lieutenants Pete Smith and Tony Ford and Flying Officer Brian Fooks, arrived in country. Shortly thereafter, Tony Powell was replaced by Wing Commander Barry Thomas, who followed the TACC/DASC/FAC pattern set by his predecessors.
Between 1966 and 1971, a total of 36 experienced fighter pilots served as FACs in various units of the USAF throughout the RVN.