Da Nang Diary: A Forward Air Controller's Gunsight View of Combat in VietnamTHEY FLEW LOW, SLOW, AND INTO THE FACE OF ENEMY FIRE... In Vietnam, an elite group of air force pilots fought a secret air war in Cessna 0-2 and OV-10 Bronco prop planes-flying as low as they could get. The eyes and ears of the fast-moving jets who rained death and destruction down on enemy positions, the forward air controller made an art form out of an air strike-knowing the targets, knowing where friendly troops were, and reacting with split-second, life and death decisions as a battle unfolded. For Tom Yarborough, the risk was constant, intense, electrifying. A member of the super secret Prairie Fire unit, Yarborough became one of the most frequently shot-up pilots flying out of Da Nang-engaging in a series of dangerous secret missions in Laos. This is Yarborough's adrenaline-pumping chronicle of heroism, danger, and brotherhood in Vietnam. From the rescuing of downed pilots to taking out enemy positions, to the most harrowing day-long missions, here is the dedication, courage, and skill of the fliers who took the war into the enemy's backyard... |
Contents
Flying Over the Ho Chi Minh Trail | 32 |
XRay Mission Laos | 71 |
Prairie Fire | 105 |
Rescue at Route 966 | 138 |
Combat Instructor | 160 |
Battle Damage | 179 |
Outside the Envelope | 205 |
The Covey Bomb Dump | 224 |
All Points of the Compass | 248 |
Valley of the Shadow of Death | 267 |
SAR on the Trail | 295 |
The Year of FiftyThree Weeks | 309 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 327 |
Other editions - View all
Da Nang Diary: A Forward Air Controller's Gunsight View of Flying with SOG Tom Yarborough Limited preview - 2013 |
Da Nang Diary: A Forward Air Controller's Year of Combat Over Vietnam Tom Yarborough No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
A-1 Skyraiders Air Force air strike airborne aircraft altitude ARVN asked back seat bad guys bombs Bronco call sign Charlie China Beach chopper Chu Lai climbed clouds Cobra cockpit combat Covey rider crash crew chief Da Nang dive east enemy Evan exploding eyes felt fighters finally flew flight suit flying Green Berets ground fire gunners guns head helicopter Hillsboro Huey hundred feet jocks jungle karst Khe Sanh knew landing Laos Laotian Larry Lieutenant look Mike miles Minh Trail minutes move Muff Divers Nang night North Vietnamese One-Zero operations orbiting Phu Bai Prairie Fire pilots Prasert pulled Quang Tri radio ridge road rocket rolled Route 9 runway seemed Shau Valley shot Slick Lead smoke Spads strafing talking target thought thousand feet took tree troops truck turned Ubon Vietnam voice watched willie petes wing