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An OV-10 Bronco takes off from Dau Tieng in Vietnam. It was this aircraft that Chris Langton flew on the mission which resulted in him surviving several crashes in the one day.
Lucky Langton -A Hero of Our Forgotten War
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Australia did not deploy a fighter squadron to South Vietnam, however by the end of the conflict, a selected number of Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilots had seen combat service while on exchange duty as Forward Air Controllers (FACS) with the US Seventh Air Force. FACs were fighter pilots who flew light aircraft such as the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and the Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, identifying and marking targets with smoke rockets for ground attack aircraft. It was also a FAC’s responsibility to direct air strikes, ensuring that friendly troops and civilians did not come under attack in error. After attacks were completed the FAC present had to assess the results of the bombing. Being a FAC was not an easy job but to use a well wom phrase ‘someone had to do it”. This is a brief account of the experiences of just one of the RAAF’s FACS, although his experiences were anything but typical
Lucky Langton -A Hero Of Our Forgotten War
FitLt Chris Langton, an experienced Mirage pilot, arrived in Vietnam in June, 1969.
He was based at Dau Tieng, which was possibly one of the ‘hottest’ camps in Vietnam that an Australian FAC ever served at. Due to the nearness of the Cambodian border the troops at Dau Tieng (elements of the US Army’s 1st Infantry Division) were continually in action against the regulars of the highly trained and well armed North Vietnamese Army. Consequently their losses, and those of the airmen who supported them, were heavy.
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