Bat 21

Another good book about FAC’s is

A Lonely Kind of War by Marshall Harrison

flying OV-10’s in Vietnam.

Danny Glover was also squadron commander in “Flight of the Intruder” – quite a good carrier and Vietnam movie, I think.

Best regards atc pal

Originally posted by kev35
Hi, Cooper.

If you are interested in the work of FAC’s in Vietnam try reading a book called ‘Ravens.’ Can’t remember the author but it is largely about FAC’s recruited in Vietnam in very mysterious ways who bought their O-1’s for a dollar from the American Government and flew them to Laos.

Bat-21 is a good film, but I understand that’s all it is, the truth being buried somewhere in the vehicle to promote Danny Glover. Still enjoyed it though.

Regards,

kev35

Kev , is that the book with Fred “Magnetass” Platt in it ?? , I’m sure I can remember reading that a while back , a cracking read , must look it out again .

Hi, Cooper.

If you are interested in the work of FAC’s in Vietnam try reading a book called ‘Ravens.’ Can’t remember the author but it is largely about FAC’s recruited in Vietnam in very mysterious ways who bought their O-1’s for a dollar from the American Government and flew them to Laos.

Bat-21 is a good film, but I understand that’s all it is, the truth being buried somewhere in the vehicle to promote Danny Glover. Still enjoyed it though.

Regards,

kev35

I agree. These pilots had a very difficult and dangerous role to play, and without the kudos of the fighter jocks.
Bat 21 had the Hollywood treatment allright, but it got the point across.

I’ve always had respect for FAC pilots. They have a very dangerous job, and they don’t get the glamour that the fighter and attack guys get.

This movie gives you great insight into how a FAC operates, and they danger they were in.

I think the O-2 is a great aircraft.

Truly a plane that deserves more credit than it gets.

The same applies to the O-1 Bird Dog and OV-10 Bronco.

Yup, good film, good platform for Danny Glover, and it really showed what you can do with a Cessna.

Interesting.

Well I enjoyed the movie anyway.

The only things factual that I’ve seen in the movie is they used the real guy’s name and he was shot down. Other then that, it’s one of those movies that tries to hide behind ‘based on a true story” to give it credibility while using an almost completely different ‘Hollywood” story.

Lt Col Iceal Hambleton was the Navigator on an EB66 that was shot down by a SAM on April 2, 1972. He was the only survivor. Numerous aircraft including A1s and OV10s as well as Helicoptor gunships, jets and other choppers took part in the ongoing rescue attempts that cost a number of aircraft and lives. Eventually one of the survivors of a shot down OV10 and Hambleton worked their way out and met up with Marines coming up a river to find them. He was down 12 days.

It was not one pilot flying all those hours over him etc etc.

Dan