JTAC Vs FAC

[KevinB]

No. Purely ground FAC. I flew several times in Kiowas to do airborne fire missions albeit many of our Kiowa pilots were former AirOP qualified L19 pilots at the time and could shoot rings around me in the air so certainly didn't need me up there.

We took the FAC course as part of the Advanced gunnery course but rarely had the chance to use it. In Pet I think the only time I ever saw fast air would be during the annual fire power demonstrations we did for staff courses and politicians. I can't even recall who FAC'd those. It wasn't me and may very well have been 427.

After your time, there would be a FOO Tech/FAC Sgt from 2 Horse with the Kiowas.
I got to sit in the back for one -- neat job, but definitely needed a better bird for it, twice as an OP sig I sat at the 427 hangar as the Kiowa didn't have power for another body on board, and now you can do it with a UAS.

We had a FAC demo on my FOO Tech course, there was supposed to be a CF-18 run for the final ex - and the Top Candidate was supposed to be with the FAC doing the mission - but the CF-18's got weathered out from Bagottville, and no showed to Pet.
*I wasn't the top candidate - I had plowed in with an over confident lack of bracketing adjustment on a mission earlier at Juliet Tower (they called it "Spiral Adjustment") the BC was not amused, and 2Horse's CO permanently believed I was retarded.

 

[FJAG]

After your time, there would be a FOO Tech/FAC Sgt from 2 Horse with the Kiowas.
I got to sit in the back for one -- neat job, but definitely needed a better bird for it, twice as an OP sig I sat at the 427 hangar as the Kiowa didn't have power for another body on board, and now you can do it with a UAS.

If I'm not mistaken they frequently flew with an NCO from 427 with them but I can't recall if they were FOO techs or just personnel from 427 working in that role to man radios and do the double checks while the pilots concentrated on their pop ups and dives. We almost always flew a feet above the river screened by the trees and had to jackrabbit up on "Splash" and then dive back down below the tree tops.

We had a FAC demo on my FOO Tech course, there was supposed to be a CF-18 run for the final ex - and the Top Candidate was supposed to be with the FAC doing the mission - but the CF-18's got weathered out from Bagottville, and no showed to Pet.
*I wasn't the top candidate - I had plowed in with an over confident lack of bracketing adjustment on a mission earlier at Juliet Tower (they called it "Spiral Adjustment") the BC was not amused, and 2Horse's CO permanently believed I was retarded.

"Spiral ranging on the line OT."

Do you recall their names?

 

[KevinB]

If I'm not mistaken they frequently flew with an NCO from 427 with them but I can't recall if they were FOO techs or just personnel from 427 working in that role to man radios and do the double checks while the pilots concentrated on their pop ups and dives. We almost always flew a feet above the river screened by the trees and had to jackrabbit up on "Splash" and then dive back down below the tree tops.

I guess I should have said Arty Sgt posted from 2 Horse to 427, as a FOO/Tech, I don’t recall any helo borne FAC’ing, but that was almost 40 years ago and so I’m fairly muddled, and I only got brief exposure, as one of the Sgt’s was retiring and I think they where trying to sucker some of the MBdr’s from the OP’s to take his spot, so the Drv Sig’s got some exposure too, if the Kiowa wasn’t near max take off weight.

"Spiral ranging on the line OT."

Do you recall their names?

Remember the face of the BC, the CO I’m totally lost on, but was 1990 Sept-Nov time frame probably closer to Nov due to the historical course cycle.

 

[FJAG]

I guess I should have said Arty Sgt posted from 2 Horse to 427, as a FOO/Tech, I don’t recall any helo borne FAC’ing, but that was almost 40 years ago and so I’m fairly muddled, and I only got brief exposure, as one of the Sgt’s was retiring and I think they where trying to sucker some of the MBdr’s from the OP’s to take his spot, so the Drv Sig’s got some exposure too, if the Kiowa wasn’t near max take off weight.

Remember the face of the BC, the CO I’m totally lost on, but was 1990 Sept-Nov time frame probably closer to Nov due to the historical course cycle.

Sep - Nov 90 would have been Dan Ross as the CO and Mike Auger, Murray Beare, E Gangnon and M Neale as the majors. I don't know Gagnon nor Neale from Adam but all three of the former were subbies when I knew them. Dan went on to be a BGen and then ended up being ADM(MAT) as a civvy around 2005. Yeah - I could see Dan being like that. Mike and Murray were good heads when I knew them.

 

[CT57]

Given that a great number JTAC are NCOs/WO. Would they be all from the forward observer bty or from any background in the artillery?

 

[KevinB]

Sep - Nov 90 would have been Dan Ross as the CO and Mike Auger, Murray Beare, E Gangnon and M Neale as the majors. I don't know Gagnon nor Neale from Adam but all three of the former were subbies when I knew them. Dan went on to be a BGen and then ended up being ADM(MAT) as a civvy around 2005. Yeah - I could see Dan being like that. Mike and Murray were good heads when I knew them.

Was Murray, Stu's brother? I had both of them as BC's at various points.
Admittedly 21 rds in adjustment was probably a record and not in a good way -- especially considering firing from Juliet tower wasn't exactly a tough thing to do.
Remedial writing on why bracket is important took me a few days to complete.

 

[FJAG]

Was Murray, Stu's brother? I had both of them as BC's at various points.

Yup. Archie Beare was the DCO of 2 RCHA when I got there and they had five kids. Two of the boys were Stu and Murray. Stu ended up being a LGen, Murray, I think topped out at LCol. Murray graduated from RMC just before I transferred out to go to law school; Stu came on board later. I note Murray's now the honorary LCol of 30 Fd. I knew them a bit from when they were kids before they went to RMC and a bit after I'd transferred out when Murray was in Shilo with 3rd herd and me in Brandon. I've had a few contacts with Stu over the last few years and recently interviewed him for the book. I think Stu was BC of E Bty (Para) in 2 RCHA around 1992 or so.

Admittedly 21 rds in adjustment was probably a record and not in a good way -- especially considering firing from Juliet tower wasn't exactly a tough thing to do.
Remedial writing on why bracket is important took me a few days to complete.

Jesus! I'm pretty sure that is a record.