The success of the Misties, Stormies, and Wolves impressed the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat RTAF, Thailand. Consequently’ in January 1969 it also sought approval to use some of its F-4E’s as forward air controllers. It pointed out that the beefed-up enemy defenses had rendered a great deal of that area risky for the A-1 Firefly and 0-I Raven controllers. After securing Seventh Air Forcers okay in February for one FAC sortie a day in Barrel RoIl, the 388th TFW gave its new venture the call sign “Tiger’ It also sent volunteers from its 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron- to Ubon RTAFB for checkout with the Wolf FAC’s. By the 19th of March, the Tigers were in business. They were the first jet controllers to see duty in the Barrel RoIl area of Laos. Their commander found that being a member of the Barrel RoIl Working Group helped cement good relations with the Raven FAC’s. Basing the Tigers with the strike crews similarly smoothed coordination. One F-4E feature proved a boon in Barrel RolI–the inertial guidance system that automatically determined the planets position. For example, on I March the sole TACAN channel in that area was lost with the fall of Lima Site 36′ + Notwithstanding, Tiger VR and strike control went on even in marginal weather, by the use of the system and pilotage. Moreover’ the thrust and range of the E surpassed those of earlier F-4 models, and it carried its cannon internally.
The Tigers made their mark in March 1969 during Operation Rain Dance, as Gen. Vang Pao’s forces went on the offensive against Communist troops on the Plain of Jars. USAF and RLAF fighters pounded the roads and trails leading into the Plain. Between I7 March -7 April the Tigers flew two sorties per day, doing VR’ strike control, weather recce, and BDA. Their sterling job of strike control and VR triggered a recommendation to use them in night road reconnaissance. The 388th Wing turned it down on the ground of lacking LLLTV and IR equipment. By JuIy the Tigers were so immersed in strike control they seldom did visual reconnaissance. To remedy this’ Seventh Air Force hiked the sortie rate to four per day. However, in October the entire FAC program suffered when tanker support was cut back. – Misties, Stormies, Wolves, and Tigers altogether could muster only five sorties daily. Still the Tigers continued top-notch airstrike control, * forcing the enemy to build bypasses around closed portions of his roads. Such achievement exacted its price–five F-4Ers suffered heavy battle damage between September-December 19
Donated to the collection by Gene Bibb
