19th TASS

The 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (19th TASS) was a United States Air Force unit activated during the Vietnam War era. Established in 1963, the squadron's primary mission was to provide forward air control (FAC) and close air support (CAS) for ground forces, operating mainly the O-1 Bird Dog and later the O-2 Skymaster aircraft. The 19th TASS played a crucial role in directing air strikes, reconnaissance, and coordinating air-ground operations across Southeast Asia, particularly in South Vietnam and Laos. The squadron was inactivated in 1972 following the drawdown of U.S. operations in the region.