About this Unit
The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (20th TASS) was activated during the Vietnam War to provide forward air control (FAC) and close air support coordination for U.S. and allied ground forces. Established in 1965, the squadron initially operated the O-1 Bird Dog and later transitioned to the O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco aircraft, flying dangerous low-level missions to identify enemy positions and direct airstrikes. The 20th TASS played a crucial role in supporting operations such as Operation Rolling Thunder and interdiction missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. After the Vietnam War, the squadron continued FAC missions before being inactivated in 1972.
Historical Facts
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Vietnam War Origins: The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (20th TASS) was activated during the Vietnam War in 1965 to provide Forward Air Control (FAC) support for U.S. and allied ground forces.
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Callsign "Covey": The squadron became famous for its radio callsign “Covey,” which was used by FACs flying missions over Laos and South Vietnam.
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Airborne FAC Pioneers: The 20th TASS were among the first units to use light aircraft like the O-1 Bird Dog, O-2 Skymaster, and OV-10 Bronco specifically for FAC roles, marking a new era in close air support tactics.
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Covert Operations in Laos: Many 20th TASS missions were top-secret, supporting the CIA-led "Secret War" in Laos (Operation Barrel Roll, Steel Tiger), often flying without national insignia.
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High-Risk Missions: FAC pilots faced extreme danger, flying low and slow to mark enemy targets for airstrikes, often drawing heavy ground fire. The squadron suffered significant losses.
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Medal of Honor: Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks, a 20th TASS pilot, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for using his aircraft’s machine guns to protect South Vietnamese troops, sacrificing his life in 1967.
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Innovative Tactics: The 20th TASS developed and refined tactics such as using smoke rockets, "fast FAC" jets, and coordination with ground Special Forces for effective air-ground operations.
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Multi-National Operations: Besides U.S. Army and Marine units, the 20th TASS also directed air support for ARVN (South Vietnamese), Royal Laotian, and Hmong forces.
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Combat Missions: The squadron flew tens of thousands of combat sorties, directing airstrikes, performing reconnaissance, and coordinating rescues of downed airmen throughout Southeast Asia.
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Legacy and Inactivation: After serving in Vietnam and later in South Korea, the 20th TASS was inactivated in 1991, but its FAC legacy influences modern joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) operations.
