20th TASS

• 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. • Callsign "Covey": The squadron became famous for its radio callsign “Covey,” which was used by FACs flying missions over Laos and South Vietnam. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • Combat Missions: The squadron flew tens of thousands of combat sorties, directing airstrikes, performing reconnaissance, and coordinating rescues of downed airmen throughout Southeast Asia. • 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.