Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
O-2A Skymaster
Multi-tasking Under Fire
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. O-2A Skymaster Marker
This plane flew slow and low over Vietnam, directly supporting ground troops. Called a Forward Air Controller, the pilot kept track of friendly forces' locations and marked enemy positions with smoke rockets, identifying targets for fast-flying jets. At the same time, the pilot had to avoid anti-aircraft fire and watch out for enemy planes, while coordinating on three separate radios with soldiers on the ground, fighter jets, and command posts.
"At night we flew with Starlight Scopes [early night vision] hanging heads out the windows and steering with our knees... It was reassuring to the Marines to know a FAC was up there."
-Richard Clements, quoted by Jan Churchill in Hit My Smoke!: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, 1997
WHY DOES THIS PLANE HAVE A DOUBLE TAIL?
The 0-2 has "push-pull engines: a propeller in the front that pulls the aircraft forward and a rear propeller that pushes it. In order to center the two props in the middle of the plane, the tail is supported by "booms" to either side of the propeller.
A Forward Air Controller fires a smoke rocket at an enemy target.
Most planes have
this page online
Fast-making jets had no trouble finding or identifying this O-2A from above!
DATA CARD
Top Speed mph · 200
Crew · 1-2
Range · Regional
Payload · Smoke rockets, flares, and other light ordnance
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.
Location. 44° 8.006′ N, 103° 4.285′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River, in the Badlands, and in Greater Rapid City. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere,
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. O-2A Skymaster and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: F-105B Thunderchief (a few steps from this marker); UH-1F Iroquois (a few steps from this marker); C-131D Samaritan (within shouting distance of this marker); F-84F Thunderstreak (within shouting distance of this marker); T-33A Shooting Star (within shouting distance of this marker); C-47 Skytrain (within shouting distance of this marker); U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole (within shouting distance of this marker); A-26A/B-26K Counter Invader (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Regarding O-2A Skymaster. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. O-2A Skymaster Detail
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
4. O-2A Skymaster
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
