Riverside in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Forward Air Controllers Memorial

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

1. Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side A)

Inscription.

Forward Air Controllers Memorial. . Dedicated to those special aviators who lost their lives in Southeast Asia (SEA) while serving as Forward Air Controllers (FACs) and support team members in the O-1, O-2, OV-10, U-10, U-17, PC-6 and T-28 aircraft. From 1962 through 1975, thousands of USAF and Allied officers flew these aircraft. Flyers of all ranks were supported by enlisted men who worked as mechanics, radio operators, intelligence specialists and interpreters. They were assigned to the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, made up of the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadrons. The Ravens were a separate covert unit assigned to the Ambassador in Laos., Cleared Hot Flying day and night in low and slow aircraft, FACs performed aerial reconnaissance for both U.S. and Allied forces, directed air strikes in support of embattled ground units, interdicted enemy infiltration routes, and coordinated rescue operations. FACs were the eyes, ears and voices above the battlefield, gallant airmen providing the vital link between troops in the field, the various command and control agencies and US and Allied war planes. Hit My Smoke!”, “Poor is the country that has no heroes. But beggared is the people who having them forgets.” Colonel William A. Jones, III (MOH [Medal of Honor]), Welcome Home! The reclining position of the dog tag signifies that those who gave their all are now at rest, leaning against their comrades in arms., And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, Neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4, The Nickel Tradition It has become a tradition among flyers and friends to throw a nickel on the grass at the funerals of friends. To carry on that tradition nickels and other momentos [sic] were placed in the foundation during the building of this memorial. This is one more salute to our friends., [Roll of Honored Dead].

Dedicated to those special aviators who lost their lives in Southeast Asia (SEA) while serving as Forward Air Controllers (FACs) and support team members in the O-1, O-2, OV-10, U-10, U-17, PC-6 and T-28 aircraft. From 1962 through 1975, thousands of USAF and Allied officers flew these aircraft. Flyers of all ranks were supported by enlisted men who worked as mechanics, radio operators, intelligence specialists and interpreters. They were assigned to the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, made up of the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadrons. The Ravens were a separate covert unit assigned to the Ambassador in Laos.

Cleared Hot
Flying day and night in low and slow aircraft, FACs performed aerial reconnaissance for both U.S. and Allied forces, directed air strikes in support of embattled ground units, interdicted enemy infiltration routes, and coordinated rescue operations. FACs were the eyes, ears and voices above the battlefield, gallant airmen providing the vital link between troops in the field, the various command and control agencies and US and Allied war planes.
Hit My Smoke!”

“Poor is the country that has no heroes. But beggared is the people who having them forgets.”
Colonel William A. Jones, III (MOH [Medal of Honor])

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Home!
The reclining position of the dog tag signifies that those who gave their all are now at rest, leaning against their comrades in arms.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, Neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

The Nickel Tradition
It has become a tradition among flyers and friends to throw a nickel on the grass at the funerals of friends. To carry on that tradition nickels and other momentos [sic] were placed in the foundation during the building of this memorial. This is one more salute to our friends.

[Roll of Honored Dead]

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.

Location. 39° 46.788′ N, 84° 6.662′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker (Memorial #TBD) is in the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, with museum access off Springfield Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Spaatz Street, Dayton OH 45431, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 460th Fighter Squadron (a few steps from this marker); 456th Bomb Group (a few steps from

Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

2. Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side B)

this marker); 94th Bomb Group (a few steps from this marker); 401st Bombardment Group (H) (a few steps from this marker); 442nd Troop Carrier Group (a few steps from this marker); Combat Skyspot (a few steps from this marker); B-24 Liberator WWII 50th Anniversary Commemoration (a few steps from this marker); 731st Bomb Squadron (L-NA) (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Also see . . .
1. NMUSAF Memorial Park Diagram. (Submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. FACs in the Vietnam War. (Submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. MISTY FACs in Vietnam. (Submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. RAVEN FACs. (Submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

3. Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side A)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

4. Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side B)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

5. Forward Air Controllers Memorial (Side B)

Looking east

Forward Air Controllers Memorial Cleared Hot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

6. Forward Air Controllers Memorial Cleared Hot

Forward Air Controllers Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

7. Forward Air Controllers Memorial

Forward Air Controllers Memorial Honor Roll (Side A) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

8. Forward Air Controllers Memorial Honor Roll (Side A)

Forward Air Controllers Memorial Honor Roll (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

9. Forward Air Controllers Memorial Honor Roll (Side B)

Forward Air Controllers Memorial SEA Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 4, 2010

10. Forward Air Controllers Memorial SEA Map

NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

11. NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 574 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on January 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 11. submitted on December 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.