What was the life expectancy of a forward air controller in Vietnam?

Answer 1

Over 500 O-1 Bird Dogs were lost in Vietnam, as well as large numbers of O-2 Skymasters, OV-10 Broncos, and some "Fast FAC's" such as the Misty's (F-100 Super Sabre jets). However, the slow/low flying Bird Dogs, etc. may have been shot up alot, but because they flew low & slow, the pilots often survived. FAC pilots were more able to:

1. Survive crashes

2. Avoid becoming a POW; since they seldom flew missions over North Vietnam (except for the Misty pilots).

A FAC pilot in South Vietnam had far better chances of survival than a fighter-bomber airman flying over North Vietnam.