When the Broncos Returned to Phuoc Vinh
- Christina DeSantis
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The Return to Phuoc Vinh
In the heat of the Vietnam War, the relationship between the Air Force and the Army was forged in the cockpit of the OV-10 Bronco. As an Air Liaison Officer (ALO) for the 1st Air Cavalry Division, Colonel Don L. Brooks spent his days navigating the complex interface between ground operations and air support. However, as this extract from his book Fly to the Sound of Battle illustrates, sometimes the most dangerous missions weren't the ones involving the enemy—they were the ones involving "ceremonial" military precision and a very brave brass band.
When the Broncos Returned to Phuoc Vinh
By Colonel Don L. Brooks (Ret.), United States Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Colonel Don L. Brooks served as an Air Liaison Officer (ALO) and Forward Air Controller (FAC) during the Vietnam War. His book, Fly to the Sound of Battle, offers a firsthand look at the bravery, absurdity, and camaraderie of the pilots who flew the OV-10 Bronco.
While in Vietnam, I was the Air Liaison Officer (ALO) to the Third Brigade of the First Air Cav Division, flying the OV-10 Bronco. The Second Brigade FACs (Forward Air Controllers) normally lived at Phuoc Vinh, co-located with the First Air Cav Division Headquarters. However, while the Army was resurfacing the runway there, the brigade FACs were temporarily living at and flying from Bien Hoa, sometimes using other locations for refueling and rearming their aircraft during the day.
Well, the runway work was finally finished, and the OV-10s were going to return to Phuoc Vinh. You know the Army will make a celebration out of anything, especially a big event such as the reopening of a runway. I got a call from the Division ALO advising me I was to fly as a member of a five-ship formation of Broncos that were to symbolize the “Return of the FACs to Phuoc Vinh.”
Leading the flight was the II Field Force ALO (a colonel); number two was the Division ALO (a lieutenant colonel); and three, four, and five were to be the three Brigade ALOs (all majors). None of us had done any formation flying since we left Hurlburt, so we planned for a few minutes of practice just before the actual arrival ceremony.
Just south of Phuoc Vinh, the river did an unusual double bend, which was a notable landmark. The five of us rendezvoused over the landmark about ten minutes before our scheduled landing time at Phuoc Vinh. We formed up into a five-ship echelon. Since I was the Third Brigade ALO, I was “tail-end Charlie.”
It wasn’t very pretty! I got whip-lashed quite a few times as we “old farts” made a few circles, preparing for our big moment.
Finally, it was time to go. We turned initial for landing at the new runway, and believe it or not, professional pride came through. We settled down a bit, and from my position as number five, I thought we really didn’t look too bad as the five Broncos drove up to the pitch-out point. From the pitch, of course, we each concentrated on our spacing and getting set for a good landing. Even though it was a new runway, we had been cautioned that it was still rather short, so we wanted to get on the ground right near the end.
My first clue that all might not be well was when I heard an unidentified voice on the radio exclaim, “Holy S#*t!!!”
Not knowing what the problem might be, I continued my turn to final, burying the nose of the aircraft so I would be able to land “on the numbers.” When I shifted my eyes to the desired touchdown spot, I saw the First Air Cav Band standing in the overrun, playing military music!
My windshield was filled with a tuba!
I quickly added a burst of power and pulled back on the stick. I sailed just over the heads of the band members, landing right in front of them. I really had to admire the discipline of those troops, standing there playing their music with OV-10 props growling up their backs!
When we got to the parking area and shut down, all of us were talking about the disaster we had just avoided. “Who was it that put the band in the overrun?”
Only the Army…
About the Author
Colonel Don L. Brooks, USAF (Ret.), is a decorated pilot and combat veteran whose career spanned over two decades of service. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy Class of 1959. In this particular story he was an ALO/FAC flying the OV-10 Bronco. He flew multiple aircraft in high-intensity operations, commanded at various levels, and later contributed his expertise to training and leadership development. His writing preserves the history and lessons of air combat for future generations.
Military Jargon (Help for the non-military readers)
Term | Explanation |
ALO (Air Liaison Officer) | An Air Force officer who works directly with an Army unit to coordinate air support and advise commanders on aerospace capabilities. |
FAC (Forward Air Controller) | A pilot who directs close air support aircraft from a forward position, often flying low-speed observation planes to identify targets. |
OV-10 Bronco | A turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was prized for its visibility and ability to operate from short, rugged runways. |
Tail-end Charlie | A slang term for the pilot in the last position of a flight formation. This position is often the most difficult to maintain due to the "whip" effect. |
The Pitch / Pitch-out | A maneuver where aircraft in a formation break away one by one into a circular pattern to establish proper spacing for landing. |
The Overrun | The area at the very beginning or end of a runway, intended as a safety buffer for planes that touch down short or cannot stop in time. Not a standard place for a band! |
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