Da Nang Diary

A Forward Air Controller's Gunsight View of Flying with SOG

De: Tom Yarborough

Narrado por: Sean Runnette

Da Nang Diary is the story of how, in Vietnam, an elite group of Air Force pilots fought a secret air war in Cessna 0-2 and OV-10 Bronco prop planes - flying as low as they could get. The eyes and ears of the fast-moving jets who rained death and destruction down on enemy positions, the forward air controller made an art form out of an air strike - knowing the targets, knowing where friendly troops were, and reacting with split-second, life-and-death decisions as a battle unfolded.

The expertise of the low, slow FACs, as well as the hazard attendant to their role, made for a unique bird's-eye perspective on how the entire war in Vietnam unfolded. For Tom Yarborough, who logged 1,500 hours of combat flying time, the risk was constant, intense, and electrifying. A member of the super-secret "Prairie Fire" unit, Yarborough became one of the most frequently shot-up pilots flying out of Da Nang - engaging in a series of dangerous secret missions in Laos. In this work, the listener flies in the cockpit alongside Yarborough in his adrenaline-pumping chronicle of heroism, danger, and wartime brotherhood. From the rescuing of downed pilots to taking out enemy positions, to the most harrowing extended missions directly overhead of the NVA, here is the dedication, courage, and skill of the fliers who took the war into the enemy's backyard.

©2013 Thomas R. Yarborough (P)2020 Tantor

Great book

This is a great listen after you've read the other Mac V Sog staple books. This one is (obviously) aviation specific which was a very interesting perspective to have on this war, would recommend.

Read this bloody great story...pure gold.

Tom went to Hell, through & back again.. several times. This is another great action- packed true story that conveys the amazing bravery and innovative fighting inteeligence of the MACV-SOG soldiers.

Great audiobook!

One of the best aviation warfare books I’ve read/listened to. Gripping right from the start and hard to stop listening too! Would highly recommended to anyone with Allison of aviation.

great

it was amazing hearing the other side of from the Fava facs that flew over and controlled the package

tales you never know

loved the book lots of things you never know about the war, couldn't stop listening

A thoughtful and introspective look at the most dangerous jobs

Mr. Yarborough's memoir serves as a touching and exciting retelling of a very impressive flying career over some of the most dangerous place's to ever exist. Filled with heartache, humor and valor this book stands well above almost every other book on the first true multimedia war.

and as always, Sean Renette could read the phone book and make it sound great.

Great detail from a SOG pilot

An excellent view of SOG recon, one that is seen from a whole new perspective

A Captivating Biography of Intense Air Combat

In his book, Air Force flyer Tom Yarborough relives his years of flying as a forward air controller (FAC), mostly in support of MACV SOG teams secretly operating inside Laos during the Viet Nam War. While overhead in his small plane, Captain Yarborough repeatedly flew through intense groundfire to coordinate countless insertions, recoveries, and close air support for small Special Forces teams that were usually surrounded by superior-sized units of NVA and Pathet Lao. With exceptional skill and bravery, he adapted to and soon became immersed in an intense life and death struggles of his 'Prairie Fire' work. Miraculously, he survived.

This story places the reader inside the cockpit, right next to Captain Yarborough, to the point that one can feel the G-stresses as he pulls tight turns to outrun groundfire. It's a story that many of us have wondered about, seeing FAC aircraft, along with SF teams suspended beneath choppers on rope ladders, returning from missions "over the fence" on the other side of the DMZ. The book is a valuable companion to Nick Brokenhausen's books "We Few" and "Whispers in the Tall Grass" in which he describes the top secret ground operations of the MACV SOG SF and indigenous teams he operated with during the Viet Nam War. All three books are extremely intense, to the point that they may trigger some vets.

Great

I liked the book, it kept me interested and helped me learn things about sog and facs that i never knew.

great story, great history

good info little bit confusing to follow the timelines Within on occasion but definitely worthwhile and nothing so problematic as to detract meaningfully from The Narrative or material. highly recommend to those interested in personalized histories.