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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It is the same tired “roles and missions” battle that has been going on since 1947. The Air Force has never been excited about the Close Air Support (CAS) mission, but they also would never let the Army keep the fixed wing means to do that mission for itself, like the Marines do. For example, early in RVN, the Army was hanging all kinds of ordnance for CAS off the OV-1 Mohawks, so the AF whined until DOD took that aircraft away. Therefore, the Army spent gazillions of dollars to come up with rotary wing aircraft to do that job. Even the argument over the C7-A Caribou for log support was a roles and missions argument. Practical aircraft for forward operations. USAF couldn’t tolerate that, so the USAF got them all and put them in reserve units. Close air support is just not sexy enough. But when it is your buttons are in the mud, it is your lifesaver.


22 posted on 01/23/2015 1:59:08 PM PST by Temujinshordes
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To: Temujinshordes
Couldn't agree with you more: the AF hates CAS and would do anything to rid itself of that mission - except let the army take it back.

If you really honest to God precision CAS, get the Marines sorties if you can.

27 posted on 01/23/2015 2:10:24 PM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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