Posted on Jan 13, 2017
First Operation Farm Gate missions flown - Jan 13, 1962 - HISTORY.com
2.17K
10
7
7
7
0
In the first Farm Gate combat missions, T-28 fighter-bombers are flown in support of a South Vietnamese outpost under Viet Cong attack.
By the end of the month, U.S. Air Force pilots had flown 229 Farm Gate sorties. Operation Farm Gate was initially designed to provide advisory support to assist the South Vietnamese Air Force in increasing its capability. The 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron arrived at Bien Hoa Airfield in November 1961 and began training South Vietnamese Air Force personnel with older, propeller-driven aircraft. In December, President John F. Kennedy expanded Farm Gate to include limited combat missions by the U.S. Air Force pilots in support of South Vietnamese ground forces.
By late 1962, communist activity and combat intensity had increased so much that President Kennedy ordered a further expansion of Farm Gate. In early 1963, additional aircraft arrived and new detachments were established at Pleiku and Soc Trang. In early 1964, Farm Gate was upgraded again with the arrival of more modern aircraft. In October 1965, another squadron of A-1E aircraft was established at Bien Hoa. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara approved the replacement of South Vietnamese markings on Farm Gate aircraft with regular U.S. Air Force markings. By this point in the war, the Farm Gate squadrons were flying 80 percent of all missions in support of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). With the build up of U.S. combat forces in South Vietnam and the increase in U.S. Air Force presence there, the role of the Farm Gate program gradually decreased in significance. The Farm Gate squadrons were moved to Thailand in 1967, and from there they launched missions against the North Vietnamese in Laos.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
By the end of the month, U.S. Air Force pilots had flown 229 Farm Gate sorties. Operation Farm Gate was initially designed to provide advisory support to assist the South Vietnamese Air Force in increasing its capability. The 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron arrived at Bien Hoa Airfield in November 1961 and began training South Vietnamese Air Force personnel with older, propeller-driven aircraft. In December, President John F. Kennedy expanded Farm Gate to include limited combat missions by the U.S. Air Force pilots in support of South Vietnamese ground forces.
By late 1962, communist activity and combat intensity had increased so much that President Kennedy ordered a further expansion of Farm Gate. In early 1963, additional aircraft arrived and new detachments were established at Pleiku and Soc Trang. In early 1964, Farm Gate was upgraded again with the arrival of more modern aircraft. In October 1965, another squadron of A-1E aircraft was established at Bien Hoa. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara approved the replacement of South Vietnamese markings on Farm Gate aircraft with regular U.S. Air Force markings. By this point in the war, the Farm Gate squadrons were flying 80 percent of all missions in support of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). With the build up of U.S. combat forces in South Vietnam and the increase in U.S. Air Force presence there, the role of the Farm Gate program gradually decreased in significance. The Farm Gate squadrons were moved to Thailand in 1967, and from there they launched missions against the North Vietnamese in Laos.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
First Operation Farm Gate missions flown - Jan 13, 1962 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.com
Vietnam War
Warfare
Military History
American History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
1
1
0
I don't think I recall a T-28 so I Googled it- looks like an F-86. Learned something outside the lesson today SP5 Mark Kuzinski
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I noticed that op farm gate took place ten years to the date before The troop withdrawal in '72. I was
Eight and would be nine that June. I remembered taking current events in for that time,
The substitute teacher decided she didn't want me to present or bring up my article which was about Vietnam, I even had the world map ready to show where it was.. I didn't see what was her prob then about me talking about it. I asked her later if I'd still get credit for bringing it in.. "we will
Talk about that later, Boyd." I sat down and went about my schoolwork. The next day our teacher was back and I asked her if I could present my current event article from that other day, the substitute teacher didn't let me do it I told her.
She let me do it and she expanded on it.. that made my day..
Eight and would be nine that June. I remembered taking current events in for that time,
The substitute teacher decided she didn't want me to present or bring up my article which was about Vietnam, I even had the world map ready to show where it was.. I didn't see what was her prob then about me talking about it. I asked her later if I'd still get credit for bringing it in.. "we will
Talk about that later, Boyd." I sat down and went about my schoolwork. The next day our teacher was back and I asked her if I could present my current event article from that other day, the substitute teacher didn't let me do it I told her.
She let me do it and she expanded on it.. that made my day..
(1)
(0)
(1)
(0)
(0)
(0)
SP5 Mark Kuzinski
SSgt Boyd Herrst - I was first stationed in Korat with the 561st then we moved North to Sakhon Nakhon.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google