Forward air controllers in Vietnam were acknowledged as having perhaps the most dangerous aviation role of the war. Flying at speeds well below the top end of most family cars, they spent hours over hostile terrain in flimsy, propeller-driven Cessna O-1 Bird Dogs. Their work was crucial in finding and stopping the enemy before they could attack American troops, and supporting those troops with artillery and air strikes when battle was joined. Of the many army Bird Dog units in Southeast Asia, none operated in as hostile an environment as the "Catkillers" of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company. Their tactical area of operations was up against the Demilitarized Zone (an oxymoron if ever there was one) in I Corps, the northern-most combat zone in South Vietnam. At the time it was estimated that there were seventy-eight thousand NVA soldiers in the area.

Includes index.

The mission -- The apprentice -- Catkiller on crutches -- Black Ace to Catkiller -- The lighter side -- Yellow brick road -- My people need help -- Catkiller down -- Bombing halt -- Air to air -- Thanksgiving and Christmas -- Gypsy Rose Lee -- Night contact -- Lean on me -- Busy month of June.