Charles F. Swope

Service & Sacrifice

Charles Frederick Swope was born on May 29, 1935, and grew up in Newport, Kentucky. He entered the United States Air Force and trained as a tactical aircraft pilot, eventually serving as a Forward Air Controller attached to Detachment B-52, Project Delta, 5th Special Forces Group.

The FACs assigned to Project Delta were among the best in Southeast Asia. Flying low and slow in unarmed O-1E Bird Dog observation aircraft over some of the most heavily defended terrain in Vietnam, they directed air strikes for the reconnaissance teams, provided radio relay, and flew visual reconnaissance over enemy-held territory. The Delta FACs lived with the unit and were accepted as part of the Project by the recon men, who relied on them for their survival.

On November 9, 1966, CAPT Swope was killed in action during Project Delta operations. He was 31 years old. He had served with the unit since January 1966, flying countless missions in support of Delta's reconnaissance teams across multiple operations.

CAPT Swope was one of only two Air Force personnel killed while serving with Project Delta, a testament to both the danger of the FAC mission and the skill of the men who flew it. His sacrifice alongside the Special Forces soldiers he supported earned him a place among the 29 names on the Wall.