In the sweltering heat of a Vietnamese afternoon, the roar of jet engines pierces the humid air as a squadron of US bombers streaks across the cloudless sky. Accompanying them on their daring mission, a lone Grumman TF-9J, the trainer version of the veteran Cougar fighter, assumes the forward air control role, its pilot scanning the verdant landscape below. Down on the jungle floor, Viet Cong guerrillas are hiding amidst the dense foliage, yet camouflaged friendly forces are also patrolling the area. If the Cougar incorrectly identifies the target, the consequences will be tragic.

Suddenly, sensing movement down below, the eagle-eyed pilot spots an armed unit silently making its way through the tropical undergrowth. Dipping low over the treeline to get a better look, his suspicions are confirmed: it’s the Viet Cong.

Eagerly awaiting intelligence, the ground commanders below hear the pilot’s voice come crackling over the radio to reveal the enemy's position. They give the order to strike. Moments later, the Cougar approaches, and the jungle shakes with the thunderous roar of a bomb attack…

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.