In his book, ACM Sir Peter, went for a visit to 'Nam when he was in FEAF (in 69/70?) Going in country, he flew in a Huey gunship as he described the crew chief gunners behaving as 'Chicago gangsters hanging on a trapeze wire' when going on range. He also described the frustration of the USAF crews whose hands were tied as all targeting was decided and done from Hawaii and D.C. He said that the winning hearts and minds program in Vietnam worked out fine for a while until the the troops left the villagers and the VC moved in to kill the village elders and then all the good work done earlier went to pot unlike our guys in Malaya.
Looking halfway down this page
Rumour Control
reference to exchange pilot to a unit based at Ellington field who flew the F-4 who did not get left out of the deployment?