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I don't even remember the difference.
There were actually three kinds of USAF O-2 pilots. A small number of poor boogers flew the O-2B model, derisively known as the Bullsh*t Bomber. It was a Psy Ops plane with a huge set of loudspeakers and a leaflet drop chute. The pilots were not Forward Air Controllers at all.
Of those flying the O-2A (with more radios plus rockets and other gear) were all Forward Air Controllers, but they were divided into "A" and "B" levels. "A" FACs were (ideally) all former fighter pilots with a (supposedly) better knowledge of aerial weapons, and their proper use - including their UNsafe use. To work with US troops in close enemy contact, you had to be an "A" FAC.
"B" FACs were fully qualified air strike commanders, but could only work targets that didn't involve ground troops.
I was an "A" Fac by virtue of having gone through "Instant Fighter Pilot School" where we flew obsolete fighters, dropped practice bombs, strafed and generally had a hoot of a time in the sunny skies of New Mexico. However, in the real world of combat, not one "B" Fac was ever prevented from helping some poor squad of grunts who got themselves into a fire fight and needed help soonest. Ironically, I found myself in a job for most of my tour that didn't involve running any kind of airstrikes at all!
But that's the subject of my next book...
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