Willie Pete
The white smoke of the FAC’s white phosphorous
(WP) marking rocket was the key element of visual communications with the
high-flying fighters. The Willie
Pete’s smoke was highly visible on a clear day, in light winds, and in open
areas such as this one. (Note the smoke cloud’s size in comparison to
Captain Ralph Utterback’s O-2, which is shown above and to the left of the
smoke.) However, on windy days with the point of impact beneath three layers
of jungle canopy, the mark was less effective.
At night, you needed a bright moon or a flare to help a WP mark be
useful at night.
