These aircraft had initially been sourced by the CIA backed Civil Air Transport from the bone yard at Clark Field AB, Philippines and were to be used by anti-Sukarno rebels.

[3]: 24 On 26 December 1961, Washington issued new regulations directing that all Farm Gate missions would include at least one South Vietnamese national on board every aircraft.

While the aircraft were often piloted by American "advisers," for training purposes, it was required by Washington that a South Vietnamese be part of the crew on board any combat missions.

In the event an aircraft did get shot down in hostile territory, the presence of a Vietnamese crewman would be enough to dodge potential accusations of violating the Geneva Accords (actual interpretation of this regulation was somewhat liberal, however).

There were some reports of hapless South Vietnamese enlisted men being thrown into the back seats of T-28s and flown into combat by American pilots after having been told not to touch anything in the cockpit.

The Farm Gate pilots launched with RVNAF escorts and delivered their ordnance, but, when mission reports were reviewed, the crews were told not to conduct independent air operations.

The SC-47s began flying airdrop and "psyop" leaflet and loudspeaker broadcast missions to forward bases where the United States Army's Special Forces teams were working with the rapidly growing South Vietnamese Civilian Irregular Defense Groups.

On 20 July 1963 an SC-47 crew flew an emergency night mission to Lộc Ninh and, disregarding enemy fire, strong winds, and blacked-out conditions, landed and rescued six severely wounded South Vietnamese troops.