Special Air Warfare and the Secret War in Laos
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Special Air Warfare and the Secret War in Laos Air Commandos 1964–1975 Joseph D. Celeski Colonel, US Army, Retired Air University Press Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Project Editor Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Maranda M. Gilmore Names: Celeski, Joseph D., author. | Air University Copy Editor (U.S.), issuing body. Sandi Davis Title: Special air warfare and the secret war in Laos : air Cover Art, Book Design, and Illustrations commandos, 1964–1975 / Joseph D. Celeski. Daniel Armstrong Description: First edition. | Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama : Air University Press, [2019] | “Air University.” | Composition and Prepress Production Includes bibliographical references and index. Nedra O. Looney Identifiers: LCCN 2019007132 | ISBN 9781585662906 Print Preparation and Distribution Subjects: LCSH: Vietnam War, 1961–1975—Campaigns– Diane Clark Laos. | Vietnam War, 1961–1975—Aerial operations, American. | United States. Air Force—Commando troops—History—20th century. | Special operations (Military science)—United States—History—20th century. | Special operations (Military science)—Laos—History— 20th century. | Laos. Royal Lao Air Force—History—20th century. Classification: LCC DS557.8.L3 C38 2019 | DDC 959.70434809594—dc23 | SUDOC D 301.26/6:C 73/8 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019007132 AIR UNIVERSITY PRESS Director and Publisher Lt Col Darin Gregg Published by Air University Press in June 2019 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed Air University Press or implied within are solely those of the authors and do 600 Chennault Circle, Bldg 1405 not necessarily represent the official policy or position of Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6010 the organizations with which they are associated or the https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/ views of the Air University Press, LeMay Center, Air University, United States Air Force, Department of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AirUnivPress Defense, or any other US government agency. This publication is cleared for public release and unlimited and distribution. Twitter: https://twitter.com/aupress This book and other Air University Press publications are available electronically at the AU Press website: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress. Air University Press Dedicated to the Air Commandos who served in the secret war in Laos and who fought and gave their lives in that conflict to prevent the communist takeover of the Royal Kingdom of Laos. It was through their efforts, vision, and bold leadership that Special Air Warfare was successful in that theater of operations. It is also dedicated to those who flew and fought alongside them in this struggle—the special operators of the Central Intelligence Agency, pilots of Air America, Bird and Sons, and Continental Air Services, Inc., as well as the efforts of the airmen and pilots of the Royal Laotian Air Force, the Thai volunteers, and the Hmong airmen and aircrews. iv Contents List of Illustrations xiii Preface xv About the Author xvii Acknowledgments xix Introduction xxiii PART I BACKGROUND 1 Jungle Jim: The Rebirth of the Air Commandos 3 Establishment of the Special Air Warfare Center 12 2 Fighting in the Kingdom of the Million Elephants 19 Lead-Up to War 20 Geopolitical Situation 24 Position, Geography, and Terrain 26 The Lao People 29 Transportation Infrastructure 31 Monsoons and Other Weather Effects 32 Government and Politics 33 Religion and Belief Systems 35 French Military Training 36 Operational Assessment 39 Enemy Threat—the Pathet Lao 40 Organization 41 Enemy Threat—the North Vietnamese Army 43 The Early Years—Advisory Assistance to the Pathet Lao 45 Widening War in South Vietnam and the Establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Trail 46 v CONTENTS NVA Organization 47 North Vietnamese Army, 1970-73 48 Government Forces—Forces Armées Royales 49 New Tactical Formation—the Groupement Mobile 50 Neutralist Armed Forces—Forces Armées Neutralistes 52 Irregular Forces 52 Reorganization 53 Other Government Military Services 53 3 Nascent Counterinsurgent Airpower: the Royal Lao Air Force and Air America 55 The Royal Lao Air Force 55 The Enabler—Air America (Proxy Airpower) 59 Air America Operations 62 Landing Sites 65 PART II COMBAT AIR ADVISORS AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE 4 Enter the Air Commandos: Project Water Pump 79 Building Laotian Airpower 84 Project Water Pump 85 John Wiren, Air America A-Team, Water Pump Pilot 87 Thai B-Team 90 Lao C-Team 90 T-28 Pilot Training Program 90 Training the Hmong 92 Detachment 6 in Combat 93 Effectiveness of Project Water Pump 95 The Final Years 98 5 Controlling Air Strikes with Laotian Forces: The Butterfly Concept 101 Need for an Air Ground Operations System 103 vi CONTENTS Tactical Air Control System 105 Ground Control 107 Controlling Airstrikes in Laos, 1964–67 109 Selected Butterfly Forward Air Controllers 117 Butterfly Forward Air Controller Procedures 122 Marking the Targets 123 Strike Assets 135 End of the Butterfly Forward Air Controller Concept and the Birth of the Ravens 137 PART III THE AIR WAR AND PROJECT 404 6 Project 404 151 Creation of Project 404 151 Project 404 Communications 156 Project 404, the 1970s 157 7 The Ravens 161 Birth of the Ravens 164 From Steve Canyon to Raven in the Field 168 Raven Forward Air Controller Aircraft 175 Rules of Engagement 179 The Threat 182 Operations 185 A Day in the Life of a Raven 185 Raven Boxes 190 Raven Operations, 1969–73 191 Training the Ravens’ Replacements 195 Effectiveness 197 Final Days in the Ravens 198 8 Project Lucky Tiger: The 606th Air Commando Squadron 201 Air Picture in Laos, 1964–66 202 Project Lucky Tiger 207 606th Air Commando Squadron Aircraft 209 20th Helicopter Squadron 211 vii CONTENTS A-26A Nimrods 214 Interdiction in Laos 216 Project Big Eagle 217 Working with Road Watch Teams 220 A Nimrod Mission 221 Aderholt Assumes Command 223 Lucky Tiger Combat Operations, January– April 1967 224 T-28D Night Interdiction 228 Search and Rescue Operations 229 Escort for Road Watch Teams 230 Effectiveness of the 606th Air Commando Squadron 230 606th Air Commando Squadron to the 56th Air Commando Wing 232 9 Air Operations Centers 235 Purpose of Air Operations Centers 237 Organization of Air Operations Centers 239 Maintenance 244 Intelligence 245 The Royal Lao Air Force, 1965–66 246 Maj Bill R. Keeler, AOC Commander, Vientiane, March–September 1966 248 Maj Jerome W. Klingaman, AOC Commander, Wattay, 1966 251 Gen Thao Ma’s Coup and Air Attack on Vientiane 255 Maj Robert Downs, AOC Commander, Savannakhet, 1966 257 Maj Donald R. Moody, AOC Commander, Luang Prabang, 1966–67 259 The Royal Lao Air Force, 1967–68 259 Maj Robert Downs, AOC Commander, Wattay, 1968 260 The “Dual Role” AOC, Savannakhet and Pakse, 1968 263 Maj Jerome W. Klingaman, AOC Commander, Pakse, 1968–69 263 Battle of Thateng 268 viii CONTENTS The Royal Lao Air Force, 1969–70 272 Lt Col Bill Keeler, “Father” of the Combined Operations Center 273 Maj Jack Squires, AOC Commander, Savannakhet, June–December 1969 274 Maj Jessie E. Scott, AOC Commander, Vientiane, 1969–70 275 The Royal Lao Air Force, 1970s 277 Maj Donald R. Moody, AOC Commander, Luang Prabang, 1970 277 Maj Jessie E. Scott, AOC Commander, Long Tieng, 1970–72 278 Maj John “Jack” Spey, AOC Commander, Pakse 1972 280 Sgt Michael I. Lampe, Combat Controller, LS20A, 1972 281 Ronald H. “Hap” Lutz Jr., Medical NCO, AOC, Savannkhet, 1970–72 282 Summary 285 PART IV SULLIVAN’S AIR FORCE: THE EXPANSION OF AIR COMMANDOS 10 The Ho Chi Minh Trail 299 Truck Routes 303 Foot Trails for Troop Movement 304 Waterways 304 Difficulties for Interdiction 305 11 56th Special Operations Wing: 1967–69 309 606th Air Commando Squadron 310 Air Commando Military Civic Action 312 U-6A and U-10D Detachments 315 21st Special Operations Squadron 315 Igloo White Missions 319 56th Special Operations Wing in Laos, 1967–69 320 Capt Noah E. “Ed” Loy, T-28D Zorro, Night Interdiction 315 Other Events, 1967 323 ix CONTENTS Jets versus Props—Sullivan Seeks an Air Force 324 1968 328 A-1 Skyraider Squadrons 333 Capt Charlie W. Brown, T-28D Zorro 334 Capt Richard E. Diller, A-1 Firefly 336 Maj Don Meek, Instructor Pilot, Detachment 1, Water Pump 337 1969 340 Helicopter Trap, Bolovens Plateau 342 Maj Robert L. Hoffman, 22nd Special Operations Squadron Zorro 343 Special Operations Combat Control Teams 345 Forward Air Guide Course 346 Success of Special Air Warfare 348 12 Psychological Operations—A Force Multiplier 351 Propaganda 353 Royal Lao Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Capability 354 Laotian Belief Systems Used in Psychological Warfare 356 The 1960s 358 Air Commandos 358 Air America 359 PSYOP Campaign against the Ho Chi Minh Trail 360 Air Commando Participation in the PYSOP Campaign against the Ho Chi Minh Trail 362 606th Special Operations Squadron, U-10 Detachment 362 Effectiveness of Psychological Warfare Programs 364 13 Special Air Warfare in Laos: 1970–75 373 C-123K Candlesticks 374 CH-53C Helicopters 376 1971 377 1972 379 Combat Control Team Beacon Placement 380 Forward Air Guide Course in the 1970s 383 Project 404 Combat Controller 385 x CONTENTS 1973 388 1974 388 1975 388 Epilogue 401 Propaganda 401 Lessons of Laos 404 Special Air Warfare 406 Use of Special Operation Forces—an Essential Capability 410 Appendix A List of US Ambassadors to Laos during the Laotian Civil War 413 Appendix B Protocols to the Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos 415 Appendix C Lao Communist Organization 423 Appendix D Chronology of Special Air Warfare and Counterinsurgency