Company Management, Administration, and Ground Support II – at the times of Air America Part 1: 1959-1973 by Dr. Joe F. Leeker

First published on 24 August 2015, last updated on 10 July 2020

IV) Widening operations: The CAT-Air America-Air Asia complex (April 1959-1973)

As has been shown in the first part of this file, the CIA, as the owner of CAT Incorporated (renamed Air America Inc. in 1959), controlled the Company by committees that met at Washington or New York and whose decisions had to be executed by the Management in the “Field” that is in the Far East. In 1989, the CIA described Air America even as “the largest of the CIA’s proprietaries”:

Background material about Air America Inc. Memorandum for the record dated 14 August 1989, sent to Congressman Jack Russ upon his request1

It will also be recalled that a CIA-Proprietary was not equivalent to a US Government-owned corporation. For the CIA-Proprietary can do and did covert operations, as it was controlled only by CIA Headquarters2 and by a US Government Committee formerly called the 303 Committee,3 but not by the Congress. Government-owned corporations, however, have to be incorporated by Congress and have to submit their budgets to Congress, so that their actions are more or less public and evidently exclude covert operations.4 As the holding company of the complex, the Airdale Corporation, later renamed The Pacific Corporation, was responsible for financing. The Board of Directors, which was composed of CIA men and what has been called “business-friends of the Agency”5 and whose Executive Committee made the decisions in day-to-day business, was responsible for having the guidelines of CIA policy observed by the Company. On the other hand, the “Field” Head

1 See no.5, in: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP92M00732R000700070024-8.pdf . 2 In the case of the CAT-Air America-complex, this was the CIA’s Deputy Director for Support. See, for example, CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 3 For the 303 Committee and its predecessors (the 5412 Committee, the Special Group, and others see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oversight_of_United_States_covert_operations . This committee consisted of the President or his representative and high representatives of State and Defense; it approved, disapproved or modified covert operation proposals submitted by the CIA. 4 See the quotation from the ODNI Report, July 2011, p.27, made in my file Company Management, Administration, and Ground Support I – at the times of CAT (1947-1959), p.11. 5 Leary, Perilous missions, p.150. 1

Offices at Taipei sent across the Pacific Ocean reports, propositions, and requests that were discussed and approved or rejected by the Board of Directors during their meetings at New York or Washington. This is why in this file, too, there are two main sections: Boards and Committees and Management. Again, the list of CAT, Air Asia and Air America personnel given here is necessarily incomplete, as only those names are mentioned that appear in the – mostly written – sources that were accessible to the author.

1) Backstage Between 1959 and 1964, there was a long dispute inside the CIA. The question was whether Air America should remain under the Deputy Director for Support (DD/S) or be transferred to the Deputy Director for Plans (DD/P), who also ran the Clandestine Services. After US President Kennedy had directed the CIA on 9 March 1961 to run the secret war in Laos, complaints came from CIA “in the field about Doole and Grundy, saying that they might know how to run an airline operation but they didn’t know how to run a war”.6 Apparently, similar complaints had also come from Hugh Grundy’s “Assistant” L. Brentlinger, who represented the CIA.7 From 12 to 15 December 1961, there was a conference at Washington attended by CIA and Air America about how to improve the situation. As a result, the position of a Senior Air Operations Officer (SAO) was created who was to be responsible for all Agency air operations for Southeast Asia, and the person named was Col. “Heinie” Aderholt (stationed at Takhli), who was later succeeded by Col. Blizzard (stationed at Clark). Similarly, the CIA overruled the opposition of George Doole and Hugh Grundy against the creation of the office of a Regional Director for Southeast Asia as an Air America counterpart to the SAO, who – although also the Base Manager of Bangkok – was to be in charge of all Air America operational flying in Thailand, Laos, and South Vietnam. In this way, the CIA believed to have established a mechanism to bypass Doole and Grundy in favor of a decision-making by the Regional Director. Grundy immediately designated Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis, who had once supervised the Booklift operation in Tachikawa, as Acting Regional Director. In May 62, former USMC Colonel John P. McMahon became Regional Director for Southeast Asia.8 Indeed, Recommendation No. 28 of the Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT) of 1962 said: “That the Deputy Director (Support) direct CAT to appoint a senior task force commander for covert operations in Southeast Asia and assure that he is given local authority.”9 In his comment dated 1 May 62, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Support Colonel Lawrence K. White said: “CONCUR. Effective 15 January 62, the position of Regional Director for Southeast Asia was established with Headquarters in Bangkok. [erased] This position has been temporarily filled by the appointment of Mr. Ronald E. Lewis, who has been with CAT since December 1946, and who most recently has been General Manager for Air America at Tachikawa, Japan, in charge of the [erased, i.e. Booklift] Operation. The total Regional Staff for Southeast Asia is Mr. Ronald E. Lewis (Regional Director), Capt. Fred Walker (Regional Chief Pilot), Mr. Ajor Brigada (Regional Operations Manager), Mr. Jackson L. Forney (Regional Technical Services Manager), Mr. William P. Cagney (Regional Traffic Manager), Mr. William D. Barrus (Regional Security Chief), Mr. C.Y. Wong (Regional Communica- tions Supervisor and in charge of the Flight Following Network). Additionally, there is assigned a project chief pilot for each special type of aircraft. As a permanent replacement for

6 Declassified Summary of Material from the History of Air America, from the Official “Secret” History prepared by the C.I.A., pp.24/5, in: UTD/Fink/B22F12. 7 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 328/9, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 8 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 385-89 plus 399, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 9 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 2

Mr. Lewis as Regional Director for Southeast Asia, the company has contracted to employ Colonel John P. McMahon, who will retire from the Marine Corps at the end of April after more than 20 years of service. He will assume his duties at Bangkok as soon as possible after the necessary indoctrination at the Taipei Office of the company.”10

DD/S, Memo of 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport”, p.46

It seems, however, that this CIA plan was undermined by the Base Managers of Vientiane, Udorn, and Saigon who ignored any supervisory pretentions of the Bangkok-based Regional Director SEA, as did President Hugh Grundy, who did not delegate any additional authority to the Bangkok Regional Director.11 Anyway, as late as February 1964, the Distribution list of the Operations Circular not only had an RDSEA (Regional Director, SEA), but also an MTSSEA (Manager Technical Services, SEA), an RASEA (probably Regional Accountant, SEA), an RCP (Regional Chief Pilot),12 and, as can be seen below, there was also an RSC/SEA (Regional Security Chief, SEA). As to other recommendations of the CIA’s Inspector General, the DD/S, Colonel L.K. White, was more sceptical: “Recommendation No. 23: That the Deputy Director (Support) make no immediate change in the system of DD/S management of CAT. Comment: CONCUR […] In providing direction for the allocation and the movement of the company’s fleet and personnel, overt and covert activities are inseparable.”13 “Recommendation No.24: That the Deputy Director (Support) designate a senior officer to serve on his own Staff as a full-time project officer. Comment: NON-CONCUR. It is felt that the project14 can be run best by the continued use of a committee composed of representatives of the Agency components concerned. The committee’s principal function is to coordinate the air support requirements of the Clandestine Services with the company’s requirements for maintaining its

10 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 11 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, p. 542, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 12 Distribution, Operations Circular of 3 Feb. 64, kindly faxed to the author by Ward Reimer. 13 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 1, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 14 That is the CAT-Air America-Air Asia complex. 3 overt posture. The decisions of this committee for the execution of current air operations, the building of capability, and forward planning are carried out by the Managing Director of the company who is the case officer and maintains liaison with the using elements of the Agency. We do not believe that another senior full-time staff officer added to the Office of the DD/S will contribute to providing a bridge between operations and administrative requirements. The bridge will still have to be provided by the coordinated efforts of the committee. […] The President of CAT, as General Manager, must continue to have over-all supervision and responsibility for all activities being carried out by his subordinates.”15 Colonel White, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Support (DD/S) then rejected the three main reproaches he had found in the Inspector General’s Survey – “a. CAT has failed to meet the operational requirements of the Clandestine Services by providing a reserve of planes and pilots together with the necessary maintenance services. b. CAT management is over- emphasizing the commercial aspects of the business to the detriment of clandestine services. c. CAT management’s insistence on controlling all air operations and communications is wrong”16 – reproaches that apparently voiced the opinion of the Clandestine Services who wanted to have CAT/Air America placed under the CIA’s Deputy Director for Plans (DD/P). So, DD/S proved that CAT’s and Air America’s performance did meet the operational requirements of the Clandestine Services: “We are not aware of any specific flying require- ment which was permitted to go without response.”17 As the Company was officially under Taiwanese jurisdiction, “to all of these supervisory authorities, the company must present the facade of an orthodox business venture, seeking profitable ways to provide flying and maintenance service to its customers, and properly recording all transactions on its books. […] Air America […] must maintain its commercial posture before the United States authorities.”18 To the question of control, Colonel White answered that “it would be absolutely unsound for the management of any organization of this size and complexity to be getting its orders from more than one source.”19 In a Progress Report dated 11 December 62, regarding Inspector General’s Survey of the CAT-Air America complex, CIA’s Deputy Director for Support informed the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence that the CAT-Air America complex was no longer placed under the Developments Project Division (DPD) of the CIA, but had been placed under the Air Branch of the Special Operations Division (SOD) in late 1962,20 so was still under the Deputy Director for Support. And so, the long controversy between DD/S and DD/P, during which Grundy and Doole sided with the DD/S, ended only on 7 July 1964, when the Director of CIA, John McCone, issued a directive that Air America was to remain in DD/S.21 CIA control of their property, the CAT-Air America complex, also included Monthly Reports called “Memorandum for the Record” that were written by the staff of the Deputy

15 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 2, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 16 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 8, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 17 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 9, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 18 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 11, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 19 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, p. 13, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 20 Memo of 11 December 62, Deputy Director Support to Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, p.1, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260979.pdf . 21 Declassified Summary of Material from the History of Air America, from the Official “Secret” History prepared by the C.I.A., pp.23-26, in: UTD/Fink/B22F12. 4

Director for Support. The reports for August/September 65,22 October/November 65,23 January 66,24 and February/March 6625 have been released in 2009, so give an idea of what was of interest to the CIA. The sections of these reports dealt with Operations, especially Aircraft accidents, Fleet planning, Personnel, and Miscellaneous. Based on reports from the Air America Flight Information Centers at Saigon and Udorn, CIA Headquarters approved the use of 2 pilots on Air America Beech 18s on 30 August 65.26 There was also a discussion in August and September 65 about the feasibility of using Block to block flying time as a basis for customer flying time, but nothing was changed.27 The internal CIA discussion about financing the acquisition of new aircraft for Air America is well illustrated by the following statement: “In mid-August [1965] the DDCI28 approved acquisition by [erased]29 of: one Caribou aircraft, four additional Beech aircraft (bringing the Beech inventory to 30) and fifteen Porter aircraft (bringing the Porter inventory to 22 aircraft). The justification for these additional aircraft had been approved by the ExComAir30 on 29 July 1965, and the Chairman ExComAir recommended approval of the acquisitions to the DDCI by memorandum [erased] on 30 July 65.”31 From 1966 to at least 1969, the “boss” of the CAT-Air America-Air Asia Management inside CIA was the CIA’s Deputy Director for Support, R.L. Bannerman.32

2) Boards and Committees

A) The Pacific Corporation Since 1960, the procedures of financing seem to have been simplified, as not only the purchase of aircraft were submitted to and then mostly approved by the Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd, but also appropriation requests for instrument spares and other equipment.33 This makes believe that employees of the CIA’s Office of Finance, who had run the Airdale Corporation since 1950, were also among the members of the Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd, so that the “bankers” themselves – the Airdale Corporation,

22 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for August/September 1965, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196508.pdf . 23 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for October/November 1965, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196510.pdf . 24 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for January 1966, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196608.pdf . 25 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for February/March 1966, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196511.pdf . 26 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for August/September 1965, p. 1, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196508.pdf . 27 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for August/September 1965, p. 2, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196508.pdf . 28 DDCI = Deputy Director for Central Intelligence 29 Probably HBILKA, CIA code for the CAT-Air America complex. 30 ExComAir was the CIA’s Executive Committee for Air Proprietaries created on 5 February 1963 as a result of the recommendations of the Inspector General’s Survey of Air Activities dated February 62. Chairman was Larry Houston. For more details see the letter dated 24 January 63, CIA’s Executive Director Lyman B. Kirkpatrick to Chairman, ExComAir, online at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/5829/CIA- RDP80B01676R000100150020-5.pdf , released in 2003. See also Robbins, Air America, pp. 70/1, and Leary, CIA history, formerly in: UTD/Leary/B6F7, now probably in Leary/UTD/B35. 31 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for August/September 1965, p. 3, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196508.pdf . 32 See Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for February/March 1966, p. 4, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196511.pdf and Commendation dated 2 July 69, online at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05266388.pdf . 33 See, for example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 12 April 60, in: UTD/CIA/B6F5. 5 which had been renamed The Pacific Corporation on 7 October 5734 – had not to be involved each time CAT, Air America or Air Asia needed money. As early as June 1959, the Directors of the Pacific Corporation were no longer limited to the 3 men from the CIA’s Office of Finance, but were 5 members of the Air America Board of Directors. On 15 June 59, only George Doole (President of the Pacific Corporation) and Brackley Shaw (Secretary of the Company) were present at the regular annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Corporation. “The Secretary announced that the books of the Corporation showed that the only stockholder of the Corporation is Sigler & Co., owing 100 shares. Since a Proxy from Sigler & Co. was held by Mr. Doole, granting him full voting power, all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation were represented by Proxy at the meeting.”35 This means that George Doole ran the Pacific Corporation like a monarch, controlled only by the office of the CIA’s Deputy Director for Support. George Doole than reported that “the Company”, i.e. the Pacific Corporation had “purchased on March 31, 1959, from CAT Incorporated (now Air America Inc.) all the stock held by that company in Civil Air Transport Company Limited, amounting to 1,585 shares”, awaiting the approval of the Chinese Government “of this company as an approved foreign investor.”36 Then the following were nominated, seconded and unanimously approved as directors of The Pacific Corporation: Samuel S. Walker, William A. Read, Arthur B. Richardson, Robert G. Goelet, and George A. Doole Jr.37 Later, even the entire Board of Directors of Air America was made Directors of the Pacific Corporation. Indeed, with the exception of Hugh Grundy, the remaining six Directors of Air America38 also appear as Directors of The Pacific Corporation in several minutes, with Samuel S. Walker presiding as Chairman of the Board.39

B) The Boards of Directors of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd In July 60, Air America’s Board of Directors consisted of 8 persons, i.e. Admiral Felix B. Stump (Washington, Chairman of the Board), Samuel S. Walker (Washington, Vice- Chairman), George A. Doole, Jr (Washington, Vice-Chairman), James B. Ames (Washington, Member), Robert G. Goelet (Washington, Member), Hugh L. Grundy (Taipei, Member), William A. Read (Washington, Member), and Arthur B. Richardson (Washington, Member). The same persons were also members of the Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited.40 Meetings were held at The Hanover Bank, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York. The Minutes were signed by Washington attorney Brackley Shaw. As before, the Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee of that month were summarized for and noted by the Board. After discussing the inadequacy of the H-19 helicopters for the difficult operating conditions in Laos, the Board “resolved, that the Management of this Company and all personnel concerned with the Company’s operations in Vientiane be commended for an excellent performance under extremely difficult conditions”.41

34 See the Organizational chart of the Pacific Corporation, in: UTD/CIA/B1F10. 35 Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Pacific Corporation of 15 June 1959, online readable at: 01http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/195901.pdf . 36 Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Pacific Corporation of 15 June 1959, online readable at: 01http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/195901.pdf . 37 Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Pacific Corporation of 15 June 1959, online readable at: 01http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/195901.pdf . 38 William Read had apparently resigned in 1973; in April 73, he still was a member of the Board of Directors of Air America, but no longer in November 73 (Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of air America Inc. of 17 April 73 and 15 November 73 (both in: UTD/CIA/B4F3). 39 For example, Minutes of the Board of Directors of The Pacific Corporation of 30 October 73, in: UTD/CIA/ B1F6, and of 16 March 74, in: UTD/CIA/B1F6. 40 (Anonymous), The Pacific Corporation, in: UTD/Leary/B45F3. This undated paper is probably of 1963. 41 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 19 July 60, in: UTD/CIA/ B3F1. 6

The Board of Directors of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd in 1970/71 (Air America documentary Flying men, flying machines, at 9.03 minutes)

The same persons were still members of Air America’s Board of Directors in 196242 and 1963, but at that time, meetings were held at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co, 350 Park Avenue, New York. In 1962 the minutes were signed by G. Walker Gilmer, but in 1963 by James H. Bastian. As before, the Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee of that month were summarized for and noted by the Board, and the actions taken thereby were ratified. Sometimes, aircraft lost and acquired were mentioned.43 In 1966, Air America’s Board of Directors still met at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co, 350 Park Avenue, New York, but an additional member had joined the Board and remained there for several years: General Charles P. Cabell, former Deputy Director of the CIA.44 In 1967 and 1968, the members of the Board were still the same, the Minutes of the Executive Committee were still summarized and noted by the Board, and the Minutes were still signed by James H. Bastian. Items discussed were financial statistics, certain accidents, and the purchase and sale of aircraft.45 On 16 June 69, the meeting of the stockholders of Air America Inc., i.e. George Doole as President of the Pacific Corporation and James Bastian as Secretary, nominated, seconded and elected the usual persons as members of the Board of Directors of Air America Inc., i.e. Messrs. Ames, Cabell, Doole, Goelet, Grundy, Read, Richardson, Stump and

42 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 21 August 1962, online at: 0http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 43 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2; see also, for example, the Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 September 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 44 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 18 January 66, in: UTD/CIA/ B3F5. 45 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 May 67, in: UTD/CIA/ B3F5 or of 16 January 68, in: UTD/CIA/B3F6. 7

Walker.46 So nothing new in 1969 and 1970, as to the members and the secretary of the Board and as to the items discussed, although the meetings were sometimes held at Air America’s Washington Office. In 1969, we learn that Air America had loaned more than 1 million dollars from Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in the past and that “the Company is presently paying an interest rate of 9% per annum.”47 But in May 1970 we learn that Air America has loaned more than 8 million dollars to Actus Technology Inc.48 In 1972, General Cabell was no longer a member of the Board, as he had died on 25 May 71. A new member was Paul C. Velte, who had replaced George Doole as CEO and Managing Director of Air America on 1 September 1971 and so had become a member of Air America’s Board of Directors.49 Yet, in spite of his official retirement, Paul Velte’s predecessor George A. Doole Jr remained a member of the Board of Directors of Air America even several years after the end of that Company, and so we find him, for example, at the meeting of the Board of 9 November 1977.50 The big problem of 1972 was the discontinuation of Southern Air Transport’s Far East operations out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, as of 30 June 72 and the impact this had on Air America.51 On 13 June 72, Admiral Felix B. Stump died, who had been Chairman of the Board of Directors since 16 December 1958 and a member of the Executive Committee since 20 July 65.52 After the death of Admiral Stump, the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. needed a new Chairman, and so on 15 August 72, the Board elected Samuel S. Walker as Chairman and George A. Doole Jr as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.53 The next action taken at that meeting was the election of the “following as an Executive Committee to manage the business and affairs of the Company during intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board: Paul C. Velte Jr, Chairman; George A. Doole Jr.”54

C) The Executive Committee of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited From 1959 to the end of August 1963, there were separate minutes for the meetings of the Executive Committee of Asiatic Aeronautical/Air Asia and of the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. The reason was that the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. initially met only once every 2 months and since June 1961 once every month, while the Executive Committee of Asiatic Aeronautical/Air Asia met twice a month most of the time, apparently always at Washington or New York. As to AACL, comparable to the decisions made by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee only discussed actions to be taken for Asiatic

46 Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Air America Inc. of 16 June 1969, online readable at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196907.pdf . According to the New York Times of 5 April 1970, Admiral Felix B. Stump had been the Commander in Chief US Forces Pacific (CINCPAC) 1953-59, while Samuel A. Walker was a managing partner of Joseph Walker & Sons, a New York banking house, Robert G. Goelet had extensive holdings in New York real estate, William A. Read was a retired member of the investment house of Dillon, Read & Co, and Arthur B. Richardson was formerly the president of Chesebrough-Pond’s (Richard Halloran, “Air America’s Civilian Façade Gives It Latitude in East Asia”, in: The New York Times, 5 April 1970, online readable on the CIA homepage at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/197009.pdf) . James B. Ames was a partner of Ropes, Gray, Best, Coolidge & Rugg of Boston, while former member General C.P. Cabell had been Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (see “Directors of Air America, Inc. and Air asia Co. Ltd.”, at https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80R01720R000500060026-9.pdf . 47 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 19 August 69, in: UTD/CIA/B4F1. 48 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 19 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B4F1. 49 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 18 August 71, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 50 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 9 November 77, in: UTD/CIA/B4F5. 51 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 17 May 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 52 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 20 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 53 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 15 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 54 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 15 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 8

Aeronautical Co Ltd in 1959, and from 25 August 59 onwards, after changing the Company’s name, for Air Asia Co Ltd. The items discussed were more or less the same as before: purchase and sale of aircraft, contracts, competition from other airlines, financial reports, banking facilities and signatories of the Company bank accounts, Personnel statistics, and so on. Sometimes, accidents of Company aircraft were mentioned.55 As to Air America Inc., the Executive Committee of Air America discussed items like the acquisition of aircraft that were to be US-registered (like the DC-6s), financing, banking facilities, personnel statistics, flying contracts, and Inter-Company Flight Statistics.56 It can be assumed that from the beginning, Air America’s Managing Director and CEO George A. Doole Jr was one of the members of the Executive Committees, and it is known that Admiral Felix B. Stump was a member of the Executive Committee since 20 July 65.57 Initially, the Minutes were always signed by Washington attorney Brackley Shaw, while no other members were mentioned.58 Again, the draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd were also “approved for submission to the next meeting of the Board,”59 as were the draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. “for submission to the next meeting of the Board”60 of Directors of Air America. In 1961, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited were signed by Albert G. Hewitt, who served as Secretary for the meetings,61 as were the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc.62 On 31 December 60, Brackley Shaw had resigned as a Director of the Company and as its General Counsel.63 Again, both Executive Committees also approved the Minutes of both Boards of Directors, and again, no members are mentioned.64 On 17 January 61, the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. made a resolution regarding the creation of an Executive Committee that, “during intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors”, was to manage “the business and affairs of the corporation”. The number of its members was limited to four – “three of whom must be from the Board of Directors”, the forth was apparently the secretary. Initially, the members of this Executive Committee were George A. Doole Jr (Chairman), Samuel S. Walker, William A. Read, and Albert G. Hewitt (Secretary). A hand-written note says that at the Meeting of the Board of Directors of 21 December 65, the Executive Committee was augmented to five members.65

55 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 12 April 60, (in: UTD/CIA/B6F5), where the early accidents of Helios B-833 and B-835 are mentioned. 56 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 12 April 60 (in: UTD/ CIA/B3F1), of 11 July 61 (in: UTD/CIA/B3F2), or of 13 November 62 (in: UTD/CIA/B3F3). 57 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 20 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 58 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Asiatic Aeronautical Company Limited of 7 April 59, in: UTD/CIA/B6F4, and the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 12 April 60, in: UTD/CIA/B3F1. 59 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 25 August 59, in: UTD/CIA/B6F4. 60 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 12 April 60, in: UTD/CIA/B3F1. 61 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 14 February 61, in: UTD/CIA/B6F6. 62 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 23 May 61, in: UTD/ CIA/B3F2. 63 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 17 January 61, in: UTD/CIA/B3F2; Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 384/5, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 64 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 10 October 61, in: UTD/CIA/B6F6, or the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 11 July 61, in: UTD/CIA/B3F2. 65 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 17 January 61, in: UTD/CIA/B3F2. 9

Resolution to create an Executive Committee: Board of Directors of Air America, 17 Jan.61 (in: UTD/CIA/B3F2)

The items discussed were still day-to-day business like statistics or banking facilities.66 In 1962, the Minutes of both Executive Committees were signed by James H. Bastian or G. Walker Gilmer. On 21 August 62, the Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd again elected George Doole (Chairman), Samuel Walker, and William Read as members of the Executive Committee.67 Items discussed included Inter-Company statistics (Flying hours, Financial, and Personnel). While the Executive Committee of Air America decided against a request from Pan American to assist them in building up a local air carrier in Korea68 – perhaps in order to avoid too close contacts with a commercial airline –, the aircraft given by the Soviet Union to the Coalition Government of Laos in late 1962 – 6 Li-2s, 4 An-2s or An-14s, and 1 Mi-4 – were listed as “Competition from other contractors in Southeast Asia.”69 As the Air America aircraft flown in Laos were not US-registered, in 1962, the Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd discussed contracts related to Laos,70 fleet planning,71 accidents,72 flight crew

66 For example, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Company Limited of 10 October 61, in: UTD/CIA/B6F6, or the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 11 July 61, in: UTD/CIA/B3F2. 67 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 21 August 1962, online at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 68 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 13 November 62, in: UTD/CIA/B3F3. 69 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 11 December 62, in: UTD/CIA/B3F3. 70 For example the operation of L-20 Beavers in Laos in the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 23 January 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. In the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 27 March 62 (in: UTD/CIA/B7F1), we read that as of 7 March 62, USG Invoices FY61 amounting to more than §580,000 were still outstanding for flying in Laos. FY61 ended on 30 June 1961. In the meetings of 25 September 62, 9 October 62, and 30 October 62, reshaping of the entire SEA contracting after the end of MAAG was discussed (Minutes in: UTD/CIA/B7F1). 71 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 8 May 62, in: UTD/CIA/ B7F1. 72 For example the death of Charles T. Dieffenbach, when Helio B-837 crashed 75 miles north of Vientiane on 22 July 62: Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 31 July 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. 10 augmentations,73 maintenance contracts for Tainan,74 technical problems like the gross weight of the Helio,75 and there were many Appropriation Requests (AR) from Tainan for spare parts or for repairing Air America76 aircraft that had been damaged in Laos. The Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd also discussed items related to the former CAT “territory” like modifications of the Booklift contract out of Tachikawa,77 and, under the Service Contract that Air Asia had with CATCL, also items like an exchange of traffic rights with Cathay Pacific for flights out of Hong Kong,78 CATCL’s scheduled flights,79 or CATCL’s relations with competitors like Thai Airways,80 and of course – in nearly all Minutes – changes regarding the signatories of Company banking accounts. In 1963, the Minutes of Meeting of the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. were again signed by James Bastian or G. W. Gilmer – except for the meeting of 12 February 63, whose Minutes were signed by George A. Doole himself: Apparently, no secretary was available, and so Doole, who was one of the members of this Executive Committee, signed himself.81 What is interesting in these Minutes is that they reveal the way, how cooperation between Washington and the “Field”, i.e. the Management in the Far East worked inside Air America. In most cases, the Executive Committee received reports from the Field and noted or commented them. Decisions on important matters like the acquisition of new aircraft were made at Washington, but upon request or proposal made by the Field. So, in early 1963, the “Field” proposed to replace the 2 Apaches of 1958 operating in Cambodia at that time by 2 Aztec B’s of 1963; in this case, Washington’s Executive Committee was so delighted about this idea that on 12 February 63, they even proposed to acquire a third Aztec for operations in Laos. But the “Field” had to make the first step: “The field is to be requested to submit an appropriation request.”82 In March 63, the Vice Chairman, i.e. George Doole, reported to the Executive Committee on his recent SEA visit and commented “the shift in emphasis on Do-28 to aircraft of the Twin Beech type. A recent analysis of the modernized Beech C-45G was discussed briefly and a recommendation has been made by field management that efforts be directed toward standardizing on it insofar as practicable.” And so, on 9 April 63, “the Executive Committee approved in principle the purchase and modernization of two additional Beech D-18S or C-45G or H type aircraft for use in carrying out Southeast Asia flying contracts.”83 After receiving this principal green light, the acquisition und upgrading of further Beech 18s went quite smoothly by Appropriation Requests (AR), as, for example, on 14 May 63: “SA/P-AR-63-74, Twin Beech Acquisition and Upgrading, $197,000: The Executive Committee approved an appropriation of $197,000 for the purchase and modification of three Twin Beech D-18S aircraft and the modification of the two Twin Beech D-18S aircraft now owned by the Company. Pursuant to the Executive Committee general

73 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 22 May 62, in: UTD/CIA/ B7F1. 74 For example Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 23 January 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. 75 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 11 December 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. 76 For example Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 10 April 62, in: UTD/CIA/ B7F1. 77 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 14 February 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. 78 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 13 March 62, in: UTD/CIA/B7F1. Air Asia did this for CATCL according to the Service Contract it had with CATCL. 79 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 12 June 62, in: UTD/CIA/ B7F1. Air Asia did this for CATCL according to the Service Contract it had with CATCL. 80 For example, Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 26 June 62, in: UTD/CIA/ B7F1. Again according to the Service Contract between Air Asia and CATCL. 81 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 12 February 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 82 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 12 February 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 83 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 9 April 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4; emphasis is mine. 11 approval at its meeting of April 9, 1963, the Company has already purchased the three Beech D-18S aircraft – one for $20,500 (N137L), one for $19,000 (N9112R) and one for $12,000 (N9521Z).”84 As Air America’s Apaches and Beech 18s – like the DC-6s – were registered in the US, the Executive Committee of Air America was responsible. Apart from that, the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. discussed the usual Inter-Company Statistics (Flying hours, Financial, and Personnel), Contracts (new Contracts, Contract Flying, and Repricing), Banking Facilities, and even approved buying a L-1049H – “an opportunity for the profitable utilization of available cash by the purchase and re-sale under conditional sale or lease purchase arrangement of a Lockheed Constellation 1049H or 1649H aircraft. The initial cost of such aircraft with some spares is estimated at $400,000 to $450,000. […] The Executive Committee approved the purchase and re-sale of a Lockheed Constellation 1049H or 1649H aircraft and authorized Management to negotiate the details.”85 As to the Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd, in their 1963 meetings, they discussed most of the points that had also been discussed in 1962, but also several leasing contracts for office space (Hong Kong, Taipei) plus construction projects: On 8 January 63, the Executive Committee approved the acquisition and installation of Communications and Navigational Aid Facilities in Laos at a cost of $107,00086 In May 63, there was a customer interested in buying a PBY-5A from Air Asia, but “although present utilization of the two PBY5As is very low, it was the consensus of the Committee that they should be retained if any foreseeable need exists.”87 Four trucks for ATOG operations at Vientiane were bought in June 63.88 On 13 June 63, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd reported that “requisitions from the Far East offices were received in Washington for the following additional pilots: Senior First Offices Helio – Vientiane: 5; Senior First Offices C46/C47 – Vientiane: 5; Senior First Offices H34 – Udorn: 3.”89 From 27 August 63 onwards, the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd held their meetings together, resulting in combined Minutes. Meetings were held twice a month, and the Minutes were most of the time signed by James H. Bastian. Again, the draft Minutes of the Meetings of the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. and of the Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd were also approved “for submission to the Board”.90 Items discussed also combined the spheres of both companies. At the beginning, there were always statistical reports – operating statistics, financial reports, and Personnel statistics. The next issue was always “South East Asia Contract Flying” with accidents and new aircraft assigned to operations in Laos and South Vietnam. Then we have news from contracts the Company held with the US military in traditional CAT territory (Japan, Taiwan, Okinawa or Korea). Often, we then have miscellaneous items recommended or introduced by the “Field” and approved by the Executive Committee like a summer bonus for indigenous employees on Okinawa or changes in the CATCL schedules.91 At the end of the meetings, the financial section often had three parts: a) The Summary of Approved Appropriations for the month preceding the meeting is a report giving the global sum and major items. b) Appropriation Requests (AR) submitted to the present meeting of the Executive Committee were listed in detail, i.e. with the AR number and the amount requested, then considered and approved in

84 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 14 May 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 85 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 14 May 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 86 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 8 January 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 87 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 14 May 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 88 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 9 July 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 89 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 13 August 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 90 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 27 August 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 91 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 27 August 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 12 most of the cases. c) In the part about “Banking Facilities”, the Executive Committee approved actions to be taken by the Banking Committee like opening or closing Company accounts and nominating or deleting signatories and at the end ratified actions taken by the Banking Committee.92 From 29 October 63 onwards, the Summary of Approved Appropriations appeared within the initial reports, and the list of Appropriation Requests was no longer printed in the Minutes at that time, but later reappeared. “Fleet Planning” became an important item considered during the meetings of the Executive Committee,93 especially due to the war coming up first in Laos and then in South Vietnam. Even when no new aircraft had to be bought, most of the money went to Air Asia Co Ltd. One example: “Summary of Approved Appropriations for September 1963 - $904,000: Approved Appropriations for September 1963 amounted to $904,000, a new high for the Company. The major item in the September appropriations included $253,000 for replacement of inventory items and for airframe parts; $278,000 for aircraft engine and constant speed drive overhaul and parts; $288,000 for aircraft purchases and modification thereof; $36,000 for construction of fixed structures; and $28,000 for tools and equipment. The remaining $21,000 of appropriations was for miscellaneous items.”94 In September 63, the loss of C-46Fs B-148 and B-150 was discussed.95 Inflation of local currencies also meant a problem: In October 63, “the unofficial exchange rate for Laotian kips reached 570 kip for each U.S. dollar. The official rate at which the Company deals is 80 kip per U.S. dollar. The Company maintains kip balances of approximately 835,000 which represents a costly investment in these times of extreme inflation, but in view of the Company’s sizable local expenditure in Vientiane these balances cannot be reduced.”96 The 1964 meetings of the Executive Committees of Air Asia Co Ltd and Air America Inc. did not differ very much from the procedures adopted in 1963. There were 2 meetings per month, the Committees also approved the draft minutes of the meetings of both Boards of Directors, and the Minutes of the Executive Committees were mostly signed by James H. Bastian. Meetings always began with some reports – statistics (Financial, Personnel, and Operating), the Summary of Approved Appropriations, and at that time often also Southeast Asia Contract Flying.97 For July 1964, the Operations Monthly Report of Air America Inc. sent to Washington has survived. It was written by the office of the Director of Flight Operations (DFO) and commented by the Vice President Flight Operations (VPFO). It was then sent to the Office of the President, who forwarded 2 copies to the Office of the Managing Director, Washington. The President would also send copies to all Vice Presidents (VPGA, VPT&S, VPTS, VPSLC, and VPFCA in this case), to the Treasurer-Controller, and to the Assistant Vice President. Other copies would go to all major stations and to some Taipei offices. The report had 2 parts: flight time statistics for the actual month and a forecast for the

92 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 10 September 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. On 15 January 63, the titles of the members of the Banking Committee were adjusted to the actual situation to become the President, the Secretary (formerly the Secretary- Legal Counsel), and the Treasurer (formerly the Treasurer-Controller). See the Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 15 January 1963, online readable at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196301.pdf . 93 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 29 October 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 94 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 29 October 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 95 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 24 September 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 96 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 29 October 1963, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 97 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 14 January 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 13 following month. The flight time statistics of the month were given for each individual aircraft, grouped by station and type of aircraft, also indicating the contract. Another section dealt with departures per station, indicating controllable and non-controllable delays. Another section presented the number of aircraft of other airlines handled per station.98

Operations Monthly Report for the month of July 1964, Air America Inc., (no. DFO-64-448) (probably in: UTD/WalkerB8F7)

The forecast of monthly flight time was written on the 1st day of the month it dealt with. This summary of estimations included Air America, CAT, and Southern AT operations and had several sections: total flight time; flight time by aircraft type; by station; by type of

98 Operations Monthly Report for the month of July 1964, Air America Inc., written by the DFO (no. DFO-64- 448) and commented by the VPFO on 18 August 64, probably in: UTD/Walker/B8F7. 14 operations; for every single aircraft indicating the contract; by station and type of aircraft; and by type of operations and type of aircraft.99

These 2 and the following 5 pages: Monthly Flight Time Forecast for July 1964, report no. DFO-64-358-F/14 dated 1 July 64 (in: UTD/Walker/B8F7)

99 Monthly Flight Time Forecast for July 1964, report no. DFO-64-358-F/14 dated 1 July 64, in: UTD/Walker/ B8F7. 15

As to the other decisions made by the Executive Committee in 1964, on 10 March 64, “the Executive Committee approved the construction of a one and one-half story stucco-masonry structure in Vientiane to provide offices for the Air Transport Operations Group (ATOG) and USAID Air Support Branch. The cost of the building [$17,675] is to be reimbursed under USAID Contract 439-342.”100 Again, Fleet Planning was an important item discussed at many meetings. For the meeting of 28 April 64, several details were listed as approved: C-46 B-920 was to be returned to US registration for operation in the Ryukyu Islands to commence 1 July 64; C-46s N1383N and N1386N were acquired for all-cargo operations; Helios B-871 and B- 873 were returned to Skyways Cargo; Do-28 N4225G was returned to Foreign Air Transport Development Inc.; and the Company’s 2 PBY-5As were to be overhauled.101 On 18 August 64, the Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd “elected the following as an Executive

100 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 10 March 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 101 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 28 April 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 16

Committee, to manage the business and affairs of the Company during intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board: George A. Doole Jr, Chairman: Samuel S. Walker; William A. Read.”102 On 12 November 64, the acquisition of Air America’s first PC-6A Turbo Porter was ratified,103 and 4 more Turbo Porters were ordered the same month.104 Another important subject in 1964 was the proposal to replace Air America’s operations in Laos by Seaboard World Services Inc.105 and relations with the Government of the Republic of China, which had become problematic after the crash of CAT C-46 B-908 on 20 June 1964.106 There was nothing new in the 1965 procedures of the Executive Committees of Air Asia Co Ltd and Air America Inc.: Again, there were 2 meetings per month, the Committees also approved the draft minutes of the meetings of both Boards of Directors, and the Minutes of the Executive Committees were mostly signed by James H. Bastian. Meetings again began with some statistics (Financial, Personnel, and Operating) and the Summary of Approved Appropriations,107 and the traditional “Fleet Planning” now focused on the idea of converting some Company Beech 18s to Volpar Turbo Beech aircraft.108 In addition to that, more aircraft were to join Air America’s fleet: On 4 May 65, the Executive Committee approved the acquisition of 15 additional Turbo Porter aircraft.109 On 6 July 65, the Executive Committee approved the purchase of another 4 Beech C-45s and 5 Bell 204B helicopters.110 From 29 September 65 onwards, the Minutes of Meetings of the Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. offered detailed lists of Air America aircraft damaged since the last meeting, giving date, tail number of the aircraft involved, cause, extent of damage, injuries, and the date when the aircraft will again be available to the customer.111 In 1966, the procedures of the Executive Committees of Air Asia Co Ltd and Air America Inc. were the same as before: Again, there were 2 meetings per month, the Committees also approved the draft minutes of the meetings of both Boards of Directors, and the Minutes of the Executive Committees were mostly signed by James H. Bastian. Again, some reports (financial, personnel, and operating statistics, plus – in the meantime – a section called “Major Aircraft Damage” and occasionally also “SEA Contract Flying”) opened the meetings, which were closed by financial questions like bank accounts (including changes of signatories) and “Appropriation Requests”, most of whom came from Tainan. Again, “Fleet Planning” was an important question, which this time focused on reequipping all Turbo

102 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 18 August 1964, online at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196414.pdf . 103 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 12 November 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 104 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 1 December 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 105 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 11 August 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 106 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 13 October 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 107 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 5 January 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 108 For example, Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 12 January 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 109 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 4 May 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 110 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 6 July 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 111 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 29 September 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 17

Porters with Garrett engines,112 the purchase of Bell 204B’s,113 Volpar conversions,114 and additional C-47s bailed from the USAF.115 A special feature was Contract Maintenance for the USAF aircraft – 112 F-100s, 108 F-105s and 160 F-4s at Tainan – in FY1967.116 The meetings that the Executive Committees of Air Asia Co Ltd and Air America Inc. held in 1967 were less spectacular, but followed the same pattern: reports (statistics, accidents) at the beginning and financial questions (Appropriation Requests, Bank accounts) at the end, minutes signed by James H. Bastian. From 14 November 67 onwards, the Minutes appeared as Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited, underlining by the new succession of the names that Air America was more important than Air Asia. Also from 1967 onwards, no signatories for the bank accounts were mentioned by name. Fleet Planning focused on the purchase of 5 Bell 205s,117 but the Field also submitted to the Executive Committee a “forecast of proposed capital expenditures for ground property and equipment additions during the period April 1, 1967 through March 31, 1968. Included in the forecast was $546,000 for the Saigon Base, $294,000 for the Vientiane Base, $116,000 for the Udorn Base and $1,017,000 for Tainan. In addition to the foregoing the Company will probably be requested to develop for its customers, at their expense, about $2,000,000 worth of facilities in Southeast Asia.” The Executive Committee expressed some reservations.118 During some days in November 67, most Filipino mechanics failed to report for work in South Vietnam.119 The Minutes of the meetings that the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited held in 1968 are not available, but the meetings that the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited held in 1969 followed the usual pattern: Reports (statistics, accidents) at the beginning and financial questions (Appropriation Requests, Bank accounts) at the end, minutes signed by James H. Bastian. However, Fleet Planning was no longer an important aspect, and when it came up, the Committee sometimes discussed the disposal of surplus aircraft.120 The reason was that in 1969, statistics went down: “Preliminary figures for the first nine days of February show flying activity down from January’s reduced level and down substantially from November, 1968.”121 “Flying activity for January totaled 20,707 hours or 668 hours per day as compared with a total of 21,150 hours or 682 hours per day for December. January and December flying was considerable below the average for the past few months.”122 One of the consequences

112 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 12 January 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 113 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 26 January 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 114 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 23 February 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 115 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 23 March 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 116 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 29 June 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 117 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 23 May 1967, in: UTD/CIA/B8F2. 118 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 25 July 1967, in: UTD/CIA/B8F2. 119 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 14 November 1967, in: UTD/CIA/B8F2. 120 “The Executive Committee authorized the sale of any Helio, DO-28 and C-45 aircraft which are surplus to the current needs” (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 8 July 1969, p.4, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3). 121 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 February 1969, p.1, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 122 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 25 March 1969, p.2, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 18 was a decrease in personnel strength ceiling from 11,690 to 11,000 in April 69.123 The personnel itself also decreased, month per month. One example: “Personnel on board totaled 9,562 at the end of October, 1969, down 75 from a month earlier. Vacancies were down 26 with a total of 495 at October 31. American personnel totaled 875 at the end of October, down 13 for the month. Flight personnel totaled 425, down two from a month earlier.”124 The meetings that the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited held in 1970 also followed the usual pattern: Reports (statistics, accidents) at the beginning and financial questions (Appropriation Requests, Bank accounts) at the end, minutes signed by James H. Bastian. The only issue in the “Fleet Planning” section was the conversion of several UH-34Ds to S-58Ts.125 Operating statistics remained more or less at the same level, but the total number of persons employed went down to 8953 at the end of November 70,126 although additional helicopter pilots had been hired.127 A frequent issue in 1970 were negotiations with the Far East Pilots’ Association (FEPA). On 10 March 70, the agreement reached was reported to the Executive Committee: “With regard to remuneration and work hours, the agreement provides for base pay of $24.25 per hour for Captains on jet aircraft, $20.25 per hour for Captains on other aircraft, $16.14 for First Officers on jet aircraft and $12.66 per hour for First Officers on other aircraft. The Captains and First Officers flying jet aircraft are guaranteed 80 hours per month and Captains and First Officers flying other equipment are guaranteed 70 hours per month. The hourly rates and monthly guarantee is effective January 1, 1970. The hourly rates will be increased by about 10 % on January 1, 1971 and the January 1, 1971 rates will be increased by another 10 % on January 1, 1972. The agreement is for a three year term. Captains and First Officers will also receive additional pay per flight hour depending upon their longevity with the Company. […] Project pay was set at $12.50 per flight hour effective February 20, 1970 and will increase to $13.50 per flight hour on January 1, 1971 and to $14.50 per flight hour on January 1, 1972. […] Station allowance will be $75.00 per month at Tachikawa and Yokota, $320 per month at Saigon, $215 per month at Udorn, $230 per month at Vientiane, $150 per month at Bangkok and Chiang Mai and $125 per month at Hong Kong. […] Duty-time scheduled maximum of 16 hours and elapsed maximum of 19 hours. Duty free time shall not be less than 10.5 consecutive hours between duty periods, including one 24 consecutive hour period in each seven days. Maximum days of service per month shall be 24.”128 The Minutes of the meetings that the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited held in 1971 are not available, but the meetings that the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited held in 1972 followed the usual pattern: Reports (statistics, accidents) at the beginning and financial questions (Appropriation Requests, Bank accounts) at the end, minutes signed by James H. Bastian – at least until 22 August, then by Mark L. Peterson. There were some acquisitions – Twin Otter N389EX,129 the Hughes 500s,130 and the Chinooks131 –, but operating statistics continued to

123 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 8 April 1969, p.3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 124 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 25 November 1969, p.2, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 125 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 28 July 70 and 24 November 70, in: UTD/CIA/B8F4. 126 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 22 December 70, in: UTD/CIA/B8F4. 127 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 9 June 70 and 14 July 70, in: UTD/CIA/B8F4. 128 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 March 70, pp.3-5, in: UTD/CIA/B8F4. 129 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 January 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 19 go down. As these statistics now give results by base, it is obvious that during all months recorded, flying went down especially in Bangkok, South Vietnam, and Yokota.132 On 30 June 72, Air America discontinued all operations at Kadena, Okinawa.133 Personnel statistics are not available for all months, but at the end of June 72, “Personnel on board totaled 8,531;”134 one and a half years later, on 30 November 73, the Company still had a total of 7,593 employees.135 What became longer and longer in 1972, was the monthly list of operational aircraft incidents and accidents, and by far most of them occurred in Laos. Other frequent items were new discussions with FEPA for a follow-on agreement,136 and litigations with dependents of former Air America employees who had died in accidents. On 15 August 72, the Board of Directors elected the “following as an Executive Committee to manage the business and affairs of the Company during intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board: Paul C. Velte Jr, Chairman; George A. Doole Jr.”137 So, decisions were now made by only 2 persons: CEO Velte and his predecessor Doole.

D) The Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited In later years, meetings of the Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited were quite rare. There was one on 11 July 1960, and as can be seen from the minutes, the following meeting was held only one year later, on 27 July 1961. Again, the meeting was held at Taipei, with CATCL Directors Wang Wen-San (Chairman), Y. C. Chen, H. K. Yuan, and Hugh L. Grundy present and George A. Doole Jr. absent. George Doole’s report was read, but 4 Officers of Air Asia Co Ltd appeared in person: Robert E. Rousselot (Vice President- Operations AACL) spoke about inadequate customs, immigration and quarantine facilities at several airports resulting in flight delays; Var M. Green (Vice President-Traffic & Sales AACL) talked about a light increase in sales activities; Henry Yuan (Vice President-General Affairs AACL) then spoke about relations with various authorities and competitive airlines; and Amos Hiatt (Treasurer-Controller AACL) spoke about CATCL’s financial situation. The Committee then ratified action taken by the Managing Director, i.e. the exchange of 3 C-46s with 3 C-46s owned by AACL and discussed the report to be submitted to the Meeting of the Shareholders.138 There was another meeting on 29 July 63 and then on 17 July 64, where four Officers of Air Asia Co Ltd appeared “before the meeting to report on services to the Company under the Services Contract. Appearances were made by Mr. T. L. Boyd, Vice President-Flight Operations, Mr. Var M. Green, Vice President-Traffic and Sales, Mr. H. K.

130 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 January 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 131 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 27 September and 10 October 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 132 On 30 June 72, Southern Air Transport discontinued all its services out of Yokota, which had involved 2 Boeing 727s leased from Air America (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 27 September and 9 May 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7). 133 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 13 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 134 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 22 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 135 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 8 January 74, in: UTD/CIA/B10F1. 136 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 27 September and 14 March 72, 25 April 72, 22 August 72, and 12 September 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 137 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 15 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 138 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 27 July 61, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F3. 20

Yuan, Vice President-General Affairs, Mr. Amos Hiatt, Treasurer-Controller.”139 In the mid- sixties, Henry P. Bevans also served as Legal Counsel for CAT.140 For the CATCL Board of Directors meeting of 7 August 1965, AACL’s Vice President-General Affairs Henry Yuan prepared a very pessimistic report showing that during the previous 1 ½ years, the Taiwanese Ministry of Communications had done much to create problems for CATCL. This was done by awarding new domestic and international routes to China Airlines instead of CAT and by taking away from CAT routes that they had had on Taiwan for many years – officially on the grounds that CATCL didn’t have sufficient aircraft and an adequate capitalization. But the real reason probably was that they considered CATCL to be not a Chinese, but an American company.141 After the crash of CAT C-46 B-908 near Taichung on 20 June 64, there was a very long discussion inside the CIA, whether the scheduled airline services of CATCL should be kept or should be phased out, and a first compromise was reached in early 1966 by the idea that the Chinese government should decide. So on 5 February 66, Admiral Felix B. Stump, Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Air America and Air Asia, met Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, explaining him that Air America and Air Asia were so heavily involved in fighting against Communism that it was not possible to expand the airline services of CATCL the way the Chinese government desired and that perhaps, CATCL had to be given up in favor of China Air Lines. The Generalissimo’s reaction is unknown,142 but in spite of all attempts made by the CIA and Air Asia’s management to sell the airline,143 CATCL continued to fly until their Boeing 727 B-1018 crashed in February 68.

139 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 27 July 64, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F4. 140 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 459, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 141 Report of VPGA before CATCL Board of Directors Meeting of 7 August 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B11F4. 142 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp.473-81, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4; Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for January 1966, at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196608.pdf . 143 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp.615-70, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5. 21

3) The Management

A) The Taipei Offices a) The President of Air America Inc. and his staff

CAT Building at 46, Chung Shan Road North, Section 2, Taipei, in 1967 (photo kindly submitted by Elizabeth Ping Chiang)

Officially, Air America, like CAT Incorporated,144 had its Headquarters at Washington DC – in 1959 at 918, 16th Street, N.W., Washington 6, DC,145 in 1960 at 801 World Center Building, Washington 6, DC,146 then (at least between 1961 and 1969) at 815 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington DC 20006,147 and then (at least between 1970 and 1973) at 1725 K Street, N.W., Washington DC 20006148 –, but never at Taipei. Taipei only appeared in Hugh Grundy’s Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate of 1 November 63,149 reproduced below. However there, Air America’s address is that of The Pacific Corporation (at 808, 17th Street, NW, Washington 6, DC), and the address of the Management members resident at Taipei is given as “c/o Air America Inc., P.O. Box 2125, Taipei, Taiwan”. In contracts between Air America’s Field Office at Taipei and the US Air Force and in letters sent from Air America’s Taipei offices to USAID, Air America’s address is mostly given as “APO San Francisco 96239”150 or with another postal code like 96263, all of which were Overseas Military Mail addresses for the Armed Forces Pacific. In some contracts, the last line of Air America’s address was even given as “U.S. Forces”.151 This type

144 Letter of 18 February 54, Joe Rosbert to Ward M. French at Washington gives the following address: CAT Incorporated, 302 Sheraton Building, 11 14th Street NW, Washington (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.2). 145 Letter dated 25 May 59, by which Air America informed the FAA of their new name (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2). 146 Address given in the Certificate of Registration issued on 29 August 1960 to Air America’s Beech C-45G N7950C (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 3); see my Beech 18 file within The Aircraft of Air America. 147 Address given in the Certificate of Registration issued on 12 June 61 to Air America’s DC-6A N90784 (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4); see my DC-6 file within The Aircraft of Air America. See also the Letter dated 3 July 68, Air America to Logistic Support Group, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24. 148 Modification no. P0003 to contract no. F11626-70-C-0010, dated 1 October 70, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 19; see my file CAT and Air America in Japan. Air America’s invoice to Southern Sky dated 27 June 73, in: UTD/CIA/B15F5. 149 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate as of 1 November 63, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 150 For example, a letter dated 26 September 69 regarding USAID contract no. VN-70, Air America Inc. Field Executive Office, Box 20010, APO San Francisco 96239, to CORDS, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 25. 151 For example: Contract no. F62-67-C-0001 of 1 July 66, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24. 22 of address not only made Air America look like a US military outfit (which might have facilitated dealing with the USAF), but it also made Air America’s Taipei offices disappear from the map. For according to Chinese legislation, an American aviation company could not operate out of Taiwan.152 As the USAF insisted that the Booklift contract – and, of course, all similar contracts with the US military – must be executed by a U.S. company,153 Air America itself suggested that its “Field Executive Office” was not at Taipei, but at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. Since November 56, the Tachikawa Station Monthly Reports of CAT Incorporated, which was a US company, were no longer sent to the Company’s President at Taipei, but to CAT’s official “Field Executive Office” at Kadena.154 It was officially at Kadena that the Air America Log was published, although its editor George L. Christian III, the DPRA, had his office at Taipei. In some of the contracts Air America had with the CIA, Air America appeared as “a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., with Field Executive Office located at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa”.155

Strategies of hiding the address of Air America’s Field Executive Office at Taipei: a) Posing as a unit of the US Forces

(Contract no. F62-67-C-0001 of 1 July 66, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24) b) The alleged Field Executive Office located at Kadena Air Base:

(Contract no. AID-493-66, Amendment no. 4 of 31 August 67, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 27)

Even to people living at Taipei, Air America was not visible. As late as June 1966, the official Head Office of Air Asia Co Ltd was at 46 Chung Shan Road North, Section 2, Taipei.156 The first time, a new address – 108 Chung Shan Road, North, Section 2, Taipei –

152 Leary, Manuscript, pp.155-61, in: UTD/Leary/B19F1. 153 Leary, Manuscript, p. 318, in: UTD/Leary/B19F2. 154 CAT Inc. Tachikawa Station Monthly Report for November 56, in: UTD/Leary/B21F1. 155 Preamble to Contract no. AID-493-66 of 1 July 65, p.1, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.27. 156 Minutes of Meeting of Air Asia Co Ltd Board of Review of 28 June 66 (who met on 14 June 66 “in the Conference Room at the Head Office of the Company, 46 Chung Shan Road North, Section II; Taipei,” re accident of UH-34 D H-42 of 19 May 66), in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 23 appeared for Air Asia’s Head Office was in May 67.157 Probably between June 66 and May 67, but possibly in April, May, or June 1966,158 Air Asia took office also in this new building. Probably since that date and still in July 69, Company Headquarters had 2 buildings: Located at 108 Chung Shan Road, North, was the Air Asia Administration Building (7 floors), and the CAT Administration Building (4 floors) was located 4 blocks further south, at 46 Chung Shan Road North.159

Air Asia Administration Building at 108 Chung Shan Road, North, Taipei in 1970/71 (Documentary Flying men, flying machines, at 4.27 minutes)

Air Asia Administration Building at 108 Chung Shan Road, North, Taipei in 1973, front and side entrance (both kindly submitted by Gary Bisson)

However, there was no clear distinction between offices working for CAT/Air Asia and offices working for Air America: While the Vice President Traffic & Sales, which was a typical CAT function, had his office in the Air Asia Administration Building, the Director of Insurance, who was more important for Air America, had his office in the CAT Administration Building.160 Apparently, most if not all of the Company officers working in

157 Minutes of Meeting of Air Asia Co Ltd Board of Review of 7 June 67 (who met “in the Conference room at the Head Office of the Company located at 108 Chung Shan Road, North, Section II, Taipei,” on 11 May 67, re PC-6A N185X accident of 11 January 67), in: UTD/CIA/B34F2. 158 Several Appropriation Requests of April 66 mentioned in the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd and Air America Inc. (in: UTD/CIA/B8F1) seem to indicate this: On 6 April 66, “VPFO-AR- 025, Automatic Dial Telephone Exchange, Head Office Taipei, $64,053” and on 27 April 66, “A/P-P-AR-66068, Moving-In-Expenses, Central Building, Taipei, $47,500” were approved. 159 E-Mail dated 22 April 2014, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 160 Air Asia Co. Ltd. Taipei Telephone Directory of July 1969, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 24 these 2 buildings were employees of Air Asia Co Ltd and had three jobs – two official jobs, and that was to support Civil Air Transport according to the old Services Contract of February 1955,161 until the airline went more or less out of business after the crash of their 727 B-1018 on 16 February 68, and to manage Air Asia’s maintenance base at Tainan, and an unofficial job, and that was to serve as the Field Executive Office and to manage the operations of Air America. As to the Air America officers, they often only appeared as “officers of the Company”, i.e. officers of Air Asia Co Ltd who worked for CAT and for Air America. In the following list of Air Asia officers elected in August 62, only Vice Presidents Var M. Green (Traffic & Sales) and Henry K. Yuan (General Affairs) had pure CAT functions, while all the others worked for CAT and Air America, James H. Bastian even at Washington.

Air Asia Co Ltd Officers elected in August 62162

On 5 August 1963, Robert E. Rousselot was still Vice President Operations for Air America,163 but on 10 September 63, he left the Company, and after some time with Slick Airways, he became the first President of Continental Air Services Inc. in 1965.164 Tallmadge L. Boyd “assumed responsibility for inter-company flight operations on 9 September

161 See Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 27 December 61, in: UTD/CIA/B6F6. 162 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 21 August 1962, online at: 0http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 163 On 5 August 63, Rousselot was member of the Board of Review for the crash of C-46 B-148 (see the Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Review of 10 August 63, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1). 164 See http://www.air-america.net/casi-hist.htm , Rosbert, The Pictorial History of Civil Air Transport, p.277, and Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, p. 417, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 25

1963.”165 So, in December 63, Air America had the following officers: George A. Doole, Jr (Washington, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer), Hugh L. Grundy (Taipei, President & General Manager), Clyde S. Carter (Taipei, Vice President & Secretary),166 Allan Wueste (Taipei/Tainan, Vice President Technical Services), Tallmadge L. Boyd (Taipei, Vice President Flight Operations), Amos Hiatt (Taipei, Treasurer-Controller), and James R. Bastian (Washington, Assistant Secretary).167 That will be our starting point.

Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2) b) The President of Air Asia Company Limited and his staff After 1959, there were some changes in the management of Air Asia Co Ltd: Hugh L. Grundy continued to be the President and Managing Director of Air Asia, and Allan Wueste continued to be Vice President-Technical Services. Robert E. Rousselot, who, since 1 April 56, had been Vice President Operations with the old CAT, continued to be Vice President Operations with AACL; and Henry Yuan continued to be Vice President General Affairs AACL. But by July 1961, Amos Hiatt had replaced Harold B. Newell as Treasurer-Controller of AACL, and Var M. Green, AACL’s Vice President-Traffic & Sales AACL,168 had replaced former Administrator, Traffic and Sales Lew Burridge, who had resigned some months after Cox’s dismissal and had begun a new career as an executive of an American pharmaceutical company headquartered at Manila.169 Former AACL Vice President & Assistant General Manager Camille J. (“Joe”) Rosbert had already resigned as of 31 October 1959, and with his family, he found a new life on the Spanish Island of Mallorca; with Rosbert’s resignation, the position of Assistant General Manager was abolished.170 On 17 July 64, Var M. Green was still Vice President Traffic and Sales AACL, H. K. Yuan was still Vice President General Affairs AACL, Amos Hiatt was still Treasurer-Controller AACL, and T. L. Boyd was Vice

165 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 September 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 166 Clyde S. Carter was resident at Taipei from May 1958 to November 64 (Clyde S. Carter, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 3). 167 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 168 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 27 July 61, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F3. 169 Rosbert, The Pictorial History of Civil Air Transport, p.277. 170 Rosbert, The Pictorial History of Civil Air Transport, p.277; Leary, Manuscript, chap. IV, p.297, in: UTD/CIA/B19F2. 26

President-Flight Operations AACL.171 On 18 August 64, the Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd elected almost the same persons as officers of the Company as in 1962,172 i.e. George A. Doole Jr as Managing Director and CEO, Hugh L. Grundy as President and General Manager, T. L. Boyd as Vice President, Clyde S. Carter as Vice President/Secretary, Allan Wueste as Vice President, Var M. Green as Vice President, Henry K. Yuan as Vice President, Joseph L. Madison as Assistant Vice President, Amos Hiatt as Treasurer, and Sherman Chang as Assistant Secretary.173 While the afore-mentioned Company officers were mainly working in management and administration, the Department Heads working in the Company’s “Main Maintenance Base” at Tainan can be found in a list of Address and Signature Designators for Company Use dated 27 April 63.174 Some of them also appear in the Flight Operations Circulars given below. For other personnel working at Tainan, see below in Section C: Base and Station Management, under “Tainan”. In the mid-fifties, three sections were working under the Vice President

Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3)

Technical Services: Aircraft Maintenance, General Maintenance, and Supply.175 At an unknown date, the Supply function apparently came under the Treasurer-Controller.176 The list given above mentions the departments and the people who reported to them from other

171 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 27 July 64, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F4. 172 See the list published above, taken from the Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Co Ltd of 21 August 1962, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 173 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 18 August 1964, online at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196414.pdf . 174 Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 175 (Anonymous), “Technical Services”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. VII, no.6, June 1954, pp.13-14. 176 Supply: Memo no. STAT-60-112 of 7 October 60, K.K. Wang (CS) to Treasurer / Controller, regarding the sale of 4 C-46s to Panama (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.49) makes believe that in the 1960ies, Supply became a function of the Director of Statistics Division (DSTAT), who reported to the Treasurer / Controller. In the Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69 (kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan), the DSTAT had his office on the same floor as the Assistant Controller, and working economy suggests that people who were working together should not travel a long way to reach each other. 27 places like those working for the Madriver Project from Udorn and those working in “SEA” from Bangkok. c) The President of Civil Air Transport Company Limited and his staff On 12 July 1961, CAT took its luxurious “Mandarin Flight” service a step further, when the Company introduced the Convair 880-22M jetliner (B-1008) into service. New jet service and several additional flights were introduced on many CAT routes, but the network itself remained more or less the same. In 1963, CATCL had the following officers: Hugh Grundy (Managing Director and CEO), Var M. Green (Vice President), Clyde S. Carter (Secretary), Amos Hiatt (Treasurer-Controller), and Sherman J.K. Chang. George Doole was “only” a member of the Board of Directors.177 Other CATCL personnel included A.C. (“Sammy”) Yuan, Administrator of Traffic & Sales in 1961,178 since at least August 58.179 After the crash of CAT C-46 B-908 on 20 June 64, domestic flights were reduced and a lot of restrictions were imposed on the airline. The glorious days of the “Golden Worm”, as the Mandarin Jet was also called, ended in January 1968, when the Mandarin Jet was sold to Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong, as VR-HGA. At the same time, i.e. on 16 January 68, former Southern Air Transport Boeing 727-92C N5093 was bought by Air America and resold to Air Asia for use by CATCL, becoming B-1018. But the career of this Boeing 727 with CAT was very short-lived, as the aircraft crashed 11 kilometers North West of Taipei on 16 February 68, while on approach to the airport, killing 21 people.180 So on 1 May 68, there were no longer any international scheduled flights, and DC-6B B-1006 was based at Taipei as a spare aircraft. But C-46s B-912 and B-154 were still assigned to CAT’s domestic services, B-912 as the primary aircraft and B-154 for backup.181 On 15 August 69, the two C-46s were stored, and the DC-6B was on lease to Royal Air Lao as XW-PFZ.182 However, even after the end of its airline operations, CATCL continued as a sales agent and charter manager. In the early seventies, the list “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel” still gave four people as managerial personnel of CATCL: Wang Wen-San, Chairman; Y. C. Chen, Director; J. K. Twanmoh, Director; and James C. K. Jao, Secretary.183 On 11 July 72, the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited received the following summary of the status and current activities of Civil Air Transport Company Limited: “CATCL is currently engaged in only two major activities involving the operation of a sales office in Saigon as a general agent for TWA, and operating an occasional DC-4 support flight to Southeast Asia. At Hong Kong and Bangkok CATCL still does some ticketing for in-house requirements, which consist primarily of issuing tickets on CATCL ticket stock, which is still accepted by most airlines and provides the basis for discounted travel worth considerable in the way of cost savings for the Companies. CATCL has approximately 50 employees, most of whom are in Saigon and who spread throughout the city as necessary for carrying out its sales function at that location. Future plans call for the continuation of CATCL in its present posture as long as its activities are useful and are cost justified. It is anticipated that as time passes, CATCL’s acceptance among the airlines will diminish and its usefulness will become negligible.”184

177 (Anonymous), The Pacific Corporation, in: UTD/Leary/B45F3. This undated paper is probably of 1963. 178 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.7/8, July/August 1961, p.14. 179 (Anonymous), “CAT tackles ‘The Job Ahead’”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XI, no.8, August 58, p. 4. 180 For details, see my file The Jets within The Aircraft of Air America. 181 Status of Aircraft as of 1 May 68, in: UTD/Herd/B2. 182 Flight Operations Circular of 15 August 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F1. 183 List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 184 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 July 1972, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 28 d) Company business At the beginning of this period of time, that is in March 1959, Tachikawa-based CAT Incorporated was still a small operation compared to the prospering airline Civil Air Transport, which, in 1961 introduced its first jet airliner, the Golden Worm. Scheduled airline business prospered, but did not really expand, was reduced in 1965 and more or less came to an end in 1968 after the fatal crash of the Boeing 727. At the same time, contract work for the US Government expanded considerably, first in Laos due to the Kong Le coup of August 1960, and immediately afterwards even more in Thailand, where Bangkok, Takhli, and Udorn became busy staging points for supply flights and other operations into Laos, while contract operations in South Vietnam began to mushroom only in 1965. This means that the CAT-Air America-Air Asia-complex changed its nature from a scheduled airline that was to serve as cover for some clandestine operations in 1959 to a big contract carrier working more or less openly for the US Government during the Vietnam War, which, however, still had a small annex dedicated to airline services in the mid-sixties. This change of nature also explains why 2 of CAT’s Vice Presidents – the one for Traffic & Sales (Var M. Green) and the one for General Affairs (Henry Yuan) – whose business was airline-oriented disappeared, while the increasingly important contract flying required a new Vice President Flying Contract Affairs (James W. Walker Jr). In the early sixties, the Operations Division was still headed by Bob Rousselot (Vice President Operations since 1 April 56) and still included Operations, Chief Pilot, Meteorology, Communications and Ground Transportation Departments.185 On 9 September 1963, his successor Tallmadge L. Boyd, as Vice President Flight Operations, “assumed responsibility for inter-company flight operations.”186 So still under him were the Chief of Flight Operations (CFO) and the System Chief Pilot (SCP), but also the Director, Meteorology Division (DMD), the Chief of Communications (CC), and the Chief Ground Transportation Division (CGTD). As James Quigley recalls: “Communications, Ground Transportation and Meteorology were functions in support of Flight Operations. The staff positions (DMD, CC, CGTD) in Taipei reported to the VPFO. More importantly, in the field the people actually performing these jobs reported to the Senior Operations Manager at each base. When I came on board in 1965 Tallmadge (Tom) Boyd was VPFO and heading up all of Operations. Incidentally, as I recall the staff position of DMD was eliminated in the mid- 60’s and the staff positions of CC and CGTD were upgraded to Director level. Also by that time (1965) the positions of CFO and SCP had been eliminated and replaced by DFOD (Bob Chase) and DFD (Director Flying Division – Capt. Don Teeters) respectively. These organizational changes may have been the result of Tom Boyd’s assuming the job of VPFO in 1963.”187 Indeed, what makes things complicated is that over the years, titles changed and functions that had been marginal before were split off into a new, separate department. Just some examples: Many a Chief of a department became Director or Manager of the same department: For example, the System Chief Pilot (SCP) became the Director, Flying Division (DFD) in the sixties,188 but reverted to its original title System Chief Pilot (SCP) in 1971. The Chief of Flight Operations (CFO) later became the Director Flight Operations Division

185 Leary, Manuscript, chap. III, pp.79-80, in: UTD/Leary/B19F1; Address and Signature Designators for Com- pany Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 186 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 September 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4. 187 E-mail dated 33 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 188 In 1964, DFD Don Teeters advised RCP/SEA Fred Walker that some aircraft logs were incompletely made out, asking that pilots better report fuel taken from fuel drums. For one of Teeters’ tasks was “to assess the amount of fuel lost”, going “through all of the logs for the period January to June 1964 for aircraft operating into sites where drum fuel is positioned to determine the actual amount of fuel taken into plane. During this period, according to the logs 50,681 gallons went into plane whereas 90,929 gallons were positioned at sites. […] We will be billing contract 59-069 based on the quantity into plane and the only source for this information is the Aircraft Log” (DFD Don Teeters, Memo dated 14 August 64 to RCP/SEA Fred Walker, in: UTD/Walker/B9F3). 29

(DFOD), not to be confused with the Director, Flight Operations Training Division (DFOTD), the Manager, Flight Operations Publications (MFOP) and the Manager, Flight Operations Support Training (MFOST).189 All this makes clear that with so many changes, it is impossible to trace one organizational chart for all periods of time. A special word should be said about Communications, because, what nowadays is normal in our world full of cell phones, satellite telephones, world-wide internet communications, and GPS, still was a technical problem in the 1960ies – at least in less developed countries, not to mention the bureaucratic problems that, for example, had existed in December 1950 before establishing the Taipei-Tachikawa radio circuit.190 “The airline industry began using teletypewriter technology in the early 1920s using radio stations located at 10 airfields in the United States. The US Post Office and other US government agencies used these radio stations for transmitting telegraph messages. It was during this period that the first federal teletypewriter system was introduced in the United States to allow weather and flight information to be exchanged between air traffic facilities. […] In 1929, Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) was formed to manage radio frequencies and license allocation in the United States, as well as to support the radio stations that were used by the emerging airlines. […] Morse code was the general means of relaying information between air communications stations prior to World War II. Generally, it was only necessary to relay a message between one or two stations. After World War II, there was an increase in the number of commercial aircraft operating, and these aircraft were capable of flying greater distances than in the past. As a result, the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN) was implemented worldwide as a means of relaying the air traffic communications, sometimes through the use of radioteletype which had become common among military forces in the 1940s.”191 “The Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) is a worldwide system of aeronautical fixed circuits provided, as part of the Aeronautical Fixed Service, for the exchange of messages and/or digital data between aeronautical fixed stations having the same or compatible communications characteristics. AFTN comprises aviation entities including: ANS (Air Navigation Services) providers, aviation service providers, airport authorities and government agencies, to name a few. It exchanges vital information for aircraft operations such as distress messages, urgency messages, flight safety messages, meteorological messages, flight regularity messages and aeronautical administrative messages. The original AFTN infrastructure consisted of landline teleprinter links between the major centers. Some long distance and international links were based on duplex radioteletype transmissions and leased lines. When it upgraded to CIDIN (Common ICAO Data Interchange Network), it was upgraded to X.25 links at much higher data rates.”192 “Standards and Recommended Practices for Aeronautical Telecommunications were first adopted by the Council on 30 May 1949 pursuant to the provisions of Article 37 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944) and designated as Annex 10 to the Convention. They became effective on 1 March 1950.”193 Apparently, AFTN was also the system initially used by CAT and Air America. In a Notam dated 11 January 63, the Company’s Communications Department announced that “messages of urgent nature to/from Bangkok may utilize the international aeronautical

189 All functions taken from the Air Asia Co Ltd Taipei Telephone Directory of July 1969, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 190 See my file CAT and Air America in Japan. 191 See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_teletype_system . 192 See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeronautical_Fixed_Telecommunication_Network . 193 ICAO, Aeronautical Telecommunications, vol. II: Communication Procedures, p. vii, 6October 2001, online at: http://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf12/Document%20Archive/AN10_V2_cons%5B1%5D.pdf . 30 services after the closing hours of our circuit”.194 However, the main reason for this Notam was the announcement that the Company had established its own voice/CW circuits between Bangkok, Udorn, Vientiane, and Taipei/Tainan: “Company operated voice/CW circuits are now established between Bangkok, Udorn in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos. This three-way circuit is integrated with our present Vientiane-Taipei circuit forming a CW network linking all four stations. Company messages of the following categories between Taipei/Tainan and Bangkok/Udorn/Vientiane may be dispatched via this network. 1. Messages concerning Company flight operations. 2. Messages concerning aircraft maintenance services. 3. Messages concerning Supply and shipping of aircraft parts and equipment. 4. Messages concerning Company administrative matters. Except for the International flight movement and reservation services, messages under the above categories shall be dispatched via this circuit instead of the international aeronautical circuits. Until further notice, the operating hours of this 3-way circuit are as follows: 2300Z through 1200Z on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 2300Z until International Jet schedule arrival plus 45 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. Messages of urgent nature to/from Bangkok may utilize the international aeronautical services after the closing hours of our circuit.”195 There were also Mail Pouch flights between Taipei and South East Asia, in 1963 for example Southern Air Transport flights that departed Taipei at 0030 local time on Saturdays to Kadena, Okinawa and then continued via Clark to Saigon and Bangkok, where they arrived on Mondays at 1100 local time, omitting Kadena on some days. Another SAT plane would leave Bangkok at 1300 local time on Saturdays for Saigon, Clark and Taipei or Kadena and Taipei, where it would arrive on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings.196 The airline-oriented office of the Vice President Traffic & Sales (Var M. Green, VPT&S) existed as long as Civil Air Transport existed, but in June 69, Var Green became Vice President Flying Contract Affairs, while James W. Walker Jr, who had had that position since at least 1964,197 became Vice President Flight Operations.198 According to their decreasing (Traffic) or increasing (Flying Contracts) importance, both functions continued to exist or existed already before on a lower level. As late as March 1973, there was a Director, Traffic Division (DTD: Stanley J. Huster).199 Since January 58, there was a Director of Flying Contracts (DFC: Enos C. Kirkpatrick),200 among whose tasks was to publish the Flight Operations Circulars.201 Another important division was Security, headed at Taipei by the Director of Security (DSY: Don Rinker, then Stanton F. Ense, then Samuel H. Johnson). “The Director for Security was primarily concerned with protection of classified information (AAM had its own secure Communications Center within its TPE headquarters). Among other things he also briefed AAM staff on security matters and processed security clearances for AAM staff.”202

194 Notam “Company SEA Communications Network” (no. COM-NOT-62-101/R.1) of 11 January 63, in: UTD/Walker/B25F8. 195 Notam “Company SEA Communications Network” (no. COM-NOT-62-101/R.1) of 11 January 63, in: UTD/Walker/B25F8. 196 Air Asia Operations Circular no. 2.3.19/R.1 dated 20 March 63 (“Additional Mail Pouch Schedules between Taipei and Saigon/Bangkok”), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 197 Letter no. VPFCA-64-54 of 8 October 64 re Aviation Investors, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28. 198 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 June 1969, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 199 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 200 Tape interview with E.C. Kirkpatrick conducted by Prof. William Leary, written summary in: UTD/Leary/B43F3. 201 For example the List of 20 June 62 (in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1) or the Status of Aircraft owned and operated on a long term basis as of 1 May 68 (in: UTD/Herd/B2). 202 E-mail dated 8 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 31

The DSY was also the boss of the base Chiefs of Security who, among others, had to fight gold and opium smuggling. Functions placed in the Administration section included Personnel, Law, and Public Relations. The Administration section was headed by the Assistant Vice President (AVP), Joseph L. Madison,203 who became Vice President for Administration (VP-A) in 1970.204 Personnel was headed by the Director of Personnel (DP: David R. Traylor, then Reese T. Bradburn Jr), who was the boss of several department heads like the Chief, American Employment Department (CAE: David P. Harrison in 1969, who was also Base Personnel Coordinator)205 or the Chief, Employee Compensation Department (CECD: James W. Sweitzer in the sixties),206 and the boss of the personnel representatives at base level. While Public Relations was little more than the Director, Public Relations & Advertising (DPRA: George L. Christian III, editor of the Air America Log),207 the Legal Department was a growing institution and so will be described in a separate subchapter. All Financial functions were placed under the Treasurer-Controller (T/C: Harold B. Newell, then Amos Hiatt, then Paul C. Velte Jr, then Lindsey B. Herd).208 There were times, when there was also an Assistant Treasurer (A/T) and an Assistant Controller (A/C), and when the Controller and the Treasurer were two different persons. This section, too, is so complicated that it needs a separate subchapter. A final subchapter will deal with all types of accidents – domain of the Director of Safety, but not only of him. e) Air America’s Legal office Already at the Meeting of the Board of Directors of CAT Incorporated of 21 June 54, “Mr. Ward M. French was elected to the position of Secretary and Legal Counsel of the Company.”209 The next to follow was Jerry Fink, who became Assistant Legal Counsel in April 57.210 In May 58, Clyde S. Carter became the Company’s new Legal Counsel;211 in July 1961, he was promoted to Vice President Secretary – Legal Counsel (VPSLC).212 But he was resident at Taipei only from May 1958 to November 64,213 when he was transferred to the Washington office, where he became Senior Vice President (SVP) in 1973. In 1964, Jerry Fink was promoted from Assistant Legal Counsel (ALC) to Deputy Legal Counsel (DLC)214 – a position he still held in 1973.215 In the meantime, another lawyer had joined the Company’s Legal office: Henry P. Bevans. In September 64, he was Legal Counsel (LC);216 in 1965, he was Secretary/Legal Counsel (SLC),217 and in 1970/71,218 he became Vice President Law

203 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62 and 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 204 On 26 May 70, Joseph L. Madison was still Assistant Vice President (Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 26 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4), but in October 70, he was already Vice President Administration, to whom BM Saigon E. J. Theisen sent his report for October 1970 (CIA document no. 0000174575). 205 Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69 (kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 206 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 17 May 69 (in: UTD/CIA/ B34F3). 207 Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69 (kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 208 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 7 August 56, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F2. 209 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of CAT Incorporated, of 21 June 1954, in: UTD/CIA/B2F4. 210 Eve Myers, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.5, May 1957, pp.13-4. 211 (Anonymous), “New Secretary - Legal Counsel”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XI, no.6, June 1958, p.5. 212 Memo no. VPSLC-61-319 of 9 October 61, re ferry of B-918 from Miami to Taipei, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4; Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.7/8, July/August 1961, p.14. 213 Clyde S. Carter, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 3. 214 Memo no. DLC-65-097 of 20 May 65 re Helio msn 531, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 215 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5; Jerry Fink ceased to be Air America’s DLC in 1973 (Jerry Fink, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XI, no. 3, 1994, p.3. 216 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 217 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 218 On 26 May 70, Henry P. Bevans was still Secretary / Legal Counsel (Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 32

(VP-L) – a position he still held in March 1973.219 Other Company lawyers included William J. Merrigan (officially Assistant Secretary for SAT in 1969,220 but among his various duties he was also Air America’s personnel lawyer221) and Gary B. Bisson who was Air America’s Federal Contracts lawyer.222 The complexity of the work that had to be done by Air America’s Legal office was well described in an anonymous article of 1968: “Air America’s far-flung operations place a unique responsibility on the Office of the Secretary-Legal Counsel (OSLC). Legal problems, says a spokesman for the office, come in nine languages – Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Tagalog (native Philippine), Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, French and, of course, English. Since the greater part of the Company’s activities is performance of contracts with agencies of the U.S. Government, a major effort is expended in the drafting, review and analysis of such contracts and related documents against the highly technical and exacting requirements of Government procurement regulations. This activity requires close coordination with every other major company function. Through time tested procedures, these contracts (and all others, except for a few routine types) are processed through interested offices. The various comments elicited in this processing are then either resolved in consultations between OSLC and those offices or reserved for decision by the President, and thoroughly ‘staffed’ contractual document, bearing OSLC’s ‘legally sufficient’ benediction, is passed to the President for approval. The wide variety of other OSLC activities requires familiarity with labor and social legislation, monetary controls, customs requirements and various other enactments in the many countries where Air America operates or procures goods and services. Against the background of these multi-faceted requirements, OSLC reviews not only the Company’s contracts but also pro- visions of Company generated materials. Understandably, therefore, the office is represented on the Accident Review Board, the Banking Committee, the Board of Review administering death and injury benefits and the Retirement Board. OSLC is manned by a complement of six lawyers in the field and one in the Washington Office, supported by an extremely competent staff. In addition, leading local counsels are retained or consulted, both in the field and in the United States, to deal with major local problems.”223 f) The Office of the Treasurer-Controller All financial functions were placed under the Treasurer-Controller (T/C: Harold B. Newell, then Amos Hiatt, then Paul C. Velte Jr, then Lindsey B. Herd).224 There were times, when

26 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4), but by 5 May 71, he had become Vice President Law (Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4). 219 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 220 Air Asia Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 221 “I was in the legal office in Taipei from 1962 to 1974 but was carried as an officer of an affiliated company Southern Air Transport, which had its principal office in Japan. I have fairly complete records of personnel of all the related companies from 1950 to 1975” (e-mail dated 5 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan). 222 “I was hired to be AAM Federal Contracts lawyer, replacing DLC Jerry Fink in this function. I had earned my basic LLB degree, and a LLM in Federal Procurement Law, both from George Washington University in DC, and was badly in need of extensive experience in the specialized branch in U.S. law. I joined AAM for this purpose and it was a very wise decision for my professional career and for my family who loved living in Asia, particularly in Taiwan and Bangkok. And, it was a wonderful stepping stone for all 43+ years of my active legal career using this specialty, including 20 years as a USAID legal officer. Annually, AAM had @40 active U.S. Government contract and I was part of the AAM's negotiating for almost all of them in my 6 1/2 AAM tenure. As you know, OLC had to sign off on all Federal contracts and amendments and being part of the AAM negotiating team greatly expedited this process” (e-mail dated 24 March 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson). 223 (Anonymous), “AAM’s Legal Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.1. 224 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Company Limited of 7 August 56, in: UTD/ CIA/B11F2. 33 there was also an Assistant Treasurer (A/T) and an Assistant Controller (A/C), and when the Controller and the Treasurer were two different persons. In 1969, the Assistant Controller (Lindsey B. Herd)225 had under him Accounts Receivable, Cashier, Ledger office, Payroll, Disbursement Dept., and probably also the Statistics Division and the Tax Manager,226 while the Assistant Treasurer (James T. McElroy in July 69)227 had under him the Budget Control and the General Accounting Division.228 Also in July 69, the Treasurer-Controller (Paul C. Velte Jr)229 was the direct boss of Cost Accounting, Cost Analysis, Internal Auditor, Defense Control Audit Agency and possibly also of the Security Division.230 Anyway, the world of the Company’s financial functions was such a complex affair that several Company offices had to cooperate to produce the results required by Washington. So here are some more detailed explanations:

Air America’s system of billing and accounting The original accounting system of Air America was the one that CAT had introduced in the 1950ies: As prescribed by the CAB for airlines, it only listed the income and outgo by objects like passenger service, advertising, sales and flight operations, but did not display cost information by functions or cost centers; and, of course, all accounting was done manually. There was still another problem: In the early years of the Vietnam War, Air America’s customers CIA and USAID declared their needs by tail numbers. This procedure sometimes resulted in an expensive and inefficient use of aircraft, when both customers requested similar flights at similar times and received their own aircraft with much unused space left inside. In 1966, cost-sharing on a dollar basis was introduced, and the customers were asked to schedule by aircraft types rather than by tail numbers. At the same time, the customers requested more detailed information to better explain what they had to pay for in the new multi-million dollar contracts. So, for better planning, data on cargo and personnel movement patterns, flight patterns between points, seasonal variations in requirements, utilization forecasts, allocation of costs to individual projects and similar were required. Initially, emphasis was only placed on quick service: In order to expedite collections from the bases, Taipei assigned special finance employees to Saigon, Udorn and Vientiane to handle contract flying billings. In April 1965, Paul C. Velte Jr was sent to Taipei as Deputy Treasurer-Controller. To him fell the task of reorganizing the whole accounting concept from a manual system to an advanced concept in analysis of data by introducing the use of electronic data processing equipment. Apparently, the first system was based on punch cards that would tabulate certain accounting objectives, distribute expense by objectives, functions, locations and contracts, and provide statistics for payroll and billing purposes. In April 66, an expanded numerical coding system was introduced as the future basis for input to ADP applications. By July 67, 80% of the total expense was identified by direct costing, and items such as payroll, fuel, maintenance costs could be calculated by location, contract and type of aircraft. By 1969, FOMIS (Flight Operations Management Information System) had been installed at Hong Kong run by Dale Means. By receiving, from the Air America bases, information such as monthly reports of time flown by type aircraft, by contract, by hazard and non-hazard times and monthly aircraft

225 Memo no. A/C-69-261 of 30 July 69, re sale of C-46 B-926, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 226 Presentation of the offices in the Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 227 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 228 As suggested by the presentation of the offices in the Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 229 As suggested by the presentation of the offices in the Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 230 As suggested by the presentation of the offices in the Air Asia Taipei Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 34 utilization data, the system would provide printout of Southeast Asia air costs broken down by country, project, activity within project, contract and aircraft type.231 Air America’s former Assistant Legal Counsel Gary B. Bisson explained the system of billing and accounting that existed in later years as follows: “The Controller, Lindsey Herd, had many responsibilities. He was overall responsible for the monthly billings submitted to the various AAM clients. For Flight services: AAM established a unique computerized billing Center based in Hong Kong and run by Dale Means.232 Each client – USAF, DOD, USAID, CIA etc. – had a separate billing code for each flight hour made, and this information was transmitted to the Hong Kong Center, which prepared separate monthly billings for the TPE Controller’s Office to submit to the clients. Additionally, each AAM base had its own ‘Controller’, [i.e. the Accounting Representative] who was hired with Mr. Herd’s approval and was responsible for local expenditures of that base. Most importantly the [local] ‘Controller’ handled the local currency for payments for its many local staff salaries and expenses, and the arrangements to provide local currency for AAM U.S. and third country staff through banking arrangements, or, in the case of Viet Nam, through local currency generated by massive USG commodity import programs – so called counter-part funds. Maintenance services billings with the USAF or USAID in TNN or in AAM maintenance bases in SGN, VTE, BKK etc. were provided to Mr. Herd from each base Controller’s Office and submitted by Mr. Herd to the various clients. […] Financial reporting to Washington was primarily the responsibility of the Controller. The Treasurer’s Office, under Jim McElroy, had more limited functions in my recollection. Among other things, it was responsible for monitoring AAM cash flow needs, maintaining its investment portfolio, and acquiring all purchased insurance policies.”233 Other tasks of the Treasurer included risk management, purchasing and audit.234

Compensation and Pay Air America’s system of Compensation and Pay was quite complicated, not only because payment was effectuated in several currencies, but also because – at least for the flight crews – the pay computation was based on several different components. While payments received for positions in management, administration and ground support mostly depended on the job category and the level of the employee’s position – the system was well described for Air America’s Saigon Base235 –, the pay received by flight crews was based on the following components: base pay, night pay, longevity pay, project, hazard or hostilities pay per area and aircraft type – all that per block hour with a guaranteed minimum of seventy hours of flight pay – plus station allowances. A paper that was apparently handed over to new pilots in September 1970, explains this as follows: “AIR AMERICA FIRST OFFICER COMPENSATION When joining the company as a pilot you are on probation for the period of twelve months as a line pilot. This period of time is measured from the date you are first qualified and

231 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp. 551 + 568-75, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5. 232 Dale Means ran Data Processing at Hong Kong since 1970 (Anonymous, “In memoriam Wallace D. (‘Dale’) Means”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 6. 233 E-mail dated 9 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 234 See the undated organizational chart (of 1973), in: UTD/CIA/B51F1. 235 “Perhaps the most important accomplishment of all […] has been the steady upgrading of hundreds of Vietnamese in several job categories: Utility Woman and Utility Man to Mechanic III, to Mechanic II, to Mechanic I, to Leadman; Traffic Agent to Traffic Representative A; Air Freight Dispatcher to Supervisor/AFD; Driver to Dispatcher, to Supervisor/GTD; Artisan to Engineer II; Leadman to Construction Foreman; Operations Dispatcher II to Assistant Chief Crew Scheduling; Accounting Representative to Senior Accountant; Investigator to Security Supervisor; and so on” (R.F. McGrath [AABM/SGN], “Saigon story”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, pp.4-5). 35 assigned to line flying duties. Should you and one or more pilots be so assigned on the same date, the oldest man shall receive the most senior position, and all other numbers will be assigned by order of age. Your pay computation as a first officer is based on several different components. Your basic flight pay per hour is $ 12.66. Should you engage in night flying, you will receive an additional $2.00 per hour. We have another component designated as ‘Project Pay’. This increment yields $12.50 per hour for a percentage of your block hour time depending on your base and equipment. The scale is as follows: UDORN: UH34D 92.5%; 204B/205 92.5%; VTB 80%. VIENTIANE: Porter 85 %; H395 85%; Caribou/C7A 75%; C123K 72.5%; C-46 70%; VTB 57.5%. SAIGON: 204B/205 87.5%; Porter 85%; Caribou/C7A 80%; VTB 80%; Ten Two 80%; C-46 70%; C-47 70%. Each month you are guaranteed a minimum of seventy hours of flight pay for all services performed. Dead head time is computed at one half flight pay. Air America pilots are represented by the Far East Pilots Association which you are eligible to join, if you so desire, at the expiration of your probationary period. STATION ALLOWANCES: Saigon $320.00 per month; Udorn $215.00 per month; Vientiane $230.00 per month. CAPTAIN COMPENSATION Captains receive $20.25 flight pay per hour and $12.50 project pay per hour. Project Pay is in accordance with the percentages noted above for first officers. Captains receive $3.75 per hour night flying and both captains and first officers receive yearly incremental increases for flight hour pay.”236

Air America overall pay calculation for 1971 and pay scale for 1972237

An overall calculation dated 18 February 1971 shows a pay of more than $ 3,400.00 per month and almost $ 40,000.00 per year. This paper seems to have been published in order to attract new pilots. Of course, there were updates: An undated update of the original pay scale – probably of 1972238 – gives a Base pay of $16.10 for First Officers and $26.75 for Captains

236 Paper “Compensation” dated 3 September 70, in: UTD/Abadie. 237 Pay scale of 1971 in; http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/ducument_conversions/1818029/197104.pdf ; undated Pays scale of 1972, in: UTD/Dexter/F1. 238 Air America had Hughes H-500s listed here only in 1972 and early 1973. 36 plus an Area pay and a Hostilities pay per aircraft type per block time, plus a longevity pay. There were also other Pay scales in Vietnamese, Thai, Laotian and Philippine currencies, in later years mostly handled by Thomas B. Ingles, Vice President Industrial Relations.239 Flight crews had to compile their Monthly Reports and send them, via the Chief Pilot, in 1968 and 1969 to the Treasurer, from January to April 70 to the Assistant Controller (A/C), and from May 70 to at least February 74 to the Treasurer-Controller (TCO).240 In late 1969, Air America payroll handling was transferred from Taipei to Hong Kong.241 Discussions about a special pay came up, when Air America pilots began to fly T-28s combat missions in 1964. There were also pilot strikes and other conflicts. One of them had to do with flying hour restrictions that were introduced in January 68 for safety reasons. CIA Headquarters, George Doole, and Hugh Grundy wanted to introduce them, Vientiane Station and the pilots flying in Laos argued that they could and did not apply to flying in Laos.242 At the end, a scale of hazard pay listing criteria like combat missions, exposure to ground fire, extreme weather and terrain, and deniable black missions was established, which all applied to flying in Laos. Then a similar scale was introduced for flying in South Vietnam, and then the pilots flying the Kadena-Takhli-Charbatia (“Oak Tree”) missions also asked for special pay, which was also conceded at the end.243 Initially, Management hesitated to do so, because 1965-67 were the years, when the number of flight personnel was increased: from 78 (30 November 60) later given as the low point244 to 117 (31 July 64),245 to 293 (28 February 65),246 to 510 (31 December 65),247 to 604 (31 December 66),248 and to 610 (31 October 67).249 After that, the numbers went slowly down again to 490 (31 January 69),250 to 424 (31 January 70),251 and to 408 (30 June 72).252

Data Processing Division The best source for this section is an article written by John T. Burnite, Administrator to the Data Processing Division at Taipei and published in the Air America Log of 1970. He

239 See the papers preserved at UTD/CIA/B20F1 and UTD/CIA/B19F8. 240 Harold F. Miller, Flight Crew Member Monthly Movement Reports, later called Crew Member Duty Reports, 1968-74, in: UTD/Miller/B4F6. 241 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 28 October 69 in UTD/CIA/B8F3. 242 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp.593-601. 243 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp.519-24, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 244 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 14 October 69, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 245 Employees on 31 July 64: 4611 total = 3300 Air Asia (=AACL) + 1311 Air America (=AAM), incl. 117 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 15 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3). 246 Employees on 28 February 65: 5172 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 293 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 6 April 65 in: UTD/CIA/B7F4). 247 Employees on 31 December 65: 6969 (AACL+AAM), incl. 510 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia of 9 February 66, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1). 248 Employees on 31 December 66: 9657 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 604 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia of 14 February 67, in: UTD/CIA/B8F2). 249 Employees on 31 October 67: 10,847 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 610 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia of 12 December 67, in: UTD/CIA/B8F2). 250 Employees on 31 Jan. 69: 10,333 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 1,008 American and 490 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. [=AAM] and Air Asia Company Limited [=AACL] of 11 March 69, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3). 251 Employees on 31 Jan. 70: 9,429 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 851 Americans and 424 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia of 10 March 70, in: UTD/CIA/B8F4). 252 Employees on 30 June 72: 8,531 total (AACL+AAM), incl. 757 Americans and 408 flight personnel (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia of 22 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7).

37 notes: “Our Data Processing Division (DPD) services Air America’s data processing requirements in a wide variety of operations throughout the Company’s structure. Presently, DPD operates on a decentralized plan. At Hong Kong, an AAM staff of 10 collects and arranges data concerning the Company’s operations in Southeast Asia and other areas. Raw data are sent to Hong Kong via teleprinter or airmail from Air America Bases in Vientiane, Udorn, Bangkok, Saigon, Yokota and other places. Monthly reports covering various phases of flying operations – such as aircraft flight log analyses and flight crew cost reports – are printed out on an International Business Machine computer in HKG. AAM buys the computer service. In Taiwan, Air Asia also performs various data processing services for Air America. In Taipei, Air Asia’s DPD staff of 20 assembles data from which nine different Account / Management Control systems for various offices are prepared. Examples are: personnel rosters & statistics, control stock items and regional supply systems. In Tainan, an Air Asia Data Processing Unit (DPD) of 16, key punches daily records covering numerous phases of maintenance operations at the Base; example is general maintenance accounting. TNN has three encoders and an off-line printer, which assemble these data which are then transmitted via microwave to another encoder at DPD/TPE which records the information on tape. This tape is then run on an IBM computer in TPE, time on which is also bought. To provide the service required at all management levels, DPD components require orderly synchronization. Key Machine Operators receive raw data from many sources and compile tapes (or cards) in suitable computer running format. Programmer/Analysts prepare and maintain programs / systems for proper sequential computer presentation. Senior Programmer / Analysts resolve any changes with the offices from whom reports are generated, assist programmers, control work-flow, and resolve the more complicated programming problems. Manager of Systems Design & Analysis coordinates technical matters for the entire division and becomes involved in inter-Divisional / Office planning. The Administrator manages all aspects of Data Processing Division. DPD employs 46 people and operates under the Treasurer / Controller’s office.”253 “Many believe computers are ‘Do-Alls’. To simplify: computers are well-directed, sophisticated adding machines. Computers are often blamed for errors invariably caused by the people providing incorrect input. EDP (Electronic Data Processing) jargon says: ‘garbage in, garbage out’. Being a service organization, DPD originates no systems. Company Divisions / Offices plan procedures for mechanization. Any existing manual system – such as pilot pay-roll system from AAM Bases or Property Accounting – must first be made bug-free. A pre-computerization feasibility study by the Data Processing Division is a pre-requisite to computerizing a given system. […] When programmers are clever, they are in a position to save the Company’s money. For example, our C & T Report system formerly consumed 18 computer hours and 40 sorting hours monthly, at a cost of approximately US $ 2,400. Conversion to IBM’s Model 360/40, from an older 360/20 model, plus skillfully planned program revisions and improved system flow, reduced computer time to 7 hours and completely eliminated the 40 sorting hours. As a result, the monthly bill for this system has been slashed by more than half – a worthy contribution to cost-cutting.”254

g) How Air America dealt with accidents Accidents of Company aircraft were either reported to the nearest Flight Watch radio station by a radio message sent by the ill-fated aircraft, when this was still possible, or they were suspected, when an aircraft was overdue at his destination or had not sent his regular

253 John T. Burnite, “Data Processing”, part 1, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.1 and 5. 254 John T. Burnite, “Data Processing”, part 2, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.7, 1970, pp.1 and 5. 38

“operation is normal” message to the Operations Manager. These messages had to be sent every 20 to 30 minutes. When an aircraft had come down due to mechanical failure, a rescue helicopter or plane would be sent in; when an aircraft was overdue, a Search and Rescue operation would be launched.255 As soon as possible, the Operations Manager informed the Base or Station Manager, who notified the rescue team. The Field Executive Office was then notified by a XOXO message. These XOXOs contained the following information:

Key to XOXO messages (formerly in: UTD/Leary/B15F1, now probably in: UTD/Leary/B34F5)

In the early 60ies, accident investigation was made under the Vice President Operations. A local Accident Investigation Team would write a Preliminary Accident Report,256 which,

255 For details, see my file Air America in Laos I: humanitarian work. 256 For example the Preliminary Report of 1 November 63, regarding the UH-34D H-16 accident of 27 October 63, filed by Chief Pilot James L. Coble (in: UTD/CIA/B58F1) or the Memo of 28 May 66 regarding the UH-34D 39 together with statements of the people involved in the accident and with photos, would be submitted to a Local Review Board. The Local Review Board would mostly be headed by the Base Manager and made up of representatives from the Flight, Operations and Technical Departments. “On 26 October 65, [erased] informed the Senior Air Officer, [erased] that Air America had recently hired two well qualified individuals, Messrs. Daniel B. Champlain and Douglas Dreifus, to head up and beef up the Company’s accident investigation team. […] In a dispatch to the SAO, [erased] stated that these two men will report directly to the President of the Company, and they will draw manpower and assistance from Technical Services and Flight Operations. In future, an immediate preliminary report on each accident will be prepared […], and this preliminary report will be followed by a sufficiently detailed investigation and report to develop causes and useful corrective information. […] At this writing a final message to the Field promulgating new accident investigation procedures is being coordinated at Headquarters.”257 So in later years, the local Manager of Safety (MSAFE) would be part of an Accident Investigation Team and be involved in preparing the Preliminary Report that would be submitted to the Local Board of Review, whose meeting he would sometimes attend as an observer.258 This Board would determine the probable cause of the accident as well as contributing factors and give recommendations to preclude future accidents of this type.259 The original Report and the Memo of the Local Board of Review would then be sent to the Head Office at Taipei, where Doug Dreifus as Director, Safety Division (DSD, later DSAFE) would comment both in his Aircraft Accident Review, confirming or modifying the statements about the probable cause of the accident and adding some safety recommendations.260 “The Director for Safety analyzed AAM aircraft damage incidents such a crashes or war damage. Among other things, he determined whether the damage was caused by maintenance, pilot error or other factors. […] Doug Dreifus was an outstanding accident investigator and went on to be a senior investigator for the US FAA.”261 His Aircraft Accident Review would then be sent at least to the Vice President and the Base Manager involved. When the accident had resulted in damage to some people, the Company Board of Review headed by the President and made up of the VP-Law, the Treasurer, and the Director of Personnel or staff officers acting for them, would determine the “Benefits due to Death, Injury, Capture or Internment” to be paid by the Company.262 Doug Dreifus, a former air safety inspector with the CAB, improved the aircraft reporting procedures263 and sent his Aircraft Accident Reviews to several officers in Company Management and to several addressees in all bases and stations, resulting in a Distribution list of about 30 persons. h) Company personnel working in the Field Executive Office at Taipei Between 1959 and 1973, the office of the President of CAT, Air Asia and Air America (Hugh L. Grundy) was always at Taipei. So who was his staff? As has already been said, the titles of almost all positions in management and administration changed many times, and

H-42 accident of 19 May 66, Accident Investigation Team – Earl W. Knight Team Head, J.C. Aspinwall, T.H. Penniman – to the Local Board of Review (in: UTD/CIA/B58F9). 257 CIA Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for October/November 1965, pp. 1-2, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196510.pdf . 258 See, for example, Local Board Report no. LBR-69-002, re UH-34D H-48 accident of 12 January 69, in: UTD/CIA/B60/F8 259 For example the Local Board of Review Memo no. LBR/UDN-65-09 of 16 September 65, regarding the UH- 34D H-23 accident of 20 August 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5. 260 See, for example, the Aircraft Accident Review by Doug Dreifus, regarding the Helio B-875 accident of 27 August 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 261 E-mail dated 8 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 262 See, for example, the Company Board of Review, Memo of 11 April 69, regarding the Bell 205 XW-PFI accident of 7 December 68, in: UTD/CIA/B34F3. 263 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 529, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 40 sometimes new positions were created by splitting them off from old ones. This makes it nearly impossible to understand the system by an organizational chart: First because there aren’t many of them available and then because an organizational chart would only depict the situation as it existed at a certain moment of time. One of them has survived depicting the situation as of 14 January 63. It is given as a Distribution list to the Memo dated 14 January 63, in which VPSLC Clyde Carter presents this new “Corporate Relationship Chart”:264

Corporate Relationship Chart of 14 January 63, in: UTD/Leary/B45F3

On top of the pyramid is the Managing Director (MGDR) at Washington, who receives all papers from the President. Reporting to the President were the Assistant Vice President (AVP), the Special Assistant to the President (SA/P), the Director of Security (DSY), the Director of Personnel (DP), the Assistant Director of Personnel – Services (ADP Services), the Assistant Director of Personnel – Administration (ADP Administration), the Regional Directors Southeast Asia (RDSEA) and Japan (RD/J), the Managers of the various CAT Stations – Seoul (SZSEL), Osaka (SZOSA), Naha, Okinawa (SZNHA), Hong Kong (SZHKG), and Manila (SZMNL) – and the Managers of the various Air America Stations: Bangkok (SZBKK), Saigon (SZSGN), and Vientiane (SZVTE) as well as the Program Manager Udorn (PMS08).265 The Assistant Secretary (A/S) and the Assistant Legal Counsel (ALC) reported to the Vice President Secretary – Legal Counsel (VPSLC). The Special Assistant to the Vice President Operations (SA/VPO), the Chief, Flight Operations (CFO), and the Chief Pilot (CP) reported to the Vice President Operations (VPO). The Director, Aircraft Maintenance (DAM), the Director, Maintenance Contracts (DMC), the Director of General Maintenance (DGM), and the Director of Supply (DS) reported to the Vice President Technical Services (VPTS), who, at the same time, was Regional Director Tainan (RDTNN). The Director, Sales Development (DSD), the Director Traffic Division (DTD), the Director, Flying Contracts (DFC), the Director, Sales & Services (DSS), and the Director, Public Relations & Advertising (DPRA) reported to the Vice President Traffic & Sales (VPT&S). The Vice President General Affairs (VPGA) was for himself, but 4 people reported to the Treasurer-Controller (T/C): the Assistant Treasurer (A/T), the Director, Revenue Accounting Division (DRAD), the Director,

264 Corporate Relationship Chart, in: Memo no. 63-018 by VPSLC Clyde Carter, in: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 265 All abbreviations are listed in the Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 41

General Accounting Division (DGAD), and the Director Main Base Accounting Division (DMBAD).266 For later periods of time, however, one may get an idea of the complexity of the positions existing in the Field Executive Office at Taipei by looking at the section called “Distribution” that listed all the offices that, from time to time, received a copy of the Flight Operations Circulars. The first of those “Distribution” lists available is that of 3 February 64. In this list as in most of the subsequent ones, locations are not given – with the exception of the Base Managers (BM) and Station Managers (SZ), whose acronym indicated the location. So it seems that all the other offices given in those lists were located at Taipei. The “Distribution” list of 1 April 73 is the first list that gives the offices by location. Over the years, the acronyms of those recipients changed, probably reflecting changing responsibilities of the officers.

Distribution, Operations Circular of 3 Feb. 64, kindly faxed to the author by Ward Reimer

Of course, BM means Base Manager, OM means Operations Manager, and SZ means Station Manager, a designation to which the location was added: ATOG (the ATOG warehouse at Vientiane), BKK (Bangkok), DNG (Danang), PNP (Phnom Penh), SEA (Southeast Asia, i.e. Bangkok or Udorn), SGN (Saigon), TNN (Tainan), TPE (Taipei), UDO (Udorn, later UDN or UTH), and VTE (Vientiane).267 Some other positions can be explained from quotations in accident reports and other papers of that period:

AA – Administrative Assistant (to the Treasurer/Controller): John Ermentrout since November or December 61268 AAP – Assistant for Administration and Procedures (in: T/C Office):269 Mark E. Riffey since July/August 1960,270 Raymond M. Stone since May 1961271 ADP – Assistant Director of Personnel: Barclay Bryan since 1 August 61272 ADRAD – Assistant Director Revenue Accounting Division: Gary Y. Tan in 1960273 ALC – Assistant Legal Counsel: Jerry Fink – already in 1960-62,274 and still in 1964275

266 All abbreviations are listed in the Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 267 In 1963, the Station Manager Bangkok appeared as SZS09, the Station Manager Udorn as SZS08, and the Station Manager Vientiane as SZV08 (DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6). 268 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.11/12, November/December 1961, p. 14 269 Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 270 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.7/8, July/August 1960, pp.11/2. 271 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 5/6, May/June 1961, p.12. 272 (Anonymous), “New Assistant Director of Personnel”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.9/10, Sept./Oct. 61, p.10. 273 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 274 Memo no. ALC-60-121 of 1 September 60 (in: UTD/Fink/B2F14) and no. ALC-62-134 (in: UTD/Fink/ B2F16), both signed by Jerry Fink as ALC; he was with CAT since 1957 (Jerry Fink, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XI, no. 3, July-Sept. 1994, p. 3. 42

A/S – Assistant Secretary: James H. Bastian (Washington) and Sherman Chang in Aug. 62276 A/T – Assistant Treasurer: Edward L. Mitchell Jr in 1960,277 still in August 62,278 Deputy to the T/C in 1962279 AVP – Assistant Vice President: Joseph L. Madison in 1964,280 at least since June 57281 CASD – Chief, Aircraft Scheduling Department:282 CC – Chief of Communications:283 CFO – Chief of Flight Operations: David Garber since May 1957, 284 Robert P. Chase since 1 November 61285 and still in 1963;286 the position was renamed DFOD (Director, Flight Operations Division) in the mid-sixties CGTD – Chief Ground Transportation Division: Jim Boring, since about 1950287 and still in 1959, 288 to DGTD (Director, Ground Transportation Division) by July 69289 CMD – Chief of Medical Department: Dr. Richard Y. H. Lee;290 in 1961, Dr. J.S. Ma was Assistant Chief, Medical Dept.291 COO – Chief Operating Officer – per base292 CPH – Chief Pilot Helicopters – per base, but mainly at Udorn293 CPLNG – Chief, Planning, Tainan CS – Chief of Supply – in 1960 K.K. Wang,294 later per base295 DFC – Director Flying Contracts: Enos C. Kirkpatrick since January 58,296 still in 1963297 and

275 Memo no. ALC-64-005 of 28 January 64 re B-817 accident, in: UTD/Fink/B2F18. 276 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 21 August 1962, online at: 0http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 277 Memo no. A/T-60-60-258 of 21 November 60, re 4 C-46s sold to Panama, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 278 Minutes of Meetings of Board of Directors of Air Asia Company Limited of 21 August 1962, online at: 0http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196204.pdf . 279 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, p. 393, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 280 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62 and 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 281 (Anonymous), “Introducing CAT’s new Public Relations Manager”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.6, June 57, p.13. 282 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 283 Letter no. ALC-60-121 of 1 September 60 to Chief of Communications, in: UTD/Fink/B2F14. 284 Evelyn Hackett, “Saigon”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.6, June 57, p.14. 285 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 11/12, November/December 1961, p.14. 286 Memo no. CFO-63-127-A/6 of 3 April 63, CFO to DFC, re assignment of aircraft to contracts, in: UTD/ Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 287 Rosbert, The Pictorial History of Civil Air Transport, p.134. 288 (Anonymous), “CAT Ten-Year Pins Awarded in Taipei,” in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XII, no.11/2, Nov./Dec.59, p.1. 289 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 290 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. By 1968, Air America’s Medical Department had “established full-fledged clinics at three AAM Bases – Saigon, Udorn, and Vientiane – plus a smaller clinic at Tachikawa. The Department, which has been under the direction of Dr. R.Y.H. Lee since its inception, has also made arrangements for employee medical care at all other Air America Bases and Stations. Here are the medical personnel and facilities available to AAM employees at the respective AAM Bases: Saigon. Two doctors – a Vietnamese and a Chinese – head up the medical staff; both were former flight surgeons in their respective nations’ Air Forces. The Saigon clinic also has four nurses. […] Udorn. The staff is made up of three doctors – a Thai and two Chinese – and eight nurses. […] Vientiane. The facility is currently manned by one Chinese doctor and four nurses. A slot for a second doctor is scheduled to be filled shortly” (Anonymous, “AAM’s Medical Dept.”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.3, March 1968, p.1). 291 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 5/6, May/June 1961, p.12. 292 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 293 E-mail dated 13 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 294 Memo no. STAT-60-112 of 7 October 60, K.K. Wang (CS) to Treasurer / Controller, re sale of 4 C-46s to Panama, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 295 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 43

1964298 DFR – Director, Flight Research: Warren R. Lasser299 – in the office of VPFCA in 1969300 DGAD – Director General Accounting Division:301 James T. McElroy in 1965302 DP – Director of Personnel: David R. Traylor,303 who joined the Company as Assistant Director of Personnel in July 1959304 and became DP in May 1961305 DPRA – Director of Public Relations and Advertising: Jean H. Dubuque still in February 1960,306 Arnold Dibble since August 1960307 DRAD – Director, Revenue Accounting Division (CAT): Richard M. Barmon in Aug. 60.308 Effective 1 December 60, James T. McElroy took over from R.M. Barmon as Budget Manager. 309 DS – Director of Supply: George D. Morrison since 1956, still in 1970310 DSD – Director, Sales Division (CAT): C.K. Tseng in 1960311 DSY – Director of Security:312 Donald M. Rinker (since July/August 1960),313 then Stanton F. Ense (April 1964 to July 1968)314 DTD – Director of Traffic Division:315 James Tate, since April 58,316 still in 1961317 GM-L – General Manager Laos: David H. Hickler318 IM – Insurance Manager: Richard M. Barmon in 1966319 (LA) – Legal Assistant to VPSLC: Richard Mitchell since 14 October 61320 LC – Legal Counsel: Henry P. Bevans (in September 64)321 MASVC – Manager, Aircraft Service Dept., Taipei: Richard Wei in 1961322

296 Tape interview with E.C. Kirkpatrick conducted by Prof. William Leary, written summary in: UTD/Leary/B43F3. 297 See DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6. 298 Letter no. DFC-64-242 of 10 November 64 re lease of aircraft to Boun Oum Airways, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8. 299 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 300 Letter no. FC-69-202 of 27 May 69 re contract DAJB09-68-C-0077, signed by W.R. Lasser for VPFCA, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 25. 301 James T. McElroy, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.2. 302 Memo no. D/GAD-65-23 dated 5 February 65 re Helio msn 531 lease from Skyways and financing, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28). 303 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62 and 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 304 (Anonymous), “New Assistant Director of Personnel”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XII, no.7/8, July/August 1959, p. 11. 305 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 5/6, May/June 1961, p.12. 306 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 307 (Anonymous), “New Director of Public Relations and Advertising”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.9/10, September/October 60, p. 13. 308 Emily Wei, „Hong Kong“, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.7/8, July/August 60, pp.14-15. 309 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.11/12, November/December 1960, pp.16/7. 310 CAT Bulletin, vol. IX, no.5, May 1956, pp.4-5; Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 311 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 312 Memo no. RSC/SEA-64/202 of 21 October 64, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8. 313 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.7/8, July/August 1960, pp.11/2. 314 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Stanton F. Ense”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 3. 315 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 316 Eve Myers, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XI, no.4, April 58, p.14. 317 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.3/4, March/April 61, p.14. 318 Letter no. DFC-64-242 of 10 November 64 re lease of aircraft to Boun Oum Airways, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8; Dave Hickler’s “Personal Observation” dated 22 August 64 (no. GML-64-065H), kindly faxed to the author on 9 May 2005 by Joe Hazen. Hickler served as Station Manager Vientiane since 1963 (see UTD/Hickler biography at http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/cataapdf/Hickler.pdf ). 319 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 28 June 66, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 320 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.11/12, November/December 1961, p. 14 321 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 322 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, no.7/8, July/August 1961, pp.6-7. 44

MOT – Manager, Operations Training:323 Roy Watts (MOT in 1961); 324 David T.L. Pan (Training Assistant, MOP-Operations, since May 1961)325 MTSSEA – Manager, Technical Services Southeast Asia: Jackson L. Forney326 OMATOG – Operations Manager Air Transport Operations Group (ATOG), Vientiane: initially Frank Janke; since August 1963, Bartholomew (“Bart”) Brigida327 until 1974328 P – President: Hugh L. Grundy329 PMUDO – (Madriver) Project Manager Udorn: Ben Moore330 RASEA – Regional Accountant Southeast Asia (?): RCP – Regional Chief Pilot, Bangkok: Fred F. Walker since January 62331 RDSEA – Regional Director Southeast Asia, Bangkok:332 Ronald E. Lewis since 15 January 62,333 John McMahon since May 62334 RSC/SEA – Regional Security Chief Southeast Asia, Bangkok: William D. Barrus since January 62,335 D.J. Godar in October 64336 SA/P – Special Assistant to the President: in 1963, this was still David B. Gluskin,337 who had become SA/P already on 1 April 56338 SA-TPE – Safety Advisor Taipei:339 SA/VPO – Special Assistant to the Vice President Operations: James N. Glerum in 1962,340 still in June 63.341 SCP – System Chief Pilot: Eddie F. Sims, 1 January 57 to early 1964342 SLC – Secretary – Legal Counsel: Clyde S. Carter in 1960343 to VPSLC in 1961344

323 Address and Signature Designators for Company Use (Operations Circular no. 2.3.7/R.3 of 27 April 63), in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 324 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 5/6, May/June 1961, p.12. 325 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 5/6, May/June 1961, p.12. 326 The Maintenance report of 5 June 61 for UH-34 “H-G” that crashed at Pa Doung on 30 May 1961 was signed by Jackson Forney as “Manager, Technical Services, Southeast Asia” (in: UTD/Lewis/B2F6). 327 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 328 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Bart Brigida”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIV, no. 4, December 2007, p. 3. 329 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62 and 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 330 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 331 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 332 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4; List of contracts as of 27 July 62, in: UTD/Fink/B2F16. 333 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 334 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 385-89 plus 399, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 335 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 336 Memo no. RSC/SEA-64/202 of 21 October 64, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8. 337 Letter dated 15 February 63 re C-46s B-914 and B-918, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel 4. 338 (Anonymous), “New officers”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. IX, no.5, May 1956, pp.4-5. 339 Distribution list, Employee Accident Report of 5 March 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1; apparently, this was a position of the Medical Department. In 1970, Dr. W.C. Cheng was Senior Physician/Safety Advisor (Board of Review, re C-130A-56510 crash of 10 April 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4). 340 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. In January 61, Jim Glerum was dispatched to Taipei to become Rousselot’s assistant. His task was to handle all Agency requirements for sensitive and covert missions (Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 376 and 414, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3). 341 Memo no. SA/VPO-63-216 of 14 June 63, re sale of Helio msn 541 (former B-847) to Marathon Aviation as N28927, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 342 Interview with Eddie F. Sims conducted by Prof. William Leary at Watkinsville, GA on 27 May 1988, written summary in: UTD/Leary/B43F5. 343 Memo no. SLC-60-681 of 15 November 60, re sale of 4 C-46s to Panama, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 45

T/C – Treasurer-Controller: Amos Hiatt345 VPFCA – Vice President Flying Contract Affairs (AACL): James W. Walker Jr in 1964346 VPFO – Vice President Flight Operations: Tallmadge L. Boyd since 9 September 1963347 VP-O – Vice President Operations: Robert E. Rousselot still in August 63,348 Tallmadge L. Boyd since 9 September 1963,349 but as Vice President Flight Operations (VPFO) VPS – Vice President and Secretary: Clyde S. Carter in September 64350 VPSLC – Vice President-Secretary and Legal Counsel: Clyde S. Carter351 (already in January 62,352 in September 64, his title was only Vice President and Secretary)353 VPTS – Vice President Technical Services: Allan Wueste, Taipei/Tainan354

Distribution, Status of Aircraft […] as of 4 May 66, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2

Again, some acronyms can be explained from quotations in accident reports and other papers of that period:

AABM – Administrative Assistant to Base Manager – per base355 AA/TC – Administrative Assistant to the Treasurer-Controller:356 R.M. Stone in 1964,357 Tom Clifford in 1966358 ABM – Assistant Base Manager – per base359 ADFD – Assistant Director, Flying Division (CATCL): Hugh Hicks in February 68360 ADTD – Assistant Director, Traffic Division: Patrick Tsai in 1960361

344 Memo no. VPSLC-61-319 of 9 October 61, re ferry of B-918 from Miami to Taipei, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 345 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62 and 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 346 Letter no. VPFCA-64-54 of 8 October 64 re Aviation Investors, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28. 347 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 September 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4; Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5. 348 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 10 August 63, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 349 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 16 September 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4; Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5. 350 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 351 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 7 December 62, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 352 Inter-Office Routing Slip of 12 January 62 re VIAT, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28. 353 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 September 64, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 354 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 355 C.L. Lane, “UDN Karate Club”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, p.7. 356 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 357 Letter no. AATC-64-178 of 8 December 64 re Caribou financing in Laos, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8. 358 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 573, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5. 359 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 11 April 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F2. 360 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 660, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5. 46

AMF – Assistant Manager of Flying – per base362 A/VPFO-P – Assistant to Vice President Flying Operations – Projects: Earl H. Richmond363 AVP – Assistant Vice President: Joseph L. Madison364 C/CA – Chief Cost Analyst: Kwei Tu since July 59365 C/S – Crew Scheduling (?) CMTPE – Chief Mechanic Taipei:366 Boyd D. Mesecher (1964-66)367 DFC – Director Flying Contracts: Enos C. Kirkpatrick – since January 58 and still in Sept. 65;368 in February 67, the DFC was Warren R. Lasser,369 still in July 69370 DFD – Director Flying Division:371 Donald E. Teeters in 1964,372 still in 1971,373 Earl H. Richmond in April 1972374 and still in August 72;375 in March 73, Richmond was Acting VPFO376 D/GAD – Director General Accounting Division:377 James T. McElroy378 DLC – Deputy Legal Counsel: Jerry Fink – already in May 65379 DP – Director of Personnel: David R. Traylor380 DSD – Director Safety Division: E. Douglas Dreifus since October 65,381 still in Nov. 66382 DSY – Director of Security:383 Stanton F. Ense (April 1964 to July 1968)384

361 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no. 3/4, March/April 1960, p.18. 362 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 15 January 66, in: UTD/CIA/B58F7. 363 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 28 June 66, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 364 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 365 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XII, no.7/8, July/August 1959, pp.10/1. 366 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 367 Boyd D. Mesecher, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 16. 368 Contract AID-493-66 signed 15 September 65 by Kirkpatrick, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 27. In the early years, the Flight Operations Circulars were published by the DFC / Director of Flying Contracts (e.g. the List of 20 June 62, in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1 or Status of Aircraft owned and operated on a long term basis as of 1 May 68, in: UTD/Herd/B2). Sometimes they did not have any numbers – which makes believe that they were published irregularly –, but only indicate the DFC as their source. Early numbers have a “CA-C” (Company Aircraft – Circular?) and an “OF” (Operations of Flight, in order to avoid a confusion with FO = First Officer ?) in it like CA-C-OF-64-013 of 1 April 64 (in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4) or OF-C-69-24 of 15 June 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B). Probably since 1971, the Director Flying Operations Division published the Flight Operations Circulars, as can be seen from their numbers (e.g. DFOD-C-71-015 of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/ B8F7B). 369 Letter no. DFC-67-080 of 7 February 67 re contracts with Det.10, 6003rd Support Sq., in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.24. 370 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 371 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 372 Letter no. CP-64-322-S/6 of 14 August 64, DFD Teeters to RCP/SEA, in: UTD/Walker/B9F3. 373 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 374 In the Minutes, Board of Review, re accident of PC-6C N152L of 8 April 72, Earl H. Richmond had two titles: “Assistant Vice President Flight Operations/Director Flying Division” (in: UTD/CIA/B34F5). 375 Minutes, Board of Review meeting of 31 August 72, re death of Benjamin F. Coleman, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 376 Minutes, Board of Review, meeting of 5 March 73, re H. H. Boyles, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 377 James T. McElroy, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.2. 378 Memo no. D/GAD-65-23 dated 5 February 65, re Helio msn 531 lease from Skyways and financing, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28). 379 Memo no. DLC-65-097 of 20 May 65 re Helio msn 531, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 380 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. From 1964/5 onwards, David Harrison also worked in the Personnel Division at Taipei. At the end, probably in 1971, he was transferred to Saigon (David Harrison, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVI, no. 1, March 2009, p. 9; (Anonymous), “In memoriam David Harrison”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3). 381 CIA Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for October/November 1965, p. 1, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196510.pdf . 382 Aircraft Accident Review of 2 Nov.66 (Porter N748N at T-312 on 20 Sep.66, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3). 383 E-mail dated 8 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 47

DTD – Director of Traffic Division:385 Arnold K. Rogers around 1968386 IM – Insurance Manager: Richard M. Barmon387 MF – Manager of Flying – per base388 MFT – Manager of Flight Training (?) – per base389 MGDR – Managing Director and CEO: George A. Doole Jr, Washington390 MSD – Manager of Safety Department391 – per base PRES – President: Hugh L. Grundy392 SA/P – Special Assistant to the President:393 David B. Gluskin – still in 1967394 SGTD – Supervisor Ground Transportation Department – per base395 SLC – Secretary/Legal Counsel: Henry P. Bevans396 SOM – Senior Operations Manager – per base397 SOR – Senior Operations Representative – per station398 STS – Superintendent Technical Services – per base399 SZHKG – Station Manager Hong Kong:400 Bill Wright in 1960,401 then Reese T. Bradburn Jr since 1961 (CAT and then Air America Ltd)402 T/C – Treasurer-Controller: Amos Hiatt still on 20 December 65,403 Paul C. Velte Jr on 11 February 66404 and later

384 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Stanton F. Ense”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 3. 385 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 386 Letter no. DTD-68-512.5/02 of 3 August 68 re Ground Handling Contracts signed by DTD Rogers, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 31. 387 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 28 June 66, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 388 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 15 January 66, in: UTD/CIA/B58F7. 389 Distribution list, Aircraft Accident Review of 2 Nov.66, re PC-6 N748N (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3) has an MFT BKK. 390 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, 1 November 63, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 391 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 392 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 393 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 394 Letter no. SA/P-67-64 of 13 April 67 re OnMarks, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 395 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 396 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 397 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 15 July 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F4. 398 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 399 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 5 February 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 400 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 401 Emely Wei, “Hong Kong”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.3/4, March/April 1960, p.18. 402 Reese Bradburn returned to CAT in 1960 and became Hong Kong’s Station Manager for CAT and later Air America Ltd (Anonymous, “In memoriam Reese T. Bradburn Jr”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. 38, no.2, May to July 2013, pp.2-3; Jo Cabaniss, “Corrections and additions”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXXI, no. 2, June 2014, p. 3); (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.5/6, May/June 61, pp.6-7. 403 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. In early 1966, the Compa- ny’s longtime Treasurer-Controller Amos Hiatt relinquished his demanding position and moved up to the post of Financial Advisor to the President of Air America, and on 1 April 68, he retired (Anonymous), “Amos Hiatt retiring”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.2, February 1968, p.8). 404 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 11 February 66, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. In April 1965, Paul C. Velte Jr became Deputy Treasurer-Controller at Taipei (Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI. p. 571, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5). As early as 11 May 1965, the Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. list, among the signatories of CATCL and Air America accounts at the Chase Manhattan Bank and First National City Bank of New York and the Riggs National Bank of Washington, Paul C. Velte Jr. That same day, we also find him among the signatories of Air America, Air Asia, and CATCL accounts at Vientiane, Udorn, Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong, Tainan, Taipei, Naha, Seoul, and Los Angeles. On 8 June 65 and 6 July 65, Paul C. Velte Jr. appears among the signatories of several Company accounts in the Philippines and in Japan (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 11 May 1965, 8 June 65 and 6 July 65, all in: UTD/CIA/B7F4). More Company accounts in Japan and on Okinawa were 48

VPFCA – Vice President Flying Contract Affairs: James W. Walker Jr. – already in May 66405 and until June 1969406 VPFO – Vice President Flight Operations: Tallmadge L. Boyd407 VPT&S – Vice President Traffic & Sales: Var M. Green (AACL/CATCL)408 VPTS – Vice President Technical Services: Allan Wueste, Tainan409

Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 June 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B

Again, some acronyms can be explained from quotations in accident reports and other papers of that period:

AABM – Administrative Assistant to Base Manager – per base410 AA/TC – Administrative Assistant to the Treasurer-Controller:411 A/C – Assistant Controller: Lindsey B. Herd412 A/DFD/TPE – Assistant to Director of Flying / Flight Division, Taipei: Tom H. Penniman in 1970413 ADTD – Assistant Director of Traffic Division/TPE: John W. Melton (Sept.67-June 70)414 AMFD – Assistant Manager of Flying / Flight Department – per base415 ADSAFE – Assistant Director Safety Division: George J. Keller,416 still in July 69417

opened in the early months of 1966, always with Paul C. Velte Jr. among the signatories (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 9 and 23 February 66 and of 23 March 66, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1). 405 Memo no. VPFCA-66-71 of 5 May 66 (Status of Aircraft…), in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2. 406 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 June 1969, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 407 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 20 December 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1. 408 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Civil Air Transport Co Ltd of 27 July 64, in: UTD/CIA/B11F4. 409 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 410 C.L. Lane, “UDN Karate Club”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, p.7. 411 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 412 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 20 January 69 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F3); Memo no. A/C-69-261 of 30 July 69, re sale of C-46 B-926, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. Lindsey B. Herd joined CAT as an accountant in 1952, working in Hong Kong and Taiwan before being assigned to Tokyo. “In 1956, Mr. Herd moved to Taiwan to lead the internal auditing department of the airline” (Matt Schudel), “In memoriam Lindsey Herd”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIV, no. 4, December 2007, p. 4. 413 T. H. Penniman (A/DFD/TPE), “AAM pilots get uniform changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.4, 1970, p.7. 414 John W. Melton, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 415 Distribution, DSAFE Memo of 25 March 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 416 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 11 October 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F3). 417 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 49

(acronym changed from ADSD) ADSD – Assistant Director Safety Division: George J. Keller418 A/P-CEA – Assistant to the President/Civil Engineering and Airports:419 Richard E. Fisher420 AS – Assistant Secretary: Jerry Fink421 AT – Assistant Treasurer: James T. McElroy, already in July 69,422 until April 1971423 AVP – Assistant Vice President: Joseph L. Madison424 AVPFO – Assistant Vice President Fight Operations: Earl H. Richmond425 since June 1969, when the position was created;426 he took office at Taipei on 25 September 69.427 BPC – Base Personnel Coordinator:428 David Harrison in 1969429 C/CAG – Chief, Cost Accounting:430 in July 69, C.R. Hooff was Manager, Cost Accounting431 C&CM – Credit & Collections Manager: Richard M. Barmon in 1968432 CECD – Chief Employee Compensation Department: James W. Sweitzer433 DCAD – Director Cost Accounting Division:434 most of the time Tom Clifford;435 also in July 69436 DCD – Director, Communications Division:437 C.Y. Wong in July 69438 DFD – Director, Flying Division, Taipei (formerly: System Chief Pilot): Donald E. Teeters since early 1964,439 still in July 69440 and in 1971441 (The position was renamed System Chief Pilot – SCP – in 1971) DFOD – Director, Flight Operations Division: Robert P. Chase at least 1965-71442 D/FOTD – Director of Flight Operations Training Division, Tainan: James C. Thursby (1966-

418 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 September 68, in: UTD/CIA/B34F2; Accident Review of 27 January 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7) re Bell 204B N8512F accident of 7 November 68. 419 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 420 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 421 Inter-Office Routing Slip of 16 May 67 re the OnMarks, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 422 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 423 James T. McElroy, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.2. 424 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 425 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 11 October 69, in: UTD/CIA/B34F3. 426 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 June 1969, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. A code like AVPFO-RA apparently stands for the function in office of the AVPFO, like Registration of Aircraft for RA (see, for example, Letter no. WC-72-2372 of 25 April 72, VP Clyde Carter to FAA, re cancellation of N152L, with copy to AVPFO-RA, in: UTD/CIA/B15F2). 427 (Anonymous), “Richmond promoted”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, p.8. 428 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 429 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 430 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 431 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 432 Letter no. C&CM685-291 of 21 May 68 re Coastways A-26, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 433 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 17 May 69 (in: UTD/CIA/ B34F3). 434 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 435 E-mails dated 5 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan and Gary Bisson. 436 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 437 E-mail dated 6 April 2015, kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan. 438 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 439 Interview with Eddie F. Sims conducted by Prof. William Leary at Watkinsville, GA on 27 May 1988, written summary at: UTD/Leary/B43F5. 440 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 441 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 442 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan; e-mail dated 21 July 2015 kindly sent to the author by James Quigley. 50

1970)443 DI – Director of Insurance: Richard M. Barmon444 – title changed from IM by January 69 DLC – Deputy Secretary/Legal Counsel: Jerry Fink, already July 69,445 still June 70446 DMAD – Director, Maintenance Accounting Division: 447 Max Garland Wells448 DOED – Director, Operations Engineering Division:449 D.M. Lundberg in July 69450 DP – Director of Personnel: David R. Traylor451 DPRA – Director of Public Relations Advertising:452 George L. Christian III, Taipei (editor Air America Log 1967-73) DRM – Director of Regional Maintenance, Tainan:453 George Stubbs – since around 1961454 and still in 1972455 DSAFE – Director Safety Division: E. Douglas Dreifus,456 still in 1970457 (acronym changed from DSD). Formerly, the DSAFE was called DSD. DSD – Director Safety Division: E. Douglas Dreifus458 (acronym changed to DSAFE in 1968/69) D/STAT – Director, Statistics Division:459 K.K. Wong in July 69460 DSY – Director of Security: Stanton F. Ense (April 1964 to July 1968),461 then Samuel H. Johnson (1968-73)462 DTD – Director of Traffic Division:463 Arnold K. Rogers around 1968,464 still in July 69465 ECD – Employee Compensation Department466

443 James C. Thursby, “Ltd Ops Trng Div strides forward”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 3, 1969, p.1; Chris Thursby, “In memoriam Jim Thursby”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXV, no. 3, September 2008, p. 3. 444 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 20 January 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F3) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 445 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 446 Inter-Office Routing Slip of 2 June 70 re Caribou msn 52, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 447 E-mail dated 23 March 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. The maintenance accounting was transferred from Tainan to Taipei in 1969 (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 28 October 69 in UTD/CIA/B8F3). 448 Max Garland Wells was a manager of accounting responsible for US military aircraft contract maintenance, who was stationed at Tainan since 1962, then briefly at Taipei, then for some years at Hong Kong and at the end at Washington (Bart Crotty, “In memoriam Max Garland Wells”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIX, no. 3, September 2012, p. 6). 449 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 450 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 451 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67, in: UTD/CIA/B34F2. From 1964/5 onwards, David Harrison also worked in the Personnel Division at Taipei. At the end, probably in 1971, he was transferred to Saigon (David Harrison, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVI, no. 1, March 2009, p. 9; (Anonymous), “In memoriam David Harrison”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3). 452 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 453 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 454 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 455 E-mail dated 31 December 2005, kindly sent to the author by Ward S. Reimer. 456 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 20 January 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F3) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 457 E.D. Dreifus (DSAFE), “Professionalism and safety –an indispensable team”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.7. 458 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67, in: UTD/CIA/B34F2; Memo of 25 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 459 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 460 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 461 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Stanton F. Ense”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 3. 462 (Anonymous), “Personnel changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 463 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 464 Letter no. DTD-68-512.5/02 of 3 August 68 re Ground Handling Contracts signed by DTD Rogers, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 31. 465 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 51

FOTD – Flight Operations Training Department – per base467 IM – Insurance Manager: Richard M. Barmon468 MAED – Manager, Aircraft Electronics Department:469 MCRD – Manager, Communications Research Department:470 Ralph Chew in July 69471 MEED – Manager, Emergency Equipment Department, Tainan:472 MFD – Manager of Flying / Flight Department – per base473 MFSD – Manager, Flying Standards Department:474 – per base475 M/GA – Manager/ MGDR – Managing Director and CEO: George A. Doole Jr, Washington476 MMIC – Manager, Management Information Center:477 T.E. Freeman in July 69478 MMP – Manager, Maintenance Planning Department, Tainan:479 MSAFE – Manager of Safety – per base480 (PA) – Personnel Assistant: Stuart Nieman481 PLNG – Supervisor Planning – per base482 PRES – President: Hugh L. Grundy483 SA/DP – Special Assistant to the Director of Personnel: John A. Altamira in 1970484 SA/P – Special Assistant to the President:485 David B. Gluskin – still in 1967486 SA/T-C – Special Assistant to the Treasurer-Controller: J.A. Carithers in July 69487 SA/VPFO – Special Assistant to Vice President Flight Operations: SCP – System Chief Pilot: Donald E. Teeters in 1971488 (the SCP was a new designation introduced in 1971 for the former DFD – Director Flying Division) SLC – Secretary/Legal Counsel: Henry P. Bevans489

466 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 11 October 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F3) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 467 James C. Thursby, “Ltd Ops Trng Div strides forward”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 3, 1969, p.1. 468 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 September 68, in: UTD/CIA/B34F2; became Director Insurance by January 69 (Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 20 January 69, in: UTD/CIA/B34F3). 469 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 470 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 471 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 472 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 473 Distribution, DSAFE Memo of 25 March 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 474 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 475 In the Distribution list of accident reports: They list an MSAFE UDN, an MSAFE SGN, but an MFSD BKK (for example Aircraft Accident Review by Doug Dreifus (DSD) for UH-34D H-47 accident of 22 June 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F5). Since late 1968, an MFSD VTE was also listed (e.g. Distribution list of DSAFE 69-69-150, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 476 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, 1 November 63, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 477 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 478 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 479 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 480 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 5 February 69, in: UTD/CIA/B60F8. 481 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 September 68 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 20 January 69 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F3). 482 Memo no. PLNG-UTH-70-322 of 3 August 70, re C-123 and C-7 aircraft time report for July 70, in: UTD/ CIA/B29F4. 483 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 484 Y.L. Chow, “Three Top Yokota mechanic retire”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, p.1. 485 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 486 Letter no. SA/P-67-64 of 13 April 67 re OnMarks, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 487 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 488 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 52

(SP/SA) – Senior Physician / Safety Advisor: Dr. W.S. Cheng490 STS TPE – Superintendent Technical Services, Taipei: Ward S. Reimer in July 69491 SZCHM – Station Manager Chiang Mai,492 later replaced by SZ T11,493 then by SZCNX SZCLK – Station Manager Clark:494 see below SZCNX – Station Manager Chiang Mai:495 see below SZDNG – Station Manager Danang:496 see below SZHKG – Station Manager Hong Kong:497 see below SZNHA – Station Manager Nha Trang:498 see below SZ L39 – Station Manager Savannakhet:499 SZ T11 – Station Manager Chiang Mai,500 acronym later replaced by SZCNX SZ V03 – Station Manager Danang,501 acronym later replaced by SZDNG SZ V07 – Station Manager Nha Trang,502 acronym later replaced by SZNHA T/C – Treasurer-Controller: Paul C. Velte Jr.503 VPFCA – Vice President Flying Contract Affairs: James W. Walker Jr. – until June 1969,504 then Var M. Green505 VPFO – Vice President Flight Operations: James W. Walker Jr. – since June 1969506 VPT&S – Vice President Traffic & Sales: Var M. Green – still on 30 May 69507 VPTS – Vice President Technical Services: Allan Wueste, Taipei/Tainan508

A very complex picture is given for the early seventies in an undated alphabetical list called “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, which gives 22 names, including 4 for CATCL (Wang Wen-San, Chairman; Y. C. Chen, Director; J. K. Twanmoh, Director; and James C. K. Jao, Secretary). For Air America, we have the President (Hugh L. Grundy) and his Taipei staff: David B. Gluskin (Assistant Vice President); James H. Walker Jr (Vice President Operations) and Earl H. Richmond (Assistant Vice President Operations); Var M. Green (Vice President Flying Contract Affairs); Joseph L. Madison (Vice President

489 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 490 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 26 May 70 (in: UTD/CIA/B19F1). 491 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 492 Aircraft Accident Review of 11 October 67 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re UH-34 H-47 on 14 Sep 67. 493 Aircraft Accident Review of 4 April 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re Helio XW-PCS on 1 Nov 67. 494 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 495 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 496 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 497 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 498 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 499 Aircraft Accident Review of 4 April 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re Helio XW-PCS on 1 Nov 67; Memo of 25 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 500 Aircraft Accident Review of 4 April 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re Helio XW-PCS on 1 Nov 67; Memo of 25 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 501 Aircraft Accident Review of 4 April 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re Helio XW-PCS on 1 Nov 67; Memo of 25 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 502 Aircraft Accident Review of 4 April 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3), re Helio XW-PCS on 1 Nov 67; Memo of 25 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7). 503 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 6 November 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F2) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 504 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 June 1969, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 505 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 506 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 10 June 1969, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 507 Status of Aircraft for C-46 B-926 as of 15 January 74, in: UTD/CIA/B56F4. 508 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 53

Administration); Lindsey B. Herd Jr. (Controller); Henry P. Bevans (Vice President Law); Jerry Fink (Deputy Legal Counsel); and Thomas B. Ingles (Vice President Industrial Relations). For Tainan, we have Allan Wueste (Vice President Technical Services). Then we have the men who ran the regional centers: Clarence J. Abadie Jr (Vice President) and Jackson L. Forney (Assistant Vice President Technical Service) for Udorn; Jack Barnhisel (Base Manager) for Saigon; James A. Cunningham Jr (Vice President) for Vientiane; David H. Hickler (Base Manager) for Bangkok; Ronald (Doc) Lewis (General Manager-Japan) for Tachikawa-Yokota; and Thomas J. Clifford (Manager) for Hong Kong/Air America Ltd.509 Even this list is not complete, as positions like those of Reese T. Bradburn (Director of Personnel, Taipei), John E. Baird (Personnel Manager, Vientiane), Tom Lewis (Chief- Engineer-Pilot, Taipei), Gerald D. Macpherson (Assistant Vice President Laos), who are depicted above,510 and of Philip R. O’Brien (Director of Safety)511 are missing.

“Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel” (in: UTD/CIA/B4F2)

509 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 510 See the photos in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3. 511 P. R. O’Brien (Director of Safety), Letter to the President dated 18 January 72 (DSAFE-72-19), in: UTD/CIA/B29F2. 54

Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B

By 1971, several Air America officers had been promoted and even elected Vice Presidents. This time, some department heads of Air Asia received their copy of the Operations Circular directly. That is why the following explanations list them separately. Again, some acronyms can be explained from quotations in accident reports and other papers of that period: a) Company officers stationed at Taipei: A/C – Assistant Controller: Thomas J. Clifford512 AA/VPFO – Administrative Assistant to Vice President Flight Operations: resigned in 1973513 ADCD – Assistant Director, Communications:514 A/DPD/TPE – Administrator to Data Processing Division, Taipei: John T. Burnite515 AED – Aircraft Electronics Department – per base Technical Services516 A/P-CEA – Assistant to President/Civil Engineering and Airports: 517 R.E. Fisher in July 69518 A/T – Assistant Treasurer:519 James T. McElroy in July 69520 A/VPA – Assistant to Vice President Administration: C.H. Green in 1971521 A/VPFO-P – Assistant to Vice President Flight Operations – Projects: resigned 31 May 73522 AVPFO – Assistant Vice President Fight Operations: Earl H. Richmond523

512 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 19 May 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 513 Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. 514 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3; an ADCD is mentioned in Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. 515 John T. Burnite, “Data Processing”, part 1, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.1 and 5. 516 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 517 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 518 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 519 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 520 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 521 Memo no. A/VPA-71-26 of 22 May 71 re Project Operations SVN, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 6. 522 Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. Among his tasks was to warn pilots of specific technical problems that might come up (Teletype of 26 April 72, Office of Engineering (OENG), Vientiane, to CE-P TPE, re rudder trim problems on PC-6 Porters, in: UTD/CIA/B29F2). 523 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F4) and 24 April 72 (in: UTD/CIA/ B34F5). A code like AVPFO-RA apparently stands for the function in office of the AVPFO, like Registration of 55

CE-P – Chief-Engineer-Pilot, Taipei: Tom Lewis in 1973524 CMD – Chief, Medical Department: Dr. Richard Y.H. Lee525 – designation changed to Director Medical (DM) by September 72 CMD – Communications Department (after Sept. 1972) – per base526 CMECH TPE – Chief Mechanic Taipei: Controller – Controller: Lindsey B. Herd527 – still Assistant Controller on 26 May 70528 – still Controller in March 73529 CP/L – Chief Publications / Library, Flight Operations:530 Francis Huang in July 69531 DCAA – Defense Contract Audit Agency Representative: Al Rees532 DCAD – Director Cost Accounting Division:533 Tom Clifford;534 from 1970 to 1978 Kwei (“Duke”) Tu535 DCD – Director, Communications Division:536 C.Y. Wong in July 69537 DFD – Director, Flying Division, Taipei: Donald E. Teeters in July 69,538 still in 1971539 (The position was renamed System Chief Pilot – SCP – in 1971) DFOD – Director, Flight Operations Division:540 Robert P. Chase since at least 1965 until 1971.541 In late 1971, the position of DFOD was replaced by the position of DOC (Director Operations Control).542 DGAD – Director General Accounting Division:543 William Tsun in July 69544 DGTD – Director, Ground Transportation Division: J. E. Boring in July 69545 – and a Department per base546 DI – Director of Insurance: Richard M. Barmon547 – title changed from IM by January 69

Aircraft for RA (see, for example: Letter no. WC-72-2372 of 25 April 72, VP Clyde Carter to FAA, re cancellation of N152L, with copy to AVPFO-RA, in: UTD/CIA/B15F2). 524 See the photos in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3. 525 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 19 May 72 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F5) and 25 Sep 72 (in: UTD/CIA/ B34F5). 526 W.F. Palmer (SOM/UTH), “Oldtimers at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 2. 527 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 528 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 26 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 529 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 530 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 531 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 532 E-mails dated 5 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan and Gary Bisson. 533 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 534 E-mails dated 5 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan and Gary Bisson. 535 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Kwei ‘Duke’ Tu”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 1, March 2000, p. 6. 536 Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. 537 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 538 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 539 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 540 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. Since 1971, the Director Flight Operations Division published the Flight Operations Circulars, as can be seen from their numbers (e.g. DFOD-C-71-015 of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B). In the early years, they were published by the DFC / Director of Flying Contracts (e.g. the List of 20 June 62, in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1 or Status of Aircraft owned and operated on a long term basis of 1 May 68, in: UTD/Herd/B2). Sometimes they did not have any numbers – which makes believe that they were published irregularly –, but only indicate the DFC as their source. Early numbers have an “OF” in it like CA-C-OF-64-013 of 1 April 64 (in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4) or OF-C-69-24 of 15 June 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B). 541 E-mail dated 21 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James Quigley. 542 E-mail dated 20 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James Quigley. 543 James T. McElroy, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.2. 544 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 545 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 546 Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. 56

DLC – Deputy Legal Counsel: Jerry Fink,548 still in 1973549 DM – Director Medical: Dr. Richard Y.H. Lee550 – still in March 73551 DMAD – Director, Maintenance Accounting Division:552 Max Garland Wells553 DMD – Director, Meteorology Division:554 Griffith Wang in July 69555 – and Department per base556 DMFS – Director, Marketing Flying Services: Sigvard O. Larson557 – in July 72,558 still in January 73.559 Sig Larson began his career with CAT in July 58 as an Accountant560 DOC – Director Operations Control: James P. Quigley since late 71 (till mid-1973 at Taipei, then at Washington)561 DOED – Director, Operations Engineering Division:562 D.M. Lundberg563 DP – Director of Personnel: Reese T. Bradburn in 1971564 – still in March 73565 DPD – Data Processing Division: John T. Burnite (A/DPD/TPE), in July 69566 and 1970567 DPRA – Director of Public Relations Advertising:568 George L. Christian III, Taipei (editor Air America Log 1967-73) DSAFE – Director of Safety: Philip R. O’Brien in 1971569 – still in March 73570

547 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 20 January 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F3) and 18 February 70 (in: UTD/ CIA/B34F4). 548 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 28 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. In 1962, Jerry Fink signed as Assistant Legal Counsel (Contract Administration, Memo dated 27 July 62, in: UTD/Fink/B2F16). 549 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5; Jerry Fink ceased to be Air America’s DLC in 1973 (Jerry Fink, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XI, no. 3, 1994, p.3. 550 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 25 September 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 551 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 552 E-mail dated 23 March 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 553 Max Garland Wells was a manager of accounting responsible for US military aircraft contract maintenance, who was stationed at Tainan since 1962, then briefly at Taipei, then for some years at Hong Kong and at the end at Washington (Bart Crotty, “In memoriam Max Garland Wells”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIX, no. 3, September 2012, p. 6). 554 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 555 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 556 Memo no. VPO-73-058 of 9 April 73 re Taipei Phase Down, in: UTD/CIA/B51/F4. 557 In July 69, Sigvard O. Larson was Assistant to the Vice President Flying Contract Affairs (Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan). 558 Contract Modification no. DAJB17-72-C-1021-P00005 signed by S. Larson on 24 July 72, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no.25. 559 Contract Modification no. F04606-71-C-0002-P00069 of 17 January 73, signed by DMFS Sigvard Larson, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 23. 560 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XI, no.7, July 58, p.6. 561 E-mail dated 21 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. From mid-1971 onwards, James Quigley was Deputy to AVPFO Earl Richmond for 4 months (ib.). 562 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 563 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 564 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. From 1964/5 onwards, David Harrison also worked in the Personnel Division at Taipei. In 1969, he was Chief, American Employment Dept. and Base Personnel Coordinator. He reported to the Vice President for Administration, Joseph Madison (E-mails dated 5 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan and Gary Bisson; Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan). At the end, probably in 1971, Harrison was transferred to Saigon (David Harrison, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVI, no. 1, March 2009, p. 9; (Anonymous), “In memoriam David Harrison”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3). 565 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 566 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 567 John T. Burnite, “Data Processing”, part 1, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.1 and 5. 568 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 569 Accident report of 16 July 71 (in: UTD/CIA/B16F20), re UH-1D Y-11 on 13 May 71. P. R. O’Brien was still Director of Safety in 1972 (Letter to the President dated 18 January 72 [DSAFE-72-19], in: UTD/CIA/B29F2). 570 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 57

DSTAT – Director, Statistics Division:571 K.K. Wong in July 69572 DSY – Director of Security: Samuel H. Johnson,573 since 1968574 DTD – Director Traffic Division: Stanley J. Huster in 1972575 – still in March 73;576 had been Assistant Director of Traffic for SEA Traffic Functions in July 69577 DTS – Director Technical Services – per base578 ECD – Employee Compensation Department579 GMD – General Maintenance Department – per base580 GMJ OKO – General Manager Japan at Yokota: Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis581 IA – Internal Auditor:582 J. H. Bolden in July 69583 IM – Insurance Manager: James S. I. Cheng in 1971-72584 MASD – Manager, Aircraft Scheduling Department:585 T.S. Ma in July 69586 MCRD – Manager, Communications Research Department:587 Ralph Chew in July 69588 MESB – Manager Employee Services and Benefits: H.R. Klann589 – still in March 73590 MFOT/SEA – Manager, Flight Operations Training/Southeast Asia:591 J.C. Thursby in July 69592 MFPD – Manager, Flight Planning Department, Airport:593 K.C. Liang in July 69594 MGDR – Managing Director and CEO: George A. Doole Jr until 1 September 71, then Paul C. Velte Jr, Washington, since 1 September 1971, who had been Vice President before being elected CEO595 MIE – Manager, Import & Export: P.L. Chang in July 69596 MMIC – Manager, Management Information Center:597 T.E. Freeman in July 69598 MOPD – Manager, Operations Programming Department:599 Harvey Chin in July 69600

571 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 572 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 573 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 574 (Anonymous), “Personnel changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 575 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 31 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 576 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 577 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 578 J.L. Forney (DTS/UTH), “Laborer to leader”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.4, p.2. 579 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F4) and 24 April 72, in: UTD/CIA/ B34F5). 580 W.F. Palmer (SOM/UTH), “Oldtimers at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 2. 581 List “Distribution” for Flight Operations Circular no. DFOD-C-71-015 of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/ B8F7B. 582 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 583 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 584 Letter no. DI-71-0647 of 3 December 71 and no. IM-72-015 of 13 January 72, both re C-130 insurance and both in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 29. 585 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 586 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 587 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 588 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 589 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 25 September 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 590 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 591 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 592 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 593 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 594 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 595 Minutes of Meeting, Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 18 August 71, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 596 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 597 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 598 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 599 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 600 Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan. 58

MSAFE – Manager of Safety – per base: in early 1973, there was an MSAFE/VTE, an MSAFE/UTH, but an ADSAFE/SGN601 OPW – OVPL – Office of the Vice President Law: William J. Merrigan602 PM – Personnel Manager – per base603 PRES – President: Hugh L. Grundy604 – until April 1975, when he was transferred to Southern Air Transport at Miami605 QCD – Quality Control Division – per base Technical Services606 RAD – Revenue Accounting Division:607 RMD – Regional Maintenance Department – per base Technical Services608 RSD – Regional Supply Department – per base609 SCP – System Chief Pilot: Donald E. Teeters in 1971610 (The System Chief Pilot was a new designation introduced in 1971 for the former DFD – Director Flying Division) VP-A – Vice President Administration: Joseph L. Madison611 – still Assistant Vice President on 26 May 70,612 but VP-A in October 70613 – still VP-A in March 73614 VPFCA – Vice President Flying Contract Affairs: Var M. Green615 VPFO – Vice President Flight Operations: James W. Walker Jr.616 – still in January 73617; Acting VPFO Earl H. Richmond in March 73618 VP-IR – Vice President Industrial Relations: Thomas B. Ingles619 – still in March 73620 VP-L – Vice President Law: Henry P. Bevans621 – still Secretary / Legal Counsel on 26 May 70622– still VP-L in March 73623 VPO – Vice President Operations: Earl H. Richmond since early 1973 (up to then, this position had been called Vice President Flight Operations)624 VP-T – Vice President-Treasurer: Paul C. Velte Jr still on 23 July 71625 VPT&S – Vice President Traffic & Sales: Var M. Green – still on 30 May 69626

601 List “Distribution” for: Memo no. MSAFE-VTE-73003 of 1 February 73 re Monthly Safety Report Jan. 73, in: UTD/CIA/B31F2. 602 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 10 January 72 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F5) and 28 June 72 (in: UTD/CIA/ B34F5). 603 See photos at Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 3. 604 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 605 Boyd D. Mesecher, “A tribute to Hugh Grundy”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIX, no. 1, March 2012, p. 3. 606 W.F. Palmer (SOM/UTH), “Oldtimers at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 2. 607 E-mail dated 6 April 2015, kindly sent to the author by William Merrigan. 608 (Anonymous), “Air America personnel in RMD”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.3, 1971, p. 7. 609 W.F. Palmer (SOM/UTH), “Oldtimers at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 2. 610 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 611 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 612 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 26 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 613 In October 70, he was already Vice President Administration, to whom BM Saigon E. J. Theisen sent his report for October 1970 (CIA document no. 0000174575). 614 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 615 Letter no. FC-72-017 dated 20 January 72 to USAID Laos, in: UTD/CIA/B29F2. 616 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 10 January 72 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F5) and 25 September 72 (in: UTD/CIA/B34F5). 617 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 19 January 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 618 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 619 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 24 April 72, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 620 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 621 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 5 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 622 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 26 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4. 623 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 23 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B34F5. 624 (Anonymous), “Promotions”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.1. 625 Bill of Sale of 23 July 71 re Caribou msn 34, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 59 b) Air Asia officers stationed at Tainan: ADMAD – Assistant Director, Main Base Accounting Division:627 DAM – Director Aircraft Maintenance:628 John E. Berry in 1970629 DED – Director, Electronics Division, Tainan:630 William F. Henderson in 1970631 DENG – Director, Engineering Division, Tainan:632 Tom Lewis633 DMCD – Director, Maintenance Contracts Division: D. T. Massie in 1970, 634 still in 1972635 DPLN – Director, Planning Division, Tainan:636 James E. Burkett Sr. in 1970637 DQC – Director, Quality Control Division:638 DRM – Director of Regional Maintenance, Tainan:639 George Stubbs – since around 1961640 and still in 1972641 DSHP – Director, Shops Division:642 Sam Hixon643 L/O, AMD – L/O Aircraft Maintenance Division MAED – Manager, Aircraft Electronics Department:644 MECC – Manager, ECC, Tainan MEDD – Manager, EDD, Tainan MEED – Manager, Emergency Equipment Division, Tainan:645 MMP – Manager, Maintenance Planning Department, Tainan:646 M/O, SHPD – M/O, Shops Division MP/C – Manager, Production Control, Tainan:647 MPPD – Manager Petroleum Products Department:648 MQA – Manager, Quality Assurance:649 Ramon García in 1970650 MRSD – Manager, Regional Supply Division (?) SADMU – SHOPS TI IB – Shops, Training Instructor Instruments, Batteries (?) S/LIB – Supervisor, Technical Library Unit:651 SOD TNN – Senior Operations Dispatcher Tainan: STPC – STPUB –

626 Status of Aircraft for C-46 B-926 as of 15 January 74, in: UTD/CIA/B56F4. 627 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 628 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 629 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 630 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 631 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 632 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 633 E-Mail dated 22 July 2015 by Neal E. Coltrane, kindly sent to Gary Bisson who forwarded it to the author. 634 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 635 Letter no. DMC-72-787 of 15 June 72 re Khmer AF, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 18. 636 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 637 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 638 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 639 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 640 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 641 E-mail dated 31 December 2005, kindly sent to the author by Ward S. Reimer. 642 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 643 Earl W. Chambers, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXV, no. 4, December 2008, p. 5. 644 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 645 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 646 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 647 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 648 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 649 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 650 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 651 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 60

STT – Superintendent of Technical Training SWBU – Supervisor Weather Bureau (?) VPTS – Vice President Technical Services: Allan Wueste, Taipei/Tainan;652 in mid-1973, he became President of Air Asia Co Ltd,653 but there is no longer any Air America VPTS on 1 November 73.654

During a meeting of Air America’s Management that was held at Honolulu on 28-30 September 1971, Air America’s CEO and Managing Director Paul C. Velte Jr. also touched the relationship between the field area and the base managers, stating: “We have line and staff Vice Presidents co-mingled. Every junior officer feels he can tell the base manager how to act. Maybe we need to clearly identify who the line officers are. There are too many people telling the base managers what to do. Perhaps the term ‘base manager’ is not good, having the connotation of housekeeping duties. One way would be to leave the title of base manager but make them Vice Presidents. The vice presidency would have to stay with the job and not with the individual. Mr. Grundy will recommend what we might call the base manager. It could be ‘General Manager-Vietnam’ etc. The title should add some prestige to the man.”655 And so, in the subsequent Flight Operations Circulars, all Base Managers have been promoted to Vice Presidents or Assistant Vice Presidents. In the Distribution list of the Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73 published on the following page, the Air America Bases and Stations are BKK (Bangkok), CNX (Chiang Mai), CRK (Clark), DAD (Danang), HKG (Hong Kong), NHA (Nha Trang), OKO (Yokota), PNH (Phnom Penh), SGN (Saigon), UTH (Udorn), VCA (Can Tho), and VTE (Vientiane). They mostly had one or more of the following officers: CMECH (Chief Mechanic), CP (Chief Pilot), DO (Director of Operations), DTS (Director of Technical Services), OM (Operations Manager), SCR (Senior Company Representative), S/MAINT (Supervisor Maintenance), SOM (Senior Operations Manager) SOR (Senior Operations Representative), SSHP (Supervisor, Shops), or SZ (Station Manager). For more details below in Section C: Base and Station Management.

Air America’s CEOs George A. Doole Jr. in 1970/1 and Paul C. Velte Jr. in 1973 (Flying men, flying machines, at 23 seconds; Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 9, 1973, p.1)

652 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 653 See Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 5, 1973, p.1; on 16 May 73, Allan Wueste was President of AACL in Tainan, and Earl Chambers was Vice President Engineering AACL (Dixon Speas Associates Report of 12 July 73, p.3, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14); Allan Wueste still was President of AACL in August 1975 (Boyd D. Mesecher, “Statement about the Saigon evacuation of the Air America Inc. (AAM) employees”, sent to Al Wueste, President Air Asia Co Ltd on 13 August 75, pp.4/5, in: UTD/CIA/B17F5). 654 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 1 November 73, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C. 655 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, p.2, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 61

Distribution list, Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14

This “Distribution” list does not yet include the reorganization, by which, effective 1 April 73, the phase out of the Taipei offices began. So it still gives the picture that existed in March 1973, and the abbreviations are included in the previous section.

Clyde S. Carter (Senior Vice President in 1973) and Lindsey Herd (Controller in 1973), both taken in the late 1950ies (UTD/Treasures, photos no. 90325 and 90368) 62

Air America’s Management visiting Udorn in December 1971 (Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 2, 1972, p.3)

Air America’s Management visiting Udorn in December 1971 (Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 2, 1972, p.3) 63

Air America’s Management visiting Laos in the summer of 1972 (Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3)

On 15 August 72, the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. elected the following officers of the Company “to hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors”:656

656 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 15 August 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. As Hugh Grundy was absent at that meeting, the only person from the “Field” to attend that meeting was Earl H. Rich- mond, who was “also present at the invitation of the Board”. All the other Directors present at that meeting were from Washington or even from the CIA. 64

Air America’s Officers elected on 15 August 1972 (Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors of 15 August 1972, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2)

Compared to the lists given before, some new tasks and positions appear here for the first time: So, CEO Paul Velte now also appears as Treasurer, and names like James E. Meals (of Washington), Hilbert Dawson, and Paul Sinner did not appear in this type of listing before.

CEO Paul C. Velte Jr., President Hugh L. Grundy, and Vice-President Clarence J. Abadie Jr.

Vice-Presidents Clyde S. Carter, James A. Cunningham Jr., and Var M. Green

65

Vice-Presidents Henry P. Bevans, Thomas B. Ingles, and Joseph L. Madison

Vice-Presidents James W. Walker Jr. and Allan Wueste

Photos of Air America’s and Air Asia’s top management during the early 1970ies. These photos were taken from the documentary entitled Flying men, flying machines. A portrait of Air America, from the UTD Treasures photo library and from the photo collection of Gary Bisson.

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B) The Washington Office: Administration, Financing, and Recruitment

As a commercial airline, Civil Air Transport needed Sales Offices also in the United States, and so two CAT Sales Offices were opened in 1960: On 1 June 60, the Western Sales office was established at 3411 Tulare Avenue, Burbank, CA, headed by C.K. Tseng. Already on 16 February 60, Marlen Baker joined the CAT Staff as Sales Representative on the US East Coast. Her office was at 918, 16th Street, N.W., Washington 6, DC.657 As to the contract carrier inside the CAT-Air America complex, CAT Incorporated, renamed Air America in 1959, had its own Washington office since many years: Already in 1954, it was CAT Incorporated, 302 Sheraton Building, 11 14th Street NW, Washington.658 So probably as early as 1954, George A. Doole Jr had “set up an Air America (originally CAT Incorporated) office in the Sheraton Building in downtown Washington to fulfill the appearance of the airline as a commercial entity.”659 But in order to fulfil that appearance, the CAT and the Air America Office at Washington were still at the same address in 1960. As has been seen above, since 1959, Air America’s Washington Office was also at 918, 16th Street, N.W., Washington 6, DC,660 then moved to 801 World Center Building, Washington 6, DC in 1960,661 then (at least between 1961 and 1969) to 815 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington DC 20006,662 and then (at least between 1970 and 1973) to 1725 K Street, N.W., Washington DC 20006.663 Although most if not all of the organization of Air America’s and Air Asia’s activities in the Far East were done in Taipei or at one of Air America’s bases in Laos, South Vietnam, and Thailand, financing and interchange of aircraft within the CIA proprietaries were mostly done at Washington by George Doole and his staff. These interchanges occurred more often in the sixties. When Air Asia sold 4 C-46s to Los Hermanos Sebastian y Gómez SA in the fall of 1960, these aircraft had been offered at a price of $ 75,000.00 each.664 Consequently, when Los Hermanos notified them in March 61 that one of these C-46s (serial 22366) had been destroyed before the entire sum had been paid, Air Asia asked for “immediate payment of the remaining balance of FIFTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($ 51,000) due on this aircraft as of 31 March 1961”.665 However, Los Hermanos – that is the CIA’s Bay of Pigs operation – had also asked for a replacement C-46, and so, Air Asia (Treasurer Amos Hiatt) offered that replacement C-46 to Los Hermanos as an addition to the original contract, that is again for $ 75,000.

657 (Anonymous), “CAT announces US Sales Offices”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.5/6, May/June 1960, p.4. 658 Letter of 18 February 54, Joe Rosbert to Ward M. French at Washington gives the following address: CAT Incorporated, 302 Sheraton Building, 11 14th Street NW, Washington (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.2). 659 Declassified Summary of Material from the History of Air America, from the Official “Secret” History prepared by the C.I.A., p.14, in: UTD/Fink/B22F12. 660 Letter dated 25 May 59, by which Air America informed the FAA of their new name (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 2). 661 Address given in the Certificate of Registration issued on 29 August 1960 to Air America’s Beech C-45G N7950C (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 3); see my Beech 18 file within The Aircraft of Air America. 662 Address given in the Certificate of Registration issued on 12 June 61 to Air America’s DC-6A N90784 (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4); see my DC-6 file within The Aircraft of Air America. See also the Letter dated 3 July 68, Air America to Logistic Support Group, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24. 663 Modification no. P0003 to contract no. F11626-70-C-0010, dated 1 October 70, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 19; see my file CAT and Air America in Japan. Air America’s invoice to Southern Sky dated 27 June 73, in: UTD/CIA/B15F5. 664 Air Asia’s letter of 12 August 60, sent to Los Hermanos, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 665 Air Asia’s letter of 4 April 61, sent to Los Hermanos, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 67

Air Asia asking Los Hermanos to pay $ 51,000.00 (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4)

On 4 April 61, Air Asia offered Los Hermanos a replacement C-46 for $ 75,000.00 (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4)

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At the end, it was George Doole himself who informed Air Asia’s Treasurer on 20 April 61

Memorandum dated 20 April 61, sent by George Doole to Amos Hiatt (in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4) that “from this location”, that is from Washington, such a replacement C-46 (serial no. 32942) had already been bought from Southern Air Transport and had been added to the original Sales Contract (no. 60-074) with Los Hermanos.666 Evidently, Air Asia’s Far East division had not been aware of the fact that their purchaser had been another CIA proprietary, and so George Doole himself had arranged the transaction. Possibly as a result of that experience, future interchanges between CIA proprietaries were limited to a nominal price of $ 1.00 or $ 10.00 per aircraft. This technique had already been adopted since the mid-fifties for C-46s that passed from CAT Incorporated or Air Asia ownership to CATCL ownership and the other way round. So, when CATCL became the owner of three C-46s (B-872, B-874, and B-876) in early 1955, the value of “sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) each” was only “payable on demand, without interest” and was “secured by a mortgage or pledge on one of the said aircraft”. 667 As a preparation to the sale of 4 Air Asia C-46s to Los Hermanos, the C-46s destined for Guatemala that were owned by CATCL, had first to be transferred to Air Asia. And again, those aircraft were “sold” for the nominal sum

666 George Doole’s letter of 20 April 61, sent to Air Asia, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4. 667 The Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors of CAT Incorporated of 9 February 1955 (in: UTD/CIA/B4F6A) state that the meeting “RESOLVED that this corporation sell to Civil Air Transport Company Limited three Curtiss C-46-type aircraft bearing registration numbers B-872, B-874 and B-876 for sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) each, payable on demand, without interest, and each secured by a mortgage or pledge on one of the said aircraft, and that the Vice Chairman, Mr. George A. Doole, Jr., be and he hereby is authorized and directed to execute and deliver the necessary bills of sale.” 69

Bills of Sale of 24 Oct. 60: C-46s B-866 and B-870 were “sold” by CATCL to Air Asia for $1 (both in: UTD/CIA/B9F1) of $ 1.00. From then on, sales at a nominal price became more frequent. A particularly interesting and quite well documented case is that of Helio serial no. 541. On 7 December 61, it was sold by Tormac Associates of Fort Lauderdale to Air Asia for $ 1.00. Evidently, Tormac Associates had been inside the CIA family. A couple of years later, on 5 April 63, Air Asia sold that aircraft to Marathon Aviation of Miami, again for $ 1.00. Apparently, Marathon Aviation had been another member of the CIA family, that is the CIA front used for operations in India, because in October 63, Helio msn 541 appeared in India as one of the first Helios operated by the Indian Aviation Research Center. At an unknown date, probably when the Aviation Research Center had acquired enough Twin Helios for their operation in India, Helio msn 541 was sold to Eurotransport Anstalt of Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Apparently, this was another member of the big family of CIA proprietaries, because on 15 April 67, they sold the aircraft to the Pacific Corporation – but this time for the nominal sum of $ 10.00, and so, the following day, on 16 April 67, the Pacific Corporation sold it to Air America for $ 10.00.

Helio msn 541 passing from Tormac Assoc. to Air Asia and on to Marathon Avn. for $ 1.00 (all documents preserved in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4)

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Helio 541 passing from Eurotransport to the Pacific Corp. and on to Air America for $ 10.00 (all documents preserved in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.4)

Bookkeeping sometimes had a double nature: While the above documents show that no big money was involved, when the aircraft passed from one property of the Agency to another, the actual value had to be added to the books of each Company. On 30 September 63, Air Asia’s Managing Director George Doole advised Air Asia’s Treasurer / Controller that “for record keeping purposes, the subject aircraft [that is Helio serial no. 541, former B-847] is to be treated as sold at a price equal to its net book value on the date of sale – 5 April 1963. You may bill Air America, Inc. for this sale price. Air America, Inc. will then make appropriate entries on its Washington accounts.”668 Although Air America’s Director of Personnel had his office at Taipei, recruitment was also done at the Washington Office, especially when the Company was looking for American personnel. On 13 June 63, the Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd reported that “requisitions from the Far East offices were received in Washington for the following additional pilots: Senior First Officers Helio – Vientiane: 5; Senior First Officers C46/C47 – Vientiane: 5; Senior First Officers H34 – Udorn: 3.”669 As early as 26 May 1964, the Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. list, among the signatories of CATCL and Air America accounts at the Chase Manhattan Bank and First National City Bank of New York, also Hilbert H. Dawson.670 This was Air America’s famous Washington Personnel Manager “Red” Dawson whose recruitment of Neil Hansen in September 1964 is described by Christopher Robbins.671 “Red” Dawson also hired Marius Burke in August 63672 and Duane Keele in May 68.673 On 2 February 65, the Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. reported that “this week, the Washington Office received a request from the Field to hire 30 additional employees consisting of 11 pilots, 4 other operational personnel,

668 George Doole’s letter of 30 Sept. 63 to Air Asia’s Treasurer / Controller, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 669 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 13 August 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 670 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 26 May 1964, in: UTD/CIA/B7F3. 671 Robbins, Air America, p.19. 672 Interview with Marius Burke conducted by Timothy Castle, on the DVD to the booklet: Air America. Upholding the Airmen’s Bond, Symposium held at McDermott Library, University of Texas at Dallas, on 18 April 2009. 673 D. Keele, Personal history of Air America employee Duane Keele, p. 1, in: UTD/Leary/B46F1. 71 six crew chiefs, four helicopter flight mechanics and five supervisory personnel for technical services. An early request for five additional helicopter pilots for the Madriver contract is anticipated.”674 On 25 October 1966, the Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. report: “In the past all American employees of Air America Inc. were recruited and processed by Air Asia Company Limited. In recent years Air America’s need for American personnel has increased substantially due to expansion of its Southeast Asia operations. It is therefore deemed advisable that Air America recruit and process its own American personnel and to the extent required furnish such personnel to Air Asia Company Limited.” 675 At about the same time, there was also a Counsel named Richard C. Hatch working at Air America’s Washington office.676 James H. Bastian, who, for many years, signed the Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors of Air America, was officially Counsel Washington677 and Assistant Secretary in Air America’s Washington Office around 1963678 and then became Secretary around 1965.679 In 1963, William L. McCulley was working at Washington as a Supervisor for Air Asia and CATCL;680 he is believed to have been the man who prepared Air Asia and CATCL matters to be submitted to George Doole. Mark L. Peterson, who signed the Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors of Air America from August 72 onwards, was also working for several years as a Secretary in Air America’s Washington Office and was still there in November 77.681 During a meeting of the Air America Management that took place at Honolulu from 28 to 30 September 1971, Air America’s new CEO or MGDR (Managing Director) “Mr. Velte briefly summarized the developments in the Washington office. The Office of Support Services has been created. It will take over personnel recruitment, personnel services, Penco matters, BEC claims, AI Life insurance, medical claims, group insurance. It is a routine function and no policy is being made. Jim Meals is in charge of this Office of Support Services. Engineering is not in it. All of the information going in and out of this office will not go via MGDR. When Mr. Grundy formulates his correspondence procedures he will let us know. Correspondence is to be addressed to Manager, Support Services. The Home Office then would be Messrs. Carter,682 Whitney, Malachowski, Peterson (who is attempting to coordinate some projects we have with our customers), and Mrs. Wight, Administrative Assistant (who will honcho SAT matters). In the past SAT has been too closely related to Air America. There is now a separate SAT office. Clyde Carter’s role has not been defined. He has been handling part of the legal matters with Jim Bastian, but it has never been clear who has the ultimate responsibility. Clyde handles routine matters while MGDR is not there, with the idea that down the road Clyde could handle routine matters while MGDR is there. Mr. Velte does not know how to approach the matter of where the legal field fits into the

674 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 2 February 1965, in: UTD/CIA/B7F4. 675 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. of 25 October 66, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 676 Letter no. WD-66-5536 of 26 October 66 re Air Ventures, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28. Letter no. WC-67-1944 of 8 May 67 re the OnMarks, sent to the President (Taipei) via the Managing Director (Washington), in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 677 Memo no. WC-63-2487 of 17 July 63, re sale of 2 C-46s, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 4. 678 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. In the anonymous paper of 1963 entitled The Pacific Corporation (in: UTD/Leary/ B45F3), James Bastian appears as Assistant Secretary for Air America and Air Asia. 679 Letter no. WD-65-4474 of 12 August 65 re Air Ventures, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 28. 680 Listed in the anonymous paper of 1963 entitled The Pacific Corporation (in: UTD/Leary/B45F3). 681 The meeting before 9 November 77 had been held on 9 May 77, as the Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 9 November 77 (in: UTD/CIA/B4F4) indicate. 682 In 1972, Clyde Carter’s official title was “Vice President-Home Office” (Letter no. WC-72-7016 of 2 November 72, in: UTD/CIA/B15F4), in February 74, it was “Senior Vice President” (Letter no. WC-74-0320 of 13 February 74, in: UTD/CIA/B17F3). 72 corporate picture. We are planning to adopt the proposal from ARINC to improve communication. ARINC will take over the present Air America circuit to Hong Kong. It will be full speed and there will be cost sharing with other carriers.”683 “What is the role that is to be played by Dave Whitney? MGDR visualizes his role as new hardware items, new technological advances, introduction of new aircraft and new products. The Washington office is here to help Tainan which is 7-8,000 miles away. Mr. Whitney has been instructed to go forward and deal with manufacturers but he is not to formulate new policies. He is not communicating with manufacturers now. When the Hughes 500 project is turned over to the field, Washington will back off and let the field have the con. Washington’s role is strictly to work with the customers (if it involves a project in the U. S.). We will have a point where we declare a project operational and turn it over to the field. It would be helpful though if the Washington office could be copied on correspondence to the vendors if it seems likely that the vendors will be calling the home office so that the home office is knowledgeable.”684 As to Air Asia, Paul Velte pointed out that “Air Asia has been buying inventory with Air America’s cash” and that “30-40% of the inventory is located off Taiwan. […] Right now it is on Air Asia’s books, even though it may be located in Saigon”, so that “it is necessary for us to rapidly get our affairs straightened out with Air Asia. […] Air Asia requires a good, clear-cut record of what it has.”685 In late 1971, the end of war in Vietnam was felt to be not that far away, and so Air America’s Managing Director Paul Velte meditated on future business. But the big problem was the CIA ownership: “The owners do not want us to get heavily involved in the common carriage of passengers. […] Because our organization is to be totally responsive to the owner’s needs, we must not get too committed to other projects so that we are unable to do the job required by changes in national policy.”686 This also included the problem of making too much money – a problem that especially regarded Air Asia: “People have been concerned with how big Tainan has become. The concern is that we have gotten ourselves locked in with Air Asia because of the manner in which we set it up. The more we go down the line the worse it gets from a financial viewpoint. In the future we should not get ourselves into another arrangement such as Air Asia. 6 ½ million dollars. It keeps on getting bigger and bigger and we haven’t figured out how to get ourselves out of the problem of the undistributed surplus. We can’t figure out how to declare a dividend and get that surplus reduced. The set of books is totally illegal. MGDR could see Tainan doubling in capacity if we could figure out a way to keep ourselves whole.”687

683 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, p.1, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 684 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, p.2, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 685 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, p.3, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 686 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 29 September 71, p.2, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 687 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 29 September 71, pp.2-3, in: UTD/CIA/B19 F8. 73

C) Base and Station Management Comparing the recipients given for each Air America Base or Station with each other, as they appear in the “Distribution” lists for the Flight Operations Circulars, it is easy to see that not all of them were organized in the same way. In Stations, the Station Manager, the Chief Mechanic, and sometimes an additional Operations Manager received a copy of those Flight Operations Circulars. As it seems, what qualified an airport to become an Air America Station, was not only a certain amount of Company traffic coming thru that airport, but also certain requirements like a minimum of technical services offered for overnight service checks.688 The difference between a station and a base was not only the size, but also the responsibilities, as former Acting Danang Station Manager Les Strouse recalls: “The Base Manager was the head of the overall country operation. Station Managers ran the out stations. [...] The Base was the main operating station. A Station was where planes and crews would go TDY to cover operations in that area. Saigon Base had stations at Can Tho, Nha Trang and Danang. Generally, the Station Manager lived at his station. The mechanics and pilots rotated on a weekly basis.”689 During a meeting of Air America’s Management that was held at Honolulu on 28-30 September 1971, Air America’s new CEO and Managing Director Paul C. Velte Jr. saw two problems regarding the cooperation between the various Bases and Field management at Taipei. First, he underlined that there were no clear chains of command: “There is a fuzzy area between base managers and, for example, the chief pilot at the base. Have we done everything we should do to minimize areas generating friction? How clear are these lines? We need to clear them up if they have not been clear in the past. The base manager must be the total authority at the bases, but there needs to be a professional chain between base manager and the Taipei and Tainan counterparts. We must have a straight line of command that goes straight down to the base managers and everything else is staff. Because the customers put a man at the base and clothe him with almost absolute authority, our man must be vested with similar authority. If he has less authority, we are dead. The man must have some voice in what takes place within his domain. We have to work towards this end. There is confusion in our company between what is administrative control and line control. Who has the con? The answer to this is not always clear.”690 Then, Paul Velte underlined the necessity to discuss complex problems and proposed the creation of a new Operating Committee: “There is a hole in the company – there are Board meetings and Excom meetings but there is no coordinating group in the field. MGDR proposes the creation of an operating committee to meet four times a year. Membership should be only line guys – base managers, president, maintenance and operations, but no lawyers and no accountants. MGDR will make every effort to make two or three trips out to the field and the other meetings will be held somewhere else. These meetings would talk about customer problems (MGDR needs to know more about customer’s problems). Most companies have found it to be of major benefit to do this type of thing. MGDR will be the chairman and president will be the vice chairman. The Operating Committee will bring organization problems, maintenance problems, and labor problems into attention. Something can be done about taking care of these problems before they get out of hand. When MGDR comes out early in December that would be a good time for the first meeting. The meeting will be set up on or about December 1 and be finalized later. One of the added benefits that would come out of the operating group would be the chance for people to consult with VPTS. Membership of the group is up to the President, but let’s not have any lawyers or Personnel. VTE, UTH, SGN, maybe OKO will be included. They should not send an alternate to the

688 See Mesecher, “Can Tho Station celebrates 1st year”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.5, 1970, p.6. 689 E-mail dated 2 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse. 690 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, p.1, in: UTD/CIA/B19F8. 74 meeting.”691 Apparently, this Field Operating Committee was created soon afterwards, and during their meeting of 2-4 December 71, questions like the source of spare parts for the new S-58Ts were discussed.692 As to the Bases themselves, they sometimes had different titles for similar positions, probably in order to describe the amplitude of their responsibilities. As a detailed description has survived of how Air America’s Vientiane Base was functioning,693 I’ll take this one as an example, emphasizing that in other Air America Bases, the responsibilities and hence the names of the positions may have been different. Differences known have been noted.

How an Air America Base was functioning: Vientiane’s example a) Flight Operations Department: “This department oversees and monitors the aviation activity in Laos. Responding to emergencies as well as routine problems, these professional Operations Managers bring a degree of safety to an unforgiving environment. The Flight Operations Department is comprised of Flight Operations, Flight Information Center (FIC), Emergency Equipment Section (EES), Weather Control, and Ground Transportation Depart- ment. Flight Operations operates on a 24 hour basis to ensure proper coordination of contract air operations. The staff is responsible for the planning, flight watch, and monitoring of both contract, affiliated and allied organizations air operations in Laos. The section schedules aircraft to meet customer requirements, ensures the mission is completed safely and as requested, and in case of an aircraft emergency, is responsible for coordinating and pursuing an appropriate course of action.694 […] Flight Information Center is responsible for the collection, display and dissemination of all available information pertaining to the safe conduct of air operations. […] Weather Central is divided into a forecasting collection of weather data via surface reports, upper air observations, pilot reports. This data is plotted on charts, and a forecast made and disseminated to all interested parties. […] Emergency Equipment Section is responsible for ensuring that all protective and emergency equipment necessary for crews and passengers is maintained, issued and monitored properly. […] Ground Transportation Department operates a mixed fleet of 28 vehicles which includes fork lifts, small vehicles and large passenger busses. […] The Air America Flight Operations Training Department is one of the finest in South East Asia and has a vast amount of experience in training both American and Non-American personnel for positions in the field of aviation. The training department is capable of preparing and conducting training on any equipment or subject in the aviation field. Pilot training is designed to prepare the pilot for flight duty in the aircraft to which he is assigned. […] The Air America Flight Department has established an enviable record of performance that speaks for itself. Since the early 1960’s Air America has provided the aircrews to carry out the objectives of the U.S. Mission in Laos. In the early days the lack of navigational aids and unchartered terrain was the biggest facing the crews.”695 The Flight Department comprised the flight crews. From the signatures below the Daily Flight Schedules that have survived, it seems obvious that things did not function in exactly the same way in all Air America Bases and Stations. Joe Hazen recalls how things functioned

691 Minutes, Meeting of Air America’s Management at Honolulu, 28 September 71, pp.1-2, in: UTD/CIA/ B19F8. 692 Minutes of Meeting of the Field Operating Committee of 2, 3, and 4 December 71, in: UTD/CIA/B29F8. 693 James A. Cunningham Jr., Air America Capability Laos, 7 March 1973, 29 pages, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 694 This was similar in South Vietnam: “Operations made up the daily schedule and filed flight plans. Also performed flight following. […] The customers contacted Operations. Normally the Senior OM. They produced the daily schedule. Maintenance would schedule the needed airplanes.” (E-mail dated 2 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse). 695 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.26-29, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 75 at Vientiane in 1964: “When I was in Vientiane in 1964, this was the hierarchy: Dave Hickler was the Station Manager and overall boss. Next came Fred Walker, the Manager of Flying. After Fred, there were chief pilots for the C-123 (Don Campbell), C-46/47 (George Poske), Caribou (Ed Eckholdt), and STOL program, Helio/Dornier/Pilatus Porter (Joe Hazen). The various chiefs ran their own programs and had to answer/discuss with Fred in case something went wrong or Fred was not happy about something regarding the operation. Generally, things went smoothly, at least for me, as I could back up my decisions. I tried to keep the flight time and time off fairly even, and think I did a good job. […] All promotions/demotions required Fred’s signature, which was then forwarded to Taipei for final approval by the Vice President of flight operations.”696 Among the tasks of the Manager of Flying (MFD) was to send to the Director, Flying Division (DFD) lists of Training Flight Time Records per Base and per aircraft type for each individual pilot. Such lists were also compiled by the Manager, Flying Standards Department (MFSD), which were checked by the Assistant Manager of Flying (AMF) for discrepancies with his own records.697 The Manager of Flying (MFD) also checked the STOL site surveys conducted by the Engineering Section of General Maintenance, ranking the work to be done by priority for flight operations to specify which work the team should complete first.698 At the end, the MFD would receive a list of all sites that indicated where and when markers and windsocks had been installed and replaced.699 “Crew Scheduling personnel reported to the Chief Pilot at the operating bases (Udorn, Saigon, etc.).”700 For the Chief Pilots, “the problems were mostly personal, such as time off, where there may have been a conflict or job assignment. There was one case where I had to ask for the resignation of a Helio pilot because he would not take a 6 month assignment in BKK. He said he would lose the extra project pay. His seniority was at the bottom of the list and no other pilot wanted the assignment, for that reason. His complaint went to Fred Walker, my boss, who sent it to his boss in Taipei and the end result was his resignation was accepted.”701 Sometimes, Chief Pilots also made test flights702 and checked out younger pilots on a certain type of aircraft.703 At Saigon Base, the organization was a bit different in the sixties, as there were several categories of Managers of Flying. Les Strouse recalls: “The Aviation Department was made up of the Manager Flying (MFD) and a number of Assistant Managers of Flying (AMF). In Saigon, we had Manager of Flying SVN and a Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing. Each AMF was responsible for a particular type airplane. I.e. AMF Twin Beech, AMF C46. In my case, I was AMF STOL, which included Caribou, Porter, Dornier, Helio and Apache. He scheduled training, conducted check rides and such. There was also a Crew Scheduling section. It was made up of schedulers and time keepers. Scheduling was done by monthly flying time. Trying to keep all pilots in any program equal in time for the month. BTW, I was also the Acting Manager of Flying SVN (A/MF SVN)

696 E-mail dated 27 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 697 See, for example, the Training Hours of Vientiane Base for May 67, checked by AMF A.F. Nugent, and sent to the DFD by MFD/Laos Fred Walker on 3 June 67, in: UTD/Walker/B11F3. 698 See, for example, the priority lists based on the survey of May 67, in: UTD/Walker/B11F3. 699 See, for example, the list of all Lima Sites and airfields in Laos noting where markers and windsocks had been installed and replaced in the 1966/67 period, in: UTD/Walker/B11F3. 700 E-mail dated 20 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 701 E-mail dated 29 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 702 Joe Hazen, Chief Pilot of the PC-6/STOL aircraft program, recalls: “The first one, N185X, showed up in BKK, ferried in by Rick Byrne from the factory, and I test flew it on 5 & 6 December 1964 for 3 hours and 10 takeoffs and landings plus air work on the 5th and 3+10 on the 6th and 8 takeoffs and landings, plus air work. I was solo both times. […] On 14 April 1965, I flew 184L (no "N") at SGN for 1 hour and one takeoff and landing (test flight). Don’t recall the problem. I next flew it, again a test flight, on 16 April for 1+41 and four takeoffs and landings” (e-mail dated 29 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen). 703 Joe Hazen, Chief Pilot of the STOL aircraft program, recalls that on 23 December 1964, he had checked out in the Helio Frank Farthing, the pilot who was killed, when Porter N185X hit a mountain in bad weather near Chu Lai on 12 January 1967 (e-mail dated 29 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen). 76 when the boss was gone for any reason. This did cause some consternation because I was then the boss of the MF/RW who normally outranked me.”704 b) Traffic Department: “The Air America Traffic Department provides one of the most essential services at the Wattay Airport complex. Traffic is responsible for handling all the U.S. Mission sponsored passengers and cargo that is carried by air in Laos. […] During the periods of distress, such as the recent flood calamities of 1966 and 1971, the Traffic Department was called upon to assume additional responsibilities and to perform under conditions that were far from normal. […] This department routinely handles such activities as: passenger service, cargo warehousing, rice warehousing and palletizing, cabin service and equipment, parachute packing and repair, parachute rigging for aerial delivery, ramp off loading and on loading service, and the training of ground and load master personnel. […] The Traffic Department is divided into 8 sections. Mainly administration, traffic training, passenger service, rice warehouse, cargo warehouse, cabin services and equipment, parachute loft and ramp services. The Administrative Section is comprised of an office staff. […] Aside from the normal clerical functions of the office staff, this section provides for the Customer documentation of cargo manifests and general declarations. They compile and maintain records of all traffic movements and provide the customer with daily and monthly reports of cargo/rice/salt/mail and passenger movement. […] Traffic Training is responsible for the training of all traffic personnel. […] Passenger Service Section provides for the physical accomplishment off all passenger processing activities to include check-in, documentation, baggage weighing and tagging, recording data for manifests, and assisting the passengers with customs, immigrations and quarantine formalities as required. Passenger agents meet all inbound aircraft, insuring that baggage is promptly off-loaded and escort passengers to the terminal. Traffic Agents/Ground Hostesses escort passengers to departing aircraft. […] Rice Warehouse is responsible for the receipt, inventory, storage and preparation for aerial delivery of all rice/salt and other commodities delivered to the warehouses.705 […] Cargo Warehouse is responsible for receipt, storage and preparation for shipment for all customer and company cargo delivered to the warehouse. […] Cabin Services and Equipment provides for the cleanliness of the aircraft cabins, insures that seats, seat belts and flooring are in a good state of repair and clean. […] Parachute Loft received, repairs, and repacks all types of cargo parachutes. […] Ramp Services provides for the on/off-loading of all aircraft (including ground handling of CASI) as required by the customer or company. […] There are […] Assistant Traffic Managers assigned. Their duties vary from administrative coordinator (desk) to ramp services coordinator (ramp) depending on duty assigned. Administrative Coordinator is responsible for preparation and documentation of cargo and passenger for movement. He supervises the operation of the cargo and rice warehouse and coordinates aircraft loading activities with the Operations Manager and the ramp service coordinator. He selects cargo and passengers from existing back logs in accordance with customer or company priorities and ensures that manifests be properly prepared and distributed. […] Ramp Services Coordinator is responsible for all Traffic ramp services, to include cargo and passenger loading.”706 While the Flight Operations Department and the Traffic Department were responsible for Air America’s flying operations and their ground handling, other departments were respons- ible for enabling these flying activities by providing other types of ground support like airport conditions, communications, supply, and security. c) The General Maintenance Department: “Maintenance support is provided for all U.S. Government owned facilities at Wattay and also maintenance on all vehicles and equipment

704 E-mail dated 2 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse. 705 This was similar in South Vietnam, where, however, the majority of flights were passenger flights: “Traffic Department booked passengers and cargo, loaded and unloaded airplanes.” (E-mail dated 2 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse). 706 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.12-16, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 77 assigned to the USAID Air Support Operations at the airport. In addition, it operates and maintains the U.S. Government owned power plant and distribution system that provides power for the Air Support complex, company owned facilities, RLAF T-28 area, TACAN, Runway Lighting, Perimeter Lighting, and the Wattay Control Tower facility. […] The Engineering Section of General Maintenance provides professional engineers capable of designing and supervising construction of any type facility, be it an airport or building complex. This section also supervises construction and maintenance of all STOL sites in Laos. In addition, this section has performed much of the facility construction and maintenance at RO/USAID supported airfields. Another important function performed by this department is water purification and testing at the Wattay complex and at four crew hostels. […] Complete Architectural and Engineering Services to include: a. Design of roads, air- fields, and all type buildings. b. Design of all types of electrical systems […] Provide Complete Utility Type Repair and Maintenance at Hostel Locations to include Buildings, Electrical, Water Purification, Sanitation, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Ground Maintenance. […] Operation and Maintenance of Power Generation Systems. Operation and Maintenance of Power Generation Equipment at two TACAN Sites. […] Provide Utility Type Repair to include Buildings, Electrical, Water, Sanitation, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and Maintenance and Repair of Runway Lighting Systems. […] Office machine repair and plumbing services […] Maintenance and repair, including overhaul, of all type vehicles, trucks, material handling equipment … […] Provide Complete Maintenance and Repair of Buildings and Facilities to include all carpentry and masonry services. Provide structural painting services. Manufacture, repair and modification of furniture type items. […] Maintenance of a Personnel Pool to provide all Janitorial service, helpers for other sections, and workers for all types of construction projects.”707 d) The Communications Department: “Air America operates and maintains all VHF and HF communications facilities providing support to U.S. Mission aircraft operating in Laos. Air America also operates and maintains all eleven non-directional beacons (NDB’s) and all three TACANs in Laos. We also operate a weather communications network providing weather information to U.S. Government and Royal Lao Government agencies. The facilities operated and maintained by Air America are scattered throughout Laos. Flight Watch. Three separate VHF, two HF, and one UHF air-to-ground circuits are continuously guarded by Air America in order to provide immediate response to all MayDay calls for assistance. […] Weather Net. Personnel in the field, throughout Laos, take several daily surface synoptic weather observations and also upper-air observation using the PIBAL (or Pilot Balloon) system. The weather information collected at each site is sent to Vientiane via a Weather Communication Network. It is then plotted on weather maps. […] Towers and Navigational Aids. Air America operates and maintains non-directional radio beacons at all major airfields throughout Laos including Wattay.”708 “Communications, Ground Transportation and Meteorology were functions in support of Flight Operations. […] In the field the people actually performing these jobs reported to the Senior Operations Manager at each base.”709 Other Departments included the Air America Fire Brigade, the Air America Medical Department, the Air America POL Department, and the Air America Hostel Service.710 e) The Security Department “provides 24 hour per day protection for Air America and U.S. Government property at Wattay Airport. A force of eight men is also assigned to guard the USAID/RO warehouse at Savannakhet. The Guards are trained to be alert, to prevent theft, sabotage and smuggling. […] The Guard Force is composed of 60 guards […]. The

707 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.8-11, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 708 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.17-18, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 709 E-mail dated 33 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 710 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.19/20 and 25, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 78

Security Investigative Staff has a routine work, background investigations of all employees to establish their bona fides and to cull out misfits or potential troublemakers. […] The Security Inspection Service is operated on behalf of the U.S. Mission to ensure that no opium products are carried aboard charter aircraft in contravention to Lao Law. The SIS is […] trained by U.S. Customs Agents. They are assigned on a temporary, rotating basis to 7 major airfields in Laos. A specially trained opium and heroin sniffing dog is used as well as conventional inspection techniques. […] There is little that goes on which escapes their notice, and reports of suspicious activities are made immediately to other agencies involved in narcotics suppression.”711 f) The Supply Department “is composed of six distinct but interrelated sections. These sections are responsible for providing the proper administrative formula needed to assure positive control of property and material required. […] Administration and Property Control Center. […] The functions of this section vary from daily administrative assignments to the maintenance of capital and non-capital property records to providing research data from our materials research library. […] Material Control assures a positive approach to the maintaining of all material and parts stored within our warehouse complex. […] Material Facilities is responsible for the receipt, proper storage and issue of our diverse inventory. Our inventory covers such wide areas as general, administrative supplies, radio and communications equipment, aircraft spare parts, automobile and generator supplies, building and construction material, medical supplies, POL products, special tooling and uniforms. […] Shipping and Receiving provides the freight forwarding unit for the Supply Department. […] Customs Control prepares, records and maintains all the documentation required for RLG Customs formalities on all inbound and outbound shipments. […] Procurement. […] This section is responsible for the execution of approved purchase requisitions; market research;” etc.712 g) The Technical Services Department: The department presented at the end of this portrait probably is something like a small version of Tainan’s big Main Maintenance Base run by Air Asia. “At one end of the spectrum our capability is demonstrated by the routine daily inspections required to maintain a fleet of 58 aircraft. At the other end of the spectrum our capability exists for complete disassembly, inspection and overhaul of aircraft. In the middle of this broad range of support lies the capability to perform all the numerous detailed inspections, repairs and minor adjustments that are required to maintain aircraft in a safe and airworthy condition. In addition to the aircraft mechanics, are the specialist functions, shops and equipment to support the various specialities of aircraft maintenance. This capability is necessary to support technical functions too detailed and exacting to be performed by the average aircraft line service mechanic. Some of the specialist fields of support include: hydraulics, instruments, electrical, avionics, sheet metal, machinist, paint, dope and fabric, tire and wheel, welding, powerplant, propellers, engineering, planning, quality assurance and technical training.”713 There were six sections (“departments”) within Technical Services. With more than 200 people working at Vientiane airport in Aircraft Maintenance in 1973, this was the largest section. “It is equipped with specialized tooling and equipment, and is staffed with highly trained and skilled personnel who routinely perform, on a daily basis, all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of 58 fixed-wing aircraft of nine various types and provides maintenance assistance to five types of transiting rotary-wing aircraft. This department is capable of rebuilding/repair of accident damaged light aircraft, inspection and repair as necessary of heavy transport aircraft, and substantial modifications and interior reconversions

711 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, p.24, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 712 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.21-23, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 713 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, p.1, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 79 of aircraft. […] Technical Training: The primary objective of the technical training section is to develop within Technical Services the specialized skills and knowledge to achieve successful maintenance operations. […] Aircraft Engineering: The engineering section is responsible for research, design, development and repair of manufacturing specifications, and the preparation of engineering documentation as necessary to repair or modify aircraft, aircraft systems and aircraft power-plants. This section carries out similar work in developing shop tooling and equipment. […] Planning and Production Control: Planning has the primary responsibility of maintaining maintenance records and coordinating the maintenance schedules of assigned aircraft. […] The Production Control Center controls through scheduling the input of all work to the shops to enable an orderly production flow, and assure that all shop work is accorded the proper priority. […] Quality Control: This section is staffed with skilled personnel tasked with the responsibility of providing the degree of inspection and quality surveillance required to assure that the quality of all technical production activities meet adequate standards, and the physical aspects of ground safety. […] Aircraft Shops: It can be stated that shop support is an absolute requirement for maintenance work. A whole range of specialized shops equipped to perform select types of work are available. These include shops for aircraft electronics, ground communications, instrument and electrical components, batteries, sheet metal, paint, welding, machinery, wheel/tire, minor aircraft accessory work, carpentry, and overhaul of ground equipment and vehicles.”714 As indicated at the beginning of this presentation of Air America’s Vientiane Base, the overall organization was not the same in all Air America Bases. So here is an organizational chart of Air America’s Udorn Base that describes the situation that existed after 1 October 1973, when Vientiane Base had become a satellite base of Udorn:715

(in: UTD/CIA/B40F15)

714 Cunningham, Air America Capability Laos, pp.1-7, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 715 G.L. Christian, “Vientiane Base, Dec. 1973” in: Air America Log, no number, no date (1974), p. 2. 80

The fact that “Vientiane, Laos” was written below “Northern Thailand Division” and that we have a “Base Manager” below the “Vice President Northern Thailand Division” refers to the situation that existed after 1 October 73.716 After that date, the position of “Vice President Laos Division” was eliminated, Vientiane Base came under the control of the VP-NTD, and the “Senior Manager” at Vientiane, given here as the “Base Manager”, was Luther E. Martin, former Director Ground Transportation.717 As to Udorn, it can be seen, there were two big special718 Departments, that is Security with Guards, Ground Transportation, and Investigations, as well as Aircraft Maintenance with Line Service, RLAF Assistance, and RLAF Training, plus seven major Departments, that is Supply (with POL – petroleum, oils and lubricants), Ground Services, Facility Maintenance, Administrative Services, Communications, Fire Brigade, and Flight Operations. While Flight Operations included the sections Flight Information Center, Flight Watch, and Customer Scheduling, Administrative Services included the Sections Financial, Personnel, Hostels/Club, and Medical. “Most AAM main bases – Saigon, UDN, VTE – had ‘Controller’ [i.e. Accounting Representative], Personnel, and Security Offices, within their Administrative Departments. The TPE VPA, Joe Madison was overall responsible for the base Personnel Officers: Frank Nihill for SGN, Dick Coleman for BKK, Charlie Lane for UDN, etc. during my tenure. Lindsey Herd was similarly responsible for the base ‘Controllers’, and the TPE Director for Security, Stan Ense, for Base Security Directors.”719 As to the local hierarchy, the Base Manager (later often promoted to Vice President) or the Station Manager was on top of the pyramid. The Department Heads reported to him and, for certain issues, also to the Chief – later called the Director – of the respective Division at Taipei, who reported to one of the Vice Presidents or the Controller at Taipei. For example, the overall boss of the accounting personnel of an Air America Base was the Controller at Taipei. The boss of the Taipei executives was the President, who reported to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Washington. The lower levels of this hierarchy that existed inside a base, were best described by R. F. McGrath in his article about Saigon, when he praised the progress made by Vietnamese employees: “Perhaps the most important accomplishment of all – the most incalculable and lasting benefit – has been the steady upgrading of hundreds of Vietnamese in several job categories: Utility Woman and Utility Man to Mechanic III, to Mechanic II, to Mechanic I, to Leadman; Traffic Agent to Traffic Representative A; Air Freight Dispatcher to Supervisor/AFD; Driver to Dispatcher, to Supervisor/GTD; Artisan to Engineer II; Leadman to Construction Foreman; Operations Dispatcher II to Assistant Chief Crew Scheduling; Accounting Representative to Senior Accountant; Investigator to Security Supervisor; and so on.”720

Periods of activities Probably due to the Vietnam War, Air America’s Bangkok, Saigon, Udorn, and Vientiane Stations became Air America “Bases” in the mid-sixties. Not so Tainan: Although Tainan was unofficially called the “Main Maintenance Base”, its head was not a Base Manager, but the VPTS or “Vice President Technical Services”.721 As there were many new developments

716 G.L. Christian, “Vientiane Base, Dec. 1973” in: Air America Log, no number, no date (1974), p. 2. 717 Telefax dated 28 September 73, VP-JD to CEO, re termination of Laos Division, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B. 718 As it seems, the Security Dept. was also under the control of the Thai military, and some aspects of the Maintenance Dept. were managed also with regard to the requirements of DepChief, i.e. the US military. 719 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 720 R.F. McGrath (AABM/SGN), “Saigon story”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, pp.4-5. 721 Copies of the Operations Circular of 1 April 64 (in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4) were still sent, among others, to the Station Managers (SZ) of Bangkok (SZBKK), Saigon (SZSGN), and Vientiane (SZVTE), but copies of the 81 between 1964 and 1973, this subchapter is divided into 2 phases, i.e. a) the period 1959- 1964/65 or from the new name (“Air America”) to the beginning of the Vietnam War and b) the period 1964/5-1973 or from the beginning of the Vietnam War to the Cease-Fire Agreements. a) The period 1959-1964/65 As has been shown in the first part of this file, since late December 49, the center for flight operations, with dispatching weather, and chief pilot’s offices of Civil Air Transport were at Taipei’s Sungshan airport on Taiwan,722 which became the home base of CAT. This explains why until the 1970ies, Air America’s “Field” Headquarters were also at Taipei. But, probably since 1959, Taipei’s Sungshan airport was also an Air America Station. In the early sixties, George Stevens was at TPE, probably as Chief Aircraft Mechanic. When he resigned, Fred Duvall and Ward Reimer were sent to TPE around 1960/1.723 From 1964 to 1966, Boyd D. Mesecher was Chief of Maintenance at Taipei.724 In February 1964, one copy of the Operations Circular was sent to the Operations Manager Taipei (OMTPE).725 In 1960, V.F. Chan was in Operations TPE.726 Charles Chen worked in the Security Department TPE in 1960,727 and W.P. Cagney was Supply Coordinator for Taipei area in 1960.728 Little is known about the managers who were working at Air Asia’s Main Maintenance Base at Tainan. In 1961, W.J. Huang was still Station Manager Tainan,729 since at least 1957.730 Of course, on 1 April 56, Allan Wueste, former Director Aircraft Maintenance Division, was elected Vice President Technical Services, and he remained in that position until the end;731 in 1961, he also had the title of Regional Director TNN/KAO.732 Known Air Asia personnel includes: 1) Aircraft Maintenance: During the fifties and sixties, William (Bill) T. Sturgess was Director of Maintenance Contracts for Air Asia,733 Stan Huster worked in Maintenance Scheduling and Marketing/Sales at Tainan,734 Bill Henderson in Maintenance Communication/TNN,735 Robert V. Davis as Supervisor/US Military Jet Fighter Line/TNN in the early sixties until 1964/5,736 and Jim Burkett as Chief of Service (CSVC)737 and Assistant Director of Aircraft Maintenance in 1961.738 2) Technical Training: ? 3) Aircraft Engineering: Doug Ryan was SAT’s Chief Inspector at Tainan since 1960/1.739 4) Shops: Rex C. Knight (Shops’ Inspection Manager since January 60),740 Tang Tsong Hwa (Aircraft Electric Shop in 1961),741 T.M. Hsieh (Instrument Shop in 1961).742 5) Supply: George D. circular “Status of Aircraft” of 4 May 66 (in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2) went, among others, to the Base Managers (BM) of Bangkok (BMBKK), Saigon (BMSGN), Udorn (BMUDN), and Vientiane (BMVTE). 722 Leary, Perilous missions, p. 100. 723 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 724 Boyd D. Mesecher, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 16. 725 Distribution, Operations Circular of 3 Feb. 64, kindly faxed to the author by Ward Reimer. 726 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.3/4, March/April 1960, p.7. 727 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.11/12, November/December 60, pp. 6-7. 728 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.9/10, September/October 60, pp.12-14. 729 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 730 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.10, October 57, p.7. 731 (Anonymous), “New officers”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. IX, no.5, May 1956, pp.4-5. 732 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 733 (Anonymous), “In memoriam William (Bill) T. Sturgess, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 2, June 2000, p. 3. 734 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Stan Huster”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 6. 735 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Bill Henderson”, in: Air America Log, vol. XIX, no. 1, March 2002, p. 3. 736 Boyd Mesecher, “In memoriam Robert Davis”, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 3. 737 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 738 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 739 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 740 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 741 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 82

Morrison (Director of Supply since 1956 and still in 1970).743 6) Security: S.T. Sung since March/April 60.744 7) Personnel: C.C. Wang (Manager, Personnel Dept. TNN in 1961).745 8) Accounting: Sigvard O. Larson (DMBAD, TNN – Director, Main Base Accounting Division, Tainan) since July/August 59,746 Ben Harvey (Fiscal Manager TNN since July 61),747 and Fong Fu Tao (Accounting TNN in 1961).748 Since the spring of 1959, the monthly reports from Tachikawa were called “Air America Inc. Monthly Reports” and were still written by Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis, who then called himself “General Manager Japan”. Yet, in spite of this new name, the reports focus on what happened at Tachikawa Station that is deal with new versions of the Booklift contract and with contracts covering maintenance of USAF aircraft to be carried out at Tachikawa. Again, there were attachments covering Aircraft Maintenance, Supply, Flight Operations, Traffic, and Personnel, and again, these attachments are not available.749 In 1959/60, 2 new Crew Chiefs arrived at Tachikawa: Doug Ryan and Rick Delman.750 At that time, John Altamira was Personnel Manager at Tachikawa.751 For Hong Kong Station, see later under Air America Limited. As to Saigon Station, things did not change very much until 1964. As to the American involvement in South Vietnam during the early sixties, Air America had very close relations with a South Vietnamese company called VIAT since 1961, a cover for the CIA,752 which it helped to build up. Probably due to the fact that President Diem did not want to have an official presence of US troops in South Vietnam,753 the official presence of Air America aircraft in South Vietnam was still very limited during the early sixties: In 1961, there was only contract no. 61-02 with USOM / Saigon, dated 20 June 61, which called for one Piper Apache.754 By 1963, Air America’s presence in South Vietnam had grown a little bit. On 27 March 63, Joe Hazen ferried Do-28 N2001F from Bangkok to Saigon, where he flew it for the Customer until 24 April 63.755 He recalls: “When I was flying temporarily out of SGN, […] George Taylor […] was based there. He was the only pilot there on a permanent basis. George was flying the Piper Apache and when I came in with the Do-28, the ‘fleet’ doubled in size”.756 Initially, aircraft that were normally based in Laos or Thailand would come to South Vietnam for a short period of time, that is TDY. One of the pilots involved was Joe Hazen. He recalls: “On/about 5 January 1963, Fred Walker, Ed Dearborn and I, as captains, Leroy Letendre and Howard (Howie) Carroll as co-pilots, went from Vientiane to Danang to check- out several strips for future Air America operations.757 […] On 18 January, all of us went to BKK on [Caribou] 853 as it was in need of service that was not yet available in Vietnam.”758

742 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 743 CAT Bulletin, vol. IX, no.5, May 1956, pp.4-5; Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 744 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 745 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.1/2, January/February 61, pp.12/3. 746 Robby Robertson, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XII, no.7/8, July/August 1959, p.12. 747 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.7/8, July/August 61, p.14. 748 Grace Chang, “Tainan”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.3/4, March/April 61, pp.14/53. 749 Only very few Air America Monthly Reports for the 1959-61 period have survived in UTD/Lewis/B1F9. For August 61, the Report was signed by Acting General Manager-Japan John E. Berry. 750 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 751 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 752 Fax dated 7 August 2000 by Brigadier General Aderholt to the author. 753 Prouty, JFK. The CIA, Vietnam, and the plot to assassinate John F. Kennedy, p.208. 754 Contract list as of 27 July 62, that is Memorandum no. ALC-62-134, in: UTD/Fink/B2F16. 755 E-mail dated 9 September 2003 sent by Joe Hazen to Erik Carlson who kindly forwarded it to the author. 756 E-mail dated 28 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 757 Among the things carried were supplies for CIA people working at Khe Sanh (Telephone interview given to the author by Joe Hazen on 13 October 2007). 758 E-mail dated 4 October 2007, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 83

But there was also a small Air America station at Danang.759 Former Danang Station Manager Hank Schiller describes the situation that existed in late 1963: “In 1963 AAM had a station, and a single plane operation, in Danang. I was the Captain / Station Manager from September 1963 until March 1964 with C-47, B-829. Paul Quackenbush was the SFO, followed by Ben Franklin, possibly a brief interim Chinese FO. Y.C. Wong was the Flight Radio Operator, and AFS’s were Henri Verbrugghen and David Ersland. The mechanics were Joe Rejante (?), from the Philippines, and a Vietnamese, Hanh. […] During that time Special Forces teams were assigned to the CIA, and we provided their primary means of support. […] In early 1964 the Special Forces and Seal Teams were returned to military control and our primary task was assumed by the Air Force. I, and B-829, were transferred to Saigon. I was preceded by about four or six months at Danang by Tony Durizzi, with a Caribou. Tony was the first Danang Captain / Station Manager. […] Also, Saigon was an AAM Station from 1963 or 1964. Clyde Bauer was the AAM Station Manager, as well as the CAT Station Manager [= since May 57760]. George Taylor was there with an Apache.”761 Other known Air America personnel assigned to Saigon in the mid-sixties includes Dale Means (OM/SGN).762 On 1 April 64, the overall situation of Air America in South Vietnam was still very much the same – with the exception that C-47 B-829, Ten-Two N7950C, and Apache N3277P had been released from their contract on 31 March 64 and were now unassigned.763 To sum up, in the early sixties, the visible presence of Air America in South Vietnam was quite limited, while it has to be assumed that quite a lot of work was done behind the scene by VIAT, the South Vietnamese cover for the CIA, which was supported by Air America.764 It was only after VIAT’s operations had been taken over by the US military and after VIAT’s aircraft had been disposed of in 1964, that the door to South Vietnam was wide open for Air America. By September 64, Saigon had already become a Base.765 As to Bangkok Station,766 CAT Inc.’s and then Air America’s activities continued to have 2 directions: On the one hand, CAT Inc. signed a new contract with the Thai Border Patrol Police in May 1958, and this again provided only for one C-47. However, in March 62, this contract was extended to also include one Helio Courier plus additional aircraft (C-47s, Helios, a C-46 and even a C-123), when required and available,767 and since August 62, it included one of Air America’s new DHC-4 Caribous.768 On the other hand, Bangkok-based C-46s continued to haul supplies to Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos. When Kong Le seized power in Laos on 9 August 1960,769 CIA and Thai officials assigned PARU specialists to General Phoumi’s lead battalions, and since 1961, PARU squads assisted the CIA in recruiting and training Hmong soldiers in Laos.770 But as a consequence to Kong Le’s coup,

759 In 1963, the Station Manager Danang was still known as SZF16 (DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6). 760 Evelyn Hackett, “Saigon”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.6, June 57, p.14. 761 Hank Schiller, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. 17, no.3 (July, Aug., Sept.2000), p.6. 762 (Anonymous), “The changing scene…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 763 Operations Circular no. CA-C-OF-64-013 of 1 April 64, in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4. 764 For VIAT, see the C-123, C-46, and Helio Courier files of “The aircraft of Air America”. 765 E-mail dated 2 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse. 766 In 1963, the Station Manager Bangkok was still known as SZS09 (DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6). 767 Supplemental Agreement no.2 to contract 58-056, draft dated 30 March 62, in: UTD/Fink/B2F16. 768 Log book of Ed Eckholdt, in: UTD/Leary/B44F13. 769 The same day, i.e. on 9 August 60, the PEO and the Pentagon chose the Hmong for a delivery of 2,000 light weapons (carbines) to protect their villages from Pathet Lao and Neutralist pressure after the Kong Le coup. The 2,000 carbines were dropped to the Hmong in October 60 (Ahern, Undercover armies, pp.27 and 33). 770 Castle, At war, p.38. 84 since the fall of 1960,771 Air America’s C-46s assigned to USOM contract no. 57-060 moved thousands of tons of arms and supplies from Bangkok and from the secret base at Takhli to General Phoumi Nosavan at Savannakhet and then at Vientiane. Since January 61, Air America aircraft also delivered supplies to a drop zone near Vang Pao’s headquarters at Pa Doung in Laos, where a PARU team gave initial training to the Hmong.772 So it was in mid- 1960 that the character of Air America’s Bangkok Station changed: Since that time, it became a busy base that was also responsible for maintenance to de done on Company aircraft that actually flew in Laos or South Vietnam. So at least between 1962 and 1964, there was a RDSEA (Regional Director Southeast Asia), whose office was at Bangkok.773 Known Bangkok personnel includes: 1) Management: Raymond Shourds (Assistant Station Manager BKK in 1960),774 Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis (Acting Regional Director SEA since 15 January 62),775 John P. McMahon (Station Manager and Regional Director SEA since May 62,776 still in October 62).777 2) Flight Department: Fred F. Walker (Regional Chief Pilot since January 62,778 Director of Operations, C-123 aircraft,779 Manager of Flight Department BKK 1964-66780), Don D. Campbell (Chief Pilot, C-123 aircraft),781 3) Operations: Raymond Shourds (OM since September 60),782 Ajor Brigada (Regional OM SEA since January 62),783 Jim Baker (OM Bangkok in 1963/64).784 4) Traffic: William F. Cagney (Regional Traffic Manager SEA since January 62),785 Ray Shourds (Traffic Manager BKK in 1963/64).786 5) Security: William D. Barrus (RSC/SEA since January 62),787 D.J. Godar (RSC/SEA – Regional Security Chief SEA around 1964).788 6) Communications: C.Y. Wong (Regional Communications Supervisor and in charge of Flight Following Network).789

771 On 10 October 60, Air America planes began flying supplies (mostly parachutes at the beginning) to Pakse and Savannakhet (Conboy/Morrison, Shadow war, p. 36). 772 Leary, CIA air operations in Laos, p. 58; Trest, Air Commando One, pp. 109 and 116; Ahern, Undercover armies, p.60; Conboy/Morrison, Shadow war, p.62. 773 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4; List of contracts as of 27 July 62, in: UTD/Fink/B2F16; list “Distribution,” Operations Circular of 3 February 64, kindly faxed to the author by Ward Reimer. 774 Clarence J. Abadie, “Air America & the H-19A”, in: Air America Log, March 1998 (online). Raymond Shourds was Station Manager trainee since July 1960 (Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.7/8, July/August 1960, pp.11/2). 775 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 776 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 385-89 plus 399, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 777 E-mail dated 30 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 778 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 779 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 780 See Walker biography at http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/cataapdf/Walker.html 781 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 782 Chris Frederick, “Bangkok”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.9/19, September/October 60, pp.15/6. 783 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 784 Jim Baker was OMBKK from 1962 to 1965 (Jim Baker, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 4, December 2000, p. 6). 785 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 786 E-mail dated 29 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 787 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 788 Memo no. RSC/SEA-64/202 of 21 October 64, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F8. 789 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 85

7) Technical Services: Jackson L. Forney (Director of Maintenance & Airworthiness, C-123 aircraft,790 Manager Regional Technical Services SEA since January 62)791 and F. S. Kam (Chief Inspector of Quality Control, C-123 aircraft) in 1963.792 The positions referring to the C-123 program were probably highlighted in this paper, as it was to be submitted to the FAA, and the C-123s were still US-registered at that time. In 1963/4, “there was no chief pilot as such in BKK, as I recall. I think the job was handled by VTE. Fred Walker had a desk in the Air America offices in BKK. […] I guess Fred could have been considered the BKK chief pilot.”793 As to Takhli, in the early 1960ies, “there was a guy, last name, I think Manska, and first name Jack. Don’t recall if AAM or Customer.”794 Due to the political development in 1957, the US Embassy at Vientiane feared that under the Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphanouvong as future Minister of Economic Planning, the Communists would have control of the distribution of US aid, which, at that time, was at more than two-thirds devoted to the defense support program.795 So, the US Ambassador decided to organize his own distribution of US aid, and on 30 June 1957, the arrival of CAT C-47 B-817 at Vientiane to begin a new contract with the American Embassy marked the first permanent presence of Civil Air Transport in Laos.796 Bruce Blevins was the pilot of C-47 B- 817, and so in 1957, he was also the man who ran the entire operation as some sort of Vientiane Station Manager.797 At that time, Vientiane Station was still very small, and CAT aircraft operating into and inside Laos mostly originated in Thailand. When Kong Le made his coup in August 1960, some Air America aircraft were already stationed at Vientiane, as Clarence Abadie recalls: “The H-19s were operating from Vientiane at that time and we were living in a house provided by AID in their compound located several kilometers out of Vientiane to the north. […] When Captain Kong Le took over the Lao government in Vientiane, we were moved to Bangkok and operated into southern Laos from the airport in Bangkok. We flew to Pakse at the beginning of the week and returned to Bangkok for maintenance and crew change at the end of that week.” 798 The turning point was during the early months of 1961: As President Kennedy wanted to show force, on 19 April 1961, he authorized the PEO to openly operate as a uniformed Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG).799 From now on, USAF transports delivered weapons to Vientiane, and Air America had some contracts with the US Air Force for operations out of Vientiane.800 The next blow to Air America’s Vientiane operation was the Geneva Agreement of 1962 that prescribed that by 7 October 1962, all US military and paramilitary personnel had to leave the country, and so on 6 October 62, Major General Reuben H. Tucker, III, Chief, MAAG Laos, and the remaining 127 MAAG personnel formally departed the Kingdom of Laos.801 In 1963/64, Air America thought about reducing operations in Laos and even about selling the entire Laos operation to Seaboard World Services. But then it became clear that the

790 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 791 CIA DD/S Col. L.K. White, Memo dated 1 May 62, re “Inspector General’s Survey of Civil Air Transport (CAT)”, at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/15/c05260981.pdf . 792 Hugh Grundy, Statement for Application for Renewal of Commercial Operating Certificate, in: UTD/Bisson/ B5, microfilm reel no. 2. 793 E-mail dated 28 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 794 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 795 Kirk, Wider war, pp.203/4; Castle, At war, p.16. 796 Leary, CIA air operations in Laos, p. 54. 797 Jesse Walton, “News from Bruce Blevins”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVII, no. 2, June 2010, p. 4. Interview conducted with Bruce Blevins by Prof. William Leary at Elliston, MT on 11 July 1987, written summary at: UTD/Leary/B43F2. 798 Clarence Abadie, letter sent to Prof. William Leary on 10 June 90, in: UTD/Leary/B43F6. 799 Castle, At war, pp.30-2; Conboy / Morrison, Shadow war, p.53. 800 For details, see my file Air America in Laos II – military aid, part I, within this e-book. 801 Castle, At war, pp.46-50. 86

Communist side did not comply with the Geneva Agreements by retaining many North Vietnamese troops in the country, and so since 1964, the “Secret War in Laos” also meant – again – a fully operational Air America Station at Vientiane.802 Known Air America personnel assigned to Vientiane803 includes: 1) Management: Early Vientiane Station Managers include Bruce Blevins (1957 to around 1960),804 W.R. MacCormick (since 1960),805 Roy Stitt (around June 64),806 David H. Hickler (Station Manager around 1963/64, whose official title was General Manager Laos from 1964 to 1966807), T.C. Walker (Assistant Station Manager in 1964),808 and John McMahon (Acting General Manager Laos in September 65).809 2) Flight Department: Fred F. Walker (Assistant Chief Pilot 1960, Regional Chief Pilot 1964-69,810 Manager of Flying since about 1964), Don Campbell (Chief Pilot C-123), George Poske (Chief Pilot C-46/47), Ed Eckholdt (Chief Pilot Caribou), Bob Laturner (Chief Pilot Caribou in 1965),811 Ron Sutphin (Chief Pilot STOL program around 1961),812 William Andresevic (Chief Pilot STOL program until 1964),813 and Joe Hazen (Chief Pilot STOL program, Helio/Dornier/Pilatus Porter, 1964 to mid-1965).814 3) Operations: CIA-man Tom Fosmire (January 61),815 Larry H. Joseph (Senior Operations Manager in 1964),816 Bill Solin (Chief, Flight Operations Center in 1964),817 Tom Krohn (Assistant to SOM around 1964/65),818 D. Fisher (Operations around 1964/65),819 John B. Dyste (Operations around 1964/65).820 4) Traffic: Riley L. Goodman (TM/VTE in 1964).821

802 For details, see my file Air America in Laos II – military aid, part I, within this e-book. 803 In 1963, the Station Manager Vientiane was still known as SZV08 (DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6). 804 Interview conducted with Bruce Blevins by Prof. William Leary at Elliston, MT on 11 July 1987, written summary at: UTD/Leary/B43F2. 805 W.R. MacCormick left Taipei in May/June 60 for Vientiane (Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.5/6, May/June 1960, pp.12-14). 806 Telex of 3 June 74, VP-NTD to CEO, re AAM’s last day in Laos, in: UTD/CIA/B31F10; Roy Stitt was Base Manager Vientiane in June 64 (Commendation of 9 June 64 for SAR missions flown for US Navy aircraft,806 online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196412.pdf), but was replaced by Dave Hickler within a year (Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp. 542 + 549, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4). 807 Dave Hickler, Hand-written letter dated 29 May 63 to the President, re Bird & Sons accidents, in: UTD/Leary/B32F2. Dave Hickler’s “Personal Observation” dated 22 August 64 (no. GML-64-065H), kindly faxed to the author on 9 May 2005 by Joe Hazen. See Hickler biography at http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/cataapdf/Hickler.pdf . 808 See Dave Hickler’s “Personal Observation” dated 22 August 64 (no. GML-64-065H), kindly faxed to the author on 9 May 2005 by Joe Hazen. 809 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5. 810 See Walker biography at http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/cataapdf/Walker.html. 811 Interview with Richard W. Byrne conducted by Prof. William Leary at Carmichael, CA on 4 August 87, written summary at UTD/Leary/B43F2. 812 Interview with Joe Hazen conducted by Prof. William Leary at Vancouver, BC on 30 July 87, written summary, in: UTD/Leary/B43F2. 813 Interview with William Andresevic conducted by Prof. William Leary at Beaverton, OR on 19 June 87, written summary, in: UTD/Leary/B43F2. 814 E-mail dated 27 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. Interview with Joe Hazen conducted by Prof. William Leary at Vancouver, BC on 30 July 87, written summary, in: UTD/Leary/B43F2. 815 Thomas G. Fosmire, Interview, conducted by Prof. Bill Leary at Florence, SC, on 28 December 92, transcript in: UTD/Leary/B82F21. 816 See Dave Hickler’s “Personal Observation” dated 22 August 64 (no. GML-64-065H), kindly faxed to the author on 9 May 2005 by Joe Hazen. 817 See Dave Hickler’s “Personal Observation” dated 22 August 64 (no. GML-64-065H), kindly faxed to the author on 9 May 2005 by Joe Hazen. 818 E-mail dated 31 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 819 E-mail dated 31 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 820 Report no. GML-65-036H of 28 January 65 with attachments, D.H. Hickler to the President re T-28 blow up on VTE ramp, kindly faxed to the author by Joe Hazen on 9 May 2005. 821 Memo no. TFO-64-13/027 of 3 October 64, formerly in: UTD/Leary/Ser.I, B3F2, now UTD/Leary/B? 87

5) Technical Services: Around 1962, the Maintenance Chief at Vientiane was Dave Rogers. A bit later, Jack Pearsall and Arden Davis worked in Technical Services / VTE.822 The ATOG at Vientiane had its own personnel: Frank Janke, since August 1963 Bart Brigida were OMATOG (Operations Manager Air Transport Operations Group / ATOG), Vientiane,823 and there was R.J. Camburn (A/ATOGTM/VTE – Assistant to ATOG Traffic Manager in 1967).824 Other people from Taipei that arrived at Vientiane in May/June 1960 to take new positions were Marvin L. Smith (who had been in the Legal Office), possibly as Chief of Security and C.L. Fu (who had been in the Treasurer-Controller Office), probably as Accountant.825 The history of Air America’s Udorn Station826 in Northern Thailand followed a pattern that was similar to that of Air America’s Vientiane Station. Originally, the Air America Udorn, Thailand Station had little to do with Air America operations in Thailand. It had been created in 1961 to serve as the home and maintenance base for Air America’s helicopter operations in Laos, whose original objective seems to have been to be a part of an invasion of the Plain of Jars that was never carried out (Operation Millpond). Then it quickly became a regional maintenance center and the home of special operations aircraft like the Beavers used to transport US military advisors, but in 1963, operations went down to a point that most of the original fleet of UH-34Ds were transferred to other operators.827 In 1964 and 1965, however, many new UH-34Ds arrived,828 marking the beginning of the “Secret War in Laos”.829 Known Air America personnel assigned to Udorn in the early years includes: 1) Management: Joseph L. Madison, who, in 1961, was General Manager for Laos and North Thailand, had been in charge of the UH-34D ferry operation from Bangkok to Udorn and – at least for a certain time – had his own “office tent” at Udorn.830 From April 62 to July 63, Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis was Station Manager Udorn and Regional Director on a TDY basis.831 “Finally in October [1962?] former U.S. Navy Captain, Ben Moore, was hired as BM. Ben remained with the Company for many years832 and was instrumental in facility development and many creature comforts for the employees. […] He was eventually assisted by “Tex” Dew833 until retiring. “Tex” took over and remained until “Ab” [= Clarence Abadie]

822 E-mail dated 31 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen; Arden Errol Davis joined Air America on 26 January 63 (see Arden E. Davis, in: UTD/Small Collections/B2F1, online description). 823 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 824 R.J. Camburn, “Rice Drop”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p.6. 825 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.5/6, May/June 1960, pp.12-14. 826 In 1963, the Station Manager Udorn was still known as SZS08 (DFC, Memo no. DFC-63-147 of 28 Nov. 63, in: UTD/Walker/B7F6). 827 On 9 April 63, there were still 17 UH-34s, which were to be reduced to 4 due to the partial termination of contract AF62(531)-1674 (Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air America Inc. of 9 April 63, in: UTD/CIA/B3F4). Nine of them were returned to the US Navy on 15 April for service with the VNAF, 2 more were transferred to South Vietnam in April and May, and 2 went to CIC in May and June 63 (Aircraft list of June 62, corrected to Sept. 1963, in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1). 828 For details, see my file Sikorsky UH-34Ds (2nd series) within my The Aircraft of Air America. 829 For the development of Udorn, see my file Air America in Thailand – since the days of CAT within this e- book. 830 Jack L. Forney, “Air America at Udorn, Thailand – a brief history” (with notations by Clarence J. Abadie, Jr., VP/UTH), in: Air America Log, vol.VI, no.5 (1972), pp.4-5. 831 Beverly Gayle, “Doc Lewis, spring and other things”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 66, p. 3, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4. 832 In September 65, Ben Moore was Base Manager Udorn (Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5). Former USMC Colonel John McMahon, Station Manager at Bangkok, acted as the Station Manager in Udorn when Ben Moore was away or on leave (E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin). 833 In September 65 and April 67, E. S. Dew was Assistant Base Manager, Udorn (Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5, and of 11 April 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F2). 88 became BM.834 2) Flight Department: Clarence Abadie was the early Chief Pilot.835 “Jim Coble836 became CPH837 (or COO) when “Ab” departed to work in Taipei with VPFO Bob Rousselot in 1963. When Coble left AAM to form a concrete block company in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Virl Black became an unofficial CP. He finally tired of performing the job with no official title or elevated wages and left AAM. After much deliberation, Wayne Knight was chosen CPH.”838 Wayne Knight was Manager Flying around 1965.839 “Fixed/Wing Chief Pilots: Since UTH was strictly a helicopter operation, there was no need for one early. When the Beaver operation started in 1962 to support White Star personnel Captain Bill Beale was selected CP until he was killed at Xieng Dat. A guy by the name of Bob Ferguson (SP) became the new CP for the program until signs of flight time padding surfaced and the program was canned. At some point Jim Rhyne became CPF/W at UTH. I do not believe he ever relinquished this billet.”840 3) Operations: “Early management types wore many hats. “Ab” [= Clarence Abadie] was the early Chief Pilot and really the Operations Manager. He was assisted by two Thai clerks. Joe Madison became the first Madriver Project Manager. Doc Lewis soon took over from Madison and served in that role until Tom Tucker was permanently hired. This was all in 1962.”841 All early Chief Pilots – Jim Coble (1963),842 Virl Black and Wayne Knight: “All these men generally chose to wear dual hats as CP and OM. Along the way these men were assisted by those interested in management and helping out in the office. Those like Marius Burke who was elevated to assistant CP under Knight. Dale Means worked off and on as an unofficial OM under E.W. Knight.”843 “At some point, Bart Brigida was Regional Director of Operations. In August 1963 he was chosen OMATOG Operations Manager Air Transportation Group to replace Frank Janke.”844 “Tom Penniman became the first official American OM hired by Taipei.845 He arrived just after Christmas 1964 replacing Harry O., a former Nationalist Chinese general as OM. There were many OMs who followed Tom.”846 4) Technical Services: As early as 1961, Jackson L. Forney was Manager of Technical Services at Udorn.847 Since 1958, a CAT and then Air America Apache was stationed at Phnom Penh in Cambodia. However, due to the seemingly neutralist politics of Prince Sihanouk, who closed his eyes over Communist infiltrations in the eastern parts of his country, this small operation did never grow, until in early 1964, Sihanouk expelled the US MAAG advisory mission, so that all technical support for US delivered aircraft ceased. On 7 January 1964, Air America’s Apache N3183P was definitely transferred from Phnom Penh to Saigon,848 and no follow-on

834 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 835 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 836 See Accident Report of 1 November 63 (in: UTD/CIA/B58F1) signed by James L. Coble. 837 CPH: Chief Pilot Helicopters (E-mail dated 13 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin). 838 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 839 In September 65, E. W. Knight was Manager Flying Udorn, Udorn (Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5). 840 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 841 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 842 See Accident Report of 1 November 63 (in: UTD/CIA/B58F1) signed by James L. Coble. 843 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 844 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 845 In September 65, Tom H. Penniman was Operations Manager, Udorn (Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5). 846 E-Mail dated 5 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 847 The Maintenance report of 5 June 61 for UH-34 “H-G” that crashed at Pa Doung on 30 May 1961 was signed by Jackson Forney as “Manager, Technical Services, Southeast Asia” (in: UTD/Lewis/B2F6); in January 66, his title was “Manager Technical Services, Udorn” (Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 15 January 66, in: UTD/CIA/B58F7). 848 Flight Operations Circular no. CA-C-OF-64-002 of 3 Feb. 1964, in the possession of Ward Reimer who kindly faxed it to the author on 13 March 2004. 89 contract ever existed. In the seventies, Air America’s operations in Cambodia were mostly run out of Saigon.849 b) The period 1964/65-1973 Comparing the “Distribution” list given in the Operations Circular of 1 April 64 with that of equivalent lists of later years, you not only find that Bangkok, Saigon, Udorn, and Vientiane Stations had been become Air America Bases in the meantime, but also that several new Air America Stations had been created that had their own Station Managers (SZ) like Clark (SZCRK), Hong Kong (SZHKG), Chiang Mai (SZCNX), Danang (SZDAD), Nha Trang (SZNHA), and Can Tho (SZ-VCA), while Tachikawa had its General Manager (GMTAW) who, after operations had switched to Yokota, became the General Manager Japan at Yokota (GMJ OKO) and later the General Manager – North Pacific Division at Yokota (GM-NPD OKO). During the second half of the sixties, Taipei’s Sungshan airport was still considered to be an Air America Station. In May 1966, 2 copies of the Flight Operations Circular (“Status of Aircraft…”) were sent to Taipei, one to the Operations Manager (OMTPE) and one to the Chief Mechanic Taipei (CMTPE).850 Brian P. Sullivan was TCO TPE for CAT and AAM in 1966.851 From November 67 to 1968, Ward Reimer was the last Station Chief at Taipei.852 John W. Melton was Assistant Director, Traffic Division/TPE from September 67 to June 1970.853 In June 1969, still 2 copies of the Flight Operations Circular were sent to Taipei, one to the Operations Manager (OMTPE), one to the Chief Mechanic, who by then had received the title of Superintendent Technical Services (STS TPE).854 In July 1971, only the Chief Mechanic (CMECH/TPE) received the Flight Operations Circular at Taipei airport.855 And in March 1973, only the Chief Mechanic (CMECH) and perhaps Tom Lewis, the Chief- Engineer-Pilot (CE-P), Taipei,856 received their copy of the Flight Operations Circular at the airport.857 Other known Air America personnel assigned to Taipei airport includes Gerald L. (“Jerry”) Heatley (CSY/TPE), Director of Security/Taipei for Air America and Air Asia,858 and Robert S.N. Ma (Investigator, Security TPE, since January 60).859 As to Air Asia at Tainan, Allan Wueste was still Vice President Technical Services (VPTS) all the time until mid-1973.860 In 1969-71,861 Jackson L. Forney was Assistant Vice President for Technical Services.862 In May 1966, one copy of the Flight Operations Circular went to the Operations Manager Tainan and another one to the Chief Mechanic Tainan, but

849 For more details, see my file Air America in Cambodia – LMAT and the Khmer Air Force within this e-book. 850 Distribution, Status of Aircraft […] as of 4 May 66, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2. 851 Air America Club, vol. II, no. 5, Sept.-Oct.1985, p.6. 852 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 853 John W. Melton, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 854 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 June 69, in: UD/Hickler/B8F7B. 855 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B. 856 See the photos in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3. 857 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14. 858 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Gerald L. Heatley”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIV, no. 4, Dec. 2007, p. 6; in July 69, G. L. Heatley was Assistant Director, Security Division, Taipei (Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan). 859 Rita Han, “Taipei”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.1/2, January/February 60, pp.16-18. 860 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 861 “On 11 March 1969, the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. and of Air Asia Co Ltd “recommended to the Board of Directors the election of Mr. Jackson L. Forney as Assistant Vice President. Mr. Forney is now Manager of Technical Services at Udorn, where he has done a good job” (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 March 1969, p.4, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3); see also Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 1, 1972, p.3. 862 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 90 the VPTS received 6 copies, some of them apparently for his Department Heads.863 In June 69, the Operations Manager Tainan had been replaced by an Operations Dispatcher (OD TNN), but then, 10 copies of the F.O.C. went to the VPTS for distribution among his Department Heads.864 In July 1971, the OD of Tainan had been promoted to Senior Operations Dispatcher (SOD TNN), but the VPTS received only 5 copies of the Circular, because several of his Department Heads received their copy directly. Some of these Department Heads can be identified by comparing their positions with those listed for 1 April 73 under the heading “Tainan”: Director Electronics Division (DED), Director Engineering Division (DENG), Manager Aircraft Electronics Department (MAED), Manager, Emergency Equipment Division (MEED), and MECC and MEDD, whose meaning is unknown.865 Air Asia personnel known to have worked at Tainan during that period of time includes: 1) Aircraft Maintenance: John E. Berry (Director of Aircraft Maintenance in 1970),866 David T. Massie (Director Maintenance Contracts in 1970),867 John W. Bever (Assistant Director Maintenance Contracts in 1970,868 formerly Aircraft Maintenance Manager),869 Stan Allen (Superintendent of Military Maintenance, 1961-1975),870 Allan Reagan (Superintendent Fixed Wing Maintenance / Tainan, Vientiane, Udorn, 1966-74),871 Bill Sheehan (Maintenance, around 1967),872 Raymond Benoit (Maintenance, around 1967),873 John William Ball (Manager Aircraft Maintenance / Tainan and then Udorn, April 1965 to August 1973).874 George Stubbs (Director of Regional Maintenance since around 1961875 and still in 1972),876 Ward Reimer (A/DRM/TNN - Assistant Director Regional Maintenance / TNN, 1968-70),877 and Robert E. Small (Director of General Maintenance in 1970).878 2) Technical Training: From 1966 to 1968, Jack S. Porter was Instructor, Technical Training Dept./TNN.879 T. Hal Harper was Director of Technical Training Department until 1970,880 and T. P. Chao was Supervisor General Education Unit within the TTD (SGEU/Technical Training Dept./TNN),881 but became Superintendent Technical Training in

863 Distribution, Status of Aircraft […] as of 4 May 66, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2. 864 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 June 69, in: UD/Hickler/B8F7B. 865 Distribution, Flight Operations Circular of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B; Distribution, Flight Opera- tions Circular of 1 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14; and List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 866 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 867 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 868 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 869 (Anonymous), “In memoriam John Bever”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIII, no. 4, December 2006, p. 3. 870 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Stan Allen”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIV, no. 3, September 2007, p. 3. 871 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Allan Reagan”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3; A. R. Reagan worked for Air America from 26 October 66 to 15 July 74 (see A.R. Reagan, in: UTD/Small Collections/B7F20, online description). 872 Bart J. Crotty, “Crotty’s security blanket, where did it go?”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sept. 1999, p.13. 873 Bart J. Crotty, “Crotty’s security blanket, where did it go?”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sept. 1999, p.13. 874 (Anonymous); “In memoriam John William Ball”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXXI, no. 3, Sept. 2014, p. 3. 875 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 876 E-mail dated 31 December 2005, kindly sent to the author by Ward S. Reimer. 877 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4.Ward Reimer, “It all depends on where you sit…”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.6. 878 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 879 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Jack Stockton Porter”, in: Air America Log, vol. XV, no. 2, June 1998, (online). 880 T.P. Chao, “TNN makes training aids for S.E.Asia”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 5, 1970, p.3. 881 T.P. Chao, “TNN makes training aids for S.E.Asia”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 5, 1970, p.3; T.P. Chao, “Vietnamese trainees complete course”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 3, 1970, p.1. 91

1971.882 3) Planning and Production Control: James E. Burkett (Director of Planning in 1970).883 4) Quality Control: Dave Weller (Quality Control, around 1967),884 Ramon García (Manager Quality Assurance in 1970),885 Thomas A. Byrum (Superintendent Flight Test in 1970).886 5) Aircraft Shops: Sam Hixon (Director of Shops),887 William F. Henderson (Director of Electronics in 1970),888 Richard L. Wengenroth (Techn. Asst. Director of Electronics in 1970),889 Earl W. Chambers (Manager of Powerplants Dept.),890 Bill Adams (Supervisor of Small Engine Shop).891 6) Supply: George D. Morrison (Director of Supply since 1956 and still in 1970),892 William A. Miller (Manager of Supplies, Tainan, 27 November 67 to 30 June 72).893 7) Administrative Services: In early 1968, Dudley W. Foster resigned as C/SPPD/TNN (Chief of Security Plant Protection Department, Tainan)894 and was succeeded by Monroe Hall.895 The few monthly reports from Tachikawa available only cover some months of 1968 and also have a section about operations at Yokota Air Base, home of Air America’s Boeing 727s operated by Southern Air Transport.896 In November 1968, 349 persons were working for the Company at Tachikawa, i.e. 73 as flight crew members and 276 on the ground.897 On 1 November 1969, an Air America DC-6 launched from Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, as flight 821, became the last Company plane to depart that field, as flight operations were relocated at nearby Yokota Air Base.898 The move from Tachikawa to Yokota, however, did not mean another long period of operation, as on 30 June 1970, the last Air America Booklift flight departed Yokota Air Base, Japan.899 After this, there was still a small-scale operation serving several air bases in Japan that lasted until the end of 1973. 1) Management: Ronald E. (“Doc”) Lewis, head of Air America operations in Japan, received a new title several times: From “General Manager at Tachikawa” (GMTAW),900 he was promoted to “General Manager Japan” at Yokota (GMJ OKO),901 after operations had switched to Yokota. Still later, he became “General Manager – North Pacific Division” at Yokota (GM-NPD OKO).902 C.T. Tsao was STFA/GM/TAW – Staff Assistant to General Manager Tachikawa around 1967.903

882 (Anonymous), “Laotian basketball team with trophy at Tainan”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 1, 1972, p.2. 883 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 884 Bart J. Crotty, “Crotty’s security blanket, where did it go?”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sept. 1999, p.13. 885 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 886 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 887 Earl W. Chambers, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXV, no. 4, December 2008, p. 5. 888 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 889 Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 890 Earl W. Chambers, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXV, no. 4, December 2008, p. 5. 891 Earl W. Chambers, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXV, no. 4, December 2008, p. 5. 892 CAT Bulletin, vol. IX, no.5, May 1956, pp.4-5; Chief of Security, TNN, Memo no. SPPD0762-70-14000 of 30 June 72, at: UTD/Leary/B45F3. 893 See William A. Miller, in: UTD/Small Collections/B3F10-15, online description. 894 List of Air America acronyms, formerly in UTD/Leary/B22F4. 895 (Anonymous), “Personnel changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 896 Only very few Tachikawa Monthly Reports covering single months of 1968 have survived and are preserved in UTD/Lewis/B10. 897 Tachikawa Monthly Report, November 1968, in: UTD/Lewis/B1F10. 898 J.C. Bond, “Sayonara Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.7. 899 Homer Little, “The end of an era: ‘Booklift’ 1950-1970”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.4-5. 900 List “Distribution” for Flight Operations Circular no. OF-C-69-34 of 15 August 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F1. 901 List “Distribution” for Flight Operations Circular no. DFOD-C-71-015 of 15 July 71, in: UTD/Hickler/ B8F7B. 902 List “Distribution” for Flight Operations Circular no. DFOD-C-73-015 of 1 November 73, in: UTD/Hickler/ B8F7C. 903 C.T. Tsao, “Tachikawa tire-breaker”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, November 1967, p.7. 92

“David (Dave) Garber was the Pacific Division Manager SAT.904 His office was at Tachikawa, in the hangar, as I recall. I think upstairs.”905 He was a CAT/Air America employee 1952-74 and also served as Station Manager Tachikawa for Air America.906 Other known Air America personnel assigned to Tachikawa includes: 2) Flight Department: T.S. Barnes (Manager of Flying / MFD),907 N. D. Hicks (Chief Pilot SAT in 1964),908 C.F. Hsieh (Manager, Crew Scheduling).909 3) Operations: Mr. Saito (Operations Dispatcher/TAC around 1966),910 Dennis Ichikawa (OD/TAC around 1966),911 T. Shirakawa (OD/TAC around 1966),912 James O. Sorrell (Senior Operations Representative / SOR in 1969),913 S. Shirai (OD in 1969,914 in 1972 OD at Yokota915). 4) Traffic: John C. Bond (Assistant Traffic Manager in 1968,916 probably since 1966,917 Traffic Manager in 1970918), D.E. Hackett (Assistant Traffic Manager-Training in 1968).919 5) Communications: Y.C. Chien (Supervisor, Communications Dept.).920 6) Security: Y, L. Chow (Safety Representative TAW in 1968 and 1969,921 also Security Representative and Health Supervisor in 1969922). 7) Technical Services: John E. Berry (Director of Maintenance TAW still in 1967),923 who was replaced in late 1967 by Fred L. Duvall (Manager Technical Services in 1967,924 still in 1969,925 until 1970926), A. Wilcox (Superintendent of Maintenance TAW in 1967,927 Acting Manager Technical Services in 1969928). 8) Administrative Services: L. T. Walker (Accounting Supervisor, Tachikawa),929 Paris Ning (Accounting Representative TAW since 1955).930 As to Yokota in the late 1960ies, Joe Hazen recalls: “There were no personnel stationed at Yokota in my time, even after the 727 operation started. I think any necessary personnel for that operation would come from Tachikawa.”931 In 1970, there were some AAM mechanics at Yokota, including Homer Little (FOTD/OKO),932 Al Pitts (STS),933 as well as C.L. Hsu

904 David Garber left Taipei for Tokyo in September/October 60 (Anonymous, “CAT clicks, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.9/10, September/October 60, pp.6-7). 905 E-mail dated 17 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 906 (Anonymous), “In memoriam David Garber”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXI, no. 1, March 2004, p. 4. 907 T.S. Barnes, “Personnel poop Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 1, January 1968, p.8. 908 Planned pilot manning for August 64, in: UTD/Walker/B8F4. 909 Y.L. Chow, “Three Top Yokota mechanic retire”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, p.1. 910 Photo caption in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 66, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 911 Photo caption in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 66, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 912 Photo caption in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 66, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 913 (Anonymous), “Tashikima wins award”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 6, 1969, p.2. 914 (Anonymous), “AAM TAW personnel”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 4, 1969, p.1. 915 (Anonymous), “Yokota”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 2, 1972, p.7. 916 John Bond, “Tachikawa Base”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 5, 1968, pp.4-5. 917 Mike Kandt, “In memoriam Janet Bond”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXXI, no. 4, December 2014, p. 4. 918 J.C. Bond, “Sayonara Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.7. 919 John Bond, “Tachikawa Base”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 5, 1968, pp.4-5. 920 (Anonymous), “Tashikima wins award”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 6, 1969, p.2. 921 Y.L. Chow, “TAW extinguishers”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 4, 1968, p.3; (Anonymous), “Chow wins award”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 2, 1969, p.6. 922 (Anonymous), “Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 5, 1969, p.2. 923 C.T. Tsao, “Tachikawa tire-breaker”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, November 1967, p.7. 924 L.T. Walker, “Tachikawa Newsletter”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, December 1967, p.6. 925 (Anonymous), “Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 5, 1969, p.2. 926 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Fred Duvall”, in: Air America Log, vol. vol. XIX, no. 2, 2002, p. 3. 927 C.T. Tsao, “Tachikawa tire-breaker”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, November 1967, p.7. 928 (Anonymous), “Tachikawa”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 5, 1969, p.2. 929 L.T. Walker, “Tachikawa Newsletter”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, December 1967, p.6. 930 L.T. Walker, “Tachikawa Newsletter”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, December 1967, p.6. 931 E-mail dated 17 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 932 Homer Little, “The end of an era: ‘Booklift’ 1950-70”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.4-5. 933 Homer Little, “The end of an era: ‘Booklift’ 1950-70”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, pp.4-5. 93

(Leadman), P.Y. Liang (Senior Mechanic) and Y.K. Laio, all three of them of RMD/OKO and all three of them at Tachikawa since 1950.934 In 1971, there was an exchange of Traffic Managers: Yokota’s Traffic Manager Alfred R. (“Al”) Brau, who had been with Air America since 1966,935 became Traffic Manager at Vientiane,936 and former Vientiane Senior TM R.J. (“Scotty”) Camburn took office at Yokota in 1971,937 probably until August 73.938 The activities that were run at Air America’s Bangkok Base during the sixties and seventies are described in my file Air America in Thailand. As will be recalled, activities first focused on flights for the Thai National Police. Then Thailand was the country from where Air America hauled military cargo into Laos in 1960/1, and then brought PARU trainers, Lao military and Hmong paramilitary units from Laos to training centers in Thailand and back into Laos. Beginning about 1964, Air America established courier services between the main US and Thai training bases in the country, built STOL strips in north and north-east Thailand, supported ARPA defoliant research at Hua Hin and trained and supported the Thai Police.939 Since 1969, Air America flew Thai Unity troops into Laos and back to Thailand. Air America personnel assigned to Bangkok includes: 1) Management: Wilfred R. MacCormick (Base Manager Bangkok until 1966),940 David H. Hickler (Base Manager June 1966-72,941 Assistant Vice President/BKK at least since 1973),942 Robert V. Davis (Manager-Airport, Bangkok – MA-B – at least 1971943 to 1973944). 2) Flight Department: Ed W. Ulrich (Manager of Flight Department in 1966-67945 and Acting Base Manager in August 68946, transferred to Vientiane in late 1968947), John E. Zimmerman (Assistant Manager of Flight Department in 1967-68),948 Vilert Songiamvong (Chief, Crew Scheduling section, Flying division BKK),949 and Fred F. Walker (MFD/BKK since late 1968,950 Chief Pilot BKK in 1971951). 3) Operations: Marvin Wright (Operations Manager/SOR in 1967),952 Chester K. Tatsamura (OM),953 Max G. Becker (OM around Feb.68),954 L.C. (“Roger”) King (OM/BKK in 1971),955 Grant Walters

934 Y.L. Chow, “Three Top Yokota mechanic retire”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, p.1. 935 Mike Kandt, “In memoriam Alfred R. Brau”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 4, December 2011, p. 4. 936 (Anonymous), “Vientiane says ‘La Gohn’ to T.M. ‘Scotty’ Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, 1971, p.3. 937 (Anonymous), “Vientiane says ‘La Gohn’ to T.M. ‘Scotty’ Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, 1971, p.3. 938 Mike Kandt, “Rest in Peace Ralph Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXX, no. 1, March 2013, p. 10. 939 For more details, see my file Air America in Thailand – since the days of CAT. 940 (Anonymous), “The changing scene” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 1, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 941 (Anonymous), “Hickler and Dunn take new posts”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 66, p. 1, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4; Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 589, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5; Dave H. Hickler, “Bangkok: big, bustling base”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.1, Jan. 1968, pp.4-5. Letter no. BMBKK-05/72 of 22 February 72 to MEDTC re Khmer AF, formerly in: UTD/Leary/I B14F1, now probably in UTD/Leary/B50F11. 942 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5. 943 (Anonymous); “Air America personnel in Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.1, 1971, p.7. 944 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5. 945 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 946 Letter dated 30 August 68, USOM Thailand to VPFCA, copy to E.W. Ulrich, ABM, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.28. 947 (Anonymous), “Message from Management”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.6, 1968, p.1. 948 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1) and February 68 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1). 949 V. Songiamvong, “Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.5, 1968, p.2. 950 (Anonymous), “Change of Base”, in: Air America Log, vol. III no.1, 1969, p.2. 951 (Anonymous), “Bangkok Flying Division”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 7, 1971, p. 2. 952 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 953 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 18 August 67, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 954 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Bangkok of 5 February 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 94

(Flight Operations Training, BKK, VTE, and SGN, 1967-73).956 4) Traffic: Phasook Limpabandhu (AAM Liaison Representative BKK since August 67, Acting Traffic Manager in May 68, Traffic Manager in late 68,957 still TM in 1971,958 Liaison Representative in 1972959), Paul Karpel (Traffic Manager BKK around 1968),960 Saritdinath Laistruglai (Senior Traffic Supervisor in 1969),961 and M. Simcharoen (Supervisor Ground Transportation Department). 5) Security: Ramon R. Hart (Chief of Security - CSY/BKK in 1969 until he left for Vientiane in 1970),962 C. Wongphiseskul (Supervisor of Security in 1971).963 6) Supply: Norbert Wynn (Superintendent Supply around 1967).964 7) Technical Services: Robert V. Davis (Superintendent of Maintenance/BKK since 1964/5,965 still in 1967,966 STS / Superintendent Technical Services in 1968967), S. Ratanacoop (Chief Mechanic in 1971).968 8) Thai Police Contract: Mick Forrest (Chief Mechanic/Thai Natl. Police Dept. Advisory Contract around 1967969 and Supervisor, Thai Police Contract in 1968970), T. J. Karman (Maintenance Advisor/TPC in 1968-1969,971 Supervisor/Thai Police Contract still in 1971,972 Superintendent/Thai Police Contract in 1973973), A.A. Rivero (Assistant Superintendent/Thai Police Contract around 1973974), Max M. Tinio (AAM Supply Supervisor/Thai Police Contract at least 1971975 to 1973976), and H. P. Lee (around 1972),977 who all worked with the Thai National Police Aviation. 9) Others: George Kennedy (KM/BKK around Feb.68),978 Somthida Wongsantativanich worked in the AAM BKK Personnel Office in 1968,979 and Dick Coleman was base Personnel Manager for BKK in the early seventies.980 Sprung Teerakittipun was Personnel Representative in 1972.981 P. Bunyasrie was Accounting

955 (Anonymous), “Air America personnel in Bangkok (Flight Operations Dept.)”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.7. 956 Grant Walters, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 11. 957 Dave H. Hickler, “Bangkok: big, bustling base”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.1, Jan. 1968, pp.4-5; (Anony- mous), “The second hat of Mr. Phasook”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.6, 1968, p.6. 958 (Anonymous), “Bangkok Traffic Department”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.4, 1971, p.3. 959 (Anonymous), “Air America BKK moves its offices to a new location”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 5, 1972, pp. 24-25. 960 Phasook Limpabandhu, “Buddha Air Lift”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, p.3. 961 (Anonymous), “Bangkok: AAM at counter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 2, 1969, p.2. 962 (Anonymous), “Bangkok: AAM at counter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 2, 1969, p.2. 963 (Anonymous); “Air America personnel in Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.1, 1971, p.7. 964 (Anonymous), “AAM acquires five beautiful Bell 205s”, in: Air America Log, vol. I no.2, Dec. 1967, p.1. 965 Boyd Mesecher, “In memoriam Robert Davis”, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 3. 966 (Anonymous), “AAM acquires five beautiful Bell 205s”, in: Air America Log, vol. I no.2, Dec. 1967, p.1. 967 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Bangkok of 5 February 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 968 (Anonymous), “Air America personnel in RMD”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.3, 1971, p. 7. 969 Mick Forrest, “AAM in Thailand – Air America helps Royal Thai Police Aviation make progress”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, pp.2-3. 970 See Air America Log, vol. II, no. 3, March 1968, pp.4-5. 971 Accident report of 6 March 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F3; T. J. Karman (S/TPC BKK), “Thai Police Aviation Division VIP helicopter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 4, 1969, p.2. 972 (Anonymous), “Air America personnel in Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 5, 1971, p.7. 973 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5. 974 Jerry Fink (DLC/TPE), “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4- 5. 975 (Anonymous), “Air America personnel in Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 5, 1971, p.7. 976 Jerry Fink, “Air America and the Thai Police”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, pp. 4-5. 977 H. P. Lee, “TNPD students training at TNN”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.1, 1972, p.2. 978 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Bangkok of 5 February 68, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F1. 979 Dave H. Hickler, “Bangkok: big, bustling base”, in: Air America Log, vol. II no.1, Jan. 1968, pp.4-5. 980 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 981 (Anonymous), “Air America BKK moves its offices to a new location”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 5, 1972, pp. 24-25. 95

Representative in 1971.982 Internal Bangkok papers like the Bangkok Daily Flight Schedule of 24 January 73 also list an unknown Senior Instructor Pilot Bangkok (SIPBKK), Supervisor Traffic & Sales Bangkok (SUPV.T&S BKK), Aircraft Electrical Systems Bangkok (AESBKK), plus some other departments that cannot be identified.983 Air America’s Chiang Mai Station in Northern Thailand was opened in April 1966 and was mainly a one airplane operation using a PC-6C Porter that was involved in PARU activities, in building STOL strips, and especially in searching for and helping to destroy drug plantations for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), until the Station closed its doors on 30 June 74. In 1966/67, Luther E. Martin was Superintendent, Facilities-Development at Chiang Mai.984 In 1967, Jack R. Barnhisel was Station Manager985 and concurrently Manager- Flying Department986 until mid-1968.987 In 1969, the Station Manager Chiang Mai (SZCNX) was Earl H. Richmond until September;988 since mid-September 69 and in 1970, John F. Smith had this position;989 and in later years, it was Robert E. Dawson.990 For some time in 1973, Acting Station Manager was Donald C. Carlson.991 Other Air America employees assigned to Chiang Mai in 1966/67 were A.A. Rivero (Chief Mechanic in 1966),992 Hilarion Estalilla (Chief Mechanic in 1967),993 Atchara Siripanyawat (Accounting Representative),994 Jose Juachon (General Maintenance Department),995 Sompet Lilit (Communications),996 and Pitsanu Soopanasook (Traffic).997 In 1972, Chusuk Bumrungtrakul was CMECH/CNX;998 in 1973, this position was held by Manochao Nandhawongse.999 During the sixties and seventies, Udorn continued to be the home of Air America’s helicopter operations in Laos, but also developed into the Company’s largest maintenance base outside Tainan, which also took care of the aircraft flown by the Ravens and of the USAF’s T-28s operating in RLAF colors. Udorn’s second face were covert operations, i.e. the delivery of weapons and ammunition to the Royal Lao military (Peppergrinder-operations) and to the CIA’s guerrilla program in Laos (AB-1 missions) as well as drop-missions to road watcher teams, intelligence flights and raider missions into enemy territory in Laos and inside North Vietnam as well as other operations supporting the “Secret War” on the ground.1000 Known Udorn personnel includes: 1) Management: Ben Moore (Base Manager already in February 631001 and still in 1967),1002 E. Stuart (“Tex”) Dew (Assistant Base Manager since

982 (Anonymous); “Air America personnel in Bangkok”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.1, 1971, p.7. 983 Bangkok Daily Flight schedule of 24 January 73, in: UTD/Leary/B23F1. Also listed are RMDBKK, MCBKK, RSDBKK, TBPPBKK, PRBKK, and SUPV.SEC/BKK. 984 G.L. Christian, “Vientiane Base, Dec. 1973” in: Air America Log, no number, no date (1974), p. 2. 985 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 986 Jack R. Barnhisel, “Saigon”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p. 2. 987 (Anonymous), “Personnel Changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.2. 988 (Anonymous), “Richmond promoted”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, p.8. 989 Letter no. SZCNX-70029 of 12 March 70, in: UTD/Dawson/B1F2; (Anonymous), “Smith new SZ at Chiang Mai”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.6. 990 Memo dated 11 June 72, sent by the Chiang Mai’s Station Manager Robert E. Dawson to DSY (Director of Security), Taipei, in: UTD/Dawson/B1F2; Anonymous), “CNX Chief Mechanic is a fine fixer”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.7. 991 (Anonymous), “Chiang Mai: VIPs and news”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 6, 1973, pp.6-7. 992 Report on recovery operation Porter of N392R of August 66, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F4. 993 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 994 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 995 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 996 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 997 J. R. Barnhisel, “Chiengmai Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2 (December 1967), p. 5. 998 (Anonymous), “To pilots”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.1, 1972, p.8. 999 (Anonymous), “CNX Chief Mechanic is a fine fixer”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.7. 1000 For more details, see my files Air America in Laos II – military aid (2 parts) and Air America in Laos III – in combat. 1001 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 482, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 96 early August 65,1003 still in 1967,1004 Base Manager in March 681005), and David H. Hickler (Acting Base Manager in 1969).1006 For many years, Air America’s Udorn, Thailand Base was run by Base Manager Clarence J. Abadie, who was PCO (Project Chief of Operations, Udorn)1007 in 1967-68,1008 then Assistant Base Manager in September 68-February 69,1009 then Base Manager Udorn by May 1970,1010 still in 1971,1011 and later became Vice President Udorn1012 and still later even Vice President Northern Thailand Division (VP-NTD).1013 Richard G. (“Dick”) Ford was Assistant to Vice President Udorn in 19711014 and still in 1973.1015 Charlie L. Lane was Administrative Assistant to Base Manager in 1968-72,1016 and John W. Melton was Administrative Assistant to VP-NTD, June 72-November 73.1017 N. W. Boughner was Special Assistant to BM/UTH around 1971.1018 2) The Flight Department included E. Wayne Knight (Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing),1019 Jerome A. McEntee (Assistant Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing in April 67, in July 68,1020 and still in 19691021), and Marius Burke (Assistant Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing in 1967,1022 AMFD/RW in July 68,1023 and Assistant Chief-Pilot/Udorn in 1973).1024 In 1969, Udorn had a Manager of Flying Rotary Wing (MFD/RW) and a Manager of Flying Fixed Wing (MFD/FW) plus 2 Assistant Managers of Flying RW (AMFD/RW), one for the Bell 204B/205 and one for the

1002 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 June 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F4. 1003 Deputy Director for Support, Monthly Report for August/September 1965, p. 4, online readable at http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/196508.pdf . 1004 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 1 May 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F3. 1005 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 8 March 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F1. 1006 (Anonymous), “AAM Udorn chopper hits 10.000 hours”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.3, 1969, p.1. 1007 Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 1008 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Udorn of 9 June 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B59F4) and 15 July 68 (in: UTD /CIA/B60/F4). 1009 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 23 September 68 (in: UTD/CIA/B60F6) and 5 Feb. 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B60F8). 1010 Letter no. BMUTH-L70-276 dated 5 May 1970, in: UTD/CIA/B29F4; he was still BMUTH in May 71 (Letter no. BMUTH-L71-461 of 21 May 71, in: UTD/CIA/B60F20. 1011 C. L. Lane (AABM/UDN), “Henley gets certificate”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 7, 1971, p. 6 1012 Jack L. Forney, “Air America at Udorn, Thailand – a brief history” (with notations by Clarence J. Abadie, Jr., VP/UTH), in: Air America Log, vol.VI, no.5, 1972, pp.4-5; Letter no.VPUTH-L72-1310 dated 21 October 72 (in: UTD/CIA/B61/F12). 1013 Already on 23 May 73 (Dixon Speas Associates Report of 12 July 73, p.3, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14). See Udorn Flight Operations Schedule for 30 June 1974, in: UTD/Abadie/B1F6. 1014 (Anonymous), “AAM’s Management visits Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.2, 1972, p. 3. 1015 Dick Ford (A/VP/UTH), “Bienvenido Sabino still forging ahead”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 4, 1973, p. 8. 1016 C.L. Lane, “UDN Karate Club”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, p.7; C. L. Lane (AABM/ UDN), “Henley gets certificate”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 7, 1971, p. 6; Mike Kandt (OM/UTH), “AAM employee dependents get guided tour of UTH”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 5, 1972, pp. 10-11. Charles L. Lane worked as Manager of the Personnel Administration at Udorn, probably during all of his employment with Air America, 31 August 66 to 15 August 74 (see C. L. Lane, in: UTD/Small Collections/B6F7, online description). 1017 John W. Melton, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 1018 N.W. Boughner (SA/BMUTH), “AAM’s UTH school passes milestone”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.5, 1971, p.6. 1019 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 June 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B59F4) and still of 23 September 68 (in: UTD/CIA/B60F6). 1020 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Udorn of 11 April 67 (in: UTD/CIA/B59F2) and 12 July 68 (in: UTD/CIA/B60F5). 1021 (Anonymous), “Mad River small fry”, in: Air America Log, vol. III no.7, 1969, p.3. 1022 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 1 May 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F3. 1023 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 15 July 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F4. 1024 (Anonymous), “Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, p. 2. 97

UH-34.1025 Already in 1964 and still in September 70, the MF/FW at Udorn was Jim Rhyne, who then moved to Vientiane.1026 Around September 1970, the Acting Chief Pilot and MF/RW at Udorn was P.C. Goddard,1027 who left Udorn in 1971 and was succeeded as Chief Pilot/RW by John D. Ford.1028 So, in 1971, J.D. Ford was Chief Pilot / Rotary Wing Udorn,1029 and R. W. Elder was Assistant Chief-Pilot / Rotary Wing in 1971.1030 In the late sixties and early seventies, Robert Davis was Manager of Functional Flight Check and then Director of Industrial Engineering at Udorn.1031 3) Operations: Richard G. (“Dick”) Ford (SOM in December 66-69),1032 Dennis P. Grace (OM June 66-May 68),1033 Terry J. Peerless (OM in 1967,1034 in July 68, he was Acting SOM,1035 in September 68 again OM1036), Jerry Connor (OM/VTE in 1968),1037 R.H. Hunter (OM in November 68),1038 Jim Alexander (FIC/UTH around 1965, then OM around 19691039 and still in 19711040), E.J. Wilson (Senior Operations Specialist, FIC/UTH, in 1971),1041 Jack J. Brennan (OM around 1969),1042 Ocha Chuenchai (Operations Dispatcher around 1969),1043 Vilaiphoi (“Dang”) Rerngchai (OD in 1971),1044 William F. Palmer (SOM since 1 February 71),1045 and L. Michael Kandt (OM since 15 Feb.72),1046 Jeffrey A. Blanchford (FIC/Udorn and then OM/VTE, 1967-73).1047 4) Traffic: J.P. Hardeman (Traffic Manager around 1967- 68),1048 J.R. Hunter (Traffic Manager in 1969),1049 John W. Melton (TM June 70-June 72),1050 Mr. Namasonthi (Assistant TM in 1971).1051 5) General Maintenance: E.H.J. (“Jack”) Parke (Supervisor, General Maintenance until

1025 Distribution, DSAFE Memo of 25 March 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 1026 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, p. 543, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. (Anonymous), “Change of Base”, in: Air America Log, vol. III no.1, 1969, p.2; Udorn Daily Flight Schedule of 18 September 70, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F1. 1027 (Anonymous), “Fifth Thai Captain”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.8, 1970, p.8; Udorn Daily Flight Schedule of 18 September 70, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F1. 1028 (Anonymous), “Commendation”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.3, 1971, p.2. 1029 For J.D. Ford and G.B. Young, see Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 2, 1972, p.3; Claude A. Nelson, “Jack Parke, General Maintenance, retires”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p.8. 1030 (Anonymous), “AAM’s Management visits Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.2, 1972, p. 3. 1031 Bob Davis, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XVII, no. 3, Sept. 2000, p. 5. 1032 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 14 December 66 (in: UTD/CIA/B58F14), 24 August 67 (in: UTD/ CIA/B59F9), and 5 February 69 (in: UTD/CIA/B60F8); Richard George Ford joined Air America on 2 February 65 (see Richard G. Ford, in: UTD/Small Collections/B9F5, online description). 1033 Dennis and Dang Grace, “Postmarks”, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 2, March-April 86, pp. 6-7. 1034 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 22 July 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F7. 1035 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 15 July 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F4. 1036 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 23 Sep. 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F6. 1037 Photo in: Air America Yearbook, 1984, vol. 1, section V (Company Eevents9, p.5, in: UTD/Smith/B1. 1038 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 19 November 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F7. 1039 J.J. Brennan (OM/UTH), “UTH upgrades its personnel”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV no.1, 1970, p.2. 1040 N.W. Boughner (SA/BMUTH), “AAM’s UTH school passes milestone”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 5, 1971, p.6. 1041 Preliminary Report of Aircraft Accident, re C-123K 293 on 27 December 71, in: UTD/CIA/B15F4. 1042 J.J. Brennan (OM/UTH), “UTH upgrades its personnel”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV no.1, 1970, p.2; J.J. Brennan joined Air America on 11 September 67 (see J.J. Brennan, in: UTD/Small Collections/B7F7, online description). 1043 (Anonymous), “Mr. Chuenchai gets license”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.7, 1969, p.3. 1044 (Anonymous), “’Dang’s’ progress, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.1, 1971, p.3. 1045 William F. Palmer, “Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.8, 1971, p.2. 1046 Saigon Base Monthly Report for February 72, in: UTD/CIA/B42F1. 1047 Jeff Blanchford, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 1048 J. P. Hardeman TM/UDN, “Udorn’s Terrific Traffic Terminal”, in: Air America Log, vol. I no.1, November 1967, pp.2-3; J.R. Hunter (TM/UDN), “UDN’s aquarium ticket counter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.6, 1969, p.3. 1049 J.R. Hunter (TM/UDN), “UDN’s aquarium ticket counter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.6, 1969, p. 3. 1050 John W. Melton, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 1051 (Anonymous), “VIP visit”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 4, 1972, p. 7. 98

1972),1052 W.B. Burleson (Manager, General Maintenance around 1972),1053 G. B. Young (Manager, Ground Maintenance, Udorn around 1971-72),1054 Gil J. Eidt (MHC/T – Manager Hostels & Clubs / Thailand in 1973),1055 John Wessel (AMHC/T – Assistant Manager Hostels & Clubs / Thailand in 1972).1056 6) Security: Khun Thongdaeng Anukansai (Chief, Security/ UTH),1057 Punyaratabhun Virajati (AAM Security Administrator around 1969),1058 Leroy S. Vestal (Assistant Chief of Security/UTH in 1972),1059 Pisidhi Indradat (Administrator CSY/UTH in 1972),1060 E. D. Huffer (MSAFE/UDN around February 69),1061 P. George Krings (M/SAFE-Ground/UTH in 1972).1062 7) Supply: Shane Tang (Chief of Supply – CS/UDN around 1966),1063 Manuel Galera (Supply/UDN in 1968),1064 and Frank Henry King (Superintendent / Resource Management Dept., 6 July 66 to 7 July 73).1065 8) Technical Services: Jackson L. Forney (who, as early as 1961, was Manager of Technical Services Southeast Asia at Udorn,1066 then was Manager Technical Services, Udorn,1067 Acting Base Manager in January 68,1068 Director Technical Services (DTS) in 19711069 and July-August 72,1070 and became Assistant Vice President Technical Services in 1969-711071), M.V. Dimalanta (Special Assistant to DTS/UTH in 1973),1072 E.M. Gould (Manager Technical Services in December 66,1073 STS in August 67,1074 SP&A in January 681075), J.C. Aspinwall (Superintendent Aircraft Maintenance Helicopters, Udorn, in September 65),1076 J. T. Dore (MTS in February 69),1077 J.G. Riggle (Superintendent of

1052 Claude A. Nelson, “Jack Parke, General Maintenance, retires”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p.8. 1053 Claude A. Nelson, “Jack Parke, General Maintenance, retires”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p.8. 1054 For J.D. Ford and G.B. Young, see Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 2, 1972, p.3; Claude A. Nelson, “Jack Parke, General Maintenance, retires”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p.8. 1055 Gil Eidt (MHC/T/UTH), “UTH’s soccer team”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 3, 1973, p. 8. 1056 Gil Eidt (MHC/T/UTH), “UTH’s soccer team”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 3, 1973, p. 8. 1057 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Khun Thongdaeng Anukansai”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXII, no. 4, December 2005, p. 3. 1058 (Anonymous), “UTH Anniversary”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, p.3. 1059 Mike Kandt (OM/UTH), “AAM employee dependents get guided tour of UTH”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 5, 1972, pp. 10-11. 1060 (Anonymous), “The King and Queen of Thailand visit RTAF Base at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.5, 1972, pp.2-3. 1061 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 5 February 69, in: UTD/CIA/B60F8. 1062 (Anonymous), “The King and Queen of Thailand visit RTAF Base at Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.5, 1972, pp.2-3. 1063 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1064 Manuel Galera, “UDN scouting”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.2, February 1968, p.7. 1065 See Frank H. King, in: UTD/Small Collections/B10F5-11, online description. 1066 The Maintenance report of 5 June 61 for UH-34 “H-G” that crashed at Pa Doung on 30 May 1961 was signed by Jackson Forney as “Manager, Technical Services, Southeast Asia” (in: UTD/Lewis/B2F6). 1067 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 9 June 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F4. 1068 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 8 January 68, in: UTD/CIA/B59F12, 1069 J.L. Forney (DTS/UTH), “Laborer to leader”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.4, p.2. 1070 Letter dated 17 July 72, re H-34s for Indonesia signed by ABM Forney, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24; Letter dated 23 August 72 re C-123 IRAN, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.24. 1071 “On 11 March 1969, the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. and of Air Asia Co Ltd “recommended to the Board of Directors the election of Mr. Jackson L. Forney as Assistant Vice President. Mr. Forney is now Manager of Technical Services at Udorn, where he has done a good job” (Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 March 1969, p.4, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3); see also Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 1, 1972, p.3. 1072 M.V. Dimalanta (SA/DTS/UTH), “Technical Miss at Air America, Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, p. 3. 1073 Minutes, Meeting Board of Review of 14 December 66, in: UTD/CIA/B58F14. 1074 Minutes, Meeting Local Board of Review Udorn of 13 August 67, in: UTD/CIA/B59F8. 1075 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 8 January 68, in: UTD/CIA/B59F12. 1076 Minutes, Meeting of Board of Review of 16 September 65, in: UTD/CIA/B58F5. 1077 Minutes, Meeting of Local Board of Review Udorn of 5 February 69, in: UTD/CIA/B60F8. 99

Training in 1971),1078 Jack S. Porter (Manager, Aircraft Shops/UDN 1968-74),1079 Frank L. Burmeister (Supervisor Maintenance UTH),1080 M.B. Woodward (Superintendent Quality Control in 1966),1081 Willie D. Henley (Superintendent Quality Control in 1971),1082 and Allan Reagan (Superintendent Fixed Wing Maintenance Tainan, Vientiane, Udorn, 1966- 74).1083 9) Administrative Services: Chuck Schwartzberg (Accounting/UDN around 1966),1084 E. B. Reed (PLNG – Supervisor, Planning, Udorn in 1970),1085 N. Narong (S/PLNG-UTH, at least 19721086-19731087), Claude A. Nelson (base Personnel Manager for Udorn – PM/UTH around 19651088 and still in 19721089), and Bob Klann (base Personnel Manager for Udorn, successor to Claude Nelson).1090 Air America’s Base at Vientiane was the center of all overt and humanitarian operations in Laos. Air America missions flown out of Vientiane in the sixties and seventies included rice drops, the distribution of salt, furniture, lumber, medicine, fuel drums, and other goods for regional hospitals like those of Operation Brotherhood and for any of the programs run by USAID. Other activities included courier services (“Milk runs”), refugee airlifts, SAR missions for Company aircraft and the US military as well as med-evac flights, both of whom also used Udorn-based helicopters. Since the late sixties, Air America also helped fighting drug smuggling on missions flown for the SIS (Security Inspection Service) and the CAD (Customs Assistance Division). Known Vientiane personnel includes: 1) Management: Station Manager (“General Manager Laos”) David H. Hickler (around 1964,1091 still in 19661092), Base Manager Frank L. Dunn (June 19661093 to October 1968),1094 and Base Manager and then Vice President James A. Cunningham Jr., who ran Vientiane Base from 10 October 681095 to September 1973.1096 In mid-1968, Jack Barnhisel became Assistant Base Manager Vientiane (ABM/VTE),1097 and still was in 1969.1098 P.S. Rosales Jr. was

1078 G.L. Christian, “AAM’s Vientiane Base hires, trains & promotes Laotians”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 6, 1971, p.2. 1079 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Jack Stockton Porter”, in: Air America Log, vol. XV, no. 2, June 1998, (online). 1080 Frank Burmeister worked for Air America from 6 April 67 to 31 July 71 (see Frank Burmester, in: UTD/ Small Collections/B9F19, online description). 1081 Memo no. QCUDN-66-108 of 1 Sep 66, re damage report of H-31, in: UTD/CIA/B58F11. 1082 C. L. Lane (AABM/UDN), “Henley gets certificate”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 7, 1971, p. 6. 1083 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Allan Reagan”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3. 1084 (Anonymous), “Our man in Udorn is watching”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 1966, p. 1, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4. 1085 Memo no. PLNG-UTH-70-322 of 3 August 70, re C-123 and C-7 aircraft time report for July 70, in: UTD/ CIA/B29F4. 1086 List PLNG-UTH-72-005 of 1 January 72, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24. 1087 List PLNG-UTH-73-154 of 1 June 73, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 24. 1088 “Personal Manager: Most of the early work was conducted by Chinese or Thai clerks. I recall Claude Nelson being the first American PM in UTH. I cannot recall if this was in 1965, but I think so” (E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin). 1089 Claude A. Nelson, “Jack Parke, General Maintenance, retires”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p.8. 1090 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1091 E-mail dated 27 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 1092 (Anonymous), “Air America plays host at gala garden party”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 March 1966, p. 3, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1093 (Anonymous), “Hickler and Dunn take new posts”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 66, p. 1, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4. When Hickler took office at Bangkok in June 66, his successor at Vientiane, Dunn, had been his deputy since December 65 (Leary, Manuscript. ch. VI, pp. 592/3, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5). 1094 See Air America Log, vol. II, no.2, February 1968, pp.4-5. 1095 (Anonymous), “Message from Management”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.6, 1968, p.1; previously, Cun- ningham worked for some time for the Managing Director in Washington and for the President in Taipei (ib.). 1096 J. A. Cunningham, “AAM airlift”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 2, 1970, p. 5; and James A. Cunningham Jr., Air America Capability Laos, 7 March 1973, 29 pages, in: UTD/CIA/B31F9. 1097 (Anonymous), “Personnel Changes”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.2. 100

Administrative Assistant to Base Manager in 1968.1099 2) Flight Department: Until late 1968, Fred F. Walker was Manager-Flying Department, Laos (MFD/L).1100 In 1967, A.F. Nugent was Assistant Manager of Flying at Vientiane (AMF-VTE).1101 In late 1968, Ed Ulrich became Manager-Flying Department Vientiane (MFD/VTE).1102 In 1969, Vientiane had a Manager of Flying (Ed Ulrich: MFD) and 5 Assistant Managers of Flying (AMFD), one each for the C-123, Caribou (Robert LaTurner),1103 PC-6, Helio, and C-46.1104 In 1971, W. Eugene Wyche was Senior Instructor Pilot VTE.1105 In 1969, Don Gayle was SFD/VTE,1106 and Jim Rhyne was Chief Pilot Vientiane (CP/VTE) from August 1970 to August 1973,1107 and also MFC (Manager of Flight Crews) at least from 1972 onwards.1108 3) Operations: Tom Krohn (Operations Manager at Vientiane in the sixties1109 and SOM/VTE around 1972),1110 L. Michael (“Mike”) Kandt (Operations Dispatcher/VTE since 13 March 66, then OM/VTE under Tom Krohn),1111 Robert N. Crone (OM/VTE, † on 12 February 69 in CASI PC-6A XW-PCE that crashed near Luang Prabang),1112 R.E. Van Husen (Operations Specialist/VTE in 1968),1113 David Chang (Operations Dispatcher/VTE in 1969),1114 Rayong Sarai (Senior OD in 1972),1115 James P. Quigley (OM Vientiane June 69- mid-1971),1116 Dennis P. Grace (OM November 71-February 74),1117 Dave Paulding (OM/VTE around 1972),1118 Phil Newell (FIC/VTE in 1971),1119 Terry Luther (Operations in 1972),1120 and Grant Walters (Flight Operations Training, BKK, VTE, and SGN, 1967- 73).1121 “Bart” Brigida was Operations Manager of the ATOG, Vientiane (August 1963 –

1098 (Anonymous), “Air America begins construction of new training center”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, pp.4-5. 1099 See Air America Log, vol. II, no.2, February 1968, pp.4-5. 1100 (Anonymous), “Four Air America Hump Pilots”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 5, 1968, p.6. 1101 AMF-VTE A.F. Nugent, Memo of 3 June 67 to MFSD via MFD/L, in: UTD/Walker/B11F3. 1102 (Anonymous), “Message from Management”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.6, 1968, p.1. 1103 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Capt. Robert LaTurner”, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 3, May-June 1986, p. 4. 1104 Distribution, DSAFE Memo of 25 March 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 1105 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1. 1106 (Anonymous), “Air America begins construction of new training center”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, pp.4-5. 1107 (Anonymous), “Wing presentation ceremony created by VPFO Office”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.1; Employee Accident Report dated 2 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B29F2; still in August 73 (Vientiane Daily flight Schedule of 23 August 73, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); Jim Rhyne, Interview conducted at Clayton, NC on 13 October 90 by Prof. Bill Leary, pp. 8/9, in: UTD/Leary/B47F9. 1108 See Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 1, March 2011, p. 8. 1109 E-mail dated 29 July 2005, kindly sent to the author by Tom Krohn. 1110 Letter no. SOMVTE-72-126 dated 1 June 72 signed by Tom Krohn, in: UTD/CIA/B29F2. 1111 L. Michael Kandt, in: UTD/Small Collections/B5F14-15, online description; interview with Mike Kandt conducted by Timothy Castle, on the DVD to the booklet: Air America. Upholding the Airmen’s Bond, Symposium held at McDermott Library, University of Texas at Dallas, on 18 April 2009. 1112 Mike Kandt, “The view from the ground”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sept.1999, p. 9. On 12 February 1969, CASI PC-6A XW-PCE exploded in mid-air and crashed about 5 miles west of Ban Y (LS-187), Laos, killing, among others, Air America Operations Manager and observer Robert N. Crone (Memorial file, in: UTD/LaShomb/B16F3; Minutes of Meeting of Air Asia Co Ltd, Board of Review, in: UTD/CIA/B34F3). 1113 (Anonymous), “Four Air America Hump Pilots”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 5, 1968, p.6. 1114 (Anonymous), “Chang earns FAA license”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 4, 1969, p.6. 1115 (Anonymous), “VTE success story”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no. 3, 1972, p. 8. 1116 E-mail dated 21 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 1117 Dennis and Dang Grace, “Postmarks”, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 2, March-April 86, pp. 6-7. 1118 Vientiane Daily Flight Schedule of 31 August 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7. 1119 C. Morehouse, “Vientiane at play”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.6, 1971, p.5. 1120 Jim Rhyne, Interview conducted at Clayton, NC on 13 October 90 by Prof. Bill Leary, p. 8, in: UTD/Leary/ B47F9. 1121 Grant Walters, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 11. 101

1974).1122 Bern Daigle was Air America’s Air Traffic Control Advisor to the Royal Lao Government in the sixties and seventies,1123 probably from 1968 to 1973.1124 4) Traffic: R.J. (“Scotty”) Camburn was Traffic Manager at Vientiane since 1966,1125 Senior Traffic Manager in 1970,1126 and left VTE for Yokota in 1971;1127 his successor in 1971 was former Yokota- Traffic Manager Alfred R. (“Al”) Brau;1128 Jerry Ryder was Traffic Manager (TM/T/VTE) around 19691129 and still in 1971,1130 and D. Granada was Assistant Traffic Manager VTE in 1971.1131 5) General Maintenance: Carl W. Bellamy (Construction Engineer for the STOL sites, since May 62),1132 Luther E. Martin was at VTE since 1967;1133 around 1970, he was Supervisor, General Maintenance (SGM/VTE),1134 then Director of Ground Support.1135 In 1973, Jeff Johnson was Superintendent / Facility Development/VTE.1136 James T. McElroy became Systems Manager-Hostels & Clubs in April 1971.1137 6) Communications: Around 1970, Tom Y.S. Chung was Senior Weather Forecaster/VTE.1138 V. Henley was Manager, Communications Department Laos (MCD/L) around 1973.1139 7) Supply: Bob Williams (AAM Supply VTE 1964-72),1140 Terry C. Turner (AAM Supply Management Laos 1966- 69).1141 8) Security: Fred Gilbert was Chief of Security (CSY/VTE) 1964-661142 and still in 1968,1143 Paul Butler was CSY/VTE in 1970,1144 Ramon R. Hart was ACSY/VTE in 19701145 and CSY/VTE at least between 19711146 and 1973.1147 John D. Anthony was Manager of Safety (MSAFE/VTE) at Vientiane for many years – at least since March 19651148 and still in 1973.1149 9) Technical Services: At least 1969-1972, Jack A. Pearsall was Manager Technical

1122 (Anonymous); “In memoriam Bart Brigida”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIV, no. 4, December 2007, p. 3. 1123 (Anonymous), “King of Laos gives Daigle high award”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 6, 1973, pp. 4-5. 1124 Val J. Daigle, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XV, no. 2, June 1998 (online). 1125 (Anonymous), “Vientiane says ‘La Gohn’ to T.M. ‘Scotty’ Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, 1971, p.3. 1126 (Anonymous), “AAM assists Lao King and Queen”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.8, 1970, p.6. 1127 (Anonymous), “Vientiane says ‘La Gohn’ to T.M. ‘Scotty’ Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, 1971, p.3. 1128 (Anonymous), “Vientiane says ‘La Gohn’ to T.M. ‘Scotty’ Camburn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, 1971, p.3. 1129 Jerry Ryder, “VTE Kart Club”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 7, 1969, p.2. 1130 J.M. Ryder (TM/T/VTE), “New rice drop technique in Laos”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 5, 1971, p.5. 1131 (Anonymous), “AAM’s Vientiane basketball team”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.3, 1971, p.6. 1132 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, p. 483, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. 1133 G.L. Christian, “Vientiane Base, Dec. 1973” in: Air America Log, no number, no date (1974), p. 2. 1134 (Anonymous), “AAM presents VW to Lao DCA”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 5, 1970, p.2. 1135 G.L. Christian, “Vientiane Base, Dec. 1973” in: Air America Log, no number, no date (1974), p. 2. 1136 (Anonymous), “AAM at Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 5, 1973, pp. 4-5. 1137 James T. McElroy, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.2. 1138 (Anonymous), “The Vientiane view”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 5, 1970, p.2; still in 1971 (Anonymous, “AAM/VTE gets wet”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p.5). 1139 Memo no. MCD/L-73-014 of 2 March 73 re Close out of Kadena, in: UTD/CIA/B31F2. 1140 Bob Williams, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XII, no. 3, July-Sept.1995, p. 6. 1141 Terry C. Turner, Letter, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 3, May-June 1986, p.8. 1142 Dave Hickler, Exhibit no. V supporting Hickler’s claim of CIA supervision, p.18, in: UTD/Leary/B21F8 or F9, probably a photocopy from UTD/Hickler/B13F7. 1143 Fred Gilbert (CSY/VTE), “VTE Security Force”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 3, March 1968, p.6. 1144 (Anonymous), “VTE smiles”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 1, 1970, p.6. 1145 (Anonymous), “VTE smiles”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 1, 1970, p.6. 1146 Company Confidential no. CSY/VTE-71-336 of 31 May 71 re non-AAM aircraft in Laos, signed by R:R. Hart in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 6 1147 Memo no. CSY/VTE73-194 of 22 March 73 (in: UTD/CIA/B32F1), signed by Ramon R. Hart. 1148 See John D. Anthony’s collection of Air America crash photos at http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi- bin/starfetch.exe?sFIUzflmHMsgV8qTJEC3Go4zS9Qg5N1X.gzB4IrTM2BYV3V5rfYhhJOuxojm0KrhnS0iqrZ wGzkDFrZqssSGJZ0tfVyxZ4uveeV7mKCR1VuqKp6SxfST4gN@GpVRJVPY/11730101001.pdf . 1149 Memo no. MSAFE-VTE-73003 of 1 February 73 re Monthly Safety Report Jan. 73, in: UTD/CIA/B31F2. 102

Services, Laos,1150 around 1971, Arden Davis was Special Assistant to the Manager / Technical Services/Laos (SA/MTS/L),1151 Faiz Yaganagi was Technical Training Dept. Instructor,1152 and Andy Zanella was Supervisor Aviation Electronics Dept. (S/AED/VTE).1153 John Thomas MacCormick was Maintenance Supervisor VTE, 13 Sep 67 to 30 June 74.1154 Allan Reagan was Superintendent Fixed Wing Maintenance (Tainan, Vientiane, Udorn, 1966-74),1155 and W. W. Peterson was Superintendent Quality Control (SQC) in 1972.1156 10) Administrative Services: John E. Baird was Personnel Manager, Vientiane around 19721157 and 1973,1158 and K.W. Wong was Supervisor Planning (S/PLNG/VTE) in 1973.1159 Probably between 1962 and 1970, Sam Thong in Laos (LS-20) was also a center of Air America operations. Of course, activities concentrated on everything that had to do with the famous local hospital. However, prior to 1966, there were no Air America operations or traffic people at Sam Thong. Joe Hazen recalls: “There were no operations people at Sam Thong […] when I flew in and out. Pop or Thongsar, his assistant, would meet the aircraft and we would go from there (usually Helio or Dornier and I suppose helicopter).”1160 At that time, there were even no mechanics at LS-20, as Joe Hazen recalls: “In my time, mechanics were brought to the accident site by whatever means to do whatever repair necessary. I think, if helicopter, mechanics from Udorn, if fixed wing, from Vientiane. Nobody was stationed at LS-20 or LS-20A.”1161 During the second half of the 1960ies, “AAM Dale Means managed the AAM hostel at Sam Tong. Later Bill Yarbrough did the same. […] We have to include the Chinese and Thai radio operators at each station.”1162 In the mid-sixties, Sam Thong became an Air America Station, and Wallace S. (“Dale”) Means became the first Station Manager at LS-20 until 1966.1163 Around 1969, Sam Thong was even an official Air America Station with a small maintenance facility. Known Air America personnel stationed at Sam Thong includes Station Manager William C. Yarbrough (around 1969) and Assistant Station Manager Thongsar Bouapha.1164 Air America’s mostly Filipino crew that was working in Sam Thong in 1969 was portrayed in the Air America Log.1165

1150 Frank L. Dunn, “Vientiane”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, pp.4-5; in 1968, Pearsall was concurrently Superintendent, RMD/VTE (ib.); Accident report re C-123K “648”, 18 December 72, in: UTD/ CIA/B61F15. 1151 (Anonymous), “AAM up-grades TPE 331-25 engine to 2,800 hours TBO”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.2, 1971, p.3; Arden Davis left Air America on 30 June 74 (see Arden E. Davis, in: UTD/Small Collections/B2F1, online description). 1152 G.L. Christian, “AAM’s Vientiane Base hires, trains & promotes Laotians”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 6, 1971, p.2. 1153 G.L. Christian, “AAM’s Vientiane Base hires, trains & promotes Laotians”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 6, 1971, p.2. 1154 See John Thomas MacCormick, in: UTD/Small Collections/B3F20, online description. 1155 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Allan Reagan”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3. 1156 Report of Aircraft Accident, C-123K 648 of 6 December 72, in: UTD/CIA/B61F15. 1157 See Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3. In July 1969, John E. Baird was Acting CAE (Chief, American Employment Dept.) at Taipei (Air Asia Co Ltd Telephone Directory of July 69, kindly sent to the author by Bill Merrigan). 1158 (Anonymous), “AAM at Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 5, 1973, pp. 4-5. 1159 Memo no. SPLNG-VTE-73-001 of 1 January 73, in: UTD/CIA/B32F1. 1160 E-mail dated 10 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 1161 E-mail dated 11 February 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 1162 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1163 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Wallace D. (‘Dale’) Means”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 6 1164 See William C. Yarbrough, “Sam Thong Station,” in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.6, 1969, pp. 4-5. 1165 F. Caro (Radio Mechanic, Communications Dept.), J. M. de Guzman (Storekeeper, Regional Supply Dept. / RSD), L.B. Espino, V.G. Osias Jr, and S.E. Roldan (Mechanics, Regional Maintenance Dept. / RMD), P.F. Toledo (Mechanic, Regional General Maintenance Dept. / RGMD), plus Lao Head Cook Van Song Luong and 103

Vang Pao’s Headquarters Long Tieng (LS-20A) was also a center of Air America activities since 1962, but prior to 1966, the situation was similar to Sam Thong, as Joe Hazen recalls: “There were no operations people at […] Long Tieng when I flew in and out. […] At Long Tieng, Tony would meet and usually direct the traffic, or if he was not there, another Customer.”1166 During the second half of the 1960ies, there were some Air America mechanics at LS-20A, for example “AAM Dan Williams was at Long Tieng to keep the Raven 01 Birddogs in the air. […] We have to include the Chinese and Thai radio operators at each station.”1167 As to Long Tieng Operations in the late sixties, Air America helicopter pilot Dick Casterlin recalls: “AAM Jim Wilson was FIC at Long Tieng during the troubles. Some people took advantage of the briefing, others […] did not. […] We have to include the Chinese and Thai radio operators at each station. […] In the early days, we did not have many H-34’s, so there was no problem with take offs and landings at sites. Throughout the entire war flying upcountry was discretionary, pretty much see and be seen at and around sites. We also talked a lot on the radio (119.0 VHF), particularly during the smoky season. Like the Brits we used the ‘Big Sky’ policy. To my knowledge, there was only one mid-air collision between a Raven and an AAM F/W pilot […]. We loaded in sequence and took off in intervals. Generally, at the direction of the Customer, an indigenous type or the Customer would give us a set of coordinates or town name. These guys were called Air Ops. Later, mission assignments came from the Air Ops shack at Alternate. A Meo youngster we called Snoopy became so proficient at directing us over the years that he was trusted and adored. During the troubles at 20-A, when traffic escalated to supply the SGU and Thai troops, a radio tower was erected on the north side of the runway to expedite a smooth traffic flow. It was run by a Thai and generally advisory. However, with the increase of incoming rockets and 130mm fire, he spent much of the time out of the tower and we were on our own, like always.”1168 In the 1970ies, the situation at Sam Thong and Long Tieng was almost the same as in the early days, as Les Strouse confirms: “LS20 and LS20A had some AAM and CASI TDY maintenance types but scheduling, loading, unloading were all handled by the customers.1169 Be it Pop, Tony or others.”1170 In December 66, Shane Tang, Chief of Supply Udorn (CS/UDN), made an inspection tour to several “Air America branches”, i.e. radio stations in Laos that were all run by a Senior Operator (S/O). Among them, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet had dual responsibil- ities, running flight watch and weather operations.1171 For Luang Prabang (L-54), he noted: “Great changes have been wrought over the years at this AAM branch in Luang Prabang where I had served solitaire with bare necessities for two months straight as a pioneer of the station on 1 December 1961. The current roster numbers eight, operators and mechanics combined, plus a driver and a laborer,” with Peter Chung being the Senior Operator. Then

Thai POL Leadman Boonplod Yospiam (Anonymous, “Air America’s capable crew at Sam Thong”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 4, 1969, p. 7). 1166 E-mail dated 10 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. Known Customers working in Air Operations at Long Tieng include: John “Jack” Cahill circa 1964, Don Cortney circa 1964, George E. Smith mid-sixties; Tom Weir 1967 (William Leary, “Customer list”, formerly in: UTD/Leary/SI, B21F7, now probably in: UTD/Leary/B37F9 or B37F10): John (“Woody”) Spence 1967 (John “Woody” Spence, Interview, conducted by Prof. William Leary at Tucson, AZ on 21 August 93, formerly in: UTD/Leary/B21F7, now in: UTD/Leary/B37F9 or B37F10). 1167 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1168 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1169 Known Customers working in Air Operations at Long Tieng in the late sixties and early seventies include: James Assauris (“The Greek”), Bob Benton, Ed Bustamonte, Thomas L. (“Shep”) Johnson, Tom Lum, John “Woody” Spence in 1967, and Thomas J. Thompson (William Leary, “Customer list”, formerly in: UTD/Leary /SI, B21F7, now probably in: UTD/Leary/B37F9 or B37F10). 1170 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Les Strouse. 1171 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, p.5, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 104 inspector Tang noted problems like fire hazard in the radio room or insufficient water supply.1172 On 14 December 66, Tang inspected Pakse (L-11): “As always L-11 is bustling with air activities. C.Y. Leung, the Operator in charge, has a weighty task on hand. Besides training five radio operators comprising his entire staff, a fact that calls for his presence at the station almost all throughout the day, he dispatches the jeep for the flight crew, procures fruits and vegetable for personnel based in Vientiane, arranges transportation for radio operators of L-44 and L-10 in transit, deals with customer and local authorities.” Inspector Tang noted that a station petty cash had to be provided for paying the water bills, and for buying an electric pump and some chairs for the patio.1173 At that time, Senior Radio Operator Cy was the sole Company representative at Pakse.1174 Inspector Tang’s next stop was Attopeu (L-10): “About 6 minutes walk from airstrip to station. Senior Operator Paitoon on R/R in Bangkok. Gathered with R/Os [= Radio Operators] Nit and Renayuth and R/M Gopez. They expressed need for an electric pump, a first-aid kit, a windsock (the one in use is way over at the airstrip) and, inevitably, a station fund to cover incidentals. Gopez had submitted DDP for water and coolie expenses in last July but reimbursement is still in arrears. […] There is no taxi or bus service and they are without transportation.” 1175 Tang then inspected Saravane (L-44): “Walked for 7 minutes from airstrip to station. Generator room was strikingly clean, so was the radio room, its floor glistening with luster, on which personnel stepped unshod. Senior Operator Gabriel says they do the sweeping and mopping every day. […] R/M is paying for water they get. […] Negative means of transportation to airstrip or town.”1176 Inspector Tang’s next stop was Savannakhet (L-39): “The customer1177 furnishes water and the radio operators send gift of cigarettes to the watertruck driver. The station is kept in a shipshape manner, inside and out, and the three-man team works hand in glove. When one keeps vigil for night flight operation another will stick around to keep him company and to be helpful. Such esprit de corps is exemplary.”1178 Inspector Tang’s last stop was Moung Phalane (L-61): “Senior Operator Suwit came right to the point and requested the following: a. one flight per week be operated between L-39 and L-61 to enable travel of personnel to and from station for R/R and assignment. […] b. Two sets of URC4 walkie-talkie be issued radio operators and mechanics for use of communicating with aircraft in the event of emergency evacuation. c. Station fund for hiring coolie, procuring water, repairing bicycle, etc. […] The town is four kilometers afar. They have to catch peddlers who happen to come by early in the morning to get food.”1179 During the second half of the sixties, some of these radio stations developed into quite important centers of Air America operations. A similar situation as in Sam Thong – with just some Company maintenance people there, while scheduling, loading, unloading were all handled by the customers – also existed at Savannakhet (L-39),1180 which, however, had an

1172 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, p.1, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1173 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, p.2, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1174 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, p.3, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. Customers working in Air Operations at Pakse include: James E. Butler (“The grey Fox”) circa 1967-72, and Flynn Perry since 1972 (William Leary, “Customer list”, formerly in: UTD/Leary/SI, B21F7, now probably in: UTD/Leary/ B37F9 or B37F10). 1175 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, pp.2-3, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1176 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, pp.3-4, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1177 Customers working in Air Operations at Savannakhet include Ken S. Hessel (“Church bell”) (William Leary, “Customer list”, formerly in: UTD/Leary/SI, B21F7, now probably in: UTD/Leary/B37F9 or B37F10). 1178 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, p.4, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1179 See Trip Report of CS made in Laos in December 66, pp.4-5, in: UTD/Shane Tang/Small.Coll.5. 1180 The CIA-man in charge of Savannakhet operations from 1966 to 1969 was Tom Fosmire. During this period of time, 3 Thai-piloted CASI Porters and 2 Thai-piloted Air America UH-34Ds were stationed at Savannakhet. Glenn F. Hale was responsible for the aerial resupply operations (Thomas G. Fosmire, Interview, conducted by Prof. Bill Leary at Florence, SC, on 28 December 92, transcript, in: UTD/Leary/B82F21). 105 official Air America Station Manager in 1968/691181 and an Air America Chief Mechanic. Air America helicopter pilot Dick Casterlin recalls: “I cannot recall an AAM Station Manager at Savannakhet. We had a hostel, but I think this was run by a local type. There was an AAM radio station at Savannakhet and Moung Phalane. I thought this might be the SZ acronym. Bell Captain Ed Reid was stationed at Savannakhet in 1968. Perhaps he wore two hats?”1182 “The Customer loved Ed’s move because it cut down the ferry time from UTH and Ed was always available, except when on STO. I am not sure how long he was in SVK. Perhaps a year or until the Customer was shot onboard his ship and later died.”1183 “AAM Chief Mechanic Stan Wilson worked at Savannakhet during the Volpar program. […] We have to include the Chinese and Thai radio operators at each station.”1184 In 1972, Air America’s Chief Mechanic at Savannakhet was Oscar M. Tance.1185 In the early seventies, there was probably a similar situation at Luang Prabang (L-54)1186, and “probably the same situation at Pakse (L-11) and Ban Houei Sai (L-25), if I remember correctly. As airplane / helicopters and pilots were TDY there also.”1187 For a short time in the early seventies, i.e. since 1970, there was an Air America Station at Ban Xon (LS-272), which was a replacement for Long Tieng and for Sam Thong. This means that most up-country operations in northern Laos staged through Ban Xon. The Station Manager was Jerome S. Connor;1188 Assistant Station Manager was Thongsar Bouapha (from Sam Thong);1189 Tom Sullivan was head of the FIC in 1973;1190 Al Reagan was Chief Mechanic Ban Xon in 1973;1191 and R.F. Balbarin (RGMD/VTE) was also working at Ban Xon in 1970.1192 Air America’s Saigon Station began to mushroom only in late 1964, and in November 65, Air America had more than 50 aircraft based there. In all of South Vietnam’s Military Regions, there were several scheduled flights: Some of them carried passengers and others cargo, and some of them were Embassy Courier flights – so it was mostly overt flying. Their role was to help the US military, especially by moving around military commanders, to assist the US Embassy by moving around politicians, that is all kinds of personnel affiliated with US Government agencies, to move CIA men working in South Vietnam and their South Vietnamese PRU troops, or congressmen visiting from the United States, and to help USAID with various kinds of construction work, that is with buildings, facilities, or airports by transporting cement, tin sheet or roofing material. The Pacification Program also meant that Air America had to transport weapons and ammunition that were to be distributed to villagers or local militia commanded by CIA agents. Another common mission was to evacuate villagers from one area, and relocate them to another. The creation of CORDS in 1967 did not change business for Air America. However, with the beginning of “Vietnamization” in 1969,

1181 The Aircraft Accident Review dated 4 April 68 of the accident that involved Helio XW-PCS at LS-74 on 1 November 67 was also sent (as “cc”) to “SZ L39” (see this report at UTD/Hickler/B24F3). So there was even a Station Manager (SZ) at Savannakhet in 1968. The last known Accident Review that was copied also to the “SZ L39” (Station Manager Savannakhet) was the report of 8 March 69 (in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7) about the accident of 9 November 68 that involved XW-PFJ near LS-36 on 9 November 68. 1182 E-mail dated 15 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1183 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1184 E-mail dated 16 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Dick Casterlin. 1185 Accident report of 27 October 72, written by “CM/ZVK” (Chief Mechanic/Savannakhet) Oscar M. Tance, in: UTD/CIA/B29F2. The aircraft involved was RLAF U-17 “7306”, but the report was sent, among others, to VP/VTE and MTS/L (Manager Technical Services Laos, VTE). 1186 Customers working in Luang Prabang Air Operations include: John “Woody” Spence in 1967 (William Leary, “Customer list”, formerly in: UTD/Leary/SI, B21F7, now probably in: UTD/Leary/B37F9 or B37F10). 1187 E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kind sent to the author by Les Strouse. 1188 See the photo at Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.3. 1189 (Anonymous), “Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.2, 1970, p.11. 1190 (Anonymous), “AAM at Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 5, 1973, pp. 4-5. 1191 (Anonymous), “AAM at Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 5, 1973, pp. 4-5. 1192 (Anonymous), “Ban Xon”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.2, 1970, p.11. 106 the numbers of hours flown and aircraft assigned to Saigon Base went slowly down to 34 Air America aircraft based at Saigon on 8 February 73.1193 Known personnel assigned to Air America’s Saigon Base includes: 1) Management: CAT Station Manager Clyde Bauer (since May 57)1194, who was also Air America Station Manager until 1965,1195 Merrill Hulse (Base Manager Saigon, January 19651196 to 7 June 19701197), John P. McMahon (Acting Base Manager Saigon in 1966),1198 E. J. (“Ty”) Theisen (Assistant Base Manager in 1969, Base Manager around 1970),1199 Jack R. Barnhisel (Base Manager since late 1971,1200 Vice President South Vietnam Division in early 19731201), and Richard F. McGrath (Administrative Assistant to Base Manager around 19671202 to 1969).1203 2) Flight Department: George Calhoun (Chief Pilot in 19651204 and late sixties1205), Jack R. Barnhisel (Assistant Manager Flying / Rotary Wing around 1966),1206 James Ackley (Assistant Manager of Flying around 1967).1207 Robert W. Hitchman was Chief Pilot helicopters in 19651208 and Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing in June 70.1209 In 1969, Saigon had a Manager of Flying (MFD), 5 Assistant Managers of Flying / Fixed Wing (AMFD/FW), one each for the C-46/C- 47, Volpar, Beech, PC-6 (John F. Smith 1966-Sept.69),1210 and Helio, and a Manager of Flying / Rotary Wing (MFD/RW),1211 Richard Lister in 1969.1212 H.J. Hudson was Chief Pilot/SVN around 1973,1213 Jean D. Landry was Assistant to Chief Pilot SGN,1214 and Reed Chase was a Crew Scheduler at Saigon in the late 1960ies.1215 3) Operations: Lloyd G. Parrish (Operations Manager probably since around 1962,1216 Senior Operations Manager SGN in 19661217 and still 1968-70,1218 Acting BM for the month of May 70),1219 James P.

1193 Letter dated 8 February 73, sent by the Chief Air Operations Branch SGN to the Director of Civil Aviation, SGN, attached to Air America’s Saigon Base Monthly Report for February 73, in: UTD/CIA/B41F7. 1194 Evelyn Hackett, “Saigon”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. X, no.6, June 57, p.14. 1195 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1196 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, pp.542/3, in: UTD/Leary/B19F4. Hulse arrived in 1965 (Ward Reimer, Bio- graphical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4). 1197 Glenn G. Riley, “AAM Lions roar”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.2-3; Merrill Hulse resigned on 7 June 70 (see Merrill Hulse, in: UTD/Small Collections/B9F14, online description). 1198 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 2, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1199 Saigon Base Monthly Report for August 69, CIA document no. 0000174700, and for March 70, CIA document no. 0000174449. 1200 Jack R. Barnhisel, “Saigon”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p. 2. 1201 (Anonymous), “Promotions”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p.1. 1202 Dick McGrath, “SGN leadman simplifies, speeds 204B towing”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, Nov. 1967, p.1. 1203 R.F. McGrath, “Saigon story”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.5, 1969, pp.4-5. 1204 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1205 E-mail dated 28 January 2015 kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen. 1206 Jack R. Barnhisel, “Saigon”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 8, 1971, p. 2. 1207 See Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, December 1967, p.7. 1208 French N. Smith, Interview, conducted by Prof. Bill Leary, Corpus Christi, TX, on 25 July 85, in: UTD/Leary/B48F6. 1209 See Saigon Base Monthly Report for June 70 (CIA document no. 0000174583). 1210 (Anonymous), “Smith new SZ at Chiang Mai”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, p.6. 1211 Distribution, DSAFE Memo of 25 March 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B24F7. 1212 George L. Christian, “Vietnam incident”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.1, 1969, p.6. 1213 T.F. Brassil, “Vietnamese Rotor Wing pilots-to-be”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 7, 1973, p. 1. 1214 Jean Dupre Landry was with Air America from 3 October 65 to 14 January 75 (see Jean Dupre Landry, in: UTD/Small Collections/B1F2, online description). 1215 E-mail dated 20 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 1216 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1217 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 2, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1218 L.G. Parrish (SOM/SGN), “Girl in Operations”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.7, 1970. p.1. 107

Quigley (OM Saigon May 65-June 69),1220 Richard J. Hoover (OM/SGN 1966-75),1221 Dennis P. Grace (OM May-August 681222 and around 70/71),1223 Dave Paulding (OM around 1968),1224 Jim Wilson (OM, left in Dec.69),1225 W. Parker (OM, arrived in Nov.69),1226 Ed A. Clay (OM around 1969-72, A/MFO/SVND in 1973),1227 R.B. Macfarlane (OM around 1969- 72),1228 Grace Lam (OD/SGN in 1970),1229 L.M. Kandt (OM until 15 Feb. 72),1230 Chuck W. Haist (OM 1971-1973),1231 A. L. Harris (Assistant to SOM Parrish around June 70, then SOM in Oct.72, MFO/SVND in August 73),1232 Ralph N. Begien (OPSP/Operations Specialist Saigon in 1972),1233 and Grant Walters (Flight Operations Training, BKK, VTE, and SGN, 1967-73).1234 4) Traffic: John Rohrbough (TM/SGN probably already in 1962,1235 still around 1966),1236 Dan Lawson (Senior Traffic Manager/SVN in 1968),1237 Dave Conley (Senior Traffic Manager Saigon in 1970).1238 5) Communications: L.C. Chu (Communications Operator SGN around 1966).1239 6) Security: James G. Mooney (Chief of Security / CSY/SGN probably already in 1962,1240 at least 19661241 to 1970),1242 Ly Van Huong (Supervisor, Security/SGN),1243 and R. L. Leonard (CSY/SGN in 1970).1244 George J. Keller was ADSAFE/SGN around June 701245 and still in 1973.1246 7) Technical Services: Boyd D.

1219 See Saigon Base Monthly Report for January 1968, in: UTD/CIA/B42F5 and for June 70 (CIA document no. 0000174583). 1220 E-mail dated 21 July 2015, kindly sent to the author by James P. Quigley. 1221 (Anonymous), “In memoriam Richard J. Hoover”, in: Air America Log, vol. XII, no. 1, Jan.-March 1995, p.3. 1222 Dennis and Dang Grace, “Postmarks”, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 2, March-April 86, pp. 6-7. 1223 Saigon Base Monthly Report for September 71, in: UTD/CIA/B42F1. 1224 Saigon Base Monthly Report for August 68, in: UTD/CIA/B42F5. 1225 Saigon Base Monthly Report for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3. 1226 Saigon Base Monthly Report for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3. 1227 Saigon Base Monthly Reports for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3, for July 72, in: UTD/CIA/B41F7, and for June 73, in: UTD/CIA/B41F7. 1228 Saigon Base Monthly Reports for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3 and for July 72, in: UTD/CIA/B41F7. 1229 L.G. Parrish (SOM/SGN), “Girl in Operations”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.7, 1970. p.1. 1230 Saigon Base Monthly Report for February 72, in: UTD/CIA/B42F1. L. Michael (“Mike”) Kandt joined Air America on 13 March 66 (see L. Michael Kandt, in: UTD/Small Collections/B5F14-15, online description). 1231 Saigon Base Monthly Report for February 72, in: UTD/CIA/B42F1; Mike Kandt, “View from the ground”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 4, Dec. 1999, p. 14. 1232 See Saigon Base Monthly Report for June 70 (CIA document no. 0000174583), for October 1972 (in: UTD/CIA/B41F7), and for July 73, in: UTD/CIA/B41F7. 1233 Ralph N. Begien III to A/BM, Trip report Phnom Penh dated 26 June 72, in: UTD/CIA/B18F5; Operations Administrative Manual of 14 October 68, in: UTD/Walker/B27F3. 1234 Grant Walters, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 11. 1235 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1236 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 2, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1237 Dan Lawson (SRTM/SVN), “Saigon Station: swings, swims, sways”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.6. 1238 E.J. Theisen (ABM/SGN), “Saigon’s splendid spectacle”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.2, 1970, p.6. 1239 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 2, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1240 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1241 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 2, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1242 Glenn G. Riley, “AAM Lions roar”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.2-3. 1243 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 3, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1244 R.L. Leonard, “SGN firefighters take training”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.5, 1970, p.7. 1245 See Saigon Base Monthly Report for June 70 (CIA document no. 0000174583). 1246 G. J. Keller (ADSAFE/SGN), “Saigon citation”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, p.4. 108

Mesecher (at Saigon since January 1966,1247 Manager, Technical Services/SVN 1968-75),1248 Ward S. Reimer (Chief Mechanic/SGN from 1962 to 1967),1249 Francisco G. Vizcarra (Superintendent, Aircraft Maintenance Department SGN, at least since 1962,1250 still 19661251-1968),1252 Harvey J. Kohler (Superintendent of Technical Training at Saigon – STT/SGN in late 19671253 and still in 19701254), John Carter (Supervisor, Regional Maintenance Dept./SGN around 1969),1255 James M. Dodds (Superintendent Quality Control Activities SVN),1256 and M.H. Galicia (Lead Inspector/SGN in 1973).1257 8) Administrative Services: Vu Quang Vang (General Affairs Manager SGN in 1969), 1258 Nguyen Van Bo (Assistant Personnel Manager SGN in 1969-70),1259 Frank Nihill (base Personnel Manager for Saigon around June 70 and later),1260 David Harrison (Director of Personnel/Saigon probably since 1971,1261 around 1973),1262 T.F. Brassil (DAS – Director of Administrative Support / SVND around 1973).1263 Walt Ranallo was Manager, Financial Affairs/SGN from April 1970 to June 1974.1264 There was still a CAT Station Manager (SZ/SGN) at Saigon in 1970: Clyde Bauer.1265 In order to save money, in September 1970, many managers in Saigon Base were “wearing two hats: MTS as A/BMSGN; OM as A/SOMSGN; AA/MTS as A/SGN; SIP/RW as A/HF/RW; APM as A/PM and A/GAM.” 1266 In early 1973, some people working at Saigon Base received new titles: The Base Manager (BMSGN) was then called Vice President South Vietnam Division (VP/SVND),1267 and the Senior Operations Manager (SOM) at Saigon, A. L. Harris, became the Manager of Flight Operations/South Vietnam (MFO/SVN).1268

1247 Boyd D. Mesecher, “A tribute to Hugh Grundy”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIX, no. 1, March 2012, p. 3. 1248 Boyd D. Mesecher, “Vizcarra’s hoist”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.1, Jan. 1968, p.3; Boyd D. Mesecher, “Bell 204B chopper passes 10,000 hours”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.3, 1972, p.6; G. J. Keller, “Saigon citation”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, pp.4-5. “As the MTS/SVN, I was responsible for fixed and rotary wing maintenance, supply, support shops, facility maintenance, avionics (air and ground) plus technical training [at Saigon]. I oversaw these same functions at Can Tho, Nha Trang, Danang, and Pleiku” (Boyd D. Mesecher, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XVIII, no. 4, December 2001, p. 16). 1249 (Anonymous), “Picture your fellow workers…” in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 3, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. Ward Reimer already worked at Saigon in July 65 (Local Board of Review re Beech N9933Z accident of 5 July 65, in: UTD/CIA/B34F1). See also Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1250 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1251 (Anonymous), “Changing scenes…”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1252 Boyd D. Mesecher, “Vizcarra’s hoist”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.1, Jan. 1968, p.3. 1253 H.J. Kohler, “Saigon Grads”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p. 7. 1254 H.J. Kohler, “Vietnamese upgraded”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.2, 1970, p.7. 1255 Boyd D. Mesecher, “Can Tho Station celebrates 1st year”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.5, 1970, p.6. 1256 See UTD/Dodds. 1257 M.H. Galicia, “Radiographic inspection at AAM/Saigon”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, p.6. 1258 (Anonymous), “AAM promotes local nationals”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, p.2. 1259 (Anonymous), “AAM promotes local nationals”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, p.2; Glenn G. Riley, “AAM Lions roar”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.2-3. 1260 See Saigon Base Monthly Report for June 70 (CIA document no. 0000174583); E-mail dated 11 February 2015, kindly sent to the author by Gary Bisson. 1261 (Anonymous), “In memoriam David Harrison”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVIII, no. 2, June 2011, p. 3. 1262 David Harrison, Letter, in: Air America Log, vol. XXVI, no. 1, March 2009, p. 9. 1263 T.F. Brassil, “Vietnamese Rotor Wing pilots-to-be”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 7, 1973, p. 1. 1264 Walt Ranallo, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XXIII, no. 3, Sept. 2006, p. 7. 1265 Glenn G. Riley, “AAM Lions roar”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.2-3. 1266 Saigon Base Monthly Report for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3. 12671267 The first known contribution to the Saigon Base Report sent by Senior Operations Manager Saigon A. L. Harris to the VP-SVN was the one for February 73, sent on 8 March 73 (in: UTD/CIA/B41F7). 1268 The first known contribution to the Saigon Base Report sent by MFO/SVN A. L. Harris to the VP/SVND was the one for March 73, sent on 17 April 73 (in: UTD/CIA/B41F7). But at that time, the hierarchy had been 109

Although Air America operated out of Danang since 1963, it became an official Air America station only in July 1965. Situated in an ideal location for a Company service stop, Danang averaged about 8 RON aircraft per night in 1968. Among the missions flown in Military Region I for the US Embassy, that is for the CIA, were airfield reconnaissance flights, operations supporting SEAL and inserting SEAL teams with Air America helicopters, damage assessment flights, flying around CIA personnel who were visiting Montagnard villages, distributing food and supplies to those Montagnards, and transporting PRU units and their weapons and ammunition as well as food.1269 Known Air America personnel assigned to Danang includes: 1) Management: Gil Stafford (Danang Station Chief in 1967), Dan Lawson (Acting Station Manager since November 67,1270 Station Manager in 1968),1271 Winston C. Cambre (Station Manager in 1970).1272 2) Operations: Dennis P. Grace (Senior Operations Representative Danang August 68-November 71,1273 Station Manager in Nov.69, SOR/DAD again in June 70, Acting Station Manager in July 70),1274 as well as Bob Erkens and Larry Weintraub (Operations Department).1275 In April 68, Operations Manager Sheehy arrived from Saigon.1276 In August 68, Operations Manager Weintraub resigned and was TDY replaced by OM Dennis Grace from Saigon.1277 E.A. Clay (OM from Saigon) became OM at Danang in January 70 on TDY until March 70.1278 3) Traffic: Fred Donner (Traffic Manager, Danang 1965-67),1279 George Herring (Traffic Controller in 1967).1280 In late 1967, Traffic Manager Fred Donner resigned and was replaced by Bob Tyrell.1281 In 1971, F.L. Lacsamana1282 was Assistant Traffic Manager at Danang and F.S. Velasco1283 was Traffic Representative there. 4) Technical Services: Jack Burton and Harry Miller (Supervisors, Regional Maintenance Department in 1967).1284 Nha Trang was Air America’s second outside station in South Vietnam, which, from its inception on 15 April 66, made a remarkable progress in arrivals and departures. Known personnel assigned includes: 1) Management: In early 1968, Ray M. Beatty was Station Manager (SZ/NHA),1285 Dan Lawson (Station Manager Nha Trang – SZ/NHA) in 1971),1286 and R.B. MacFarlane (A/SZ-NHA in 1971).1287 2) Operations: Raymond J. Sanford (SOR/NHA) in late 1967,1288 Bill Love (Operations Manager) in late 1967,1289 Jim changes, as a new office had been established between the MFO/SVN and the VP/SVND, that is to Director of Operations South Vietnam (DO/SVN). This new office probably included Air America operations for ICCS. 1269 For more details, see my file Air America in South Vietnam I within this e-book. 1270 Dan Lawson, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p. 7. 1271 Gil Stafford, “Da Nang Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, pp. 4/5. 1272 Saigon Base Monthly Report for June 70, CIA document no. 0000174583; Danang Station Monthly Report for May 1970, CIA document no. 0000174443. 1273 Dennis and Dang Grace, “Postmarks”, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 2, March-April 86, pp. 6-7. 1274 Saigon Base Monthly Report for September 70, in: UTD/CIA/B40F1; Danang Station Monthly Report for July 1970, CIA document no. 0000174581. 1275 Gil Stafford, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1276 Saigon Base Monthly Report for April 68, in: UTD/CIA/B42F5. 1277 Saigon Base Monthly Report for August 68, in: UTD/CIA/B42F5. 1278 Saigon Base Monthly Report for January and March 70, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3. 1279 Fred Donner, “These we remember: Smokejumpers who died in Laos”, in: Air America Log, vol. XXI, no. 1, March 2004, p. 2. 1280 Gil Stafford, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1281 Dan Lawson, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.7. 1282 (Anonymous), “DAD’s new terminal”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, p.6. 1283 (Anonymous), “DAD’s new terminal”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 2, p.6. 1284 Gil Stafford, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1285 Ray M. Beatty, “Nha Trang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.1, January 1968, p. 6. 1286 Dan Lawson, “ARVN airborne troops use Air America planes as schoolrooms”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no. 7, 1971, pp. 4-5. 1287 Nha Trang Station Monthly Report for May 1971, CIA document no. 0000174626. 1288 Raymond J. Sanford, “Nha Trang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 110

Zimmerman (OM, arrived from Saigon in April 1968),1290 E.A. Clay (OM from Saigon, TDY at Nha Trang December 69 to January 70),1291 S.H. Hsu (Operations Dispatcher in 1970).1292 3) Traffic: L.B. Andrada (Assistant Traffic Manager/NHA in 1970).1293 4) Communications: L. Liu (Radio Operator) in late 1967,1294 Y.K. Chen (Radio Operator),1295 and L.C. Chu (Communications Supervisor).1296 5) Technical Services: Jerry Griffis (Chief Mechanic in late 1967)1297 and J.C. Clemente (RMD Mechanic around 1970).1298 As early as 5 December 1966, Air America had Bell 204B N1304X based at Can Tho (V- 17), where it was mainly used for med-evac flights and for evacuating dead people, but also for an infiltration flight into Cambodia that resulted in 5 casualties.1299 But Can Tho became an official Air America Station with a Station Manager (SZ/VCA) only on 10 January 1969.1300 In January 1970, there were 5 mechanics at Can Tho and M.T. Cordetta (Storekeeper, Supply),1301 in December 72, Joe Clemente (RMD/VCA) was stationed at Nha Trang.1302 There was also a small Air America operation at Pleiku, but the only Air America person known to have been stationed there was Albert S. Licup (Ground Handling).1303 In South Vietnam, the Station Manager reports were always sent to the Base Manager at Saigon (from March 73 onwards to the Vice President South Vietnam),1304 who, in his own report, put together reports from the various sections of the base, including the report coming from the Senior Operations Manager (SOM), and sent all that to Taipei, initially to the Assistant Vice President Taipei (AVP/TPE)1305 and then to the Vice President Administration (VP-A/TPE).1306 The report of the SOM also contained a list of “All Aircraft Assigned to Saigon Base” that was then sent to the Chief Air Operations Branch, US Embassy, who forwarded it to Director of Civil Aviation South Vietnam, Saigon.1307 In the early seventies, there was again an Air America Station at Phnom Penh whose Manager was E. J. Griffis.1308 However, most of Air America’s operations in and into Cambodia were run out of Saigon as part of contracts that the Company had with USAID and the Embassy in South Vietnam. Air America’s most important man in Cambodia at that time was not the Phnom Penh Station Manager but Ward S. Reimer (MTS/LMAT – Manager,

1289 Raymond J. Sanford, “Nha Trang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1290 Saigon Base Monthly Report for April 68, in: UTD/CIA/B42F5; Bart J. Crotty, “Crotty’s security blanket, where did it go?”, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sept. 1999, p.13. Jim Zimmerman was Operations Specialist/OM 1966-68 and stationed at Saigon, Nha Trang and Danang (Jim Zimmerman, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XVI, no. 3, Sep. 1999, p. 16. 1291 Saigon Base Monthly Report for November 69, in: UTD/CIA/B42F3. 1292 J.C. Clemente, “Nha Trang Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.4-5. 1293 See Air America Log, vol. IV, no.6, 1970, p.7. 1294 Raymond J. Sanford, “Nha Trang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1295 J.C. Clemente, “Nha Trang Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.4-5. 1296 J.C. Clemente, “Nha Trang Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.4-5. 1297 Raymond J. Sanford, “Nha Trang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.1, November 1967, p. 3. 1298 J.C. Clemente, “Nha Trang Station”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.1, 1970, pp.4-5. 1299 Log book of French N. Smith, in: UTD/Leary/B48F6. 1300 Boyd D. Mesecher, “Can Tho Station celebrates 1st year”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.5, 1970, p.6. 1301 Boyd D. Mesecher, “Can Tho Station celebrates 1st year”, in: Air America Log, vol. IV, no.5, 1970, p.6. 1302 See Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 1, 1973, p.8. 1303 See Albert S. Licup, in: UTD/Small Collections/B6F1, online description. 1304 The first known contribution to the Saigon Base Report sent from Operations Saigon to the VP-SVN was the one for February 73, sent on 8 March 73 (in: UTD/CIA/B41F7). 1305 That is where BM E. J. Theisen sent his report for March 1970 (CIA document no. 0000174449). 1306 That is where BM E. J. Theisen sent his report for October 1970 (CIA document no. 0000174575). 1307 See, for example, the BM Saigon Report for November 69 and the letter from Chief ASB to DCA, Saigon for the same month in UTD/CIA/B42F3. 1308 Reports available at the Air America Archives include some reports for 1972 and the Phnom Penh Station Monthly Reports between March 73 and June 1974; all this material is located in boxes UTD/CIA/B38F8 and UTD/CIA/B39F1. 111

Technical Services for LMAT), who was promoted to SCR (Senior Company Representative) at Phnom Penh, effective 1 January 1972.1309 Working for him at Phnom Penh in 1972 were Ron J. McLean (Maintenance Advisor, Assistant to MTS)1310 and Ken Himes (Logistics Advisor).1311 In 1973/74, the SCR at Phnom Penh was E.J. Griffis.1312 Terry C. Turner worked for LMAT/Supply 1973-75 and was Superintendent Air America facilities at Phnom Penh.1313 Since the early 1950ies, Clark Air Base in the Philippines and Kadena Air Base on Okinawa were centers of CAT’s and then Air America’s operations, especially of all sorts of covert operations.1314 However, it is unknown, since when they had the official status of an Air America Station. Neither of them appears in the “Distribution” list of Air America officers that were to receive a copy of the Operations Circular of 1 April 64.1315 The first of the Flight Operations Circulars available, where the Station Manager Clark (CZCLK) appears among the persons who were to receive a copy of the circular is that of 15 June 69.1316 Kadena Station never appeared in these lists, probably because Kadena was the official “Air America Inc., Field Executive Office, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, APO U.S. Forces 96239”.1317 But this was only a fake for political reasons, as the President and his staff had their offices at Taipei all the time.1318 As to Kadena Station, Okinawa, Bill Lively was Chief Mechanic there around 1960.1319 The station was run by the “Manager Ryukyus” still in 1968.1320 At least between 1970 and its end on 15 February 1973,1321 Air America’s Station Manager at Kadena was Robert J. Aubry.1322 The Station was officially closed on 31 December 72.1323 Fred Duvall was Superintendent Technical Services at Kadena until 1967, when he went to Tachikawa,1324 Robert R. Carroll was Superintendent Technical Services, Kadena (STS/KAD) in late 1967,1325 Thomas T. Stevens was RMD Supervisor at Kadena in 1969,1326 Rod Jacobson was

1309 Circular “Announcement” dated 23 March 72, in the possession of Ward S. Reimer, who kindly sent it to the author. 1310 Weekly Report to MEDTC for 1-7 March 72, signed by McLean, in: UTD/CIA/B39F1. 1311 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1312 See, for example, the Monthly Report for May 74, signed by SCR/PNP E.J. Griffis, in: UTD/CIAB38F8. 1313 Terry C. Turner, Letter, in: Air America Club, vol. III, no. 3, May-June 1986, p.8, from 15 January 73 to 31 April 74, Turner was Superintendent, Air America facilities Phnom Penh (see Terry C. Turner, in: UTD/Small Collections/B5F6-9, online description). 1314 For details, see my file Smaller Operations within this e-book. 1315 Operations Circular no. CA-C-OF-64-013 of 1 April 64 in: UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4. 1316 Flight Operations Circular no. OF-C-69-24 of 15 June 69 in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B. 1317 From November 1967 to the end of 1972, the Air America Log was officially published under this address at Kadena, Okinawa (later officially at Bangkok), although from the Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73 (in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14) we know that the Company’s DPRA (Director of Public Relations Advertising) had its office at Taipei. That is what the editor – George L. Christian III – admits himself in Air America Log, vol. VII, no.9, 1973, p.8. In Air America Log, vol. II, no. 4, 1968, p.6 (Lawson, “Saigon Station…”), the Log editor was mentioned as DPRA/TPE. 1318 See “Distribution”, in: Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73, p.1 (in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14). This is the first known Air America Flight Operations Circular that lists all addressees by location. Before that, only the locations of the Base and Station Managers as well as of the Operations Managers were perceptible by their denomination as, for example BMBKK (see, for example, the “Distribution” in Flight Operations Circular of 15 July 71, p.1, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7B). 1319 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1320 Distribution list, Aircraft Accident Review of 17 August 68, re UH-34D H-47 accident of 22 June 68, in: UTD/CIA/B60F5. 1321 Memo “Close Out of Air America Kadena Station” dated 2 March 73, in: UTD/CIA/B31F2. 1322 Kadena Station Weekly Progress Report of 26 January 73, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no.6. 1323 (Anonymous), “Kadena”, in: Air America Log, vol. VII, no. 2, 1973, p. 6. 1324 L.T. Walker, “Tachikawa Newsletter”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, December 1967, p.6. 1325 “Air Scoop” Murray, “Disaster averted”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.2. 1326 (Anonymous), “Kadena”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no. 1, 1969, p.3. 112

Senior Mechanic at Kadena around 19681327 and Chief Mechanic/Kadena in 1972.1328 Tom (“Air Scoop”) Murray was Air Freight Specialist at Kadena in 1967,1329 and Bob Tyrell was Assistant Traffic Manager at Kadena (ATM/KAD) until late 1967, when he became Traffic Manager at Danang.1330 Jim Hardeman became Traffic Manager at Kadena (TM/KAD) in 1969.1331 For a short time in the mid-sixties, i.e. between 1964 and 1967, Naha, Okinawa was an Air America Station, home base of Air America’s Scheduled Air Services Ryukyus. During that period, Dan Lawson was the Station Manager.1332 H. Higa was Assistant Station Manager (ASZ),1333 Chief Pilot was initially Chuck Grant, and since the summer of 1965 Dale Williamson.1334 M.C. Ko was Operations Dispatcher (OD) at Naha around 1966.1335 As to Clark, at the times of CAT “Al Kindt, as Manager in Manila, looked after the Philippines. That included coordinating with Clark Air Force Base where the United States Air Force often prepared aircraft for operations to be performed by CAT.”1336 In February 1961, Air America Clark consisted only of 1 Station Manager, 1 Chief Mechanic, 1 Mechanic and about 10 contracted ground personnel, when Shirley S. Gonzales arrived as the first and only staff employee, who had overall duties in accounting, personnel, maintenance, supply and as a secretary.1337 1) Management: Probably since 1960,1338 still in February 1966,1339 in late 19671340 and still in April 69, Charles B. Chambers was Air America’s Station Manager at Clark,1341 in 1970, William F. Palmer had that position,1342 and in June 71, Charles B. Chambers was Station Manager at Clark again.1343 2) Operations: William F. Palmer (SOM from September 65 to February 71),1344 B.M. Pineda (Operations in 1966),1345 N.S. Pagtakhan (Operations Manager in 1967/8),1346 Felix T. de Loyola (Operations Dispatcher in 1967/8),1347 Felix Capitulo (Senior Operations Dispatcher in 1969),1348 Daniel Garcia (OD in 1969),1349

1327 Rod Jacobson (SM/KAD), “Kadena mechanics upgrade skills”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no. 2, February 1968, p.6. 1328 R.D. Jacobson, “Kadena’s Mr. Komesu wins commendation”, in: Air America Log, vol. VI, no.2, 1972, p. 6. 1329 “Air Scoop” Murray, “Disaster averted”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.2. 1330 Dan Lawson, “Danang News”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.7. 1331 J.R. Hunter (TM/UDN), “UDN’s aquarium ticket counter”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.6, 1969, p.3. 1332 (Anonymous), “Naha AAM Manager smiles away woes”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 1966, p.1, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1333 (Anonymous), “Air America holds ‘Projects Information’ at Ishigaki Island”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 66, p. 2, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4; 1334 E-mail dated 8 September 2012 sent by Jim Pearson to Tom Ziemba who kindly forwarded it to the author. 1335 Photo caption in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 66, p. 4, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1336 Rosbert, The pictorial History of Civil Air Transport, p.177. 1337 (Anonymous), “Meet our girl Friday…”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 1966, p. 4, in: UTD/Smith /B1F4. 1338 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1339 (Anonymous), “Who is Who in Air America”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, 15 February 1966, p. 1, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1340 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1341 See Air America Log, vol. III, no.3, 1969, p.2. 1342 Bill Palmer, in: Flying Men, Flying Machines, at 91/2 minutes. 1343 Clark Station to President, Memo of 15 June 71, in: UTD/Bisson/B5, microfilm reel no. 6. 1344 William F. Palmer, “Udorn”, in: Air America Log, vol. V, no.8, 1971, p.2; William Francis Palmer started to work for Air America on 6 February 62 (see William F. Palmer, in: UTD/Small Collections/B8F4, online description). 1345 (Anonymous), “Meet our girl Friday…”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 1966, p. 4, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4. 1346 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1347 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1348 F.T. de Loyola, “Clark: AAM Operations staff briefed”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, p.6. 1349 F.T. de Loyola, “Clark: AAM Operations staff briefed”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, p.6. 113 and Emerito Y. Barrera (Junior OD in 1969).1350 3) Traffic: Until 23 January 66, Donald R. Buxton was Traffic Manager at Clark, then Antonio V. Ramos was Acting TM,1351 L.P. Binuya (Traffic), 1352 John W. Melton (Traffic Manager Clark, February to September 67),1353 Nicolas E. Gapuz (Traffic),1354 and Stanton C. Ogsbury (Assistant Traffic Manager).1355 4) Communications Timoteo F. Unisa (Communications).1356 5) Security: Benjamin Y. Liam (Security).1357 6) Supply: Rogelio C. Gonzales (Supply).1358 7) Technical Services: For the 1960ies, some names are known: Around 1960, Al Wilcox from Tachikawa was Crew Chief at Clark for a short time.1359 In 1967, Truett H. (“Hal”) Harper was Air America’s Superintendent of Technical Training at Clark (STT/CLK)1360 until mid-1968, when he was replaced by Eliseo V. Querubin.1361 In 1968, A.L. Pitts was Superintendent-Regional Maintenance Division at Clark (Supt/RMD/Clark),1362 Rolfe L. Toledo was working in Maintenance,1363 and Antonio R. Libut was Crew Chief at Clark (since 1961).1364 8) Administrative Services: Renato B. Garcia (Accounting),1365 and Eugenio G. Jusi (Personnel Representative).1366 In the late sixties and early seventies, Air America’s Station at Clark had mainly done ground handling of contract flights that some airlines operated for the US military. Already in the fall of 1972, all ground handling services at Kadena Air Base were stopped.1367 After the last American troops had left South Vietnam on 29 March 73,1368 Air America’s Station at Clark probably closed its doors – at least more or less, as on 1 May 1975, Antonio Libut, Senior Company Representative in the Philippines at that time, was made “responsible for Philippines payments.”1369

D) Air America Limited and Hong Kong Station Although Al Cox’s successor Hugh L. Grundy took office at Taipei in 1955, Hong Kong remained an important business center for Civil Air Transport and an important transiting station for CAT Inc. and later Air America aircraft stationed in Southeast Asia and returning to Tainan for periodical maintenance. In April 60, Bill Wright was CAT’s Station Manager HKG.1370 In December 1960, James Glerum was CAT’s (and Air America’s) Station Manager

1350 F.T. de Loyola, “Clark: AAM Operations staff briefed”, in: Air America Log, vol. III, no.2, 1969, p.6. 1351 (Anonymous), “Air America Clark reports that…”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 2, 15 March 66, p. 3, in: UTD/Hickler/B7F7A. 1352 (Anonymous), “Meet our girl Friday…”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 3, August 1966, p. 4, in: UTD/Smith/B1F4. 1353 John W. Melton, Candidate, in: Air America Log, vol. XX, no. 4, December 2003, p. 14. 1354 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1355 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1356 (Anonymous) “Clark management advancement”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 1357 (Anonymous) “Clark management advancement”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 1358 (Anonymous) “Clark management advancement”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 1359 Ward Reimer, Biographical report sent to Prof. William Leary on 30 August 84, at: UTD/Leary/B43F4. 1360 Hal Harper, “Clark conducts A&P courses”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no. 1, November 1967, p.7. 1361 (Anonymous), “Clark”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.5, 1968, p.2. 1362 A.L. Pitts, “Pitts puts planes together”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.3, March 1968, p.3. 1363 L. Toledo, “The tall man at RMD Clark”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.1, January 1968, p.2. 1364 L. Toledo, “The tall man at RMD Clark”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.1, January 1968, p.2. 1365 (Anonymous) “Clark management advancement”, in: Air America Log, vol. II, no.4, 1968, p.7. 1366 Charles B. Chambers, “Clark Digest lifts off”, in: Air America Log, vol. I, no.2, December 1967, p.8. 1367 Letter dated 3 August 68 to Capitol Intl. Airways, and Inter-Office Routing Slip dated 17 October 72, both in: UTD/Bisson/B5 reel 31. 1368 See http://www.uswings.com/about-us-wings/vietnam-war-facts/ . 1369 Telex dated 1 May 75, President to MAAL HKG, et al., re Interim handling, Vietnam aftermath, online at: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1818029/197567.pdf. 1370 Emely Wei, “Hong Kong”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.3/4, March/April 1960, p.18. 114 at Hong Kong,1371 who had still been Assistant Station Manager (ASZHKG) in April 60.1372 In March 61, Reese T. Bradburn was Acting CAT Station Manager for Hong Kong1373 and became Station Manager Hong Kong in May 61.1374 In late 61, Charles Griffith was Assistant Station Manager HKG.1375 As early as July 62, a Hong Kong Station Manager (SZHKG) can be found on internal distribution lists.1376 Nevertheless, the first time an official Hong Kong Station Manager (SZHKG) appeared in the list “Distribution” of the Flight Operations Circulars that have survived was in May 1966.1377 Neither Air America Inc. nor Air Asia Company Limited were authorized to do business in Hong Kong.1378 That was probably the reason why Air America Limited was created as a Hong Kong based company in 1966,1379 i.e. at a time, when Air America Inc. needed Hong Kong as a transiting and repair station for their flights to Tainan, and when – after the crash of C-46 B-908 in 1964 – Civil Air Transport’s star was already on the decline. The other reason probably was a series of tax problems with the Government of the Republic of China, which would insist on insight into Air America’s books, if and when Air America would become a Chinese company.1380 “Air America Limited (“Limited”) furnishes to Air America, under a contract known as Services Agreement, various services including maintenance, supply, payroll and data processing. Limited’s compensation for these services is its net cost plus a sum equal to ten percent after deduction of other income. The transactions arising from the Maintenance and Support Agreement operations, the Services Contract operations, and Limited operations are recorded in books of account for each company.”1381 In the early seventies, Thomas J. Clifford was the Manager for Hong Kong.1382 For 1973, the list “Distribution” of the Flight Operations Circular of 1 April 73 – the first distribution list that gives the addressees by location – shows the Air America people who were working at Hong Kong at that time: Thomas J. Clifford (Manager of Air America Limited / MAAL)1383 and his team, an Operations Manager, and a Chief Mechanic with his crew.1384 The activities of Air America Ltd were well described in an anonymous article entitled “Air America Limited, HKG” that was published in the Air America Log of 1974.1385 It gives the following information:

“Air America Limited, which has offices both in Hong Kong and across Hong Kong harbor in Kowloon, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Air America, Inc. Its primary purpose is to support the activities of its parent Company; this is presently accomplished by providing the following services: 1. FISCAL: Accounting and Data Processing services for Air America, Inc. are headquartered in Hong Kong where financial statements are prepared monthly for distribution to AAM’s Officers and Directors; AAM’s bank accounts and balances

1371 Leary, Manuscript, ch. V, p. 358, in: UTD/Leary/B19F3. 1372 Emely Wei, “Hong Kong”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.3/4, March/April 1960, p.18. 1373 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no. 3/4, March/April 61, pp.6-7. 1374 (Anonymous), “CAT clicks”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.5/6, May/June 61, pp.6-7. 1375 Helena Chan, “Hong Kong”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIV, no.11/12, November/December 61, p. 16. 1376 Memo dated 14 July 62, sent by Vice President Operations Bob Rousselot to VPTS re “Removal of ‘B’ Nationality Indicators from Company-Operated Aircraft assigned to SEA”, formerly in: UTD/Leary/I B2F9. 1377 Status of Aircraft owned, operated or supported as of 4 May 66, in: UTD/Hickler/B1F2. 1378 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd of 11 July 1972, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 1379 See the material preserved at UTD/CIA/B1F9. 1380 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp. 439-56. 1381 Dixon Speas Associates Report of 12 July 73, p.4, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14. 1382 (Anonymous), List “Far East Directors, Officers and Managerial Personnel”, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 1383 Still on 20 May 73 (Dixon Speas Associates Report of 12 July 73, p.3, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14). 1384 Flight Operations Circular no. DFOD-C-73-010 of 1 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14. 1385 (Anonymous), “Air America Limited, HKG”, in Air America Log, vol. VIII, no.1, 1974, p.5. 115

therein are controlled by the Hong Kong Office; the payroll for American and Filipino employees is prepared and distributed from Hong Kong (in addition, computerized information is prepared monthly to aid AAM payroll personnel at the Company’s various Bases to prepare the payroll of indigenous flight personnel); and data processing personnel produce various management reports which are distributed monthly.

East Wing of Peninsula Hotel, where Air America Limited’s offices were located on the mezzanine, and Mr. D. Chan, Programmer, replacing a tape on an IBM 360 computer (Air America Log, vol. VIII, no.1, 1974, pp.4/5)

2. MATERIEL PROCUREMENT/TRANSHIPMENT: The vast array of aircraft parts required to support Air America’s fleet of aircraft in Southeast Asia are purchased from aircraft manufacturers in the United States and surface-shipped to Air America Limited in Hong Kong. AAL receives and warehouses these parts until AAM aircraft transit Hong Kong at which time AAL, having prepared all the necessary manifests, etc., loads the parts aboard the aircraft headed for the ultimate AAM Bases where they are required. Being a free port, Hong Kong shops carry a multitude of items which are either not available or are too costly to purchase at Air America’s operating locations. Air America Limited purchases and ships these items at the Bases’ request. These purchases cover the spectrum from paper cups to office furniture and fixtures. Medicine for AAM clinics is also procured in Hong Kong. 3. COMMUNICATIONS: All telex communications sent by Air America facilities in the Far East and in the United States pass through Air America Limited’s communications facility in Hong Kong before reaching their destinations. The Communications center is manned 24 hours a day. 4. OPERATIONS: Technical and traffic personnel handle all AAM flights which transit Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport.

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The man in charge of all of Air America Limited’s operations in Hong Kong/Kowloon is Mr. Thomas Clifford, Manager; Mr. Clifford was previously based in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.” Initially, Ben Harvey had been hired as Director, Data Processing, but he resigned in September 67.1386 Air America Ltd was well integrated into the Company complex. There were annual meetings of the members of Air America Ltd, and on 19 May 70, the Board of Directors of Air America Inc. “resolved that the Directors of Air America Inc., which is a member of Air America Limited, a corporation organized under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, hereby authorize James H. Bastian, of Washington, DC, USA, to act as Air America Inc.’s representative at the Ordinary General Meeting of Air America Limited to be held on June 15, 1970 at Washington, DC, USA.”1387 A similar decision was made for the Ordinary General Meeting of Air America Limited to be held on 19 June 72 at Washington, DC.1388 On 11 July 72, the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited received the following summary of the status and current activity of Air America Ltd: “Air America Limited, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Air America Inc. performs various services for its parent including accounting and payroll of all Chinese employees outside Taiwan, data processing for accounting, payroll and statistical records, communications, supply and purchasing, and aircraft maintenance and traffic handling for Air America aircraft transiting Hong Kong. The Company presently has approximately 48 employees, two of whom are Americans. Neither Air America Inc. nor Air Asia Company Limited are authorized to do business in Hong Kong and Civil Air Transport Company Limited’s future in Hong Kong is questionable. It is anticipated that Air America Limited will be taking over more data processing and fiscal activities in the future.”1389

E) The North Hollywood California Office: Purchasing On 1 June 60, Civil Air Transport, i.e. the commercial airline, opened a Western Sales office at 3411 Tulare Avenue, Burbank, CA, headed by C.K. Tseng.1390 It is not known if this was also the address of CAT’s and Air America’s American Purchasing Department at Burbank at that time. On 12 February 63, the Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd approved the leasing of approximately 14,000 sq. ft. for the American Purchasing Department Building at Burbank, CA at $850 per month for five years.1391 On 28 September 1966, the Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and Air America Inc. “approved the lease by the purchasing facility at Los Angeles of approximately 4,500 square feet of office space in a building about one mile from the present Beck Avenue facility.1392 The rental will be $1,012 per month at the start of the term escalating to $1,163 at the end, for an average of about $2.95 per square foot per year. The lease will run until May, 1973 and will expire at the same time as the lease on the Beck Avenue facility. The Beck Avenue facility, which now houses both the purchasing offices as well as the inspection, packing, and shipping activities, is extremely congested and in the future will be devoted solely to inspection, packing and

1386 Leary, Manuscript, ch. VI, pp. 572/3, in: UTD/Leary/B19F5. 1387 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 19 May 70, in: UTD/CIA/B4F1. 1388 Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 17 May 72, in: UTD/CIA/B4F2. 1389 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd of 11 July 1972, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 1390 (Anonymous), “CAT announces US Sales Offices”, in: CAT Bulletin, vol. XIII, no.5/6, May/June 1960, p.4. 1391 Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of Air Asia Co Ltd of 12 February 63, in: UTD/CIA/B7F2. 1392 The address was 6842 Beck Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91605 (Letter no. WC-75-1086 of 28 May 75, Clyde Carter to John Lauer, in: UTD/CIA/B17F4). 117 shipping functions.”1393 On 25 March 69, the Executive Committees of Air America and Air Asia approved Appropriation Request no. SD-TNN-69-013, “Construct Building at Beck Avenue, North Hollywood, California to enable consolidation of Beck Avenue and Victory Boulevard Activities”, i.e. an amount of $25,000.1394 Manager of the American Procurement Department (MAPD), as it was later called, was Frederick J. Sheller, who resigned in December 74.1395

F) Thai Pacific Services Company Limited On 11 July 72, the Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited received the following summary of the status and current activity of Thai Pacific Services Company Limited: “Thai Pacific Services Company Limited, the Thailand subsidiary of The Pacific Corporation, which has been dormant since its formation [in 1968], completed commercial and business registration and commenced business on a very limited scale on March 1, 1972. The Company has leased office space and it is functioning as a servicing unit assisting in the disposal of surplus aircraft and parts and in obtaining maintenance business for affiliated companies. The Company has two Thai employees and small office facilities.”1396

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1393 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and America Inc. of 28 September 1966, in: UTD/CIA/B8F1. 1394 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air Asia Company Limited and America Inc. of 25 March 1969, in: UTD/CIA/B8F3. 1395 Internal Audit of December 74, in: UTD/CIA/B51F2. 1396 Minutes of Meetings of Executive Committees of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Company Limited of 11 July 1972, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7. 118