Vietnam War: Air America – CIA’s Covert Airline Newsletter: Air America Log

Description

Air America: CIA Operations in Southeast Asia

Timeline of Main Events (Based on the Provided Source)

• 1962: Air America is covertly established and begins operations in Southeast Asia under the ownership and operation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Its primary mission is to supply and support covert operations during the Vietnam War.
• 1962 – 1975: Air America engages in a wide range of activities, including:
• Insertion and extraction of U.S. personnel.
• Providing logistical support to the Royal Lao Army and the Hmong army commanded by Major General Vang Pao.
• Supporting combatant Thai volunteer forces.
• Transporting refugees.
• Conducting photo reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on National Liberation Front (NLF) activities.
• Participating in search and rescue missions for downed U.S. pilots throughout Southeast Asia, often under the control of the Seventh and Thirteenth Air Force, utilizing their civilian-marked aircraft.
• As early as 1966: Air America’s connection to the CIA is identified and reported in the press.
• November 1967: The first issue of the “Air America Log” newsletter is published.
• November 1967 – July 1973: The “Air America Log” newsletter is published, with 33 issues released during this period. These newsletters provide insights into the activities and operations of Air America.
• June 30, 1976: Air America officially disbands.

Cast of Characters (Based on the Provided Source)

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The United States’ primary civilian foreign intelligence service. Covertly owned and operated Air America to support its operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
• Air America: An American passenger and cargo airline covertly owned and operated by the CIA. It played a crucial role in supporting covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War through various logistical and operational activities.
• Royal Lao Army: The armed forces of the Kingdom of Laos. Air America provided logistical support to this army.
• Vang Pao: A Major General in the Royal Lao Army who commanded the Hmong army. Air America provided logistical support to his forces.
• Hmong Army: A military force primarily composed of ethnic Hmong people operating in Laos. They were supported logistically by Air America under the command of Major General Vang Pao.
• Thai Volunteer Forces: Combatant volunteers from Thailand who participated in operations in Southeast Asia and received logistical support from Air America.
• National Liberation Front (NLF): Also known as the Viet Cong, a political organization and army in South Vietnam and Cambodia that fought against the South Vietnamese and United States governments during the Vietnam War. Air America conducted photo reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on their activities.
• Seventh Air Force: A component of the United States Air Force that had control over some of Air America’s aircraft for search and rescue missions.
• Thirteenth Air Force: Another component of the United States Air Force that also had control over some of Air America’s aircraft for search and rescue missions.

Vietnam War: Air America – CIA’s Covert Airline Newsletter: Air America Log

255 pages, 33 issues of Air America Log, dating from November 1967 to July 1973.

Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1962 to 1976. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It officially disbanded on June 30, 1976. As early as 1966 it was identified in the press as CIA controlled.

From 1962 to 1975, the CIA’s covertly owned airlines Air America inserted and extracted U.S. personnel, provided logistical support to the Royal Lao Army, Hmong army under command of Royal Lao Army Major General Vang Pao, and combatant Thai volunteer forces, transported refugees, and flew photo reconnaissance missions that provided valuable intelligence on NLF activities. Its civilian-marked aircraft were frequently used, under the control of the Seventh and Thirteenth Air Force to launch search and rescue missions for U.S. pilots downed throughout Southeast Asia.

The issues date from November 1967 to the last months of 1973. Includes the first Issue of Air Log published.