Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Air Operations in Northern Laos, 1 November 1970 - 1 April 1971
Abstract
The war in Northern Laos had ominous portents as 1970-71 began. The wet season offensive just concluded by Major General Vang Pao's guerrillas had been a hard-fought campaign achieving limited objectives against a determined North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force supplemented by some Pathet Lao (PL). From the slopes adjoining the Long Tieng (LS-20A) airstrip, the enemy retreated slowly to the southwest rim of the Plaine des Jarres (PDJ). They gave up the traditionally Lao Neutralist headquarters at Moung Soui (L-108) to Vang Pao's Operation LEAP FROG, but only after 40 days of attacks and counterattacks. The enemy resisted Operations LEAP FROG and COUNTERPUNCH II from August until October before giving up Ban Na (LS-15) and the twin peaks of Phou Seu on the southwest rim of the PDJ. The start of the dry season, which favored the enemy's advances, found the NVA/PL entrenched further west than ever before at that time of year. They held pockets of resistance in friendly territory and were building up troops and supplies on the PDJ. Vang Pao's exhausted guerrillas returned to the defensive after their wet season campaign had gained them only about 30 kilometers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 1971
- Accession Number
- ADA586115
Entities
People
- Harry D. Blout
- Melvin F. Porter
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces