Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Air War In Northern Laos, 1 April - 30 November 1971
Abstract
The Air War in Northern Laos is a continuing study which addresses USAF operations in that portion of Laos known as Barrel Roll. The USAF role has primarily been to support the seasonal friendly campaigns. As the Wet Seasons began, the charismatic Meo war Lord, Maj Gen Vang Pao, traditionally drove inward in an attempt to capture the famed Plaine des Jarres area from Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese troops. Alternatingly, Vang Pao's Dry Season campaigns were chiefly identified by his withdrawal from the Plaine to his headquarters at Long Tieng, his defense of the Long Tieng area, and his preparations for the next Wet Season offensive. This pattern manifested itself once again during the April to November 1971 Wet Season campaign which again saw this semi-annual see-saw battle for Barrell Roll territory. In organizing this study, the military regions in northern Laos were treated separately with a separate chronology for each area. This format was selected in preference to a strict chronological treatment of all of northern Laos as a whole because the regional variances of the 1971 Wet Season lent themselves to this approach. Likewise included in this study is a discussion of command and control relationships which, along with the various political constraints, greatly affected the role of USAF air power in supporting the Laotian allies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1973
- Accession Number
- ADA586118
Entities
People
- Richard R. Sexton
- William W. Lofgren
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces