Activities Project Waterpump

the project waterpump end result. royal lao air force fighter pilot prepares fly t-28d strike long tieng.

as waterpump mission continued, attached 606th air commando squadron in 1966. general vang pao agitated own hmong pilots support clandestine army. pointed out other 4 military regions of laos had rlaf squadron; did not share air assets him, , had need of same. cia case agent james william lair began pilot training program him in thailand, using scrounged light aircraft , instructor pilots scrounged thai police aerial reinforcement unit, continental air services, inc, , royal thai air force. summer 1967, improvised program had graduated dozens of neophyte pilots in 3 classes. 2 of them first of 19 hmong pilots accepted waterpump training. hmong unlikely pilot candidates. unfamiliar modern machinery, possessed little english, , of small stature. however, wood blocks wired rudder pedals brought control within reach of short-legged cadets. seat cushions in t-28s boosted hmong high enough see out of cockpit fly.

building rlaf s pilot strength in face of combat losses long process. hmong turned out highly courageous fighters flew until killed in action; 3 of them survive war. 1 of fallen hmong, vang pao s brother-in-law lee lue, became famed pilot of rlaf. ongoing deaths in action made difficult supply sufficient numbers of lao pilots rlaf. team not phased out until 1967; time b team considered trustworthy enough replace them. 606th expanded , became 56th air commando wing in 1967.

waterpump gained new responsibility in march 1968. forward air control operation named raven facs formed in laos; incoming volunteers briefed @ waterpump before entering laos. still task laid upon them on 17 july 1968. ambassador william h. sullivan decided expand air commando air operation centers 4 specialists 14. expanded aoc have instructor pilot in command, additional raven facs needed, senior enlisted flight line chief, medic, radio operator, aircraft ordnance specialist, avionics specialist, ground support equipment specialist, , 2 engine mechanics. latter assigned 6 month tdys waterpump. aoc expansion codified palace dog; many experienced waterpump veterans return repeat tours under program.

on 18 march 1969, waterpump began new mission supervising mobile training team instructing air crew members ac-47 gunships. in june 1969, second class of hmong pilots finished training , joined vang pao , single surviving pilot first class. on 11 july 1969 pilot, lee lue, killed in action. nor death in action unusual; after 5 years, waterpump barely able replace rlaf pilots killed.

in 1970, b team depart rlaf reached full strength. 11th group of thai pilots graduated waterpump on 17 april, returned royal thai air force, leaving tenth group end firefly program.

in november 1971, counteract cutback in raven facs in laos 25 8 november 1972, waterpump began training lao forward air controllers. candidates having flown on 3,000 combat missions, flying or combat experience not issue. first class of nok ka tien facs graduated in january 1972 , began directing rlaf air strikes. september 1972, 4 lao facs had progressed directing air strikes usaf.