USAF covert operations
See also: Laotian Civil War
As tactical air strikes began to be used in Laos, it became apparent that for the safety of noncombatants, some means of control was necessary.[5] Beginning at least as early as July 1964, the absence of a close air support control system caused a variety of enterprising individuals to improvise procedures for marking bombing targets. At various times, ground markers (including bamboo arrows) and dropped smoke grenades were used. While some of these individuals had military training, such as the American Army Attaché, others had little or no specialized training in close air support. They varied in nationality, being Thai, Lao, or Hmong, as well as American.[6] Both Continental Air Services, Inc and Air America pilots would sometimes serve as ad hoc forward air controllers
Butterflies
To begin an operation of great secrecy, the U.S. Air Force originally forwarded four sergeants from Combat Control Teams in 1963. These sergeants turned in their uniforms and military identification and were supplied with false identification so they could work in civilian clothing. This process was designed to preserve the fiction of American non-involvement dubbed plausible deniability. Once "civilianized", the Butterflies flew in the right (co-pilot's) seat in Air America Helio Couriers and Pilatus Porters. They were often accompanied by a Lao or Thai interpreter in the back seat. The Air Commando sergeants directed the air strikes according to U.S. Air Force doctrine, using the radio call sign Butterfly.[citation needed]
Two of the Butterfly Air Force combat controllers were master sergeant Charles Larimore Jones, soon joined by technical sergeant James J. Stanford.[8] Another of the Butterflies was Major John J. Garrity, Jr., who in future would spend several years as the éminence grise of the American Embassy to Laos.[9] They, and their successors, ran air strikes without notice or objection until General William Momyer discovered that enlisted men were in charge of air strikes; at that point, he ordered their replacement with rated fighter pilots. By that time, the number of Butterflies had escalated to three pairs.[10] Both the impromptu strike controlling and the Butterfly effort ended with General Momyer's tirade in April 1966.[11]
One of these was emplaced on a mountain top at Lima Site 85, aimed across the border at Hanoi.[13]
Ravens
A successor operation, code-named Palace Dog, began replacing this original Butterfly effort in 1966.[14] Central Intelligence Agency agent James William Lair recommended the use of Lao interpreters flying in the rear seat of light aircraft flown by American pilots, thus establishing the Ravens.[15] The Ravens were airborne fighter pilots in unarmed light aircraft who flew observation missions, marked enemy targets with smoke rockets, directed air strikes onto them, and observed and reported bomb damage assessment post strike.[16] They were based in five Lao towns: Vientiane(MERCY MISSION2 nights in Bankok), Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet, and at Long Tieng
Recruiting for the Ravens began when Air Force personnel checked into their original assignments in Vietnam. Forward air controllers, beginning a tour in Southeast Asia, were told as part of their orientation briefing that halfway through their year's tour of duty in Vietnam, they were eligible to volunteer for special duty via the Steve Canyon Program.
There they were stripped of all military identification and gear, supplied with U.S. Aid identification, and changed into civilian clothing to be worn for their entire tour of duty. The screening system tended to select experienced and aggressive Forward Air Controllers who were not very amenable to being restricted by regulations (funkcin airemen)
There they were stripped of all military identification and gear, supplied with U.S. Aid identification, and changed into civilian clothing to be worn for their entire tour of duty. The screening system tended to select experienced and aggressive Forward Air Controllers who were not very amenable to being restricted by regulations
In November 1964, Roy Dalton was the first rated officer to augment the Butterflies. He was stationed at LS 36, a dirt air strip near Na Khang, Laos; he directed air strikes by the Royal Lao Air Force while riding in Air 0America helicopters, or from observation posts on mountaintops
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Forward_Air_Controllers
How the CIA corrupted the USAF
FAC's -RAVENS
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