Air America in Laos: The Flight Mechanics' Stories

Air America was a civilian airline doing paramilitary work for the CIA in Laos from the late 1950s to mid 1970. Lacking the discipline of a military organization, the employees put themselves at risk for years. The most shot at airline in world history provided logistical and humanitarian support to the Lao people and government during its civil war against the communists while also rescuing downed US airmen in Laos and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This book is a collection of the up close and personal stories of the helicopter aircrews flying out of Udorn, Thailand, into Laos on a daily basis. These are true stories told in their own words about the danger, humor and atrocities of war.