What was Air America in Vietnam?
What was Air America in Vietnam?
Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos.
Who owned Air America?
the CIA
Air America, an airline secretly owned by the CIA, was a vital component in the Agency’s operations in Laos. By the summer of 1970, the airline had some two dozen twin-engine transports, another two dozen short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft, and some 30 helicopters dedicated to operations in Laos.
Is Air America based on a true story?
As a Vietnam War historian, I had been looking forward to the release of “Air America,” said to be based on the CIA’s airline in Southeast Asia and on the nonfiction book by Christopher Robbins, “Air America–The Story of the CIA’s Secret Airline.”
What is the name of the largest and most successful helicopter evacuation ever conducted?
Mathunny Mathews (Toyota Sunny) was an Indian, a resident in Kuwait and was one of the people credited with the safe airlift evacuation of about 170,000 Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Invasion of Kuwait, which is hailed as the world’s largest civilian evacuation in history.
What is the plane in Air America?
Pilatus PC-6 Two are seen in the film & used by Air America. Billy lands one safely and deliberately drives it into the wrecked fuselage of the C-123 he crashed earlier. The wings of the Pilatus are sheared off and hidden by Billy and Babo so they can hide safely from Lu Soong’s men when they search for them.
How many pilots are there in Vietnam?
They estimate that over 100,000 helicopter pilots and crew members served during the Vietnam War.
What airline does the CIA use?
Air America provided many services for the CIA, one of which was delivering cargo to areas including Vietnam and China. The airline operated bases in various countries like Japan and Taiwan, allowing it to fly to these areas with ease. Its headquarters were in Washington, D.C., and its maintenance facility in Arizona.
Does Mel Gibson fly?
Nevertheless, Gibson owns of the safest and longest range jets in the world, and it cost him $40 mill. Gibson uses his jet for all his travels.
What is the largest evacuation in US history?
September 1999 – The size of Hurricane Floyd, its intensity, and its track prompted public officials to launch the largest evacuation in U.S. history, with an estimated 3 million people fleeing the storm.
What happened April 29th 1975?
On April 29, 1975, helicopters evacuated hundreds of U.S. civilians and military support personnel, and thousands of South Vietnamese from Saigon — the day before the North Vietnamese overran the city.
What happened to Air America?
Always primarily a radio network, on January 21, 2010, Air America went off the air citing difficulties with the current economic environment. It filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidated itself. Bennett Zier was the company’s last CEO including through the bankruptcy and liquidation.
How many US helicopter pilots were killed in Vietnam?
5,000 American pilots
According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed.
When did the US Air Force go to South Vietnam?
On August 7, Congress adopted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving President Johnson authority to use all measures, including armed forces, to assist South Vietnam. It was then that the USAF sent jet aircraft into South Vietnam for the first time.
What did Air America do in the Vietnam War?
Pilots Who Flew For Air America In Vietnam Fight For Pensions America’s final act in the Vietnam War produced an iconic image: a helicopter on a rooftop as desperate Vietnamese tried to climb aboard. For some involved in the mission, the story isn’t over.
Who are the Air America pilots in Vietnam?
MYRE: Coalson, now age 76, and Stadulis, 82, both flew Army helicopters. They were then recruited by Air America. Coalson spent five more years in Vietnam and Stadulis spent nine. Stadulis recalls his last harrowing flight from a Saigon rooftop to a U.S. aircraft carrier in the South China Sea.
Where did the US Air Force attack North Vietnam?
Its planes flew from bases in South Vietnam and Thailand. By slowly advancing the target areas northward across North Vietnam, it was hoped the North Vietnamese leaders would eventually be convinced to sit down at the peace table.