Over the Fence with Raven 58
This article is written by Kenneth R. Thompson (Capt. US Air Force, Raven 58) who has kindly donated the rights to publish his work on LaoTravels. This work was first published in Laos Handbook, by Jane Bickersteth & Joshua Eliot (1997).
As a Raven Forward Air Controller (Raven FAC), I had the privilege of belonging to an elite group of pilots who flew covert operations in Laos in support of the Royal Lao Government. We would fly in support of the Royal Laotian Army or the CIA Special Guerrilla units (SGUs).
Special Guerrilla Units were trained by CIA Country Team members. They were an elite fighting fore designed to interdict movement of the North Vietnamese along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the S or in areas around the Plain of Jars in the N. When they operated along the trail or in other forward locations, their supplies would be flown in by Porter aircraft, piloted by Continental Air Service or Air America pilots. The advantage of this aircraft was that it could land and take off on a very short ‘runway’—about 100 ft in length.
Normally, I would support the SGUs from the air, providing reconnaissance or fighter aircraft support. However, on one day they returned the favor. My airplane crashed in a rice paddy S of Attapeu. Nine North Vietnamese were across the paddy as I made a judicious move toward the opposite side. I knew that the SGUs were in the area near Attapeu, as I headed in that direction. As I came upon them, I recognized that they were friendly and shortly thereafter I was picked up by an Air America helicopter and flown to a nearby Lima Site (PS-38) for the night.
During the time of the Ravens, 1966 to 1975, there were only a total of 191 pilots. Very few Americans actually ever went into Laos—except along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. My time in Laos was quite enjoyable. Officially, I was a ‘forest ranger’ working for the Lao Government. In fact, I worked for the American Ambassador and was assigned to provide visual reconnaissance and direct air support for the Royal Laotian Army and the CIA SGUs.
And, there was much to discourage volunteers. The casualty rate was said to be 50%. The conditions were harsher. And, then there were the drug dealers and gold dealers. (At that time it was illegal to trade in gold in the United States. One could only buy ‘jewelry’. For that reason, contracted CIA pilots from Air America and Continental Air Service would be seen wearing heavy gold bracelets which were not much more than gold bars formed into a bracelet.)
But, I had volunteered to join the Air Force for the specific purpose of going to Vietnam and Laos. I had been a student at Ohio State University and was exempt from the draft. I was 26 years old when I joined the Air Force—just under the 26.5 age limit required of Air Force pilots. Having never flown before in my life, I became a ’90-day Wonder’ as I received my commission as a 2nd Lieutenant at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. From Lackland I went to Laredo, Texas for Undergraduate Pilot Training. I completed my training in 1968, followed by O-1 (Bird Dog) Special Operations Training, POW training and then on to the Philippines for Jungle Survival Training.
In Vietnam I was stationed at the Tuy Hoa MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) compound where I flew in support of the Vietnamese Army. I volunteered for the Steve Canyon Program soon after arriving at Tuy Hoa. The Steve Canyon Program was named after ‘Steve Canyon’—the flamboyant adventurist comic strip character. As I departed Bien Hoa Air Force Base near Saigon for Laos, I learned why it was called ‘Steve Canyon’. The colonel who drove me to the airplane which would take me to my first stop in Thailand said: “Well, now all you have to look forward to is ... glory, money and medals!” [I received 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 30 Air Medals, and a Bronze Star for Valor, among numerous other awards.]
Ravens were a breed apart. They would wear what they wanted when flying—shorts and T-shirts, home-made flying suits or cowboy outfits. They would disregard the Air Force standards for flying time and clock as much as 150 to 200 hours a month.
The monetary rewards were appealing. While not the income a true ‘mercenary’ might receive—for example, US$50,000 or US$100,000 [a high income for that time] for flying certain cargo in Southeast Asia or the Middle East—the extra per diem income, free in addition to being paid for board and room, maids and cooks, and combat pay was welcome. It could amount to an extra US$1,000 per month [about $5,000 per month in today’s money].
Arriving at Udon Air Force Base in Northeast Thailand, I was directed to a remote area of the base called ‘Det-1’. The commander did not know much about what I would be doing, but he was responsible for maintaining my Air Force records, since when I went into Laos, I would be a ‘civilian’. Flying into Laos was quite different from flying into other countries. To protect my destination, when I crossed the border I would radio: “Raven 58, crossing the fence”. ‘Laos’ would never be mentioned.
Along wit the AOC (Air Operations Center) commander, a radio operator, two airplane mechanics and a medic, I lived in the town of Paksé, in a large colonial villa. The living conditions were excellent. After flying out into the war zone each day and returning, I would go down town to a movie or to the Mekong Bar for dancing and music, or to an inviting sidewalk café for dinner.
I believed that the Lao knew who I was. But, I found out that many did not. While trying to make a call to Vietnam to speak with my future Vietnamese wife, Kim Chi, a new Air Force Lieutenant received the call and became inquisitive as to why I referred to myself as “Mister Thompson” rather than “Captain”. Even military personnel in Vietnam, including Air Force Forward Air Controllers, did not know about the clandestine operations of the Ravens.
