Air America: The CIA's Airline

[El Cascarrabias]

Just finished watching Air America: The CIA's Airline on The Military/History Channel. Their motto: "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, Professionally."

Incredible flying skills and incredible courage by men who have been little recognized for their heroics. If you get a chance to see it I highly recommend taking the time.

I wonder if there are any members here on TRF who have connections or who participated in this incredible group.

[Invictus Maneo]

I still can't talk about it! (maybe...)

[Angrypuppy]

Sort of.

I had the pleasure of working with Robert Chase at my first flying job. He did some of my training as well. His career started when he joined the Navy during WWII. He flew Bearcats off carriers in the Pacific. His transitioned from the Navy after Korea to the CIA and was the guy that set up the entire operation in Southeast Asia. He was an amazing individual, incredibley down to earth and still flying into his 90's. He passed away about 5-7 years ago. He had a back injury from a plane crash and was so hunched over it looked like you could set a coffee cup between his shoulder blades.

I'll try to find an obituary for him to post.

[Angrypuppy]

This is all I could find with a quick search. He was 88. I thought he was a little older. I worked with him in the mid 90's.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sea...&pid=139548336

[Angrypuppy]

One of the other "old guys" that worked there basically mentoring the kids was in the first operational group trained to fly the SR-71. He had a picture of the plane hanging in his office signed by Kelly Johnson. He also had some amazing stories.

Quite a pair of people to work with and in my 20's I did not fully appreciate it.

[El Cascarrabias]

Originally Posted by Angrypuppy

. . . Quite a pair of people to work with and in my 20's I did not fully appreciate it.

I bet there a things you wish you'd asked about now that you can appreciate how remarkable their lives were.

Do you recall what watches they wore?

[Angrypuppy]

Originally Posted by El Cascarrabias

I bet there a things you wish you'd asked about now that you can appreciate how remarkable their lives were.

Do you recall what watches they wore?

I don't recall, although I had my GMT at the time so am pretty confident I would have noticed if they had been wearing a Rolex.

[chieftd]

I believe my uncle had some dealings with them during early Vietnam days. He flew B-26s in Vietnam and the surrounding area during the very early 60s. Before we were supposed to be there. He was one of the original Air Commandos and talked of "sheep-dipped" cargo pilots doing their thing while he was doing his. He is 80 years old now and sharp as a tack. Still flies his own airplane. His war stories are endless and he remembers every detail. Those fliers of that era both military and otherwise were an amazing bunch. Cheers, Tim

[repaircraftsvc]

My life as a GMT working at Air America

[mrricks]

I spent some time in Vientiane in the early 70s.
‘nuff said

[Andy0331]

Originally Posted by mrricks

I spent some time in Vientiane in the early 70s.
‘nuff said

A friend spent some time in Long Tieng around the same time frame; I'm sure you stomped some of that ground too.

He recommended some books: "Shadow War" by Ken Conboy and "The Battle for Skyline Ridge" by James Parker. Not Air America specific at all, but very interesting history on a (virtually) forgotten war.

I'll look for the Air America documentary, it certainly sounds worth the watch.

[THC]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

My life as a GMT working at Air America

Wow very impressive sir

[AzPaul]

A friend of mine served in Vietnam and then a few years later, worked for the CIA. When I asked him which was rougher, he said the CIA, 'no question about it'. When I asked him why, he said in the Army, if we got in trouble we could try to call for help. With the CIA, if you got in trouble, you were on your own. No one was coming, period. They never even heard of you.