Project 404/Palace dog

Palace Dog was a United States Air Force covert operation to support the Royal Laotian Government in its military operations during the Vietnam War. It was partially--in fact, largely--responsible for Laos becoming the most heavily bombed country in the history of the world.

Background for Palace Dog

The Geneva Accord of 1962 had established the neutrality of Laos. Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos, requested military assistance from the United States when the North Vietnamese violated the Geneva Accords by not terminating their invasion of Laos. The United States Air Force response was twofold: Operation Barrel Roll, air strikes from outside Laos; and air control specialists, who would operate inside Laos.

The immediate response was the dispatch of four United States Air Force sergeants from Combat Control Teams; these men were specifically trained to direct tactical air strikes. They surrendered their military identification and entered the country in civilian clothing--a process known as "sheepdipping". This was done so the United States could claim it was observing the Geneva Accord.

Operating under the radio call sign "Butterfly", the sergeants flew as observers with Air America pilots to mark enemy targets for air attack by USAF aircraft. This effort ran from 1963 until 1966, when General William Momyer terminated it on the grounds that non-rated men were not qualified for the task.

Establishment of Palace Dog/Project 404

When the Butterfly program was canceled, it was replaced by the Raven FACs. With the upgrade to using qualified fighter pilots with their own aircraft to mark targets, it became obvious that support personnel were needed within Laos. Palace Dog was established, containing two components: Raven FACs and Project 404. Project 404 was the program that supplied the support personnel for the fighter pilots who flew under the Raven call sign. Its stated objective was "to maintain the RLAF (Royal Laotian Air Force) Air Operations Center in fighting condition for the defense of Laos".

Beginning unofficially in 1966 at cessation of the Butterfly program, and officially in October, 1968, United States Air Force Special Operating Force staffed Project 404 by forwarding "sheepdipped" specialists to the United States Embassy in Laos. There they worked for the Air Attache; he in turn worked directly for the American ambassador in Vientiane, Laos. The specialists escaped the scrutiny of permanent change of station orders by being assigned on 179 day Temporary Duty assignments. Specialties assigned were Air Operations Commander, Line Chief, and Medical and Communications Specialists. There was also a single doctor assigned to the program.

Four Air Operations Centers were established, one at each of the RLAF's airfields, which in turn were located one in each military region of Laos. The AOCs were located and designated respectively at Vientiane's Wattay Field (Lima 08), Pakse (Lima 11), Savannakhet (Lima 39), and Luang Prabang (Lima 54). Approximately June, 1969, a fifth AOC located at Long Tieng (Lima 20A) was added.

As Palace Dog grew to about 120 men stationed in Laos, with a maximum of 22 being Ravens, there were at least 100 engaged in Project 404. Official documents account for only 21 of that count (see above). It stands to reason there was also a headquarters section of some sort, plus additional specialists unlisted in official documents. Even though the T-28 Trojan trainers used as strike aircraft by the RLAF were low-tech, they still required engine, airframe, and avionics maintenance, as well as ordnance support. Additional specialists at the AOCs included a crew chief, an engine man, a radio man, and a weapons/ordnance man.

Palace Dog ended only when the Communists gained control of Laos. The ceasefire ending the fighting in Laos took effect 22 February 1973.

References

* http://www.legaciesofwar.org/traveling-exhibit/history/history-bombing-laos Accessed 11 October 2008.

* "Apollo's Warriors: United States Special Operations During the Cold War". Air University Press, 1997.

* www.ravens.org Accessed 11 October 2008.

* http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:6eSBmU6E750J:www.specialoperations.net/Web%2520Docs/Project404History.doc+%22palace+dog+laos%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a Accessed 11 October 2008.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barrel_Roll

* "At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: United States Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government, 1955-75". Timothy Castle. Columbia University Press, 1995.

* http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/9553/rlaf.html Accessed 11 October 2008.