Glossary

This glossary contains abbreviations, terms or acronyms used in this article or associated with it.
 
 

23 TASS: 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron. Unit at Nakhon Phanom that supported the USAF forward air controllers stationed there.

38 ARR Group: 38 Air Rescue and Recovery Group. Responsible organization for search and rescue missions. Also known as the 38 ARRS.

56 ACW: 56th Air Commando Wing. Created on April 8, 1967 in response to the widening Laotian War. Principal organization at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base located in Northeast Thailand.  Became the 56 SOW on August 1, 1968.

56 SOW: 56th Special Operations Wing, The 56 SOW Personal Equipment Shop supported the Savannakhet RAVENs with flying equipment such as boots, small arms ammunition, survival radio batteries and anything else we could con out of them.
 
 

A.

A-1: Douglas “Skyraider”. USAF designation for Navy AD Series single engine, propeller driven fighter bomber capable of carrying large ordnance loads.

ABCCC: Pronounced as "AB Triple C". A C-130 airborne command and control center that controlled air movement and air resource allocation. Operated from Udorn, Thailand. See Cricket, Hillsboro, Alley Cat and Moonbeam.

Across the Fence: In air operations parlance over Laos, crossing into or out of Laos usually from Thailand. “The fence” landmark was the Mekong River.

AAIRA: Assistant Air Attache. The first AAIRA went to Savannakhet in 1964 to “command” the secondary Air Operations Center at the RLAF Headquarters.

AIRA: Air Attache. The AIRA position transferred from Colonel Paul Pettigrew to Colonel Robert Tyrrell in 1968. Also used as an abbreviation for the Air Attache Office of the JANAF Attache Office. (See OUSAIRA).

AIRA Site: The USAF-manned operational site at Savannakhet that supported the US Embassy target validation activities, the RAVEN FACs in MR3, and direct support to the RLAF T-28Ds, plus other sundry activities.  The site had an extensive communications suite including a broad spectrum of radios (FM, HF, VHF, and UHF), secure voice and message capability, non secure microwave telephone to the US military network in Thailand as well as a Savannakhet-based “telephone company of about 50 subscribers”. The communications suite operated around the clock, 7 days a week. The site had various call signs including TEXAS, CAPETOWN, and SMOKEY during 1968-1969. There were approximately 20 USAF personnel manning the site. They included the legal AAIRA, and the remainder were “black” (covert) personnel. There were approximately four officer “misters”  (AOC Commander, 2 FACs and the Intelligence Officer). The remainder were enlisted “misters”. Their skills included administration, communications, maintenance (air and ground), supply, flight line support, EOD and medical. All covert personnel wore civilian clothes as mandated by the U.S. Embassy.

Air America: A proprietary aviation company owned by the CIA that provided all types of air support throughout Southeast Asia to the US Government.

AK-47: The 7.62 x 39mm Avtomat Kalashnikova, obratzets 1947g. (7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifle, Model 1947). First large scale Russian production began in 1949. Also produced by the PRC as the Type 56 submachine gun. Pathet Lao units in MR3 converted to this weapon in 1968.

ALLEYCAT: Call sign for the ABCCC aircraft operating over the northern Laotian panhandle during the night controlling activity in Northern Laos (See Cricket).

AOC: Air Operations Center. There were five AOCs in Laos in 1968. Savannakhet was one of two dating back to 1964.

AR-15: Civilian predecessor of the M-16 made by Armalite. The few long guns we had at the Savannakhet AIRA site were AR-15s. See M-16.
 

B.

BDA: Bomb Damage Assessment. The determining of the results of an air strike, generally in terms of what was damaged, destroyed or killed. This was usually done by the forward air controller that controlled the strike.

Beech Baron: A twin engined, propeller driven, executive aircraft flown by Continental Air Services for a variety of people carrying tasks in Laos.

Bell 205: Helicopter used by Air America. Civil version of the military UH-1D Huey. Usually referred to as the “205”.

Birddog:  Nickname for the O-1. (See O-1).

C-46: Curtis “Commando”. About 3180 of these twin-engined transports were built during World War II. Air America used this aircraft in Laos as scheduled courier and transport aircraft.

CAPETOWN: Radio call sign of the AIRA site at Savannakhet in 1968-69.

CAS: Controlled American Source.  A cover term for the CIA.

CASI: See Continental Air Services, Inc.

Channel XX:  A term used to denote the communications channel number to access the frequency of a TACAN air navigation aid. Often used as a location identifier. For example, Channel 89 was Nakhon Phanom West airfield, Thailand.

CIA: Central Intelligence Agency (U.S.)

COMPRESS:  Code name for the Air Rescue Coordinating Center at Udorn, Thailand.

Continental Air Services, Inc. (CASI):  Often known as Continental. A wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Air Lines. Created from the assets of Bird and Sons in 1965. Usually operated smaller aircraft supporting CAS, such as Barons and Porters.

Courier: A generic term used for the “scheduled” flights of a number of aircraft on determined routes in Laos and Thailand. Flown by Air America, and Continental Air Service, and others to support many clients.

CRICKET: Call sign for the ABCCC aircraft operating over the northern Laotian panhandle during the day controlling activity in Northern Laos. See Alleycat.

CROWN: Call sign for the C-130 command ship for the rescue forces.

CV: “Compagnie Volunteer” (Volunteer Company). A company sized MR3 paramilitary unit in 1968.

Dac Cong: Vietnamese for “special task”. These were the elite PAVN raider and reconnaissance troops i.e. special forces.

DEPCHIEF MACTHAI:  Deputy Chief, Military Assistance Command, Thailand, created in 1962 and responsible to USCINCPAC. This was the cover organization for Military Assistance Command, Laos. In 1968, its headquarters was located in Bangkok, Thailand at the Capital Hotel. Referred to as DEPCHIEF.

Det 4: The local name used for the Savannakhet Unit of CAS.

DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency (U.S.)

EOD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

Erawan: Symbol of the Lao Monarchy. Three white elephants mounted on a royal pedestal.

ETA: Estimated time of arrival.

FAC: Forward Air Controller. The mission where a “spotter” plane locates a target, and directs air strikes against it. The FAC is the coordinator of the operation.

Fa Ngum:  The first king of Lan Xang (Million Elephants) in 1353 AD. This was the milestone for the beginning of the Lao dynasty.

FAR: Forces Armées du Royale.  French abbreviation for the Royal Laotian Army.

Farang:  Thai/lao for “long nosed giants”. Generic name for “westerners.”

Fox Mike: Phonetics for Frequency Modulation (FM) radio. A radio frequency spectrum relatively free of static.  It was generally used for air to ground communications with troops. See Uniform and Victor.

Green House: “Officers” quarters in Savannakhet. a french style villa.

Grey House: “Enlisted” quarters in Savannakhet. a multi-story apartment-style building.

Helio Courier: Light STOL aircraft used extensively by Air America. See U-10.

HILLSBORO: Call sign for the ABCCC aircraft operating over the central Laotian panhandle during the day. (See Moonbeam).

HOBO: Call sign of the 1st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), at NKP, equipped with A-1s.

Ho Chi Minh Trail: The primary supply network of roads, trails, pipelines and waterways from North Vietnam through Laos to South Vietnam and Cambodia. Known as “The Trail”. It began in 1959.

Hooch: Hut or dwelling.
 

Intel: Slang for Intelligence.

INVERT: Call sign for the radar control center/ ground control intercept (GCI) site at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.

JANAF: Joint Army, Navy Air Force. The designator for the collective attache offices. Now known as the Defense Attache Office (DAO).

Karst: Irregular limestone formations.

KH: Keyhole. The designator for US satellite programs.

KIA:  Killed in Action.

L-39: The location identifier for the airfield at Savannakhet. Main airfields were designated with the letter “L” plus an identifying number. Often used in conversation to identify the town, location, airfield or the site, depending on the context. See LIMA Sites.

Lay:  Very in Lao, pronounced lie.

LIMA Sites: Landing Site in Laos, usually with an unimproved dirt strip. Designated LS plus identifying number as (LS-61 - Muong Phalane). Often used for covert action support or rescue helicopter refueling points.

LION: Call sign for the radar control center at Ubon, Thailand.

LZ: Landing Zone.  If associated with helicopters, known as an HLZ.

M-16: The “standard” US Infantry rifle.

MAP: Military Assistance Program. Designation for equipment obtained under this program. Often affected maintenance, particularly of aircraft.

MIA: Missing in Action.

Moisin-Nagant: 7.62 x 54mmR, M91/30 bolt action rifle which was the basic infantry weapon of the Red Army in World War II. Widely used by the Pathet Lao units in MR3 until conversion to the AK-47 in 1968. Ammunition was incompatible with the SKS or the AK-47.

MOONBEAM: Call sign for the ABCCC aircraft operating over the central Laotian panhandle during the night. (See Hillsboro).

MR3: One of the five Military Regions in Laos. This region consisted of Savannakhet and Khammouane Provinces in the Panhandle of Laos. It was commanded by General Bounphone Marthepharak.

MR III: See MR3.

NAIL: Call sign of the FACs of the 23th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS)  located at NKP. RAVENs usually bunked in the Nail hooches when they RONed at NKP.

NIMROD: Call Sign of the A-26Ks of the 56 SOW located at NKP. They were greatly reworked Douglas B-26 “ Invader” twin engine bombers used for night work on the Trail.

NKP: Initials for air base used by US Air Commandos at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Northeast Thailand. Also home of the Electronic Center (Task Force Alpha) monitoring sensors on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Officially known as Nakhon Phanom West; irreverently known as “Naked Fanny.” Despite its isolation it was popular with the Savannakhet crowd as an “R&R” center. It also provided various support activities for the AIRA Site.

NVA: North Vietnamese Army (See PAVN).

O-1: Cessna “Birddog”. USAF designation for Army L-19 liaison aircraft. Single engine, 2 place forward air control and observation aircraft. Used by Raven FACs in Laos in 1968. FAC configured it was about 400 pounds overweight. First flew in 1950, 3300 built between 1950 and 1958, plus 62 additional aircraft in 1962. Savannakhet had E and F models.

O-2: USAF nomenclature for the modified Cessna Skymaster, twin engined,  (push/pull) aircraft. Replaced the O-1 in the 23 TASS at NKP for forward air control duties in 1967.

OUSAIRA: Office of the US Air Attache. (See AIRA).

Pathet Lao: Literally “Land of Laos”.  Formed by Prince Souphanouvong in 1950 at the Viet Minh headquarters north of Hanoi as a new resistance government . The Vietnamese considered the Pathet Lao military allies all be it junior partners. Generic term for the Lao Communist movement and its military forces. Known as the PL or “papa lima”.

PAVN: People’s Army of Vietnam (See NVA).

PC-6: Pilatus Porter. Single engine, turboprop STOL aircraft first flown in 1959. Built by the Swiss Pilatus Company. Also built by Fairchild in the US. Used by Air America and contract carriers, such as Continental Air Services to support CAS with supply air drops and general hauling of goods and people.

pi:  Spirit in Lao, pronounced pee. There was a belief that virtually everything was inhabited by pi. There were good pi and bad pi. You curry the favor of the good pi and do not mess around with the bad pi.

PJ: Para-Jumper/Para-Rescueman

PL: See Pathet Lao.

PL/NVA: Pathet Lao/North Vietnamese Army. A designation for a mixed unit. The NVA were generally in charge.

Porter: See PC-6.

Project 404: In mid -1966, the Department of Defense began Project 404, a covert augmentation of Deputy Chief Military Assistance Command, Thailand (DEPCHIEF) and the U.S. military attaches in Laos. Under the program about 120 USAF and USA personnel were administratively assigned to DEPCHIEF in Thailand but served in Laos on a permanent change of station (PCS) basis.

PSP: Pierced Steel Planking. Perforated metal planking that interlocks to make a stable operations surface even in bad weather. Used generally for runways and ramps of temporary airfields. L39 has PSP ramps.

RAVEN: In October, 1966 the US began to station USAF Forward Air Controllers (FACs)  in Laos using the call sign of RAVEN. RAVENs were volunteers with previous Vietnam FAC experience. They were in TDY status and administratively assigned to WATERPUMP (Det 1, 56 SOW) at Udorn. Also used as a generic name for the RAVEN FACs.

RLAF: Royal Lao Air Force.

RON: Remain Overnight.

RTAF: Royal Thai Air Force.

SANDY: Call sign of the A-1s assigned the search and rescue mission.

SAR: Search and Rescue. A mission to recover downed air crew.

SGU: Special Guerrilla Unit. Lao paramilitary ground forces organized, equipped and managed by CAS. Better armed, paid and motivated  and led than the Royal Lao forces.

Sia Chay: Sorry in Lao, pronounced “C H I”

SKS: The 7.62mm Samozaryadnyi Karabin Sistemi Simonova obrazets 1945g (7.62 x 39mm Simonov system self-loading carbine Model 1945) Uses same cartridge as the AK-47. Also produced by the PRC. Used by Pathet Lao/NVA units before introduction of the AK-47, and possibly after due to ammunition compatibility.
 
Skyraider: See A-1.

SMOKEY: Call sign for AIRA Site at Savannakhet for operational activities.

Spad: Nickname for the A-1 Skyraider. Also call sign of the 602 ACS at Nha Trang and later the 6th SOS.

STOL: Short Takeoff and Landing. The capability of an aircraft to take off and land using minimum unimproved runway. Also used to describe the air facility at which this occurs, as in STOL strip.

T-28D: Rebuilt T-28As with a more powerful engine, and hard points that permitted heavier armament. In 1968 it was flown by the RLAF and RTAF (B-Team) in Laos.

TACAN: Tactical air navigation. A military air navigation system that provides direction information from the station (bearing) and distance measuring information (range).

Target Validation: The process of obtaining strike approval from an approved authority. For strikes by U.S. aircraft in Laos, the U.S. Embassy, Vientiane was the pivotal approval authority. Some of this authority was “delegated” to the AAIRA and Intelligence Officer at the AIRA Site in Savannakhet .

TEXAS: The location code name for the Savannakhet AIRA Site. Used during land line communications or face-to-face conversations referring to the site.

TUOC: Tactical Unit Operations Center.  The operations nerve center for a combat organization such as the 56th SOW.

U-10: Helio “Super Courier” Single-engined four passenger STOL monoplane with side by side controls used by AAIRA.

U-17A: Military version of the Cessna 185. Single engine, four passenger aircraft with side by side controls. Could perform FAC duties with proper radios and wing pylons. Provided to RLAF through MAP.

Uniform: Phonetic  for Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio generally used for short range air to air communication. See Victor and Fox Mike

Up-country: In-country Laos.

USAID: United States Agency for International Development

USCINCPAC: United States Commander in Chief, Pacific. Commander of the U. S. Pacific Command (USPACOM). One of the Unified Commands in the JCS structure. It was the responsible command for Project 404.

Victor: Term for Very High Frequency (VHF) radio. See Uniform and Fox Mike

VIKING: USAF radar site at Mukdahan, Thailand, across the Mekong from L39.

VR: Visual reconnaissance. The aerial mission of visually looking for signs of the bad guys. Often this meant looking under the trees from low altitude.

WATERPUMP: The codename for Det 6, !st ACW that deployed to Udorn RTAFB in April 1964 to train and provide logistic support to Lao and Thai air force personnel. Later became Det 1 of the 603rd Air Commando Sqn, and then Det 1, 56 SOW.

Willy Pete: Nickname for White Phosphorus.  Sometimes known as “WP”. The 2.75 inch marking rockets on the 0-1 used “Willy Pete” heads. The white smoke is very visible for marking purposes as a reference for the fighters during bombing runs.

Xé: Also spelled Sé. River in Lao.

Zulu Time: Also called Z Time. A standard worldwide reference time, popularly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Laos local time in Savannakhet was 7 hours ahead of Zulu Time.
 

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