Covert sites of the Laotian Civil War were clandestine U.S. military installations for conducting covert paramilitary and combat operations in the Kingdom of Laos. Airstrips within the Kingdom of Laos were originally designated by Air America as "Site XX" (with XX being a number). In September 1961, the designation changed to "VS XX", meaning "Victor Site XX". On 16 May 1964, the airstrips received their final designation; the site names then used the abbreviation "LS"—Lima Site—for unimproved strips, or "L"—Lima—for paved runways. The terms "Victor" and "Lima" were taken from the existing military phonetic code.[1]
These sites typically were centered on a dirt landing strip for STOL aircraft such as the Air America Helio Courier or Pilatus Porter. These strips were often carved out along ridge lines, and were seldom flat, straight, or of sufficient length. However, they were crucial for resupply and personnel transport, including medical evacuations. To quote one source: "Some of these defied all the safety rules even of military aviation."[2] A U.S. Air Force inspection team noted that even the best of the Lima strips was inferior to any air strips in Vietnam.[3] Listing follows.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2012)
Ahern, Thomas L. Jr. (2006). Undercover Armies: CIA and Surrogate Warfare in Laos. Center for the Study of Intelligence. Classified control no. C05303949.
Conboy, Kenneth and James Morrison (1995). Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos. Paladin Press, ISBNs 0-87364-825-0, 978-1-58160-535-8.
Hukle, Donald G.; Melvin F. Porter; Paul T. Ringenbach; Richard R. Sexton; Judith A. Skipworth; Adolph H. Zabka. (1974). The Bolovens Campaign, 28 July - 28 December 1971 (Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report). Pacific Air Force CHECO Division. ASIN: B00B65VIOU.
January 01, 1970
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Covert sites of the Laotian Civil War were clandestine U S military installations for conducting covert paramilitary and combat operations in the Kingdom of Laos Airstrips within the Kingdom of Laos were originally designated by Air America as Site XX with XX being a number In September 1961 the designation changed to VS XX meaning Victor Site XX On 16 May 1964 the airstrips received their final designation the site names then used the abbreviation LS Lima Site for unimproved strips or L Lima for paved runways The terms Victor and Lima were taken from the existing military phonetic code 1 These sites typically were centered on a dirt landing strip for STOL aircraft such as the Air America Helio Courier or Pilatus Porter These strips were often carved out along ridge lines and were seldom flat straight or of sufficient length However they were crucial for resupply and personnel transport including medical evacuations To quote one source Some of these defied all the safety rules even of military aviation 2 A U S Air Force inspection team noted that even the best of the Lima strips was inferior to any air strips in Vietnam 3 Listing follows This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items October 2012 Lima sites of the Laotian Civil War No Name Width length Elevation Coordinates Remarks LS2 San Tiau 100 800 ft 5 000 ft 19 28 30 N 103 34 05 E 19 475 N 103 568 E 19 475 103 568 Used as base for Kou Kiet 4 LS03 Nong Het 100 1 200 ft 4 700 ft 19 29 40 N 103 59 35 E 19 4944 N 103 993 E 19 4944 103 993 L 05 Paksong 3 445 ft LS5 Ban Pa Dong 70 1 670 ft 4 600 ft 19 06 13 N 103 07 03 E 19 1036 N 103 1175 E 19 1036 103 1175 Original site of Operation Momentum LS6 Vang Viang 90 4 400 ft 800 ft 18 55 29 N 102 27 02 E 18 9247 N 102 45062 E 18 9247 102 45062 L08 Vientiane 561 ft Air operations center for Military Region 5 L10 Attopeu 344 ft LS10 Ban Ban 100 1 500 ft 1 888 ft 19 38 02 N 103 34 42 E 19 634 N 103 5783 E 19 634 103 5783 L11 Pakse 330 ft Air operations center for Military Region 4 LS15 Ban Na 75 X 1 200 ft 5 050 ft 19 19 54 N 102 57 35 E 19 3316 N 102 9597 E 19 3316 102 9597 LS19 Phou Khe 6 200 ft 19 18 52 N 103 15 56 E 19 3144 N 103 2656 E 19 3144 103 2656 LS20 Sam Thong 50 X 1 900 ft 3 800 ft 19 11 02 N 102 52 21 E 19 1839 N 102 8725 E 19 1839 102 8725 Center for USAID refugee relief LS20A Long Tieng 60 X 4 450 ft 3 250 ft 19 06 30 N 102 55 31 E 19 1083 N 102 9253 E 19 1083 102 9253 Air operations center for Military Region 2 LS22 Xieng Khouang 32 X 3 030 ft 3 444 ft 18 34 24 N 103 09 18 E 18 5732 N 103 1551 E 18 5732 103 1551 L25 Ban Huoeisay Airport 1 380 ft LS26 Xieng Dat 150 4 000 ft 2 350 ft 19 24 57 N 102 42 42 E 19 4158 N 102 7117 E 19 4158 102 7117 LS30 See LS20A LS32 Bouamlong 75 X 1 300 ft 4 000 ft 19 27 12 N 103 11 43 E 19 4532 N 103 1953 E 19 4532 103 1953 LS36 Na Khang 4 400 ft 19 58 37 N 103 28 30 E 19 977 N 103 475 E 19 977 103 475 L39 Savannakhet 509 ft Air operations center for Military Region 3 L44 Salavan 550 ft L51 Pha Khe west of LS20A Long Tieng L54 Luang Prabang International Airport 997 ft Air operations center for Military Region I LS57 Phou So 4 500 ft 19 641184 102 917037 Google coordinates LS61 Muang Phalan TACAN Site 16 39 29 N 105 33 40 E 16 658 N 105 561 E 16 658 105 561 LS69 Ban Xieng Lom 1 900 ft LS85 Phou Pha Thi 4 500 ft 20 26 17 N 103 43 16 E 20 4381 N 103 7212 E 20 4381 103 7212 TACAN was overrun on 11 March 1968 LS88 Bouam Long 40 800 ft 5 000 ft 19 45 32 N 103 19 53 E 19 7589 N 103 3314 E 19 7589 103 3314 Used as base for Kou Kiet 4 LS98 Long Tieng 3 120 ft 19 06 30 N 102 56 07 E 19 1083 N 102 9353 E 19 1083 102 9353 L108 Muang Soui 3 600 ft 19 31 15 N 102 53 10 E 19 5208 N 102 886 E 19 5208 102 886 L118A Nam Yu 1 900 ft LS123 Xam Xauj Commander Major Wa Kai Vue LS178 Phou Saly 3 200 ft LS187 Ban Y LS189 Ban Houei Sane 480 ft LS265 Old San Soak LS272 Ban Xong Na Xu ft 18 55 27 N 102 42 45 E 18 924298 N 102 712401 E 18 924298 102 712401 LS 289 Khong Sedone 450 ft UTM WC8524 5 LS 337 Phou Kang Neua Xiangkhouang LS 449 Toong Set 4 100 ft UTM XB3781 Alternative designation PS 49 6 Online sources Chance FAC website http www chancefac net A cs pgs rebuild Lima Sites LS Pg1 htm http www chancefac net A cs pgs rebuild Lima Sites LS Pg2 htm http www chancefac net A cs pgs rebuild Lima Sites LS Pg3 htm http www chancefac net A cs pgs rebuild Lima Sites LS Pg4 htm http www chancefac net A cs pgs rebuild Lima Sites LS Pg5 htm Laos list website Laos Lima Site LS Information 7 March 2006 All web pages retrieved 26 December 2014 Textual sources as noted See also editLaotian Civil War Kingdom of Laos North Vietnamese invasion of Laos People s Army of Vietnam Hmong people Lao Veterans of America Laos Memorial Lao Veterans of America InstituteNotes edit Conboy Morrison pp 103 104 Ahern p 64 Ahern p 98 a b Conboy pp 213 215 Hukle et al p 30 gt Hukle et al p 25 Bibliography editAhern Thomas L Jr 2006 Undercover Armies CIA and Surrogate Warfare in Laos Center for the Study of Intelligence Classified control no C05303949 Conboy Kenneth and James Morrison 1995 Shadow War The CIA s Secret War in Laos Paladin Press ISBNs 0 87364 825 0 978 1 58160 535 8 Hukle Donald G Melvin F Porter Paul T Ringenbach Richard R Sexton Judith A Skipworth Adolph H Zabka 1974 The Bolovens Campaign 28 July 28 December 1971 Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report Pacific Air Force CHECO Division ASIN B00B65VIOU Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of covert sites of the Laotian Civil War amp oldid 1185390487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
