Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Air Operations in Northern Laos, 1 April - 1 November 1970

Air operations in Northern Laos in the 1970 wet season continued to play a critical role in the ground campaigns being waged to preserve the Royal Laotian Government RLG. The area had been designated BARREL ROLL in the air war, and it was the scene of heavy U.S. air support as the North Vietnamese dry season offensive stalled one kilometer short of the Meo guerrilla stronghold of Long Tieng. As the transition to the wet season occurred, Lao and U.S. tactical tac air strikes helped the U.S.-backed guerrillas stop the enemys attack and force his withdrawal to the mountains along the south and west rim of the Plaine des Jarres PDJ. The wet and dry season campaigns preceding the 1970 wet season covered by this report were of a pattern which had begun to be traditional in the land war for Northern Laos. This report is a follow-on and updating of CHECO reports that relate the see-saw ground campaign and the critical role of USAF air power in Northern Laos. Air Support of Counterinsurgency in Laos and Air Operations in Northern Laos, 1 Nov 1969 - 1 Apr 1970 are the most recent and tell how air power was applied to support guerrillas in offensive and defensive campaigns.