Editing Civil Air Transport (section)

==Conclusion==
Civil Air Transport, founded in 1946 by Chennault and Willauer, began as a humanitarian airline but became a CIA proprietary in 1950, conducting covert missions across Asia under a civilian facade. Its CIA activities included supporting the KMT in China, airlifting supplies during the Korean and Indochina Wars, backing the Permesta rebellion, and transitioning into Air America for Vietnam War operations. CAT’s pilots faced extreme risks, from shootdowns in Manchuria to Dien Bien Phu, while its drug trafficking allegations remain contentious. The airline’s profitability and longevity made it a unique CIA asset, but its covert nature left many personnel unrecognized.