Editing Air America (section)

==Key Roles:==
	◦	Covert Support: From 1959 to 1962, Air America supported U.S. Special Forces operations like Ambidextrous, Hotfoot, and White Star, which trained the Royal Laotian Armed Forces. After 1962, Project 404 deployed U.S. Army and Air Force attachés to the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos, with Air America providing logistical support.

	◦	Search and Rescue (SAR): Air America pilots conducted high-risk missions to rescue downed U.S. pilots throughout Southeast Asia, often under the control of the Seventh/Thirteenth Air Force. These civilian-marked aircraft allowed operations in areas where military aircraft were restricted.

	◦	Humanitarian Efforts: The airline conducted “rice drops” to deliver food, livestock, and seeds to counter the effects of chemical agents like Agent Orange. It also performed medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) and supported USAID’s anti-narcotics programs.

	◦	Covert Insertions: Air America transported CIA operatives, diplomats, and commandos to remote airstrips, including along the Vietnamese-Laotian border. Pilots like Dan Kurtz orchestrated these missions, blending civilian and covert roles.

	•	Secrecy and Personnel: Many Air America employees were unaware of the CIA’s ownership due to strict secrecy. Pilots, often ex-military or civilian-trained, faced extreme conditions, navigating mountainous terrain and hostile areas with minimal navigation aids. Over 240 CAT and Air America employees lost their lives between 1946 and 1975.