1945 - 1975

The topic "Southeast Asia" deals primarily with the Vietnam War which had far-reaching effects on the surrounding countries. The Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975 was a proxy war and a continuation of the Indochina war from 1946 - 1954. From 1964 onwards the fighting was also in Laos and from 1970 on Cambodia.
WINGS-AVIATION is limited to Air Force units and aircraft used in the Indochina and Vietnam War.

History of the South Vietnamese Air Force

The VNAF (South Vietnam Air Force), was the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, the aerial branch of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces from 1955 to 1975.
The VNAF began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world's sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974. It is an often neglected chapter of the history of the Vietnam War as they operated in the shadow of the U. S. Air Force. It was dissolved in 1975 after the Fall of Saigon; many of its members emigrated to the United States.

History of the Royal Lao Air Force

The original Lao military aviation establish-ment was the 'Laotian Aviation' (French: Aviation laotiènne), established by the French on 28 January 1955 as a small aerial observation and transport arm of the then National Lao Army (ANL). As the French withdrew from Indochina, the Lao Aviation was supported by American aid. With the addition of offensive capabilities, it morphed into the Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF).

History of the Kmer Air Force

The Khmer Air Force (French: Armée de l'air khmère; AAK), was the air force component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK), the official military of the Khmer Republic during the Cambodian Civil War between 1970 and 1975.

History of the Air America

The US government had its own airline in Southeast Asia called "Air America". Even normal scheduled flights were made for cover, but the majority of the flights were of a military nature and served to support the U.S. friendly forces in Laos and Vietnam. Air America used a large number of planes, the exact number of planes the CIA, which operated this airline, probably did not know itself. It is therefore just an attempt to shed some light on the history of Air America.

Tonkin Golf Yacht Club (US Navy in Vietnam)

Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club was a tongue-in-cheek nickname for the United States Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War. All through the war in Vietnam, the Seventh Fleet engaged in combat operations against enemy forces through attack carrier air strikes, naval gunfire support, amphibious operations, patrol and reconnaissance operations and mine warfare.

USAF in Thailand

The United States Air Force deployed combat aircraft to Thailand from 1961 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, about 80% of all USAF air strikes over North Vietnam originated from air bases in Thailand. At its peak in 1969 more airmen were serving in Thailand than were serving in South Vietnam.
Under Thailand's "gentleman's agreement" with the U.S., the bases were considered Royal Thai Air Force bases and were commanded by Thai officers. Thai air police controlled access to the bases; U.S. air police who helped them did carry weapons. Command of the American units, however, remained with U.S. wing commanders and their Seventh Air Force/Thirteenth Air Force headquarters.

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Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was a joint-service command of the United States Department of Defense.
MACV was created on 8 February 1962, in response to the increase in United States military assistance to South Vietnam. MACV was first implemented to assist the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Vietnam, controlling every advisory and assistance effort in Vietnam, but was reorganized on 15 May 1964 and absorbed MAAG Vietnam to its command when combat unit deployment became too large for advisory group control. MACV was disestablished on 29 March 1973.