20 Photos From Inside The ‘Secret’ War

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 15 hours ago in wow

You're most likely familiar with the Vietnam War, America's largest and deadliest Cold War proxy conflict that took place from 1955 to 1975. But Vietnam's neighboring country also participated in the war, with the North Vietnamese aiding the country's Pathet Lao communist revolution.

Having both signed an agreement to remain neutral in the Laotian Civil War, North Vietnam and the United States kept details on combat under wraps, with the conflict eventually dubbed the CIA's "Secret War in Laos."

Attempting to keep American soldiers off the ground, the CIA trained thousands of Laotian fighters, while assisting with the largest bombing campaign ever conducted.

Coinciding with a Viet Cong victory in Vietnam, Communist forces eventually gained control of Laos in 1975.

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1. F-4D Phantom II
Dropping a laser-guided bomb in 1970.
2. Pathet Lao's Laotian People's Liberation Army
Anti-aircraft artillery crew, 1967.
3. French General Raoul Salan and Lao Prince Sisavang Vatthana
Inspecting an honor guard of the Laotian Royal Guard outside the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, 4 May 1953.
4. AC-130
Over southern Laos.
5. Pathet Lao Soldiers
Vientiane, Laos, 1973.
6. U.S. Army Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra
Attack helicopters over Laos.
7. The H Chi Minh Trail
used by both the North Vietnamese military and Laotian people. 1959.
8. An Auto Defense de Choc
Hmong guerrilla company assembles at Phou Vieng, Spring 1961.
9. B-26K
Older and slower jets like this one often proved more effective.
10. Attacks
Damage caused by a communist ground attack on Luang Prabang airfield, 1967.
11. Pathet Lao's LPLA Guerrillas
Assembling at Sam Neua, April 1953.
12. North Vietnamese Troops
Marching through the H Chi Minh trail in southern Laos, 1967.
13. Lockheed OP-2E Neptune
A mission over Laos, circa in 1967.
14. A U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1P
At a base in Laos, 1970.
15. Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF) North American T-28D-5 Trojan
Armed trainer loaded with bombs at Long Tieng airfield in Laos, September, 1972.
16. F-4B Phantom II
Over Laos, 1966.
17. LS-20A Airfield
At Long Tieng, Laos, circa in 1970. Home to the CIA.
18. PAVN Troops
Laos, 1971.
19. C-7A Caribou
Delivering supplies in Laos. 1960.
20. Republic F-105D
In flight with full bomb load. This aircraft was shot down in December, 1968, over Laos.

1. F-4D Phantom II
Dropping a laser-guided bomb in 1970.
2. Pathet Lao's Laotian People's Liberation Army
Anti-aircraft artillery crew, 1967.
3. French General Raoul Salan and Lao Prince Sisavang Vatthana
Inspecting an honor guard of the Laotian Royal Guard outside the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, 4 May 1953.
4. AC-130
Over southern Laos.
5. Pathet Lao Soldiers
Vientiane, Laos, 1973.
6. U.S. Army Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra
Attack helicopters over Laos.
7. The H Chi Minh Trail
used by both the North Vietnamese military and Laotian people. 1959.
8. An Auto Defense de Choc
Hmong guerrilla company assembles at Phou Vieng, Spring 1961.
9. B-26K
Older and slower jets like this one often proved more effective.
10. Attacks
Damage caused by a communist ground attack on Luang Prabang airfield, 1967.
11. Pathet Lao's LPLA Guerrillas
Assembling at Sam Neua, April 1953.
12. North Vietnamese Troops
Marching through the H Chi Minh trail in southern Laos, 1967.
13. Lockheed OP-2E Neptune
A mission over Laos, circa in 1967.
14. A U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1P
At a base in Laos, 1970.
15. Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF) North American T-28D-5 Trojan
Armed trainer loaded with bombs at Long Tieng airfield in Laos, September, 1972.
16. F-4B Phantom II
Over Laos, 1966.
17. LS-20A Airfield
At Long Tieng, Laos, circa in 1970. Home to the CIA.
18. PAVN Troops
Laos, 1971.
19. C-7A Caribou
Delivering supplies in Laos. 1960.
20. Republic F-105D
In flight with full bomb load. This aircraft was shot down in December, 1968, over Laos.