The CIA's Air America Unveiled: Espionage, Elephants, and a Covert Legacy"

 

The movie 'Air America' was right on!

     In the murky aftermath of World War II in Asia, the CIA pulled off a slick move, snagging the assets of Civil Air Transport (CAT) in August 1950. CAT, cooked up by Gen. Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer, wore the mask of a regular commercial airline, cruising Asian skies on the surface while moonlighting as a secret intel hotshot under the name CAT Incorporated.

     As Cold War tensions cranked up, CAT shape-shifted into Air America in 1959. It played a double game – looking like an ordinary commercial airline while secretly moonlighting as a transport ninja for intel ops. The planes kept cruising regular routes, but behind the scenes, they were ferrying spooks on cloak-and-dagger missions.

     Air America's birth coincided with the First Indochina War in 1950, and it didn't stop there. As the Vietnam War kicked into gear, it went from schlepping supplies to playing a starring role in shuttling personnel and gear across Southeast Asia. Initially run by CAT and later by the Pacific Corporation, Air America became the poster child for hush-hush missions and offbeat operations.

     Along came the Hollywood flick "Air America," giving us a peek into the covert airline game. The movie showcased a Pilatus PC-6C/H-2 Turbo Porter, a nod to the real-deal planes the CIA flew in the early '70s, making pit stops in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. And let's not forget the fictional High-Speed Transport (HST) airlines in the "Mission of Vengeance" spy thriller novel, where spies sip martinis mid-flight, shaken but not stirred, adding a dash of daring to the script.

     Even after its swan song on June 30, 1976, Air America's legend lived on. The CIA stayed hooked on private planes, flying around in a fleet of 26 birds, 10 of them joining the party post-2001. The "Mission of Vengeance" spy thriller rolled with a parallel script, featuring the made-up HST airlines zipping CIA operatives around the Caribbean Basin and the Florida Keys.

     But then, Air America's covert ops took a shady turn. Amid its Southeast Asia missions, it got tangled in offbeat and edgy activities. Rumors swirled about drug smuggling, especially hauling opium from the notorious Golden Triangle during the Vietnam War, leaving a stain on its rep.

     In the world of cloak-and-dagger, Air America wasn't just about playing the edgy game. Reports hinted at evacuating not just military folks but also some unlikely passengers – yes, elephants, for humanitarian reasons Talk about thinking outside the cargo hold.

     And in the psychological warfare arena, Air America flexed its muscles by dropping propaganda leaflets over enemy turf during the Vietnam War. It wasn't just about moving bodies and gear; it was about messing with minds, proving that Air America was more than just your average airline.

     But it didn't stop there. Air America was a key player in secret ops, dropping agents behind enemy lines and doing recon flights. Covert activities amped up the complexity of its role, painting a picture of a high-stakes game during the fiery Vietnam War.

     Surprisingly, amidst the covert shenanigans, Air America occasionally moonlighted as a humanitarian superhero. It dished out aid and support in far-flung corners of Southeast Asia, showing its dual nature – part spy, part savior.

     And let's not forget its knack for airlifting more than your usual cargo – think weapons and supplies for CIA-backed crews. Air America was the covert operative in the unconventional warfare game, carrying more than its fair share of secrets in those cargo holds.

     In a nutshell, Air America's history is a tangled web of intrigue, controversy, and a multi-layered approach to its hush-hush missions. From shady drug-smuggling tales to airlifting elephants and dabbling in psychological warfare, the airline left behind a legacy of unconventional operations during a pivotal period in history.

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes the ‘Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster’ series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Mission of Vengeance.