The Ravens Part I: Mission and Men 

A close friend and veteran referred your video to me. It was great - long overdue that Laos Veterans document and receive some recognition. I was Project 404 (ARMA) 1970-1973 and flew many missions throughout the country during my years there. Many experiences and stories that few would believe. Thanks again for your dedicated service and the video.

I flew at United Airlines with Jim Hix on the Boeing 737-200 in the early 1990s when I was a copilot and Jim was the captain. One day passing through O'Hare, my assigned captain called in sick between flights and a reserve captain took his place. I met the new guy and he introduced himself as Jim Hix. I said "Were you a Raven FAC?" And his face lit up. I had just read the book Ravens and knew who he was. On another occasion, I was deadheading from O'Hare to Newark as a passenger on a United 727. We were landing at night on Runway 22 Left with the winds at 310 degrees gusting to 28 knots. The pilot flying landed on the right main gear first, then rolled about 2,000 feet on the upwind wheel before lowering the left main. I have 4,000 hours of tailwheel time flying the DC-3 and Beech 18 and quickly recognize the pilot who made the landing also had tailwheel experience. After all of the other passengers had deplaned, I went up to the cockpit and asked who had made the landing and the captain raised his hand. I said "You flew tailwheel airplanes. Where and what kind?" His reply was "In the Air Force." I said that he could only have flown the A-1 or the 0-1 and he said he had flown both. Turns out he was ex-Raven Sandy Sanderson who had made that awesome crosswind landing.

My uncle was Raven 26, Chuck Engle. I recently was privileged to meet many of the brave gentlemen. It really was a honor, and many don't know the sacrifice and respect these guys deserve.

My dad was FAC based DaNang 1966. Learning much more of his role now and since his passing in 2010.

Dear Dr. Carter, This is indeed by far the best research piece produced by you. The original videos, testimonials and interviews of real Ravens made this documentary more appealing. There's no better way of telling the story than hearing from those who lived and played the role in the story. My heart goes out for these brave men!!

This is great, I am reading Christopher Robbins and book on the ravens. This really brings it to life. Thank you for producing this. Looking forward to part 2.

I'm the current owner of an O-1 Birddog (Air Force colors of course;) and had the honor of flying a Raven in the back seat couple years ago - wonderful person. Love the airplane, handles great in the air. Landings can get tricky if you let them. Thanks Dr. Paul!

What an honor to have accompanied Paul on a trip to Lao. If history does not always repeat itself as Paul says, then at the very least it lives thanks to this documentary.

I've read all the books you list and been to Laos a few times so i knew most of the stuff.. BUT it is so great that you've interviewed all these great pilots and got their testimony for eternity! They sure have thousands of stories worth telling. Thank you for this great video!

Dr. Carter, Thank you for these videos. You have preserved a piece of history that has gone unnoticed and will never be taught to future generations. I served as a crew-chief on a C-123k Candlestick at NKP in 70-71. I forwarded these videos to a mailing list of 130 veterans and have received a lot of responses from my AF guys that served in that theater of operations while the government denied our activity in Laos and Cambodia. Your chronicles on the Ravens is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks for the stories. Served with 603 Dass later 19th. Tass in Korea 1971. Thank all of you, for your service.

About time the Ravens are recognized and have an opportunity to tell their story. I was a new USAF pilot training graduate flying AC-47’s out of Danang in 1970. When I first heard of the “out country” program, it was called the “Steve Canyon” program. Later I returned in 1972 flying B-52’s out of UTapao, Thailand and flew many bombing missions in the PDJ. As all USAF pilots, great respect to the Ravens in a man’s role in a man’s war.

Very interesting. In 1969 I was an O-2 aircraft mechanic with the 23rd TASS at NKP and Ubon.

, I am watching Dr. Paul T. Carter... Miss old memory....was in there All lovely friends on the history....Thanks all for your served and great missions...God Bless you all

One of Dr.Carter's best videos so far. Awesome!

I was with AA. I knew some of the guys in this video. These guys were the absolute best. Balls like King Kong, fearless drivers. One had to be to strap on a tiny 0-1 and fly around waiting for Charlie to shoot at them. Those were the best days of my life and I'm sure some of the Raven's feel the same. Many Ravens never left Laos.

I visited all of your old Air Force bases in 2013 as a tourist. I remember walking across an old US Air Force Base in Viemtiene, Laos. I must admit I was on my way to a nightclub that was open past the 11:00 p.m. curfew

My father was pararescue in Vietnam. I remember him telling me a few stories of the times they went into laos etc and how for decades, operations in there were regarded as rumor & legend. Good to see all these guys finally get the long awaited recognition they deserve

Glad people are still talking about this, it seems to be such an overlooked important part of history

So I'm almost through The Ravens by Christopher Robbins. I'm really upset that I never heard about these guys up until recently. Was at the National Museum of the United States Air Force last weekend to see the new SAR exhibit and guest speakers. Met Lew Hatch and Mike Cavanaugh, what an honor. God bless these guys. ♥️🇺🇸🦅 Glad I found your channel!

I was in Laos in 1972 and met an old friend flying with the Ravens.Crazy days.

Not a overview of the war but a admiration for our predecessors that's paved the strip with Valor and courage. Much Respect .

Excellent video. These guys were special.

Thank you. Very informative video, looking forward to the next chapters.

I just watched it, Paul. Well done! I am sitting here in KK thinking of those who did not make it home. I cannot wait to watch the second installment. I got the sense from the background in the interviews that at least one lives here, maybe more. I will forward this to some friends. BZ, Darrell.

Outstanding video! I'm currently reading Robbins book, The Ravens, and find this video an excellent compliment to the book. Very much looking forward to part two of this video series!

Boy are there a lot more books about the Ravens since the Robbins book that I did not know about. It was weird happenstance and the fact that I was in the Military Book Club that I got it and learned about Laos. I recently read Flying Through Midnight, where the pilot apparently did a night landing at Long Tieng and it took me a moment to connect the two. Well done professor.

Thanks!

My uncle, yia kha, found craig duehring couple years ago through facebook. They flew together in the war but lost touch with each other. Craig got the hmong acknowledged in washington and the pilots were awarded for their efforts. I had the chance to meet craig and he sent me his personal book about the ravens. General vang pao is my uncle. My grandma on my moms side was general vang pao's sister.

Very informative! Great use of oral histories with archival photos and video.

VERY INTERESTING, INFORMATIVE.. . ALL THHOSE. EFFORTS, , BUT THE WAR WAS LOST.. BLESS M ALL

You guys all out ranked me. I was an Aerospace Medical Tech. working it he Flight Surgeons office, 1964-68. I had to salute guys like you, and was proud to do it. However, piss me off an suddenly you developed high blood pressure or a depth perception problem and the like.. I never really did that and none of us would have. Though my fellow Medics and I would ponder and chat about the possibilities. I did get some of my own sense of being an officer in the private sector. The GI Bill helped me get a BA. I later went on to earn an MBA and executive positions with a fortune 500 co.

Wonderfull stories. All of these men need to be thanked for their service...

Craig Morrison (Raven) became an instructor pilot at Delta Airlines after his SE Asia service. I ran across him during my DC-9 recurrent training. Terrific pilot, fun guy and a very good instructor. Unfortunately he was killed in a T-6 accident in 1995.

I WOULD OF LOVED TO TAKE ON JOB !! NO RULES!! WORKING FOR C I A ?? OPPORTUNITY??? THESE GUYS WERE SAINTS!!! NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE WHAT THEY WENT THREW DAY AFTER DAY AND LIFE THEY SAVED !! WELCOME HOME!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS STORY!!! THEIR STORIES MUST BE TOLD AND HEARD!! DON'T LET THE POLITICIANS AND AMERICAN PUBLIC FORGET!!!!

This is a great untold story. I'm retired USAF and my good buddy is also. He was a Raven and his stories and the pictures he has shown me from his time with T-28's in Laos was amazing.. He showed me pictures of them swapping out the flags on the aircraft.

Very good video , and waiting to see the next series what follows. I watch a lot of videos, but I have to say, yours are the best out there. Thanks for sharing from all of us that follow you.

I remember Raven 30, Hoss McBride, from my very early childhood. Hoss was a friend of my father, Moe Capps, they both served together in the AF. I have a very faint memory of Hoss as a child when he visited my dad just before leaving for Viet Nam. The smile on his face in the pic shown is exactly what I remember, he was very jovial with my brother and I. I will share this with my mom (Betty), who just turned 92, she has told me many great stories of Hoss and my dad.

Great video Paul,looking forward to more..😀

This looks interesting, I'll watch a few minutes and come back to it. Watched to the end, could not turn it off! Look forward to part 2 Thanks...

I am generally interested only in the Revolutionary War, but Carter's video on the Ravens Part I is totally riveting. I'm looking forward to viewing Part II just released.

A great tribute to those who served in the Ravens. We had several Ravens join the Thailand Laos Cambodia Brotherhood. In the early days with the email servers we read some of the stories and comments made in reply. I don't know who is on your mailing list, therefore, I will shotgun this to a few groups and individuals. Thank you.

I have read all I can find about the Ravens FA operations and have lots of respect for these wild fellows. I wish I could have a time in my life when I could be about as free as they are all the time

Dad was a Covey FAC (Covey50) with 20th TASS. He flew O-1's in Khe Sanh from Nov '66 - Aug '67. He was not the same person when he came back.

I own this book. I have read it a few times. These guys had big brass balls. They did what a lot of guys wanted to,but didn't have the Chace. Very brave young men,with balls of steel

My father was a hmong MP in Long Cheng back then providing security for the compounds where the ravens stayed...been a few years but AA/Ravens had a reunion in Minnesota, I was very fortunate to take part as a color guard for them...many of them were surprised to see that we were OIF/OEF veterans continuing our peoples warrior legacy.

I've read that whole book and many but seeing a few more pix and video is very good. Thank You. Hmong kid.

Thank you for sharing the story ..yes we form.. long chang

My father was in the Ravens under the code name "Simple Simon." As a child, I knew my father had been in the Airforce as a mechanic. He barely talked about it, so I simply assumed that it was not a good time for him and he just didn't like talking about it. When the existence of the Ravens was declassified, my father suddenly had a bunch of stories to tell. He didn't tell me anything that would actually TELL me what he was doing, or even where he was... only that it involved machines, driving, and long days that were tiring enough that you could get half way through a tuna-prune-cornflake omelet before realizing it tasted weird. I flipped his TV to the History Channel when a rerun episode of Mail Call was talking about the Ravens. My father did smile, but it was to tell me that that's what other Ravens were doing. Meaning... I would remain clueless what he was doing. Were I to show him this video, I think that's the answer I'd get from him again... that that's what other Ravens were doing (he was, after all, in the Airforce as a mechanic and not a pilot). At the end of his life, he did type up some memories. It has more technical information than what he orally gave me, but not enough to give a layperson like me an idea of what was really going on. I guess the lesson is: Whatever the Ravens were doing, they were doing more than what even this video says. Their full story is still untold. And probably will stay that way.

I did one tour at Udorn and two at NKP. recall them stopping in.

Respect!

A few years back, 2018, I was riding offroad motorcycle through Thailand, a thing I've had enjoyed every year for the last 20 years. Exploring jungle trails, staying at hilltribe villages and so on. One rainy hot day, I found the book The Raven by Christopher Robbins in an old used books shop, up North, in the Golden Triangle. Damn. Big fan of the History of the region, obviously, but never heard of that story before ? What a slap in the face. So I put my *ss on the bike, crossed the Mekhong, rode through Laos. Very, very, long story short, managed to reach Long Tieng / Long Cheng / LS20A. Spent a couple of nights there. I could visit the old house of Vang Pao, the barracks of Raven guys and all. Let me tell ya, I've been riding motorbikes all around Asia and Africa, had my share of ups & downs, and that ride through Laos with the Raven book on my pocket was the very best adventure of my life. Since then I've been reading everything I could / Watching every piece of documentary on this not-so-secret-anymore war, and I have to say this video is amazing. Great archive footage, great interviews. KUDOS. And thank you.

The title says, Part 1. Is there a part 2? I have Hmong friends who fought in Laos, and they and their families appreciate this video. Thank you.

Cowboys but sometimes the world needs Cowboys.

Thank you for the info. Well done

Excellent....

Thank you for your service to the royal laos and hmong military under General vang.

Thanks for bringing this story out. When do we get to see Part II?

Thank you!

I first learned to fly as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol on a vintage (at the time) O-1 Birdog. I later had the opportunity to fly several hours in an O-2 Skymaster! I obtained my private pilot's license in a Cessna 152 in 1979.

Opposite from my hills I saw OV-10 shoot rockets and T-28 4-5 of them dived bombarded hills near my hills .

Hello. I'm Green back. Iwas there too LS-20A and PDJ. Fought that war to the day of cease fire and come home alive nice to see your article.

Thai mercenary and Hmong was at DMZ LAOS border with HANOI 60’s before we KHMER Republic Army sent to trained in Laos PS-18 1970 . Several months later our battalion boarded on CH-53 CH-47 left PAK Se air Port dropped off on ATTAPEU hills west of Ho Chi Minh trail Laos 1970 . First our Hills was PS-38 , PS-72 , PS-165 last before I got wounded almost 3 months on the hills . Cessna single engine plane landed on short run way on hills PS-165 picked me up brought me to Laotian army base PS-22 awaited military plane C-123 brought me last to the CIA HOSPITAL at PS-18 next to my old barracks on the edge of Mekong River near Thai Ubon border 1970 .

Ravens of pleiku was a great book !!

My father worked for CIA at that time in Long Cheng he passed away several years ago . His code name was “ War Lord”

Frank Kricker was a Raven, and my little brothers Godfather. Interesting guy and interesting little war.

We served next to the 21st TASS in Vietnam; these guys had BALLS bigger than COCOANUTS.

I have flown a North American T28C Trojan before. ...what a beast.

My Uncle, Tom Shera was Raven 46 and Raven 72. I've spent MANY hours talking with him about his 5 tours in SEA.

❤ Steve Canyon!

My Uncle Major Ernest McBride was a Raven . I believe his call sign was Raven 30. He was shot down in November 1968. He played a guitar and had a dead fossilized possum tail as a swizel stick. He dropped candy from his O1 to the village children. Anybody remember him??

About 30 years ago I restored and maintained WWII type aircraft, including a couple T-28s. One of the guys I worked for was a civilian T-28 driver (I think! Small chance he was relaying a story of someone else - my memory sucks) during this time in history, but I don’t think he mentioned he was a Raven; but then, I didn’t know about the Ravens until a later T-28 resto project (via Robbins’ book) so if he did, I didn’t know enough to make an association with a real group. I’m aware of Air America, and he may have been with this organization, unless there were other civilian companies that were ‘chartered.’ Anyway, he had this story of having had flown so low during a mission, he impacted something fairly substantial - like the prop clipping the ground or something. Turns out, there were body parts and perhaps a torso stuck in the cowling, on the fore of the radial engine, between the prop and the engine cylinders. Evidently, the crux of his story was he collided with a Viet Cong guerrilla, who may or may not have been firing at him. I’m not certain why he was so low, unless in that particular circumstance it was to avoid small arms ground fire - maybe he was above a ridge and being shot at from the sides?? I have absolutely no idea if this is true, a dramatic stretching of the truth, or something else, but I figure if anyone would’ve heard of it, perhaps it would be someone watching this video and perusing the comments. My boss was a pretty self confident guy, not prone to bs or self promotion, and was a pretty talented pilot and aircraft restorer. He was pretty critical of the other folks in our little click that did run off with their mouths. But who knows, I was pretty young and impressionable then. Also, is there a roster list of the Ravens? I hesitate to post my old boss’ name in case I misheard, misunderstood, or misremembered what he said, and I don’t want to damage his reputation or credibility, or simply misrepresent his contributions. Finally, a little off topic, but just how accurate was Air America? Obviously it was meant as entertainment, and I found it always entertaining the 5-10 times I watched it :), but was the gist of it close enough? I thought the aircraft shown were accurate, so I always wondered how far up the story line the general accuracy extended. I hope this awareness of the Ravens could find its way to the silver screen. At least there are plenty of Trojans flying!

18:26 the Plain of Jars, where my family came from. Im Hmong, first generation Hmong-American born. My People fought hard against Communist. EDIT - I have an photo of my grandpa Captain Xay Tou Hawj an radio-man standing in attention with his baby elephant gifted by his mens when found patrolling in the jungle of Laos. 🐘🐘🐘

Col Jim Roper was a Raven FAC who latter became my squadron commander in F-111Fs. Roper had a lot of close air support experience. Also flew A-10 s and had a combat jump into Grenada as an ALO. We called him the Tasmanian devil. But not to his face.

This is an interesting element of the American war in Indochina.

I joined the Air Operations Center in Luang Prabang in September 1969 as their intelligence specialist. I was assigned under bizarre circumstances, as related in my book "In the Black". I spent 18 months in LP, and knew some of the Ravens. It's all true. Human imagination could not invent lies that exotic.

10:28 laf, was wondering what those slotted ‘insignia holders’ on the sides of the fuselage were for! On my second T-28 project in West Bend, WI, we also had 2 or 3 T-28D models trussed up in a shipping rack. I primarily used them to assist in the assembly of our project plane, although we occasionally cannibalized some parts off them. The fuselages had the ‘panel slots’ on them, as described by these Ravens, to rapidly ‘adjust’ their insignias, which now, to me, indicates these hulks had a Laotian and possibly a Raven history! We also had the wings and control surfaces of these D’s (and many more), and a fairly large inventory of T-28 parts, but the entire lot was sold to an elderly wealthy guy interested in one or more T-28 projects. He was located at the Oshkosh airport, if memory serves - nice man, although very likely to have passed on by now. Wonder what ever happened to those airframes, as I’ve long since left the warbird scene.

As a young Hmong man I felt so guilty that in the past in Laos our parents fought a war it wasn't our own country. We fought a war that didn't cause by us, we fought a war that caused by somebody else. We fought a war that didn't belong to us, we fought a war that belonged to somebody else. We should let the Indochina War to the Laos--Viet--USA who caused the war to handle, not us because we fought a war that the world or UN didn't recognize and we didn't show on the American History Book like Vietnam.

I’d would love to speak with you one day! I interview MACVSOG vets and the occasional pilot.. I’m studying up skyline ridge for a project now

Chris Robbins and his excellent book mentions many unsung hero's like Chuck Engle as mentioned below. There are other books having read them all. The 0-1 pilots had few options if they crashed..and many did as a result of ground fire. In short, "Brave Men Do"...RH/11A

My brother in law was a Raven FAC, and I flew with two Ravens at United Airlines.

Headhunters

hardcore guys , Dad flew with " mac the fac" McAllister

since the title stated "The Ravens Part I: Mission and Men" will there be a Part II to this?

Very,very interesting

Captured NVA officers feared the Birddog the most. They called her the bringer s of death. If a birddog spotted them, Hell would open up above.

Wow! Is that real footage from the Ravens' airplanes?

Hey I have some films that was given to my father inlaw from a pilot or a cameraman of that Era.

Do you really think this will not happen again? I believe it is and will,

I wonder if these guys if given the opportunity, would patrol the border like they did over there?

Ok I gotta ask……what’s with stubbornly refusing to pronounce the S at the end of Laos ?

Blame Sir Robert Thompson. Good video.

I know a lots of those weapons afraid to shoot the Raven because the consequences of those Raven findings is too deadly. According to some Vietcong that being brought back to Long Cheng.

Why I hear nothing about the fact that Laos is the most bombed country in the world, agent orange and agent purple. And how this secret war still affects many families here in Laos

Flying outlaws!

😮😮😮triple canopy always bad omen😮😮😮

I found this video to be something I need to further pursuit. Did anyone you know or yourself fly in Long Tieng Laos? It is so important to me. My father was with the Ravens. He flew for many years until he was killed in a single engine Cessna with an American pilot. Please send any info you can. I am trying to see if that pilot is still alive and if so, I want to talk with him. Thank you.

15:55: Brilliant scholarship.

I have one guy from high school who I heard was flying a F 4F who is still in Cambodia never came home

I read the book way back in the 90’s. The one detail I most remember from the book is one of pilot’s nickname was, “pigf***er” or something similar to that. If I recall correctly, that same pilot would cook dinner every evening after flying all day for the other pilots. Can anyone here clarify who that pilot was? Was it Cavanaugh? Or Craig Morrison?