Operation Pony Express

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Operation Pony Express
Part of The Vietnam War
Helicopters and pilots of the 20th SOS at a helicopter base designated Lima Site 20A, June 1969
Date 1965- Location Across the borders of Cambodia and Laos Result
Belligerents
United States Republic of Vietnam	Democratic Republic of Vietnam

The Pony Express was the covert transportation of, and the provision of aerial support for, American soldiers and material operating across the Laotian and Cambodias borders during the Vietnam War.^[1][2] It was provided by helicopters of the US 20th Special Operations Squadron, the only USAF combat helicopter in Vietnam,^[3] which had been transferred there in 1965 and was known as the "Green Hornets".^[4]

[edit] Background

For more details on this topic, see Cambodian Campaign.

For more details on this topic, see Operation Lam Son 719.

The Ho Chi Minh trail, the logistical system that supplied the manpower and materiel for the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the People's Army of Vietnam, ran not only through the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam, but also through the neighbouring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Via the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group, the US military aimed to work outside of Vietnam and General Westmoreland's jurisdiction:

"to execute an intensified program of harassment, diversion, political pressure, capture of prisoners, physical destruction, acquisition of intelligence, generation of propaganda, and diversion of resources, against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam."^[5]

After a slow and shaky start, the unit got its operations underway. Originally, these consisted of a continuation of the CIA's agent infiltrations. Teams of RVN volunteers were parachuted into the DRV, but the majority of them were captured soon after their insertions. Maritime operations against the coast of North Vietnam picked up after the delivery of Norwegian-built "Nasty" Class torpedo boats to the unit but, unfortunately, these operations also fell short of their goals. On 21 September 1965 the JCS authorized MACSOG to begin cross-border operations within Laos in areas contiguous to the South Vietnam's western border.^[6]

[edit] Operations

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2007)

Symbol of the Pony Express at the 20th SOS air base

Typically the 20th SOS carried unconventional forces across the border for unsanctioned missions into Cambodia and Laos, such as the special operations group inserted by CH-53E helicopter across the Vietnamese border on June 30, 1968.^[3] Many of these SOG recon teams were made up of personnel indigenous to the population, reducing American combat casualties.^[1] Helicopters from other units were also borrowed for Pony Express missions (most notably the 21st SOS),^[7] as according to 20th SOS' Lt. Colonel Matthew D. Kirkpatrick, the 20th SOS did not always have the helicopters to cope with their large mission loads, some of which could require up to twenty aircraft.^[8] While the Pony Express helicopters were intended mainly as transportation, by January 1970 the 20th SOS had flown 75% combat missions and only 25% transportation.^[9]

Emblem of the 20th SOS, the Pony Express

A USAF CH-3E downed in a rice paddy after having taken off with too many members of a Thai Artillery team onboard, June 1969.^[10]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Printed sources:

• Dorr, Robert F. Air War Hanoi, 1988 ISBN 0713717831
• Dunstan, Simon Vietnam Choppers: helicopters in battle 1950-75, 2003 ISBN 1841767964
• Rosenau, William Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets, 2001 ISBN 083303071X

Websites:

• Global Security's 20th Special Operations Squadrom (20th SOS) retrieved June 6, 2007
• Kirkpatrick, Matthew D. Special Operations Squadron: Pony Express from Air War Vietnam retrieved June 6, 2007