Thread by @CIA

CIA #Museum AotW: "An Air Combat First" by Keith Woodcock, Oil on Canvas 2007
#painting
#art
1.usa.gov/1rSpktZ

#Site85: US radar facility perched on 5,800-foot mountain in NE Laos provided all-weather guidance to F-105 fighter-bombers.

#AirAmerica provided critical air support to @usairforce techs, CIA case officers, & Hmong & Thai security forces at #Site85.

12 Jan 1968: Four N. Vietnamese Colt biplanes—modified to drop “bombs” improvised from 122-mm mortars & 57-mm rockets—headed for #Site85.

Approaching #Site85, the four Colts split into pairs—one pair began low-level bombing & strafing passes & the other pair circled nearby.

#AirAmerica pilot Ted Moore, flying an ammunition-supply run to #Site85 in his unarmed UH-1D “Huey” helicopter, saw the biplanes attacking.

Moore & mechanic Glenn Woods took chase of 1st Colt. Woods pulled out his AK-47 & began firing at plane.
#Site85

Pursuit continued for more than 20 minutes until 2nd Colt (hit by ground fire) joined 1st to try to escape #Site85 & get back to N. Vietnam.

Both attacking Colts suffered severe bullet damage & crashed before reaching border. The 2 unengaged Colts retreated from #Site85 unharmed.

2 months later, North Vietnamese commandos overran #Site85 in deadliest single ground loss of @usairforce personnel during the #VietnamWar.

The aerial victory at #Site85 was the only shoot down of enemy plane from a helicopter during the #VietnamWar.

1.usa.gov/1rSpktZ