Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM Vietnam

MajGen Larry S. Taylor | Air America

5:30   |   One type of mission for Air America pilots was support for CIA operatives embedded with local tribes, particularly the Hmong. A lot of the action was near the Ho Chi Minh trail and the lesser known Sihanouk Trail, which was where pilot Larry Taylor had his helicopter shot up by ground fire.

More From MajGen Larry S. Taylor

Keywords   :     Larry S. Taylor    helicopter    pilot    Air America    Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)    Hmong    Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU)    West Point    Ho Chi Minh Trail    Cambodia    Sihanouk Trail    Nung    Vietnam    Billy Pierson    Douglas A-1 Skyraider

Videos ( 15 )
Other
  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Other  |  Multiple Units  |  3:49

    Beer and ball games. That's what retired Marine Corps General and former Air America pilot Larry Taylor enjoys these days. He remains involved in various activities related to his service and has a ready lesson available for civic groups who ask him to speak. It can be summed up as "the troops eat first."

Vietnam
  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  7:08

    Marine aviator Larry Taylor valued his stint with a ground unit as a liaison officer, but he was intrigued by this civilian outfit, Air America. It was an open secret that it was an intelligence operation supporting friendly locals in Southeast Asia. It could be mundane supply and refugee flights or it could be dangerous insertions on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  5:11

    How did that interview with Air America go? Aviator Larry Taylor got the job, but he found out when he got to Thailand that he'd been lied to about his interest in flying T-28's. He was satisfied flying helicopters, though, and since he was a civilian, he actually got some time off every month.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  6:03

    Air America pilot Larry Taylor flew the Sikorsky H-34, the same aircraft he'd flown in the Marines. It could take a lot of punishment and keep on flying, which was something he really loved. Official policy was that the civilian pilots could not carry weapons, but in a war zone, that policy was fairly flexible.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  4:02

    Air America aviator Larry Taylor was operating near a secret communications site when he heard on the radio that an A-1 Skyraider pilot was bailing out. He flew his helicopter to the area and was waiting when the parachute came down. It would be years before he learned the name of the rescued pilot.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  5:09

    Air America pilot Larry Taylor speaks of his encounters with the legendary Anthony Poshepny, a.k.a. Tony Poe. Poe was a CIA operative living with the Hmnog tribe in a remote area of Laos. He had married a local woman and was considered indispensable to the clandestine campaign to aid the indigenous people.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  5:35

    In his 20 months with Air America, pilot Larry Taylor never heard the initials "CIA" spoken. He and his colleagues were never under any misconception, though, about who they were working for. He dismisses the accusation that Air America was involved in smuggling heroin on the side.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  2:57

    Did he have to keep a low profile in Thailand as a civilian working for Air America? Larry Taylor says no, he just went about his day. He had a Thai girlfriend and enjoyed dinners with her family.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  Air America  |  8:13

    Air America pilot Larry Taylor went with a pal from the Army to Vung Tau for a little R&R. There was just one problem. It was the end of January 1968 and the Tet New Year celebrations were about to begin. As soon as they arrived in Vung Tau, they immediately began hearing rumors of attacks. It was about to get real stressful.

  • MajGen Larry S. Taylor  |  Vietnam  |  US Marine Corps Reserve  |  4:35

    After his time with Air America, Larry Taylor returned home and did two things, joined the Marine Corps Reserve and tried to find that sweet airline job. He finally got the job and concurrently rose through the ranks of the Marines. He would even have some active duty left in him in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

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