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CAMBODIA

Opening up Recon of Western Cambodia. A typical
Special Operations Mission from U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand,
to Sihanoukville, Angkor Wat, and Battambang, Cambodia.

July 4, 1970

Cambodia Missions
                                                                                           — Air Force Magazine On Line


Click on image for larger photo
the ranch
Recon Operations Center, U-Tapao, Thailand,
with NKP's OV-10 FAC aircraft.
monkey hotel ov-10
Capt. Monkey Hotel mounted for opening
Western Cambodia aerial reconnaissance.
shadow on ocean
OV-10 shadow on the ocean on low altitude, high-speed
approach to the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
(slide decomposing)
 
buzzing hotel
 Buzzing the hotel at Sihanoukeville above the port.
On the first pass, we looked level into the windows
from 100 yards at full speed!
(slide decomposing)
Sihanoukville Docks
Port of Sihanoukville docks. I had briefed
Lt. Gen Stewart, SAC DCI, and the CINCSAC,
on this facility with SR-71 photography at 85,000 feet.
Now I was seeing it at a couple hundred feet.
Cambodian plains
Not the Serengeti in Africa: the plains of
Central Cambodia.
Angkor
Angkor Wat from a safe distance. We drew small arms
fire but no response permitted: rules of engagement with
an 8th Wonder of the World.
High Altitude recon
High Altitude recon around the Tonle Sap
near Angkor Wat.
chasing buffalo
 Chasing Water Buffalo by OV-10
in Cambodia.
(slide decomposing)
outpost 4th of July, 1970 over Western Cambodia.
A Cambodian Army radioman wished
our country "Happy Birthday to America"
as we passed over his remote outpost.
(slide decomposing)
Battambang
Battambang: Cambodia's second largest city.
We went in to take a peek at who controlled it.
flooded airfield defenses
More fast-and-low-level: Battambang airfield.
Occupied defenses did not fire on us. All calm.

jungle river near Thai border
Jungle river near the Thai border. Wild and
beautiful country near mission's end.


Capt. Mike

07/02/10