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Barrel Roll

Operation
Title
Barrel Roll
Start Date
6/9/1964
End Date
4/17/1973
CTZ
Laos
TAO
northern Laos; stretching from Vientiane at the Thailand border north to the strategic Plain of Jars and then northeast to the Pathet Lao capital fo Sam Neua bordering Nnorth Vietnam
Objective
to support ground forces of the Royal Laotian Government (RLG) and the CIA-trained Hmong irregular forces of Gen. Vang Pao
Description
This operation originated in response to the failure of the 1962 Geneva Accords which would have set Laos as an independent and neutral state. In response to the Pathet Lao/PAVN offensive in the Plain of Jars, Johnson approved this air operation beginning in 1964. The attacks began on 9 June 1964. Throughout the operation, the U.S. ambassador in Vientiane controlled the air operations, mainly by validating targets. The operation attempted to support the RLG forces and the Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF). Headquarters 2d Air Division/ Thirteenth Air Force at Udorn, Thailand actually ran BARREL ROLL. Later this unit was designated Seventh Air Force / Thirteenth Air Force. Operations centers were set up in each military region. The American forward air controllers (FACs) not only supported the Royal Lao air and ground units, but also the Hmong units. All of this was risky because Laos and the United States were pretending to follow the Geneva Accords and not place belligerent forces in Laos. Because of Laos' weather, the campaign took on a regular pattern. The PAVN operated as the regular forces while the Loatian were often guerilla units and sometimes poor fighters. The Hmong, who fought for the Allies, used the monsoon season to take the offensive while the PAVN/Pathet Lao forces used the dry season for counterattacks. Though the RLG forces were usually outnumbered and outgunned, they had significant U.S. and RLAF air power support. With this support, they were able to hold their own and even launch successful offensives. In August 1966, the Hmong pushed in close to North Vietnam, but a 1967 counterattack by the Pathet Lao and PAVN overran several key Royal Lao and Hmong positions. The U.S. used its air power to give the Hmong and the RLG the advantage again during the 1967 monsoon season. Then in the 1967-1968 dry season, the PAVN attacked with Soviet supplies. They captured LS85 which had a tactical navigation system defended by the U.S. Seven U.S. airmen were killed. Even though during the 1968-1969 season the Communists were better equipped, the RLG forces enjoyed some of their greatest victories. Aircraft was diverted from ROLLING THUNDER to support the RLG. By September, the RLG forces had taken land all the way to the Plain of Jars as well as supplies and ammunition. The Communist counteroffensive at the end of 1969 and the beginning of 1970 resulted in all the RLG gains being lost. B-52 strike were called to save the situation. 1971 resulted in another Communist success, followed by more victories by the determined Hmong forces. Cease-fire negotiations began on 10 November 1972. The Communists used this time to take more Hmong outposts. On 21 February 1973 the U.S. signed a cease-fire. Though they continued to fly B-52 sorties, these were futile gestures due to cease-fire violations. The last sortie was flown on 17 April 1973. Though the number of sorties and performance of the forces were impressive, all this was futile in the end.
Allied Units Involved
Unit
United States Air Force
Branch Abbrv.
USAF
Unit
Hmong and irregular units
Unit
Royal Lao Air Force
Branch Abbrv.
RLAF
Unit
Royal Lao Army
Branch Abbrv.
RLA
Enemy Units Involved
Unit
PAVN
Unit
Pathet Lao
Sources
Author
Spencer C. Tucker
Title
The Encyclopedia Of The Vietnam War: A Political, Social & Military History

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive

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