10 Days In The Kingdom Of Laos

[BelgianBoy 119]

+1 ! many thanks, been to most place you mention, so good memories.

[Plainsdrifter 22]

I agree, very enjoyable TR MM.

 

Don't know if its the subject matter or your photo taking style, but I find I want to re-trace your footsteps there. Only thing is don't know where to find 10 days to do it in.

 

Great job.

[The_Munchmaster 201]

Thanks guys, glad you've enjoyed it.

 

My chauffeur Khun Coss picking me up in about 40 minutes to take me to the airport, so will be back in Bkk about 3pm.

[The_Munchmaster 201]

Update from return trip last month

 

Day 4 (4 December 2012) – Part 1 (due to restriction on number of photos in a post)

Next we visited the Lao People’s Army History Museum, which was just across the road and surely had to be better than the People's Security Museum.Unfortunately we never got to find out as it was hosting a ceremony of some kind and was closed to the public.

 

We went back again this trip but once again it was closed so no chance to see inside other than a peak through a half opened door.

 

We drove around the back though and found another collection of military hardware, mainly American.

 

Troop carrier?

 

Small plane, perhaps for reconnaissance?

 

Huey (probably won't fly again)

 

Willys Jeep

 

Gas tank under the drivers seat, good design!

 

155mm Howitzer M1A1

 

105mm Howitzer M2A

 

75mm Pack Howitzer M1A

[The_Munchmaster 201]

A few more pics from the Army History Museum

 

 

 

 

[Flashermac 1403]

Like everything in Laos's "museums" - neglected, rusty, falling apart.

 

I wonder if they have a display on the HCM trail, showing how Hanoi completely took over all of Laos along the VN and Cambodian borders.

[huumlaar 58]

Does Willy know that's where his jeep is?

[Specialist 117]

The light airplane is almost certainly a Cessna L-19/O-1 "Bird Dog".

[The_Munchmaster 201]

Thanks Specialist, assumed it was some kinda Cesna, coz thats the only small plane I know!!

[Plainsdrifter 22]

The forward air controllers flew 0-1 Bird Dogs were known as The Ravens. They provided the intelligence needed to order the US bombers hitting NV units operating in the HCM trail in Laos. The Ravens were a secret program that suffered very high casualty rates. These planes needed to fly low and slow in order to observe VC units, that is why they suffered such high loss rates.