Artifact Details
On 12 January 1968, four North Vietnamese AN-2 “Colt” biplanes, painted dark green and modified to drop bombs, flew into Laos headed for a US radar facility that was providing critical all-weather guidance to American warplanes flying strike missions against targets in North Vietnam. By chance, an unarmed CIA UH-1D “Huey” helicopter approached the site at the same time and gave chase with the onboard flight mechanic firing his AK-47 at one of the Colts. After a 20-minute pursuit, the Colt crashed, thus earning the Huey’s two-man crew the distinction of having shot down an enemy fixed-wing aircraft from a helicopter, a one-of-a-kind victory. This throttle came from the wreckage.
Artifact Specs
26 cm x 19 cm x 13 cm
(L x W x H)
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Stories of Sacrifice and Dedication Civil Air Transport, Air America, and the CIA