Covert sites of the Laotian Civil War were clandestine U.S. military installations for conducting covert paramilitary and combat operations in the Kingdom of Laos. Airstrips within the Kingdom of Laos were originally designated by Air America as "Site XX" (with XX being a number). In September 1961, the designation changed to "VS XX", meaning "Victor Site XX". On 16 May 1964, the airstrips received their final designation; the site names then used the abbreviation "LS"—Lima Site—for unimproved strips, or "L"—Lima—for paved runways. The terms "Victor" and "Lima" were taken from the existing military phonetic code.Conboy, Morrison, pp. 103–104.

These sites typically were centered on a dirt landing strip for STOL aircraft such as the Air America Helio Courier or Pilatus Porter. These strips were often carved out along ridge lines, and were seldom flat, straight, or of sufficient length. However, they were crucial for resupply and personnel transport, including medical evacuations. To quote one source: "Some of these defied all the safety rules even of military aviation."Ahern, p. 64. A U.S. Air Force inspection team noted that even the best of the Lima strips was inferior to any air strips in Vietnam.Ahern, p. 98. Listing follows.

Lima sites of the Laotian Civil War No. Name Width × length Elevation Coordinates Remarks LS2 San Tiau 100 × 800 ft 5,000 ft Used as base for Kou KietConboy, pp. 213–215. LS03 Nong Het 100 × 1,200 ft 4,700 ft L 05 Paksong 3,445 ft LS5 Ban Pa Dong 70 × 1,670 ft 4,600 ft Original site of Operation Momentum LS6Vang Viang 90 × 4,400 ft800 ft L08 Vientiane 561 ft Air operations center for Military Region 5 L10 Attopeu 344 ft. LS10 Ban Ban 100 × 1,500 ft. 1,888 ft L11 Pakse 330 ft Air operations center for Military Region 4 LS15 Ban Na 75 X 1,200 ft 5,050 ft LS19 Phou Khe 6,200 ft LS20 Sam Thong 50 X 1,900 ft 3,800 ft Center for USAID refugee relief LS20A Long Tieng 60 X 4,450 ft 3,250 ft Air operations center for Military Region 2 LS22 Xieng Khouang 32 X 3,030 ft 3,444 ft L25 Ban Huoeisay Airport 1,380 ft LS26 Xieng Dat 150 × 4,000 ft 2,350 ft LS30 See LS20A. LS32 Bouamlong 75 X 1,300 ft 4,000 ft LS36 Na Khang 4,400 ft L39 Savannakhet 509 ft Air operations center for Military Region 3 L44 Salavan 550 ft. L51 Pha Khe (west of LS20A Long Tieng) L54 Luang Prabang International Airport 997 ft Air operations center for Military Region ILS57Phou So4,500 ft19.641184, 102.917037(Google coordinates) LS61 Muang Phalan TACAN Site LS69 Ban Xieng Lom 1,900 ft LS85 Phou Pha Thi 4,500 ft TACAN was overrun on 11 March 1968 LS88 Bouam Long 40 × 800 ft 5,000  ft Used as base for Kou Kiet LS98 Long Tieng 3,120 ft L108 Muang Soui 3,600 ft L118A Nam Yu 1,900 ft LS123 Xam Xauj Commander, Major Wa Kai Vue LS178 Phou Saly 3,200 ft LS187 Ban Y LS189 Ban Houei Sane 480 ft LS265 Old San Soak LS272 Ban Xong-Na Xu ??? ft LS 289 Khong Sedone 450 ft UTM WC8524Hukle, et al, p. 30> LS 337 Phou Kang Neua (Xiangkhouang) LS 449 Toong Set 4,100 ft UTM XB3781 Alternative designation PS 49Hukle, et al, p. 25.

See also Laotian Civil War Kingdom of Laos North Vietnamese invasion of Laos People's Army of Vietnam Hmong people Lao Veterans of America Laos Memorial Lao Veterans of America Institute

Notes

Bibliography Ahern, Thomas L. Jr. (2006). Undercover Armies: CIA and Surrogate Warfare in Laos. Center for the Study of Intelligence. Classified control no. C05303949. Conboy, Kenneth and James Morrison (1995). Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos. Paladin Press, ISBNs 0-87364-825-0, 978-1-58160-535-8. Hukle, Donald G.; Melvin F. Porter; Paul T. Ringenbach; Richard R. Sexton; Judith A. Skipworth; Adolph H. Zabka. (1974). The Bolovens Campaign, 28 July - 28 December 1971 (Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report). Pacific Air Force CHECO Division. ASIN: B00B65VIOU.