When I graduated from Udorn on T-28 May 66 when back to Savannakheth or L-39 which was the main base for RLAF T-28s working out of there until Gen. Ma unsuccessful coup, then recuperated those T-28s from Udorn and when up to LP (L-54) base there for 2 years and later cover both Vientiane and LP until early 70 cover largely MR-II and MR-V during the 68-70 and during the Infamous Muong Soui over ran, my Call Sign was Chaophakhao Red, I was joint up with Lee Lue flight of 3 as # 4 when he was shot down at Xieng Det, and I got that bloody gun that downed Lee Lue my best friend.

I was base at Vientiane most of my trash hauler time from late 70 until after the war end. Early 71 when I was PIC for AC-47 my first call sign was Spooky 77 but that coincided with the E-Squawk, so I change to Spooky-13 if you might recall, I covered most of the MR-II and MR-V area and sometime had to go up north to LP or down to L-11 when needed (when it got hotter or their A/C down for repair or phase) Since I was single it's more convenient than others who had family tied up, took up Squadron Commander when the Seniors left for Office Staff and rarely fly.

Trained on C-123K when AA ready to US bound also hold the Transport Squad Comm. until the PL took over. Still fly and serve my belove Country, but the PL didn't seem to like or appreciated my Air Commando ways of flight too much and send me to reeducation camp in Ban Ban area. After spending my time in HELL for 3 years 2 months 2 weeks and 4 days (man remember those days damn well) I had enough and decide to made a daring daylight escape, successfully with 2 other friends, one was a H-34 Chopper Pilot another Military Police, we show up at Nong Khai 2 days after escape.

Both my friends get settled down in US before me, I was stuck at NK for 20 months and Jerry "Hog" Daniel came to my rescue and I was settled down in S. California 2 weeks before 81 Christmas. Still regret didn't have a chance to meet Jerry again after I left Thailand.  (editor's note:  by war's end Kham had flown 3000 combat missions).

Kham Phiou Manivanh
Chaophakhao Red and Spooky-13.
T-28, C/AC-47, C-123K Pilot RLAF

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Used courtesy of: http://www.t28trojanfoundation.com/rlaf.html