RLAF project.org

If the RLAF operations between 1964 and 1975 were to be represented by one type of aircraft, it would be the N.A. T-28D Trojan. It was the most numerous type of aircraft in service, with about 150 being delivered. Countless strike missions were flown by RLAF pilots against the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese troops. The RLAF losses of both pilots and aircraft on operations as well as accidents were high. Although new RLAF T-28 pilots were churned out at Udorn, the losses seemed to average the number of new pilots available. Apart from aircraft shot down by ground fire, the RLAF suffered a number of losses during base attacks. On February 2, 1967, six T-28s were destroyed, with three more being damaged at Luang Prabang in a "disastrously successful" NVA rocket attack. Just over four months later, on July 16, nine T-28s were destroyed at Luang Prabang by satchel charges placed by the NVA. About 75 T-28s were in service in 1969, their numbers being depleted through operational losses and accidents. By early 1973, the RLAF had a total of 56 T-28s on strength.

After the signing of the Paris Peace Treaty, 16 T-28s were transferred to the Philippines AF. Of the remaining 40, about 29 were taken over in 1975 by the Pathet Lao. The last RLAF offensive operation occured on April 14, 1975, when a vital road junction just north of Vientiane had been captured by the Pathet Lao. The attack, performed by nine T-28s, was ordered by the Royal Lao Government Defence Minister, who hadn't secured permission from the Prime Minister in this matter. As a result of the public berating of the Defence Minister, the RLAF became de facto grounded.

Apart from regular RLAF T-28 operations, a squadron of Hmong pilots operated T-28s from Long Tieng from 1967. The creation of this aerial unit was the brain-child of the Hmong general Vang Pao. RTAF pilots flew missions over Laos as well. These missions were codenamed "Firefly".