U.S. Air Force interdiction bombing campaign to support Royalist guerrillas
Belligerents
Kingdom of Laos Supported by United States
North Vietnam Supported by: Soviet Union People's Republic of China
Units involved
U.S. Air Force Royal Lao Air Force Raven Forward Air Controllers Royalist guerrillas
Four PAVN battalions
Casualties and losses
Unknown
Unknown Extensive destruction of materiel
v
t
e
Military engagements of the Laotian Civil War
North Vietnamese invasion
Hotfoot
1960 Laotian coups (Battle of Vientiane)
Battle of Ban Pa Dong
Battle of Luang Namtha
Momentum
Pincushion
Battle of Lak Sao
Hardnose
Wapi
1964 Laotian coups
Triangle
Unity
1965 Laotian coups
Star
Battle of Nam Bac
Battles of Nakhang
1966 Laotian coup d'état
Ban Naden raid
1967 Opium War
Sone Pet
Battle of Ban Houei Sane
Battle of Lima Site 85
Pigfat
Junction City Jr.
Toan Thang
Left Jab
Off Balance
About Face
139
Diamond Arrow
Snake Eyes
Maeng Da
Honorable Dragon
Tailwind
Counterpunch
Tchepone
Copper
Silver Buckle
74B
Lam Son 719
Desert Rat
Xien Dong
Phoutah
Phiboonpol
Sayasila
Phou Khao Kham
Sourisak Montry VIII
Bedrock
Thao La
Z
Maharat
Sinsay
Strength I
Strength II
Fa Ngum
Black Lion
Phou Phiang II
Black Lion III
972
Maharat II
Phou Phiang III
1973 Laotian coup d'état attempt
Hin Heup
Air operations
Booster Shot
Millpond
Barrel Roll
Steel Tiger
Pony Express
Tiger Hound
Project 404
Commando Hunt
Raindance
Menu
Operation Raindance was a military operation of the Laotian Civil War, staged from 17 March to 7 April 1969. It was launched by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in support of Hmong guerrillas raised by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). As the guerrillas were being pressured by enemy troops pushing to within ten kilometers of their main bases, the aerial campaign was planned to cause a pullback by the pressing communists.
As the first well-targeted aerial campaign in Laos, Operation Raindance's 65 strikes per day gained such great results that it was extended indefinitely. Even after its "ending" on 7 April, the interdiction continued; eventually, it would be dubbed Operation Stranglehold. In all, it was the most successful Lao air strike operation to date. Among enemy losses to air were two tanks, two BTR-40 armored cars, 32 other vehicles, 28 antiaircraft guns, 28 bunkers, and six gun positions. Bombing caused over 1,500 secondary explosions of munitions, and destroyed over 2,000 storage caches. In one spectacular case, a cavern full of munitions exploded and burned for 16 hours.
The Hmong who followed in the path blasted by the bombers captured and destroyed 300 tons of medical supplies. They ruined a 1,000 bed medical facility they found hidden underground, along with operating rooms and X-ray machines. The three light battalions of guerrillas withdrew in the face of the imminent arrival of four heavily armed People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) battalions. However, the advantages gained in Raindance would shortly be nullified by the communists' first-ever rainy season offensive.
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Global Information
Kingdom of Laos
United States
North Vietnam
Soviet Union
People's Republic of China