HBILKA--PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05273181
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-00307
• Publication Date: May 1, 1968

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Executive Director-Comptroller
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FROM: NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO. .
DATE
Deputy Director for Support 7D26 HQS4t4 4
5/1/68
SJACET
1 UNCLASSIFIED I I CONFIDENTIAL I X
FORM NO. 2-61 037 Use previous editions
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(40)
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0 1 MAY 1968
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Warfield
SUBJECT : HBILKA�Planning for Future Developments
1. It is requested that you initiate immediate planning and imple-
menting actions to meet anticipated developments in Southeast Asia.
a. Vietnam--It is quite possible that peace negotiations for
Vietnam would require the removal of a number of U. S. elements
associated with the current war effort. Air America, I feel certain,
is fully identified with the war effort and it is quite possible that its
removal from the Vietnam scene would be a stipulation in the peace
negotiations. Air support requirements for both the Agency program
and some of the civilian U. S. Government programs would require
continued air support. Additionally the impact of giving up the Air
America presence in Vietnam with its personnel, facilities, equipment,
etc. would have a most adverse impact upon the financial and organizational
structure of the HBILKA complex. Therefore, it is important on a
contingency planning basis that we devise and develop a capability to
dispose of the Air America organization and replace it with a new
organization capable of continuing Agency and other civilian agency
air support requirements. As discussed this could be a newly created
company with a new complement of officers who could buy out the Air
America operation taking over all the operating personnel, equipment,
facilities, contracts, etc. A second alternative would be a new company
that would contract for these air support requirements and subcontract
to Air America but replacing existing Air America personnel and
facilities with a new name and a new image. There are probably other
alternatives worthy of consideration. Please initiate action for the
above contingency.
b. Laos--The Bureau of the Budget has raised a consideration
that Agency paramilitary operations in Laos could be turned over to
the U. S. military in light of current developments. While this is
just a possibility for consideration we should be mindful that the Air
America support to the Lao program is a major portion of this program.
Should this eventuality occur it is presumed that the military would
use their own air support capabilities to perform the air support
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requirements now provided by Air America. It is possible that under
such a circumstance the Air Force might still wish to contract with
Air America for certain air support services. Some contingency plan-
ning should be conducted with this possibility in mind.
It is always possible that the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam
will include some agreements covering cessation of military activities
now being conducted in Laos. Should an agreement call for the removal
of military elements and activities there is always the possibility that
it would include Air America which clearly is identified with the
military program in Laos. The Agency will still, however, require,
in my judgment, a considerable level of air support and presumably
an equivalent level of air support to other U. S. civilian agencies
operating in Laos. I think we should additionally plan for this con-
tingency whereby we can replace the Air America presence with another
air support entity with the capability of meeting these air support
requirements. Several years ago we created a company with a view
to replacing Air America when the presence of Air America became
an issue with the Laotian government endeavoring to adhere to the
general terms of the Geneva Accords. It is requested that consideration
be given to reviewing the status of this substitute company and taking
any other action necessary to have this in a viable condition on the
shelf for immediate implementation.
2. It is recognized that there are a multitude of problems involved
but the more advance consideration we can give to these matters the issue,
if it is drawn, will be that much easier to accommodate.
K. L. Bannerman
cc: Colonel White
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