LETTER TO HONORABLE STUART E. SYMINGTON FROM MEL LAIRD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000300130002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 21, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

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WHEN WI'PIi PPB __~.
WASHINGTON. 0. C. 20301 - ?~ `~~~/~/~/
July 21, 1971
Honorable Stuart E. Symington
United States Senate
Dear Senator Symington:
This is in response to your letter of May 27, 1971, concerning
Department of Defense expenditures in support of our operations in
Laos.
In cases where amounts reported transferred to other agencies
differ from the related expenses shown by those agencies in reports
given separately to you, the difference is attributable to differing
definitions and reprogramming in amounts small enough not to
require interagency, coordination.
Attached is your list of questions with our answers.
Sincerely,
/8/.
Mel Laird
Enclosures - 16
OSD HAS NO OBJECTION
TO DECLASSIFICATION
AND RELEASE. -
COPY :.....s, .......... of .......... ........ CC?IES.
naP ~ SENSITIVE
P I B `I I-7Seo Dot 'Cout Nr. g______2 9 9_2 -----
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SECRET
1. Question: What is the total cost of military assistance to Laos
expected to be in FY 1971? What is the projected cost for FY 1972?
Answer: The estimated cost of military assistance to Laos included
in the President's FY 1972 budget was $117.3 million and $125.8
million. Our latest comparable estimates for these amounts are
$148 million. and $138.5 million in FY 1971/72.
As you know, there is a so called "program" for Laos that exceeds
the amounts included in the budget. The current fiscal year 1972
program for Laos totals $221.2 million. The program is a manage-
ment tool utilized by OSD and intermediate commanders to establish
a-constraint on the total resources to be provided to a country as
contrasted to the amounts included in a specific year's
appropriation request to the Congress. The program figure will
exceed the budget figure for each fiscal year because the program
level can be: partly supported by stocks that will not require
replacement, including excess-or long supply Stocks.
If such stocks are used, they count against the program but not
against the budget because they were bought in prior years for
U.S. force requirements and are no longer needed for that purpose.
The program, in other words, gives OSD a more precise control
because (1) through the program we can examine and approve the item
content of our assistance and (2) it establishes a total resource
constraint. The budget amounts are the funds needed in the stated
fiscal year to procure equipment specifically for the Lao Government
and for operation and maintenance support for local forces in Laos.
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2. Questi What is the cost of maintaining the organization.
headed by the Deputy Chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory
Group, Thailand (DEPJUSMACTHAI) which supports military
assistance activities in Laos?
Answer: (UNCLASSIFIED) The estimated annual operating cost
to maintain the Deputy Chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory
Group, Thailand (which is funded in the appropriation, O&M,
Navy) is as follows:
0&M, Navy
(Dollars in Thousands)
FY 1970 FY 1971 FY 1972
1,566 1,512 1,530
This amount includes funds for Project 404, an in-country
augmentation of the attache office budgeted within the DEFCH-
JUSMAGTHAI Organization.
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SECRET
Question: What are the comprehensive costs, direct and indirect,
including personnel, facilities, aircraft and ordnance, of U.S.
air activities, for all services, in and over Laos for FY 1971
and FY 1972? What are the average per sortie costs for the
operation of.various types of U.S. aircraft in Laos?
Answer: The following table gives estimated tactical sortie costs for
aircraft used over Laos,
Air Force
Marines
Navy
Type /Sortie
Type $/Sortie
Type
/Sortie
A-1
$6,100
A-4
$7,700
A-4.
$7,700
AC-119
21,100
A-6
7,700
A-6
7,700
AC-130
25,300
F-4
11,400
A-7
7,700
F-100
4,600
1-4
11,400
F-105
9,000
F-8
7,700
F-4
11,400
B-57
22,500
B-52
33,000
The ordnance carried by these aircraft represents about 80 percent
of the sortie cost the remainder is the cost of personnel, operations,
and maintenance. These tactical sorties represent approximately
60 percent of the 150,000 sorties flown over Laos in the first ten
months of FY 1971. The remaining 40 percent of the sorties are
largely USAF supporting aircraft, the costs of which are more
accurately reflected by yearly operations and maintenance, rather
than sortie, costs. In the table below are given the numbers and
per year costs of squadrons which can be considered supporting
the Laos effort.
Numbers
Total Cost per
:Type
of Squadrons
Squadron
_
($ Million)
EC-121
1
26.0
UC-123/C-123
1
9.0
RF-4
1
19.3
0-2/0V-10
1
10.7
HH-53
1
6.8
HC-130
1
7.0
The above costs for the supporting aircraft are total, not
incremental, costs and will be only slightly reduced when the units
are returned to (:ONUS, since normal operational and training flights
will continue at about the same annual rate.
SECRET:
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 An estimate of the comprehensive costs for U.S. air activities over
Laos includes installation costs, tactical sortie costs, and costs
for the supporting squadrons. During FY 71 the Air Force maintained
five bases in Thailand which can be considered supporting the Laos
air effort. Total cost for these five bases is approximately
$100 million in FY 71. Based on numbers and types of supporting,
aircraft, their costs for sorties over Laos are'$78.8 million in
FY 71.
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SECiRET
Costs for the tactical sorties, by Service, during the first 10
months of FY 71 are shown below:
Service
($ Millions)-
Costs
4ir Force 836.7
Navy 193.8
Marine Corps 30.9..
3. Answer: (continued)
Total
Costs for FY 72 will depend on the sortie rates which will be
established and the U.S. redeployment and phasedown in Southeast
Asia, and cannot: be determined at this time.
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4. uestion: What is the cumulative cost of the facilities and
equipment now operated by Task Force Alpha? What are the personnel
and operating costs of Task Force Alpha? For FY 1971? What is
estimated for FY 1972?
Answer: (UNCLASSIFIED) Through FY 1971, the cumulative military
construction program cost of the facilities at Task Force Alpha is
$3.7 million and the cumulative investment cost of the equipment is
$13.5 million. The FY 1971 personnel and operating cost of Task
Force Alpha is approximately $3.3 million and $4.5 million
respectively. It is?estimated that the FY 1972 personnel cost will
be $2.5 million and the other operating cost will be $2.9 million.
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5a. _Question: What is the current fiscal year cost of maintaining the
U.S. Army and Air Force Attache organizations in Laos, including
pay, allowance, housing, local personnel costs, supplies,
equipment, transportation, communications and office space? What
is the estimate of FY 1972 costs?
Answer: The current fiscal year cost and the estimate of FY 1972
costs of maintaining the U.S. Army and Air Force Attache organi-
zations in Laos.is $779,500 for FY 1971 and $765,800 for FY 1972.
The following provides the details of these costs:
($ in Thousands)
Actual Estimate
FY 1971 FY 1972
Military Pay and Allowance 267.9 289.0
Confidential Military Emergency and
Extraordinary Fund Expense 55.9 26.1.
Leased Family Housing 98.4 103.3
Local Civilian Personnel 2.9 3.1
Temporary Duty Travel 12.7 13.0
Transportation - -
Communications .1 _1
Equipment Maintenance 7.0 8.0
Other Purchased Services 8.1 7-7
Assigned Aircraft, Flying Hour Cost 114.0 106-0
Aircraft petroleum, oil and lubricants 20.7 20.7
Supplies 3.1 3.6
Equipment - 1.1
Miscellaneous 8.0 8.0
Reimbursable Expenses Paid to U.S.
Department.oi: State for Administrative
Support by the Defense Intelligence
Agency
167.7 176.1
.Procurement Costs of 4 Sedans and
1 Station Wagon 13.0
779.5 765.8
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5b. uestion: How much is included in the U.S. Army and Air Force
Attache organizations in Laos associated with the American
Forward Air. Controllers in Laos?
Answer: There are no funds included in the U.S. Army and
Air Force Attache organization in Laos for support of the American
Forward Air Controllers in Laos. Funds for their support are
included in DEPJUSMAGTHAI. (UNCLASSIFIED)
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17 ..Jiv
6. question: What Defense Department' related or financed activities
are now being conducted or are contemplated in Laos through or
under the auspices of the AID program? What is the cost of
these activities for FY 1971 and what will it be for FY 1972?
Answer.:
(CONFIDENTIAL)
DoD Financed
($ Millions)
FY 1971
FY 1972
Requirements Office
2.0
2.0
Subsistence Consumables .
and Associated Air Transport
Costs
8.4
8.4
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 Answer: (TOP SECRET)
Department of the Army
FY 1971
($ Millions)
Agency , Appropriation Amount
Purpose
USA ID MPA 8. 1 Subsistence for Laotiar, military
and paramilitary personnel
25X1A USAID
OMA
Operation of Requirements Office,
Vientiane
Program terminated during FY 1971.
FY 1972
USAID MPA 8. 1 Subsistence for Laotian military
and paramilitary personnel
25X1A USAID OMA
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7. Question: What amount of funds appropriated to the Defense
Department have been transferred to other U. S. Government
agencies as reimbursement, or for any other purpose, during
FY 1971 ? Identify all transactions of this nature, including
? amounts of money involved, for the current fiscal year. What
transfers or transactions are expected in FY 1972?
Operation of Requirements Office,
Vientiane
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 7. Answer: (continued)
SENSITIVE
Department of the Navy
($ Millions)
Agenax Appropriation Amount
FY 1971
None
FY 1972
1 C
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(efsfi
u_ rpose
None
Department of the Air Force
FY 1971
USAID
0&M,AF
.3
Support of USAID Requirements
to deliver subsistence to*
remote locations
'Y
19 72
USAID
0&M,AF
.3
Support of USAID Requirements
to deliver subsistence to
remote locations
Department of Defense
FY 19 71
State 0&M,DA
State 0&M,DA?
FY 1972
Reimbursable expenses paid
to State Department for
Administration support of
Department of Defense
Attached Organization
Reimbursable expenses paid
to State Department for
Administration support,of
Department of Defense
Attache Organization
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SECS ET
9. Question: What is the total, amount of reimbursement or other
forms of payment or transfer of funds from other U.S. Government
agencies to the Defense Department or to the various services
during 1971? What are the anticipated totals for 1972?
Answer: (SECRET)
($ Millions)
! Department of the Army
FY 1971 FY 1972
None None
Department of the Nav
FY 1971 FY 1972
None None
Department of the Air Force
FY 1971 - FY 1972
25X1A
SECRET
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10. _,uestion: What is the value of surplus or excess equipment
given to the Royal Lao Armed Forces or to U. S. financed
irregular forces, both Lao and Thai, for use in Laos?
Answer:, (CCINFIDENTIAL) The total value (at acquisition cost)
of long.supply and excess Department of Defense equipment turned
over to the Royal-Lao Government is $26,171,000' through May 1971.
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._ SECRET
11. Question: What is the total value of U.S. financed military
equipment and supplies given, transferred, or loaned to the
Royal Lao Armed Forces by third countries, including
specifically Thailand?
Answer: (SECRET) No U.S. financed military' equipment and
supplies have been given, transferred, or loaned to the RLGAF
by third. countries, including Thailand, to our knowledge.
The question may allude to ten T-28D aircraft formerly in the
Royal Thai Air Force but now in use in the RLAF pilot training
program conducted by the United States in Thailand. These
aircraft were not transferred by the Thai to the Lao but rather
by the Thai to the U. S.
SECRET
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12. Question:, What was the cost of all types of military or
military related training, including travel costs and
language training, provided by the United States to Laos in
FY 1971? What are the projected costs for FY 1972?
Answer:
($ Millions)
FY 1971 FY 1972
Army
2.2 1.9
.4 .4
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~t a
~~fr
,_ ~'?J~Jcl~i'.1a
13. Question: Describe the types and value of U.S. military aircraft
loaned, rented or "bailed" to Air America, Continental Airlines,
Lao Air Transport, Royal Air Lao or any other company during
FY 1971. What is the total amount of payments or other forms
or reimbursement received for the use of these aircraft?
Answer: (SECRET)
The following USAF transport aircraft are "bailed" to Air
America to support operations in Laos.
1. One C-130 on temporary "as required" bailment. Normally
only one is in operation by Air America at a given time.
The cumulative average flyaway cost of the C-130E based
on procurement of 387 aircraft through FY 1972 is
$2.1 million. Current flyaway replacement cost of a
C-13C) is $3.4 -million.
2. Twelve t-123K aircraft on permanent bailment. The
cumulative average flyaway cost of twelve aircraft is
$6.36 million.
3. Seven C-7A aircraft on permanent bailment. The
cumulative average flyaway cost of seven aircraft is
$5.6 million.
b. 'USAF pays operating and maintenance costs on the above air-
craft and receives reimbursement at standard flying hour
rates in return. Total reimbursement received for the above
aircraft during calendar year 1970 from other U.S. government
agencies was $6,331,290.07. (Exception: DoD pays for that
portion of the C-130 flying time in support of USAID require-
ments for delivery of rice to remote areas; the total for
calendar 1970 was $321,328.00).
c. USAF is also reimbursed by other U.S. government agencies for
USAF C11-3 and H-53 flying hours flown in support of certain
operations in Laos; total during calendar year 1970 was
$662,842.20.
It is anticipated that FY 1971 and FY 1972 requirements will be
approximately the same as fiscal year 1970.
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.14. Question: What was the cost of all construction financed by
Defense appropriated funds in Laos in fiscal years 1970 and
1971? What construction is contemplated in FY 1972?
Answer: (UNCLASSIFIED) Prior year Defense appropriated funds were
used to finance construction in Laos in FY 1970 and 1971 in the
amounts of $2,367,000 and $3,809,000 respectively.
There is no construction for Laos in the FY 1972 Military
Construction Program to be financed by Defense appropriated funds.
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15. Question: What expenditures have been made from Defense'
Department funds for purposes related to Lao irregular forces
or Thai irregular' forces?
.Answer: Will be provided later.
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 I
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16. Question: In addition to the information requested above,
are there any other categories of Defense Department
__. expenditures in Laos? What amounts are expected to be spent
for these ,activities in FY 1971 and FY 1972?
Answer: (UNCLASSIFIED) There are no other categories of
DoD expenditures in Laos that have not been indicated above.
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