An Officer's Dilemma: Cambodia's Forbidden Skies

I was the Operations Officer (Ops Officer) of the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in late 1973 into 1974. Things in Southeast Asia (SEA) were winding down significantly, except for reconnaissance (recce). We were flying more combat missions every day than we had crews available. Cambodia, however, had been put off-limits by the U.S. Congress after the 1970 invasion and subsequent bombing by the U.S. to halt the North Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. At this time, Prince Sihanouk was overthrown, and a Western-leaning government led by Lon Nol was installed.

I was in the office in the late afternoon when an emergency photo mission was ordered by 7th Air Force for an incident deep in the South Vietnam delta. I was the only pilot available, and I grabbed a 2nd Lieutenant who had just arrived on base for the mission. After a quick brief, we went to the aircraft, and the lieutenant hit his head on the canopy, suffering a nasty gash. I got him off to the hospital and commandeered a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) from an RF-4 that had just landed. We headed south and briefed in the air.

The mission went well, and we got all the intelligence that had been requested. Climbing out was normal until we got over Cambodia. I noticed a lot of dust on Route 13 along the Mekong River. As we descended to have a look, dozens of Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) guns, mostly 37mm, opened fire. We got photos of what I learned later was about 200 trucks headed south. The flak got really intense, but we made it through just fine, landed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base (RTAB), and reported the finding.

Early the next morning, I was called to the flight line urgently. General Vogt was standing next to his T-39, with the pictures spread out on the wing. He asked me about the finding, then took off for Phnom Penh to brief President Lon Nol. For the next two days, neither the Cambodian Air Force (AF) nor the U.S. Air Force (USAF) could find the trucks. I was forbidden to go back. On the third day, Headquarters (HHQ) relented and said I could go back and try my luck. Surprisingly, there was no AAA, but also no signs of movement. I finally tried the west side of the Mekong and took many photos of any heavily treed areas. I didn’t see it, but a sharp-eyed photo interpreter spotted the corner of a truck sticking out from under a tree in a Michelin Rubber Plantation. It must have been quite a feat to ferry that many trucks across the Mekong River so fast. We did not see any signs of a ferry.

I briefed General Vogt again, and he went to brief Lon Nol. The Cambodian red-tailed T-28s bombed the plantation, and there was so much explosive material that the whole plantation was reduced to toothpicks. I had one more visit from the General, who thanked me for saving the friendly government of Lon Nol.

He then said I should get a medal or be court-martialed for disobeying a direct order to stay away from Cambodia. He then laughed and said he wouldn’t do either and we would just call it even. That was fine by me.

The Lon Nol government then lasted until March-April 1975 when the Khmer Rouge and North Vietnamese took over and installed Pol Pot as president. Of course, he proceeded to kill almost every educated Cambodian citizen in the "Killing Fields" and virtually destroy the country.

Story by Ret. Major General Richard (Dick) E. Carr

Biography of Major General Richard E. Carr

Retired as Major General in 1994

Early Life and Education

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1937, General Carr graduated from Plymouth High School in 1955. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1959. Demonstrating a commitment to higher education, he later completed a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Stanford University in 1968. His pursuit of knowledge continued through his military education, as he graduated as a distinguished student from Air Command and Staff College in 1972 and completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978.

Early Military Assignments and Vietnam Service

After graduating from the Air Force Academy, General Carr underwent pilot training, earning his pilot wings in September 1960. His initial assignment in December 1960 was with the Air Defense Command at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts. He then served his first tour in Southeast Asia as an adviser and instructor pilot at Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, from August 1963 to July 1964. Following this, he became an instructor pilot at Mather Air Force Base, California, until June 1967.

Academic and Combat Returns

After earning his master's degree, General Carr applied his expertise as an associate professor of mathematics at the Air Force Academy from October 1968 to June 1971. During this period, he was actively involved in the airmanship program and coached the soaring team.

His service in Southeast Asia resumed after he completed RF-4C training in December 1972. He was assigned to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, until July 1974. During this critical time, he served as a flight commander, chief of safety, and squadron operations officer, accumulating more than 200 combat missions.

Leadership and Command Roles

General Carr remained in the Far East, serving as operations officer and squadron commander of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, from August 1974 to July 1977. His responsibilities included commanding a forward operating location at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

Upon his return to the continental United States in July 1977, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. From July 1978 to January 1981, he was the chief of the Tactical Systems Division at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C. He then served as vice commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, from April 1981 to January 1982. Subsequently, he took command of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, overseeing its significant conversion from an RF-4 training wing to an operational F-16 wing.

In June 1984, he assumed command of the 831st Air Division, Tactical Air Command, at George Air Force Base, California. His extensive responsibilities included overseeing two wings of F-4Es and F-4Gs, and exercising operational control over the Air Force's participation in the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.

Strategic Leadership and International Service

In November 1985, General Carr became the assistant chief of staff, studies and analyses, and commander of the Air Force Center for Studies and Analyses at Air Force headquarters. His international leadership continued in June 1988 when he became chief of staff for both the United Nations Command and the South Korea/United States Combined Forces Command at Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea. He also served as chief of staff for the Ground Component Command of Combined Forces Command. In June 1990, he was appointed director for foreign intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. He assumed his current position in July 1992.

Flying Hours, Awards, and Promotions

General Carr is a distinguished command pilot with an impressive record of more than 7,500 flying hours, including 900 hours flown in combat during the Vietnam conflict.

His exceptional service has been recognized with numerous military awards and decorations, including the:

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal

• Defense Superior Service Medal

• Distinguished Service Medal

• Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

• Distinguished Flying Cross

• Meritorious Service Medal

• Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters

• Air Force Commendation Medal

• Order of the National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal from South Korea

Additionally, he is a rated parachutist. He was promoted to major general on June 1, 1988, with the same date of rank.