Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1950 and covertly owned by the United States Government and was initially a CIA project for intelligence operations in China. The CIA did not have enough work to keep the asset afloat and the National Security Council farmed the airline out to various government entities that included the USAF, U.S Army, USAID and for a brief time the French Republic. Essentially, Air America was used by the U.S. Government covertly and clandestinely to conduct military operations, posing as a civilian air carrier, in areas the U.S. Armed forces could not go due to treaty restraints contained in the 1954 and 1962 Geneva Accords. Air America Bell 205 helicopter leaving a Hmong fire support base in the Laotian Plain of Jars, c. 1969 In August 1950, the CIA, by direction and approval of the National Security Council secretly formed a Delaware corporation named Airdale. Airdale formed a subsidiary corporation named CAT, Inc. CAT, Inc. purchased 40% of the assets of Civil Air Transport (CAT), an airline that had been started in China in 1946 by Gen. Claire Lee Chennault (of Flying Tigers fame) and Whiting Willauer.[1] 60% remained with certain Chinese investors. CAT Inc. also formed Asiatic Aeronautical Company Ltd, a Republic of China company. In 1957 Air dale changed their name to Pacific Corporation. CAT, Inc. changed their name to Air America, Inc. in 1959 after settling objections from Air France. Asiatic Aeronautical Company Ltd changed their name to Air Asia Company Ltd the same year. Civil Air Transport remained in existence throughout the tenure of Air America from 1950 through 1976, and for several years was the flag carrier for the Republic of China. This status was lost after a landing accident and China Airlines became the flag carrier. Civil Air Transport became a ticketing company used mostly for inner company travel. Air America's slogan was "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, Professionally". Air America aircraft, including the Curtiss C-46 Commando, Pilatus PC-6 Porter, de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou C-130 and Fairchild C-123 Provider, along with UH34D,Bell 204B, 205 and CH47C helicopters, flew many types of cargo to countries such as the Republic of Vietnam, the Kingdom of Laos, and Cambodia. It operated from bases in those countries and also from bases in Thailand and as far afield as Taiwan and Japan. It also on occasion flew top-secret missions into Burma and the People's Republic of China. Air America U-10D Helio Courieraircraft in Laos on a covert mountaintop landing strip (LS) "Lima site" Air America's headquarters moved several times during its existence, including 808 17th St. NW (1964), 801 World Center Bldg (late 1964), 815 Connecticut Ave NW (July 1968), and 1725 K Street NW (1972), all inWashington, D.C.. The principal continental U.S. maintenance base was located at Pinal Airpark, Marana, Arizona.

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