OLAA Operating Date 10-Nov-1969

Roster

Future “INITIAL” OLAA Pilots Unit Roster on this date…

Pleiku Air Base (PKU)-

Lt. Col. James W. Wold (Jim) 6th SOS
Maj. Timothy L. Buttermore (Tim) 6th SOS
1Lt. Paul D. D. Houppert (DD) 6th SOS

Da Nang Air Base (DNG)-

Maj. Dean E. DeTar (Dean) TDY Status
Lt. John W. Weinig (JW) TDY Status
Lt. A. Jackson Roberts (Jax) TDY Status
1Lt. Maurice A Coleman, Jr. (Mac) 6th SOS

Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base (NKP)-

Capt. Robert Karre (Bob) ) 602nd SOS
Capt. Glenn R. Manning 1st SOS
Lt. Warren C. Blanchard (Doc) 22d SOS
Lt. Donald L Engebretsen (Don) 602nd SOS
Lt. James Seith (Jim) 1st SOS

On This Date in OLAA History

On this date, Dean DeTar’s Chronological Listing of Service records show the following:
“69Nov10 Commander, Det 2, 56 SPOPWG, 56th SOW, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thai, (PACAF)”
This confirms that Dean was the Detachment 2 Commander and now assigned to the WING.

This would also indicate that Jim Wold was indeed the Det 1 Commander and also assigned to the WING.

On this date, Jim Wold flies a 1+45 (1.7) ferry flight to NKP [in 528-G]. NOTE- HE LIKELY FLIES WITH DEAN DETAR [in 524-H] ON THIS FLIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 SHIP TOGETHER???? NOTE THE FLIGHT CALL SIGNS… SPAD 21 WOLD AND 20 DETAR WHERE 21 WOULD NORMALLY BE LEAD???? BOTH RETURN (WOLD [593-H] TO PKU WITH KARRE AND ENGEBRETSEN—DEAN TO DA NANG [526-H) ON 12NOV IN SEPARATE H MODELS!!!!
This mission appears to be to meet with Col. Crosby (and others??? Col. Morris? “Col. Ransom?) to learn of or codify the formation of OLAA. I have no records to reflect that the reversal of moving all A-1 aircraft to NKP and assimilating all Pleiku pilots into the 3 existing squadrons at NKP is known in theater previous to this date. The 6th SOS is officially due to shut down in five days. I have talked to General Singlab, Col. Cavannah, and others in charge of MACV-SOG in country and they are unaware of the origins of OLAA. The only logical conclusion I can draw is that a last minute realization of the impacts having all A-1’s (or even only a few TDY A-1’s in country) would be a disaster for SOG teams in general became apparent. The added factor of security leaks leading to an almost normal situation of teams being immediately attacked or tracked after inserts became the handwriting on the wall. Since MACV-SOG was controlled directly from the US regarding all major decisions (Note- no in-country SOG commander ever held a rank above Colonel), it is logical to assume that the origins of OLAA were directed from the Joint Chiefs of Staff level or above. I have been trying to obtain confirmation of my assumption from the beginning of my efforts without success. If anyone reading this knows the actual facts, please contact me.

OLAA-ID: 1-1      
Flight Date: 10 Nov 69
Pilot: James W. Wold–21
Mission ID:
Tail # 528-G
Location: Pleiku
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 1.70
  
Remarks: Ferry to NKP 20b Form shows #295???
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 1-2      
Flight Date: 10 Nov 69
Pilot: Dean E. DeTar–20
Mission ID:
Tail # 524-H
Location: Da Nang
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 1.70
  
Remarks:
Tags:
Jim Wold flies a 1+45 (1.7) ferry flight to NKP [in 528-G].  NOTE- HE LIKELY FLIES WITH DEAN DETAR [in 524-H] ON THIS FLIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  2 SHIP TOGETHER????  NOTE THE FLIGHT CALL SIGNS… SPAD 21 WOLD AND 20 DETAR WHERE 21 WOULD NORMALLY BE LEAD????  BOTH RETURN (WOLD [593-H] TO PKU WITH KARRE AND ENGEBRETSEN---DEAN TO DA NANG [526-H) ON 12NOV IN SEPARATE H MODELS!!!!    To read about OLLA's Beginnings Click Here     This mission appears to be to meet with Col. Crosby (and others??? Col. Morris? “Col. Ransom?) to learn of or codify the formation of OLAA.  I have no records to reflect that the reversal of moving all A-1 aircraft to NKP and assimilating all Pleiku pilots into the 3 existing squadrons at NKP is known in theater previous to this date.  The 6th SOS is officially due to shutdown in five days.  I have talked to General Singlab, Col. Cavannah, and others in charge of MACV-SOG in country and they are unaware of the origins of OLAA.  The only logical conclusion I can draw is that a last minute realization of the impacts having all A-1’s (or even only a few TDY A-1’s in country) would be a disaster for SOG teams in general became apparent.  The added factor of security leaks leading to an almost normal situation of teams being immediately attacked or tracked after inserts became the handwriting on the wall.  Since MACV-SOG was controlled directly from the US regarding all major decisions (Note- no in-country SOG commander ever held a rank above Colonel), it is logical to assume that the origins of OLAA were directed from the Joint Chiefs of Staff level or above.  I have been trying to obtain confirmation of my assumption from the beginning of my efforts without success.  If anyone reading this knows the actual facts, please contact me.