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CIA Air America Laos Pilots Watch

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    Posted 13 years ago

    kimdarden
    (1 item)

    My father has a beautiful watch with an amzing story we'd love to learn more about as well as how rare this watch is. It is a CIA-Air America Laos Pilots Watch
    It is a gold watch with different links that are all intricate designs/pictures on each link. They are in the laos language. These watches were issued by the CIA to pilots in a secret war??? You can google it.
    "The war in Laos was the biggest clandestine operation ever run by the CIA" back in the 1960's. This quote is from the site:
    http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/ravens.html?c=y&page=1
    The watches were issued to the pilots in case they were shot down and could tell the people they were friendly pilots
    Evidently this watch survived a plane crash and was in fact used to barter a pilot’s safety. As far as my dad knows, these watches were not allowed to be kept by any surviving pilots.
    The 3 different designs represent:
    Elephants’: The Nation of Laos
    Dragon: A flying warrior spirit (pilot)
    Dangling Figure: A peaceful spirit
    Together they mean: Represents a peaceful flying spirit fighting for Laos.
    The story goes these watches were for the pilots on the secret missions in Laos and the links of the watch can come apart individually. (It is ‘field dress able’ with slip out hinge pins) and are 18 carat gold so the pilot could barter their way out of trouble.
    Evidently this watch survived a plane crash and was in fact used to barter a pilot’s safety. The story goes these watches were for the pilots on the secret missions in Laos and the links of the watch can come apart individually and are 18 carat gold so the pilot could barter their way out of trouble.

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    Comments

    1. kimdarden, 13 years ago
      All feedback is very much appreciated!
    2. egadams, 13 years ago
      I flew in Laos from 1962 to 1973. I have a Lane Crawford Gold Rolex. Can you give me a name to go with the crash story. We are a small community and I am certain that your Dad is know to our group. My business website is
      http://www.edstravel.info & email = panamatraveler@gmail.com
      Drop me a line /////////////////////// E G

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