Khmer Air Force: Difference between revisions

During the first years of its existence, the AVRK received assistance from France – which under the terms of the November 1953 treaty of independence had the right to keep a [[French Military Mission in Cambodia|military mission]] in Cambodia –, the United States, Japan, [[Israel]], and [[West Germany]],<ref>Conboy, ''FANK: A History of the Cambodian Armed Forces, 1970-1975'' (2011), p. 224.</ref> who provided training programs, technical aid, and additional aircraft. The French delivered in 1954–55 fifteen [[Morane-Saulnier Alcyon|Morane-Saulnier MS 733 Alcyon]] three-seat basic trainers,<ref name="shortfinals.wordpress.com">[http://shortfinals.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/morane-saulnier-ms-733-alcyon-a-trainer-with-gallic-flair/ "Morane-Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon – a trainer with Gallic flair!".] ''Shortfinal's Blog'', 29 June 2013. Retrieved: 1 January 2014.</ref> and Japan delivered three [[Fletcher FD-25|Fletcher FD-25 Defender]] single-seater [[ground-attack aircraft]] and three Fletcher FD-25B two-seat trainers,<ref>Grandolini, ''Air Enthusiast'' 37 (1988), p. 39.</ref><ref name="SIPRI Arms Transfers Database">[http://armstrade.sipri.org/arms_trade/trade_register.php SIPRI Arms Transfers Database]</ref> whilst deliveries by the United States [[Military Assistance Advisory Group]] (USU.S. MAAG) aid program – established since June 1955 at Phnom Penh – of fourteen [[North American T-6 Texan|North American T-6G Texan]] trainers, eight [[L-19 Bird Dog|Cessna L-19A Bird Dog]] observation aircraft, three [[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver|de Havilland Canada DHC L-20 Beaver]] liaison aircraft,<ref>Grandolini, ''Air Enthusiast'' 37 (1988), p. 40.</ref> seven [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] transports (soon joined by with two additional C-47 transports bought from Israel) and six [[Curtiss C-46 Commando|Curtiss C-46F Commando]] transports<ref name="SIPRI Arms Transfers Database"/> allowed the AVRK to acquire a limited light strike capability, as well as improving its own reconnaissance and transportation capabilities.

The baptism of fire of the AVRK came the following year when its FD-25 Defenders and T-6G Texan armed trainers supported Khmer Royal Army troops in [[Takéo Province]] fighting a cross-border incursion by Vietnamese militiamen from the [[Hòa Hảo]] militant sect fleeing persecution from the neighbouring [[Republic of Vietnam]].<ref>Conboy, ''FANK: A History of the Cambodian Armed Forces, 1970-1975'' (2011), p. 213.</ref> The obsolete Texans and Defenders were eventually replaced in August that year by sixteen [[North American T-28 Trojan|North American T-28D Trojan]] trainers converted to the fighter-bomber role.<ref>Nalty, Neufeld and Watson, ''An Illustrated Guide to the Air War over Vietnam'' (1982), p. 114.</ref> Also under the USU.S. MAAG program, the AVRK received in March 1963 four [[Cessna T-37 Tweet|Cessna T-37B Tweet]] jet trainers;<ref>Love, Greer and Sewell, ''A-37/T-37 Dragonfly in action'' (1991), p. 16.</ref> however, unlike the Fougas provided earlier by the French, these airframes had no provision for weapon systems, since the Americans resisted Cambodian requests to arm them.<ref name="Conboy, 2011 p. 214"/>