Royal Lao Army Airborne
| Royal Lao Army Airborne | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 July 1948 – 2 May 1975 |
| Country |
 Kingdom of Laos
|
| Allegiance | Royal Lao Government |
| Branch | Royal Lao Army |
| Type | Airborne infantry, Special Forces |
| Role | Special Operations, Commando, Reconnaissance, Counter-insurgency |
| Size | (unknown) |
| Part of | Royal Lao Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Chinaimo, Wattay, near Vientiane; Seno, near Savannakhet |
| Nickname(s) | CCPL, CCL, BPL, BP, GM (in French) |
| Anniversaries | 1 July |
| Engagements |
Battle of Sam Neua Battle of Moung Peun Battle of Vientiane Battle of Tha Thom Battle of Luang Namtha Battle of Lak Sao Battle of Nam Bac Battle of Xieng Khouangville Battle of Muang Soui |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Sourith Don Sasorith Kong Le Thao Ty Deuane Sunnalath Thao Ma |
The Royal Lao Army Airborne was composed of the élite paratrooper battalions of the Royal Lao Army (RLA), the Land Component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (commonly known by its French acronym FAR), which operated during the First Indochina War and the Laotian Civil War from 1948 to 1975.
The Laotian paratroopers owed their origin and traditions to the French airborne forces of the First Indochina War, and even after years of American, Filipino, Indonesian, and Thai assistance the distinctive French influence could be seen. Along with the irregular ethnic Special Guerrilla Units (SGUs), the regular airborne and para-commando battalions were the most effective units in the RLA.
The first Laotian airborne unit was formed on 1 July 1948, when the detached 3rd Company from the 1st Laotian Rifle Battalion (French: 1er Bataillon de Chasseurs Laotiens – 1er BCL) began airborne training and was renamed the 1st Laotian Para-Commando Company (French: 1ére Compagnie de Commandos Parachutistes Laotiens – 1ére CCPL) of the French Union Army. By September, 1ére CCPL strength had risen to a headquarters (HQ) section and three commando sections, totalling 132 Laotians and 22 French officers and senior NCOs seconded from the French Far East Expeditionary Corps (CEFEO) parachute units. During the same month, the 1ére CCPL headquarters and an airborne training centre manned by French instructors were established at the French Air Force's Wattay Airbase just outside Vientiane, Laos' capital city. On 11 May 1949, 1ére CCPL performed its first combat jump, dropping 18 commandos to reinforce the Luang Namtha garrison. Six more airborne operations were conducted by the company during the year, including a 112-man jump to reinforce Sam Neua in Sam Neua Province, close to the Laotian-Vietnamese border, on 16 December. On 29 April 1951 the company was increased to six commando sections. In October, however, Commandos 4, 5, and 6 were removed to form the 2nd Company of the new 1st Laotian Parachute Battalion. The remainer of 1ére CCPL conducted five airborne reinforcement jumps around the country during the year. On 1 March 1952 1ére CCPL was renamed 1st Laotian Commando Company (French: 1ére Compagnie de Commandos Laotiens – 1ére CCL). Numerous jumps were conducted during the year, mostly as part of counter-insurgency sweeps north of Vientiane. On 27 April 1953 1ére CCL was dropped at the Nam Bac valley, north of Luang Prabang to establish a forward defensive line in face of a Vietminh invasion. The company was decimated, and could not reconstitute its headquarters section and four commando sections until 4 August. On 15 June 1954 the company was transferred from the French Union Army to the Laotian National Army (French: Armée Nationale Laotiènne – ANL), changing its name to 1st Group of Laotian Para-Commandos (French: 1er Groupement de Commandos Parachutistes Laotiens – 1er GCPL). All French officers left the group by August, after been replaced by hand-picked Laotian officers and NCOs.
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