Tou Vang

The SGU (Special Guerrilla Units) Fighter Pilots were a select group of Lao and Hmong aviators trained and supported by the United States during the Secret War in Laos (1964–1975). Operating under the auspices of the CIA and in coordination with the Royal Lao Air Force, these pilots flew T-28 Trojan aircraft on daring close air support and interdiction missions against North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao forces. Despite limited resources and challenging conditions, the SGU Fighter Pilots played a crucial role in defending strategic locations such as Long Tieng and in supporting ground operations led by Hmong General Vang Pao. Their bravery and effectiveness made them a key component of the covert American effort in Southeast Asia, though their sacrifices have often remained unrecognized in official histories.