title: Shadows of Saigon: Air Commandos in Southeast Asia
author: Elton Fletcher
description: Former United States Air Force Captain, Dr. Larry E. Fletcher flew 177 combat missions as a pilot in AC-119 Shadow gunships during his tour of duty in Southeast Asia. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with eight Clusters. Nominated for Pacific Air Forces Outstanding Junior Officer of the Year, Fletcher was assigned to Fighting C Flight of the 17th Special Operations Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base; Saigon, Republic of Vietnam.
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  Dedication
  
  For Laura Jason—friend, lover, muse
  
  Epigraph
  
  > > > I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival
  > the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook airborne operation for all
  > ages and all armies.
  
  > > > GENERAL COLIN POWELL, U.S. ARMY
  
  > > > CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
  
  > > > FEBRUARY 25, 1993
  
  Contents
  
    1.  _Dedication_
    2.  _Epigraph_
    3. 1: The Fall of Manila
    4. 2: Prisoners of the Japanese
    5. 3: Los Baños Internment Camp
    6. 4: Sky Soldiers
    7. 5: “You’ll Be Eating Dirt”
    8. 6: Return to the Philippines
    9. 7: Freedom Week
    10. 8: Under the Cover of Darkness
    11. 9: The Killings
    12. 10: “Do It Right, Joe”
    13. 11: The Escapes
    14. 12: The Los Baños Force
    15. 13: “Rescue Must Come Soon!”
    16. 14: “The World Will Be Watching”
    17. 15: The Raid
    18. 16: Rescue
    19. 17: “God Was with Us”
    20. Epilogue: The Fate of Sadaaki Konishi
    21.  _Dramatis Personae_
    22.  _Sources_
    23.  _Appendix:_