Hmong soldiers, totaling over 30,000 men, fought the ground war, flew combat missions, directed air strikes, rescued downed American flyers, fought behind enemy lines, gathered intelligence on the movements of North Vietnamese troops and more. Members of the Royal Laotian Air Force are now memorialized at the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin in Sheboygan Falls. Their bravery and dedication will not be forgotten.
Please review individual photos for descriptions
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Original descriptions and photos sourced by the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin
Tim McKeown, a T-28 instructor pilot for the U.S. Air Force who taught Hmong pilots to fly missions in northern Laos in 1973, stands next to one of his students, Ya Lee. – Image credit: Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin
Koua Xiong flew 2,562 combat missions over Laos in a T-28 propeller-plane during the Vietnam War. He later immigrated to America with his family and will attend Saturday s dedication of a memorial to Hmong pilots with a restored T-28 at the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin in Sheboygan Falls. Credit: Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin
Tou Xiong Lee next to a T-28 aircraft shortly before he died in a crash. Photo courtesy of Chianaw Lee
Volunteer Al Schafer (back) and Jon Helminiak, executive director of the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin, place a plaque dedicated to Hmong veteran aviators next to the insignia of the Royal Laotian Air Force on a T-28 plane used to train Hmong pilots during the Vietnam War. – Image credit: Mark Hoffma