Digby's Journal
Gasoline, Grit and the Great Escape
Field notes, reflections, and insights gathered over decades of exploring Asia’s backroads. Browse our motorcycle touring journal and see where the trail has taken us.
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UXO in Laos remains a major hazard after extensive bombing. Around 80 million unexploded devices still impact land use, agriculture, and daily safety across the country.
Oscar 8 in Laos was a 1967 US Special Forces operation targeting an NVA forward base. The mission faced heavy resistance and resulted in significant US losses.
Operation Lam Son 719 was a 1971 ARVN campaign into Laos to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Despite US support, the mission resulted in heavy losses and a failed withdrawal.
The most heavily bombed areas of the Ho Chi Minh Trail include Mu Gia Pass, Phanop Valley and Ban Laboy Ford. Dense karst terrain concentrated strikes into confined target zones.
Boxer 22 rescue was the largest USAF recovery mission, conducted in the Phanop Valley. Over 330 sorties and extensive air support were used to extract downed pilots.
The Battle of Route Coloniale 4 was one of the most important of the First Indochina War. Here's what happened.
In 2019 Digby found the crash site of a USAF jet fighter that was shot down over Laos in 1968.