Project 404

Following the signing of the International Agreement on the Neutrality of Laos in 1962, American troops were withdrawn from Laos; however, as part of the American geopolitical strategy of containment, the United States wished to retain covert forces in the country.^[2]

By 1964, temporary military personnel based out of Thailand were providing assistance to the Royal Lao Air Force in the Laotian Civil War as part of Project Waterpump, training Lao pilots and setting up Air Operations Centers;^[3] however, as due to the 1962 agreement these personnel officially were on temporary duty assignment as diplomatic attachés,^[2] they were required to commute to and from Thailand, resulting in some logistical difficulties.^[3]

Project 404 was established on May 5, 1966,^[2] by the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide a permanent operating framework for support of the RLAF.^[3] 117 military personnel and 5 civilians^[2] under the de facto command of the American ambassador in Vientiane were assigned to the initial deployment of Project 404 in October 1966, assisting the RLAF with aircraft maintenance, personnel training, and military communications.^[3]

In 1971, coinciding with American intentions to begin withdrawing from Southeast Asia, Project 404 personnel took on the additional duty of reorganising the Royal Lao Armed Forces (Forces Armées du Royaume, or FAR) along American lines. Over the next three years, personnel established three regional training centers in addition to conducting reconnaissance and planting sensors until March 1973.^[3]

Project 404 was concluded in June 1974 as part of the American withdrawal from the country. Ultimately, the American-supported government capitulated to the Pathet Lao.^[3]