Civil Air Transport

Civil Air Transport. It was a commercial airline founded in China after World War II, which became covertly owned and operated by the CIA. Established by famed Flying Tigers commander Claire Lee Chennault and financier Whiting Willauer, it played a critical role in supplying Chiang Kai-shek's forces during the Chinese Civil War. Following the Communist victory, it relocated to Taiwan and became a principal asset for clandestine United States operations across Asia during the Cold War, including missions during the Korean War and the First Indochina War.

History

The airline was incorporated in Shanghai in 1946, evolving from the wartime China National Aviation Corporation and Chennault's own Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration airlift units. During the Chinese Civil War, it conducted perilous supply missions to besieged Kuomintang cities like Mukden and Taiyuan, earning it the nickname "The world's most shot-at airline." After the retreat to Taiwan in 1949, the CIA, through a front company called Pacific Corporation, purchased the airline in 1950 to maintain a deniable air transport capability. Under CIA control, it supported numerous covert actions, including supplying the French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu, inserting agents into North Korea, and aiding Tibetan resistance forces. Its cover as a civilian charter operation was maintained while it worked closely with other CIA proprietary airlines like Air America.

Operations

Its operations were a blend of legitimate commercial services and clandestine military support. Publicly, it flew scheduled passenger and cargo routes throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia, serving cities like Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Bangkok. Covertly, it air-dropped supplies, conducted electronic intelligence flights, and inserted and extracted personnel for intelligence services and paramilitary groups. During the Korean War, it flew hazardous missions under contract to the United States Air Force, transporting wounded soldiers and critical matériel. In the late 1950s and 1960s, its activities expanded to include extensive support for Lao and Hmong forces in the Laotian Civil War, often operating from rough airstrips in Laos and Thailand.

Aircraft fleet

Throughout its history, it operated a diverse fleet of piston-engine and later turboprop aircraft suited for rugged, short-field operations. Its workhorses included numerous C-46 Commandos and C-47 Skytrains, which were vital for cargo and paratroop operations. The fleet also featured larger types like the Douglas DC-4 and DC-6 for longer-range transport. For specialized missions, it utilized the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar and the Caribou. Later, it introduced more modern aircraft such as the L-100 Hercules, the civilian version of the C-130, which provided heavy-lift capability for remote airstrip operations throughout Indochina.

Notable incidents and accidents

Given its dangerous flight profiles, it suffered a high number of accidents. A significant early loss occurred in 1948 when a flight crashed near Qingdao, killing several senior Kuomintang officials. In 1954, a DC-4 was shot down by PLA fighters over the South China Sea while on a covert mission, with no survivors. Another notable incident involved a C-46 that disappeared on a flight from Taipei to Hong Kong in 1958. Perhaps its most famous accident was the 1961 crash of a DC-3 in the South China Sea, which led to the controversial court-martial of its pilot, who was accused of negligence but whose defense argued the aircraft was sabotaged due to its intelligence role.

Legacy and cultural impact

Its story is a central chapter in the history of Cold War covert operations. The airline was formally dissolved in 1968, with many of its assets and personnel transferred to Air America. Its exploits have been documented in books such as William M. Leary's *Perilous Missions* and have inspired fictionalized portrayals in films and novels about the period. The airline's history illustrates the blurred lines between civilian enterprise and state-sponsored military action, serving as a prototype for later government-owned proprietary companies. Its role in pivotal events from Dien Bien Phu to the Secret War in Laos cemented its place in the annals of 20th century aviation and intelligence history.

Category:Airlines of Taiwan Category:Defunct airlines of China Category:Central Intelligence Agency proprietary companies