Allen Cates Books
REVISED & EXPANDED EDITION
Updated with new research and historical information.
Air America's civilian flight crews flew military aircraft in one of the Cold War's most dangerous and least understood conflicts. Often branded as mercenaries, malcontents, and even psychopaths, they served with extraordinary courage for twenty-five years before the war in Southeast Asia ended on a rooftop in downtown Saigon.
In Honor Denied, former Air America pilot Allen Cates separates fact from fiction, revealing the truth behind the CIA-administered airline that helped wage America's secret war in Laos.
Drawing on his own experiences and years of research, Cates explains Air America's mission, the sacrifices of its pilots and crews, and the political decisions that denied many of them the recognition and benefits routinely afforded to other Americans who served their country.
More than a personal memoir, Honor Denied is the untold story of a remarkable organization—and of the men who risked everything in a war their government would not publicly acknowledge.
"I knew Allen Cates as a kick-ass, ballsy combat pilot who took calculated risks daily in Laos and Vietnam doing things most people never could. It's the real thing. An essential addition to the limited literature on Air America, especially its role in the Secret War in Laos."
— James E. Parker, CIA Case Officer, LS-20 Alternate, Laos
"I could not put the book down. Great writing! You feel like you are there."
— William Sumrall
U.S. Navy Pilot
Air America was U.S. Government-owned, just like they own the United States Post Office, The Tennessee Valley Authority, Radio Free Europe, and numerous other corporations. But there was a distinct difference. They shot at Air America.
Five presidents relied on Air America and used the company and personnel for twenty-five years. The need for Air America to go where the military could not- whether due to public opinion or treaty restraint - was evident. But actual ownership of Air America was considered classified.
The Truth Behind Air America
The U.S. Government concealed Air America's true role from the public. Few employees realized they were working for a U.S. government-owned corporation rather than a private company.
Honor Denied separates fact from fiction, revealing who owned Air America and why that mattered. When the war in Southeast Asia ended, many employees returned home with little recognition despite years of dangerous service. Air America's pilots and crew members flew military missions, came under enemy fire, suffered wounds, and lost their lives. The nickname "The World's Most Shot-at Airline" was well deserved.
Unlike private contractors that earn profits for their owners, Air America returned its earnings to the U.S. Government. Its complex corporate structure provided plausible deniability while supporting America's covert operations throughout Southeast Asia.
Based on five years of research and seven years of writing, Honor Denied combines Allen Cates's firsthand experiences with documented evidence to tell the story of Air America as it has never been told before. It challenges long-held myths—including the familiar but misleading description of Air America as simply "CIA-owned"—and presents the historical record behind one of America's most secret organizations.
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