What did the declassified documents reveal?

USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971. Released by The Black Vault, a collection of Air Force historical studies. The canonical PDF is available at documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/USAFWithdrawal.pdf. This document is a 102-page historical study of the U.S. drawdown of air forces from Southeast Asia during Vietnamization. The study was prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Force and was revised to incorporate the Air Staff editor's comments. The study was declassified by the Air Force Historical Research Agency on September 30, 2009, and is designated as SAF/AAZD BY AFHRA. The document is part of the Corona Harvest series, which aimed to acquaint present and future Air Force leaders with air power lessons learned during the Southeast Asia conflict. The document begins with an abstract, stating that this is the first Corona Harvest study to address the USAF withdrawal from Southeast Asia. It notes that the discussion should begin with the first incremental withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 1969. The study documents the problems encountered by the Air Force in maintaining an effective force during the redeployments, enumerates lessons learned, and offers recommendations. It also includes a table of contents, a list of figures, and an overview of the study. The overview notes that future historians will find an abundance of statistical data relating to U.S. Air Force operations in Southeast Asia but may lose insight into the problems of USAF management experienced during the buildup and withdrawal of forces. The study was prepared by L. D. Clay Jr., Commander in Chief Pacific Air Force, and was revised to incorporate the Air Staff editor's comments. It is the property of the U.S. Government and is not to be released in whole or in part without the specific permission of HQ USAF (AF/1WDD). This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The document is available at documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/USAFWithdrawal.pdf.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-009

USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971

JUL 6 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-usaf-withdrawal-from-southeast-asia-1-jan-1970-30-jun-19713 minLast updated July 6, 2026

The short version

USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971. Released by The Black Vault, a collection of Air Force historical studies. pdf. S. drawdown of air forces from Southeast Asia during Vietnamization. The study was prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Force and was revised to incorporate the Air Staff editor's comments.

Date: JUL 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971. Released by The Black Vault, a collection of Air Force historical studies. The canonical PDF is available at documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/USAFWithdrawal.pdf. This document is a 102-page historical study of the U.S…

Questions about this case

What was USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971 about?: USAF Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, 1 Jan 1970 - 30 Jun 1971. Released by The Black Vault, a collection of Air Force historical studies. pdf. S. drawdown of air forces from Southeast Asia during Vietnamization. The study was prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Force and was revised to incorporate the Air Staff editor's comments.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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