Turning Night into Day: Candlesticks, Lamplighters and Blind Bats

The enemy used the cover of darkness to move and attack. In Laos, Air Force flareships played an important role in lighting the night sky over friendly positions.

Flareship crews also directed night air strikes, often against trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They used night observation devices -- or "Starlight scopes" -- to detect the enemy, then dropped flares to mark and reveal the targets to strike aircraft.

Two USAF units performed the flareship mission in Laos and on occasion in North Vietnam. The 606th Special Operations Squadron flew C-123Ks under the call sign "Candlestick." Elements in the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing flew C-130 flareship missions under the call sign "Blind Bat" or "Lamplighter."

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All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons.
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* Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC §930 (c)

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