Lee Lue
Lee Lue 𖬃𖬰𖬞 𖬘𖬞 | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Lis Lwm / 𖬃𖬰𖬞 𖬘𖬞 |
| Born | December 1935 |
| Died | 12 July 1969 (aged 33) near Muang Soui, Laos |
| Allegiance | French Indochina Kingdom of Laos |
| Branch | Royal Lao Air Force |
| Service years | 1967–1969 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | Special Unit based at LS-20A, Long Tieng, Laos |
| Commands | T-28 fighter bomber squadron |
| Conflicts | Secret War in Laos Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) Cold War |
| Relations | wife Jou first-born son Ze |
Major Lee Lue (RPA: Lis Lwm, Pahawh: 𖬃𖬰𖬞 𖬘𖬞; 1935 – 12 July 1969) was a Laotian Hmong fighter bomber pilot notable for flying more combat missions than any other pilot in the Kingdom of Laos. He flew as many as 10 missions a day and averaged 120 combat missions a month, totalling more than 5,000 sorties. Lee Lue was the leader of the special group of Hmong pilots flying T-28Ds from Long Tieng against the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese positions. The group was funded by the CIA and was part of the regular Royal Lao Air Force, but took orders directly from MR2 Commander Gen. Vang Pao. His T-28 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Muang Soui, crashing in a mountainous area near Ban Phou Pheung Noi on July 12, 1969. At the time of his death, he had flown more combat missions than any other pilot in history.
A motto attributed to him was "Fly 'til you die." He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel.