Intermountain Airlines
Encyclopedia
Intermountain Airlines, also known as Intermountain Aviation and Intermountain Airways, was a CIA airline front company. Intermountain performed covert operation
s for the CIA in Southeast Asia
and elsewhere during the Vietnam War
era.
Intermountain's main base of operations was Marana Army Air Field
near Tucson, Arizona
. In 1975 it was acquired by Evergreen International Aviation
, a company that has acknowledged connections with the CIA. Other CIA "proprietary" airlines such as Air America and Air Asia
also operated out of Marana during the Vietnam War years.
One of Intermountain's covert missions was Operation Coldfeet in which intelligence operatives were dropped in the Arctic to reconnoiter an abandoned Soviet drift station
and then recovered using a Fulton Skyhook
recovery system mounted on an Intermountain B-17 Flying Fortress. The modified B-17G, N809Z, had previously operated out of Clark Air Base
, the Philippines
, in an all-black scheme for the CIA for agent insertions and other unspecified covert operations in Southeast Asia.
Intermountain is alleged to have been involved in the delivery of a number of A-26 Invader
bombers to be flown by Cuban
exile pilots supporting the Bay of Pigs Invasion
.
During its years in operation, Intermountain used several types of aircraft including the Curtiss C-46 Commando
, the Lockheed L-188 Electra
, the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
and a B-17 Flying Fortress which was outfitted with a prototype Fulton Recovery System, performed Arctic operations, and appeared at the end of the James Bond
film Thunderball
.
Covert operation
A covert operation is a military, intelligence or law enforcement operation that is carried clandestinely and, often, outside of official channels. Covert operations aim to fulfill their mission objectives without any parties knowing who sponsored or carried out the operation...
s for the CIA in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and elsewhere during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
era.
Intermountain's main base of operations was Marana Army Air Field
Pinal Airpark
Pinal Airpark is a county-owned, public-use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Marana, in Pinal County, Arizona, United States....
near Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. In 1975 it was acquired by Evergreen International Aviation
Evergreen International Aviation
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. is a global aviation services company based in McMinnville, Oregon. Founded as Evergreen Helicopters in 1960 by Delford M. Smith, Evergreen is primarily known for commercial helicopter operations in agricultural and forestry applications...
, a company that has acknowledged connections with the CIA. Other CIA "proprietary" airlines such as Air America and Air Asia
Air Asia (Taiwan)
Air Asia Company Limited is a provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services headquartered on the island of Taiwan in the Republic of China. It is now located in the Tainan Airport...
also operated out of Marana during the Vietnam War years.
One of Intermountain's covert missions was Operation Coldfeet in which intelligence operatives were dropped in the Arctic to reconnoiter an abandoned Soviet drift station
Drift station
A drift station is a term used to describe a temporary or semi-permanent facility built on an ice floe. During the Cold War the Soviet Union and the United States maintained a number of stations in the Arctic Ocean for research and espionage, the latter of which were often little more than quickly...
and then recovered using a Fulton Skyhook
Fulton surface-to-air recovery system
The Fulton surface-to-air recovery system is a system used by the CIA, United States Air Force and United States Navy for retrieving persons on the ground from an MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft. It involves using an overall-type harness and a self-inflating balloon which carries an attached lift...
recovery system mounted on an Intermountain B-17 Flying Fortress. The modified B-17G, N809Z, had previously operated out of Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, in an all-black scheme for the CIA for agent insertions and other unspecified covert operations in Southeast Asia.
Intermountain is alleged to have been involved in the delivery of a number of A-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
bombers to be flown by Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
exile pilots supporting the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
.
During its years in operation, Intermountain used several types of aircraft including the Curtiss C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, the Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
, the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
and a B-17 Flying Fortress which was outfitted with a prototype Fulton Recovery System, performed Arctic operations, and appeared at the end of the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Thunderball
Thunderball
Thunderball may refer to:*Thunderball , a 1961 James Bond novel by Ian Fleming**Thunderball , a 1965 film adaptation of the novel starring Sean Connery**Thunderball , the soundtrack from the film, or the title song...
.