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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2022 22:42:56 GMT 12
This is interesting.
AIR DROP IN LAOS
N.Z. Pilot Is Well Paid
(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 16.
A New Zealander who has completed two tours of duty flying rice into Laos tribesmen cut off by Communists is visiting Auckland on leave. He is Captain L. D. C. Cowper, aged 36, of Cathay Pacific Airways. Captain Cowper, a former pilot with No. 14 Squadron of the R.N.Z.A.F. in Singapore, is one of three surviving members of the nine-man team employed by the United States on the rice-dropping mission.
The other six were shot down by the Communists. He will decide when he returns to Hong Kong soon whether he will undertake a third tour of duty—the risk is worth 3000 American dollars (£1070) a month tax free, and free board and lodging.
PRESS, 18 FEBRUARY 1964
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2022 22:43:54 GMT 12
Am I right in thinking he owned a Boeing-Stearman based at Ardmore back in the 1980s-1990s?
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Mar 10, 2022 17:26:28 GMT 12
There was a Stearman at Ardmore owned by Len Cowper, I assume it's the same person? If it's the one I'm thinking of it's still at Ardmore with new owners.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 10, 2022 17:28:36 GMT 12
Yes I did some research and it is definitely the same chap, and the Stearman is now ZK-BOE with a Warbirds syndicate.
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 10, 2022 18:34:42 GMT 12
Yes - Len was quite the character... I knew him work wise (he was an FAA DAR and issued us a couple of Ferry Permits and CofA on a 767 & 757 I recall. With his passing his wife published a book he had been working on - can't lay my hands on it sadly - but was an interesting read of early Cathay days, flying in Laos etc ... bit X rated I recall Interesting guy for sure.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 10, 2022 19:07:01 GMT 12
Thanks John.
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Post by chinapilot on Mar 22, 2022 21:28:01 GMT 12
Hah - Len was definitely a character.
His book is definitely one of the most honest books written about an expatriate pilots life in SE Asia. Definely x-rated - hard to imagine any mainstream publisher even allowing the manuscript on their premises - it tells of a pilots life in the 1960-70s flying out of Hong Kong. Enough technical stuff for the geeks but concentrates on the anthropology of the female species of the area with regard to off duty activities...
One of the few non American pilots to fly for the CIA he was fondly remembered. At Oshkosh in the late ‘90s a character named Jim Fore Jnr was selling his book which included his CIA C-46 and PV-2 time and I asked if he knew Len...result was that I put them back in touch.
A pleasure to know who lived life his way.
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