Building the RLAF's pilot strength in the face of combat losses was a long process. The Hmong turned out to be highly courageous fighters who flew until they were killed in action; only three of them would survive the war. One of the fallen Hmong, Vang Pao's brother-in-law Lee Lue, became the most famed pilot of the RLAF. The ongoing deaths in action made it difficult to supply sufficient numbers of Lao pilots to the RLAF. The A Team would not be phased out until 1967; by that time the B Team was considered trustworthy enough to replace them. The 606th also expanded and became the 56th Air Commando Wing in 1967.Conboy, Morrison, p. 170.
