According to an NCO from the PAVN 31st Regiment captured in the fighting, the mission of his unit was to "attack Hi An, five times if necessary, and set up a liberation government. Surprised by the initial assault, the engineers fell back, giving up half the camp to the attackers. The remaining rocket attacks were ineffective. This information should also include any information involving plane crashes at the Da Nang base in early 1968. Rockey, the 3/5 Marines commander, commented on the "increasing frequency and ferocity" of enemy contacts. [1]:146, Lieutenant Colonel Twyman R. Hill's 1st MP Battalion operated directly under III MAF and was responsible for the "close-in defense" of the Da Nang Air Base, the two bridges between Tiensha Peninsula, Marble Mountain Air Facility and the Naval Hospital on the Tiensha (Tin Sa) Peninsula. The PAVN obviously were bringing the local VC main force units up to strength, even if to do so they had to bring in replacements from the north. + Casualty figures reflect all casualties, i.e., USAF, other military and civilians. This platoon under First Lieutenant John E. Manning departed the airbase about 04:15 and arrived in the blocking positions about 05:15. After a quick appraisal of the situation, the I Corps commander turned to the senior U.S. advisor at the I Corps Tactical Operations Center, Army Major P.S. Date: July 15, 1967.Visit us at www.CriticalPast.com:57,000+ broadcast-quality historic clips for immediate download.Fully digitized and searchable, the CriticalPast collection is one of the largest archival footage collections in the world. In Da Nang City itself, about 10:50 in the morning, approximately 500 people gathered at a Buddhist pagoda and attempted to hold a march. The 391 rockets that hit the base itself the figure was 69 in 1971killed four United States. The Sequence number refers to the sequence number assigned to all attacks on ten primary US Air Force operating bases in Vietnam. 366th Security Police K-9. Bringing up two artillery platoons , the ARVN gunners lowered their pieces and fired pointblank at the VC. The U.S. major remonstrated that the site was relatively close to the compound, but Lm insisted that the air strikes be flown. Da Nang Air Base had intelligence predicting a rocket attack any day. SAIGON (UPI) - Communist troops blasted the city of Da Nang and nearby military installations with nearly 200 rockets or mortar rounds early today in their heaviest attack on the Northern coastal area in a year, spokesmen said. Proud to have had . a-~_ -~ ijsafss 0 w 86 i jun !17 history of 6994th security squadron At 07:35, VC gunners fired two RPGs at the compound tower and a VC infantry platoon opened up upon the CAP unit. [1]:149, About 5,000 meters to the east, in Hi An, however, PAVN/VC forces gained somewhat the upper hand. According to Marine sources, the heavy action on this small island resulted in 102 VC killed, 88 prisoners of war, 13 VC suspects and 70 laborers. Flight line VMO-2 after mortar / rocket attack "Tet Offensive" 1968. . Landing in large bursts, about 50 to 75 artillery rounds fell on the lead column. Some of the VC in the hamlet fled south, but encountered a platoon from Company E, 2/7 Marines coming up to reinforce the Allied forces in the Nam O area. This would be followed by a rocket barrage and an assault by the main force units on Allied military units and installations. Large numbers of flares shot high into the air and burst into . Cam Ranh Bay AB: US Army 6th Convalescent Hospital debris by Sapper Attack! [1]:1412, In the Da Nang sector, the tempo of operations had picked up during the last weeks of January. The task force headquarters and its two battalions returned to Chu Lai Base Area the following day. Citation Nr: 1224394 Decision Date: 07/13/12 Archive Date: 07/18/12 DOCKET NO. With the departure of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in mid-January for Phu Bai Combat Base, the 3/7 Marines extended its area of operations to include An Hoa Combat Base to the south. Just 19 when he arrived, the horrors he witnessed would forever shape him. The South Vietnamese quickly rushed the newly arrived ARVN 5th Ranger Battalion into the area. Some viewers may find some scenes or audio in this archival material to be unsettling or distressing. [1]:157, There were two serious incidents in the 7th Marines sector. Newsreel reporting on a rocket attack on the Da Nang military base being used for US Marine Corps operations. PAVN/VC gunners then replied with a mortar barrage, which resulted in two Marine dead and two wounded. During the Cuban missile crisis, the U.S. Marine Corps deployed a Hawk air defense missile battery from the 3d Light Antiaircraft Missile (LAAM) Battalion to Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, to protect the U.S. naval base from a surprise low-level air attack by Soviet and Cuban aircraft. In the northeast, near the Force Logistic Command sector, villagers from Nam (160654N 1080744E / 16.115N 108.129E / 16.115; 108.129) just south of the strategic Nam Bridge, told PF troops, members of the CAP Q-4 platoon, that the VC planned to attack the CAP compound. Given also the enemy rocket threat, he still needed to maintain extensive patrols in the so-called Rocket Belt. The attack started at 12:25 AM and an estimated 50 rounds of 122mm rockets were fired at the installation. A third C-123 squadron was stationed at Da Nang Air Base in 1963 and a fourth at Tan Son Nhut in October 1964 following the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August. The Da Nang airbase was a major Ranch Hand facility during the American War in Vietnam. At Duy Xuyn, however, the PAVN/VC overran the town, forcing the district chief to flee and take refuge with the Koreans. The only Marine casualties were two men who failed to vacate their "hootches" in time. The National Police arrested 25 of the crowd and quickly dispersed the would-be demonstrators. Da Nang was a major base area for United States and South Vietnamese military forces supporting operations throughout I Corps. With one of his companies on the Tiensha Peninsula and the other three protecting the Air Base perimeter, Hill argued that he could not spare three platoons. The 3/5 Marines were landed and immediately came under heavy automatic and small arms fire from the island. He personally believed the plans were impractical and deserted at the first chance he had. You get your timing off and you've got problems. Beginning their attack about 03:00, two companies of the V-25th Battalion used the noise of firecrackers set off and general firing by Tt celebrants to cover their approach. *** The first time that rockets were used in the Republic of Vietnam by the Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army. According to documents captured later, the two VC assault companies were to pull out at first light, but became bogged down in the city. (L to R) Attack of 13 April 1972. Da Nang AB was nicknamed "Rocket City" due to the large number of attacks by 122mm and 140mm rockets. All attacks from 02/27/67 forward were by rockets. [1]:159, While from 15 February, the PAVN/VC ground assaults on Marine positions appeared to diminish , Marine spotters in the tower on Hill 55 reported the constant movement of small groups of enemy troops in the western portion of the ROKMC area of operations. The mortar attacks resulted in only five wounded and none killed among the Marine defenders. The PAVN then attacked forcing the Marine platoons to fall back to more defendable positions. One of the rockets damaged one of the missile launchers and wounded three of the Marines. One of the companies captured a German missionary hospital in the city and the other hit the rear base of the ARVN 51st Regiment, the Chi Lng Camp, garrisoned by the ARVN 102nd Engineer Battalion. Simultaneously, the division ordered the helilift of a company from the 3/5 Marines to reinforce the ARVN and the CAP Marines. Open to all Vietnam Veterans that served at DA NANG Air Base of ROCKET CITY from 1971-1972. [1]:1601, On the morning of 7 February, Westmoreland called for a special meeting of the senior U.S. commanders in I Corps. Countermortar fire quickly silenced the enemy tubes. He seems to think there was only one rocket attack at Da Nang in 1972. The ROKMC, while not finding any sizeable forces, continued to encounter small enemy units and boobytraps which took their toll. [1]:157, In other sectors of the Da Nang TAOR, the PAVN/VC also maintained the pressure on the Allied forces. Once more the PAVN/VC failed to cut the main lines of communication into Da Nang. CriticalPast offers immediate downloads of full-resolution HD and SD masters and full-resolution time-coded screeners, 24 hours a day, to serve the needs of broadcast news, TV, film, and publishing professionals worldwide. . CriticalPast makes this media available for researchers and documentarians, and does not endorse or condone any behavior or message, implied or explicit, that is seen or heard in this video.Link to order this clip:http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675029937_Vietcong-rocket-attack_Danang-Airbase_Marine-operation-headquarters_heavy-explosionsHistoric Stock Footage Archival and Vintage Video Clips in HD.Vietcong rocket attack on the U.S. Da Nang Airbase in VietnamShows a night time Vietcong rocket attack, just after midnight, July 15, 1967, on the United States Air Force flight line and barracks areas at the Da Nang Airbase in Vietnam. At 08:30 a CAP saw a number of VC attempting to swim across the Cu to the island. The fighting during the preceding week had drawn down the strength of the ARVN and the two Marine battalions and the PAVN 2nd Division still had uncommitted units that it could throw into the fray. The Marines and PF troops fired at armed members of the crowd who appeared to be directing the march. [1]:1589, For the next few days, there was a relative lull in the Da Nang sector, at least as compared to the last two days of January. Missiles launched from nearby mountains have caused eight deaths, many injuries and. Naval Support Activity Danang operated extensive logistics facilities on the Tiensha (Tin Sa) peninsula east of the city. At 19:20, in the same general area, still another Stingray patrol, Sailfish, radioed that about 200 PAVN/VC troops, some carrying 40mm rocket launchers, passed its positions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "[1]:143, Throughout the Da Nang area of operations, the PAVN/VC began to move into attack positions. West runway cratered, east runway open. Shortly after 01:00 on the 6th, PAVN gunners opened up on the hamlet with intermittent mortar rounds and small-arms fire. At Da Nang, III MAF knew that the PAVN/VC were on the move. Fires started from secondary blasts by bombs and fuel. About 01:00, a Marine platoon from Company G, 2/7 Marines, positioned near the Nam Bridge on Highway 1 crossing the Cu River north of Da Nang, saw another two enemy on a raft with a wooden box. More like this Camp Friendship Korat Cat Air Force Special Operations Vietnam War Photos May Bay North Vietnam Air Force Bases Vietnam Veterans Pictures of Danang 9. The most eastern of the battalions, the 2nd, shared its area with the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, which was responsible for the coastal sand flats south of Marble Mountain. According to Marine intelligence reports, on 9 February, the 2nd Division moved its headquarters back to the Go Noi from its more forward positions. By the afternoon of the 31st, the Marines and Rangers had completed their sweep. He and Randall agreed that they would deploy one of the battalion's two reserve provisional Quick Reaction platoons composed of headquarters personnel. Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines alone shot off some 1,200 rounds. The reaction force itself came under automatic weapons fire and RPGs disabled the two tanks. Army advisor attached to the ARVN unit. At about the same time, approximately 15 enemy 122mm rockets struck an artillery complex in the 11th Marines Northern Sector Defense Command which included a detachment from the 1st Armored Amphibian Company, the 155mm Gun and 8-inch Gun Batteries, as well as Batteries H, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines and M, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines. That same day, the 1st Marine Division notified III MAF that "usually reliable sources" told of staging areas south of Da Nang for an impending attack. [1]:150, By this time, General Robertson had taken measures to bolster the ARVN south of the Cau Dau. He ordered the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion to form a blocking position on the southeastern bank of the Vien Dien River. The Marines failed to determine whether this mixed force had a specific mission or consisted of remnants from units that had participated in the earlier attack on the I Corps headquarters. I was in Danang less than a month when the Vietcong used rockets to attack the Danang Air Base for the first time in the war, on the morning of February 27. According to U.S. advisors and to South Vietnamese sources, the fight for Hi An resulted in Allied casualties of 58 killed, 103 wounded in action, 21 missing in action and 14 weapons lost. The 6252nd Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at Da Nang on 18 July, 1965, and was responsible as the host unit for operational squadrons assigned to Da Nang, including the 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons. [1]:1445, About 02:30, the PAVN/VC struck the perimeters of the Da Nang base itself. DA NANG A.B. "[1]:144, By evening on the 29th, the 1st Marine Division at Da Nang was on 100-percent alert. He arrived with 19 other soldiers, eight of whom were embalmers. The C-123's ability to land on short, unimproved fields proved invaluable and the four units served in Vietnam until the end of the war. Before his death, however, the Vietnamese identified himself as Major Nguyen Van Lam, the commanding officer of the R-20th c Lp Battalion. Built by the Colonial French government of Indochina in 1949, it became a training school for Vietnamese pilots. Rockey then directed Company G of the 3rd Marines, also attached to him, to move up along the banks of the Bau Xau River toward a blocking position southwest of the ARVN base to seal any escape route in that direction. A contingent of South Vietnamese Nng mercenaries from the Special Forces Thng c Camp took over the defense of Hill 52 from Company M.[1]:158, Still the Marine command believed the new positions of Company M not only covered the approaches to i Lc, but provided the division with another reserve force. By 11:00, Marine helicopters evacuated the most seriously wounded and brought in the rest of Company G into blocking positions on the western bank of the Yn. "[1]:1578, The greatest danger to the TAOR at this juncture, however, was from the south in that area defended by the ROKMC and the ARVN 51st Regiment. 15 January 1968 U-10D Courier 66-14334 unit unknown, USAF, base unknown A mortar attack on the airfield at Luang Prabang in Laos destroyed a U-10D Courier. The RF/PF suffered 1 PF killed and 10 wounded. [ Bob Kaatman photo ] In the attack, the PAVN/VC fired 122mm rockets at Marine artillery positions at An Hoa, Hill 55 and Hill 10. An alert ARVN sentry took the VC under fire near the flagpole. According to Marine intelligence sources, Rummage may well "have rendered a reinforced battalion combat ineffective, forcing the enemy to modify his plans at a critical time." Again the crowd dispersed and this time did not recongregate. He moved Company M, 3/7 Marines from its fairly remote position on Hill 52 in the far western reaches of the Vu Gia River Valley above the An Hoa Basin to the more centrally located Hill 65. Although most of the enemy activity was restricted to small-unit contacts, on the night of 2/3 February, PAVN/VC gunners again rocketed the Air Base. NASM.2018.0025 In the Da Nang sector, during the early morning hours of 30 January, PAVN/VC gunners took under mortar and rocket fire 15 different Allied units and installations. Still photo images extracted from the vintage footage are also available for immediate download. [1]:154, At about 19:00 another reconnaissance patrol, Recon Team Rummage, about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang in the Qu Sn Mountains below An Ha, spotted a column of about 40 PAVN at the head of even a larger column moving east along a trail. Military Photo: Rocket Attack On The Eve Of The Tet Offensive. Use big bombs." At 20:00 on the night of the 5th, a Marine platoon ambush from Company C, 1/7 Marines intercepted about 60 PAVN troops about 4,000 meters south of the Ty Loan River in the western sector of the area of operations moving northeast towards the river and the base with mortars and automatic weapons. In the meantime, the VC harassed with sniper fire both CAP Q-4 and the nearby Nam O bridge security detachment from 2/7 Marines. Shortly after 18:00, an air observer reported seeing 25-30 enemy troops in trenchlines, bunkers and fighting holes. Galand Kramer at the Danang Officers Open Mess, the DOOM Club, so appropriately named for those of us flying into the teeth of North Vietnams AAA, missile and MiG air defenses. Additional intelligence tended to confirm the enemy was about to initiate something big. Although the PAVN troops fled, the Marines found five unexpended 122mm rockets on the site. The USAF 620th Tactical Control Squadron established a control and reporting post (CRP) code-named Panama on the mountain in 1964 to support operations from Danang Air Base. Fourteen aircraft, six pieces of ground support equipment , five buildings, and another two vehicles sustained damage of one sort or another. Below the Marine battalions, the ROKMC 2nd Marine Brigade secured the Hi An sector and the southeastern approaches above the Ky Lam River to Da Nang Air Base. Da Nang, the main Seabee base in the I Corps area, which bordered North Vietnam, came under repeated attack from Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars. 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