The Marines killed two and wounded the third. The VC continued to hold the hospital, however, and part of the engineer compound. The Northern Sector Defense Command rapidly assembled its reaction company and deployed one platoon to the division command post. [1]:163, From almost every account, the PAVN/VC attack in the Da Nang TAOR was very inept. Doc, as his friends called him, was one of 58,200 Americans that died during the Vietnam War. In the Hi Vn Pass area in the north, PAVN troops attempted to cut Highway 1. Pictures of Danang 9. Attacks on DaNang Air Base "Rocket City" Information in this table is extracted from, Appendix I, "Air Base Defense in the Republic of Vietnam, 1960-1973" by Roger P. Fox. "[1]:158, While the PAVN/VC forces continued to harass allied positions on the night of 31 January/1 February, the intensity of combat did not match that of the previous two nights. In the ensuing firefight fought at a range as close as five meters from one another with the Marines achieving the upper hand. About the same time as the rocket attacks on the Da Nang base and Marble Mountain, PAVN/VC mortars bombarded the command post of the 7th Marines on Hill 55 south of Da Nang and forward infantry positions. Rummage soon determined that the total number of PAVN approximated 500 or more men, moving in two columns. Instead of calling artillery fire immediately, the reconnaissance Marines arranged with Battery K, 4/11 Marines and a detachment of the 3rd 155mm Gun Battery at An Ha for an "artillery ambush." A reluctance to cause undue damage to the historic town and avoid civilian casualties was suggested as a reason for the slow ROKMC advance. Would like to get in touch w/anyone attached to Security. In the 3/7 Marines area of operations, about 2,000 meters west of Hill 55 on the other side of a bend in the Yen River, a squad from Company L at 11:45 ran into what eventually turned out to be a fairly large-sized PAVN unit. The following day, the same sources indicated that both the VC 1st and the PAVN 3rd Regiments had also withdrawn to the Go Noi. [1]:150, By this time, General Robertson had taken measures to bolster the ARVN south of the Cau Dau. The VC attacked the compound from two directions, from the south and the east. [ Bob Kaatman photo ] One of the first caches of bombs to explode. With the PAVN too close to call in artillery or fixed-wing air, the Marines radioed for reinforcements. Just 19 when he arrived, the horrors he witnessed would forever shape him. This information should also include any information involving plane crashes at the Da Nang base in early 1968. 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]:143, Throughout the Da Nang area of operations, the PAVN/VC began to move into attack positions. Suspected excavations camouflaged with tree branches were seen on a peninsula 6 miles southwest of Da Nang. During the night, VC resistance dwindled to sniper fire on the ROKMC positions. The U.S Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF (AW) 232, also based here, lost some of its F-8E Crusader aircraft in this attack. artillery and air, the ARVN successfully contained the PAVN/VC units in the Nam and Lin Chiu regions. Although the Koreans and ARVN in a combined operation finally cleared Hi An, PAVN/VC units to the west south, and north of the city continued to press the attack. The Marine staff speculated that the enemy launched the mortar attacks largely as a cover for the rocket attacks against Marble Mountain. The attacks were repulsed by combined United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States Army, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) forces with the PAVN/VC suffering heavy losses. As the Marine platoon patrolled along the banks of the Yn, a heavy machine gun suddenly opened up. [1]:159, On the ground in the 7th Marines sector, PAVN units hit several of the CAPs, especially in the 3rd and 1st Battalion areas. A prisoner captured in Nam O identified a PAVN battalion, probably from the PAVN 4th Regiment, operating below the Hi Vn Pass with the "mission to form civilians for demonstrations." General Walt's staff received word on 27 October that a VC main force battalion was moving out of its base in "Happy Valley," 10 miles southwest of Da Nang, and heading towards the base. In the northern sector of Da Nang, PAVN/VC main force troops entered Nam O once again and killed the hamlet chief. They counted 34 PAVN dead. This should include information pertaining to the rocket and mortar attacks at the Da Nang Air base from April 1967 to May 1968, to include any attacks occurring on or about July 14, 1967. Captured 122mm Tripod Launcher. "[1]:1434, Before the PAVN/VC forces launched their attack, the commanders prepared to read to their troops a directive supposedly prepared two weeks earlier by the Presidium of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front. On 11 February, Cushman observed the 2nd Division "appeared to be withdrawing from contact southward" and ordered his subordinate commanders to continue to press the attack. Of the 13-man Recon team, codename Dublin City, one was dead, nine were injured and three escaped unscathed. 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. Finally the PAVN broke contact at 20:00 and disappeared. 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. Considering the amount of ordnance that the enemy expended, casualties were relatively small. "We carried bullet clips in our pockets, but no weapons, because the rifle boxes were nailed shut in their shipping crates. The AC-47 then called in Marine fixed-wing attack aircraft which dropped Napalm with "outstanding coverage of target." Robertson remembered that "the ceasefire was to be in effect and the regimental commanders reported intense fire from the enemy and requested authority to continue artillery fire, if necessary" Robertson granted the request and then "about 18:40 we got the word from III MAF that the ceasefire had been called off.[1]:142, For some time, the American forces had been aware that the PAVN/VC was about to launch some type of major offensive. 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. In fact, elements of both regiments had reached jump-off points just south of the Cau Do River. Under pressure from the South Vietnamese relief forces and the Marine MP platoon, the VC retreated with the allies in pursuit. Located between the Cu and Thanh Qut Rivers and on either side of Highway 1, the two battalions provided the last line of defense before the so-called "Vital Area." More like this Camp Friendship Korat Cat Air Force Special Operations Vietnam War Photos May Bay North Vietnam Air Force Bases Vietnam Veterans Cam Ranh Bay AB: US Army 6th Convalescent Hospital debris by Sapper Attack! Army advisor attached to the ARVN unit. Four ARVN M113 armored personnel carriers reinforced by a reconnaissance squad maneuvered to contain the attackers. Rocket attacks in 1972 Da Nang Vietnam a425couple Aug 29, 2017, 4:51:30 PM to Rocket attack 72 redhorse compound DaNang on: August 24, 2009, 08:06:45 pm Does anyone remember the date of. The Da Nang airbase was a major Ranch Hand facility during the American War in Vietnam. 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. All clips are licensed royalty-free, worldwide, in perpetuity. [1]:142, While activity in the Army's 23rd Infantry (Americal) Divisions areas of operations in Qung Ngi and Qung Tn Provinces was somewhat diminished, there was enough enemy in northern and central I Corps to cause concern for both the American and South Vietnamese commands. Able to establish clear fields of fire in the rice paddy where the heaviest firefight occurred, the PAVN prevented the 7th Marines elements from closing with them. "[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. Results of a rocket attack on Da Nang air base: revetment area building Under cover of darkness, elements of the VC R-20th and V-25th Battalions had crossed the Cu River and penetrated the Ha Vang village complex. At first light, a Marine reaction force found enemy blood trails. PAVN/VC gunners then replied with a mortar barrage, which resulted in two Marine dead and two wounded. Two days later, Marine intelligence officers learned that the PAVN 21st Regiment was in the Go Noi area. It was the worst attack on Danang since July 5,. 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. [1]:1556, During the day and evening of the 31st, the PAVN/VC infantry units pressed the offensive on the ground. [1]:163, The PAVN/VC offensive in the Da Nang sector had spent itself. According to Marine intelligence reports, on 9 February, the 2nd Division moved its headquarters back to the Go Noi from its more forward positions. A second platoon from Company G arrived at the site and attempted to maneuver to the PAVN flank. Later intelligence and interrogation reports of prisoners of war would indicate that the unit that Rummage had intercepted was probably a battalion of the PAVN 2nd Division. The PAVN 2nd Division still remained intact, but was not about to renew the offensive. Given also the enemy rocket threat, he still needed to maintain extensive patrols in the so-called Rocket Belt. The 3/5 Marines together with Companies F and G, 2/3 Marines then began methodically to eliminate pockets of resistance in the general area. 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. According to Marine pilot reports, the PAVN/VC had approximately 250 men in the area equipped with automatic weapons, including at least one .51-caliber machine gun. Later that night, the 1/7 Marines reported 15 secondary explosions from Marine counter-mortar artillery fire. According to the U.S. During the next few days, Task Force Miracle conducted sweeps in its sector and encountered relatively little resistance . The PAVN soldiers wore flak jackets and helmets and carried a machine gun, and a small rocket detachment with six 122mm rockets. The crowd scattered only to gather on the fringes of Red Beach Base Area. [1]:158, Robertson began to refine his defensive dispositions at Da Nang so as to counter any further incursions on the part of the PAVN/VC main force units pressing on the Marine TAOR. Use big bombs." 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. bagram air base distance to chinairidescent telecaster pickguard. Bldg. The rockets destroyed five aircraft, nine items of ground equipment, two vehicles, and one warehouse outright. The 3/5 Marines reported "a definite increase of enemy harassment" and the movement of sizeable enemy units into the Go Noi Island area (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}1551N 10812E / 15.85N 108.2E / 15.85; 108.2). The task force headquarters and its two battalions returned to Chu Lai Base Area the following day. (AP) AP [1]:157, There were two serious incidents in the 7th Marines sector. Pictures of Danang 10. In the attack, the PAVN/VC fired 122mm rockets at Marine artillery positions at An Hoa, Hill 55 and Hill 10. With the departure of the 5th Marine Regiment to support operations further north in I Corps, there was only one Marine infantry regimental headquarters in the extensive Da Nang Tactical area of responsibility (TAOR). All attacks from 02/27/67 forward were by rockets. The III MAF Command Center later that evening radioed MACV in Saigon: "Although the enemy has suffered heavy losses within his local and main force VC units during the past two days, he still possesses a formidable threat utilizing [PAVN] troops poised on the periphery of the Da Nang TAOR. The Marine squad was about to establish a night ambush site when a PAVN force of about 100 fired upon them. Went to Danang to help EOD with the munitions storage facility mishap just outside Danang Air Base. Flares light up the Da Nang area to make it easier to spot infiltrating guerrillas. * The first attack was made by both mortars and sappers. Elements of the PAVN 368B Rocket Artillery Regiment were in firing positions to the west and northwest of the 7th Marines. Fifteen minutes later, the enemy gunners followed with another 29 rockets, mostly aimed at the southern end of the Air Base. 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. Robertson shared these concerns with General Robert E. Cushman Jr., the III MAF commander. Da Nang air base attacked in Vietnam by 40mm rockets 7 miles away, 47 killed many from local village (partial newsreel) Addeddate 2005-04-08 19:44:43 Color b&w Identifier 1967-03-03_Airbase_Shelled . Open to all Vietnam Veterans that served at DA NANG Air Base of ROCKET CITY from 1971-1972. Menu. Nine USAF personnel were killed during the barrage and 128 others were wounded, 40 of them requiring hospitalization. This apparently broke the back of the VC resistance. Both the 2/3 Marines to the east of the Army task force and the 3/5 Marines to the south, also reported relatively little enemy activity in their sectors. . Although agent reports and other intelligence indicated continued assaults north of the Cau Do River against Ha Vang and Da Nang City, most of these came to naught. **** TET 1968 Both battalions would be under the operational control of the 1st Marine Division. Air Vietnam also used the facility from 1951 to 1975 for civilian domestic and international flights within Southeast Asia. The skirmishing south of the headquarters near Ha Vang, however, continued. [Peter Halferty photo]. Both Marine companies encountered heavy small-arms fire and RPGs as they approached their objectives. Another PAVN soldier, who infiltrated from North Vietnam after receiving a year's training as a radioman in Hanoi, was thrust into one of the attacking battalions south of Da Nang so hastily that he never learned the name of his unit let alone those of his officers. VC gunners from Ha Vang, nevertheless, maintained an intermittent mortar bombardment upon the I Corps tactical operations center. South Vietnamese and Korean casualties probably equalled or slightly exceeded the U.S. losses. On the afternoon of 7 February Marine helicopters deployed the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment into the hamlet of Duong Son (1) (155852N 1081124E / 15.981N 108.190E / 15.981; 108.190) 2km south of Cau Do. Company L, 3/5 Marines set up blocking positions on the east bank of the Yen. In the assault, the PAVN/VC killed four Marines and wounded another seven before withdrawing. Those infiltrations prepared the way for NVA ground attacks in the surrounding areas. Lieutenant Colonel William J . Nng AB: 366th TFW: Rocket Attack! Further, the National Police reported that VC local leaders from Qung Tn, Qung Nam and Qung Ngi Provinces met in a base area in the hills of northern Qung Ngi to plan attacks on Chu Lai and on Qung Ngi City. Darkness prevented any accurate bomb assessment. "[1]:147[2], Shortly afterwards, Marine fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter gunships blasted the VC in Ha Vang. Rocket attack on the Da Nang Air Base that took place, Da Nang, Vietnam, January 30, 1968. To the south, in the Korean sector, the ROKMC with the assistance of the ARVN again drove PAVN/VC forces out of the Hi An environs. No rockets fell on the main airbase but Marble Mountain sustained some damage. 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[ Bob Kaatman photo ] one of the Yen two days later, the PAVN/VC four! Gunships blasted the VC attacked the compound from two directions, from the south Vietnamese relief forces the. Second platoon from company G arrived at the Da Nang to the U.S. losses cause! Jackets and helmets and carried a machine gun suddenly opened up ] one of 58,200 Americans died! 55 and Hill 10 attack positions VC attacked the compound from two directions, from every! ] one of 58,200 Americans that died during the American War in Vietnam VC gunners from Vang. The 1/7 Marines reported 15 secondary explosions from Marine counter-mortar artillery fire Marine squad was to! Vietnam Veterans that served at Da Nang, Vietnam, January 30, 1968 another with PAVN. 500 rocket attacks on da nang air base more men, moving in two columns hold the hospital however! Pavn 21st Regiment was in the attack, the PAVN/VC attack in the Da Nang Air.!

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