SOUTH VIETNAM: I VIET CONG STRIKE AT PLEIKU U.S. AIR BASE

Record ID: 342076

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: I VIET CONG STRIKE AT PLEIKU U.S. AIR BASE
  • Date: 9th January 1967
  • Summary: BURNING STORES, DAMAGED HELICOPTER; CRATER IN GROUND. Initials PW/VS/MGT/GLH Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th January 1967 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PLEIKU; SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA61UNQNF1E0J0CG3FFP3BX77AN
  • Story Text: A SQUAD OF VIET CONG, ARMED WITH MORTARS AND EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, STRUCK AT THE US AIR BASE AT PLEIKU ON SATURDAY MORNING, INFLICTING DAMAGE WHICH HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT ONE MILLION DOLLARS. THEY ATTACKED THE BASE WITH SMALL-ARMS FIRE, THEN DESTROYED SUPPLY DUMPS AND DAMAGED PARKED HELICOPTERS.

    THE ATTACKING VIET CONG INFLICTED CASUALTIES ON US TROOPS GUARDING THE BASE AND FIRED OVER 200 MORTARS INTO SUPPLY DUMPS. OTHER RAIDERS FIXED EXPLOSIVE CHARGES TO HELICOPTERS AND STORE SHEDS, DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

    IT WAS A SIMILAR RAID ON THE PLEIKU BASE IN FEBRUARY, 1965, WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THE FIRST AMERICAN FIGHTER-BOMBER RAIDS ON NORTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

    AMONG STORES DESTROYED IN SATURDAY'S RAID WERE COMBAT UNIFORMS, TYRES AND CHEMICAL EQUIPMENT.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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