Air Support/Defense
Air activity in support of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines operations was widely varied and extensive during the period of this report. On 1 May 1967 the Gio Linh-Con Thien Firebreak was completed and during the period 2 May to 7 May units were Heli lifted to the Dong Ha Combat Base for short periods in the rear and returned to Con Thien. During the night attack on Con Thien outpost during the pre-dawn hours of 8 May flare ships were extensively utilized to illuminate the battlefield. On the morning of 8 May, 43 Marine med-evac sorties were flown and close air support aircraft caught approximately 200 of the fleeing attackers in the open with devastating results. Helicopter resupply throughout the period was extensive with the normal daily lift averaging in excess of 10 tons.
On 13 May 1967 the first combat air drop resupply of Marines by Marine KC-130F aircraft of the Vietnamese conflict was made to this unit’s element at Con Thien. This was necessitated by excessive hostile fire, which covered the helicopter-landing zone ruling out normal helicopter resupply. The drops were a complete success and 100% on target with 95% of the resupply recovered undamaged.
Air Support Report:
Offensive
CAS Sorties 86
TAO/TACA Sorties 42
Fixed Wing Transport sorties 3
Med-evac sorties 97
Logistical Sorties Unknown*
Recon/C and C Sorties 11
TPQ’s requested 617
Flare ship sorties 8
* Helo resupply flights fragged through LSA figures unavailable.
This page last corrected 29 August 2011