This day in history..... March 7th 1971

[Grand Torino]

SAIGON, South Vietnam, March 7 — The United States continued widespread bombing raids today, sending more than 1,000 planes into action against enemy forces In Laos and Cambodia.

Some of the raids were in support of two South Vietnamese operations in Cambodia.

The first operation is a new move by 2,000 men near Kompong Trabek, along Route 1, in eastern Cambodia west of Saigon. The drive was directed against what were described as North Vietnamese and Vietcong sanctuaries. The second operation is the larger, continuing one by the South Vietnamese in the Chup Plantation‐Snoul area along Route 7 near the Fishhook area northwest of Saigon.

American planes also carried out heavy air strikes around Tchepone, a major North Vietnamese supply shipment point about 25 miles inside Laos on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. South Vietnamese forces captured the town this weekend.

[The South Vietnamese troops at Tchepone were reported to be consolidating their positions in anticipation of a possible enemy counterattack from the north.]

Some Planes Held Back

There are 1,200 to 1,500 American planes available for use in South Vietnam, Some were held in reserve, apparently for use against surface‐toair missile sites in North Vietnam should they threaten United States bombers attacking targets along the border.

The planes also flew in support of Laotian Government troops fighting in northern Laos.

The raids were mounted from at least four bases in Thailand, half a dozen bases in South Vietnam and frdm carriers of the Seventh Fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Read more.

https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/08/archives/1000-us-planes-bomb-foe-in-laos-and-in-cambodia-heavy-raids.html

 

ADVER