Reviewer:
Jilly9 -
-
January 8, 2012
Subject:
April 1966 in Vietnam
Bien Hoa - Army crews service a UH-1D helicopter and rockets are loaded before a mission. The armed highly-maneuverable helicopter is ideally suited for jungle warfare. Helicopters are shown flying combat missions and firing 20mm cannon. The Army aviation battalion at Bien Hoa has flown 4,000 sorties in April, 1966. Since January 1, 1965, the aviation battalion at Bien Hoa in have won 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Silver Stars, and more. Resupply helicopters land in a rice paddy near Cu Chi to deliver food and ammo to troops. Flight deck helicopters practice take offs and landings aboard ship; shown on the USS Tortuga in the South China Sea.
Phan Thiet - On April 9th,1966 a battalion from the 101st Airborne lands at an airstrip to take part in Operation Austin. They arrive via c-130 at Quan Thiet Airfield, which will be the base for the search & destroy operation. On April 12, 1966 Operation Austin begins. The next day the patrol finds a VC hut, unfinished. On April 15, 1966 they support another platoon under attack. On April 19 2 VC are captured an interrogation. By the 25th of April 1966 more VC are captured.
Pleiku - An Khe - the airstrip at An Khe is attacked by Communist terrorists on April 20, 1966. At 0200 on April 22, 1966 the Viet Cong attacked the Pleiku air base. Several Airmen were killed.
An Khe - the main base for the 1st Air Cav Airmobile is at An Khe. Major General Harry W. O. Kinnard is interviewed and describes the concept of air mobility.
Kontum - a civilian aircraft crashed April 28, 1966 at Kontum Airport. US Army personnel aided the victims and emergency medical treatment. A young girl is revived.
Landstuhl & Munschweiler, Germany - The 46th Surgical Hospital have a practice nuclear drill on April 23 - 25, 1966 The 8th Evacuation Hospital also participate. Soldiers practice sweeping radioactive dust, with brooms.
Santiago Area Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - On April 28, 1966 helicopter flies on a errand of mercy, ferrying an elderly woman to medical help at the Red Cross hospital in Santo Domingo. The US Army is helping with road improvement; on April 18, 1966 they begin a project. (film melts at this point & audio is out of sync)
Uncia-Sucre Area, Bolivia - US Army engineers help upgrade roads near tin mines. Shot of underground tin mines, steep mountainous roads and llamas. There is a $450,000 US grant to improve roads. The US Army distributes comic book propaganda "Tres Cuentos" about the road project.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Young Dominican leftists chant "GO HOME YANKEE." The 82nd Airborne are at the American Embassy in case there is trouble there. It is the 1st anniversary of the 1965 coup. US flags are burned.
Honolulu, Hawaii - On May 1, 1966 the 112-acre National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is dedicated. It is the last memorial to be dedicated to the dead of WWII & Korea. Speeches are given by the governor and military personnel. Admiral Sharp places a wreath at the monument of the missing.