FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
February 1951 (late Year of the Tiger [Canh Dan]/1st month, Year of the Hare [Tan Mao]): The Manifesto of the Vietnamese Workers Party (Lao Dong), front for the Vietnamese Communist party (which although officially dissolved at this time had remained active).
SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
February 27, 1962 (23rd day of the 1st month, Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]): The Presidential Palace in Saigon is strafed by two disgruntled South Vietnamese Air Force pilots. President Diem is unharmed.
February 27, 1965 (26th day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): "Aggression From the North" - US State Dept White Paper on Vietnam is released.
February 27, 1965 (26th day of the 1st month, Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Battle of Mang Yang Pass update.
February 27, 1966 (8th day of the 2nd month, Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Operation New York update.
February 27, 1967 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): U.S. aircraft begin to drop mines in North Vietnam's rivers.
February 27, 1967 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Prairie II update.
February 27, 1967 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): An Australian SAS patrol apprehends three VC. During an escape attempt two are killed.
February 27, 1967 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Phase II of Operation Deckhouse VI begins.
February 27, 1967 (19th day of the 1st month, Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): NVA rocket troops launch 140 mm rockets against the Da Nang Air Base. More than 50 rockets hit the base in less than a minute. The rockets have a range of 9,000 meters. This is the first known use of large tactical rockets in South Vietnam. The use of these weapons forces III MAF to extend its protective patrolling at Da Nang out to 9,000 meters, which adds to the drain on Marine infantry manpower.
February 27, 1968 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): The battle of Pineapple Forest, west of Tam Ky.
February 27, 1968 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): A/7/17 Cavalry supports another unit in Pleiku Province.
February 27, 1968 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): A light fire team of the 282nd AHC on a VR mission in support of ARVN units east of Hue spots a large enemy force in the open, and kills 63 NVA soldiers using 2.75" rockets and machine guns.
February 27, 1968 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): MAG-16 update.
February 27, 1968 (30th day of the 1st month, Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Tet Counteroffensive): CBS anchor Walter Cronkite concludes a special report by saying, "It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate." LBJ is said to have commented, "If I've lost Walter Cronkite, I've lost Mr. Average Citizen."
February 27, 1969 (12th day of the 1st month, Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]) (US Tet69/Counteroffensive): Operation Quang Nam begins.
February 27, 1972 (13th day of the 1st month, Year of the Rat [Nham Ty]) (US Consolidation II): South Vietnamese forces begin a drive into Cambodia to block preparations for a suspected Communist offensive.
SINO-VIETNAMESE WAR:
February 27, 1979 (2nd day of the 2nd month, Year of the Goat [Ky Mui]): In Vietnam, the battle for the provincial capital of Lang Son begins, with both Chinese and Vietnamese forces engaging in a massive artillery duel. PAVN is airlifting four divisions north from Cambodia to hold the final line of defense north of Hanoi and block positions south of Lang Son. Its 327th Division is already at Ha Bac south of Lang Son and elements of the 3 "Gold Star" Division are inside the city. Chinese Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao-ping states that 75,000 to 85,000 Chinese troops have entered Vietnam and are reported to have made spectacular advances of up to 50 miles into Vietnam, but a Chinese spokesman says that no attacks on Hanoi or Haiphong are intended. Radio Hanoi puts maximum penetration at 25 miles and claims that China has lost 80,000 men.
|