Timeline, August 2nd

[David]

PREBELLUM:
August 2, 1909 (Year of the Rooster [Ky Dau]): The Wright Military Flyer is formally accepted as the US Army's first airplane --Signal Corps Airplane No. 1.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
August 2, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): The first large-scale heliborne operation ever conducted in I Corps occurs as two US Army companies raid the VC 5th Region HQ in the Do Xa area.

August 2, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): In the early morning hours, the captain of the Maddox learns from intelligence that North Vietnamese naval forces plan to attack his destroyer that day. Directed to continue the patrol, Maddox reaches a point east of Thanh Hoa at about 1045. Two hours later, lookouts and radars on Maddox pick up five North Vietnamese naval craft north of Hon Me. Even though the destroyer heads away from the area in a northeasterly direction, between 1500 and 1600, North Vietnamese boats close on the ship as the Maddox increases speed, heading for the mouth of the gulf. Its captain calls General Quarters, and radios for air support. At 1608, after firing three warning shots with her 5-inch, 38-caliber guns at the fast-approaching vessels, by now identified as three P-4 motor torpedo boats in column, the Maddox opens fire. For the next 20 minutes the ship maneuvers to avoid torpedoes and rakes the still closing PTs with gunfire. Passing astern of the ship, all three P-4s are hit. Struck by only one 14.5-millimeter round, Maddox heads out to sea as four F-8 Crusaders from Ticonderoga arrive overhead and attack the North Vietnamese craft, which are now leaving the scene. One of the P-4s, already slowed by damage, is set afire and left dead in the water; the boat later sinks. Within hours of the engagement, Maddox, accompanied by destroyer Turner Joy, is ordered to resume the interrupted patrol in international waters around Hon Me.

August 2, 1964 (Year of the Dragon [Giap Thin]) (US Advisory): North Vietnam charges that four U.S. aircraft flying from northern Laos have attacked the North Vietnamese border post at Nam Can and the village of Nang De.

August 2, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): Operation Blastout I starts, during which a CBS TV crew films US Marines burning 51 huts.

August 2, 1965 (Year of the Snake [At Ti]) (US Defense): A/1/AVN is alerted for movement to assist in the effort to relieve the besieged SF/CIDG camp at Duc Co.

August 2, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Operation Cheyenne starts along segments of Highway 13.

August 2, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Eight VC are sighted by a SAS patrol heading north from the Bin Ba area. A SAS patrol is inserted into the area south of Nui Thi Vai, they see sign of enemy movement.

August 2, 1966 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive Phase II): Professor Henry Kissinger discusses his impressions of the situation in Vietnam with US government officials after his recent second trip there.

August 2, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Joint Operation Hood River starts.

August 2, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): The HMAS Hobart comes under enemy fire while bombarding Cong Phu Railway spur.

August 2, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): 3 RAR with support units of 1 ATF start Operation Platypus in a jungle clearing covered with head-high grasses at the southern end of the Courtenay Rubber Plantation, 20 km north-northwest of Nui Dat.

August 2, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): Operation Lam Son 245 begins in Thua Thien Province.

August 2, 1970 (Year of the Dog [Canh Tuat]) (US Counteroffensive Phase VIII): B Company 8 RAR deploys to Le Loi and begins operations. D Company vacates NDP Brigid and begins operations in the Long Dien area. A Company deploys to the west of AP Suoi Nghe.

August 2, 1971 (Year of the Boar [Tan Hoi]) (US Consolidation I): The U.S. admits there are some 30,000 CIA-sponsored irregulars operating in Laos.