Timeline, October 16th

[David]

HISTORICAL:
October 1939 Year of the Hare [Ky Mao]): As World War II starts up in Europe, the French conduct mass arrests and imprisonment of Indochinese militants from all groups, including Communists, nationalists, Cao Dai and Hao Hoa.

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR:
October 16, 1945 (Year of the Rooster [At Dau): In Laos, the Lao Issara government publishes a provisional constitution.

October 16, 1952 (Year of the Dragon [Nham Thin]): Nghia Lo: Major Bigeard, a chaplain and 667 French and Vietnamese paras of the 6th BPC jump into Tu Le, which controls the crossroads of the ways leading to Nghia Lo, Son La, Than Uyen and Ban Ta Bu. Their mission is a desperate one: to delay the advancing Viet Minh divisions long enough to allow ground troops to carry out a maneuver to withdraw to the Black River.

SECOND INDOCHINA WAR:
October 16, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): The US Army begins a five-month study of air mobility in Vietnam, focusing on the new 68th Aviation Company (formerly the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company and later the 197th Airmobile Company). During the study period, the company will fly 1,779 combat support hours, mostly in III and IV Corps. Suppressive fire delivered by the escort helicopters will account for an estimated 246 Viet Cong casualties, while eleven armed helicopters will be hit by hostile fire; no armed helicopter is shot down, but one UH-111 is seriously damaged by ground fire.

October 16, 1962 (Year of the Tiger [Nham Dan]) (US Advisory): Despite controversy in the Pentagon about their use, OV-1 Mohawks are first used in Vietnam when the 23rd Special Warfare Aviation Detachment (Surveillance) is stationed this date at Nha Trang in support of the 9th Division and Railway Security Company, with one flight team later being moved to Qui Nhon in November to be closer to the 9th Division. The rules specify that on all operational flights a Vietnamese observer must be aboard and that the aircraft may carry .50 caliber weapons only, which are to be used only for defense against a hostile attack During the five-month trial period, the 23rd Special Warfare Aviation Detachment will fly more than 2,000 hours in 785 combat support missions, delivering defensive fire 27 times with the loss of only two aircraft from undetermined causes. As for railway security, enemy attacks decrease by 50% after the Detachment starts regular surveillance. Many Army advisors urge MACV to relax the rules of engagement for the Mohawks.

October 16, 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): The South Vietnamese Navy establishes four naval zone commands, from the 1st Naval Zone in the north to the 4th Naval Zone in the Gulf of Siam. Thereafter, operations of the Sea Force, River Force, and Coastal Force in a particular zone are controlled by an overall commander whose area of responsibility now corresponds with that of an army corps commander.

October 16, 1963 (Year of the Hare [Quy Mao]) (US Advisory): The 2nd ARVN Infantry Division has been having fair results in the Tam Ky area, with several defectors arriving and also several Viet Cong-controlled personnel asking for asylum. South Vietnamese losses so far have been only a few wounded.

October 16, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): A rescue helicopter is lost over North Vietnam.

October 16-17, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): Six SAS patrols are inserted the area on either side of the Song Rai.

October 16, 1966 (Year of the Horse [Binh Ngo]) (US Counteroffensive): 1 ATF starts Operation 16/66, Operation Queanbeyan, a battalion search-and-destroy operation in AO Gold, a 14 square km area including Nui Thi Vai and the region north and west of it. The land here is generally undulating terrain that develops into the spur lines and steep slopes of Nui Thi Vai (467 m) in the southeast, covered mainly in jungle, with some brushwood. VC forces are believed to be using Nui Thi Vai, as well as the adjoining Nui Ong Trinh, as a base area and for observation over Route 15; in a probable strength one platoon of local guerrillas and possibly one main force battalion. During the ten-day operation, ANZAC forces lose 2 KIA and 15 WIA. Ten VC are killed and four are wounded and/or escape. A number of huts and defensive positions are destroyed, and caves are rendered temporarily unusable by seeding with CS crystals.

October 16, 1967 (Year of the Goat [Dinh Mui]) (US Counteroffensive Phase III): Eight RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam((RANHFV) pilots and 39 supporting staff join the US 135th Assault Helicopter Company at Vung Tau., and within a month, redeploy to Xuan Loc in Long Khan Province.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): The 2nd ARVN Regiment begins Operation Lam Son 271 in Quang Tri Province.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Operation Wheeler/Wallowa update

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities around Vi Thanh.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on 1st Cavalry activities in Quang Tri Province.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on 1st Infantry Division activities near Saigon.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities around Dak To.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities around Go Cong, Can Duoc, Vinh Long and Dong Tam.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): A bird dog pilot attached to the 23rd Artillery Group spots the enemy near Tay Ninh City.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Hau Nghia Province.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Thua Thien Province.

October 16, 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V)(AR): Update on activities in Long An Province.

October 16, 1968 1968 (Year of the Monkey [Mau Than]) (US Counteroffensive Phase V): A seven-man SAS patrol in northeast Long Khanh Province makes contact with five VC, including one identified as European. Four VC are possibly killed.