U.S. Launches “Firestorm” Raid on Viet Cong Training Area

Mar. 31, 1965 - Unleashing tons of napalm, phosphorus bombs, and fuel oil, U.S. and South Vietnamese planes today touched off a massive “firestorm” raid on a Viet Cong training area.

Other planes hit a half dozen targets in North Vietnam in an intensification of the war following the terrorist bombing yesterday of the American Embassy in Saigon. Nearly 200 planes and 25 helicopters took part.

Six U.S aircraft were downed, and at least three Americans were killed.

Devastated was the Communist-infested Boi Loi forest, 19,000-acre area 25 miles north of Saigon.

The fire was still burning late today when Maj. Gen. Joseph Moore, commander of U.S. Air Force units in Vietnam, flew over the area. He said he hoped it “will keep burning for some time.”

Moore said the forest was previously doused with kerosene-based plant-killing chemicals to kill the shrubbery so it could burn swiftly when the fire bombs were dropped. 

For two days before the attack, low-flying planes dropped leaflets and, with loudspeakers, warned civilians to leave the area. Moore said about 2,000 left the forest for resettlement camps. 

The napalm, phosphorus, and fuel oil were aimed primarily at two points in the forest filled with Viet Cong caves, tunnels, and fortifications. There was no immediate report on Viet Cong casualties.

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