U.S. Strikes North Vietnam with Napalm

Mar. 19, 1965 - The United States, apparently in a change of policy, is using napalm bombs in aerial strikes against North Vietnam.

Such bombs contain a sticky jelly substance that slows the rate of burning and increases the area of intense damage. They were used with devastating effect in World War II and the Korean War.

Emphasizing that napalm bombs are considered “conventional ordnance,” officials said today that commanders had the authority to use or not to use them, depending on military requirements.

Reports from Saigon disclosed that napalm bombs were used Monday and again today in U.S. raids against North Vietnam.

These bombs were not used previously in the air attacks on North Vietnam, although they had been used in aerial strikes against the Viet Cong Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam.

Officials have emphasized that in all the raids on North Vietnam, great care has been exercised to select only military targets that were not clear civilian population centers.

Napalm has an awesome effect on personnel. When hurled into buildings, it not only burns them but consumes oxygen so rapidly that the people inside may be asphyxiated even when untouched by flame.

Arthur Sylvester, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said napalm bombs were not used until now against North Vietnam because commanders “had not considered it necessary.”

He said authority for use of the bombs in the hostilities in Vietnam rested with Pacific Command Headquarters in Honolulu and commanders in Saigon.

Sylvester said napalm was used in the latest raids as “suppressive action” to reduce antiaircraft fire.

While emphasizing that napalm bombs were considered to be conventional ordnance, officials reiterated earlier statements that no thought was being given to the possibility of using nuclear weapons of any kind in the Vietnamese hostilities.

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