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Viet Cong Hit Danang Air Base

July 1, 1965 - The Viet Cong killed one American, destroyed three planes worth $5 million, and damaged three others in a flash attack on the Danang Air Base early today. 

But U.S. Air Force and Navy planes struck at North Vietnam during the day without letup. Bridges, barracks, and radar installations were among the prime targets, and more propaganda leaflets were dropped over populated areas, a U.S. spokesman said. He said all planes returned safely.

More U.S. Marines landed in South Vietnam, in the coastal city of Qui Nhon. A U.S. spokesman said between 400 and 500 were coming ashore from 7th Fleet ships and would provide security for the Qui Nhon area as well as “combat support for the Republican of South Vietnam’s armed forces.” Qui Nhon, 270 miles northeast of Saigon, is the fourth area to be defended by the Leathernecks. The others are Danang, Chu Lai, and Phu Bai.

The hit-and-run attack was carried out while a majority of the Americans on the Danang base were asleep. U.S. military authorities in Saigon said their information indicated a small group of guerrillas, possibly six men, infiltrated the base with explosives and 57-mm recoilless rifles. A spokesman said barbed wire circling the base was found cut.

A U.S. Marine lieutenant in charge of security on the west side of the air base said he deployed two squads to the area under attack within 10 minutes. He said his men engaged the Viet Cong with small arms fire.

“I’m positive we got some Viet Cong,” he said. “We saw some bodies hung on barbed wire, but now they are gone.”

It was the first such attack on the key base, guarded by about 9,500 Marines who landed in the Danang area last March. Air Force and Army personnel have been at the base since early 1962.The busy field and the nearby town of Danang have been considered for months to be prime targets for a hit-and-run Viet Cong attack.

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