16 MARCH 1966 (NYT)…Wednesday…Fair and colder in New York…Lead item was R.W. Apple’s report that: “United States officials expressed the belief today that South Vietnam’s continuing political unrest has become critical.” He cited demonstrations against the government of Nguyen Cao Ky and the growing unrest in the area of Danang. The intentions of General Thi remained unknown…On page 9 a story on the bomb shortage: “There is no evidence that operations had to be curtailed because of any shortages,’ said Senator Stennis, Chairman of Senate Preparedness Sub-committee.” However, small numbers of bombs had been transferred and bomb production had been expanded…Also on page 9 was a report that investigations of “treachery and cowardice” at A Shau earlier in the month were underway in South Vietnam. The article said that many of the Vietnamese in the civilian defense force turned their guns on their own men, according to Captain John Blair, the commander of the post…. Page 9: The State Department said that:” Hanoi is assuming an even more negative attitude than in the past on the question of a negotiated settlement of the war.” This accompanied a story on Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s appearance the prior weekend on NBCs “Meet the Press.” The VP was quoted: “We have gone to the Soviet Union and asked them to help us. We have been to India. We have been in contact with the Viet Cong. We have in contact with Hanoi…the United States has never been able to get any response that indicates a desire for peace.”… Buried on page 16 was a report that Negroes in Watts (Los Angeles) were on a rampage. A “mob of 200” was responsible for killing two injuring 25…the California National Guard was put on Standby… The final four for the National Invitational Tournament were: BYU, NYU, Villanova, and Army…
16 MARCH 1966… ROLLING THUNDER… Operations were limited to the panhandle and the western areas of North Vietnam. The only loss of aircraft was an F-105D from the 333rd TFS based at Takli. Several F-105s of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takli were on road reconnaissance missions in the same area where an F-4C from Udorn had been downed the previous day. MAJOR PAUL GERARD UNDERWOOD was recovering from a bombing run when hit by 37mm AA. On fire, MAJOR UNDERWOOD flew his burning aircraft several miles before crashing without ejecting. He was Killed in Action. COLONEL UNDERWOOD’s remains were recovered and identified in 1998.
RIPPLE SALVO… The First Year of Rolling Thunder…Source: Pentagon Papers, Senator Gravel Edition, Volume 4…
In the fall of 1965 the DIA and CIA began producing a monthly “Appraisal of the Bombing of North Vietnam” that was an attempt to keep a running tabulation of the damage and cost of repairing or reconstructing Rolling Thunder bomb damage in NVN. They reported: “… the first year of Rolling Thunder inflicted $63 million of measurable damage” to military and economic targets in NVN. The report also reported that the bombing disrupted the production and distribution of goods, created problems in managing the economy, reduced production, caused shortages and hardships, forced adjustments in the allocation of resources and manpower from production to restoration and dispersal of high valued targets for the bombers. “In terms of specific targets, the appraisals reported results like the following:
“Power plants. 6 small plants struck, only 2 of them in the main power grid. Loss resulted in local power shortages and reduction in power available for irrigation but did not reduce the power supply for the Hanoi/Haiphong area.
“POL storage. 4 installations destroyed, about 17% of NVNs total bulk storage capacity. Economic effect not significant, since neither industry nor agriculture is large user and makeshift storage and distribution procedures will do.
“Manufacturing. 2facilities hit, 1 explosive plant and 1 textile plant, the latter by mistake. Loss of explosive plant of little consequence since China furnished virtually all the explosives required. Damage to textile plant not extensive.
“Bridges. 30 highway and 6 railroad bridges on the JCS list destroyed or damaged, plus several hundred lesser bridges hit on armed reconnaissance missions. NVN had generally not made a major reconstruction effort, usually putting fords, ferries, and pontoon bridges into service instead, damage has neither stopped nor curtailed movement of military supplies.
“Railroad yards. 3 hit, containing about 10 per cent of NVNs total railroad cargo-handling capacity. Has not significantly hampered the operations of the major portions of the rail network.
“Ports. 2 small maritime ports hit, at Vinh and Thanh Hoa in the south, with only 5 per cent of the country’s maritime cargo-handling capacity. Impact on economy minor.
“Locks. Of 91 known locks and dams in NVN, only 8 were targeted as significant to inland waterways, flood control, or irrigation. Only 1 hit, heavily damaged.
“Transport equipment. Destroyed or damaged 12 locomotives, 819 freight cars, 750 barges, and 354 other water craft. No evidence of serious problems due to shortages of equipment.
“What did all of this amount to? The direct losses, in the language of one of the monthly appraisals: ‘…still remain small compared to total economic activity, because the country is predominantly agricultural and the major industrial facilities have not been attacked.'”
Readers, what’s your evaluation of this scorecard? During the 38-day pause from Christmas 1965 to the end of January 1966, the President, SecDef and JCS were locked in daily musters to adjust the thrust and targeting of the Rolling Thunder assets. The DIA/CIA results were factored into those discussions. The JCS opted for targeting NVN POL, and the mining of Haiphong, as the way ahead. The President balked and remained committed to his limited, gradual approach concentrating on the LOCs. The discussions continued into late March 1966. Monsoonal weather provided cover and more time for the President to decide and provide guidance on the direction Rolling Thunder would take in the Spring of 1966. What had the President learned in the first year of his limited application of Rolling Thunder assets? Was the cost in blood and treasure worth the first year results? How is that strategy of limited and gradual working out for you Mr. President?
Lest we forget…. Bear
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