Request for B52 ARCLIGHT Strike

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: (S3) OPERATIONS 2nd Brigade HQ, 101^st Division

To: S2 & S3 Division HQ

 03/03/1969
RE OPERATION RAPDISTRIKE III

In support of the 2nd Brigade 101st Divisions operation RAPIDSTRIKE III in the K14 AO (Yok Nam Loa Massif) a squadron size, B52 Harassment and Interdiction mission is requested for the 03/12/1969. Please refer request to:
Commander G.L Butler. 

320th Bombardment Wing
7th Airforce

Strategic Air Command

Anderson Airforce Base
Guam

Coordinates are centred on (8)0405-(13)6275 Designated as YOK TJOUT. Hill .855, US Army Map series L7014-sheet 6533. target area to run NE to SW.

Please advise confirmation of availability ASAP.

Col Eyles Co 2/502nd.

(Estimated 16 hour round trip. Refuel once on each leg)

From S2 & S3 101st Division HQ
To 2nd Brigade HQ 

Re Arclight Strike in support Rapidstrike III

This has been passed on Higher higher informs us that the Arclight is a go

EYES ONLY

Request for Daisy Cutter drop

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: (S3) OPERATIONS 2nd Brigade HQ, 101^st Division

To: S2 & S3 Division HQ

 03/03/1969
RE OPERATION RAPDISTRIKE III

In support of the 2nd Brigade 101st Divisions operation RAPIDSTRIKE III in the K14 AO (Yok Nam Loa Massif) a Sikorsky CH54, BLU-82 (Daisycutter) mission is requested for 07:30 03/12/1969. Please refer request to:
Major Warren Silva

273rd AVN Co. (HH)

12th AVN Group

Long Binh

Coordinates are (8)2135-(13)7585 Designated as CHU BONG KRAN. Hill .656 US Army Map series L7014-sheet 6533. 

Please advise confirmation of availability ASAP.

Col Eyles Co 2/502nd.

(Estimated mission time: 3 hours)

From S2 & S3 101st Division HQ
To  2nd Brigade HQ 

RE Skycrane DAISY CUTTER drop

Received and pass on for approval

EYES ONLY

LRRP Teams Confirmation of Operational Command

CLASSIFIED

From: TOC F Company 58th Infantry, Camp Eagle

To: (S1) PERSONNEL, (S2) INTELLIGENCE, (S3) OPERATIONS 2^nd Brigade, 101^st DIVISION HQ, BIEN HOA

RE: OPERATION RAPIDSTRIKE III –TRANSFER OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL

Movement orders received and understood. Teams will stage to Bien Hoa on Divisional air assests in the next couple of days and will be  on stand by from there, 

Will also dispatch radio relay teams.

Assume that Bgde S Elements will provide them with the logistical support they will need to effectively utilise their skill set in support of your operation.

Major Bradley Wiggins, OiC F/58th Inf 

OpCon LRRP Teams and Movement Orders

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: (S1) PERSONNEL, (S2) INTELLIGENCE, (S3) OPERATIONS 2^nd Brigade, 101^st DIVISION HQ, BIEN HOA

To: TOC F Company 58th Infantry, Camp Eagle

RE: OPERATION RAPIDSTRIKE III –TRANSFER OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL

Movement orders for LRRP teams assigned to operation RAPIDSTRIKE. III

Once the teams have rested and resupplied at CAMP EAGLE (Hue) they should report to their respective Brigade secondments at BIEN HOA no later than the evening 03/11/1969

Teams 2-6 call sign CYCLONE 2 & 6 respectively attached to 1/501st
Teams 7-12 call sign TYPHOON 7-12 respectively attached to 2/501st
Teams 21-23 call sign HURRICANE 21-23 respectively attached to 2/502nd

Teams 2 & 6 attached to 1/501st will proceed with later elements to join main force at FSB LEE ( Boon Tsuk.) if Bravo and Delta co's have been airlifted out before the 03/12/1969.

Teams to travel the 385 miles from HUE to 101st at BIEN HOA, as best they can on regular transporters. Travel permits issued. Allow 12hrs.

Col Eyles 2/502nd

LRRP Team Reports 03/04/1969. And 03/05/1969 and extraction

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TOC F Company 58th Infantry

To: (S2) INTELLIGENCE 2^nd Brigade, 101^st Division HQ

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III - SitRep/Contact report

DATE: 03/04/1969. And 03/05/1969

Weather report: Dak Nong Rain 0-1%, . Temp 32°Day 16°Night. Wind NE, 3-5 mph. Later S-SW 5-9mph

LRRP TEAM ACTIVITY

LRRP Team 21

133 703 Occupied bunkers

143 717 occupied bunkers near trail previously found?

133 727 empty bunkers

Safe extract and RTB

LRRP Team 2,

Nothing all day

Safe Extract and RTB

LRRP Team 7

083 802 several trails West North and East

3 + empty bunkers

2 + Occupied bunkers?

Sounds SE 2km+

Set NDP Request first light extraction 093 827

Extract safely and RTB

LRRP Team 6

120 608 Bunkers occupied?

125 608 Bunkers occupied

Trail West-East

Request Alternate LZ for extraction 142 608

Safe extract But took Light AA (AK?) on RTB

LRRP Team 23

052 652 2 x empty bunkers

058 658 2 + empty bunkers

068 662 trail NE-SW empty bunker

Sound contact West 1km+

Safe extract and RTB

LRRP Team 12

087 757 Sounds from west 2km+

082 757 Extract safely and RTB

EYES ONLY

Medal Recommendation SFC C LANGLEY Team Two One F/58th

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: S1 Personnel & CO 1/501st

To: S1 Personnel, 101^st Division HQ

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

 RE Commendation and Recommendation for Valour in the Face of the Enemy. SFC Clint Langley, Team TWO ONE (21), F/58th

In my capacity as Brigade Commander responsible for the deployment of Team Two One, 58th Infantry, 101st ABN Division, during the proprietary LRRP patrols conducted as phase one of operation RAPIDSTRIKE III, I recommend Team Leader SFC Clint Langley for the Army Commendation Medal.

The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to American personnel in the grade of O-6 and below who have performed noteworthy service in any capacity with the United States Army. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty.

On the morning of 02/26/1969, SFC Clint Langley lead his team into an area of the Yok Nam Loa Massif know as the K14 AO. On HELO approach to the infiltration zone they came under heavy small arms AA fire from an unknown sized enemy. The CH-47 Chinook carrying the team took hits injuring the copilot and forcing the aircraft into a controlled crash landing. SFC Langley organised the immediate rescue of the injured crew member, caring him to a safe distance from the wreck. Here, his team formed a defensive position covering probable multiple attack from several directions. Attempts at a rescue by attending gunships were made but where continually driven off. During one of these runs a UH-1D Huey was also bought down but with no casualties. Under sporadic small arms fire Langley managed to get to the second crash site and helped the four man crew out and lead them back to the Defensive perimeter without further injury.

Once under the light cover afforded by a small rocky outcrop, Langley directed ARA from attending gunships and non ordnance runs from F4's of the 389th TFS on station during the mission. This well coordinated suppressive fire lead directly to the extraction of the entire LRRP team and crews from the LZ.

The crash site was subsequently destroyed by HE Air to Ground rocket fire from the F4 Phantoms of the 389th and the adjacent tree lines were napalmed.

SFC Langley, along with the rest of T21 58th Infantry, were successfully infiltrated into a new AO later the same day.

Please inform SFC Langley of his award and my personal appreciation of his actions. These are in the highest tradition of the United States Army and the very spirit of the Screaming Eagles.


Lt. Col. Eyles.  Co 2/502nd Infantry 101st Div

LRRP TEAM Reports 03/03/1969.

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TOC F Company 58th Infantry

To: (S2) INTELLIGENCE 2^nd Brigade, 101^st Division HQ

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III - SitRep/Contact report

DAY EIGHT (8): 03/03/1969.

Weather report: Dak Nong Rain 0-4%, . Temp 39°Day 16°Night. Wind NE, 3-5 mph.

LRRP TEAM ACTIVITY

LRRP Team 21

0215hra SSounds to North

148713 Trail East – West

Empty Bunker

Set NDP

Request Last Light Extract tomorrow 125 726

LRRP Team 2,

0300hrs Sound to West

138 663 Sound West

Set up NDP

Request Last light extract tomorrow 145 665

LRRP Team 7

0330hra Digging on trail?

0445 Sound of bicycles NE. 10 +

078 803 Sounds West 1km +

 Set up NDP

LRRP Team 6

Nothing all day

Set up NDP

Request extraction tomorrow 135 605

LRRP Team 23

0400 10 plus foot movement From west

0900 15 porters no vis weapons turn North

068 662 empty bunker

Set Up NDP

Request extraction tomorrow 055 665

LRRP Team 12

078 738 Trail running south

Bunkers Occupied

078 728 Trail conts South

Obs 13 porters carry long bundles no vis weapons heading south

Sound engine west 2km

077 720 trail exits AO south

Bunker trail watcher?

1730 Small team (8) carrying possible surveying equipment?

Set Up NDP

EYES ONLY