BOMB DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF THE B-52 MISSION AGAINST MU GIA PASS , II APRIL 1966

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T02095R000800030008-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 7, 2002
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 22, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/01/2 u P78T02095R000800030008-1
S-1896
22 April 1966
Subject: Bomb Damage Assessment of the B-52 mission against Mu Gia
Pass, 11 April 1966
1. The air strike by B-52's against a segment of Mu Gia Pass between
the Laos border and Don Bai Dinh, North Vietnam which took place on
11 April 1966 did not result in the interdiction of route 15 for a signifi-
cantly greater period of time than interdictions from previous air strikes
on the pass. Analysis of post strike photography of 12 April by the
Imagery Analysis Division, NPIC, revealed 5 separate road cuts on a
2500 foot section of route 15, and about 189 new bomb craters in the
target area. * In addition, there is a possible landslide adjacent to the
northernmost road cut. The poor quality of the photography precluded
more detailed readout. Preliminary analysis of photography obtained
on 14 and 17 April showed route 15 to be servicable north of the target
area and some evidence of vehicular traffic.
2. The only effective interdiction occurred at the 5 separate road cuts,
which could be repaired in a short period of time. Although an estimated
25, 000 cubic yards ** of earth were displaced by the total number of
bombs (189) in the target area, it probably resulted in no more than..10
percent of this amount of displacement to create the 5 road cuts. Out
of 1389 bombs dropped (about 600 tons),
Assuming some delay before the start o repair wor because of the
it is estimated that a crew of 250 laborers using
han too s cou have the 5 road cuts repaired in 8 to 10 hours. It is
common practice for Communist truck traffic to begin driving on
strategic routes before they are fully repaired. Earlier photography
of route 7 and Mu Gi,a Pass in Laos has shown trucks winding through
the cratered sections of these roads.
This film was not received in IAD until 21 April 1966
Assuming an average of 130 cy of earth displaced per bomb between
the equal number of 750-pound and 1000-pound bombs dropped.
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Approved For Release 2002/01/29: CIA -RDP78T02095R00080003000 ;id s= aid' j
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