COMMUNIST HELICOPTER OPERATIONS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-546-11-4-9
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 6, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/08/30 : LOC-HAK-546-11-4-9
ME?~IORANDU~
1404
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
mo't'^"'"^''?ENSITIVE INFORMATION
March 6, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM: WILLIAM L. STEARMAN
SUBJECT: Gommunist Helicopter Operations
in Indochina
Within the last month there has. been a new development in Communist
military and political operations in Indochina: the use of helicopters
outside of North Vietnam.
There have been seven flights by NV.A.F MX-8 helicopters from Dong Hoi
across the UMZ into South Vietnam. The most recent of these flights
occurred on Ms.rch 5. The purpose of these flights remaixas un~:lear.
Th.e NVA~` inventory of MI-8's is currently 6, with 13 others reportedly
being assembled in North Vietnam.
There has recently also been a large number of flights and landings by
unidentified helicopters and aircraft along the Lao-Thai border and into
three provinces of northeast Thailand: Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanorsi and
Sakon Nakhon. (see map at Tab A.) Communist insurgents have been
active in this area in. recent years. A list of these incursions as reported
by NSA is at Tab B.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
;~ ~-."~~ENSITxVE
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/08/30 : LOC-HAK-546-11-4-9 - -
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/08/30 : LOC-HAK-546-11-4-9
3/00/7~1fi~75
V I . CAMBODIA
MILITARY SITUATION
During the past week, Cambodian Commexnists (KC) reportedly
sank s; nu~aber of PANK barges containing 100 tons of
ac~nunition9 possibly on~the Tonle Sap River and sate reportedly
aalvaging..this materiels Also, along the lower Mekong east
b,snk, KC forces claim to have sank m MNK craft t~apnsporting
munitions .south of Prek D:~~cb,A. '
Initial reference to KC ~acticaloselated coc~unications
between a Northern Region official west of the Mfekong a~n
Easte~a Region official easit: of the river was receni~ly
disclosed, These two entities swx~mari~es tact3.ca1 activities
in Koc~pong Cham Province.
Troops from the ICC Northern Regian will re~sostedly deploy
to the Phno~a Penh area. In addition to the 300'"district forces
that have already been sent from S~.em Reap Province, mobile
fasces from tw?~ KC battalions wire e~pec*~ed to arsi~re at
Tang Krasang on 3 or 4~ March to go. possibly to PFinoua Penh.
KC forces in Phnom Penh have been d3,'rected to capture
high sankir~g officials of the Government to demand the release
of KC youths being held by the Govern.c~.~t. If the yovxths
are not released, KC forces are t? kill the captured officials.
C SF~RET SPOKE)
~'Il . LAO S
I~LYTAI~Y SITUATION
1, Nosthex?ra Laos.
1~1VA units operating in the Plaines des Jarres continued
to discuss training, the status of "enemy1? forcesfl grad supply
activities during. the past Meek. SECRET SPORE?ISHTAR~
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SECRET/ SENSITIV E
-- On 9 February, one helicopter, flying from the direction of
Laos, landed at the village of Ban Doxxg. One person of unknown
nationality and two Thais from the helicopter informed the villagers
that they would aid Communist insurgents in Thailand with ground and
air support and would drill their members in the use of modern weapons.
They also stated that they would permit the villagers to buy ar barter for
weapons to protect themselves.
--~ Anath.er helicopter, with no lights, circled various villages in
the Chai Buri Subdistrict area on 12 February, then flew away toward
Laa s.
-- On l8 February, two unidentified aircraft entered the area of
Sung Kan and Seka Dis~Ericts from the area of Wanon Niwat District,
Sakon Nakhon Province.
-- Two unidentified aircraft flew from Van Nan Khamin Noi on the
..night of 18-19 February and disappeared north and east of Si Sangkhraxzx
District, Nakhan Phnom Province.
-... TWU m.ure aiicx?dit i el,oi?tedly fa.~w f,:;~m cast of Van Ncn g qua
Sin ~.t1tl .?rurix solli:~:lW~S% a I; an I-Sua I~11ua and d~:sapl,cared o.c~rth a.r~.:.axt'a.-~
east of 5eka District of 5akan Nakhon Province.
_.. Another aircraft flew from west of Ban Ngam Lao, Sakon Nakham
Province and disappeared north of Van Phaeng District, Nakhon Phanom
Frovinc e.
~- Still another aircraft flew from Ban Wang Bang, Wanon Newat
District, Sakon Nakhon Province and disappeared northeast of Ban
Prathana Di, Bung Kan District, Nong Khai Province.
SECRET/SEN5I'TIVE
,~ No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/08/30 : LOC-HAK-546-11-4-9