Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
SECRET
Another area to which I must invite your attention has to do with the utilization of the H-34 helicopter squadron. This aircraft is not a simple item of equipment, and I am fully aware of the complex problems involved having to do with maintenance and specialized personnel. However, it is potentially one of the most effective items equipment in the hands of the RVNAF for defeating the Viet Cong. The helicopter provides superior mobility over all types of terrain, and as you know guerrilla warfare is essentially mobile warfare. Increased effort is necessary to expedite the training of troop units in helicopter borne operations. To accomplish this, priority utilization of these aircraft must be given to this training, and to the subsequent use of helicopters on their primary mission of combat operations. During my inspection of the 21st Division Operation in Vinh Binh Province, 27 June, there were only two of the six operational H-34's made available for operations. As you know, these H-34's were delivered ahead of schedule by my government only upon my insistence that they were urgently required for actual hot war military operations. Although these aircraft are being used in important combat support missions, increased operational use of H-34's is required to justify this earlier delivery.
Also, during my inspection of the 21st Division Operation mentioned above, I noted an apparent lack of adequate prior planning and coordination between the civil administrative functions of the Province and the military operation. On this seventh day of the military operation, the Commanding General, Field Command, Commanding General, III Corps, the National Delegate and the Province Chief were holding a meeting to coordinate and resolve problems of a combined politico-military nature. These included the problems such as the movement of villagers and civil control after completion of the military phase. As you recall, the concept of progressive coordinated, phased clearing of the country, spelled out in the Counter-Insurgency Plan and the Tactics and Techniques paper, requires a high degree of civic-military coordination in all areas, and particularly in areas where actual fighting is taking place. This is especially important not only prior to and during the operation, but following it. Active and positive cooperation between the Province administrative authorities and the military commanders is essential to ensure a coordinated pacification of the area plus the all important follow-up and tkae over by the Province authorities. Only in this way can permanent results be obtained - by denying the Communists re-entry into the area after the operation has been completed. The overall concept of the Province Chief using the Civil Guard and Self Defense Corps to perform this mission is sound but requires close supervision and coordination in each major clearance operation by RVNAF.
SECRET
