FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R31-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 29

relea00342.pdf
2/G11/VHN/R31-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 29
This is a report on the communications of the DRV
Document date: 1964-08-06
Department: NSA Headquarters, Ft. Meade, MD (DIRNSDA)
Author: SIGINT; Phu Bai
Document type: Report
pages: 2


Archivist's Notes: The communication reported on has to do with the DRV shooting down their own aircraft

Title: 2/G11/VHN/R31-64; 061758Z Aug.

Subject: Gulf of Tonkin Documents Release 2

Comments: Secret Kimbo, 2/G11/VHN/R31-64 SIGNIT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report:

Possible shootdown of 'own' aircraft by DVR on Aug. 6th

Complete text of Port Wallut's 2 part message revealed that it is highly likely that DVR forces shot down their own

Aircraft. After fully describing the planes marking's, Port Wallut stated;

"When examined, the aircraft type had the markings which were ours. It is Necessary to Discriminate."

Archivist notes: It truly invites a different thought process when you consider that during the times of war, the enemy chooses to disguise it's forces as ours. I can see with the lack of proper communication

How easily the mistake could have happened and the DVR shoots down their own plane.

[edit on 4-6-2008 by antar]

Looks like the DRV was pretty nervous! Probably shooting at anything that moved.

This interception was made on august 6th, a few days after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident caused the first large-scale involvement of U.S. armed forces in Vietnam.

Here are some additional links of reports made of intercepted enemy communications following the August 2nd event.


FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R40-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 39
FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R32-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 30
FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R30-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 28
FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R27-64 SIGINT Readiness Bravo Lantern Report Nr. 25
FOIA: 2/G11/VHN/R25-64 SIGINT Bravo Readiness Report Nr. 22