Office of the Historian

390. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1

Vientiane, November 4, 1968, 0950Z.

10050. 1. During series meetings last few days, which have included discussions with CSAF General McConnell and with representatives of 7/13AF, we have worked out arrangements for applying additional USAF air power to Laos under the rules of engagement imposed both by Washington and the RLG, subsequent to cessation in NVN.2

2. These arrangements will result in a significant increase in sortie rate in the Barrel Roll area, from an earlier daily average of about 30 to a new level of about 100 strike sorties per day. Although there will initially be some control problems because of necessity to phase A–1E aircraft through minor structural modification, we believe this level should be well established by time normal enemy dry-season offensive begins in this area.

3. In the south, sorties have already risen from a level of about 100 per day to 250 per day and should go higher when Commando Hunt and other operations go into effect. Therefore, despite anticipated extra enemy efforts to increase traffic on trail structure, movement should become more difficult and expensive, especially if effort can be maintained around the clock.

4. Although press is currently distracted by U.S. elections, events in Paris, and non-events in Saigon, we expect them soon to zero in on this increased activity. We note there have already been some informed leaks about “tripling” the level of activity in Laos. We will continue to decline to speculate on sortie rates for our “reconnaissance” operations on grounds this is operational question.3

Sullivan
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC.↩
  2. On November 7 Secretary of Defense Clifford sent President Johnson a memorandum that showed in tabular form the increasing number of attack sorties in Laos during the first 5 days of November 1968 (from 181 to 405) and the average daily attack sorties for 1967 and 1968 (November was prorated at the November 1–5 rate). (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5 EE 92, Laos, 11/68–1/69)↩
  3. In telegram 267319 to Bangkok, Saigon, and Vientiane, November 5, the Department requested that all U.S. officials “should refrain from confirming even on a background basis that U.S. is continuing or increasing bombing in Laos.” (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS)↩