Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase
partof=the Vietnam War
date=February 6, 1965
place=coord|14|0|17.7|N|108|1|1.7|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=Pleiku Airbase
Pleiku, South Vietnam
UTM Grid AR 804-470cite book| last =Kelley| first =Michael P.| title =Where We Were In Vietnam| publisher =Hellgate Press| date =2002| pages = p. 5-412 | id = ISBN 1-55571-625-3 ]
result=Viet Cong tactical victory; United States launched Operation Flaming Dart in retaliation
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=200+
strength2=400
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2= 9 killed, 128 wounded|

The Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase (aka Camp Holloway Airfield) occurred on the night of February 6, 1965. The attack left eight Americans dead and 128 wounded, and it prompted the United States to launch Operation Flaming Dart against North Vietnam in retaliation.

The Pleiku attack and an attack on positions the same day at Qui Nhon were used by the Johnson Administration as justification for committing combat troops to South Vietnam, ostensibly to provide security for U.S. installations.

Notes

Contemporary news reporting

*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =No Warning From Hamlet
work =
pages =14
language =
publisher =NY Times
date =1965-02-08
url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10711FB3F5812738DDDA10894DA405B858AF1D3
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Vietnamese Guerrillas Warn U.S. Pleiku Attacks Were Just Beginning
work =
pages =A11
language =
publisher =Washington Post/Times Herald
date =1965-02-09
url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/180285932.html?dids=180285932:180285932&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=FEB+09%2C+1965&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Vietnamese+Guerrillas+Warn+U.S.+Pleiku+Attacks+Were+Just+Beginning&pqatl=google
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Pentagon Lists 10 Army Men Wounded at Pleiku
work =
pages =10
language =
publisher =LA Times
date =1965-02-09
url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/487719822.html?dids=487719822:487719822&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+09%2C+1965&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Pentagon+Lists+10+Army+Men+Wounded+at+Pleiku&pqatl=google
accessdate =
*cite news
last =Browne
first =Robert S.
coauthors =
title =No Cooperation From Vietnamese People
work =
pages =38
language =
publisher =NY Times
date =1965-02-11
url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20610FE3E58167A93C3A81789D85F418685F9
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Increase U.S. Guards After Pleiku Attack
work =
pages =2
language =
publisher =Chicago Tribune
date =1965-02-11
url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/580560772.html?dids=580560772:580560772&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+11%2C+1965&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=INCREASE+U.+S.+GUARDS+AFTER+PLEIKU+ATTACK&pqatl=google
accessdate =
*cite news
last =Pojman
first =Louis Paul
coauthors =
title =Extension of Vietnam War Assailed
work =
pages =20
language =
publisher =NY Times
date =1965-02-13
url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70B15FE3B54177A93C1A81789D85F418685F9
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Pleiku Shells Are Traced to Korean War
work =
pages =A16
language =
publisher =Washington Post/Times Herald
date =1965-02-17
url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/198024542.html?dids=198024542:198024542&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=FEB+17%2C+1965&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Pleiku+Shells+Are+Traced+to+Korean+War&pqatl=google
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Up Front Once More
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =Time
date =1965-02-19
url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940946,00.html
accessdate = 2007-04-08
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =A Look Down That Long Road
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =Time
date =1965-02-19
url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940916-1,00.html
accessdate = 2007-04-08
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =G.I. Toll at Pleiku Rises to 9
work =
pages =18
language =
publisher =NY Times
date =1965-02-25
url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A14F6345B157A93C7AB1789D85F418685F9
accessdate =
*cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =A Tale of Two Airports
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =Time
date =1965-03-05
url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839293,00.html
accessdate = 2007-04-08
*cite news
last =Donovan
first =Robert J.
coauthors =
title =Many Myths and Illusions Shattered Since Pleiku
work =
pages =J3
language =
publisher =LA Times
date =1965-06-06
url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/486808482.html?dids=486808482:486808482&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jun+06%2C+1965&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Many+Myths+and+Illusions+Shattered+Since+Pleiku&pqatl=google
accessdate =