"MUST BE ONE VIETNAM NATIONAL ABOARD"

PRESIDENT ORDERS USAF TO FLY COMBAT MISSIONS AGAINST VC

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized the United States Air Force to fly combat missions against the Viet Cong in South Vietnam. 

A caveat to the order, however, is that at least one Vietnam national must be aboard the striking aircraft "for training purposes."

JFK+50 NOTE 

In October 1961, President Kennedy ordered the Air Force to send a combat unit to South Vietnam to assist the Saigon government in development of counter-insurgency capability. 

 It was code-named "Operation Farm Gate".

SOURCE

"USAF Given Order To Fly Combat Missions Against VC," JFK+50, December 6, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

B26-B VNAF

Over Vietnam

United States Air Force Photo

"AIR SERVICE ESSENTIAL TO ARMIES IN THE FIELD"

PERSHING WANTS MORE PLANES, PERSONNEL & EQUIPMENT FOR U.S. ARMY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 29, 1924, General John J. Pershing's annual report as chief of staff of the United States Army was made public at the War Department.

In the report, the General declares...

"The most vital present need of the Army is an increase in the air service and gradual development of its personnel and equipment."

Pershing believes the ability to observe enemy movement from the air alone makes this investment worthwhile.

He notes that American air power in the world war came late and only 600 airplanes were sent to the front before the armistice.

It is the General's view that...

"The Air Service has become an essential aid to the armies in the field."

JFK+50 NOTE

Within two years of General Pershing's report, the United States Army Air Corps was established as part of the larger US Army.  In June 1941, it became the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and in 1947 the U.S. Air Force (USAF). 

"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun...    Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force"

SOURCES

"Plea For Planes Made By Pershing," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 29, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"The Air Force Song-Full Lyrics," by R. Crawford, USAF Heritage Band, www.uohyd.ac.in/

 

 

Army Air Corps Recruiting Poster

1941

USGOV-PD

FIRST US AIR COMBAT MISSIONS AGAINST VC

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1788

JFK ISSUES ORDER TO USAF TO FLY COMBAT MISSIONS AGAINST VC

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, December 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave the order to pilots of the United States Air Force to fly combat missions against the Viet Cong in South Vietnam.

The order, however, included the requirement that at least one Vietnamese national be on board the striking aircraft "for training purposes."

President Kennedy originally ordered the USAF to send a combat unit to South Vietnam to assist the Saigon government in developing a counterinsurgency capability.  

The first sorties authorized by JFK as part of "Operation Farm Gate" were flown on January 13, 1962.  After the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the USAF began using full American markings as part of the 1st Air Commando Squadron. 

USAF Douglas B-26B Invader

Operation Farm Gate

USAF Photo

IRISH FREE STATE DECLARED

Dublin, Ireland (JFK+50) Ninety-three years ago today, December 6, 1922, by virtue of the Ango-Irish Treaty signed by British and Irish representatives one year before, the IRISH FREE STATE was declared officially.

The Irish Free State would be a DOMINION  or state of the British Empire with equal status as Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa.

Northern Ireland "opted out" of the Irish Free State two days later as was permitted by the Anglo-Irish Treaty.