keywords: vietnam war, marine base khe sanh, u.s. air force, operation niagara, cargo planes re-supply
Synopsis: Unedited footage of airlift of supplies to the U.S. Marine Combat Base at Khe Sanh that came under siege by overwhelming forces of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) from January through March 1968. The U.S. Seventh Air Force provided close air support in defense of Khe Sanh, code name Operation Niagara. Despite the northwest monsoon which shrouded Khe Sanh in mist and fog at times cargo planes landed, did a rolling or taxi unload of supplies, and an immediate take-off... (read more)
Vietnam 1968 - Air Force Support To Marines At Khe Sanh
Shows C-130B Hercules cargo plane taking off into cloudy sky, C-7A Caribou taxi into position and is unloaded using forklift. Troops attach toe ramps, cargo rolls out of C-130B making taxi delivery of pallets of cargo. C-130 taxi into unloading area and make taxi delivery of pallets of supplies.
Red sign reads “Khe Sanh Elevation 1500 Feet Welcome”. Bunkered radar antennas in motion, shows control tower at Khe Sanh, operator talking into microphone. C-130B lands in a cloud of dust, troops unload. Fire and smoke from F-4's making napalm passes. Close-up of troops loading cargo into C-130B, K-loader driving away. Interior of aircraft cargo compartment, airman rigging cargo delivery system equipment.
Views of C-130 cockpit, pilot, copilot, and instrument panel. Forklift operator moving pallets of equipment. Troops loading cargo into C-130 from K-loader. C-130B takes off. C-130E (wing mounted fuel tanks) take off from Khe Sanh. The siege of Khe Sanh was broken.