Bear Taylor 
RIPPLE SALVO… #831… NO, THAT WAS NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO, ON 12 JUNE 2018, WAS GETTING THE BALL ROLLING ON A NUCLEAR-FREE KOREAN PENINSULA… That was President Lyndon Baines Johnson at the United Nations on 12 June 1968, 50 years ago. On that day, LBJ opened his address at the United Nations General Assembly a few minutes after the General Assembly had adopted a resolution endorsing the treaty by a vote of 95 to 4 with 21 abstentions, with this: “…I have asked for the privilege of addressing you this afternoon to acknowledge this momentous event in the history of nations, and to pledge on behalf of the United States our determination to make this but a first step toward ending the peril of nuclear war. Four and a half years ago, shortly after the awesome responsibility of leadership was thrust into my hands, I instructed our negotiators at Geneva to seek a treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. I recall the modest and the mutual reduction in arms spending that had been achieved by the United States and the Soviet Union, and I said that, let us pray that the tide has turned, that further and far-reaching agreement lie ahead, and that future generations will mark 1964 as the year the world turned for all time away from the horrors of war and toward constructive new bulwarks to peace.”… Two 12 Junes, 50 years apart…. a remarkable coincidence… “Main Provisions of the Treaty” below…
GOOD MORNING… Day EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE of reflections from the years of Operation Rolling Thunder…
HEAD LINES from The NEW YORK TIMES on Thursday, 13 June 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “SAIGON ATTACKERS HUNTED BY TROOPS–Government Forces Moving to Thwart Rocket Strikes”… “South Vietnamese reinforcements moved into paddies, fields and jungles around Saigon through the night in an attempt to thwart further Vietcong rocket attacks on the city….there were no reports of rocket attacks over night, but officials expressed concern that Vietcong might start attacks when streets are crowded with people… Meanwhile, there was ground action seven miles southeast of a Marine encampment at Khe Sanh. Fourteen marines were killed and 115 wounded when a North Vietnamese unit attacked the night positions of the Third Marine Division troops. Many were killed by mortar fire…when the battle ended nearly two hours later 28 enemy soldiers had been killed.”
PEACE TALKS: Page 1: “U.S. WARNS HANOI ON ROCKET TERROR–Says Drive On Saigon Could Have A Serious Effect on Negotiations in Paris”… “The United States, protesting vigorously against enemy mortar attacks on the city of Saigon warned North Vietnamese negotiators today in Paris that the offensive could have ‘the most serious consequences’ for the Vietnam talks here… In his most strongly worded statement since the talks began on May 13, Ambassador at large W. Averell Harriman charged that North Vietnamese generals had planned and directed the present escalation of the war around Saigon. ‘I have stated before the views of my government concerning these terrorist attacks upon Saigon,’ Mr. Harriman said. ‘Today, I want to be sure you understand that this is a situation which could have the most serious consequences for these talks.”… The veiled threat is that the United States might resume bombing in areas of North Vietnam now immune to attack or might reduce its representation at the talks here.”…
Page 1: “JOHNSON AT U.N. ASKS NEW ACTION ON DISARMAMENT HAILING NUCLEAR PACT–He says U.S. and Soviet Union Must Now eek Limitation–His Visit Is A Surprise–Speech Follows Assembly Acceptance of Draft By Two Major Powers”… Page 1: “MOSCOW REBUFFS COOPERATION BID–Replying To Johnson Speech At Glassboro–It Says Ties Are ‘Frozen’ by War In Vietnam”… Page 1: “DE GAULLE FORBIDS PROTEST MARCHES DURING CAMPAIGN–7 Student Groups Dissolved–Leaders Voicing Fears for The Political Fabric”… “Page 1: “SENATORS PREDICT STRICT GUN CURBS AS PRESSURE FOR MORE CONTROL RISES–Mansfield Senses A Shift After Protests By Public Over Kennedy Murder–While House Bill Gains–A Ban on Mail-Order Rifles May Pick Up Key Votes–Post Office Joins Drive”… Page 2: “GROWING BRITISH STUDENT REVOLT IS STILL LOW KEY–Riots Staged And Buildings Occupied But Violence Has Been At A Minimum”… Page 1: “McCARTHY RENEWS DRIVE, STUDENTS MOB ROCKEFELLER–Humphrey Scored On War–Governor In Los Angeles”… Page 1: “GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER HAVING TROUBLE FILLING VACANT RFK SEAT IN SENATE–Gardner and Lindsay Indicate Their Commitments Bar Acceptance of Kennedy Seat”…
13 JUNE 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times/AP…No coverage north of the DMZ… VIETNM; AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) there was one fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 13 June 1968…
(1) MAJOR DAVID GEORGE BRENNER was flying an O-2A of the 20th TASS and 504th TASG out of Danang and was en route to an assigned target area to control aircraft when he collided with an Army UH-1D of the Army’s 174th Aviation Company at about 1,000-feet near Quang Ngai. There were no survivors from either craft. MAJOR BRENNER’S O-2 crashed in a Canal. All seven troopers in the Huey, including LCOL F.A. BARKER, CO of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, perished in the midair over the battlefield… Our thoughts are with the families who will note this date as the 50th anniversary of their respective loss. Oh, what might have been….
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON 13 JUNE FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION IN THE SKIES OF NORTH VIETNAM…
1965… NONE…
1966… CAPTAIN ALAN PIERCE LURIE, USAF… (POW)… and… 1LT DARRELL EDWIN PYLE, USAF… (POW)… and… LCDR JOHN TURNER GLANVILLE, USN… (KIA)… and… LTJG GEORGE GREGORY GIERAK, USN… (KIA)… and… CHIEF PETTY OFFICER BENNIE RICHARD LAMBTON, USN… (KIA)…
1967… NONE…
1968… NONE…
Humble Host flew #184 and #185. My day flight was division lead in group of ten bombers to strike a Route 1 highway/railway bridge north of Vinh at Tam Da. The VA-113 weapon loadout was 8 Mk-82s on all four aircraft. We were in and off in 10 to 15 seconds and the hits were bunched from shore-to-shore on the bridge and the ramps at each end… dodged and jinked around and through 37 and 57 opposition I described as light. Second of the day, #185 was a section lead night armed recce with Ben Thuy ferry landing as our target (as usual, for me) when we didn’t see any truck lights. Put my 6 Mk-82s on the northside of the mountain and south of the river’s edge… No secondaries, but lot’s of AAA with tracers for another memorable night near Vinh…
RIPPLE SALVO… #831… Humble host begs your indulgence as my blog goes afield to cover the news of the day as opposed to the flying north ot 17-Degrees North in Southeast Asia. The control and employment of nuclear weapons remains of high interest to many Rolling Thunder aviators who spent years ready-to-go as part of the nation’s integrated strategic op plan. (Nuke weapon delivery pilots).
“MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY” … NYT, 13 June 1968, Page 18…
“UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. June 12–Following are the main provisions of the draft treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons:
“Nations with nuclear weapons will not transfer arms of other nuclear explosive devices to any nation that has no such weapons and will refrain from assisting such nations to manufacture or obtain control over such weapons or devices.
“Nations without nuclear weapons likewise will not receive such weapons and devices, or accept assistance to manufacture them.
“The Nations without nuclear weapons agree to accept an inspection system to be worked out with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a specialized body affiliated with the United Nations, to ensure compliance with the treaty provisions.
“Research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, except for the development of nuclear explosive devices, is guaranteed to all nations with no nuclear weapons, with the fullest possible exchange of scientific and technological information.
“The peaceful applications of nuclear explosives will be made available through an international body on a nondiscriminatory basis and at a cost excluding charges for research and development.’
“The nations with nuclear weapons agree to pursue negotiations in good faith on effecting measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and on a treaty on ‘general and complete disarmament’ under international control.
“The treaty enters into force when the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain, and 40 states without nuclear weapons, have ratified it. It can be amended by a majority vote of the adherents, and the treaty can be reviewed every five years after it comes into force. The duration of the treaty is 25 years.
“Any party may withdraw from the treaty with three months notice ‘If it decides that extraordinary events jeopardize the supreme interests of its country.”…
New York Times, 13 June 1968, OpEd, Page 46: “HOLDING BACK DOOMSDAY”…
“The United NAtions turned back the doomsday clock yesterday when the General Assembly voted 95 to 4 to endorse the treaty to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.
“By his surprise appearance in the Assembly hall President Johnson underscored his conviction that ‘this is the most important agreement in the field of disarmament since the nuclear age began.’ The President rightly stressed, however, that the U.N. action is ‘but a first step toward ending the peril of nuclear war.’
“The treaty lacks the support of two atomic powers–France, which abstained, and China, which has refused to participate–but it could establish a strong deterrent to the nightmare of further nuclear proliferation. The broad support the pact mustered will impose political restraints on all nations and will reinforce national leaders in resisting demands for nuclear arms development
“Signing of the treaty by such potential nuclear powers as West Germany, South Africa, Israel and the United Arab Republic should assist significantly in reducing tensions in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
“The negative votes by Cuba and Albania were unfortunate but not unexpected. It is surprising however, that Tanzania and Zambia joined in this petty opposition, their stand was out of character for the normally pacific an avowedly nonaligned leadership of these two countries. The hope remains strong that they and many of the 21 abstainers will eventually sign the treaty and thus help give this vital step toward international sanity the strongest possible sanction.
“Successful completion of the nonproliferation treaty after years of intensive negotiations and extensive adjustments is especially significant as a demonstration–with each other and with the other nations of the world. Yesterday’s vote, as President Johnson noted, paves the way for the further steps ‘urgently needed if this treaty is to fulfill its great purpose and if we are to move beyond to establish a peaceful world order.
“The nonproliferation treaty puts a particular duty on the United States and the Soviet Union to move rapidly to check their own dangerous nuclear arms race and to find new ways to prevent international conflicts. The President’s forceful address to the United Stations was a compelling invitation to mutual efforts in that direction.”…
RTR quote for 13 June: ALBERT EINSTEIN, NYT, 25 May 1946: “Our world faces a crisis as yet unperceived by those possessing power to make great decisions for good or evil. The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.”…
Lest we forget… Bear
