A Heroic Rescue Mission Undone by a Blunder
The night of November 20th, 1970, so the start of one of the Vietnam War’s most dramatic exploits. A force of 56 US Army Special Forces, or Green Berets, boarded HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant” and HH-53E “Super Jolly Green Giant” helicopters. The big choppers flew them from a base in Thailand to execute Operation Ivory Coast, a courageous rescue mission. Its aim was to free an estimated 65 American prisoners of war held at Son Tay prison camp, about twenty miles west of the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. It was an exceptionally hazardous operation, in which speed and precision of execution were extremely important. There were an estimated 12,000 North Vietnamese soldiers stationed within five miles of the prison camp.
It was thus vital that the raiders complete their mission quickly, and be gone before the enemy had time to react with irresistible numbers. Three raider teams landed in Son Tay. The first intentionally crash landed its helicopter 2:19AM in the middle of the camp to get into position as quickly as possible. A second helicopter mistakenly landed 400 yards away, at the prison camp’s headquarters. Its Special Forces attacked the headquarters, and killed or wounded an estimated 100 guards. The third helicopter disembarked its attackers outside the camp complex. They swiftly secured the perimeter, then helped seize control of the camp. So far, so good. Then the raiders discovered that somebody had made a serious blunder.