Rules of Engagement

2^nd Advon

Dec 1964

Project CHECO

Prior to the second series of BARREL ROLL flights, 2d Air Division requested and received approval to fly recce aircraft with the strike group with the recce aircraft authorized to fly below 10,000 feet at optimum altitude to get photos of the type and quality necessary to assess immediate strike results. If the recce aircraft had to descend, escort of CAP aircraft would support them. Like the first mission, napalm was not authorized on these flights, nor were strike aircraft to be launched from Thailand bases.

On 15 December, AC-47 aircraft were introduced to combat, which was to result in additional rules of engagement to provide for their utilization.

Another request by MACV for the use of two Thai-based F-105's to escort strike recce aircraft on-the second series of BARREL ROLL missions was disapproved by CINCPAC an 22 December. CINCPAC said that the intent of BARREL ROLL was to limit strike forces to four aircraft from other than Thailand bases. The addition of the two F-105's would raise the number of aircraft to six and would not comply with the ground rules laid down by "higher authority."

At the close of 1964, 2d Air Division published a compilation of the Rules of Engagement summarizing prohibitive and permissive air actions in force at that time:

Annex 1 - INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND AIRSPACE OVER INTERNATIONAL WATERS.

1. (TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to attack and destroy any vessel or aircraft which attacks or gives positive indication of intent to attack U.S. Forces.

2. (TS) Hot pursuit into territorial waters and airspace as may be necessary and feasible is authorized.

3. (TS) Hostile forces and installations, other than those actively engaged in accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of RVN and Thailand will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only to that extent.

4. (TS) To pursuit is authorized into CHICOM territorial waters or airspace.

Annex 2 - REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (RVN).

1. (TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile aircraft en- countered within the boundaries of RVN.

2. (TS) Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible into North Vietnam (DRV), Laos, Cambodia, and over inter- national waters not to include CHICOM territory or territorial waters.

3. (TS) Hostile forces or installations, other than those actively engaged in accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of RVN, will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only to that extent.

Annex 3 - REPUBLIC OF THAILAND.

1. (TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile aircraft encountered with- in the boundaries of Thailand.

2. (TS) Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible into North Vietnam (DRV), Laos, Cambodia, and over international waters not to include CHICOM territory or territorial waters.

3. (TS) Hostile forces or installations, other than those actively engaged in accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of Thailand, will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only to that extent.

Annex 4a- AIR DEFENSE OF LAOS.

1. (TS) U.S. Forces positioned in RVN and Thailand may be used for air defense employment in Laos when authorized by the Commander 2AD or his authorized representative.

a. Information on any action taken under this authority will be provided to JCS by flash precedence message.

2. (TS) U.S. air defense forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile aircraft in Laos. Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible over RVN and Thailand.

a. Hot pursuit into North Vietnam and Cambodia is not authorized except when actually engaged in combat.

3. (TS) Unless specifically authorized, U.S. air defense forces are not authorized to attack hostile forces or installations, other than those committed against, unless attack first, and then only to the extent necessary for self defense.

4. (TS) Definitions of a hostile aircraft and hostile acts are the same as those defined in paragraph 4 (basic attachment) with the following additions:

a. A hostile aircraft is one which is visually identified, or designated by the U.S. Director of an AOC or his authorized representative, as a Communist bloc or Cambodian aircraft overflying Laos territory

and committing a hostile Act.

b. Friendly forces include Air America and Bird & Son aircraft and installations.

Annex 4b- YANKEE TEAM OPERATIONS - LAOS.

1(TS) Medium level escort: Retaliatory fire is authorized if reconnaissance or escort aircraft are endangered by ground fire.

2. (TS) Low level escort: If reconnaissance or escort aircraft are fired upon, retaliatory fire is authorized either on the first pass with the reconnaissance air- craft, or by circling back and conducting subsequent passes.

3. (TS) Low level escort against areas having strong AAA: Escorts are authorized to employ the best operational technique available to minimize risk which, when authorized by JCS, may include attack on

known AAA positions in advance of reconnaissance aircraft where suppression of ground fire is considered essential for safety of the reconnaissance aircraft.

Annex 4c- RESCAP OPERATIONS - LAOS.

1. (TS) RESCAP aircraft will not enter the area of the distressed crew-member (s) unless requested by the Rescue "On-Scene- Commander" or Rescue Control.

2.(TS) If rescue helicopters are fired upon, RESCAP aircraft will take action to suppress ground fire after the helicopter (s) departs the area of ground fire.

a. If ground fire is coming from the vicinity of the distressed crew member (s), RFSCAP aircraft will insure that return fire will not endanger friendlies on the ground.

b. If the crew on the ground can be seen and ground fire is preventing helicopters from approaching close enough for

pick-up, RESCAP aircraft between the enemy positions and the distressed crew member (s) as a screening action for the helicopters.

Annex 4d- AIR DEFENSE CAP LAOS IN CONJUNCTION WITH RLAF STRIKE/BDA

1. (TS) When requested by the U.S. Ambassador to Laos, CAP is authorized to provide top cover for RLAF T-28 strikes in Laos by CINCPAC TS message 140843Z Oct 64, "Corridor Ops Laos", and IAW JCS 9117, "Definitive Rules of Engagement Applying to Laos." This applies only to authorized pre-briefed targets in Laos and to the provision of navigational assistance to RLAF T-28's and YANKEE TEAM aircraft assigned to obtain BDA of attacked targets. JCS 9117, "Definitive Rules of Engagement Applying to Laos" applies with the following exception: Suppressive or retaliatory fire against AAA is not authorized.

2. (S) Should CAP aircraft be diverted for RESCAP, current SAR rules will apply.