U.S. joint-service Operation Commando Hunt is launched. This operation was designed to interdict Communist routes of infiltration along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, through Laos into South Vietnam. The aerial campaign involved a series of intensive air operations by U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft and lasted until April 1972. During the course of the operation, nearly 3 million tons of bombs fell on Laos. While Communist infiltration was slowed by this campaign, it was not seriously disrupted. Commando Hunt was ultimately considered a failure.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- World War I ends, 1918
- American Revolution
- Poor leadership leads to Cherry Valley Massacre, 1778
- Automotive
- The General Lee jumps into history, 1978
- Civil War
- Confederate General Benjamin McCulloch is born, 1811
- Cold War
- Soviet Union refuses to play Chile in World Cup Soccer, 1973
- Crime
- Police make a grisly discovery in Dorothea Puente's lawn, 1988
- Disaster
- Skiers die in cable-car fire, 2000
- General Interest
- Nat Turner executed in Virginia, 1831
- George Patton born, 1885
- Dedication of the Tomb of the Unknowns, 1921
- Hollywood
- Interview with the Vampire debuts, 1994
- Literary
- Louisa May Alcott publishes her first story, 1852
- Music
- Donna Summer earns her first #1 pop hit with "MacArthur Park", 1978
- Old West
- Massive dust storm sweeps South Dakota, 1933
- Presidential
- Franklin Pierce marries Jane Appleton, 1834
- James Garfield marries Lucretia Rudolph, 1858
- Sports
- Fernando Valenzuela wins Cy Young Award, 1981
- Vietnam War
- Viet Cong release U.S. prisoners of war, 1967
- Operation Commando Hunt commences, 1968
- Long Binh base turned over to South Vietnam, 1972
- World War I
- World War I ends, 1918
- World War II
- Draft age is lowered to 18, 1942
Nov 11, 1968:
Operation Commando Hunt commences
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Nov 11 - Nov 17
- Nov 11, 1967
- Viet Cong release U.S. prisoners of war
- Nov 11, 1968
- Operation Commando Hunt commences
- Nov 11, 1972
- Long Binh base turned over to South Vietnam
- Nov 12, 1969
- Seymour Hersh breaks My Lai story
- Nov 12, 1971
- Nixon sets new deadline for next troop withdrawal
- Nov 13, 1967
- President receives optimistic reports
- Nov 13, 1969
- "March Against Death" commences in Washington, D.C.
- Nov 14, 1965
- Major battle erupts in the Ia Drang Valley
- Nov 14, 1967
- Marine general killed in Vietnam
- Nov 14, 1972
- Nixon promises Thieu that U.S. will continue to support South Vietnam
- Nov 15, 1966
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs heckled at university
- Nov 15, 1969
- Second moratorium against the war held
- Nov 16, 1961
- Kennedy decides to increase military aid to Saigon
- Nov 16, 1970
- Ky defends South Vietnamese operations in Cambodia
- Nov 16, 1971
- U.S. provides support to beleaguered Cambodians
- Nov 17, 1965
- 1st Cavalry unit ambushed in the Ia Drang Valley
- Nov 17, 1970
- My Lai trial begins
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