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AIRMOBILITY

trips into the surrounded Marine garrison to coordinate directly with its commander, Colonel David E. Lownds.^[1]

Many different elements were involved and all would have to be pulled together under my command on D-day. If we wanted surprise, speed and flexibility during the actual attack, everyone had to understand their part of the plan and the control procedures. This was especially true of firepower. A lot of things were going to be moving through the same air space—bombs, rockets, artillery shells, helicopters and airplanes. We had to assure ourselves that none got together inadvertently.

The basic concept of Operation PEGASUS was as follows: The 1st Marine Regiment with two battalions would launch a general attack west toward Khe Sanh while the 3d Brigade would lead the 1st Cavalry air assault. On D+1 and D+2 all elements would continue to attack west toward Khe Sanh; and, on the following day, the 2d Brigade of the Cavalry would land three battalions southeast of Khe Sanh and attack northwest. The 26th Marine Regiment, which was holding Khe Sanh, would attack south to secure Hill 471. On D+4, the 1st Brigade would air assault just south of Khe Sanh and attack north. The following day the 3d Army of the Republic of Vietnam Airborne Task Force would air assault southwest of Khe Sanh and attack toward Lang Lei Special Forces Camp. Linkup was planned at the end of seven days.

It became evident during the planning that the construction of an airstrip in the vicinity of Ca Lu would be a key factor for the entire operation. This airstrip, which became known as landing zone STUD, had to be ready well before D-day (1 April 1968). Also, it was necessary to upgrade Highway Nine between the "Rock Pile" and Ca Lu to allow prestocking of supplies at landing zone STUD.

I sent one of my assistant division commanders, Brigadier General Oscar E. Davis, to personally supervise the establishing of landing zone STUD as our advance base for PEGASUS. Calling this a "landing zone" is a gross understatement, for landing zone STUD would have to be a major air terminal, communications center, and supply depot for the future.

The 1st Cavalry Division engineers, the Seabees USN Mobile Construction Battalion #5, and the 11th Engineer Battalion,

↑ In order to correct an impression given by the newsreel coverage at this time, I must point out that the only "safe" way to get into the Khe Sanh Combat Base was by helicopter. I usually chose to land in the Special Forces area. The C-130's were either delivering their loads by low altitude extraction or by parachute. The runway was the most dangerous and exposed area at Khe Sanh.

[ref2-1] In order to correct an impression given by the newsreel coverage at this time, I must point out that the only "safe" way to get into the Khe Sanh Combat Base was by helicopter. I usually chose to land in the Special Forces area. The C-130's were either delivering their loads by low altitude extraction or by parachute. The runway was the most dangerous and exposed area at Khe Sanh.

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