Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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IV. C
A CHRONOLOGY OF ROLLING THUNDER MISSIONS FEBRUARY - JUNE, 1965
CHRONOLOGY
| DATE | EVENT OR DOCUMENT | DESCRIPTION |
| 6 Jan 1965 | William Bundy Memorandum for Rusk | Taking note of the continued political deterioration in SVN, Bundy concludes that, even though it will get worse, the US should probably proceed with Phase II of the December pressures plan, the escalating air strikes against the North. |
| 8 Jan 1965 | 2,000 Korean troops arrive in SVN | South Korea sends 2,000 military advisors to SVN, the first such non-US support. |
| 27 Jan 1965 | Huong Government ousted | General Khanh ousts the civilian government headed by Huong and assumes powers of government himself. |
| McNaughton Memorandum for Secretary of Defense | McNaughton is as pessimistic as William Bundy about prospects in the South. He feels the US should evacuate dependents and respond promptly at the next reprisal opportunity. McNamara's pencilled notes reveal more optimism about the results of air strikes than McNaughton. | |
| 28 Jan 1965 | JCS message 4244 to CINCPAC | A resumption of the DESOTO Patrols on or about 3 February is authorized. |
| 29 Jan 1965 | JCSM-70-65 | The JCS urge again that a strong reprisal action be taken immediately after the next DRV/VC provocation. In particular, they propose targets and readiness to strike should the forthcoming resumption of the DESOTO Patrols be challenged. |
| 4 Feb 1965 | CJCS message 4612 to CINCPAC | In view of Kosygin's impending visit to Hanoi, authority for the DESOTO Patrol is cancelled. |
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