V. CONG SHELL DA NANG BASE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 17

V. CONG SHELL DA NANG BASE

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) DA NANG, February 27. Eleven Americans and at least 30 Vietnamese were killed early today when the Viet Cong shelled Da Nang air base and an adjoining community, United States spokesmen said.

Another 32 Americans and 70 Vietnamese were wounded in the pre-dawn attack by mortars and rockets.

Colonel James Randels said the sprawling air base was the apparent target of the Communist gunners. He said 18 rounds landed on the base. Colonel Randels said he believed 56 rounds that hit a village across a road from the base were also intended for I the base itself. I The Vietnamese casualties

were in the village. The Americans were in the air base.

There were at least five direct hits inside the communications compound. Heaviest Shells

Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Hollander, the commander, said the shells appeared to be the heaviest used in the Da Nang area. They may have been 120 mm. Two vans with secret electronic gear were hit. One van was destroyed. Four American jet airplanes were damaged on the base. Colonel Randels said the damage was minor.

Seventy-five per cent of the long-distance telephone circuits from Da Nang were knocked out for a short time.