Operation Flaming Dart: Retaliatory Strikes in the Vietnam War

Operation Flaming Dart was a U.S. and South Vietnamese military operation conducted in two phases during the Vietnam War. Ordered by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 1965, the operation was a series of retaliatory airstrikes following several Viet Cong attacks on U.S. bases, particularly the attack on Camp Holloway.

Flaming Dart I

The first phase, Flaming Dart I, began on February 7, 1965, with 49 air sorties targeting North Vietnamese military installations near Đồng Hới. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers launched strikes on barracks at Đồng Hới and Vit Thu Lu, though poor weather forced the cancellation of the Vit Thu Lu attack.

At Đồng Hới, a 29-plane formation from the USS Coral Sea executed low-altitude strikes, with A-4 Skyhawks deploying rockets and bombs against the barracks of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 325th Infantry Division. Despite the preparation, North Vietnamese antiaircraft fire was intense, claiming the life of Lieutenant Edward A. Dickson, whose A-4 Skyhawk was struck, leading to a failed ejection.

A follow-up strike by 17 A-4s from the USS Hancock hit the already burning facilities, with F-8 Crusaders suppressing antiaircraft fire. Reconnaissance flights captured imagery of the aftermath, revealing limited success—only 22 of the 275 buildings in the camp were damaged or destroyed.

Flaming Dart II

On February 11, 1965, following a Viet Cong attack on a hotel in Qui Nhơn housing U.S. personnel, Flaming Dart II was launched. The U.S. Navy deployed 99 fighter-bombers from the Hancock, Coral Sea, and USS Ranger. Aircraft such as A-1 Skyraiders and A-4 Skyhawks dropped bombs and rockets on targets at Chanh Hoa, supported by F-8 Crusaders and F-4 Phantoms targeting antiaircraft sites.

During the mission, a damaged A-4C from the Coral Sea made an emergency landing at Da Nang Air Base, where its onboard bombs exploded upon landing, destroying the aircraft. The pilot survived. Lieutenant Commander Robert H. Shumaker, piloting an F-8, was shot down and captured by North Vietnamese forces near Chanh Hoa.

While the U.S. Navy targeted Chanh Hoa, the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) struck Chap Le. The RVNAF employed 28 A-1 Skyraiders, while the USAF utilized an equal number of jet-powered F-100 Super Sabres, marking a significant escalation in U.S. air operations.

Escalation of Air Power

Flaming Dart signaled a broader escalation of American airpower in the Vietnam War. On February 19, 1965, USAF B-57 bombers conducted the first jet strikes in support of South Vietnamese ground forces. Further escalation occurred on February 24, 1965, when USAF jets launched a large tactical air campaign to disrupt a Viet Cong ambush in the Central Highlands.

While Flaming Dart inflicted damage on North Vietnamese and Viet Cong targets, it also highlighted the increasing reliance on U.S. airpower, setting the stage for further escalations, including Operation Rolling Thunder.