International Commission for Supervision and Control - Vietnam (ICSC - Vietnam) - (Operation HOT LINE)

International Operation Name: International Commission for Security and Cooperation - Vietnam

International Operation Dates: not applicable

Mandating Organization: Government of Canada

Region Name:  Asia

Location:  Vietnam

Canadian Operation Name: Operation HOT LINE

Canadian Operation Dates: 1969/01/04

Mission Mandate: To prepare for a possible deployment of maritime patrol aircraft to patrol in support of the International Commission for Security and Cooperation - Vietnam

Mission Notes:

In late 1968, the Commanding Officer of 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron created a planning directive for the potential deployment of four Argus, eight aircrew and support personnel to Vietnam in support of the International Commission for Security and Cooperation - Vietnam.  The directive was signed on 4 January 1969.

Canada had been participating in the ICSC- Vietnam since 1954.  Through the 1960s it became increasingly obvious that one role of the ICSC – to prevent the transit of personnel and materiel between the two nations - was not being fulfilled in the slightest.  North Vietnamese soldiers and agents were increasingly infiltrating the South, while weapons and equipment were being obviously smuggled to them and Communist sympathizers.  Operation HOT LINE would require the Canadian aircraft to patrol a seaward extension of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Vietnams.  The sorties would be tasked to monitor all surface shipping transiting through the DMZ extension in an effort to detect any clandestine personnel or materiel between North and South Vietnam.  Planning was for an initial period of deployment of 30 days, although the planning directive suggests that the overall deployment would be very short.

Although no documents have been found indicating who authorized the planning directive, it should be noted that such an activity would not be conducted without recommendations from the higher levels of the Air Force or National Defence Headquarters.

 

Maj. Richard Davis and Maj. Bill Eastwood watch POW's being returned to South Vietnam at an exchange site at Loc Ninh.

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