751G.00/3–1654: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
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1698. Repeated information Hanoi 274, Paris 528.
At midnight last night, the commander of American ground crew numbering 100 at Doson airfield sent flash message asking General Trapnell to get in communication with him. Trapnell was unable to establish communication until 9 a.m. this morning when he learned that last night about 10:30, a Viet Minh detachment of 400 crossed a branch of the Red River to the north of Doson and cut road from Doson to Haiphong and Cat-Bi airfield. Viet Minh were armed with machine-guns, bazookas and carried plastic mines. Contrary to expectations they did not attack Doson airfield but according to latest reports were remaining between Doson and Haiphong. American ground crew were given arms and through night did guard duty on periphery of airfield and on beach (contrary to original understanding that they would act only in defense of their own shops and area).
General Trapnell took off at 10:30 to visit Doson and instructed his deputy to inform French Chief-of-Staff that if upon his arrival he found that adequate arrangements to protect Doson airfield had not been made, he would immediately order transfer of the detachment to Tourane airfield. He reminded French Chief-of-Staff that 200 American maintenance personnel had only been sent on distinct guarantee by French that their security would be assured.
It is to be noted that maintenance detachments have had practically no combat experience and training. If it should prove desirable to evacuate detachment at Doson, there would be some difficulty, since available transport aircraft are being mainly used for supply of Dien-Bien-Phu and in support of other military operations. It is not known whether French Navy could provide craft for their transportation. There would remain problem of removing their equipment to safety. It cannot be airlifted from Doson as runway is too short for C–119s or C–54s. If road communication is re-established with Haiphong and Cat-Bi, it can be removed to Cat-Bi and thence to Tourane. It could be loaded on ships at Doson but it is doubtful if either French or American vessels could reach there before two or three days. One [Page 1126] possibility might be for American naval craft to be despatched from Philippines to stand off Doson until situation there is clarified, but no such request is being made by MAAG at this time.1
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In telegram 1723 from Saigon, Mar. 18, Ambassador Heath transmitted the following additional information:
“Fortunately situation reported Embtel 1698, Hanoi 274, Paris 528 has proved not as alarming as originally indicated. General Trapnell personally visited Doson and informs me that Air Force mechanics undertook guard duty on initiative of their own commanding officer and not at French request. He further reports that French intelligence indicates doubt that Viet Minh detachment had in fact cut road from Doson to Haiphong and that at present time reported menace does not exist. However, General Trapnell has officially requested General Navarre to send an additional company to reinforce Doson garrison and is confident that this base can be held in case of future attack. Trapnell feels it essential if at all possible to maintain US mechanics at Doson since they are engaged in support of two squadrons of C–47’s, and if they were withdrawn to Tourane, this would decrease availability of these essential aircraft through additional four-hour flight from Tonkin to Tourane for base repair.” (751G.00/3–1854)
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