Office of the Historian

129. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk at Geneva1

Washington, March 24, 1962—5:33 p.m.

Tosec 140. Eyes only for the Secretary from the Acting Secretary. Secto 100.2 There has been full agreement here with your view but problem has been locate and get to South Viet-Nam aircraft with capability locating and destroying supply planes operating at slow speeds and very low altitudes. Four F-102ʼs night fighters were immediately sent Saigon and are now there but very doubtful they can be effective against this type target. We hope they can soon be withdrawn and replaced by more suitable propeller night fighters when Defense can locate and get some to area. We have recommended to the President approval for the use of these aircraft against hostile aircraft over SVN territory under rules of engagement which have been carefully worked out with DOD.

Ball
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam Country Series 3/23/62-3/26/62. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Johnson, cleared with Pezzullo, and approved by Ball.↩
  2. Document 128.↩