Operation Masher/White Wing

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Operation Masher/White Wing
Part of Vietnam War
Date January 28-March 6, 1966 Location Bong Son Plain, Kim Son Valley, An Lao Valley, South Vietnam Result Allied Victory
Combatants
United States South Vietnam Republic of Korea	North Vietnam Viet Cong
Casualties
288 killed 990 wounded	2232 killed

Operation Masher was a combined US, ARVN, and ROKA that began on January 28, 1966. The name Operation Masher was changed to Operation White Wing, because the name was deemed too crude for 'nation-building'.

The mission was a search and destroy mission, and had little to do with nation-building. The operation was divided into four Phases.

Masher/White Wing lasted 42 days and ended on March 6. As many as 1,342 enemy soliders had been killed by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) at the cost of 288 United States' troops killed and 990 wounded. The ARVN and ROKA forces killed an additional 808 enemy soliders. The 3rd NVA Division was pronounced destroyed, but later was back in action elsewhere on the battlefield.

During Operation White Wing, grenades containing quinuclidinyl benzilate were allegedly used against 500 Viet Cong. Quinuclidinyl benzilate, or BZ, is a powerful hallucinogen with effects similar to but much stronger than LSD. Effects usually last only a few days but can linger for several weeks. Many people report never feeling the same after being exposed to the drug.

[edit] References

• Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

• http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/lsd-mc-cia.htm