Museum Audio Tour 35: Modern Flight Gallery: SEA War Tet Offensive

DAYTON, OHIO, UNITED STATES

12.31.1969

Audio by NMUSAF PA 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Late in January 1968, the communists launched their famous Tet Offensive throughout South Vietnam. They hoped to achieve a dramatic victory that would force South Vietnam and the U.S. to accept defeat. First, they attacked Khe Sanh, a U.S. Marine base in far northwest South Vietnam. Nine days later, they attacked throughout the country, striking numerous installations, cities and airfields simultaneously. Initially, the enemy made some gains, but under a withering assault from both air and ground, the offensive failed by late February. The Viet Cong suffered disastrous losses, but the Tet Offensive had a devastating effect upon the American public. Many people at home, watching nightly television news, were appalled by the carnage they saw—some mistakenly believed the Communists had won and the U.S. had lost.

• Date Taken: 12.31.1969
• Date Posted: 09.02.2015 13:26
• Category: Newscasts
• Audio ID: 41948
• Filename: 1509/DOD_102704330.mp3
• Length: 00:02:14
• Album: Museum Audio Tour
• Track #: 35
• Location: DAYTON, OHIO, US