1.
GV AND SV Troops preparing for departure. (2 shots)
0.13

2.
CU Pilot and co-pilot inside helicopter PAN TO others. (3 shots)
0.26

3.
GTV FROM Helicopter OVER Phuoc Long.
0.37

4.
CUS Pilot at controls. (2 shots)
0.40

5.
GTV Mountainous districts of Phuoc Long. (3 shots)
0.50

6.
GTV Helicopter below.
0.54

7.
CU PAN Troops in helicopter.
0.58

8.
GTV FROM Helicopter showing smoke and explosions below. (2 shots)
1.14

9.
GTVS Over Phuoc Long. (2 shots)
1.22

10.
GTV Helicopter over jungle.
1.26



Initials VS 1.30 VS 1.42



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Reports from South Vietnam said on Saturday (4 January) that heavy fighting was in progress around the besieged town of Phuoc Binh, 75 miles (120 kilometres) north of Saigon.

It risked becoming the first provincial capital to fall to communist forces since the South Vietnam peace accords nearly two years ago. The communist campaign among the wooded foothills of Phuoc Long province has left nearly 1,300 Government militia men missing.

Because of this, airlifting reinforcements into the area became a matter of extreme urgency and an operation involving helicopter transportation was mounted from Bien Hoa airbase, near Saigon.

Phuoc Binh is the Saigon Government's last foothold in Phuoc Long province, following the three-weak-long communist campaign. The Saigon command reported fighting just 800 yards (metres) from the provincial headquarters, but in its last report said that the garrison was holding out.