Word: airdropping
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...Nationalist troops, many of them Formosans. As bombardment wore on, the Nationalists got emergency schooling from U.S. officers and noncoms on fast unloading techniques, deployed underwater demolition teams to blast out new beach approaches, used small LVTs pouring out of big LST transports, and C46 airdrop teams escorted by U.S. Marine Corps night fighters to win the supply battle...
Scattered over the pitted landscape are white, blue and red parachutes from the latest airdrop. Cases of food and medical supplies are strewn about uncollected by the island's defenders. Amphibious tracked landing vehicles (LVTs) piled high with oil drums still have not been unloaded, 48 hours after their arrival...
Tuesday & Wednesday-Pleading bad weather, U.S. and Nationalist naval commands temporarily call off the convoys to consider new tactics. The Communist barrage has become steady, making beach and airfield almost unusable. In desperation, the Nationalists airdrop small quantities of medical supplies to Que-moy's garrison. Admiral Beakley comes ashore to consider with Taiwan Defense Command's Vice Admiral Smoot "what to do now." Beakley admits: "We are back right where we started before we began convoying. They called our hand when they shelled the beach and got that LSM. The Chicoms' guns can and will blast...
...April, Mecklin flew a night airdrop mission with the French over Dienbienphu. His closeup description in TIME (April 19) was punctuated by the winking fire of the Communist antiaircraft batteries below. He also hopped over to Haiphong to talk to the American CAT pilots who were airlifting everything from ammunition to Scotch whisky into the surrounded fortress...
...Communists hold their gains in the northeast. All day, French and U.S. civilian pilots airdrop sorely needed supplies. Many supply loads drift into enemy lines. In the afternoon, French tactical air puts in two big strikes against the three fallen outposts in the northeast. At 1600, De Castries counterattacks the outposts, wins back two. But he cannot stay. French HQ claims the enemy lost 1,350 dead in the first 24 hours. French casualties are also high, and there is no evacuation for the wounded...