Paratroopers were only to carry their personal weapons; accordingly air support had been carefully prepared. From H — 15 minutes to H, fighters were to attack all enemy posts that could be located by aerial photography of the drop zones. From H to H + one hour, the dropping and regrouping operations would be supported by attacks against all enemy resistance that would come to light; After H + one hour, a carousel of hunters, ready to intervene on request, would constantly criss-cross the sky. Finally, after darkness fell, the area was to be illuminated by flares launched from C-47s.
Drops over the Lang Son area would be by full sticks ( 28 men) because the area was vast rice paddies, but in Loc Binh would only jump half sticks. Stretching between a river and two villages, this last drop zone was more limited in both length and width.
At around 08:10 the General Staff and two Bns., transported by 56 C-47s, jumped near Lang Son, while four hours later the Gn. and the 3rd Bn., which occupied 29 C-47s, were dropped near Loc Binh.
Isandlwana was one of the hardest blows to the forces of 19th century imperialism; the events that took place there reminded the colonial powers not to underestimate the capacities of the indigenous opposition. Initially intimidated by the firepower of the British, the Zulu warriors crushed the Engl