U.S. bombs Cambodia for the first time
U.S.B-52 bombers are diverted from their targets in South Vietnam to attack suspected communist base camps and supply areas in Cambodia for the first time in the war.President Nixon approved the missionformally designated Operation Breakfastat a meeting of the National Security Council on March 15.
This mission and subsequent B-52 strikes inside Cambodia became known as the Menu bombings.A total of 3630 flights over Cambodia dropped 110000 tons of bombs during a 14-month period through April 1970.This bombing of Cambodia and all follow up Menu operations were kept secret from the American public and the U.S.
Congress because Cambodia was ostensibly neutral.To keep the secret an intricate reporting system was established at the Pentagon to prevent disclosure of the bombing.Although the New York Times broke the story of the secret bombing campaign in May 1969 there was little adverse public reaction.
