On this day, 47 years ago, May 19, 1978 (April 13, 1978 in the lunar calendar), the United States, France and Belgium jointly rescued hostages in Zaire. A European soldier faces suspected Katanga rebels on the front line On May 19, 1978, French and Belgian airborne troops landed in the southern Zaire town of Kolwezi today in an attempt to rescue 3000 foreigners captured by Communists backed rebels. French Foreign Corps officials say they have found the bodies of 44 Europeans massacred by Katanga rebels. President Carter sent 18 Air Force C-141 transport aircraft to Zaire to help evacuate people. The U.S. intervention was the largest military action during the Carter administration. The White House has publicly expressed responsibility for countering insurgents who support Cuba and the Soviet Union, and U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance raised the matter with Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin today. U.S. officials also questioned Fidel Castro's assertion that he did not support the rebels. The Cuban leader called senior U.S. diplomats to his office in Havana late Tuesday and insisted he did not support the rebels. The invasion of Shab'a province in southern Zaire began last week. Sabah Province was formerly known as Katanga. Zaire President Mobutu Sesay Seko pointed out that Katanga rebels infiltrated his country from Zambia and established a foundation in Angola. Mobutu accused the Soviet Union, Cuba and Algeria of supporting the rebels. The United States accused Cuba of training the rebels and supplying them with Soviet-made weapons.