"Taking off through the rain"

At 7:00 AM on July 24th, the Command Headquarters of Air Force Regiment 916 received an order from Major General Vu Hong Son - Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Command, to immediately deploy helicopters to provide relief to the people of Nghe An in the flooded areas.

Immediately after receiving the order, simultaneously, steps such as reporting to the Division Headquarters, developing flight plans, establishing the official flight crew, reserve flight crew, search and rescue team, and ensuring logistical support were implemented and executed skillfully, as if they had been regularly practiced in the unit.

Helicopters from the 916th Air Regiment flew into the flooded area.

Sitting in the plane waiting for the order to start the engines and prepare for takeoff, looking out at the torrential rain, Colonel Nguyen Ba Duc, Deputy Regiment Commander and Chief of Staff of Air Force Regiment 916, smiled gently with eyes full of confidence when I asked, "Can we fly in this weather?" He said: "The army is born from the people. Therefore, in the heart of each of us soldiers, the oath to selflessly serve the people is deeply ingrained. Especially when the people are in trouble, our greatest desire is to reach them as quickly as possible to help. We know it's very difficult, but through the rigorous training of soldiers, especially pilots, we are confident enough to successfully carry out all assigned tasks."

At exactly 7:55 AM, the Mi-171 helicopter, numbered Sar-03, commanded by Colonel Nguyen Ba Duc - Deputy Regiment Commander and Chief of Staff; Major Vuong Dinh Long - Deputy Squadron Commander of Squadron 1 as the main pilot; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Thanh - Co-pilot and Navigator; and Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Minh and Senior Colonel Do Ngoc Duong - flight engineer, took off and flew towards Central Vietnam as planned. Watching the helicopter "cut through the rain" as it flew towards the waiting people, we felt an immeasurable sense of pride.

"The more you love... the harder you have to try."

Major Vuong Dinh Long stated that on July 24th, immediately after landing at Vinh Air Base Battalion, the flight crew and other units quickly unloaded 2 tons of supplies including instant noodles, dried food, water, and milk, and took off towards flood-affected areas in western Nghe An province such as Muong Xen, Ky Son, and Tuong Duong... After arriving in and reaching the Muong Xen area, the unit coordinated with local authorities to transfer over 2 tons of supplies to provide timely relief to deeply flooded areas. Immediately afterwards, the flight crew returned to Vinh airport and continued to load and transport supplies for two more trips to provide relief to the people in Tuong Duong, Nghe An.

Helicopters from the 916th Air Regiment are delivering relief supplies to people in flood-isolated areas.

“Flying overhead, we looked down at the vast expanse of muddy red water. In some places, only a few rooftops peeked out from the floodwaters, and our hearts ached. In some locations, despite the slippery mud, we were determined to land and deliver relief supplies to our compatriots. In other places, the plane couldn't land, so we had to drop supplies using a winch from a safe altitude to ensure the safety of the aircraft and those below, which was very difficult. The more challenging it was, the more we had to concentrate to fly safely and deliver essential supplies to the people as quickly as possible. Seeing the outstretched arms of the people reaching towards the aircraft, we felt as if it were our own home, our loved ones in the flood, and we encouraged each other to try even harder…”

Accompanying the people in receiving the relief shipment under the wings of the 916th Air Force Regiment, Mr. Nguyen Hong Tai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong commune, said emotionally: “Tuong Duong is a very difficult commune. This historic flood has caused great damage to the locality, making the difficulties even more challenging. However, the spirit of disregarding danger to bring relief to the people as quickly as possible by the Air Defense - Air Force troops has deeply moved the Party committee, the government, and the people. We will forever remember this kindness to overcome difficulties and confidently move forward.”

Helicopters from the 916th Air Regiment are delivering relief supplies to people in flood-isolated areas.

Reportedly, as of 4:00 PM on July 25th, the 916th Air Regiment had completed 5 relief flights, delivering tons of essential goods and supplies to the flood-affected people of Nghe An province. It is expected that in the coming days, the unit will continue to transport relief supplies and carry out rescue and relief missions in the area when ordered.

Text and photos: NGO TIEN MANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/bay-ve-phia-nhan-dan-838607