Former pilots gather on the launch day of the Vietnam Air Force photo book

That was the sharing of pilot Nguyen Nam Lien, captain and inspector of Boeing 787 Dreamliner (DPE) at the launching ceremony of the panoramic photo book about the Vietnam Air Force 108 Vietnamese fighter pilots (published by The Gioi Publishing House) by author - designer Tu Phuong Thao, photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang, on the occasion of the first reprint, at Ca Chep Bookstore, Ho Chi Minh City.

Reunion of former pilots

108 Vietnamese Fighter Pilots is a collection of 108 portraits of heroes - pilots who fought in the war against the US (during the period 1960 - 1970). In addition to author Tu Phuong Thao and photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang, the talk show had the participation of many former pilots and readers interested in the history and air force of Vietnam.

The launch of the new version of 108 Vietnamese fighter pilots was attended by many former pilots and readers interested in the air force. Appearing at the event were author Tu Phuong Thao, pilot Nguyen Nam Lien, Colonel Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tu De and photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang (from left to right).

PHOTO: THE SANG

These include Colonel Nguyen Van Tho, captain of Squadron 4 MiG-17, Regiment 923, who participated in the battle in 1972; Captain Nguyen Nam Lien; Colonel Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tu De, one of the four pilots of the Quyet Thang squadron of Regiment 923 that attacked Tan Son Nhat airport in April 1975; intelligence pilot Ho Duy Hung, nicknamed Chin Chinh; Colonel pilot Nguyen Xuan Truong, former commander of the 917 Helicopter Air Force Regiment, Division 370, Air Defense - Air Force; Colonel Nguyen Khac Nhu (aka Nguyen Van Nhu), one of the soldiers who escorted President Duong Van Minh to the Radio Station to announce his surrender...

Pilot Nguyen Nam Lien said that republishing 108 Vietnamese fighter pilots with English (bilingual) supplement is an opportunity for many friends and generations of fathers and brothers to recall wartime memories, but also a way for the book to reach international readers. "Many of them were farmers, but they wrote history not on the ground but in the sky - a place that is not our strength," Lien shared.

The story of "Chin Chinh" Ho Duy Hung is vividly portrayed in his book, but it is equally interesting when he shares it at an event with his teammates. The young pilot Ho Duy Hung was then working as a spy in the Military Intelligence Department of the Saigon - Gia Dinh Military Region under the cover of an officer - pilot of the Air Force of the Republic of Vietnam. After being suspected of his background, arrested and then dismissed from the military, Ho Duy Hung was ordered to return to enemy territory to successfully steal a large UH-1 helicopter, escaping the pursuit of the US and the Republic of Vietnam. The Saigon press in November 1973 reported loudly about the case of a spy stealing an American aircraft, this was the "case of military equipment loss" that was once very popular...

108 portraits and more...

The book 108 Vietnamese Fighter Pilots wears a new coat in the first reprint. The previous release was in 2022, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory in the air (1972-2022)

PHOTO: Organizing Committee

Portraits of heroes - pilots in the book. In addition to historical photos are photos taken by photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang.

PHOTO: Organizing Committee

"We - those who were born when the war was almost over, through the pages of old books, the stories we heard since childhood, the impressions of the soldiers of our fathers' generation, their joys and sorrows always make us remember, worry, be touched and proud", those are the shares of author Tu Phuong Thao - photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang when filtering materials, writing for the photo book 108 Vietnamese fighter pilots .

The book is a meticulous work, collecting documents in the form of documents, books, through the stories of former pilots, their teammates, and friends. The photos in the book are printed in color, taken by photographer Ngo Nhat Hoang at the characters' private homes. Among them, there are a large number of documentary photos from their youth printed in black and white to highlight the memories and the accuracy and vividness of history.

Author Tu Phuong Thao said that 108 is a beautiful number so she chose to narrow down the number of heroes - pilots portrayed in the book. "However, everything is still not enough, maybe we will need to tell more stories in other books, other projects because the number of air force is very large", she shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cac-cuu-phi-cong-te-tuu-trong-ngay-ra-mat-sach-anh-khong-quan-viet-nam-185250426145026242.htm