Dien Bien Phu Campaign: Anti-aircraft artillery and a surprise blow to the enemy

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the anti-aircraft artillery alone shot down 52 out of a total of 62 enemy aircraft. All types of enemy aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft fire, according to Colonel Tran Lien.

Now 96 years old, Colonel Tran Lien (former Staff Officer of the 367th Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1954) still vividly remembers the tactics used in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. He recounts that from the end of 1952, the Vietnamese forces decided to build a 105mm artillery regiment and a 37mm anti-aircraft artillery regiment in preparation for the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring campaign. In November 1953, the Ministry of National Defense decided to deploy the 367th Anti-Aircraft Regiment to participate in the Dien Bien Phu campaign and ordered: "The safe and secret movement of artillery vehicles to their destination is considered 60% of the victory." Maintaining secrecy to the end, delivering a surprise blow to the enemy: On January 8, 1954, the anti-aircraft and artillery units assembled in Tuan Giao (Dien Bien Phu). According to the initial battle plan, the Vietnamese forces advocated a "quick strike, quick resolution," aiming to destroy the Dien Bien Phu stronghold within 3 nights and 2 days. The plan at that time was for 5,000 engineering and infantry battalion officers and soldiers to manually drag the artillery pieces 15km through the mountainous jungle from Na Nhan (Dien Bien district) along Highway 41, over Pha Phu Xong mountain, to Tau village on the Lai Chau - Dien Bien road, in one day and night.

Colonel Tran Lien, former Staff Officer of the 367th Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1954 (Photo: Hong Phong).

However, from January 16th to 26th, 1954, we only managed to bring in two artillery companies and two anti-aircraft companies, with 32 guns scattered along the way. Meanwhile, the enemy had mobilized and reinforced their forces to 17 European-African battalions, 10 Thai companies, and artillery, engineering, tanks, and aircraft at the Dien Bien Phu stronghold. Upon arriving at the front lines from the rear, General Vo Nguyen Giap, seeing the changing enemy situation, decided to switch to the strategy of "attack surely, advance surely" and ordered a "postpone of attack," moving the artillery to a concentrated assembly to ensure victory. The General then reminded: "We must continue to keep the details of our units secret to the end, ready to deliver a surprise blow to the enemy. From the very first battle, we must strike fear into the enemy's hearts with our heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns." This decision gave our troops time to prepare for battle in all aspects. The 367th Anti-Aircraft Regiment consisted of 6 battalions, of which 3 battalions (381, 383, 394) fought on the Dien Bien Phu front, while the remaining 3 battalions (385, 392, 396) were deployed to protect transportation routes and the rear of the campaign. Our anti-aircraft guns were 37mm, single-barreled, and lacked night-firing equipment. On the morning of March 11, 1954, all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns were ready in their fortifications. At 5:30 PM on March 13, 1954, the Campaign Command ordered the opening fire. 24 of our 105mm guns fired intensely for 30 minutes at the enemy's positions and command post, marking the beginning of the first attack.

Officers and soldiers of the 383rd Air Defense Battalion (367th Regiment) engaging targets during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (Archival photo).

On the morning of March 14, 1954, the enemy launched a massive air raid from Hanoi on Dien Bien Phu, but were unexpectedly caught off guard by our anti-aircraft artillery, which simultaneously shot down many aircraft on the spot, forcing them to withdraw early. Following this defeat, from March 17, 1954, the enemy organized attacks on our anti-aircraft artillery, but we retaliated fiercely, shooting down many more planes. Our two anti-aircraft companies, 815 and 827, were attacked, resulting in the deaths of the 827th Company's command staff and the destruction of three cannons. At the same time, our 75mm mountain artillery fired at Muong Thanh Airfield, destroying 10 enemy aircraft (from March 27 onwards, Muong Thanh Airfield was no longer usable). In the first five days, our anti-aircraft artillery shot down 14 aircraft and damaged 25 others. Our artillery also contained the enemy's artillery. On March 15, 1954, two days after the start of the campaign, the enemy's artillery commander, Colonel Pirot, committed suicide. The maturation of Vietnamese artillery: During the second phase of the campaign, from March 30, 1954 to April 30, 1954, our operational plan was "peeling away the layers and encircling." Colonel Tran Lien recounted that at that time, our infantry dug trenches to encircle the enemy on the ground, while anti-aircraft fire tightened its grip on the airspace, cutting off air supply. During this period, the enemy had to parachute 100-120 tons of supplies daily, including food, medicine, artillery shells, mortars, etc. Although enemy aircraft flew at altitudes above 3,000 meters, they were still hit by our anti-aircraft fire, so their supply drops were not as accurate as planned, with most supplies falling into areas under our control. In the second phase, our infantry captured the eastern and western high points of the stronghold, cutting the central Muong Thanh sector in two with Hong Cum, leaving only Hill A1 unresolved. During this phase, anti-aircraft artillery shot down a B24 bomber and an F8F, capturing its pilot, Robert Daniel, alive.

The relic of the hand-pulled artillery road in Na Nhan commune, Dien Bien Phu city, during the March blooming season (Photo: Dien Bien Phu Newspaper).

From May 1st to 7th, 1954, we began the third phase of the general offensive. At 8:30 PM on May 6th, 1954, we detonated explosives to attack Hill A1, and by 4:00 AM on May 7th, 1954, we had captured the hill. The enemy surrendered at 3:30 PM the same day. "During the campaign, the anti-aircraft artillery alone shot down 52 aircraft out of a total of 62 enemy aircraft. All types of enemy aircraft (B24, B26, F8F, F6F, F4U, C47, C119) were shot down by anti-aircraft fire," Colonel Tran Lien stated. "The Art of Using Artillery in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign - Lessons Learned on Force Organization, Building, and Combat Training Today" was also the content of the presentation by Major General Nguyen Hong Phong (Commander of the Artillery Corps). Major General Nguyen Hong Phong stated that during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the Vietnamese forces secretly deployed the 45th Regiment of 105mm howitzers (24 guns), the first towed artillery regiment of the Vietnamese army, a move unexpected by the French. Over 55 days and nights of fighting, the artillery successfully completed its mission, contributing to the complete destruction of the Dien Bien Phu fortified complex, eliminating 16,200 enemy soldiers, and destroying or capturing much of their weapons and equipment. According to Major General Nguyen Hong Phong, the successful completion of the Dien Bien Phu campaign marked a significant maturation and strengthening of Vietnamese artillery, with a remarkable development in the art of artillery use. The artillery formations were also strategically positioned and fortified, creating a siege around the enemy throughout the campaign.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/chien-dich-dien-bien-phu-phao-cao-xa-va-don-giang-bat-ngo-len-quan-dich-20240428105839962.htm