Dien Bien Phu Victory in the Air - "Unparalleled Miracle" of the 20th Century

Dien Bien Phu Victory in the Air - "Unparalleled Miracle" of the 20th Century

The air defense missile force was the core force in the Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu victory in the air in December 1972, smashing the idol of the "B-52 Super Fortress" of the US Air Force. In the photo: Squadron 57, the missile force protecting the capital shot down the 3,700th US aircraft on the spot on June 27, 1972 in Hanoi's sky. Photo courtesy of VNA

Why is that victory called an “unparalleled miracle” of the Vietnamese people? Because the victory of “Dien Bien Phu in the air” originated from the height of the Party’s intelligence, bravery and strategic talent; of the Vietnamese People’s military art of war reaching its peak on the air front. It was a unique victory in the history of our nation’s resistance to foreign invasion in particular and the history of world wars in general. That victory seemed impossible, but our army and people, under the Party’s skillful and wise leadership, turned the impossible into possible to create a miracle.

The Dien Bien Phu victory in the air defeated all the strategic goals that the US had set with the aim of "bringing North Vietnam back to the Stone Age" and creating a favorable position at the Paris Agreement negotiation table. The US military deployed its strategic card, 193 B-52D/G aircraft (accounting for nearly 50% of the strategic air force's B-52s). Notably, the B-52G version has many of the most modern US aviation features, such as: Equipped with a new Pratt & Whiteney J57-P-43W jet engine that allows the maximum take-off weight to be increased from 200 to 221 tons; the design of the aircraft's wings has been changed to allow the suspension of 2 additional fuel tanks with a capacity of 2,650 liters; The aircraft's electronic equipment compartment was expanded (the AN/ASG-15 targeting radar and a new electronic jamming system. The US Department of Defense considered electronic jamming the pride of America's leading industry, a supernatural power, a magic talisman. With this electronic warfare, they can "blind" the entire enemy radar system, from the guidance radar system, missile radar, anti-aircraft artillery radar to the communication system.

In parallel, to enhance the aircraft's survivability, the B-52G is equipped with 4 ADM-20 Quail missiles. When launched, the ADM-20 will simulate the signal of the B-52 aircraft to attract air-to-air and ground-to-air missiles instead of the B-52. In addition, as a strategic bomber, the B-52 squadrons do not operate independently but are escorted by EA-6A, EB-66, EC-121 electronic reconnaissance aircraft and F-4, F-105, A-6, A-7 fighters with active and passive jamming equipment.

Based on the above figures, it is clear that the US forces have an overwhelming advantage in both quantity and technology - as President Nixon affirmed in one of his books: "In human history, there has never been a country with such a superiority in weapons as the United States over North Vietnam...".

However, despite possessing many modern technologies and a large escort squadron, the B-52 "flying fortress" still broke its wings in the sky of Hanoi. In this unequal battle, the army and people of Hanoi and Hai Phong, with the core being the air defense - air force, entered a historic 12-day and night decisive battle. In which, right from the first battle, on the night of December 18, 1972, our army and people shot down the "Super B-52 Flying Fortress" on the spot, opening a resounding victory for the following battles. At the end of 12 days and nights of heroic and brave fighting, our army and people shot down dozens of B-52 "flying fortresses" along with "thunder gods", "ghosts",... in nearly a hundred aircraft of all kinds of the US imperialists, causing great losses to the US. The 12-day and night victory of the army and people of the North and the capital Hanoi in late 1972 had historical value and profound significance in many military, political and diplomatic fields, such as the complete victory in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954 that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world", so for that reason it was called the Dien Bien Phu victory in the air. The victory initiated the collapse of the new colonial regime, forcing the US imperialists to sit down and negotiate with us at the Paris Conference and sign the "Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam" (January 27, 1973). Through the victory, it contributed to firmly protecting the socialist North, maintaining the achievements of the revolution, creating a favorable situation for our army and people to fully implement the teachings of beloved Uncle Ho, which is "Fight to drive out the Americans, fight to overthrow the puppet regime".

More than half a century has passed, but the echoes of the Dien Bien Phu victory in the air - a symbol of the willpower and intelligence of the Vietnamese army and people - still resound like an immortal epic, a miracle of the 20th century. That miracle in the resistance war against the US to save the country is forever the pride of our nation.

Le Phuong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chien-thang-dien-bien-phu-tren-khong-nbsp-ky-tich-vo-song-cua-the-ky-xx-246429.htm