In response to the actions of the American aggressors, in mid-June 1966, President Ho Chi Minh chaired a Politburo meeting, unanimously agreeing on the policy: "Missiles must be quickly deployed to the southern part of Military Region 4 to study how to counter B-52s." Implementing this policy, the 238th Missile Regiment (363rd Division, Air Defense-Air Force Command) received orders to travel to Vinh Linh (Quang Tri) to study how to attack B-52s.

Colonel, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tran Manh Hien (right) and the author. Photo: HONG THUY

Colonel Tran Manh Hien, Hero of the People's Armed Forces and former commanding officer of the 84th Battalion, 238th Missile Regiment, recalled: "Going to fight in the Vinh Linh battlefield to find ways to shoot down B-52 aircraft was a new and arduous task. The 238th Missile Regiment had to move a large amount of equipment from Hanoi to Vinh Linh, mostly along the newly opened strategic road, which had many mountain passes, deep ravines, and was constantly controlled and fiercely attacked by the enemy; we had to fight back against the enemy in the air and on the ground while moving. Upon arriving in Vinh Linh, the Regiment deployed its battle positions at the Quyet Thang Farm and fought under conditions of fierce enemy attack. Initially, the battles encountered strong interference, causing the missiles to miss their targets; the battle positions were exposed and had to endure a series of bombs and artillery shells from the enemy air force. All four of our fire battalions suffered quite heavy losses." Undeterred, the Regiment concentrated its remaining forces into the 84th Battalion, then secretly moved to a new position to launch an ambush.

On the afternoon of September 17, 1967, the Regiment received a notification from the B5 Front Command: "B-52s are attacking Vinh Linh..." Battalion Commander Nguyen Dinh Phien of the 84th Battalion ordered his unit to go on alert level 1. A few minutes later, interference appeared on the radar screen. Based on experience from previous battles, the combat crew confirmed that it was a signal from a B-52. When the target entered the firing area and the parameters stabilized, Battalion Commander Nguyen Dinh Phien ordered: "Fire!" Two missiles soared into the air. After a few seconds of flashing light in the sky, the B-52 burst into flames and crashed into the Cua Viet sea. This was the first B-52 of the US Air Force shot down by our forces.

Joy erupted on the tanned faces of the officers and soldiers. A few dozen minutes later, a group of B-52s continued their bombing raid. At this point, Battalion 84 had only one missile left on its launcher, but it still shot down another B-52. The soldiers and people on both banks of the Ben Hai River rejoiced and were overjoyed upon hearing the news that the American "flying fortress" had caught fire in the skies over Quang Tri. President Ho Chi Minh sent a telegram commending the soldiers and people of Vinh Linh for their outstanding achievement in shooting down two B-52s. The 238th Missile Regiment had excellently carried out President Ho Chi Minh 's directive: "We must find a way to shoot down the B-52s."

LE XUAN MINH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/nghe-thuat-quan-su-vn/phai-tim-cach-danh-cho-duoc-b-52-846011