Which pilot bombed the Independence Palace and Tan Son Nhat airport?

TPO - The pilot who bombed the Independence Palace in 1975 was from Ben Tre province. Prior to that, he was instructed by the Central Military Affairs Committee of the Southern Region to apply for a position in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, becoming a "pilot operating behind enemy lines."

1. How many campaigns were there in the Spring Offensive and Uprising of 1975?

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  2

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  3

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  4

The correct answer is B: The Spring Offensive and Uprising of 1975 lasted for nearly two months, encompassing three major campaigns: the Central Highlands, Hue-Da Nang, and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign against Saigon. At exactly 11:30 AM on April 30, 1975, the flag of the Liberation Army flew atop the Independence Palace – the last stronghold of the Saigon government and army – signaling the complete victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and the glorious conclusion of our people's resistance war against the US.

2. On what date did the Ho Chi Minh Campaign begin?

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  March 26, 1975

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  April 14, 1975

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  April 26, 1975

The correct answer is C: The Ho Chi Minh Campaign took place in two phases. Phase 1 from April 26 to 28, 1975, and Phase 2 from April 29 to 30, 1975. At exactly 5 PM on April 26, 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign began. From five directions, deep penetration units led by tanks attacked the enemy's outer defensive perimeter.

3. Who was the Commander of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign?

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  Comrade Van Tien Dung

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  Comrade Le Duc Tho

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Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap

The correct answer is A: According to the People's Army Newspaper, at the meeting on April 8, 1975, at the Ta Thiet base (Loc Ninh), the Politburo and the Central Military Commission decided to establish the Command Headquarters for the Liberation Campaign of Saigon-Gia Dinh (renamed the Ho Chi Minh Campaign on April 14, 1975), comprising the following comrades: Campaign Commander: General Van Tien Dung; Political Commissar: Pham Hung; Deputy Commanders: Lieutenant General Tran Van Tra, Lieutenant General Le Duc Anh, Lieutenant General Dinh Duc Thien, Lieutenant General Le Trong Tan; Deputy Political Commissar and Head of Political Affairs: Lieutenant General Le Quang Hoa; Acting Chief of Staff of the Campaign: Major General Le Ngoc Hien.

4. On the morning of April 21st, after the Xuan Loc campaign ended, did President Nguyen Van Thieu have to go on the radio to announce his resignation?

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  Correct

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  Wrong

The correct answer is A: On the morning of April 21, 1975, the Xuan Loc campaign ended, and that same evening, President Nguyen Van Thieu had to go on the radio to announce his resignation and flee. The victory at Xuan Loc was extremely important, creating a new situation and shattering what was arguably the biggest obstacle for the eastern flank on the path to liberating Saigon. Furthermore, it created a huge psychological shock, directly impacting the Saigon battlefield and the policies and decisions of the US in the Vietnam War. The Saigon battlefield was shaken, and the South Vietnamese army fell into unprecedented panic. The US launched an evacuation campaign, and Americans left South Vietnam with a psychological shock that would be difficult to erase...

5. Who was assigned the task of drawing the battle map for the Battle of Xuan Loc in 1975?

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  Dam Duy Thien

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  Nguyen Van Hieu

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  Dang Dinh Long

The correct answer is A: To prepare for the Battle of Xuan Loc in 1975, Dam Duy Thien was entrusted with the sole task of drawing the Xuan Loc map. Joining the army at the end of 1972 before finishing high school, the young man Dam Duy Thien was assigned to E266 F341 (also known as the Song Lam Division). Upon joining the Division, he was chosen as a mapmaker due to his artistic talent. By early 1974, he and his comrades focused intensely on training, preparing to fight in the South. In early 1975, he and his division marched to the B2 front (Southeast Vietnam), directly participating in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign as part of the 4th Corps on the eastern flank advancing to liberate Saigon - Gia Dinh at that time.

6. What were the working conditions like for soldier Dam Duy Thien during the map-making process?

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  On the tank

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  Isolation in a closed room

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In the dark basement, use a flashlight or lantern.

The correct answer is C: To ensure secrecy and safety amidst bombing, Mr. Dam Duy Thien had to work in a bomb shelter, using only light from storm lamps or flashlights to draw. Every day, he regularly listened to the instructions of his commanding officers to update the situation, using pencil strokes to adjust the map promptly and accurately.

7. Which pilot bombed the Independence Palace?

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  Nguyen Van Bay

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  Nguyen Thanh Trung

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  Nguyen Van Nghia

The correct answer is B: Colonel Nguyen Thanh Trung (born in 1947, from Ben Tre province) was the pilot who bombed the Independence Palace in 1975. Prior to that, he was instructed by the Central Military Affairs Committee of the Southern Region to apply to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, becoming a "pilot operating behind enemy lines." On April 8, 1975, he received orders to take off from Bien Hoa airport, flying an F5-E to bomb Phan Thiet. According to regulations, the aircraft following the previous one must take off 5 seconds, with a maximum of 10 seconds. Pilot Nguyen Thanh Trung used these 10 seconds to mislead the flight commander and ground control tower. After takeoff, he did not join the squadron bound for Phan Thiet but flew back towards Saigon, carrying four bombs aimed at the Independence Palace. After dropping the bombs, he circled to the Nha Be fuel depot, fired the remaining 300 120mm rounds from his aircraft, and then landed safely at Phuoc Long airport.

8. Was he the pilot who bombed Tan Son Nhat airport?

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  Correct

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  Wrong

The correct answer is A: Twenty days after the bombing of the Independence Palace, pilot Nguyen Thanh Trung was also the leader of the squadron that bombed Tan Son Nhat airport. On the morning of April 28, 1975, at Phu Cat airport, Colonel Le Van Tri - Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Command - decided to deploy a force of six pilots: Nguyen Thanh Trung, Nguyen Van Luc, Tu De, Han Van Quang, Hoang Mai Vuong, and Tran Van On. The squadron was named the "Victory Squadron." At 9:30 AM that same day, five A-37 aircraft of the squadron, each carrying four bombs and four barrels of fuel, were ordered to fly from Phu Cat to Thanh Son airport (Phan Rang province). There, the squadron landed, ready to wait for orders to fly to Saigon and drop bombs on Tan Son Nhat airport. While approaching Saigon, the squadron flew low to avoid radar. As they approached Tan Son Nhat, the pilots diverted their flight towards Ba Ria - Vung Tau to create a diversion. The bombing of Tan Son Nhat by the Victory Squadron completely paralyzed and disrupted the airport. The plan for mass evacuation by heavy American jets failed and had to be replaced by small helicopters parked on the rooftops of high-rise buildings.

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Source: https://tienphong.vn/phi-cong-nao-da-nem-bom-vao-dinh-doc-lap-san-bay-tan-son-nhat-post1736929.tpo