Lieutenant General Pilot, 3 Auxiliary Fuel Tanks and Historic Flight Across the Country

In 1975, right after the country's reunification, the Vietnamese Air Force carried out a special mission: flying from the North to the South to participate in the victory parade.

Editor's note: To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, people across the country will be able to watch the wings fly in a majestic parade.

Over the past 80 years, the pilots of the Air Defense - Air Force have carried out special missions for the country, from the tragic farewell to Uncle Ho in 1969, the triumphant march to celebrate the victory on May 15, 1975 to the sky filled with flags and flowers on September 2, 1975 and the flight to celebrate the 40th anniversary of National Day in 1985...

VietNamNet published a series of articles called “Flights that accompany the nation’s history” with many stories and details revealed for the first time by heroic fighter pilots who participated in important events of the nation.

There was an unforgettable contrast in the sky of Saigon in 1975. Those were fierce days of bombs and bullets, the sky was filled with smoke and fire, and just a short time later, the same sky was filled with flags and flowers, resounding with the roar of planes proclaiming victory.

The image of the MiG-21 squadron soaring over the Independence Palace during the parade on May 15, 1975 was not only an echo of the war that had just ended but also an affirmation of a new era: peace , unity, and construction.

Images of the victory parade in Saigon on May 15, 1975. Photo: VOV

Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong - former Deputy Political Commander, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Air Defense - Air Force shared that at that time, the South did not have any aircraft, so the entire squadron was mobilized from the North, mainly from 2 regiments stationed at Da Phuc airport (now Noi Bai, Hanoi) and Kep airport (now Bac Ninh).

“This was the first time we flew the length of the country, from Hanoi through Da Nang, to Bien Hoa and Saigon. It was an honor! I was extremely proud to be part of the victory parade, witnessing the country's reunification,” Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong recalled.

Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong was proud to fly on the day of great victory. Photo: Manh Hung

In his flight diary, Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia - former Political Commissar of Air Division 370 - recorded details about the night of May 12, 1975, when the regiments stationed at Da Phuc and Kep airports were assigned to move to Bien Hoa.

“From Kep airport, our plane had 3 unfilled auxiliary fuel tanks. At 9am, we took off and landed at Da Phuc to fill up the fuel (all 3 auxiliary fuel tanks), then took off to Da Nang” - the former Political Commissar recalled.

12 planes from the North landed at Da Nang airport to refuel. The next day, the squadron continued its journey to Bien Hoa airport, preparing for the parade in Saigon.

"We saw the flight path completely with the naked eye, following the landmarks along the coast because at that time there was no radar guidance" - Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong shared.

At 10:30 a.m. on May 14, 1975, all 12 planes landed safely. The historic transfer was a success, bringing joy and happiness to those present that day in Bien Hoa.

Showing the power of a heroic nation, a heroic army

The victory celebration took place on May 15, 1975 with a grand parade, demonstrating Vietnam's military strength.

Present at the parade were tanks, missiles, planes and many other types of weapons, to express national pride, arouse the spirit of nation building and affirm to the world the powerful force of Vietnam after the victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong and his teammates perform a flying mission during the victory parade in Saigon on May 15, 1975. Photo: NVCC

The ceremony began at 6:30 a.m. Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Tra - Chairman of the Saigon - Gia Dinh Military Management Committee read the opening speech. Next, Chairman of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam Nguyen Huu Tho and President Ton Duc Thang took turns reading speeches amid the cheers of tens of thousands of attendees.

After the victory rally was a historic parade, displaying the strength of a heroic nation and a heroic army. Under the bright yellow sunlight, the parade groups marched past the stage, shouting slogans celebrating the victory.

Former President Nguyen Minh Triet met at the private homes of pilots who participated in the parade on May 15, 1975 and Lieutenant General pilot Pham Tuan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 2025). Photo: NVCC

Lieutenant General Han Vinh Tuong said that on May 15, 1975, the squadron of 12 aircraft divided into 3 formations (each formation of 4 aircraft) flew over the center of Saigon with absolute coordination and precision. The pilots selected were all experienced, having participated in combat with hundreds of hours of flight time, ensuring accuracy and safety in this special mission.

The skillful skills of a fighter pilot

“Flying in a formation of 12 planes is a rare task, only carried out in special events. Each plane is about 30m apart, the formations are about 100m apart. This is a flight that requires concentration and skillful skills,” Mr. Tuong recalled.

In the atmosphere of the great spring victory, the MiG-21 fighter planes of the Vietnam People's Air Force flew majestically and majestically over the Saigon sky.

The squadrons flew quite low. The roar of the engines above the Independence Palace left a deep impression, connecting the joy of victory between the people of the North and the South.

On May 16, a squadron of four MIG-21s continued to fly in a show of force over Saigon. The air force successfully completed its mission on this important occasion.

Veteran fighter pilots, the pride of the Vietnam Air Force. Photo: Manh Hung

To carry out this mission, the squadron had time to practice in the North. The formation flights were practiced many times, ensuring coordination between the pilots.

“Normally, we only fly in formations of 2 or 4 aircraft. For the parade, a formation of 12 aircraft requires close coordination, especially when flying over the center of Saigon, where space is limited and pressure is high,” Lieutenant General Tuong explained.

After the parade, the pilots had the opportunity to explore Saigon.

“We went for a walk and bought some souvenirs. Saigon was really different at that time, a city full of vitality. As young soldiers, we were warmly welcomed by the people of the South,” Lieutenant General Tuong recalled.

He said the atmosphere in the city that day was extremely exciting. People poured into the streets, excitedly welcoming the victorious army. “The streets were bustling, completely different from the war days. For the first time, we witnessed the excitement of Saigon, clearly feeling the overwhelming joy of a newly unified country, of peace.”

After successfully carrying out the historic transfer, pilots Han Vinh Tuong, Tran Thong Hao, Vu Quoc Bao, Tran Tuan Viet, Nguyen Hung Thong, and Nguyen Manh Hai returned to the Northern Air Force units according to the decision of the Air Force Service. The remaining number became the initial core for the superiors to decide to establish the 935th Air Force Regiment with a number of other pilots added.

Lieutenant General Hero of the People's Armed Forces Han Vinh Tuong, born in 1945, from Phu Tho.

He shot down 3 American planes. In 1972, he flew a MiG-17 and shot down 2 American F-4 fighter planes in Bac Giang. In 1973, he flew an MG-21 and shot down an American plane in the sky of Hoa Binh.

The MiG-17 pilot's shooting down of the US's main fighter F-4 is considered a miracle, demonstrating the pilot's talent and clever tactics, overcoming the technological gap.

Remembering the special flight to send off Uncle Ho That autumn morning in Hanoi, Ba Dinh Square echoed with the solemn sound of trumpets. The sky suddenly became turbulent as a formation of 24 MiGs of the Vietnam Air Force flew across, as if to say goodbye to Uncle Ho.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/trung-tuong-phi-cong-3-thung-dau-va-chuyen-bay-lich-su-doc-chieu-dai-dat-nuoc-2437142.html